• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.528-535
• /
• 2013

Air pollution in large cities is reduced through the environmental health policies, but due to increased population and automobile, some pollutants are still a problem. These air pollutants are known to cause asthma and respiratory diseases. According to an OECD report, the number of premature deaths will increase. Hazardous air pollutants should be managed through a systematic monitoring, risk assessment, and many studies are in progress. In order to manage hazardous air pollutants, transformation of policy for the protection of human health is required. management policy through the calculation of the excess number of deaths that occur from hazardous air pollutants for the public health is necessary. Korea has put a lot of efforts for air quality, but health risk assessment should be more considered.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The contribution of health behavior is high in the mortality variation. Mortality variation can be decreased through the policies and programs for improving health behavior. We investigated that health behaviors effected with standardized mortality in community. Methods: We examined the distribution of health determinant factors and correlation analyzed between factors and performed multiple linear regression. Data were collected from 2012 Community Health Survey in 253 communities, annual regional statistics, and statistics from Statistics Korea. Results: This study defined that the variation of standardized mortality and there are exist inequality level of health determinant factors in 253 communities. This study showed that the higher standardized mortality explained through health behavior factors of the current smoking rate, walking exercise rate and diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes rate after adjusted other factors(adjusted $R^2=0.709$, p<0.001). Conclusions: Smoking, walking exercise and diagnosis chronic disease affecting on the regional variation of standardized mortality. These factors can be improved by the local residents themselves.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2016

Objectives: FCTC is the first international convention in public health field. Global progress report is about the implementations of the FCTC that are conducted with comparison and analysis for recent trend of tobacco control policies and convention performances on the global level. Methods: By conducting literature review related to tobacco control, expecially through reviewing Implementation of the WHO FCTC GPR(2014), this report compared and analyzed Korea's status of tobacco control based on tobacco control policy in every member state. Results: As a result of the comparison of FCTC to Korea's tobacco control policy, for the first, the most outstanding article that has been peformed continuously is Article 8, 12, 14. Secondly, the policy that has been partially renovated and reinforced is Article 6, 9, 10, 11, and for the last, the policy that has no progress and needs improvement is Article 13. Conclusions: For improvement in Korea's tobacco control policy in the future, first, betterment in policies on categories about advertisements, promotions, sponsorships on tobacco products that passed FCTC commitment period is required along with the modifications of FCTC related laws and reinforcement of the policies, and development of national core competence for an effective implementation of the convention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.2713-2717
• /
• 2014

Background: Cancer imposes significant economic challenges for individuals, families, and society. Households of cancer patients often experience income loss due to change in job status and/or excessive medical expenses. Thus, we examined whether changes in economic status for such households is affected by catastrophic health expenditures. Materials and Methods: We used the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) Panel $1^{st}-4^{th}$ (2008-2011 subjects) data and extracted records from 211 out of 5,332 households in the database for this study. To identify factors associated with catastrophic health expenditures and, in particular, to examine the relationship between change in economic status and catastrophic health expenditures, we conducted a generalized linear model analysis. Results: Among 211 households with cancer patients, 84 (39.8%) experienced catastrophic health expenditures, while 127 (40.2%) did not show evidence of catastrophic medical costs. If a change in economic status results from a change in job status for head of household (job loss), these households are more likely to incur catastrophic health expenditure than households who have not experienced a change in job status (odds ratios (ORs)=2.17, 2.63, respectively). A comparison between households with a newly-diagnosed patient versus households with patients having lived with cancer for one or two years, showed the longer patients had cancer, the more likely their households incurred catastrophic medical costs (OR=1.78, 1.36, respectively). Conclusions: Change in economic status of households in which the cancer patient was the head of household was associated with a greater likelihood that the household would incur catastrophic health costs. It is imperative that the Korean government connect health and labor policies in order to develop economic programs to assist households with cancer patients.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.139-151
• /
• 2014

It is increasingly supported by scientific evidence that greenhouse gas caused by human activities is changing the global climate. In particular, the changing climate has affected human health, directly or indirectly, and its adverse impacts are estimated to increase in the future. In response, many countries have established and implemented a variety of mitigation and adaptation measures. However, it is significant to note that climate change will continue over the next few centuries and its impacts on human health should be tackled urgently. The purpose of this paper is to examine domestic policies and research in health sector in adaptation to climate change. It further aims to recommend future research directions for enhanced response to climate change in public health sector, by reviewing a series of adaptation policies in the selected countries and taking into account the general features of health adaptation policies. In this regard, this study first evaluates the current adaptation policies in public health sector by examining the National Climate Change Adaptation Master Plan(2011~2015) and Comprehensive Plan for Environment and Health(2011~2020) and reviewing research to date of the government and relevant institutions. For the literature review, two information service systems are used: namely, the National Science and Technology Information Service(NTIS) and the Policy Research Information Service & Management(PRISM). Secondly, a series of foreign adaptation policies are selected based on the global research priorities set by WHO (2009) and reviewed in order to draw implications for domestic research. Finally, the barriers or constraints in establishing and implementing health adaptation policies are analyzed qualitatively, considering the general characteristics of adaptation in the health sector to climate change, which include uncertainty, finance, technology, institutions, and public awareness. This study provides four major recommendations: to mainstream health sector in the field of adaptation policy and research; to integrate cross-sectoral adaptation measures with an aim to the improvement of health and well-being of the society; to enhance the adaptation measures based on evidence and cost-effectiveness analysis; and to facilitate systemization in health adaptation through setting the key players and the agenda.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.70-95
• /
• 1991

The ageing problem of the population has been emerging in Korea since 1970's so that it is expecting the elderly 65 years and over among the total population from $4.5\%$ in 1988 to be $6.3\%$ in year 2000. This study was conducted to provide secure policy development in coming years for the aged on medical and health care aspects based on the examining current status of the aged problems and health care policies and systems. The study divided into four parts; The first part examined the medical insurance program and public assistance program of the health services in relation to the aged. The second part emphasized on reduction of medical care cost for the aged. The third part studied the regular health check-up program and health education for the aged. The fourth part examined the chronic disease management programs for the aged and strategies of the health care service quality improvement and specialized programs. The following recommendations made as the results of the study. 1. At present, the medical insurance program and public assistance program for the medically indigent is not appropriate to the elderly because it is a part of general medical insurance program so that Health Security Law for the Aged is proposed. 2. Medical cost will be increased due to the high occupancy rate of hospital beds and long stay of the elderly so that it is recommended to develop an early discharge program, home health care program, Health hospice and an althernative programs. 3. At present, a regular health check-ups for the elderly is not included in medical insurance program so that it is recommended to be included in the insurance program and at the same time health education program thoroughly developed for the aged. 4. To make proper medical and nursing services on chronic diseases for the elderly, it is recommended manpower development, specialized clinics or hospitals, nursing homes and an equivalent long term care facilitices should be established on the community based and a research institutions also to be related to supper the care programs.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.188-195
• /
• 2022

Purpose: With the first generation of marriage-based immigrant women in East Asia now reaching their middle or old age, the need to focus investigations on their health-related quality of life has arisen. This study aimed to examine the extent to which physical and mental health, and psychosocial variables can predict health-related quality of life among Japanese middle-aged immigrant women. Methods: This study has a descriptive cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 197 Japanese middle-aged marriage-based immigrant women from two regions of South Korea were recruited between December 2017 and March 2018. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires on health-related quality of life, menopausal symptoms, depression, perceived health status, disease morbidity, social support, and acculturation. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Depression was the strongest predictor of health-related quality of life, followed by perceived health status, social support, and household income. Menopausal symptoms, presence of disease, and acculturation appeared to have no additional impact on participant's health-related quality of life. Conclusion: In times of rapid growth of global migration and the aging of immigrants in new destination countries, nursing interventions and public health policies for aging marriage-based immigrant women should be prioritized to improve their mental health by facilitating social support and disease management. In addition, social and employment policies that can help immigrant women transition to a healthy midlife are needed.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.85-106
• /
• 2023

Background: The Korean government has established Health Plan and reinforced tobacco control policies step by step according to Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This study aims to investigate yearly smoking and secondhand smoking (SHS) exposure rates adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted about the smoking experience, current smoking, and exposure to SHS at home, at work, and in public places using data from the 6th to 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2020). Results: Comparing 2015 with other years, smoking experience rates significantly decreased from 2015 to 2018 in men and significantly increased from 2018 to 2020 in women. Compared to 2015, current smoking rates significantly decreased only in 2020 for men and significantly increased in 2018 and 2019 for women. The rate of exposure to SHS at home significantly decreased until 2018. Rates of exposure to SHS in the workplace and public places were significant all year. Conclusion: There were a slowly decreasing trend in men and an increasing trend in women at current smoking rates. It was found that there were significant decreasing trends at exposure to SHS. There is a need to set policies that reduce current smoking rates and especially to set a customized program to lower women's smoking rates.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.483-494
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study compared health behaviors and disease prevalence between one-person women and multiple-household women in Korea. Methods: This study used the 2013 data from the Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS). A total of 89,807 women, aged 19-64 years were included in this study. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. Moreover, statistical processing was performed using the SPSS 21.0. Results: Among adult women, one-person households women was 6.2%. One-person household women were older than multiple-households women, and multiple-households women were less likely to exercise regularly. And disease prevalence was higher in one-person household women than in multiple-household women. Conclusion: Residence characteristics should be considered in developing a public health program to reduce or increase modifiable health behaviors and disease prevalence. The findings from this study suggest that policies to improve the support for healthcare of one-person household women is necessary.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.37-82
• /
• 2009

Korea has gained the much more performances in the fields of pubic health laws and related policies on the basis of the substantial economic achievements. In 1977, the social medical insurance was established for companies with more than 500 employees, and in 1989, Korea successfully achieved the national medical insurance system covering the total population within only 12 years beginning with multiple insurers. There remained some problems, however, to be improved such as both the low level of contribution rates and benefit packages due to the inefficiency in utilizing limited medical resources. In 2000, all insurers were unified into a single insurer (National Health Insurance Corporation), and special independent Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) was also established. From the origin of medical insurance system in 1977, the Korean reimbursement system has been fee-for-service system, and after the establishment of HIRA, it has been providing objective and expert medical cost review services and health quality assessment services.