• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.10.1-10.4
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• 2013

Objectives Children are one of the most vulnerable populations to the impact of disasters. We aimed to examine children's mental health in the area affected by the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident on December 7, 2007. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted using the Korean versions of the Children's Depression Inventory and State Anxiety Inventory for Children on 1,362 children attending elementary schools in the affected area. The information on distances between the nearest contaminated coastline to the child's residential house or attending school were obtained using a web-based map by inputting two address points. The symptom risks of depression and state anxiety were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, and other covariates. Results Children with the closest distance (in the fourth quartile) to the school from the contaminated coastline showed a significantly higher symptom risk of depression compared to those with the farthest distance (first quartile)(odds ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-5.33), while there was no significant association between anxiety symptoms and distance. Conclusions Children, a vulnerable population for mental health impact by the oil spill accident, should be included in mental health programs in the community along with their family as victims of the disaster.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2019

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is among the top infectious disease priorities in Korea and the leading cause of economic loss in relevant poultry industry. An understanding of the spatial epidemiology of HPAI outbreak is essential in assessing and managing the risk of the infection. Though previous studies have reported the majority of outbreaks occurred clustered in what are preferred to as densely populated poultry regions, especially in southwest coast of Korea, little is known about the spatial distribution of risk areas vulnerable to HPAI occurrence based on geographic information system (GIS). The main aim of the present study was to develop a GIS-based risk index model for defining potential high-risk areas of HPAI outbreaks and to explore spatial distribution in relative risk index for each 252 Si-Gun-Gu (administrative unit) in Korea. The risk index was derived incorporating seven GIS database associated with risk factors of HPAI in a standardized five-score scale. Scale 1 and 5 for each database represent the lowest and the highest risk of HPAI respectively. Our model showed that Jeollabuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollanam-do and Chungcheongbuk-do regions will have the highest relative risk from HPAI. Areas with risk index value over 4.0 were Naju, Jeongeup, Anseong, Cheonan, Kochang, Iksan, Kyeongju and Kimje, indicating that Korea is at risk of HPAI introduction. Management and control of HPAI becomes difficult once the virus are established in domestic poultry populations; therefore, early detection and development of nationwide monitoring system through targeted surveillance of high-risk spots are priorities for preventing the future outbreaks.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2023

Purpose: In emergency situations such as earthquakes, heavy rains, typhoons, or fires, when quick delivery of emergency alerts is crucial, the hearing impaired are the ones who are the most disadvantaged and vulnerable when alerts are only delivered through auditory or text alerts. They can't perceive auditory information, and many have difficulties in fast understanding text-based alerts. Method: An alert system that can deliver pictograms for specific disaster situations has been devised. Then, a novel approach based on artificial intelligence has been studied so that the pictograms for specific disaster situations can be chosen instantly once a disaster alert is issued in text. Result: A disaster alert system that delivers pictograms for specific disaster situations was developed and a novel method has been suggested for automatic delivery. Conclusion: A system to instantaneously deliver disaster alert information in pictograms has been developed to improve alert delivery to the populations vulnerable to disaster due to hearing impairment by the instantaneous understanding of disaster situations through visual information.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2023

Purpose: The number of households vulnerable to isolation increases rapidly as social ties decrease, raising concerns about the associated increase in lonely deaths. This study aimed to identify issues related to lonely deaths by analyzing South Korean news articles; and to provide evidence for their use in preventing and managing lonely deaths via community nursing. Methods: This exploratory study analyzed the structure and trends of meaning of lonely deaths by identifying the association between keywords in news articles and lonely deaths. In this study, we searched for all news articles on lonely deaths, covering the period from January 1, 2010, to May 31, 2023. Data preprocessing and purification were conducted, followed by top-keyword extraction, keyword network analysis and topic modeling. The retrieved articles were analyzed using R and Python software. Results: Four main topics were identified: "discovering and responding to lonely death cases", "lonely deaths ending in lonely funerals", "supportive policies to prevent lonely deaths among of older adults", and "local government activities to prevent lonely deaths and support vulnerable populations." Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that lonely death is a complex social phenomenon that can be prevented if society shows concern and care. Education related to lonely deaths should be included in nursing curricula for concrete action plans and professional development.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the vulnerability of the human health sector to $PM_{10}$ due to climate change in Incheon over the period of 2005-2014. Methods: Vulnerability to $PM_{10}$ consists of the three categories of climate exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The indexes for climate exposure and sensitivity indicate positive effects, while adaptive capacity shows a negative effect on vulnerability to $PM_{10}$. The variables in each category were standardized by the rescaling method, and respective relative regional vulnerability was analyzed through the vulnerability index calculation formula of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Results: Regions with a high exposure index were the western and northern urban areas with industrial complexes adjacent to a highway, including Bupyong-gu and Seo-gu. Major factors determining the climate exposure index were the $PM_{10}$ concentration, days of $PM_{10}$ >= $100{\mu}g/m^3$, and $PM_{10}$ emissions. The regions showing a high sensitivity index were urban regions with high populations; these commonly had a high mortality rate for related diseases and vulnerable populations. Conclusions: This study is able to support regionally adjusted adaptation policies and the quantitative background of policy priority since it provides information on the regional health vulnerability to $PM_{10}$ due to climate change in Incheon.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2020

Cities are highly susceptible to disasters due to concentration of population and infrastructure and intensive land use, and there are various factors that affect vulnerability according to regional characteristics. This study analyzed the vulnerability of the heat wave and the surface temperature extracted from Landsat 8 satellite data. Areas with high surface temperature and with high vulnerability did not match. This study overlaid the results of vulnerability analysis and the land surface temperature(LST) in order to identify causes of vulnerability. The results showed that some areas within high-density commercial and semi-residential areas were the most vulnerable, with climate exposure factors, the ratio of the vulnerable populations and residential defective areas being the main causes. Accordingly, alternatives such as green space and residential environmental improvement could be suggested. Various policies for reducing and adapting to heat wave have been established and implemented. However, it is necessary to examine the regional and spatial characteristics of the city, to accurately diagnose the cause of the heat wave, and to prepare appropriate long-term alternatives accordingly.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aims to identify research trends in papers related to the elderly and the disabled published in the journal of Korean society for school & community health education from 2000 to 2023 and seek the direction of the academic development of this journal in the future. Method: A total of 26 articles related to the elderly and the disabled, who are vulnerable groups, were analyzed by year by analyzing the specific subjects, research themes, research design, data collection methods, and keywords of papers published from 2000 to 2023. Results: Looking at the research subjects, studies on the elderly (18 studies) accounted for a larger proportion than studies on the disabled (8 studies). Research themes in the field of healthy living practices for the elderly (44.4%) and research in the field of mental health management (37.5%) for the disabled accounted for a high proportion. The design of research were mostly quantitative and cross-sectional studies. Data collection is mostly based on secondary data. In studies targeting the elderly, keywords appeared in the following order: 'Health' and 'Elderly'. And research targeting the disabled appeared in the following order: 'Disabilities', 'Health', and 'COVID-19'. Additionally, research on the elderly and the disabled has recently shown an increasing trend. Conclusion: Research on the elderly and the disabled has been conducted in line with the purpose of the Korean society for school & community health education, However, In terms of quantitative expansion and qualitative research, research themes, research designs, and data collection methods must be diversified. Methods, public perception. Additionally, research on vulnerable groups that fit the public health promotion and health education paradigm is needed.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients with osteoarthritis surgery and identify risk factors for its development. Methods: This study enrolled 288 patients who underwent osteoarthritis surgery in a hospital between May and November 2014. Data were collected prospectively. The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale was used to detect delirium. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for postoperative delirium. Patients were also followed for outcome. Results: Postoperative delirium developed in 42 patients (14.6%). Logistic regression analysis identified old age, low physical activity, antipsychotic agents, number of catheters, and intensive care unit admission as risk factors. Worse outcomes, including increased hospital mortality, reoperation, and discharge at care facilities, occurred in subjects who developed delirium. Conclusion: Osteoarthritis surgery in elderly patients was associated with a high incidence of postoperative delirium. The results of the this study regarding patient populations vulnerable to delirium should be taken into account so that such patients could be identified preoperatively or in the immediate postoperative period.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.562-571
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• 2016

Purpose: In this study the costs and benefits of a home health care program were examined to evaluate the economic feasibility of the program. Methods: The study participants included 349 patients in the community who had been registered at a home health care center for 5 years. The costs and benefits of the program were analyzed using performance data and health data. The benefits were classified as the effects of pressure ulcer care, skin wound care and catheters management. The program effect was evaluated on the change of progress using transition probability. Benefits were divided into direct benefit such as the savings in medical costs and transportation costs, and indirect benefits which included saving in productivity loss and lost future income. Results: Participants had an average of 1.82 health problems. The input cost was KRW 36.8~153.3 million, the benefit was KRW 95.4~279.7 million. Direct benefits accounted for 53.4%~81.2%, and was higher than indirect benefits. The net benefit was greater than 0 from 2006 to 2009, and then dropped below 0 in 2010. Conclusion: The average net benefit during 5 years was over 0 and the benefit cost ratoi was over 1.00, indicating that the home health care program si economical.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Broadcast Engineers Conference
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• 2019.11a
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• pp.148-150
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• 2019

이 연구에서는 현 재난 경보에서 재난 약자가 가질 수 있는 취약성에 대해 알아보았다. 그리고 해당 취약성에 대한 해결 방안과 해결을 위해 적용할 수 있는 기술적 요구사항도 함께 알아보았다. 재난 약자는 경보 수신 공백, 맞춤형 서비스 부족, 단독 대응 불가 등과 같은 공통적 재난 경보 취약성과 함께 어린이, 노인, 외국인, 장애인 집단 별로 차별적 취약성을 가지는 것으로 나타났다. 이를 보완하기 위해서는 단말기에 이동통신 수신 모듈과 ATSC 3.0 수신 모듈 모두 탑재, ATSC 3.0 방송망을 통해 재난 약자 유형에 맞춘 복수의 메시지 전송, 단말기의 수신자 프로파일 설정에 의한 메시지 표출, 기존의 AEAT 개선 등이 공통적으로 필요하다. 그리고 어린이, 노인, 외국인, 장애인 집단 별로 차별적 취약성을 보완할 수 있는 차별적 기술도 필요하다.