The Effect of Providing Health and Safety Risk Information on the Subjective Health Status of Workers:Focusing on Workers using Protective Equipment / 한국직업건강간호학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate the effect of information regarding health and safety risks on the subjective health status of workers using data from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. @*Methods@#Among the survey respondents, 30,094 people classified as salaried workers, of which 8,513 (28.3%) used protective equipment. @*Results@#Although the majority of workers using protective equipment reported being well-informed about safety and health risks, 15% of them were still insufficiently informed. Multivariate analyses have shown that the subjective health status of workers using protective equipment was significantly better if they received sufficient information.When the workers using protective equipment were classified by the kinds of hazards they were exposed to, the satisfaction of information was also significantly beneficial for the subjective health status of all groups. However, in workers who did not use protective equipment, information satisfaction did not appear to be a significant factor. @*Conclusion@#These results suggest that when providing information on safety and health risks, it is necessary to focus on workers using protective equipment, for whom the effects of the policy are clearly expected.

Evaluation of Community-based Hypertension Control Programme in South Korea

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study was conducted to provide an overview of the community-based hypertension and diabetes control programme of 19 cities in Korea and to evaluate its effectiveness in controlling hypertension at the community level.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>In this longitudinal observational study, we analysed the data of 117,264 hypertensive patients aged ≥65 years old from the time of their first enrolment in July 2012 to October 2013 (up to their 2-year follow-up).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The hypertension control rate of 72.5% at the time of enrolment increased to 81.3% and 82.4% at 1 and 2 years after enrolment. Treatment continuity, completion of hypertension self-management education, and longer enrolment duration in the programme contributed to improvements in hypertension control rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This programme was characterised by a public health-clinical partnership at the community level. Despite its simplicity, the programme was evaluated as a successful attempt to control hypertension among patients aged >65 years at the community level.</p>

Erratum: The Structure and Orientation of Governance for Healthy Cities Programs

There was an error in the article, “The structure and orientation of governance for Healthy Cities programs.” The footnote at the bottom of page 8 should be corrected.

The Structure and Orientation of Governance for Healthy Cities Programs

The Healthy Cities program is being actively pursued worldwide under the leadership of the World Health Organization as an effort to improve urban health through changes in the physical and social environment. As the core of the Healthy Cities program, governance establishes and implements diverse health plans and healthy public policies through political support, intersectoral cooperation, community participation, and multilevel networks. With the development of Healthy Cities programs, governance has evolved in the direction of autonomy, equity, and integration. These governance orientations should be continuously reflected in Healthy Cities strategies in order to successfully improve citizens' health.

Health in All Policies: The Evolution of Health Promotion and Intersectoral Cooperation / 보건행정학회지

'Health in All Policies' is a new strategy for governance for health in 21st century. The evolution of health promotion has affected the creation of the strategy through the efforts to tackle health inequalities by addressing social determinants of health. More concern about health inequalities, involving wider policy areas, and higher level of institutionalization distinguish the strategy from the old intersectoral collaboration such as intersectoral action for health and healthy public policy. Making intersectoral collaboration the mainstream of policy making is important to address integrated policy agendas such as 'Health in All Policies' and 'Sustainable Development Goals.' Political leadership and interpersonal skills are also required to strengthen the capacity of public health sector for implementing 'Health in All Policies' in local, national, and international circumstances.

Changes in Labor Regulations During Economic Crises: Does Deregulation Favor Health and Safety? / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The regulatory changes in Korea during the national economic crisis 10 years ago and in the current global recession were analyzed to understand the characteristics of deregulation in labor policies. METHODS: Data for this study were derived from the Korean government's official database for administrative regulations and a government document reporting deregulation. RESULTS: A great deal of business-friendly deregulation took place during both economic crises. Occupational health and safety were the main targets of deregulation in both periods, and the regulation of employment promotion and vocational training was preserved relatively intact. The sector having to do with working conditions and the on-site welfare of workers was also deregulated greatly during the former economic crisis, but not in the current global recession. CONCLUSIONS: Among the three main areas of labor policy, occupational health and safety was most vulnerable to the deregulation in economic crisis of Korea. A probable reason for this is that the impact of deregulation on the health and safety of workers would not be immediately disclosed after the policy change.

The Impact of Health Behaviors and Social Strata on the Prevalence of Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine which factors influence the occurrence of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. The researchers analyzed differences in health behaviors and social strata according to each type of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, examined regional characteristics and compared the study's results with the past research data. METHODS: In statistical analysis, multiple logistic regression was conducted by utilizing the raw data obtained from the 2010 Chungcheongnam-do Community Health Survey. RESULTS: The results showed that cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were influenced by alcohol consumption, obesity and monthly income. CONCLUSION: First, education programs and campaigns that maintain an appropriate level of alcohol consumption are needed. Second, in addition to education programs on managing obesity, government policies should encourage physical exercise. Third, government policies should expand health care services and prevention programs for the low-income class, and strengthen health management networks.

Healthy cities approach as a new paradigm of public health policy

The healthy cities approach emphasizes the role of the leadership of local governments in promoting the health of the population in city settings. The concept emerged from public health strategies declared in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, and reflects the characteristics of the third public health revolution. The Korean healthy cities movement, characterized by voluntary participation of local governments in the Alliance for Healthy Cities, has grown rapidly in recent years. A strong push of the healthy cities movement by a local government without a profound commitment to the vision may hinder the effective and sustainable development of the movement. By reviewing the historical background and significance of the healthy cities movement and its underlying concepts, and illustrating the main strategies and goals of the movement, that is, the development of partnerships, community participation and empowerment, and working in networks for stimulating change, this article argues that the healthy cities movement is a potent vehicle for implementing the new paradigm of public health introduced to local governments. We also argue that the Korean healthy cities movement needs more active participants and more support of the central government and other related stakeholders.

Analysis on the Affective Factors and Preventive Measures of Alcohol-involved Accident in the Construction Industry / 산업간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to analyze the current preventive measures on alcohol- involved accident and the factors that affect such preventive measures in the construction industry. METHOD: The survey was administered to examine how the preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident were executed using the data of '2005 Occupational Safety and Health Survey' conducted in 2005 by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. For this study, we analyzed 944 work places in the construction industry. RESULT: The preventive measures on alcohol- involved accident were being executed in 62.1% of construction companies. As for the number of actual preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident, work places in Jeolla-do executed 2.63 times more frequently than those in Chungcheong-do, and work places with the Occupational Safety and Health Conference executed 2.22 times more frequently than those without such a measure. CONCLUSION: Joining the Occupational Safety and Health Conference was to be one of the most influential ways of preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident in the construction industry. Accordingly, if workers and employers look for active measures and administer them through the Occupational Safety and Health Conference, it will reduce alcohol-involved accident in the construction industry and contribute to the better preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident in the construction and other industries.

Analysis on the Affective Factors and Preventive Measures of Alcohol-involved Accident in the Construction Industry / 산업간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to analyze the current preventive measures on alcohol- involved accident and the factors that affect such preventive measures in the construction industry. METHOD: The survey was administered to examine how the preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident were executed using the data of '2005 Occupational Safety and Health Survey' conducted in 2005 by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. For this study, we analyzed 944 work places in the construction industry. RESULT: The preventive measures on alcohol- involved accident were being executed in 62.1% of construction companies. As for the number of actual preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident, work places in Jeolla-do executed 2.63 times more frequently than those in Chungcheong-do, and work places with the Occupational Safety and Health Conference executed 2.22 times more frequently than those without such a measure. CONCLUSION: Joining the Occupational Safety and Health Conference was to be one of the most influential ways of preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident in the construction industry. Accordingly, if workers and employers look for active measures and administer them through the Occupational Safety and Health Conference, it will reduce alcohol-involved accident in the construction industry and contribute to the better preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident in the construction and other industries.

Factors Affecting the Burden on Employment of Health Care Providers in the Middle Sized Manufacturing Enterprises / 산업간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting the burden on employment of occupational health care providers as well as to develop strategies to reduce burden on employment of them in the middle size manufacturing enterprises. METHODS: The target population of this study was 123 managers working in the middle size manufacturing enterprises. The study questionnaires were selected, as theories and literature suggested, for explaining employment burden, general characteristics of participants and occupational health providers, general characteristics of companies, evaluation of occupational health provider's role and burden score. RESULTS: The mean of employment burden score of manager was 2.2. There was a significant difference in the employment burden scores, manager's age and education, and occupational health provider's age, type of work, certification, and employment status. Also there was a negative relationship between employment burden scores and occupational health provider's role scores (need, role, satisfaction, and benefit). In the results of the standard multiple regression analysis, manager's need scores on occupational health providers were significant predictors of the employment burden scores. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to change the manager's perception to promote employment of occupational health providers.

Is the Tuberculosis Case Reporting Rate of Medical Care Institutions in Private Sector low? / 한국역학회지

PURPOSE: To estimate the reporting rate of tuberculosis in one medium-sized city in Korea. METHODS: Data claimed by national health insurance corporationand notification data of KTBS (Korea Tuberculosis Surveillance System) were compared through medical record-linkage method. Regarding the cases that were claimed medical care fee as tuberculosis but not notified to KTBS, we reviewed medical charts of the patients and investigated the reasons of failure to notify. RESULTS: Number of cases claimed health insurance fee as tuberculosis occurrences in Cheonan was 2,331 in 2007, while 956 cases were matched as notified cases to KTBS after electronic record-linkage by personal identifier. Among remaining 1,375 cases that were not matched, real missed cases through medical record review survey were found to be 104. The reasons of failure to notify were because of 'not tuberculosis patients' (500, 36.4%), 'notified in 2006' (421, 30.6%), 'diseases coding error' (341, 24.8%) and 'notified as other diseases' (9, 0.7%). Therefore, the corrected reporting rate was calculated at 93% (95% CI: 91.6% - 94.2%). Notably, reporting rate of clinics (58.1%) was significantly lower than those of hospitals (93.4%) or general hospitals (96.6%). CONCLUSIONS: All cases of tuberculosis diagnosis, which were claimed and not notified, were verified, the reporting rate was not as low as that of the data known through media. However, to reach the goal of tuberculosis elimination (reporting rate over 95%), more effort into improvement of the reporting system is necessary.

The Introduction of Team Competition to Middle- to Large-sized Group Discussion / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: To motivate students to participate in debates and to secure the quality of discussion, score-keeping team competition was introduced to middle- to large-sized discussion groups. METHODS: 95 students of a medical ethics class were divided into 20 teams. After each team presented its opinion on a few ethical issues debatable, all teams began debating on the issues. In each session, a certain number of points was given to the presenters. Randomly selected nine students made up a jury. The jury decided on the quality of the debate and judged whether the teams participated lost or kept their points. At the completion of the module, the students were surveyed about their experiences with the score-keeping competition. RESULTS: The motivation for participation from a score-keeping competition was so powerful that in most sessions, many students did not have a chance to speak due to overwhelming number of debaters. Students who participated less eagerly ascribed their experience to their lack of ability to speak out. A major problem expressed by many students was that they felt morally bad about taking away points from their friends. In actuality though, this moral inhibition was weaker than the motivation for competition they felt. The opinion survey showed that the students who felt moral inhibition participated even more eagerly in the debates than those who did not feel bad. CONCLUSION: In middle- to large-sized groups, score-keeping competition was a strong motivation for students to participate. And lessening the moral inhibition would lead to livelier debates. Thus, it would be helpful to develop modified methods of distributing points such as giving out new points and not simply relocating those already given out.

A study on a hospital services evaluation method b physician survey / 예방의학회지

A physician survey was done by mailing for the purpose of performing hospital services evaluation and ranking. A slightly over one thousand samples were drawn from the list of professional societies, and 324 physicians(about 32 percent) replied. This study has focused on developing easy and simple method to evaluate hospital services, and providing patients with useful information. Hospital service structure and process were evaluated without outcome evaluation, because it is difficult to obtain reliable data regarding health services outcome indicators. Clinical specialty was targeted to evaluate, and three specialties were chosen, that is obstetrics & gynecology, cardiology, and proctology. Among 16 structural indicators, four indicators were finally chosen in each specialty by respondent specialists. And then using these indicators, structural score was calculated for study hospitals. For process evaluation, physicians were requested to nominate five most famous hospitals. The nomination score and structural score were summed up to produce final score and hospital ranking. This method is very easy to conduct rather than other hospital services evaluation methods prevailing in Korea. And it is more useful for patients to choose hospitals, according to his/her own purpose, because it gives high ranking hospitals with specific clinical specialty.