Public health service ; Chinese People

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of impartiality in providing public health services on subjective health happiness and the mediated effects of public health service quality. Based on this, this study intends to present policy implications to improve public health services. METHODS: The research method is multiple linear regression analysis. The analysis of the mediating effects is performed by Baron & Kenny's test, Sobel-Goodman's test, and Bootstrap. RESULTS: The impartiality of public health services and the quality of public health services are shown to have a statistically significant effect on subjective health happiness. Quality of public health service appears to be mediating the relationship between impartiality in providing public health care and subjective health happiness. CONCLUSION: To promote people's subjective health happiness, it is necessary to secure impartiality in providing public health services in the first place and improve the quality of public health services.
Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Happiness ; Linear Models ; Methods ; Negotiating ; Public Health ; United States Public Health Service

Obesity is a major risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases and its prevention is essential in terms of public health. Body weight is influenced by a genetic predisposition as well as food intake, and exercise. In about 30% of the Japanese, a specific mutation [codon 64 TGG (Trp) →CGG (Arg)] of β3-adrenergic receptor gene is observed. The basal metabolic rate is about 200 kcal/day lower in the individuals with this type of mutation than in those without. We conducted a weight loss program which included analysis of β3-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism, monitoring of eating behavior, and promotion for lifestyle modifications by public health nurses. The subjects for analyses were 39 Japanese men (mean age 37.8±8.6 years) and six Japanese women (46.8±6.4 years), with body mass index (BMI) over 24. They had not been receiving medical treatment for lifestyle-related diseases. The ratio of the normal group (no mutation at the specific site of β3-adrenergic receptor gene) to the mutation group were 73% to 27%. After we explained the results of the genetic testing to the participants, public health nurses encouraged them to change their lifestyle and provided dietary guidance. After 3 and 8 months intervention, reductions in BMI were observed 75% and 57% of the subjects in the normal group, and 92% and 67% of the subjects in the mutation group, respectively. At any time point, the changes were not statistically significant between the normal and mutation groups. Behavior modification was observed 49% of the subjects in the normal group and 75% in the mutation group. More than 80% of the participants were of the opinion that the genetic testing had been useful for them to reconsider their health status.
Mutation ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; Life Style ; Public health service ; gene polymorphism

OBJECTIVES: While there have recently been efforts to improve public health service at a governmental level, there is actually insufficient research on awareness of the roles related to public health service among hospital employees. This study examined role perception and function performance related to public health service among the medical staff in a national hospital. METHODS: 15% were randomly sampled from each type of occupation among the medical staff in a national university hospital, a survey was conducted in 323 persons, and there were a total of 265 participants (80.2%): 103 doctors(38.9%), 98 nurses (37.0%), and 64 others (24.1%). RESULTS: The hospital employees had insufficient awareness of their roles as public health service providers in terms of six required items for public health service: 1) services for supporting establishment, implementation, and assessment of public health service policies, 2) participation in the health service activities and support services by central or local governments, 3) technological support and educational services for private health service institutions, 4) health service for unprivileged brackets, 5) health service that requires association with other areas dealing with geriatric, disabled, and mentally-disordered people, and 6) health service for children and mothers. CONCLUSIONS: In general, since the hospital employees had insufficient awareness of their roles and responsibilities as public health service providers, it is necessary to secure manpower exclusively in charge of public health service and provide education about strategic public health service.
Child ; Cognition ; Fees and Charges ; Health Services ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Occupations ; Public Health ; United States Public Health Service

PURPOSE: As a part of analysis of home-based cancer patients management of public health centers, regional cancer center, and hospice institution in Jeju, this study was undertaken to establish their role. METHODS: We investigated current status of hospice palliative care, especially home-based cancer patients management and summary demand of public health centers. RESULTS: Services provided through the home-based cancer patients management project included physical, emotional, spiritual and education/informative services, even though there was little difference between them. The result showed that in the view of patients there was little relationship between public health centers, regional cancer center and hospice palliative institution. CONCLUSION: The relationship between home-based cancer patients management and institutions should be reinforced. Patients in acute state and difficulty care of patients should be referred to regional cancer center whereas maintenance state of patients should be referred to public health center.
Cancer Care Facilities ; Home Care Services, Hospital-Based ; Hospices ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Public Health ; United States Public Health Service

BACKGROUND: The number and proportion of live-alone elders in Korea have been increasing dramatically. We tried to identify the physical health status of live-alone elders in community and their needs for public health service in order to provide basic data for effective public health service to promote health and quality of life. METHODS: The subjects for this study were 38 nurses who provide visit-nursing service to live-alone elders in Seoul and Kyunggi Province. Data were collected by semi-structured questionnaires. RESULTS: The half of live-alone elders had disease, but only half of them took appropriate treatment. Barrier to treatment were difficulty to access to medical center, immobility, lack of drive and also poor insight. CONCLUSION: To solve the problems related to the elderly living alone in community, the instillation of public health policy that encompass professional medical service and comprehensive team approach are needed.
Aged ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Public Health* ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; United States Public Health Service*

BACKGROUND: With increasing use of medical radiologic procedures, wearing proper protector should be emphasized to reduce occupational radiation exposures. This research describes the rates of lead apron wearing for radiation protection and assessed occupational factors related to wearing rates for various types of healthcare professionals. METHODS: We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey through a website, on-site visits, fax, and mail. Of the 13,489 participants, 8858 workers who could not completely separate themselves from radiological procedure areas. Their general characteristics (sex and age), work history (job title, duration of employment, and hospital type), and practices (frequency of radiation procedures, ability to completely separate from radiation, and frequency of wearing protective lead aprons) were examined. RESULTS: The mean rate of lead apron wearing during radiologic procedures was 48.0 %. The rate was different according to sex (male: 52.9 %, female: 39.6 %), hospital type (general hospital: 63.0 %, hospital: 51.3 %, clinic: 35.6 %, dental hospital/clinic: 13.3 %, public health center: 22.8 %), and job title (radiologic technologist: 50.3 %, doctor: 70.3 %, dentist/dental hygienist: 15.0 %, nurse/nursing assistant: 64.5 %) (p < 0.001). By logistic regression analysis stratified by job title, use of lead aprons by radiologic technologists and nurses/nursing assistants was associated with hospital type and exposure frequency score. For doctors, apron wearing was associated with employment duration. For dentists/dental hygienists, apron wearing was associated with the exposure frequency score. CONCLUSIONS: To improve working environments for healthcare professionals exposed to radiation, it is necessary to consider related factors, such as job title, duration of employment, and hospital type, when utilizing a planning and management system to prevent radiation-related health problems.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Employment ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Postal Service ; Public Health ; Radiation Protection

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the yangsaeng level in a health management way of an aged women in rural area, and to offer basic material for the development of community's public health service. METHODS: The subjects were 144 aged women who participated voluntarily in the questionnaire. The data were collected from January to February, 2008 with a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS 13.0 win program for finding frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, ANOVA and Tukey. RESULTS: The average age of workers was 72. Total yangsaeng level was 3.08+/-.33, highest yangsaeng factor was Activity & Rest Yangsaeng of 3.55+/-.46 and lowest yangsaeng factor was Season Yangsaeng of 2.43+/-.75. The total Yangsaeng level was the significant difference in monthly incomes(F=4.046, p=.047). CONCLUSION: Considering the results above, the yangsaeng level of aged women is affected by the age, education level, a monthly income etc. Therefore, for health promotion plan of aged women, consider that their age, educational level, economic level ect, and systematic education for promotion of health is necessary.
Education ; Female ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Seasons ; United States Public Health Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify factors associated with smoking relapse. METHODS: The study sample was recruited among subjects who were enrolled in the smoking cessation clinic of a public health center and had succeeded in quitting smoking for at least six months. A total of 159 male subjects were followed via mail survey one year later. The independent variables in the analyses were socio-demographic characteristics, smoking history and behavior, receipt of smoking cessation aids, health behaviors and components of the health belief model (HBM). The dependent variable was smoking relapse assessed one year after quitting. Ordered logit regressions were used to identify factors associated with smoking relapse. RESULTS: The relapse rate of the ex-smokers in our sample was 25.8%, and the occasional smoking rate was 17.0%. Univariate analyses revealed that only factors related to the HBM, such as perceived susceptibility to diseases (p<0.01), perceived severity of diseases (p<0.01), perceived health benefits of not smoking (p<0.01), perceived barriers to quitting smoking due to increasing stress and difficulty in social life (p<0.01), and self-efficacy (p<0.01) were associated with the likelihood of relapse for ex-smokers. Ordered logit analyses yielded two significant factors affecting the likelihood of relapse, the perceived barriers to quitting smoking and self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that higher levels of barriers to quitting smoking and lower levels of self-efficacy were significantly related to risk of smoking relapse. These findings may be useful for identifying those at highest risk for relapse and choosing the optimal strategies for prevention of relapse for ex-smokers.
Health Behavior ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Male ; Postal Service ; Public Health ; Recurrence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the tasks of managers who were working in the Customized Visiting Health Services (CVHS) and to prioritize analyzed tasks according to performance frequency, perceived importance, and difficulty. METHODS: Job analysis method by Hartley (1999) was used for task analysis and performance frequency, perceived importance, and difficulty were used for prioritize as criteria. A total of 85 managers in the CVHS of public health centers nationwide were recruited through e-mail and mail survey. Using SPSS/WIN 15.0, descriptive statistics, such as frequency distribution, means, median, and standard deviation, were conducted to examine each subject's general characteristics, the frequency, importance, and difficulty of the tasks as well as to prioritize the each task. RESULTS: The job description of the managers revealed 12 duties, 35 tasks, and 104 task elements. Of the 85 managers, 84.8% were classified as nurses, 40.5% were home health care specialists, and 32.9% were social workers. Their coretasks were management of client cases, budget management, and management of work performance and quality assurance. CONCLUSION: Considering the analyzed managers' tasks and core tasks, we need to examine each manager's role precisely and provide various educational programs for improving overall manager competence.
Budgets ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Health Services ; House Calls ; Job Description ; Mental Competency ; Postal Service ; Public Health ; Public Health Practice ; Social Workers ; Specialization ; Task Performance and Analysis