• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2015

Currently, inappropriate information regarding cancer is being disseminated indiscreetly via the media and Internet. Many people are confused due to the mixed presence of facts and misinformation concerning cancer. Owing to the flood of information, especially that concerning gastrointestinal cancer (the most common cancer in Korea), patients with gastrointestinal cancers, their family members, and medical staff, as well as the general public, are faced with a number of problems in understanding, treating, and overcoming this type of cancer. Therefore, investigating the level of recognition for and understanding of gastrointestinal cancers among these populations is very important for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of this disease. This review article investigated the differences in the recognition levels of the general understanding, prevention, quality of life, pain control, and the ethical issues of gastrointestinal cancer treatment among the general public, patients with gastrointestinal cancers, their family members, and medical staff via surveys.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.51-85
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• 2017

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the awareness improvement of atopic dermatitis(AD) for AD children's parents and to evaluate the mental health condition of AD children and QoL of their parents. Methods : We conducted elementary school visit education(the first education) and recruited children and parents who wanted to participate the hospital visit education(the Second education). In the first education, we lectured about AD, performed survey about QoL and awareness about AD and obtained 48 valid results. In the second education, we performed an education for AD again, skin condition evaluation, mental health analysis survey and obtained 29 valid results. We compared the AD and non-AD groups of each education in the first and second education. We assessed atopic awareness, FDLQI, DFI, CDI, BAI, and KISE scores by gender, age, duration of disease, onset, and severity of AD. Results : Despite children with AD, the survey showed their parents lacked knowledge about AD. However, they acquired the necessary knowledge in AD education. There was a significant difference in the total score of Atopic awareness between the AD group in the first education and the AD group in the second education. (p=0.042) In addition, the CDI and BAI scores of all patients were divided by the duration of disease, and it was estimated that depression and anxiety disorders may be aggravated by longer term illness. Conclusions and Discussions : This study confirmed duration of AD affects AD children's mental health, and verified positive changes in atopic awareness after AD education.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4307-4312
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• 2013

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy of women worldwide. It is the leading cause of female cancer related disability and mortality. In Saudi Arabia breast cancer ranks first among cancerous diseases in females. In the Gulf region, and especially in Saudi Arabia, few studies have been conducted to address breast cancer awareness. The purpose of the current study was therefore to investigate the level of breast cancer awareness among Saudi females in Jeddah, focusing on knowledge of breast cancer warning signs, risk factors, screening programs and breast self-examination (BSE). The design of this study was an exploratory correlational analysis. The sample comprised 200 Saudi females aged 20 and older living in Jeddah. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews. Breast cancer awareness was measured using a modified Arabic version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (Breast CAM) version 2. Descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson's Product Moment correlation coefficients and ANOVA test were used to answer study questions. Out of 200 participants, 50.5% were aware of breast lump as a warning sign of breast cancer, 57.5% claimed that family history was risk factor, 20.5% had undergone breast screening, 79% heard about BSE, and 47.5% knew how to perform BSE. Findings indicated that Saudi females level of awareness of breast cancer is very inadequate. Public awareness interventions are needed in order to overcome an ever-increasing burden of this disease among Saudi females.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.93-104
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between oral health awareness symptoms and academic stress in some high school girls and to find out existing improvement plans. Methods: This study conducted a self-reported survey on 303 high school girls from four high schools in Jeollabuk-do. Results: Higher academic performance, poor subjective oral health, awareness of dental caries, awareness of jaw joint disease, awareness of discomfort during chewing, and awareness of tooth pain significantly increased overall admission stress. The most influential factors were dental pain symptoms, followed by subjective oral health and dental caries symptoms. Conclusions: Effective measures to help high school girls cope with academic stress, a systematic school oral health policy, and practical health promotion activities are necessary to improve their oral health.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the public's awareness of the importance of hand washing and to compare perceptions on the habit of hand washing with actual hand washing behavior. Methods : Data were collected by observing 2,800 participants washing their hands after using public restrooms in seven cities nationwide and by surveying 1,000 respondents (age > 14 years) through telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results : Although 94% of the survey respondents claimed to mostly or always wash their hands after using public restrooms, only 63.4% of the observed participants did wash their hands after using public restrooms. Significant factors related to increased adherence to hand washing were female gender, approximate ages of 20 to 39 years by their appearance, and the presence of other people from the observation. About 79% of the survey respondents always washed their hands after using bathrooms at home, 73% washed their hands before handling food, and 67% washed their hands upon returning to their home. However, 93.2% and 86.3% of the survey respondents did not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing and after handling money, respectively. Although most of the survey respondents (77.6%) were aware that hand washing is helpful in preventing communicable diseases, 39.6% of the survey respondents did not do so because they were 'not accustomed' to washing their hands and 30.2% thought that washing their hands is 'annoying'. Conclusions : This is the first comprehensive report on hand washing behavior and awareness of the general population in Korea. The result of this study in terms of individual behavior and awareness of hand washing are comparable with similar studies conducted in other countries. However adherence to hand washing is still low and needs to be increased. The results of this study can be used as a baseline in setting up strategies and activities to promote adherence to hand washing.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.154-168
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify knowledge, awareness, and risk of occurrence of venous thromboembolism among pregnant women. Methods: Subjects were 106 pregnant women treated as inpatients and outpatients at a women's health hospital in a metropolitan city February 19-March 22, 2018. Instruments consisted of questionnaires that included knowledge, awareness, and risk of occurrence of venous thromboembolism queries. Collected data were analyzed by t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Mean score of subjects' knowledge of venous thromboembolism was 4.47 (0-15), mean score of subjects' awareness of venous thromboembolism was 66.98 (25-100), and mean score of subjects' risk factor of venous thromboembolism was 0.98 (0-44). Conclusions: Pregnant women's level of knowledge and awareness of prevention and risk factors on venous thromboembolism, is significantly low. To raise their awareness of risk symptoms and prevent occurrence of the disease, it is essential for nurses as well as medical staffs to: 1) provide an educational program on venous thromboembolism for patients; 2) assess and monitor pregnant women with a risk factor of venous thromboembolism; and 3) implement proper prophylaxis for patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.193-201
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare dementia awareness among physiotherapists and occupational therapists who treat dementia patients and provide opportunities to increase dementia awareness as medical technicians, expand the scope of treatment, and enhance professionalism. Methods: An online survey was conducted from January 8th to 19th, 2021 for physical therapists who are members of the Korean Physical Therapist Association and Occupational therapists who are members of the Korean Occupational Therapists Association. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 program. To verify the difference in the awareness of dementia among medical technicians, a t-test was performed, and the chi-square test was used to analyze the difference in the responses for each question. Results: In this study, occupational therapists had a significantly higher average and standard deviation than physical therapists. Occupational therapists also had a significantly higher level of dementia awareness, including dementia symptom-related, dementia disease-related, and dementia therapy knowledge. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that various educational initiatives and systems should be developed to help medical professionals increase their awareness and interest on dementia as a community, which can enable them to move in the same treatment direction with a common goal.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-77
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• 2012

This study was carried out on hospitalized patients receiving diet therapy satisfaction and awareness of nutrition education in small and medium-sized hospitals in southern Gyeonggi area. By the face-to-face interview with questionnaire method, the survey was carried out on 150 subjects (99 males and 51 females). The patients (64.7% of males, 52.9% of females) heard the description of diet therapy without the aid of written manual. Patients were moderately satisfied by food that was rated based on these indicators: tastiness (2.45), saltiness (2.23), smelliness (2.23), and appetizing appearance (2.39) as a 4 point scale. Most of the patients (80.8% of males, 69.8% of females) wanted to continue diet therapy. The importance of diet was correlated with the tastiness, saltiness, and appetizing appearance of diet. And the help of dietitians' explanation was correlated with appetite. 55.6% of males and 35.4% of females received nutrition education before (p<0.05). The number of times nutrition education was received was once for male (33.3%) and three times for female (44.4%). Most nutrition education satisfaction that was calculated on a 4 point scale was well understood (3.03), recognized importance (3.44 for males, 2.78 for females) and help for disease management (p<0.01). Also they were satisfied with the explanation of disease (3.20). Nutrition education satisfaction was correlated positively with explanation about food related to disease, the current dietary treatment, how to prepare diet recipes, and dietitian's kindness, but negatively with satisfaction with explanation of diet therapy, and the description and help for disease management. In conclusion, the most important factor in practicing diet therapy was meeting with the dietitian. Intensive nutrition education after the patient's discharge is necessary for patients to continue diet therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.433-443
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• 2022

Purpose: This qualitative study was to understand the awareness of epidemiological investigation tasks for nurses who were in charge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemiological investigations. Methods: Before data collection, written consent was obtained from 13 participants, and the data were then collected from September 1 to December 31, 2021. Individual interviews were conducted and recorded by video interview using Zoom, and data were transcribed verbatim. Four themes were derived by using the qualitative thematic analysis method. Results: The participants perceived that epidemiological investigations were burdensome but that the field work was important, and that expertise and collaboration were required. The participants started work without preparation due to the explosive increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and they recognized work conflicts, unstable employment, and exhaustion as obstacles to their work performance. On the other hand, the participants took pride in contributing to the national epidemiological investigation and control and felt a sense of responsibility as nursing professionals. Finally, participants mentioned that the training of infectious disease practitioner was important for work improvement. Conclusion: Further research is needed on the development of standardized manuals for the training of nursing personnel as infectious disease specialists through the job analysis of epidemiological investigators.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2479-2483
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• 2016

Background: This study explored the knowledge and awareness about colorectal cancer (CRC) among undergraduate students of one of the leading universities in Saudi Arabia, along with the mode of information access. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, among students of different faculties. The study questionnaire, containing 28 items, was adapted from surveys identified in the relevant literature. The CRC awareness questionnaire consisted of an awareness section (early CRC signs and symptoms, and risk factors) and a knowledge section. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 21.0. Results: A total of 525 undergraduate students participated in the study. The majority were females (63.0%) and approximately half (56.8%) were medical students. The majority of the students (82.3%) were aware of CRC, and 68% thought that CRC is a preventable disease. Regarding colorectal cancer screening tests, only one-third of students (33%) had actual knowledge, while the majority of the students (77.0%) thought that there are tests which help in early detection. Only 4% of the participants had a family history of CRC. The majority of the participants (84%) thought that CRC is a disease that can be cured. Almost 50-60% participants had good awareness level regarding risk factors, and signs and symptoms. Regarding knowledge, participant responses varied for family history (52%), age (59%), chronic infection of the colon (72%), obesity and lack of exercise (66%). More than one-third of the students had received information material regarding CRC from their curriculum followed by social media (20.4%), and nearly 40% from other sources such as TV, hospital and mass media. Female participants had significantly better awareness in a few questions regarding CRC awareness as compared to their male counterparts. There was a significant difference observed between medical and non-medical students (p<0.001) in overall score of awareness and knowledge about CRC while no significant difference found in gender-wise comparison. Conclusions: Knowledge and awareness of students about CRC were not up to the mark. Medical students and female students had better knowledge in a few areas, but the overall situation is dismal.