• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.705-714
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• 2012

Objectives: This study assessed the associations between socio-demographic, health and wellbeing variables (independent variables) and daily smoking, attempts to quit smoking, and agreement with smoking ban (dependent variables). Methods: Data from 3,706 undergraduate students were collected from seven universities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland using a standardised questionnaire. Results: About 15.8% of the whole sample reported daily smoking, while 12% were occasional smokers. Smoking was significantly more prevalent among males, but the difference was due to a higher rate of occasional smokers. About every second smoker (55%) had attempted to quit smoking. Almost 45% of the whole sample agreed or strongly agreed with implementing a total smoking ban on campus. Daily smoking was more likely among students with not sufficient income, students whose fathers had at least a bachelor degree; and, students who reported binge drinking. Conversely, daily smoking was less likely among students who rated their health as very good/ excellent, those who ate ${\geq}5$ portions of fruit or vegetables, and those who had never taken illicit drugs. Previous attempt/s to quit smoking were more likely among students who have never taken illicit drugs and those who agreed with a total smoking ban; and less likely among those with not sufficient income. Daily smokers were less likely to report quit attempts as compared to occasional smokers. An agreement with smoking ban was more likely among students who rated their health as very good/excellent, those who ate ${\geq}5$ portions of fruit or vegetables daily, and those who had never taken illicit drugs, but less likely among daily smokers. Conclusion: Favourable health practices and positive attitudes towards smoking ban were associated with each other. Interventions would need to comprise multi-component programmes that do not solely focus on smoking prevention/cessation, but also on other health promoting practices as well.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2016

To observe the potential hepatoprotective effects of Gongjin-dan on the acute ethanol (EtOH)-induced liver damages in C57BL/6 mice with its possible action mechanisms. EtOH-mediated acute hepatic damages were induced by oral administration of EtOH total 3 doses. The changes on the body weight, liver weight, albumin, TG, AST, ALP, ALT, hepatic TG contents, hepatic antioxidant defense system, TNF-α, CYP 2E1 activity and mRNA expressions of hepatic lipogenic genes - SREBP-1c, SCD1, ACC1, FAS, PPARγ and DGAT2 or genes involved in fatty acid oxidation - PPARα, ACO and CPT1 were observed with final liver histopathological inspections after 15 days of continuous administration of silymarin 200 mg/kg, Gongjin-dan (GJD) 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg. The results were compared with silymarin 200 mg/kg treated mice. Marked decreases of body and liver weights, increases of serum AST, ALT, Albumin and TG levels, hepatic TG contents, TNF-α level, CYP 2E1 activity and mRNA expressions of hepatic lipogenic genes or decreases mRNA expressions of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation were observed with histopathological changes related hepatosteatosis increases of immunolabelled hepatocytes, as the results of a binge drinking of EtOH in the present study. Also destroys of hepatic antioxidant defense systems were demonstrated in EtOH control mice as compared with intact vehicle control mice, respectively. The results suggest that oral administration of 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg of GJD favorably protected the liver damages from acute mouse EtOH intoxications.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.89-96
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• 2016

This study comprised descriptive research the life stress and user satisfaction of female students who use University health clinic. From October 29 to November 11 2014, the 203 data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe with SPSS 21.0. The highest score were in 'study', the lowest were in 'friend'. There were significant different in 'Future' and 'study' by major departments, 'friend' different by grade. 'Lover' was higher in drinking group, in total and 'value' were higher by meal habit, in 'friend' was higher in group binge. The motivations of use were high in medical treatment and InBody. Most satisfaction item were free administration and emergency medical treatment. Thus it is necessary to different design to reduce life stress in female university students and to operate effectively in university health clinic.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.413-423
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the changes of health behaviors and concepts via self-reflection after health education with 6 videotapes for undergraduate students. Method: After the first semester in 2011, we collected the data for evaluating their own health-related life-style. Using qualitative content method, the data were analyzed. Result: Thirty-nine students participated in this study. Average age was 22.7 years, and 27 were male. Thirty-seven students replied unhealthy diet pattern; irregular meal time and binge. Four themes and 11 subjects emerged. The four themes were new perception for health and illness, evaluation of own health state, checking for health-related lifestyle, and trying to change for a healthy life pattern. The eleven subjects were chance to change their health habits, new perception about illness experience with family, uncertainty about upcoming health, worry about disease occurring, grasp the facts of unhealthy diet pattern, less exercise, growing stress, high-pressure drinking culture in the university, increasing concern for a healthy life, trying to change lifestyle, and difficulty in changing lifestyle. Conclusion: From the results of this study, we concluded that self-reflection on the health behaviors after health education with videotapes could reinforce to change health behaviors and concepts for undergraduate students.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2017

Occupational hazards of firefighting and rescue works include frequent exposure to emergencies and life-threatening situations. These stressful work conditions of being constantly under pressure and exposed to potentially traumatic events put them at higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared to the general population. PTSD is a potentially debilitating mental disorder, due to persistent intrusive thoughts, negative alterations of mood and cognition, hypervigilance, avoidance of similar situations and reminders, and re-experiences of the traumatic event. Previous studies have shown a relatively high prevalence of PTSD among firefighters, indicating the need for a systematic approach of early detection and prevention. Therefore, a critical review of the current literature on PTSD in firefighters would provide valuable insights into developing effective prevention and intervention programs. Literature indicated that there are risk factors of PTSD in firefighters, such as pre-existing depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, occupational stress, physical symptoms, and binge drinking, whereas social support and adequate rewards are protective factors. Although there are differences in the prevalence of PTSD across studies, partly due to various assessment tools utilized, different sample sizes, and sample characteristics, over one tenth of the firefighters were estimated to have PTSD. The current review warrants further investigations to precisely assess PTSD and co-morbid mental disorders, functional outcomes, and associated factors, and to develop evidence-based preventive and interventional programs to help firefighters with PTSD.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.463-478
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• 2012

This study investigated the health and nutritional characteristics according to household income level and obesity in Koreans aged over 50 years based on the 2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects were classified into 3 groups by average household income with reference to the minimum monthly living expenses (MLE): low (n = 319, < 100% MLE), middle (n = 222, < 200% MLE), high (n = 411, ${\geq}$ 200% MLE) and each group was compared by BMI index. With increasing income level, the prevalence of systolic hypertension and hyperlipidemia was increased. In the low income group, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting glucose were higher in the obese compared with the normal. In the middle and high income groups, the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and diastolic hypertension were higher in the obese. Subjects had nutritional imbalance, such as inadequate intake of calcium and potassium. With increasing income level, the percentages of protein and fat to total calorie were increased in addition to the intakes and density of nutrients. The obese in the low income group had higher intakes of energy, protein, phosphorus and higher consumption frequency of cereals and potatoes compared with the normal. It was shown that the obese of the middle and high income groups tended to have lower consumption frequency of Korean cabbage and higher frequency of fruits. The obese of high income group also had binge drinking habit. Therefore, this study suggests that specific approaches based on economic status should be considered in developing nutrition education program for the elderly.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2022

Purpose: Various individual and social factors influence depression in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and health status on depression of pregnant women in Korea. Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2019 Korean Community Health Survey conducted from August to October 2019. A structural questionnaire with Patient Health Quetsionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), health behavior, health status, and psychological characteristics was used. The data of 1,096 pregnant women between the ages of 19 and 55 years were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent-test and chi-square tests, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score of prenatal depression as measured by the PHQ-9 during pregnancy was 2.35 points out of 0 to 27 points. Low income (B=0.69, p<.001), low-education level (B=0.70, p<.001), skipping breakfast (B=0.34, p=.001), less than 8 hours of sleeping (B=0.26, p=.009), binge drinking during pregnancy (B=0.46, p=.001), and stress (B=1.89, p<.001) were significantly associated with increased depression scores. In contrast, depression scores significantly decreased as subjective health status (B=-0.59, p<.001) and subjective oral health status (B=-.17, p=.003) increased. Conclusion: Findings support the need for healthcare policies and clinical screening to alleviate prenatal depression, especially for pregnant women with low socioeconomic status, poor health behavior, poor health status, and high stress.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.121-130
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• 2024

This study utilized data from 1,068 women aged 40-59, drawn from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted in 2020, to investigate factors impacting subjective health perception and health-related quality of life. Methodologically, STATA 15.0 was employed for complex sample mean and standard deviation calculations, complex sample weighted percentages, complex sample t-tests, and multiple regression analyses. Common factors influencing both subjective health and health-related quality of life included education level, household size, depression, and stress. Age, binge drinking, and physical activity were identified as factors influencing subjective health perception. Insurance type, employment status, and sleep disorders emerged as factors impacting health-related quality of life. Recognizing middle age as a crucial transitional phase into old age, the development of health policy programs aimed at enhancing subjective health and health-related quality of life during this period is deemed essential.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.411-422
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• 2015

Objectives: This study investigated the socioeconomic factors that affect quality of life (QL) in healthy adults and to study the relationship between QL and health-related habits and food intake. Methods: Subjects consisted of 1,154 healthy adults without any known disease, aged 19 to 65 years from the 2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. We used SPSS statistical program version 20.0 for data analysis. Results: The average age and QL score of the study population were 36.7 years and 0.99 points, respectively. Males had a significantly higher QL score than the females (p < 0.001), and employed subjects and those employed in permanent positions had significantly higher scores as compared respectively with unemployed subjects and those employed in temporary positions (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). The group that responded "almost every day" to the "frequency of binge drinking" and "frequency of disruption of daily life due to drinking" had significantly lower QL scores as compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Further, the scores were significantly higher for individuals who practiced "intense physical activities" and "walking" (p < 0.001). The groups that responded that they were "very stressed" showed significantly lower QL scores in comparison to the other groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in QL scores according to anthropometric or biochemical indices. When subjects were divided into two groups based on average QL scores, the frequency of intake of "barbecued beef" was significantly higher while the frequency of intake of "fried eggs or rolled omelet," and "soy milk" was significantly lower in the high QL group. Conclusions: Based on these findings, it is evident that in healthy adults without any known underlying illnesses, psychological factors such as economic activity, occupational environment, and stress are considered to have a greater impact on their QL than are nutrient intake, blood biochemical indices, and anthropometric status.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.383-393
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• 2019

The present study was conducted to determine convergent factors affecting depression in drinker by age. This was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis study that used the raw data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2014 & 2016. The subjects of the present study were 4,446 middle-aged drinker. Variables related to general characteristics, physical and psychological factors were selected. After a sampling plan compound file was created using IBM SPSS 23.0 program, data were analyzed by giving weights. Depression was influenced by gender (30s, 50-60s), income (30-40s, 60s), education (30-40s), number of family members (30-60s), job (30-60s), eating level (30-40s, 60s), hypertension (40s), DM (30-40s), BMI (30-40s), smoking (30s, 50s), exercise (30s), weight control (60s), drinking binge (30-60s), subjective health (30-60s), subjective body awareness (30-50s), stress (30s-60s), quality of life (30-60s). It is required to design preventive interventions and management plans for depression, considering these factors comprehensively.