• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2019

This study examines the determinants of emergency care utilization and equity of access to care in elderly Koreans. Based on the data from the 2014 Korea Health Panel Survey, descriptive and logistic regression analysis was performed. The sample for this study was 1,313 individuals who participated in interviews. Predisposing factors such as age, sex, and education were significant determinants of emergency care utilization. Differences in need do not fully account for the original differences observed between subgroups of older Koreans. Health status was important determinant of older Koreans using emergency care services. Spending medical expense did not ameliorate the subgroup differences in the use of emergency care services. Nonetheless, spending medical expense remains a particularly important predictor of emergency care utilization. Health care reforms in Korea should continue to concentrate on insuring effective universal emergency care, implying that all older Koreans with need receive effective coverage. Future study is also needed to understand the access barriers that may exist for the selected demographic subgroups, i.e., those over 75, women, less educated persons, and those with higher medical expense.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.415-420
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• 1999

Objectives: We investigated the effects of changes in obesity and life style factors, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise, on the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol among Korean men. Methods: This study included 7,205 healthy male employees in the steel manufacturing industry. Each subject underwent health examination in 1994 and was re-examined in 1997. The study subjects were classified into four categories, according to changes in body mass index (BMI) (loss; stable; mild gain: severe gain), cigarette smoking (quitter; nor-smoker; smoker continued; smoker started), alcohol drinking (quitter; non-drinker; drinker continued; drinker started) and exercise (more exercise; continuous regular exercise; continuous irregular or no exercise; less exercise), respectively. We evaluated the relationship between the categories of change in those independent variables and the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol, adjusted for BMI in 1994 and age by analysis of variance. Results: The change in systolic blood pressure was positively associated with the changes in BMI (p<0.001) and drinking (p=0,001), but negatively with smoking (p=0,004), compared to the first category of each independent variables. The systolic blood pressure was significantly less increased in the continuous smoking group than quitter or hon-smoker. The changes in diastolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol appeared to have statistically significant linear relationships only with the change in BMI. The change in exercise showed a marginal significance with diastolic blood pressure (p=0.088). Conclusions: These prospective data emphasize the importance of obesity as a determinant of the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol. In addition, the changes in smoking and drinking habits can affect systolic blood pressure.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2024

Background: Gasoline, a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds is classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Gasoline station attendants, consistently exposed to its hazardous components, may face genotoxic effects. This study aimed to assess the influence of varying work shift durations on DNA damage in gasoline station attendants. Methods: Ninety individuals from three locations in southern México were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay. Demographic, occupational, and lifestyle data were collected. Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Results: Significant differences in DNA damage parameters were observed between exposed and unexposed groups. The impact of tobacco, alcohol, and exercise on DNA damage was negligible. Extended work shifts (12 and 24 hours) showed heightened DNA damage compared to 8-hour shifts and the unexposed group. A novel finding revealed a modest but significant correlation between DNA damage and job seniority. Conclusion: The study highlights the intricate relationship between occupational exposure to gasoline components, DNA damage, and work shift lengths. Extended shifts correlate with heightened genotoxic effects, emphasizing the importance of personalized safety measures. The significant correlation between DNA damage and job seniority introduces occupational longevity as a determinant in the genetic health of gasoline station attendants. This discovery has implications for implementing targeted interventions and preventive strategies to safeguard workers' genetic integrity throughout their years of service. The study calls for further exploration of unconsidered factors in understanding the multifactorial nature of DNA damage in this occupational setting.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2017

This research was conducted to find out determinant variables which can influence the degree of flow in smoking simulation game. We set up flow experience as a dependent variable. Several factors including empathy, health concern, and brainwave(${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$) EEG(Electroencephalogram) as a physiological indicator, which was expected to affect flow, were set up as independent variables to perform regression analysis. As a result, empathy, health consciousness, and ${\beta}$ wave had positive influences on flow in smoking simulation game but ${\alpha}$ wave had negative effect. This research empirically analyzed users' experience and neurophysiological changes which can influence on flow in serious game and contributed to theoretical and methodological development in health-related game research.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2008

This study conducted a questionnaire survey for some local senior populations in Jeonbuk province, Korea, and came to the following conclusions: This study analyzed possible differences in elders' oral health beliefs and oral health behaviors depending on their general characteristics. As a result, it was found that there were significant differences in their oral health beliefs depending upon their religion, academic career and oral health conditions. It was found that high oral health beliefs group showed more significant differences in 'toothbrushing' and 'diet control' than low oral health beliefs group(p < .05). It was found that active oral health behavior group had higher quality of life than inactive oral health behavior group(p < .05), and 'regular visit of dental clinic' was a critical determinant of life quality(p < .05).

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2019

Background: The food and food service influence the quality of life and the general health condition of older persons living in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Purchasing good food materials is a ground of good food service. In Korea, the residents in LTC facilities should pay for the cost of food materials and ingredients out of their pocket because it is not covered by LTC insurance. This study explored what factors affect the cost of food materials paid by LTC facility residents and which factor affects most. Methods: We used data from the study on out-of-pocket payment on national LTC insurance, which surveyed 1,552 family caregivers of older residents in LTC facilities. We applied conditional multi-level model, of which the first level represents the characteristics of care receivers and caregivers and its second level reflects those of LTC facilities. Results: We found that the facility residents with college-graduated family caregivers paid 11,545 Korean won more than those with less than elementary-graduated ones. However, the income level of family caregivers did not significantly affect the amount of the food material cost of the residents. The residents in privately owned, large, metropolitan-located facilities were likely to pay more than those in other types of facilities. The amount of the food material cost of the residents was mainly decided by the facility level factors rather than the characteristics of care recipients and their family caregivers (intra-class correlation=82%). Conclusion: These findings suggest that it might be effective to design a policy targeting facilities rather than residents in order to manage the cost of food materials of residents in LTC facilities. Setting a standard price for food materials in LTC facilities, like Japan, could be suggested as a feasible policy option. It needs to inform the choice of LTC users by providing comparable food material cost information. The staffing requirement of nutritionist also needs to be reviewed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5111-5116
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• 2013

Background: Early in the 21st century, cancers are the second cause of death worldwide. Colon cancer is third most common cancer and one of the few amenable to early diagnosis and treatment. Evaluation of factors affecting this cancer is important to increase survival time. Some of these factors affecting all diseases including cancer are social determinants of health. According to the importance of this disease and relation with these factors, this study was conducted to assess the relationship between social determinants of health and colon cancer survival. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study for patients with colon cancer registered in the Cancer Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, from April 2005 to November 2006, performed using questionnaires filled by telephone interview with patients (if patients had died, with family members). Data was analyzed with SPSS software (version 19) for descriptive analysis and STATA software for survival analysis including log rank test and three step Cox Proportional Hazard regression. Results: Five hundred fifty nine patients with ages ranging from 23 to 88 years with mean${\pm}$standard deviation of $63{\pm}11.8$ years were included in the study. The five year survival was 68.3%( 387 patients were alive and 172 patients were dead by the end of the study). The Cox proportional hazard regression showed 5-year survival was related to age (HR=0.53, p=0.042 for>50 years versus<50 years old) in first step, gender (HR=0.60, p=0.006 for female versus male) in second step, job (HR=1.7, p=0.001 for manual versus non manual jobs), region of residency (HR=3.49, p=0.018 for west versus south regions), parents in childhood (HR=2.87, p=0.012 for having both parents versus not having), anatomical cancer location (HR=2.16, p<0.033 for colon versus rectal cancer) and complete treatment (HR=5.96, p<0.001 for incomplete versus complete treatment). Conclusions: Social determinants of health such as job, city region residency and having parents during childhood have significant effects in 5-year survival of colon cancer and it may be better to consider these factors in addition to developing cancer treatment and to focus on these determinants of health in long-time planning.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.215-227
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• 1999

Objectives: To investigate compliance of hypertension patients using modified Theory of Reasoned Action(TRA). Methods: The data were collected for 7-12 April 1997, by interviewing 190 Hypertension patients in Hwachon, Kangwon-do. The analytical techniques employed include contingency table analysis and logit analysis. Results: 15.1% of patients were unaware of the fact that he/she has hypertension and 11.2% did not know that he/she should take drug. 20.8% of patients took drug continuously, 20.1% had drug intermittently, and 53.1% had never have treatment. In the contingency table analysis, several variables were found to be significantly related to patient compliance. They included variables for attitude towards the consequences of taking drugs, normative beliefs, systolic BP at the enrollment, knowledge of how to take hypertensive drugs, variables for general health behavior and experience with having health worker's home visit. The logit analysis was performed by two steps. first step uses experience with drug treatment of hypertension as the dependent variable, and second step uses continuity of treatment. Included in the predictors that are significantly related to the former analysis are subjected norms produced by combining normative beliefs and motivation to comply, knowledge of how to take hypertensive drugs, and opinion about natural recovery of diseases. The only significant determinant of continuous treatment was knowledge of how to take hypertensive drugs. Conclusions: The results of analysis suggest the usefulness of TRA as a framework for the study of compliance of hypertensive patients. The findings have some practical implication as well. One is that efforts for enhancing compliance should be directed not only patients but also to other persons influencing patient's attitude and behavior. It also suggest that correct understanding of hypertension treatment is essential to perform the appropriate patient role.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.253-262
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was carried out to identify factors influencing osteoporosis in women at pre- and post-menopausal state. Methods: The subjects of this study were 52 pre-menopausal and 125 post-menopausal women who were assessed of bone density in one general hospital. The data were collected through review of clinical records and telephone interviews using a questionnaire. Results: In the pre-menopausal women, the factors influencing osteoporosis were regular exercise (protective factor) and age (risk factor). Regression analysis showed that the factors attributable to osteoporosis included educational level, weight, age and number of pregnancy, accounted for 41.89% of the total variance. In the post-menopausal women. the factors influencing osteoporosis were age (risk factor), low educational level (risk factor), low economical state (risk factor), high parity (risk factor), and intake of coffee (protective factor). Regression analysis also showed that factors attributable to their osteoporosis included age, educational level, number of delivery, intake of the coffee, regular exercise, number of pregnancy and duration of oral pill intake, accounted for 37.41 % of the total variance. Conclusion: In pre-menopausal women, regular exercise was one of the most powerful determinant of their bone mass. Therefore, it is necessary to participate in a regular exercise program to maintain peak bone mass density prior to the onset of menopause. In post-menopausal women, increased age was the most influencing factor of their bone mass. Therefore, it is essential to establish early diagnosis and management of osteoporosis after menopause.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.250-260
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• 2005

This study was designed to find the symptom prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders and the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among selected hair dressers. Methods; The survey were conducted from July 1 to 30, 2004 for 459 hair dressers working in Seoul and Gwangju using self-administration questionnaire. The risk factors on musculoskeletal disorders have analysed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study are summarized as follows: The experience rate of musculoskeletal disorders symptom in the last one year was 56.4%. The experience rates of each body parts were 36.4% on the shoulders, 30.5% on the legs and the feet, 28.5% on the low back, 27.0% on the hand and the fingers, 23.3% on the neck and 17.0% on the arms and the elbows. The prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders symptom in the last one week was 40.5%, those of each body parts were 24.0% on the legs and the feet, 21.4% on the shoulders, 20.7% on the low back, 15.7% on the hand and the wrists, 15.0% on the neck, 9.4% on the arms. The risk factors on musculoskeletal disorders were working posture(${\beta}=0.32$), perceived stress(${\beta}=0.19$), working period(${\beta}=0.16$), standing working over 10 hour(${\beta}=0.16$), hard working(${\beta}=0.11$). The adjusted determinant coefficient($R^2$) of this regression model was 0.267. Based on the results, in order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders of hair dressers, working posture shall be improved and leisure opportunities to relieve stress, and health management program shall be provided.