• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1135-1139
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• 2016

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Early detection is a key determinant of HNC prognosis. Hence, raising awareness of this disease may improve survival rates. The present study evaluated the level of awareness and screening status for HNC in the general population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: An e-questionnaire was distributed during our HNC awareness campaign at the Red Sea Mall in Jeddah. The questions assessed HNC knowledge and screening status among participants. Results: Of the 112 respondents, 68% indicated that they had no knowledge of HNC. Social media was the major source of information (39%) for respondents. The majority (40%) believed that it was the joint responsibility of dentists, dental hygienists, and general physicians to screen for HNC; 82% had never been screened. Conclusions: Knowledge and awareness of HNC must be increased in the general population and among dental health professionals.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.398-404
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• 2006

Purpose: To investigate the rate of questionable development in infants born prematurely and explore factors affecting developmental delays. Method: The participants were 46 infants born prematurely being seen in one of two urban health centers. A questionnaire and the HOME checklist were used to collect data, and the Korean Denver II developmental screening test was administered. Results: Of the participants 21.7% were classified as having questionable development. The only variable with a significant difference between the two groups was acceptance　in the HOME checklist. Psychosocial factors such as mothers' burden, depression, family functioning, and social support were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: An early developmental screening test for prematurely born infants is needed. Also, the childrearing environment was identified as a significant factor in infants' development. These findings suggest that HOME score might be useful for identifying infants at risk for developmental delays and interventions for these infants will probably be more effective if their mothers can provide a more appropriate social environment. Further studies are suggested with larger samples.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.272-279
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• 2021

Background: Korea's health screening program has been faced the need for changes as the population and diseases structure are changing. In addition to Korea, many countries operate state-led health check-up programs to improve the health level of the people, and the operating methods of the program appear in various forms according to each country's health insurance system. This study examines other state-led health screening programs and proposes a direction for the development of Korea's health screening program. Methods: The study was conducted using the literature review method, and the "country" was set as a unit for the case analysis. The operating method of the health screening programs and the financial resources were compared according to the health insurance system. Five countries were selected as Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Taiwan. Results: The analyzed countries mainly operate the health screening program as a management method for chronic diseases, but there were differences in the operating method, financing, and targeted subjects and examination items. In most countries, a risk assessment was performed prior to the examination (screening), and the subjects who needed the examination were first selected, and a follow-up management service was provided in accordance with the risk each individual exposed. Conclusion: Rather than applying the same screening method to populations with different risk levels, a health screening program will be constructed in consideration of the individual's health level and exposure risk, and the healthcare delivery system will be reorganized so that screening and treatment services can be linked.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1034-1040
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate inequalities in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates in Korea and trends therein using the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) across income and education groups. Materials and Methods: Data from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey, an annually conducted, nationwide cross-sectional survey, were utilized. A total of 17174 men and women aged 50 to 74 years were included for analysis. Prior experience with CRC screening was defined as having either a fecal occult blood test within the past year or a lifetime colonoscopy. CRC screening rates and annual percentage changes (APCs) were evaluated. Then, SII and RII were calculated to assess inequality in CRC screening for each survey year. Results: CRC screening rates increased from 23.4% in 2005 to 50.9% in 2015 (APC, 7.8%; 95% CI, 6.0 to 9.6). Upward trends in CRC screening rates were observed for all age, education, and household income groups. Education inequalities were noted in 2009, 2014, and overall pooled estimates in both indices. Income inequalities were inconsistent among survey years, and overall estimates did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Education inequalities in CRC screening among men and women aged 50 to 74 years were observed in Korea. No apparent pattern, however, was found for income inequalities. Further studies are needed to thoroughly outline socio-economic inequalities in CRC screening.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2914-2922
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• 2014

To study the risk factors and effect of gastric cancer screening, case-control study was conducted. From June 2007 to December 2011, 580 newly diagnosed gastric cancer (342 advanced gastric cancer, 171 early gastric cancer) patients were enrolled at the department of general surgery in a university hospital. History of gastric examinations and possible risk factors were collected through interviews with structured questionnaire and reviewed medical chart. Comparing advanced cancer and early gastric cancer were analysed by chi-square test and logistic regression. The results showed that aged 70 and over (OR 2.393; 95%CI 1.329-4.310), Ex-smoker (OR 1.612; 95%CI 0.970-2.680), blood type A (OR 1.784; 95%CI 1.035-3.075), and H. pylori infection (OR 1.699; 95%CI 0.905-3.191) were important risk factors for advanced gastric cancer compared to early gastric cancer. Weight loss (OR 2.752; 95%CI 1.333-5.684) and indigestion (OR 1.574; 95%CI 1.069-2.319) were also important sign and symptom. Although the results cannot find effect of screening, national policies on early cancer detection must conduct.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the effect of screening by using endoscopy on the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric cancer were compared in individuals who underwent an endoscopy because of symptoms (non-screening group) or for screening purposes (screening group). The distributions of gastric cancer stages and treatment modalities in 2006 and 2011 were compared. Results: The proportion of patients in the screening group increased from 45.1% in 2006 to 65.4% in 2011 (P<0.001). The proportion of stage I cancers in the entire patient sample also increased (from 60.5% in 2006 to 70.6% in 2011; P=0.029). In 2011, the percentages of patients with cancer stages I, II, III, and IV were 79.9%, 8.2%, 10.9%, and 1.1%, respectively, in the screening group, and 47.9%, 10.8%, 29.8%, and 11.5%, respectively, in the non-screening group. The proportion of laparoscopic and robotic surgeries increased from 9.6% in 2006 to 48.3% in 2011 (P<0.001), and endoscopic submucosal dissection increased from 9.8% in 2006 to 19.1% 2011 (P<0.001). Conclusions: The proportion of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer by using the screening program increased between 2006 and 2011. This increase was associated with a high proportion of early-stage cancer diagnoses and increased use of minimally invasive treatments.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.45.1-45.11
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• 2023

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common type of chronic liver disease, with severity levels ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The extent of liver fibrosis indicates the severity of NASH and the risk of liver cancer. However, the mechanism underlying NASH development, which is important for early screening and intervention, remains unclear. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) is a useful method for identifying hub genes and screening specific targets for diseases. In this study, we utilized an mRNA dataset of the liver tissues of patients with NASH and conducted WGCNA for various stages of liver fibrosis. Subsequently, we employed two additional mRNA datasets for validation purposes. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to analyze gene function enrichment. Through WGCNA and subsequent analyses, complemented by validation using two additional datasets, we identified five genes (BICC1, C7, EFEMP1, LUM, and STMN2) as hub genes. GSEA analysis indicated that gene sets associated with liver metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis were uniformly downregulated. BICC1, C7, EFEMP1, LUM, and STMN2 were identified as hub genes of NASH, and were all related to liver metabolism, NAFLD, NASH, and related diseases. These hub genes might serve as potential targets for the early screening and treatment of NASH.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.414-423
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• 2019

Purpose: This study evaluates the effect of behavioral relaxation training on distress and cancer screening intention of patients with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: The research was conducted in a non-equivalent control group posttest design. Data were collected from endoscopy subjects in B city from October to November of 2018. Fifteen minutes of behavioral relaxation training were provided to the experimental group (n=40) and traditional relaxation therapy methods were provided to the control group (n=40). Outcome measures were distress and cancer screening intention of patients with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Data were analyzed with a ${\chi}^2$-test, independent t-test, Fisher's exact test with SPSS/PC version 23.0. Results: The objective discomfort (t=8.81, p<.001) of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group; there were no significant differences in the subjective discomfort (t=1.73, p=.088). The cancer screening intention (t=-5.85, p<.001) of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Conclusion: Behavioral relaxation training was effective in heightening cancer screening intention. Therefore it can be usefully applied to increase cancer screening intention.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.240-250
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• 2013

The early detection of suicidal ideation is essential for the prevention of suicide. This study aimed to develop a brief screening tool that can be easily administered in medical settings. The Suicide Risk Screening Tool was designed for use by physicians to provide a screening process that would be reliable, standardized, quick and feasible to implement. A 2-item screening tool was derived from the Screening for Depression and Thoughts of Suicide in the Norton Sound region of Alaska, USA. The scale was modified to reflect the current situation in Korea including the elimination of the personal identification number, and was labeled the Korean Suicide Risk Screening Tool. Its reliability and applicability for medical setting were examined by explanatory study of 7 clinicians. Its validity was examined among a further 325 patients of four different medical institutions, using the results of interviewer-administered survey included demographic, clinical characteristics, and present mental status as the external criterion. A brief 2-item suicide risk screening tool can be used by mental and non-mental health clinicians to accurately detect suicidality in patients.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.13-30
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• 2008

This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of a diagnostic instrument to be used to measure the developmental level of very young children (aged birth through 36 months) and to screen young children at risk. The subjects of this study were 861 young children. Data were analyzed by item response distribution, item discrimination, reliability, and validity of the scale. Items reflected the developmental level of each age group. Overall internal consistency was relatively high (Cronbach's ${\alpha}=.90{\sim}.95$), and test-retest (after 2 weeks) reliability was high. Content validity was examined by a panel of experts in the related field. The construct validity as well as the concurrent validity of this instrument was also established.