• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.30
• /
• pp.12.1-12.7
• /
• 2015

Objectives In South Korea, health insurance data are used as material for the health insurance of national whole subject. In general, health insurance data could be useful for estimating prevalence or incidence rate that is representative of the actual value in a population. The purpose of this study was to apply the concept of episode of care (EoC) in the utilization of health insurance data in the field of environmental epidemiology and to propose an improved methodology through an uncertainty assessment of disease course and outcome. Methods In this study, we introduced the concept of EoC as a methodology to utilize health insurance data in the field of environmental epidemiology. The characterization analysis of the course and outcome of applying the EoC concept to health insurance data was performed through an uncertainty assessment. Results The EoC concept in this study was applied to heat stroke (International Classification of Disease, 10th revision, code T67). In the comparison of results between before and after applying the EoC concept, we observed a reduction in the deviation of daily claims after applying the EoC concept. After that, we categorized context, model, and input uncertainty and characterized these uncertainties in three dimensions by using uncertainty typology. Conclusions This study is the first to show the process of constructing episode data for environmental epidemiological studies by using health insurance data. Our results will help in obtaining representative results for the processing of health insurance data in environmental epidemiological research. Furthermore, these results could be used in the processing of health insurance data in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8451-8454
• /
• 2016

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare but highly invasive malignancy characterized by poor survival. In a national cancer survey, the age-standardized incidence rate of GBC was highest in Jeju Island among the 15 provinces in South Korea. The aim of this descriptive epidemiological study was to suggest the modifiable risk factors for this rare malignant disease in Jeju Island by performing an age-sex-matched case-control study. Materials and Methods: The case group included patients diagnosed with GBC at the Department of Internal Medicine of Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, South Korea, within the 5-year study period. The control group consisted of age-sex-matched subjects selected from among the participants of the health promotion center at the same institute and in the same period. We compared 78 case-control pairs in terms of clinical variables such as histories of hypertension, diabetes, vascular occlusive disorders, alcohol and smoking consumption, obesity, and combined polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (PLG) or gallstone diseases (GSDs). Results: Among the relevant risk factors, alcohol consumption, parity ${\geq}2$, PLG, and GSDs were significant risk factors in the univariate analysis. PLG (p < 0.01; OR, 51.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.98-875.3) and GSD (p < 0.01; OR, 54.9; 95% CI, 3.00-1001.8) were associated risk factors of GBC in the multivariate analysis with the conditional logistic regression model. However, we failed to find any correlation between obesity and GBC. We also found a negative correlation between alcohol consumption history and GBC in the multivariate analysis (p < 0.01; OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.31). Conclusions: These results suggest that combined PLG and GSDs are strongly associated with the GBC in Jeju Island and mild to moderate alcohol consumption may negatively correlate with GBC risk.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.80-89
• /
• 1982

In order to observe the endemic status of Clonrchis sinensis infection in Samrangjin eup, Milyang gun, Kyongsang nam do, a total number of 294 stool specimens were collected from the inhabitants who lived in the basin of the Nakdong river. The specimens were examined by cellophane thick smear technique and Stoll's egg dilution technique during the period from May to June 1983. The epidemiological status was analysed statistically by the regression equation and catalytic curv with the results obtained from this area. The results are as follows : 1) The infestation rate of Clonorchis sinensis in 294 was 49.0%. 2) No remarkable difference was observed between male (52.5%) and female (44.8%). 3) Average E.P.G. by Stoll's egg dilution technique in this area was 9,597. 4) The degree of the intensity of Clonorchis infection by E.P.G. count was distributed as 10.5% in very heavy infection, 14.7% in heavy infection, 47.4% in moderate infection, and 29.3% in light infection. 5) The intensity of endemicity in this area was represented with the regression equation calculated with the cumulative percentages of E.P.G. counts. Regression equation was y=3.40+1.23 log x and Cs. $D._{50}$ was 19.99. 6) The two stage catalytic model was applied and the calculation lead to the equation $y=1296(e^{-0.008t}-e^{-0.035t})$ ; a=0.035 > b=0.008 in this surveyed area. 7) Other helminthic infection rate in this area was 7.1% in A. lumbricoides, 9.5% in T. trichiura and 4.1% in E. vermicularis respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.8
• /
• pp.321-330
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the reliability and validity of the Korean self-compassion scale using data from 312 correctional workers. To validate the self-compassion scale using the collected data, correlational analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were applied. To explore relationships between the self-compassion scale and related instruments, five instruments were used (the Korean occupational stress scale, the center for epidemiological studies depression scale, the Maslach burnout inventory scale, perceived stress scale, and the satisfaction with life scale). The results showed that the collected data better fit the 6-factor model than the 3-factor and 2-factor models. There were statistically significant relationships between the self-compassion scale and five other scales. These results suggest that the self-compassion scale is a good instrument to examine risk factors that can remain during continuous stress situations and to explore protective factors that can maintain the therapeutic relationship. The implications of this study and future research directions were also discussed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.299-307
• /
• 2019

Objectives: While occupational stress has long been a central focus of psychological research, few studies have investigated how immigrant microbusiness owners (MBOs) respond to their unusually demanding occupation, or how their unresolved occupational stress manifests in psychological distress. Based on the job demands-resources model, this study compared MBOs to employees with regard to the relationships among emotional demands, job resources, and depressive symptoms. Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 1288 Korean immigrant workers (MBOs, professionals, office workers, and manual workers) aged 30 to 70, living in Toronto and surrounding areas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between March 2013 and November 2013. Results: Among the four occupational groups, MBOs appeared to endure the greatest level of emotional demands, while reporting relatively lower levels of job satisfaction and job security; but MBOs reported the greatest job autonomy. The effect of emotional demands on depressive symptoms was greater for MBOs than for professionals. However, an inspection of stress-resource interactions indicated that though MBOs enjoyed the greatest autonomy, the protective effects of job satisfaction and security on the psychological risk of emotional demands appeared to be more pronounced for MBOs than for any of the employee groups. Conclusions: One in two Korean immigrants choose self-employment, most typically in family-owned microbusinesses that involve emotionally taxing dealings with clients and suppliers. However, the benefits of job satisfaction and security may protect MBOs from the adverse mental health effects of job stress.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.3
• /
• pp.78-98
• /
• 1997

Health education, as the most fundamental concept for national health promotion, alms for developing the self-care ability of the general public. High school days are regarded as the period when most important physical, mental and social developments occur, and most health-related behaviors are formed. School health education is one of the major learning resources influencing health potential in the home and community as well as for the individual student. High school health education in Korea has a fundamental systemic flaw in that health-related subjects are divided and taught under various subjects areas at school. In order to achieve the goal of school health education, it is essential to make a systematic assessment of the learner's concerns connected with his health and life, and the factors affecting them. So far, most of the research projects that had been carried out for improving high school health education were limited in their concerns to a particular aspect of health. Even though some had been done in view of comprehensive school health education, they failed to Include a health assessment of the learner. Therefore, in this study the high school students' concerns related to health and life were investigated in the first place on the basis of the PRECEDE model, developed by Green and others for the purpose of a comprehensive diagnostic research on high school health education. This study was done in two steps : one was the basic study for developing research instrument and the other was the main one. The former was conducted at five high schools in Seoul and Cheongju for 2 months-beginning in March, 1996. The students were asked to respond to questions related to their health and lives in unstructured open-ended question forms. On the basis of analysis of the basic study, the diagnostic instruments for the quality of life, health problems, health behavior and educational factors were constructed to be used for the collection of data for main study. An expert panel and the pilot study were used to improve content validity and reliability of the instruments. The reliability of the instruments was measured at between .7697 and .9611 by the Cronbach $\alpha$. The data for this study were collected from the sample consisted of the junior and senior classes of twenty general and vocational high schools in Seoul and Cheongju for two months period beginning in July, 1996. In analyzing the data, both t-test and $X^2$-test were done by using SAS-$PC^+$ Program to compare data between the sexes of the high school students and the types of high school. A canonical correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationships among the diagnostic variables, and a multivariate multiple regression analysis was conducted by using LISREL 8.03 to ascertain the influences of variables on the high school students' health and quality of life. The results were as follows : 1) The findings of the hypothesis tests (1) The canonical correlation between the educational diagnosis variables and behavioral, epidemiological, social diagnosis variables was .7221, which was significant at the level of p<.001. (2) The canonical correlation between the educational diagnosis variables and the behavior variables was .6851, which also was significant (p<.001). (3) The canonical correlation between the behavioral diagnosis variables and the epidemiological variables was 4295, which was significant (p<.001). (4) The canonical correlation between the epidemiological diagnosis variables and the social variables was .6005, which was also significant (p<.001). Therefore, the relationship between each diagnosis variable suggested by the PRECEDE model had been experimentally proven to be valid, supporting the conceptual framework of the study as appropriate for assessing the multi-dimensional factors affecting high school students' health and quality of life. Health behavior self-efficacy, the level of parents' interest and knowledge of health, and the level of the perception of school health education, all of which are the educational diagnostic variables, are the most influential variables in students' health and quality of life. In particular, health behavior self-efficacy, a causative factor, was one of the main influential variables in their health and quality of life. Other diagnostic variables suggested in the steps of the PRECEDE model were found to have reciprocal relations rather than a unidirectional causative relationship. The significance of this research is that it has diagnosed the needs of high school health education by the learner-centered assessment of variety of factors related to the health and the life of the students. This research findings suggest an integrated system of school health education to be contrived to enhance the effectiveness of the education by strengthening the influential factors such as self-efficacy to improve the health and quality of the lives of high school students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.74-83
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify the educational and ecological factors (environment and infra-structure) associated with workers' participation to safety and health education at work (SHEW) based on the PRECEDE constructs. A total of 590 workers (484 in manufacturing and 106 in construction companies) finished the self-administered survey. Survey packets were delivered to the safety and health manager (SHM) in survey companies and the SHMs conducted the self-administered survey in their companies. The questionnaire includes demographics, epidemiological constructs, and educational and ecological constructs based on the PRECEDE model. Participation to SHEW was better in the manufacturing sector than in the construction sector (p<.001). Environmental, reinforcing, and enabling factors were better in the manufacturing companies than in the construction companies. Male worker, better perceived efficacy of SHEW, higher social support for SHEW, assignment of SHM at work, and better safety and health management level at work were significantly associated with workers' better participation to SHEW (p<.05). Those factors accounted for 45.9% of total variance of workers' participation to SHEW.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.60 no.1
• /
• pp.15-18
• /
• 2020

Canine heartworm disease is a vector-borne disease that is transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitoes. It causes epidemics that disrupt the health environments of dogs and are burdensome for many dog owners. Recent trends of changing temperatures and weather conditions in South Korea may have an impact on the population of mosquitoes, and it affects the population of dogs at risk of heartworm infection. Mathematical modeling has become an important measure for analyzing the epidemiological characteristics of infectious diseases. However, canine heartworm infection transmission has not been reported yet through mathematical modeling. We develop a mathematical model of canine heartworm infection to predict the population of infected dogs depending on the vector (mosquito) population using a susceptible, exposed, infected, and recovered model. Simulation results show that after 1 year, 3,289 dogs out of 73,602 (about 4.5%) are exposed and 134 (about 0.2%) are infected. Only 0.2% of susceptible dogs become infected after 1 year. However, if all exposed dogs are maintained in the same circumstances without any treatment, then the number of infected subjects will increase over time. This may increase the possibility of other dogs, especially dogs that live outside, being infected.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.197-202
• /
• 2023

Canine lymphoma (cL) is the most common hematopoietic cancer in dogs. Various determinants have been evaluated to find the predisposing factors in both human and canine lymphoma. Due to common risk factors and similar pathways, cL is considered a potential model for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in humans. In this case-series study, major hospitals in Tehran consented to take part in this study and between the years of 2020-2022, provided us with 52 cL cases which were approved by the attended pathologist. We designed a questionnaire and collected information about the dogs and their owners. Most of the owners were women, young (younger than 50 years old), had at least diplomas and interestingly were housewives or househusbands. Male dogs with middle to old age (more than 6 years) were mostly referred. The most common characteristics were neutered, normal BCS, purebred, urban but not industrial residence, previous tobacco smoke exposure but no history of previous fungicide or pesticide exposure. Also, most of them did not have any previous autoimmune or immunosuppressive diseases. Presented characteristics should be considered risk determinants but to approve their validity, they should be further evaluated in epidemiological studies.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.389-402
• /
• 2023

Multivariate or clustered failure time data often occur in many medical, epidemiological, and socio-economic studies when survival data are collected from several research centers. If the data are periodically observed as in a longitudinal study, survival times are often subject to various types of interval-censoring, creating multivariate interval-censored data. Then, the event times of interest may be correlated among individuals who come from the same cluster. In this article, we propose a unified linear regression method for analyzing multivariate interval-censored data. We consider a semiparametric multivariate accelerated failure time model as a statistical analysis tool and develop a generalized Buckley-James method to make inferences by imputing interval-censored observations with their conditional mean values. Since the study population consists of several heterogeneous clusters, where the subjects in the same cluster may be related, we propose a generalized estimating equations approach to accommodate potential dependence in clusters. Our simulation results confirm that the proposed estimator is robust to misspecification of working covariance matrix and statistical efficiency can increase when the working covariance structure is close to the truth. The proposed method is applied to the dataset from a diabetic retinopathy study.