• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6365-6373
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• 2015

Background: Tobacco consumption has become pandemic, and is estimated to have killed 100 million people in the 20th century worldwide. Some 700,000 out of 5.4 million deaths due to tobacco use were from India. The era of global modernization has led to an increase in the involvement of women in tobacco consumption in the low income and middle-income countries. Tobacco consumption by females is known to have grave consequences. Objectives: To assess: (1) the tobacco use among urban and rural women; (2) the discrepancy in the knowledge, belief and behavior towards tobacco consumption among urban and rural women in Durg-Bhilai Metropolitan, Chhattisgarh, Central India. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 2,000 18-25 year old young women from Durg-Bhilai Metropolitan, Chhattisgarh, Central India, from both urban and rural areas. Data were collected using a pretested, anonymous, extensive face to face interview by a female investigator to assess the tobacco use among women and the discrepancy in the knowledge, belief and behavior towards tobacco consumption among urban and rural individuals. Results: The prevalence of tobacco use was found to be 47.2%. Tobacco consumption among rural women was 54.4% and in urban women was 40%. The majority of the women from urban areas (62.8%) were smokers whilst rural women (77.4%) showed preponderance toward smokeless tobacco use. Urban women had a better knowledge and attitude towards harms from tobacco and its use than the rural women. Women in rural areas had higher odds (1.335) of developing tobacco habit than the urban women. Conclusions: Increased tobacco use by women poses very severe hazards to their health, maternal and child health, and their family health and economic well-being. Due to the remarkably complex Indian picture of female tobacco use, an immediate and compulsory implementation of tobacco control policies laid down by t he WHO FCTC is the need of the hour.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.58-73
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• 2010

Background : Cancer is a disease that not only places a significant burden on patients clinically but also requires significant expense for diagnosis and treatment. Although the cancer coverage of health insurance has recently been expended, the need for financial assistance among cancer patients and their families is still expected to be significant. In this study, cancer patients' need for financial assistance in Korea was examined and its influence factors were analyzed. Methods : Target study subjects were those who are over 18 years of age and were diagnosed with cancer more than four months prior at the National Cancer Center and 9 Regional Cancer Centers in Korea during the period from July to August of 2008. Quarter sampling was conducted according to the ratio of the type of each cancer. A face to face interview survey was conducted. A total of 2,661 cancer patients finished the survey. Medical charts were reviewed in order to obtain the cancer type and SEER stage of cancer patients. An ordered logistic regression model was used to examine the level of need for financial assistance according to the demographical, clinical, and socio-economic variables of cancer patients. Result : The percentage of cancer patients who needed financial assistance was 69.0%, and 36.9% needed significant financial assistance. The need for financial assistance was perceived to be greater in males, younger age group, low income group, low education group, medical aid recipients, those who were diagnosed recently, those with a low level of quality of life measured through EQ5D, and those with decreased income after cancer diagnosis. Conclusion : In spite of the current policy to increase health insurance coverage, the majority of cancer patients and their families in Korea still need financial assistance due to cancer. In particular, there were more vulnerable groups, such as the low income, or low education group. In the future, policies that focus on the disadvantaged, which strengthen social security, should be considered for achievement of a substantially better quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

This qualitative study analyzed various environmental factors and difficulties faced by school foodservices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus group interviews were conducted by enrolling 12 nutrition teachers and nutritionists. Data collected were subsequently analyzed for changes implemented during the pandemic, in hygiene management, diet management, and distribution management of the school meal. The content and method of delivery of information related to diet guidance and school foodservice by related organizations were also examined. Results of the survey show that personal hygiene (such as maintaining student-to-student distance, checking students for a fever, and hand disinfection) was duly applied, installation of table coverings and distancing between school cafeteria seats were conducted, and mandatory mask-wearing to prevent droplet transmission was enforced. Depending on the COVID-19 situation, the number of students having school meals was limited per grade, and time-spaced meals were provided. To prevent infection, menus that required frequent hand contact were excluded from the meal plan. Overall, it was difficult to manage the meal plan due to frequent changes in tasks, such as the number of orders and meal expenses. These changes were communicated by nutrition teachers and nutritionists wherein the numbers of school meals were adjusted, depending on situations arising from each COVID-19 crisis stage. Furthermore, in some schools, either face-to-face nutrition counseling was stopped entirely, or nutrition education was conducted online. Parent participation was disallowed in the monitoring of school meals, and the prohibition on conversations inside the school cafeteria resulted in the absence of communication among students, nutrition teachers, and nutritionists. Additionally, confusion in meal management was caused by frequent changes in the school meal management guidelines provided by the Office of Education and the School Health Promotion Center in response to COVID-19. In anticipation of the emergence of a new virus or infectious diseases caused by mutations in the years to come, it is suggested that a holistic, well-thought-out response manual for safe meal operation needs to be established, in close collaboration with schools and school foodservice-related institutions.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.47-60
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine students' experiences in the dietary life class using traditional Korean desserts in middle school home economics classes. Participatory observation, in-depth interview, and site data collected in this study were analyzed through emic coding, and the results are as follows. First, students had 'expectations about Han-gwa lab classes.' Students were always positive about lab classes, looking forward to eating delicious food and eagerly awaiting their first lab class since entering middle school. Additionally, there were many students who were experiencing Han-gwa for the first time, so expectations about learning about Han-gwa were high. Second, students engaged in 'self-directed learning through the Han-gwa project.' In other words, while creating an activity book about Han-gwa, the students realized self-directed learning about the differences between Han-gwa and Yang-gwa (Western-style sweets), and the scientific principles of cooking Han-gwa. Third, students had 'instilled pride in Han-gwa through lab classes.' The students learned that there was sufficient awareness and change in values to cherish Han-gwa and to inherit its traditions. Fourth, there was a 'potential curriculum effect.' Students who did not experience face-to-face group activities for three years in middle school due to COVID-19 came to recognize the importance of collaboration and even tried making Han-gwa at home. In order for students to have pride in Han-gwa, it was confirmed that it was necessary for home economics teachers at school to actively teach classes on traditional foods and provide students with many opportunities to encounter them.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.102-130
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• 2024

The accelerated pace of change in the business environment and the advent of new information and communication technologies since the onset of the pandemic have had a profound impact on the way in which work is conducted. These developments are also affecting the nature of secretarial roles, with the adoption of digital workplaces rendering online-based work that transcends physical time and space the norm. The role of the secretary is also undergoing a transformation, with the capacity to utilize digital technology and communicate in person emerging as crucial competencies. The objective of this study is to provide an exploratory account of the evolving work environment and the newly required competencies of secretaries in the digital workplace. The research methodology comprised in-depth interviews with current assistants, the objective of which was to explore the cultural, spatial, technological, and workplace changes and the new competencies required. The study revealed that the role of secretaries in the digital workplace is undergoing a significant transformation. This is characterised by a decline in traditional face-to-face work, an increased reliance on digital platforms, and the digitisation of information management. The competencies deemed essential for success in this evolving environment include digital literacy, proficiency in text-based communication, the ability to maintain a consistent attitude towards online and offline work, and the capacity to adapt to new situations. The findings of this study contribute to the academic understanding of the digital workplace for secretaries and provide a useful basis for the development of practical secretarial education and career development programs. Furthermore, this study aims to provide a more comprehensive examination of secretarial work in the digital workplace and to identify areas where secretaries may require additional support.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.262-276
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• 1997

This study evaluates the relationship between health belief. self-efficacy and exercise and diet compliance in coronary heart disease patients. The study subjects were 96 CHD patients who visited the outpatient clinic at 3 general hospitals in Taegu city from April 3, 1997 to May 3, 1997. Data was collected by the researcher and two registered nurses who work at a cardiac outpatient clinic. Face-to-face interview was conducted. Moon's health belief scale(l990) and Hicky and others' Cardiac Diet Self-Efficacy Instrument (CDSEI, 1992), Cardiac Exercise Self-Efficacy Instrument (CESEI, 1992) were used. The instrument developed by the researcher based on the reference review was used to measure exercise and diet compliance. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey verification and Stepwise multiple regression with the SAS program. The results of this study were as follows; 1. The degree of health belief(score range: 1-4) perceived benefit: 3.06 barrier: 2.04 severity: 2.93 2. The degree of self-efficacy(score range: 1-5) exercise self-efficacy: 2.91 diet self-efficacy: 3.32 3. The degree of compliance (score range: 1-4) exercise compliance: 2.34 diet compliance: 2.95 4. The exercise compliance had a positive correlation with perceived benefit(r=0.5327, p=0. 0001), severity(r=0.2780, p=0.0061), exercise self-efficacy(r=0.6675, p=0.0001), and a negative correlation with barrier{r= -0.4236, p=0.0001). The diet compliance had a positive correlation with perceived benefit (r=0.6439, p=0.0001), severity(r=0.4244, p=0.0001), diet self-efficacy(r=0.6629, p=0.0001), and a negative correlation with barrier{r= -0.5098, p=0.0001). 5. According to pt's education level, (F=3.02, p=0.0336), received massage from mass media on exercise and diet(t=3.81, p=0.0002), presence of cardiac patients in the family members or friends(t=2.00, p=0.0478), created significant differences in exercise compliance. According to occuption(F=3.03, p=0.0215), hospitalized experience(t=4.59, p=0.0000), presence of chest pain(t=3.63, p=0.0005), there was also a significant difference in diet compliance. 6. The combination of exercise self-efficacy, perceived benefit and pt's education level explained 50.18% of the variance in exercise compliance. The combination of diet self-efficacy, perceived benefit and barrier explained 56.76% of the variance in diet compliance. On the basis of the above findings, the follow ing recommendations are suggested: 1. To promote the exercise. diet compliance for CHD patients, a well organized health teaching and nursing intervention program should be developed. 2. More research is needed to investigate other variables affecting exercise and diet compliance of CHD patients. 3. To promote self-efficacy and a positive health belief in CHD patients, a well organized and an approachable nursing intervention program should be developed. 4. Factors other than diet. exercise compliance should be evaluated to discover the impact on CHD patients.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.695-701
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of COVID-19-induced household economic deterioration on gingival pain and bleeding. Methods: Data from the 16th Adolescent Health Behavior Survey 2020 were used. A total of 57,925 adolescents were included in this cross-sectional study. We evaluated the worsening of the COVID-19-induced household economic situation, gingival pain, and bleeding. All surveys were assessed in a subjective non-face-to-face online interview. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of gingival pain and bleeding symptoms in the study population was 19.2%. People with COVID-19 were more likely to suffer from gingival pain and gingival bleeding than those who did not have economic deterioration due to COVID-19. There was no economic deterioration due to COVID-19 (aOR=1.048, 95% CI=1.034-1.227) and worsened very much (aOR=1.358, 95% CI=1.164-1.585). Conclusions: There were more cases of gingival pain and gingival bleeding, which are early symptoms of periodontal disease, in patients with COVID-19 compared to cases without deterioration of the household economic situation due to COVID-19. It is necessary to measure and study gingival bleeding objectively rather than relying on self-reports.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.6
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• pp.400-407
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• 2011

Background: There were a few studies which were conducted to know about the behavior of the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients. The aims of this study was to explore the behaviour of COPD patients, such as awareness and impact of disease, the pathway of visiting doctors, and the treatment pattern and preference. Methods: A face-to-face interview of 300 subjects with COPD was conducted. Results: The most concerned symptom which made the respondents to visit the hospital was 'breathlessness' (78%). Only 58% of them knew the exact diagnosis. Seventy-three percent of them visited the hospital 'once a month' or 'once every 2 month'. They have made 12.8 prescheduled visits to the hospital in the past 1 year. Unscheduled visits and hospital stay figured to two in the past year. Only 11% of respondents felt they were currently in good health. 'Severe' and 'very severe' COPD patients perceived their health to be in a worse condition than 'mild' and 'moderate' COPD patients. When conditions worsened, 42% of patients were hospitalized. The most common prescription treatment was a fixed combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting ${\beta}2$ agonists (48%), followed by a long acting anticholinergics (38%). Conclusion: Over forty percent of the patients didn't know exactly about their condition. Most of them had a negative attitude toward their current health status. Doctors need to know more about COPD patients in terms of their attitude toward the disease, impact of the disease, interaction with healthcare professionals and treatment related problems.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2015

Objectives: To introduce a protocol of Mobi-kids study which was aimed to examine an association between radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure by mobile phone use and brain tumor risk in children and adolescents. Methods: The Mobi-kids study was a multinational matched case control study using a standardized protocol with the number of subjects targeted about 1,000 cases and 2,000 controls aged 10 to 24. In Mobi-Kids Korea, the source population was restricted to Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do province. Eligible cases of primary brain tumor (glioma, meningioma, and others) were diagnosed from January 2012 to June 2015. Eligible controls were appendicitis patients operated during the study period. Two controls were matched on age, gender, and study region for 1 case. Information about pattern and history of mobile phone use and other covariates were obtained by face to face interview by trained interviewer. The Mobi-kids study has been involved in Mobi-expo as a validation study about mobile phone use, XGridmaster to localize tumor in the brain for RF energy calculation, and histological review for validation of diagnosis. Results: The Mobi-kids was the first and largest study in children and adolescents to estimate risk of brain tumor in association with the RF energy absorption in the brain estimated by mobile phone use. Forty-six-cases and 54 controls were collected as of September 2014 in Korea. Conclusions: The meaningful results of the study were expected because of the largest sample size, high validity of EMF exposure assessment as well as the susceptible study populationof children and adolescents.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.113-133
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• 2007

The present study was conducted to measure health-related utility for post-menopausal symptoms among Korean woman. A survey questionnaire was developed to measure utility based on visual analogue scale(VAS) and time trade-off method (TTO). From January 29 to February 3, 2007, a face-to-face interview was conducted with 274 women aged 45 to 60 to ask about their subjective utility for hypothetical health status of mild or severe post-menopausal symptoms. Among the participants, 160 were recruited from outpatient departments of 3 hospitals and 114 from 2 sports centers located in Seoul. For mild symptom, the average utility score of the respondents was $0.63{\pm}0.14$ based on VAS and $0.61{\pm}0.26$ based on ITO. For severe symptoms, the average utility was $0.39{\pm}0.16$(VAS) and $0.44{\pm}0.27$ (TTO). For severe symptom, a higher utility score was observed for TTO than for VAS, which is consistent with earlier studies and thus supports the validity of the utility measurement in this study. Overall, the severity of post-menopausal symptoms of the respondents themselves was not significantly associated with the utility score that the respondents answered for hypothetical health status. Multiple regression analysis results showed that the utility score was significantly higher among respondents with older age, higher education, higher family income, and from hospitals. It is expected that the utility score measured in this study will enhance the understanding of the quality of life of women after menopause and will be used to conduct cost-utility analysis of health care interventions to treat post-menopausal symptoms.