• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.277-282
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• 2012

Field epidemiology involves the implementation of quick and targeted public health interventions with the aid of epidemiological methods. In this article, we share our practical experiences in outbreak management and in safeguarding the population against novel diseases. Given that cities represent the financial nexuses of the global economy, global health security necessitates the safeguard of cities against epidemic diseases. Singapore's public health landscape has undergone a systemic and irreversible shift with global connectivity, rapid urbanization, ecological change, increased affluence, as well as shifting demographic patterns over the past two decades. Concomitantly, the threat of epidemics, ranging from severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza A (H1N1) to the resurgence of vector-borne diseases as well as the rise of modern lifestyle-related outbreaks, have worsened difficulties in safeguarding public health amidst much elusiveness and unpredictability. One critical factor that has helped the country overcome these innate and man-made public health vulnerabilities is the development of a resilient field epidemiology service, which includes our enhancement of surveillance and response capacities for outbreak management, and investment in public health leadership. We offer herein the Singapore story as a case study in meeting the challenges of disease control in our modern built environment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1677-1684
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• 2016

Background: Among the factors reported to determine the quality of life of breast cancer patients are socio-demographic background, clinical stage, type of treatment received, and the duration since diagnosis. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the quality of life (QOL) scores among breast cancer patients at a Malaysian public hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study of breast cancer patients was conducted between March to June 2013. QOL scores were determined using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast cancer supplementary measure (QLQ-BR23). Both the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 assess items from functional and symptom scales. The QLQ-C30 in addition also measures the Global Health Status (GHS). Systematic random sampling was used to recruit patients. Results: 223 breast cancer patients were recruited with a response rate of 92.1%. The mean age of the patients was 52.4 years (95% CI = 51.0, 53.7, SD=10.3). Majority of respondents are Malays (60.5%), followed by Chinese (19.3%), Indians (18.4%), and others (1.8%). More than 50% of respondents are at stage III and stage IV of malignancy. The mean Global Health Status was 65.7 (SD = 21.4). From the QLQ-C30, the mean score in the functioning scale was highest for 'cognitive functioning' (84.1, SD=18.0), while the mean score in the symptom scale was highest for 'financial difficulties' (40.1, SD=31.6). From the QLQ-BR23, the mean score for functioning scale was highest for 'body image' (80.0, SD=24.6) while the mean score in the symptom scale was highest for 'upset by hair loss' (36.2, SD=29.4). Two significant predictors for Global Health Status were age and employment. The predictors explained 10.6% of the variation of global health status ($R^2=0.106$). Conclusions: Age and employment were found to be significant predictors for Global Health Status (GHS). The Quality of Life among breast cancer patients reflected by the GHS improves as age and employment increases.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2019

Climate change is one part of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the Fifth Assessment Report by the Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) published in 2014, global warming is caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The most important GHG is carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is released by the burning of fossil fuels and, to a lesser extent, by land use practices, followed by nitrous oxide and methane. IPCC predicts that global temperatures will rise 3.7℃ and sea level will rise 0.63 m by 2099 in the case of no strong restraint. According to the report, we can expect a massive species extinctions, changes in storm and drought cycles, altered ocean circulation, and redistribution of vegetation by global warming. However, climate changes, especially global warming, are the largest potential threat to human health and the source of a number of diseases globally. If climate changes are continued uncontrolled, human health will be adversely affected by the accelerating climate change and the natural disaster induced by climate change. It means we will face more serious conditions of injury, disease, and death related to natural disasters such as flood, drought, heat waves, malnutrition, more allergy, air pollution and climate change related infections related to morbidity and mortality. This review emphasizes on the relationship between global climate changes and human health and provides some suggestions for improvement.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.257-270
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• 2024

Objectives: Korea has a unique history of being both a recipient and a donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA), and the international community expects Korea to contribute to the development of developing countries by utilizing this experience. Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) seeks to contribute to global health, however the concept of ODA has been unclear and there has been no clear strategy and sustainable initiatives. Methods: This study examines the concept of ODA and its application in global health, including business objectives, scale, evaluation principles, and development strategies. Additionally, we reviewed the current status of Traditional Korean medicine globalization projects and conducted a SWOT analysis of the internal and external environment of the TKM sector. Based on these findings, we redefined the concept of ODA for TKM and proposed suggestions for its development. Results: The current study identified key ideas for TKM ODA. It should prioritize the improvement of primary healthcare in recipient countries, aligning with the international evaluation criteria of the SDGs. Secondly, TKM's 70 years of experience can be leveraged to enhance both the competence and economic benefits of recipient countries' medical systems. Based on these concepts, a TKM ODA development model was proposed, comprising two core visions, three development strategies and goals, and six core values. Conclusion: This study systematically examined the TKM in global health and suggested sustainable development strategies for TKM ODA. Through its expansion, TKM could contribute to the advancement of global traditional medicine and its overall engagement in healthcare.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Nursing research in the United States (US) spans several decades. Many of the priorities/trends have stayed through the years. Today, the goal of producing evidence to support nursing care interventions coupled with the drive for Magnet Recognition has encouraged academic nurses (faculty) to work with nurse clinicians to form research teams. Interdisciplinary research teams have also formed to address growing concerns over patient safety and quality care. These issues are not just US issues but global ones. This article addresses US trends with the link to global research trends. The role that organizations such as the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) pay in shaping research agendas and promoting nursing research is highlighted. It emphasizes the key role that nurses, especially nurse leaders/administrators play in changing health outcomes through support of nursing research.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2022

Global efforts to identify groups at high risk for schistosomiasis have mainly concentrated on identifying their geographical distribution. Investigations on the socioeconomic characteristics of high-risk groups are relatively scarce. This study aimed to explore the associations between schistosomiasis among students and their parents' occupations. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted targeting 105,167 students in 1,772 primary schools across Sudan in 2017. From these students, 100,726 urine and 96,634 stool samples were collected to test for Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni infection. A multi-level mixed effect analysis was used with age and sex as fixed factors, and school as a random factor. The odd ratios (ORs) of practicing open defecation among farmers' children were almost 5 times higher than their counterparts whose parents were government officials (OR=4.97, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 4.57-5.42, P<0.001). The ORs of contacting water bodies for watering livestock among farmers' children were more than 4 times higher than those of children whose parents were government officials (OR=4.59, 95% CIs: 4.02-5.24, P<0.001). This study shows that schistosomiasis represents a disease of poverty and that farmers' children constituted a high-risk group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.6883-6888
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• 2015

Background: Tobacco smoking is a major cause of preventable disease and death worldwide. Kreteks are clove-flavored cigarettes made from a combination of tobacco and ground-clove mixed with a sauce, smoked widely in Indonesia. Because health and social consequences of kretek smoking are potentially as great as those of traditional cigarettes, this study examines the prevalence of kretek smoking in Indonesia and associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study used nationally representative Indonesia Global Adult Tobacco Survey data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to identify correlates of kretek smoking. Results: One-third of Indonesian adults smoked tobacco of which about 90.0% smoked kreteks. Prevalence of kretek smoking among men (60.9%) was more than 25 times the rate among women (2.3%). Overall, the highest prevalence of kretek use was in the age group 45-54 years (36.5%), followed by 34-44 (35.1%), 25-34 (34.2 %), and 55-64 years (32.8%). By wealth index, prevalence of kreteks smoking among those in the middle index was almost 50% above the rate for the wealthiest group (36.4% vs 24.8% respectively). Logistic regression results showed that being male, being older, having less education, and being less wealthy were significant predictors of kretek smoking, while urban vs rural residence was not. Conclusions: Kretek smoking is common in Indonesia and is entrenched in the sociocultural fabric of the country. However, potential consequences of kretek smoking, particularly as risks for noncommunicable diseases, underscore the importance of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control as outlined in the World Health Organization's MPOWER strategies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of alcohol and cigarette use and assess its relationship with socio-environmental, psychological, violent and behavioral factors among a sample of high school students from Lima and Callao, Peru. Methods: We utilized the data from a cross-sectional study conducted by the Yonsei Global Health Center in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Peru office in November 2016. The total sample size of this study was 1,477 students. For analysis, we used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to calculate the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals. Results: The current prevalence of alcohol and cigarette use among adolescents was found to be 24.2% and 12.1%, respectively. Alcohol use was affected by age, friends' alcohol use, experience of physical fighting, and involvement in other risk behaviors (smoking, drug use, and sexual intercourse). Cigarette use was affected by perceived academic performance, friends' cigarette use, and involvement in other risk behaviors (drinking, drug use, and sexual intercourse). Furthermore, students who received affection from their parents and whose parents monitored their activities were less likely to report using both alcohol and cigarettes. Conclusion: Alcohol and cigarette use among Lima and Callao adolescents is affected by socio-environmental, violent and behavioral factors. Alcohol and cigarette use prevention initiatives should promote positive parenting practices, family togetherness, and a supportive school climate. In addition, it is needed to establish peer-led programs that promote behavioral changes in students and strengthen social relations without the presence of alcohol, cigarettes, and other harmful substances.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2020

Objectives: To provide guidance for agency planning by identifying barriers faced by Korean pharmaceutical companies in global regulatory affairs. Methods: A questionnaire survey on global regulatory affairs was administered by email to personnel at Korean pharmaceutical companies. From a total of 60, 28 responses were collected. Respondents' companies were classified as small-sized or large-sized, based on whether their annual sales amounted to KRW 100 billion. Results: Small-sized companies were experiencing greater difficulties in receiving drug approvals from advanced countries, particularly during the Investigational New Drug (IND) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) processes. Conclusions: Support measures to specifically help small-sized companies enter more advanced markets and further improved global regulatory guidelines that can meet large-sized companies' expectations are needed. Moreover, domestic and global regulatory standards should be harmonized to benefit both groups.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2008

Global warming, which is one of the most serious challenges, has been the subject of intense debate and concern for many scientists, policy-makers, and citizens for at least the past decade. To protect the health and economic well-being of current and future generations, we must reduce our emissions like carbon dioxide. Alternatives to achieve an energy future without serious global warming are to change to clean and renewable sources of energy like the wind, the sun lights, rivers, the biomass, hydrogen, and oceans. To identify some of the key and new environmental impacts associated with renewable energy and hydrogen energy, we set up the new conceptual methodology. Specifically, new identified environmental and health impacts are related with the usage of hydrogen energy. When comparing with fossil fuel, the renewable energies can reduce the release of carbon dioxide when they are used except hydrogen produced from fossil fuel. However, all renewable energy technologies are not appropriate to all applications or locations. Our results suggest that all of alternatives to replace fossil fuel can release the several global and local impacts although they seems to be smaller than the impacts from fossil fuel. Therefore, the quantitative and detail analysis to assess environmental impacts of the alternative energies might be useful to make our decision for the future energy against the global warming.