• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.4 s.36
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• pp.516-530
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• 1991

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the effect of low-level blood lead on the blood pressure. The plasma renin activity(PRA) was measured also to investigate one of the possible mechanisms by which lead nay play a role to influence on the blood pressure. Seventy-two hypertensive and sixty -nine control study subjects were selected from the workers who had no history of b-related lead exposure, in Ulsan city and it's vicinity, Korea. In addition to measuring blood lead levels and PRA, body mass index(BMI), hematocrit, serum sodium, potassium, creatinine, ionized calcium, and cholesterol were measured. Also, the habits of smoking, alcohol drinking and family history of hypertension were checked. The blood lead level of the hypertensive group was $19.8{\pm}5.5{\mu}g/dl$, which was significantly higher than that of the control group, $12.5{\pm}4.7{\mu}g/dl$(p<0.01). On multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of blood lead level on the occurence of high blood pressure was 1.38, also statistically significant (p<0.01). There was no significant differences between the hypertensive and the control group in the PRA or In (PRA), but there was a marginally significant linear relationship between blood lead and PRA in the hypertensive group(p<0.1). In conclusion, blood lead level which has been known to be within normal limits may be one of the possible risk factors of hypertension and PRA alteration by lead may act as one of the mechanisms.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2011

Since walking and physical activity are critical for older adults to maintain their health, it is important to provide neighborhood environments which encourage their walking in daily life. The purposes of the present study were to investigate walking activity patterns of older people in an urban setting and to identify environmental correlates with walking of older adults. This study examined spatial and temporal patterns of physical activities, environmental barriers and motivations, satisfaction levels and demands on the physical environment. In-depth interviews with older adults over age sixty residing in Seoul metropolitan areas revealed that most respondents have a positive perception on walking in daily life, and many of them walk regularly for their health. A primary purpose of walking for older adults was exercise for health rather than transportation. The study result demonstrated that parks and trails were the most preferred places for walking by older adults, and there is an association between frequency of walking participation and access or convenience to parks, traffic safety, and street lights. Most respondents were concerned about traffic safety when they walk in their neighborhoods due to traffic speeds and unsafe streets. Lack of separate sidewalks or benches, stairs and slopes were barriers to older adults' walking habits. This data suggests that the promotion of walking behavior among older adults, some level of public health action, and community support are needed to ensure safe physical environments within communities.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2003

This paper focused on providing the groundwork for the development of proper nursing interventions to enhance the quality of life for the elderly by identifying the factors that may affect their health beliefs and behaviors. A survey was conducted on a group of people aged between 60 and 86 years residing in S and K cities from January to March of 2003, who agreed to participate in the research. Data was collected using instruments measuring health beliefs and health behaviors, and was analyzed by using SPSS. The results of this study are as follow. 1) Those in the group were aged between60 and 86 years, and the average age was 66.94 years old. Most of them were living together with their spouses. From the survey, 83.5% replied "above average" on the question regarding their current health condition, whereas, 46.0% mentioned that they had some sort of diseases. 2) Overall average score of the health belief was 516.05, with a mean $3.71{\pm}4.07$. This indicates that the studied group held a high level of health belief, which affects their attitude and intention to lead a healthy life by placing the present life under control in harmony with nature. 3) Overall average score of the health behaviors was 392.24 with a mean $2.82{\pm}.52$. For health purposes, the behaviors that the elderly people were taking were mostly static ones requiring a low level of activity. The analysis showed that they generally were involved in self-trained, individualized health care. Thus, the elderly place a higher priority on regular dietary behaviors than on physical activity. 4) The correlation between health belief, a cognitive aspect on health, and health behaviors, a behavioral aspect showed a very high linear relationship (r=.520, p<.000). Consequently, it is found that those who have higher cognitive health belief are involved in higher level of behavioral health practice. These findings concluded that the Korean elderly have good health beliefs, well controlling their minds and being harmonious with nature. Health behaviors that they are engaged in are mostly static, requiring low level activity, while they place higher priority on regular dietary habits and conducting self-trained individualized health care. Important factor affecting their health beliefs and health behaviors was found to be their health practice. Since higher health belief is highly related with good health behaviors, development of health activity programs is in need as a means for an efficient health improvement, where motivating environment may be established to enhance the health belief of the elderly and to satisfy individual values.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the prevalence and related factors of Clonorchis Sinensis for inhabitants of the Han riverside area and to identify knowledge related to Clonorchis Sinensis and intended behavioral changes to decrease risk of infection. Method: The data were collected from December 16, 2008 to January 10, 2009. Participants were 555 people who responded to a questionnaire. Frequency, percentage, $X^2$-test, and t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: The prevalence of Clonorchis Sinensis was 7.9% in this population. Related factors for Clonorchis Sinensis were gender (male=10.8%, female=3.6%, p=0.002) and smoking (p=0.007). but habits related to ingestion of alcohol and raw fish were not significant. As for knowledge of Clonorchis Sinensis, the Clonorchiasis group had a mean score of 10.09 $({\pm}3.95)$ of a possible 17 compared to a score of only 8.27$({\pm}4.60)$ for the negative group (p=0.011). The intended behavioral change related to risk of infection, according to presence of infection or not, was significant (p=0.004). Conclusion: These results suggest that Clonorchiasis is still highly endemic in all risk areas such as the Han riverside, indicating that it is necessary to set up effective management programs for patient care and prevention of Clonorchis Sinensis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1052-1060
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• 2003

Poor dietary habits and inadequate nutrient intakes are of concern in the elderly, even it is worse in rural areas. In the present study, we conducted the anthropometric measurement and the dietary intakes including macronutrients, minerals and vitamins to assess the nutrient intakes and nutritional risk in elderly people in rural kyungpook province in South Korea. Subjects (n = 168, mean age, 67.3 yrs) were interviewed using d general questionnaire and 3 days of 24-hours recall for dietary intake. Nutrient intakes were analyzed using CAN-pro soft program and compared to Korean RDA and nutrition reference values (NRV). The anthropometric measurement showed that the weight and the height of the subjects in the rural area were below the average of the same age of Korean elderly people. The energy and protein intakes were 85％ and 90％ of Korean RDA, respectively. The intakes of lipid, cholesterol and dietary fiber were 62％, 40％ and 22％ of NRV for Korean adults. Main sources for protein and lipid intakes came from the vegetable sources and this pattern was more prominent in female elderly people. Ca intake was half of Korean RDA (56％), while P intake was 132％ of Korean RDA. For the antioxidant trace mineral (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Se) intakes, Fe and Zn intakes were 78％ and > 103％ of Korean RDA. Cu, Mn and Se intakes were > 113％, > 275％, and > 185％ of Korean NRV. Thiamin, niacin and vitamin C intakes were above Korean RDA, but the intakes of vitamin A and riboflavin were 88％ and 63％ of Korean RDA, respectively. On summarizing the results of the present study, the elderly people in rural area consume less lipid, cholesterol, Ca, and dietary fiber. Ca intake is lower, while P intake is higher, and this would be the potential risk for bone health. Also, Na intake was high, which can be the potential risk for the cardiovascular disease prevailance. Vitamin intakes were fairly good status, excepting riboflavin. Antioxidant mineral intakes were much higher than Korean NRV, unexpectedly. The results suggest that the elderly people in rural area have inadequate intakes of protein, lipid, dietary fiber and Ca, which mainly should be supplied from animal products. Recommendations to increase diet variety would be emphasized for this nutritionally poor-conditioned subjects, specially including animal food products and high dietary fiber food.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.91-104
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine a questionnaire survey on nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors and the evaluation of nutrient intakes in regard to frequency of eating breakfast for a total 383 high school female students in Chuncheon area. The subjects were categorized into 3 groups according to frequency of breakfast : eating breakfast group (6-7 times/week, 49.1%), sometimes eating breakfast group (3-5 times/week, 22.2%), skipping breakfast group (${\leq}2$ times/week, 28.7%). The eating breakfast group and sometimes eating breakfast group have better grades on nutrition knowledge related to breakfast than the skipping breakfast group. The skipping breakfast group have a smattering of nutrition knowledge like, the importance of having breakfast, maintaining calories, and the brain's energy resource. There was a strong correlation between the frequency of breakfast and dietary behavior grades. The students who skip breakfast have irregular eating habits and their eating speed was improper. Also, their frequency of taking in cereals, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products was poor. The results of the survey on nutrition intake show that while, students who eat breakfast are consuming only folate, calcium and iron at a less than recommend intake, the students who skip breakfast are consuming vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin $B_1$ as well as folate, calcium, and also iron at a less than recommended intake. Based on these results, it is necessary to develop an awareness program that emphasizes the importance of breakfast and accurate nutrition knowledge for students.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate fast-food consumption and it's nutrient density, and the correlation between subject's characteristics and consumption frequency of fast-foods among middle school students. The questionnaires were distributed to 150 male and 190 female students in Cheongju city. The data were analyzed using SAS and statistics used were percent of frequency, $X^2$-test, t-test, and pearson's correlation coefficient. The main reasons for using fast-food restaurants were 'good taste' and 'convenience'. The major concerns when the subjects choose fast-foods were 'taste ($65.9\%$), price ($20.3\%$) and 'nutrition'($6.0\%$). The consumption pattern of fast-foods go as follows: twice a month ($42.3\%$), once a week ($31.5\%$), and less than once a week. The number of fast food items that the subjects ate for one meal was two ($46.0\%$) or three ($33.2\%$). The most frequently chosen combination of foods for number of two choices was beefburger and cola. The mean average energy intake from fast foods for one meal was 620.7 kcal for male, 504.5 kcal for female. The energy ratio of carbohydrate : protein fat from fast foods was 49 : 14 : 43, which means fat intake is much higher than recommended level ($20\%$). Fiber was appeared to be the lowest on the nutrient density which was $17.7\%$ of the recommended level for Koreans, vitamin C was next ($22.8\%$ for male, $20.1\%$ for female). In mineral, iron was the lowest ($71.8\%$ for male, $67.1\%$ for female), and protein was over $100\%$ for both males and females. Frequency of fast food intake was positively correlated with eating frequency of the salty, the sweets, him, caffeine containing foods, instant noodles, and cookies. In conclusion, frequent consumption of fast foods can lead unbalanced nutrient intakes for middle school students, and those who consumed fast foods frequently showed undesirable food habits in their daily meal. Therefore, nutrition education for middle school students should be needed to encourage them to choose more nutritious food and have healthier dietary pattern.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.93-100
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• 2015

Purpose - The objective of this research is to investigate whether national culture influences consumers' service evaluations. The services industry is receiving increasing attention from academia and practitioners as its position grows in global markets. Standardization or localization is a traditional managerial decision in global business. As the boundaries of services expand across national borders, firms are required to decide whether to standardize services or adjust to local needs. Though it is imperative to reflect global perspectives in marketing theories, these perspectives are mostly based on Western conceptualization of the world. Through a comparison of consumer groups from two culturally remote countries, service quality evaluation mechanisms are examined based on similar stimuli. The study tries to expand service marketing perspectives across national borders. Research design, data, and methodology - Eastern and Western countries are known to be culturally distinct. One Eastern and one Western country were chosen: an Anglo-Saxon country (the U.S., England, and Australia) and South Korea. In Hofstede's cultural dimensions, the differences between the two are pronounced. The Anglo-Saxon based countries share many similarities. Samples of the same sites are targeted. Questionnaires using a service quality scale (SERVQUAL) and a customer satisfaction scale were distributed. Utilizing Hofstede's typology of culture, the service evaluation mechanisms of the respondents from the two groups are evaluated. Three hypotheses are proposed from the review of the literature. These are service evaluation habits, importance of service quality dimensions for the individualistic/collectivistic countries, and strong/weak uncertainty avoidance cultures. Consumers from the individualistic countries are considered to care about themselves and demand a higher level of responsiveness and assurance. On the other hand, consumers from high uncertainty avoidance cultures are assumed to rely more on tangible questions of service quality, as these are the only predictable service quality indicators. A t-test and regression analysis are applied to validate the constructs. Results - The respondents from the Anglo-Saxon countries are more generous on service evaluations than Koreans. Researchers have indicated that Americans tend to give higher service evolution scores than European, Mexican, and Korean counterparts. The tendency is the same here. The sample from Anglo-Saxon countries demonstrated higher service evaluation scores on every dimension of SERVQUAL. For the second hypothesis, the respondents from the collectivistic culture rely less on core service dimensions (assurance and responsiveness) due to their tendency to place more value on group harmony than individual interest. However, the third hypothesis was not validated. Conclusions - The study attempted to expand the scope of service marketing to reflect cross-national perspectives. Service quality is known to have a strong influence on customer satisfaction and loyalty behavior. However, this research demonstrated that individuals from different cultural territories respond heterogeneously to the same stimuli. Scholars argue that national cultures are main factors in such deviated behavior. Scholars and global managers should be aware of differences in consumer value judgment mechanisms such as satisfaction, expectations, and perceptions.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.454-468
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• 2002

Historically, women's health needs have been viewed primarily as reproductive, and all other health needs have been dealth with without considering their responses to disease and treatment(Strickland & Giger, 1994). It has mostly been through the efforts of women's group, especially health care team, that more recognition has been given to the overall health of women worker in recent years. The purpose of this study was to examine the depression, self-esteem and health practice in order to identify health care strategies to improve health promotion among women workers in small workplace. The consisted of 94 women workers who work at small manufacturing industry. The data were collected from January to February, 2002. The instruments for this study was Rogenburgs self-esteem scale, Zung s depression self-reporting scale and Breslow & Enstrom s health habits scale. The analysis of data were performed with frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA. $\chi^2$ test, pearson correlation and multiple regression using SPSS Win 10.1 program. 1. The average depression score was 1.87 which is relatively low and the average self-esteem score was 2.75 which is relatively moderate. The total mean score for health practice was 4. 10(range 0-7) which is relatively high moderately. 2. Health practice had not a statistically significant correlation with depression and self-esteem, but the depression had a statistically significant correlation with self-esteem(r=-.401, p=.000). 3. There was not a significant difference In depression, self-esteem and health practice according to the general characteristics 4. There was a significant difference in sub category of health practice according to the status of living with family and status of marriage. As far as the health practice of women workers living with family practiced better health than women workers no living with family concerning breakfast(p=.03) and as far as the health practice of women workers no living with family practiced better health than women workers living with family concerning sleeping time(p=.04). There was a significant difference in breakfast(p=.04), smoking(p=.00), and BMI(p=.05) according to the status of marriage. 5. The major factor was age and explained for $7\%$ of health practice. The repeated study should be carried out to figure out the health practice and its related factors of female workers at small manufacturing industry.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.619-624
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• 2013

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) exists in a more common sporadic form and less common hereditary forms, associated with the Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and other rare syndromes. Sporadic CRC is believed to arise as a result of close interaction between environmental factors, including dietary and lifestyle habits, and genetic predisposition factors. In contrast, hereditary forms such as those related to the Lynch syndrome result from inheritance of germline mutations of mismatch repair (MMR) genes. However, in certain cases, the influence of low penetrance alleles in familial colorectal cancer susceptibility is also undeniable. Aim: To investigate the genotype frequencies of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A and to determine whether it could play any role in modulating familial and sporadic CRC susceptibility risk. Methods: A case-control study comprising of 104 histopathologically confirmed CRC patients as cases (52 sporadic CRC and 52 Lynch syndrome patients) and 104 normal healthy individuals as controls was undertaken. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the polymorphism was genotyped employing PCR-RFLP methods. The genotypes were categorized into homozygous wild type, heterozygous and homozygous variants. The risk association between these polymorphisms and CRC susceptibility risk was calculated using binary logistic regression analysis and deriving odds ratios (ORs). Results: When risk association was investigated for all CRC patients as a single group, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed a significantly higher risk for CRC susceptibility with an OR of 2.273, (95%CI: 1.133-4.558 and p-value=0.021). When analyzed specifically for the 2 types of CRC, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed significantly higher risk for sporadic CRC susceptibility with and OR of 3.714, (95%CI: 1.416-9.740 and p-value=0.008). Despite high OR value was observed for Lynch syndrome (OR: 1.600, 95%CI: 0.715-3.581), the risk was not statistically significant (P=0.253). Conclusion: Our results suggest an influence of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A in modulating susceptibility risk in Malaysian CRC patients, especially those with sporadic disease.