• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.119-127
• /
• 2021

Objectives: We aimed to find the relationships between employment status and hs-CRP level among Korean wage workers using the 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANE, revised). Methods: This study was conducted on 1,937 daytime wage workers over the age of 19 and within a normal weight range (18.5≤BMI≺25). Regular workers were defined as those granted an employment guarantee until reaching retirement age, and non-regular workers were defined as temporary, non-typical, dispatched, short-term workers and contractors. For hs-CRP, three divisions were classified as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Heart Association (AHA) with less than 1.0 mg/L indicating low risk of cardiovascular disease, above 1.0 mg/L and below 3.0 mg/L considered moderate risk, and more than 3.0 mg/L indicating high risk. To find the relationship between work type and hs-CRP level in Korean wage workers, multinominal logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: For non-regular workers, the odds ratio of the cardiovascular moderate-risk group and cardiovascular high-risk group was statistically significant compared to regular workers. After adjusting for factors such as gender, age, subjective health status, income, education, smoking, and physical labor, the odds ratio of the cardiovascular high-risk group was statistically significant. Conclusions: In this study, the relationship between non-regular workers and high hs-CRP level was examined. Based on this, institutional strategies should be pursued to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease among non-regular workers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.22
• /
• pp.9817-9822
• /
• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is a serious health problem. Early detection is crucial for optimal treatment and reducing mortality. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate health beliefs concerning performance of breast self- examination (BSE) and mammography in a sample of Iranian female health workers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 441 female health care workers (physicians=88, nurses=163, midwives=38, officers=68, and others=84) in 3 different health centers in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected using a self administered questionnaire which included demographic characteristics and thenPersian version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). Results: The mean age of the participants was $34.7{\pm}13.7$. It was found that 41.9% of the workers performed BSE in the past and 14.9% of them regularly, but only 10.6% of them had undergone a mammogram. Perceived barriers to BSE (F=6.351, P=0.021) and mammography (F=5.214, p=0.022) were significantly higher in officers than physicians, nurses or midwives. Perceived barriers were lower among those who had performed BSE and mammography, but not significant (p=0.34 and p=0.56, respectively). Furthermore, perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of the workers who had BSE and mammography were significantly higher than who did not (p<0.05). Perceived seriousness was not a significant variable in BSE and mammography (p=0.71 and p=0.43, respectively). Conclusions: The health beliefs of health workers concerning the perceived susceptibility of breast cancer and the perceived benefits BSE and mammography significantly impact their screening practices.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.451-463
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the drinking, stress, and sleep on depression of Korean obese women. Methods: The data of this study were derived from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-3), conducted from January to December 2015 by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study subjects were 935 adult women between 20 and 70 years old (Body Mass Index${\geq}25$). The data were analyzed by the complex sampling design method applying the weights to the IBM SPSS 23.0 program. Results: The study result showed that the frequency of binge drinking, stress perception, sleeping time and depression of Korean obese women showed significant differences according to age group. In the 20-30's, the stress and sleeping time, the 40-50's were drinking at once, the frequency of drinking and stress, and the drinking and stress at 60-70's were significantly associated with an increased risk of depression in obese women. Conclusion: The intervention program for the management of depression in Korean obese women should include the strategies for managing stress and drinking, taking into account differences according to age.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.191-194
• /
• 2015

Purpose: To estimate the incidence of breast cancer in Yemeni female patients presenting with a breast mass. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out with 595 female patients with palpable breast lumps, attending to Alkuwait university hospital, Sana'a, Yemen. Triple assessment, including breast examination, mammography and biopsy (FNAC, core needle, or excision), for all patients were performed. Results: The incidences of benign and malignant lesions was calculated. Some 160 (26.9%) of 595 patients had malignancies; 213 (35.8%) were fibroadenomas; 12 (2.0%) were fibrocystic change; 143 (24.03%) were inflammatory lesions (including mastitis and ductectasia); 62 (10.4%) were simple cysts, while 5 (0.8%) were phyllodes tumors. The mean age of patients with malignant lumps was 44.3 years. Conclusions: Among Yemeni female patients with palpable breast lumps, the rate of breast cancer is high, with occurrence at an earlier age than in Western countries. Improving breast cancer awareness programs and increasing breast cancer screening centers inb different areas of Yemen are needed to establish early diagnosis and offer early and optimal treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.278-284
• /
• 2007

Despite extensive researches and pre-market clinical trials, only limited information on the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of a drug can be collected at the time of market approval from regulatory agency. ADRs constitute a major public health problem. Post-marketing surveillance of drugs is important to detect signals for ADR. In Korea, one of the main methods for monitoring the safety of marketed drugs is spontaneous reporting system of suspected ADRs. Re-examination and re-evaluation system are in force for monitoring safety of new market approval drugs and currently under marketing drugs, respectively. Recently, regional pharmacovigilance centers were designated from Korean Food and Drug Administration for facilitating ADR surveillance. Over recent years, with the development of information technology, there has been an increased interest in establishing data mining system for detecting signals from Health Insurance Review Agency database. The purpose of this paper is to review the current status of Korean ADR surveillance system and suggest the possible solutions for developing active pharmacovigilance system in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.311-327
• /
• 2009

This study was performed to determine the health and nutritional risk factors associated with hypertension in Koreans over the age of 50 in a high-income class (more than twice as much family income as the 2005 Korean minimum cost of living, 668,540 Won). A total of 505 subjects aged over 50 from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were divided into two groups: A hypertension group (HG) (N=151, Systolic Blood Pressure ${\geq}$140 mmHg or Diastolic Blood Pressure ${\geq}$90 mmHg) and normal group (NG) (N=354). Subjects who took hypertension medicines or underwent diet therapy were excluded. In HG, mean daily alcohol intake and the amount of alcohol consumption per one occasion were significantly higher than in NG, respectively. A greater number of hypertension subjects answered that they drank alcohol to reduce stress as compared to normal subjects. HG also took fewer dietary supplements than NG. Mean body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting blood sugar level, and 2 hour postprandial blood sugar following a glucose load were significantly higher in HG than in NG, respectively. Also, iron, thiamin, and niacin intakes and the consumption frequency of seaweeds were significantly lower in HG than in NG, respectively. Finally, obesity (BMI ${\geq}$25 $kg/m^2$), abdominal obesity (waist circumference ${\geq}$90 cm for males, ${\geq}$ 80 cm for females), high blood sugar level 2 hours after an oral glucose load (${\geq}$140~200 mg/dl), and hypertriglyceridemia (serum TG ${\geq}$200 mg/dl) were related to a significantly higher risk of hypertension in the subjects (odds ratio: 1.884~3.040). In conclusion, dietary factors such as higher alcohol consumption; lower intakes of iron, thiamin, and niacin; lower consumption frequency of seaweeds; and metabolic syndrome were associated with hypertension in the study subjects.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.10-22
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Through a thorough examination of the CCSC (Community Comprehensive Support Center) system in Japan, this study suggests a scheme to provide community-based preventive health care services for the elderly in Korea. Methods: The study inquired into the applicability of the Japanese model by reviewing the data related to the CCSC project, aided by both in-depth interviews with staff in the field and consultations with specialists. Results: Rearrangement of the Visiting Health Management Project system is needed to manage the collective or individual visiting care management for frailty prevention of the elderly in communities. The delegated service system for preventive care in the community, including direct management by one of the public health centers, also needs to be reviewed and the application of stricter standards for the selection of the agency or corporation to run the delegated service is necessary. Long-Term Care Insurance, along with national and local grants, is to be considered as a financial resource for the community-based preventive health care model for the elderly. By making active use of education rooms at district offices, senior citizen centers in neighborhoods for the elderly with easy access can be created. The project needs to raise active supports from communities, develop programs which can be absorbed into particular local cultures, and promote the understanding of the preventive project in local communities. The preventive program should focus on first solving the problems of depression, seclusion, and lack of mobility of the elderly. Second, the program should instruct physical self-management for exercise-nutrition-dental maintenance, and third, the program should strengthen the cognitive abilities of the elderly. In addition, it is necessary to systematize and implement counter-plans of the family and community to protect the elderly who has mental and cognitive problems. Finally, by establishing a network of public health welfare resources based upon research on a community level, assessment and planning for the health of the elderly should be one with their family, and comprehensive consultation and recommendations should be provided to the family. Conclusion: Taking into consideration the experience Japan has had with respect to a similar project, it is appropriate to develop and implement a service system which would combine the Visiting Health Management Project system which has already been established and a preventive health care model for the elderly on a community level.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.71-91
• /
• 2009

To assess comparatively the administrative behavior of vaccination and satisfaction of physicians by the provision method according to the National Expanded Programme on Immunization (NEPI) between 2005 and 2006 Demonstration Project in Korea. A questionnaire was performed at 582 and 64 physicians in Daegu metropolitan city and Gunpo city on 2005 (a response rate of 39.3%, 45.3%, respectively). Also, we sampled 31, 56, and 28 physicians in Gangneung city, Yangsan city, and Yeongi county on 2006 (a response rate of 35.5%, 98.2%, and 60.7%, respectively). We analyzed these data set using descriptive analysis and $\chi^2$-test through SPSS for Windows (12.0). Most question categories in Daegu metropolitan city and Gunpo city on 2005 were higher than those in the 2006 Demonstration Project regions. These were 'preparing and signing informed consent to vaccination', 'doing physical examination before periodic immunization', 'searching past shot history and inputting the current shot record through the immunization registry management program by physician', 'filing a medical record', 'satisfying the impact of 2005 and 2006 Demonstration Project and achieving the expectation of this Project', and 'improving the immunization coverage rate', et al. In conclusion, we show that the attitudes and practices of physician should be more sensitive to free vaccination services by private clinics and hospitals than public health centers. In the near future, the government must consider the opinion of physicians in implementing the NEPI by the affordable method of the public-private dynamics.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.37-47
• /
• 2009

National surveys on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections have been carried out every 5-7 years since 1971 in the Republic of Korea in order to establish control measures. The present nationwide survey was conducted from June to December 2004. The 10% population sampling data of Population and Housing Census by the Korean government in 2000 was used as the survey population. One sample was selected randomly from each of the 22,858 registered subjects, and a total of 20,541 people were ultimately included in this survey. Fecal examinations were performed by the cellophane thick smear and saturated brine flotation techniques. Pinworm infection was examined by cello-tape anal swab method. This survey also included a questionnaire study for a socioeconomic analysis. The total helminth egg positive rate was 3.7%, and the estimated total positive number among nationwide people was 1,780,000. The rates in urban and rural areas were 3.1% and 6.8%, respectively. As the total egg positive rate in the 6th survey in 1997 was 2.4%, the present survey showed that there was a considerable degree of increase in the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections over the 7-year period following the 6th survey. The largest increases occurred in the egg positive rates of Clonorchis sinensis and heterophyids including Metagonimus yokogawai.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.331-342
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed at helping oral health prevention of the blind and related management plan, which is defined as the influence factors between missing and filled permanent teeth index and general feature and oral health behavior of the blind in Korea (estimates 229,678 persons) using data of the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014 Korea Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Methods: The blind over the age of 30 were selected as study subjects who have conducted health survey and dental inspections in KNHANES VI-2. Estimates of the subjects were 229,67 persons. For analyzing data, general linear models: GLM and covariance analysis were conducted to identify the relation between general feature and oral health behavior and missing and filled permanent teeth index. SPSS 21 statistical program was used, which is possible to conduct complex sampling design, and the significance level was 0.05. Results: The missing and filled permanent teeth index was 8.58 points. Regarding the results of the analysis, R-squared of the missing and filled permanent teeth index depending on general features of the blind was 0.839 points, which shows gender, age, residence, education level, individual income, disability rating, kinds of health insurance, marital status and recipient of basic living had an effect on the missing and filled permanent teeth index. R2 of the missing and filled permanent teeth index depending on oral health form of the blind was 0.728 points, which shows oral examination, dental treatment, smoking and toothbrushing after lunch had an effect on the missing and filled permanent teeth index. Conclusions: With the result of this study, we found the oral health actual condition of the blind in Korea. Therefore, it is considered that the government needs to introduce the personalized oral health education program to maintain oral health of the blind and to develop a program that uses braille and voice device which enables to access and utilize to improve oral health behavior that the government could use it as a reference to establish the policy plan.