• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4017-4023
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• 2012

Background and Aim: Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) are known to be associated with predisposition for certain cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lifestyle factors, family history and genetic polymorphisms in MTHFR C677T and A1298C on rectal cancer risk and possible interactions with lifestyle factors in Northeast Thailand. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted during 2002-2006 with recruitment of 112 rectal cancer cases and 242 non-rectal cancer patient controls. Information was collected using a structured-questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained for assay of MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes by polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques. Associations between lifestyle factors, family history and genetic polymorphisms v.s. rectal cancer risk were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Subjects with frequent and occasional constipation had a higher risk ($OR_{adj.}$=14.64; 95%CI=4.28-50.04 and $OR_{adj.}$=2.15; 95%CI=1.14-4.06), along with those who reported ever having hemorrhoids ($OR_{adj.}$=2.82; 95%CI=1.36-5.84) or a family history of cancer ($OR_{adj.}$=1.90; 95%CI=1.06-3.39). Consumption of a high level of pork was also associated with risk ($OR_{adj.}$=1.82; 95%CI=1.05-3.15). Interactions were not observed between MTHFR and other risk factors. Conclusions: This study suggested that the risk factors for rectal cancer in the Thai population are bowel habits, having had hemorrhoids, a family history of cancer and pork consumption.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-137
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• 2004

The purpose of the study is to examine gender differences in health behaviors and the related factors for the urban elderly population. This study utilized the data from the Suwon city health survey of the elderly in 2001. The data consisted of a random sample of 979 (388 males, 591 females) elderly people aged over 65. The results of the study were as follows. First, the elderly people's health behaviors were different by gender. Concerning health risk-taking behavior, the frequencies of smoking and drinking were higher in males than in females. In terms of health promotive behavior, the regular exercise rate was higher in males than in females. Second, there were different factors that influenced health behaviors by gender. The factors that influenced the health risk-taking behaviors were health status factors for male, and socioeconomic factors for female. The factors that significantly influenced the health promotive behaviors were social supports networks for both gender. Therefore, program priorities need to be modulated in accordance with these gender differences in health behaviors. Moreover, different program strategies are needed that reflect the gender differences in health behavior determinants.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examines the persistent occurrence of railway accidents despite numerous safety devices, highlighting the multifaceted nature of these incidents. Research design, data and methodology: Utilizing the 4M analysis method, the research investigates a decade's worth of accident reported from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board to identify risk factors and suggest mitigation measures. Results: The analysis reveals that 57% of railway accidents are attributed to human factors, followed by mechanical (28%), environmental (7%), and management (8%) factors. Conclusions: The study underscores the necessity of prioritizing safety and establishing a unified organizational approach to prevent human error accidents. It calls for an alignment of risk perception between headquarters and field operations, advocating for educational and perceptual changes, as well as systematic improvements to achieve safety goals.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

This study analyzed the factors affecting the effectiveness of the Chemical Hazard Risk Management (CHARM). A survey was conducted on 104 learners who participated in the Risk Assessment training course at Occupational Safety and Health Training Institute. Through a self-administered questionnaire, the effect of personal characteristics, corporate characteristics, and safety and health level of the company on the effectiveness of chemical risk assessment was investigated. As a result of statistical analysis, the safety and health level of the company had a positive (+) effect on the effectiveness of Chemical Hazard Risk Management(CHARM), but personal characteristics and corporate characteristics had no relation to it. This study can be used as basic data for further research related to chemical risk assessment in workplaces.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.465-473
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• 2008

Purpose: Suicide has been considered a large public health concern in recent years because suicide mortality has been increasing rapidly. This study was done to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of a suicide attempt among adolescents in South Korea. Methods: The data of the 2006 Youth Health Risk Behavior web-based Survey collected by the Korean Center for Disease Control was analyzed using logistic regression for this study. Results: The prevalence of a suicide attempt was 5.2% in South Korea. The risk factors of a suicide attempt were suicidal ideation (odds 31.83), depression (odds 7.98), drug use (odds 4.67), currently smoking (odds 3.19), feeling unhappiness (odds 2.77), stress (odds 2.60), currently drinking alcohol (odds 2.39), sexual activity (odds 2.33), living with neither parent (odds 2.24), initial alcohol drinking by age 9 (odds 1.80), health status (odds 2.15), skipped breakfast (odds 1.75), disease (odds 1.65), and school records (odds 1.22). Conclusion: Suicide screening and prevention programs should be developed, considering these risk factors. Suicide prevention programs should be applied to the at risk population prior to a suicide attempt.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7479-7486
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between the presence of a polymorphism of the XRCC1 gene and known risk factors for colorectal cancer in Thailand. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Thailand. The participants were 230 histologically confirmed new cases and 230 controls matched by sex and age and recruited from the same hospital. Information about demographic characteristics, life style, and dietary habits was collected using structured interviews, and blood samples were taken which were used for the detection of a homozygous and heterozygous polymorphisms of XRCC1. Associations were assessed using multiple conditional logistic regression. Results: In the univariate analysis, factors found to be significantly associated with an increased risk for CRC were the presence of the XRCC1 AA homozygote (OR= 4.95; 95% CI: 1.99-12.3), a first degree family history of cancer (OR= 1.74; 95% CI: 1.18-2.58), and a high frequency of pork consumption (OR= 1.49; 95% CI: 1.00-2.21). Intakes of fish fruit and vegetables appeared to be protective factors, but the associations were not statistically significant. In the multivariate analysis only the XRCC1 AA homozygote polymorphism and a family history of cancer emerged as risk factors (OR= 4.96; 95% CI: 1.90- 12.95 and OR=1.80; 95% CI: 1.18-2.72, respectively). Conclusions: While the XRCC1 AA homozygote and a family history of cancer were found to be associated with an increased risk of CRC, none of the dietary intake variables were clearly identified as risk or protective factors. There is a need for further research to determine the reasons for this.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between health-risk factors and oral health in Korean adolescents. This cross-sectional study was based on the 9th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2013). The final participation rate in the survey was 96.4%. of a Total of 72,435 adolescents (age, 12~18 years) who had participated in the survey, 66,951 adolescents (33,777 boys and 33,174 girls) were selected for analysis, after excluding those with missing data. The key variables were oral health factors (one or more of the six oral symptoms), general characteristics (five factors), and health-risk factors (five factors). After adjusting for the general characteristics, frequency analysis, ${\chi}^2-test$ using PASW Statistics ver. 18.0, and logistic regression analysis were performed to understand the effects of health risk-factors on the oral symptoms experienced by the study subjects. Subjects who answered 'Yes' for alcohol consumption had a 1.33 times higher risk of experiencing oral symptoms. Further, subjects who smoked were at a 1.2 times higher risk of experiencing oral symptoms. With regard to internet use, the risk of experiencing oral symptoms was 1.25 times higher for subjects who used the internet for 7 hours or more than for those who used it for less than 1 hour. Compared to those subjects who had not experienced violence in school, the odds ratio of subjects who had experienced it 3~4 times was 1.54-fold higher. The study found that health-risk factors were associated with oral symptom experience. Therefore, programs to understand health-risk factors and interventions should be developed for Korean adolescents and provided on a regular basis along with oral health education.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2018

Background: Lower-limb varicose veins (VVs) are common and known to have a higher prevalence among people who work in occupations requiring prolonged standing. In the Republic of Korea, however, VV-related occupational factors have seldom been examined. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of VVs among nurses, an occupational group considered to be at high risk of VVs, and determine the occupational risk factors of prolonged standing. Methods: Between March and August 2014, a questionnaire survey coupled with Doppler ultrasonography was conducted on the nurses working at a university hospital. Results: A total of 414 nurses participated in the survey and diagnostic testing. From the survey analysis and test results, the prevalence of VVs in nurses was estimated to be 16.18%. Significant factors for venous reflux were age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.10], pregnancy (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.17-3.94), and delivery (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.08-3.78). The statistical significance of these factors was verified after risk adjustment for sociodemographic factors (OR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.27-9.09). Conclusion: Factors significantly associated with venous reflux were increasing age and prolonged working hours (${\geq}4hours$) in a standing position (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.08-7.25), even after risk adjustment for sociodemographic factors. This study is significant in that an objective diagnosis of VVs preceded the analysis of the risk factors for VV incidence, thus verifying objectively that VVs are associated with occupations requiring prolonged hours of working in a standing position.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.51-59
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• 2021

This study was undertaken to identify factors that influence high-risk drinking among women. Seventh National Health and Nutrition Survey data were used, and 3,453 women aged 19 or older were studied. Subjects were divided into general and high-risk drinking groups according to high-risk drinking rate indicators, and these groups were compared to identify demographic and sociological characteristics, differences in health-related characteristics, and factors associated with high-risk drinking. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 25.0. The analysis showed 8.8% of the cohort were high-risk drinkers, and that rates of high-risk drinking were higher among women in their 20s to 30s, smokers, and those with experience of depression. In particular, smoking, and depression were associated with a 4.5 [(95% confidence interval (CI)=2.804-7.372, p<0.001)] and 7.0-fold [(95% CI=2.918-16.855, p<0.001)] increases in rates of high-risk drinking. In addition, the risk of high-risk drinking was high among 15- to 19-year-olds, which indicates an urgent need to develop and implement drinking education programs for women in adolescence and early adulthood. We expect the results of this study to be used to create health policies and health promotion programs aimed at reducing the high-risk drinking rate among women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2006

Objectives: The object of this study is to assess the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease by using health risk appraisal of ischemic heart disease. Methods: The study population was taken from The 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey, and it consisted of 1,566 men and 1,984 women aged 30-59. We calculated 10-year risk using the risk function of ischemic heart disease as developed by Jee. The educational level and equivalized household income were dichotomized by a 12 years education period and the median income level. Occupation was dichotomized into manual/non-manual work. We stratified the population by age(10 years) and sex, and then we rated the risk differences according to socioeconomic factors by performing t-tests for each strata. Results: There were gradients of the predicted 10-year risk of ischemic heart disease with the educational level and the equivalized household income, and thet was an increasing tendency of risk differences with age. Manual workers didn't show significant risk difference from non-manual workers. Conclusions: There was definite relationship between low socioeconomic position and the predicted risk of ischemic heart disease in the future.