• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health and Medicine

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Improving Tuberculosis Medication Adherence: The Potential of Integrating Digital Technology and Health Belief Model

  • Mohd Fazeli Sazali;Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim;Ahmad Hazim Mohammad;Fairrul Kadir;Alvin Oliver Payus;Richard Avoi;Mohammad Saffree Jeffree;Azizan Omar;Mohd Yusof Ibrahim;Azman Atil;Nooralisa Mohd Tuah;Rahmat Dapari;Meryl Grace Lansing;Ahmad Asyraf Abdul Rahim;Zahir Izuan Azhar
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.86 no.2
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    • pp.82-93
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    • 2023
  • Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health concern. Globally, TB is among the top 10 and the leading cause of death due to a single infectious agent. Providing standard anti-TB therapy for at least 6 months is recommended as one of the crucial strategies to control the TB epidemic. However, the long duration of TB treatment raised the issue of non-adherence. Non-adherence to TB therapy could negatively affect clinical and public health outcomes. Thus, directly observed therapy (DOT) has been introduced as a standard strategy to improve anti-TB medication adherence. Nonetheless, the DOT approach has been criticized due to inconvenience, stigma, reduced economic productivity, and reduced quality of life, which ultimately could complicate adherence issues. Apart from that, its effectiveness in improving anti-TB adherence is debatable. Therefore, digital technology could be an essential tool to enhance the implementation of DOT. Incorporating the health belief model (HBM) into digital technology can further increase its effectiveness in changing behavior and improving medication adherence. This article aimed to review the latest evidence regarding TB medication non-adherence, its associated factors, DOT's efficacy and its alternatives, and the use of digital technology and HBM in improving medication adherence. This paper used the narrative review methodology to analyze related articles to address the study objectives. Conventional DOT has several disadvantages in TB management. Integrating HBM in digital technology development is potentially effective in improving medication adherence. Digital technology provides an opportunity to improve medication adherence to overcome various issues related to DOT implementation.

Structural Relationships among Health Concern, Health Practice and Health Status of the Disabled (장애인의 건강관심도, 건강실천행위 그리고 건강수준간의 구조분석)

  • Chun, Byung-Yeol;Kam, Sin;Yeh, Min-Hae;Kang, Yun-Sik;Kim, Keon-Yeop;Son, Jae-Hee;Lee, Young-Suk;Park, Ki-Soo
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.276-288
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    • 1999
  • Objectives: This study was performed to determine the relationships among health concern, health practice and health status of the disabled. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out for 1,662 disabled persons in Taegu city from April to July, 1997. Results: Health concern had a significant and positive relationship with health practice(p<0.05) and health practice also had a significant and positive relationship with self-rated health status(p<0.05) in men and women. To determine the structural model of the Health concern, health practice, health status and sociodemographic variables, the covariance structural analysis was used. In men, age, economic status, medical security type, educational level and type of disability had significant direct effects on Health concern(T>2.0). Educational level and type of disability had significant direct effects on health practice(T>2.0). And Economic status, medical security type and job status had significant direct effects on health status(T>2.0). In women, economic status and educational level had significant direct effects on Health concern(T>2.0). However there was no variable which had a significant direct effect on health practice. Job status had a significant direct effect or health status(T>2.0). In men and women, health practice was significantly increased with increasing health concern and the more health practice, the higher health status(T>2.0). Conclusions: It is recommended that the institutional approach which improve the economic status of the disabled with understanding their behavior and attitude should be established to increase health status, in addition, the health policy for encouraging the disabled, such as health education, consulting and health promotion program, should be done.

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Considerations on a support system for Oriental medicine public health programs (한의약 공공보건사업 지원체계에 대한 고찰)

  • Lee, Eun-Kyoung;Chong, Myong-Soo;Lee, Ki-Nam
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.1-16
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    • 2011
  • Objectives : In spite of the importance of preparing a support system for public health programs, there is a relatively poor system to support Oriental medicine public health programs. In this regard, considerations have been made to give directions for the development of technical support organizations for Oriental medicine public health programs. Methods : The authors investigated support organizations of public health programs and compared Oriental medicine public health programs with them. Results : Technical support organizations for Oriental medicine public health programs are controlled by the National Traditional Korean Medicine Research and Development Center. However there is lack in the relevant budget, technical support, professional abilities for research and planning, connections with research institutes in the Oriental medicine field, and affiliations with the other public health programs. Conclusion : In this context, the following actions are required to systematically and technologically support Oriental medicine public health programs. Health improvement & technical support organizations whose incorporation is promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, should include the National Traditional Korean Medicine Research and Development Center, so as to activate the Oriental medicine public health programs. Legal provisions and the budget for the Oriental medicine public health programs should be secured so as to help identify and implement effective programs for improving the community health. A society for public health oriental medicine need be established so as to consolidate research capacities for the Oriental medicine public health programs. Programs should be developed to train professionals and supports should be intensified for activities to build capacities in technical support organizations.

Factor's Related to Self-Perceived Health of Young Adults (청년층의 자기인지건강 관련 요인)

  • Cho, Woo-Hyun;Suh, Il;Park, Jong-Ku;Park, Kee-Ho
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.33 no.4
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    • pp.415-425
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    • 2000
  • Objectives : To determine which factors are related to young adults perception of their health. Two research questions were asked. Which aspects of health does self-perceived health as a index of general health reflect? Why do two individuals with the same level of general health have different health perceptions? Methods : The sampling frame comprised college or graduate school students, aged 20 to 29, who were members of A, one of the 4 biggest internet communication services. The questionnaires were sent to study samples(n=1,000) and answered by E-mail. Response rate was 37.0%. Results : Firstly, physical health ranked highest and self-perceived health ranked lowest. Secondly, health, anxiety, depression, and self-perceived health showed significant differences between the sexes, with women showing a higher health status in these categories except for self-perceived health. Thirdly, the two factors significantly related to self-perceived health were physical health and self-esteem, as determined by multivariate analysis, Conclusions : The factors significantly related to self-perceived health were physical health and self-esteem. Further studies of the health characteristics of young adults are needed.

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