• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine effect of anxiety about climate change on life satisfaction and mediating effect of subjective health status between anxiety about climate change and life satisfaction among older persons. Methods: This study used data from Statistics Korea 2018 Social Survey and a total of 7,870 older persons aged 65 and over were selected for the analyses. Descriptive statistics was used to identify characteristics of study participants and correlation analysis was used to examine the associations among anxiety about climate change, subjective health status, and life satisfaction. Also, multiple regression analyses were performed to examine effect of anxiety about climate change on life satisfaction and mediating effect of subjective health status between anxiety about climate change and life satisfaction. Results: Study findings show that anxiety about climate change had significant effect on life satisfaction. A higher level of anxiety decreased the level of life satisfaction of the elderly. A higher level of anxiety about climate change also decreased the level of subjective health status. In addition, the effect of anxiety about climate change on life satisfaction was partially mediated by subjective health status. Conclusions: Findings of the study suggest that the needs of older population should be considered in designing policy and interventions on climate change.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.230-238
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• 2007

Purpose: The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) is a theoretical construct explaining stages of health behavior change. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the stages of health behavior change and health related quality of life (HRQL), Method: A descriptive survey design was utilized, and, using a questionnaire, which included a series of 5 questions designed to assess stages of health behavior change and HRQL instrument, data were collected from 292 adults. Means, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, and SNK test were used to analyze the collected data. Results: Health risk behaviors were lack of stress management(44%), alcohol use (42.5%), poor nutrition (37%), smoking (36.3%), a lack of spirituality (28.8%), poor communication skills (21.9%), Lack of safety(21.6%), lack of fittness (20.1%), violent behavior(12.3%), and drug use(6.8%). There was a significant difference in HRQL according to stage of health behavior change (P=0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study identified the need for individualized nursing interventions that based on the stage of health behavior change. Nursing interventions that focus on the stage of health behavior change would be effective for health promotion for Koreans.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.3-14
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• 2020

Many studies have been conducted to assess the health effects of climate change in Korea. However, there has been a lack of consideration regarding how the results of these studies can be applied to relevant policies. The current study aims to examine research trends at the agenda-setting stage and to review future ways in which health-related adaptation to climate change can be addressed within national public health policy. A systematic review of previous studies of the health effects of climate change in Korea was conducted. Many studies have evaluated the effect of ambient temperature on health. A large number of studies have examined the effects on deaths and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, but a limitation of these studies is that it is difficult to apply their findings to climate change adaptation policy in the health sector. Many infectious disease studies were also identified, but these mainly focused on malaria. Regarding climate change-related factors other than ambient temperature, studies of the health effects of these factors (with the exception of air pollution) are limited. In Korea, it can be concluded that studies conducted as part of the agenda-setting stage are insufficient, both because studies on the health effects of climate change have not ventured beyond defining the problem and because health adaptation to climate change has not been set as an important agenda item. In the future, the sharing and development of relevant databases is necessary. In addition, the priority of agenda items should be determined as part of a government initiative.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.146-158
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• 1991

There is no doubt that the school health education in school health services is the most important component. But the concept and scope of the school health education is still not recognized and accepted satisfactorily in Korea. It is generally accepted that health education is a process of changing of attitude and behavior forward health practice. The term attitude refers to certain regularities on the part of an individual in feelings, thoughts, and predispositions to act toward some aspect of his environment. Attitudes have three components: affective, cognitive, and behavioral. The strategies of attitude change in school health education consist of incentive, justification, and coersion. In this study I explained reinforcement and motivation as the strategies of attitude change. The attitude change is not built in a day. When the teachers give the pupils knowledge, comprehension, or skill through school health education proper to each stage, then the attitude change will be realized.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.90-109
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• 2008

Government has extended the benefit coverage and reduced out-of-pocket (OOP) payment for cancer patients in 2005. This paper intends to examine the impact of the above policy on the equity in health care utilization. This paper analyzed the national health insurance data and compared the health care utilization of cancer patients before and after the policy change for people with 10 different income levels. For the equity in health care utilization, we examined the change in concentration index (CI) for visit days, inpatient days, and health expenditure. In the case of outpatient care, CI of visit days and health expenditure were positive(favoring the rich) in both regional and employee health insurance members and both 'before' and 'after' the policy change. CI values rarely changed after the policy change, and the policy change seems to have little impact on the equity of outpatient care utilization except expenditure of regional subscriber. In the case of inpatient care, CI of inpatient days was negative and CI of health expenditure was positive in both regional and work subscriber and both 'before' and 'after' the policy change. After the policy change, CI of inpatient expenditure in both groups of members decreased. CI of inpatient days changed in the direction favoring the poor in regional insurance members, but it rarely changed in employee insurance members. These results suggest that the policy of reducing OOP payment has a positive impact and reduced the inequity particularly in the utilization of inpatient care of cancer patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.276-284
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• 2013

This study compared levels of health and dietary behavior practices and health beliefs according to the stage of weight loss behavior change of Korean male workers. A self-administered survey questionnaire was collected from 411 male adult workers residing in Seoul, Kyeonggi, Chungcheong region. Practices of health related behavior, including smoking, drinking, exercise, work related physical activity, and dietary behavior according to dietary guidelines were evaluated. In addition, the levels of perceived benefit, perceived barrier, perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, and perceived cue to action from the health belief model were measured according to the stages of weight loss behavior change. Significant differences in BMI, level of daily exercise, and practices of dietary behavior according to dietary guidelines were observed among stages of weight loss behavior change. Subjects who were in action/maintenance stage showed a more desirable level of health behavior and health belief model variables, except perceived barrier. Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that subjects with different stages of behavior change need an appropriate specific nutrition education method and material for improvement of nutrition education efficacy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2713-2717
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• 2014

Background: Cancer imposes significant economic challenges for individuals, families, and society. Households of cancer patients often experience income loss due to change in job status and/or excessive medical expenses. Thus, we examined whether changes in economic status for such households is affected by catastrophic health expenditures. Materials and Methods: We used the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) Panel $1^{st}-4^{th}$ (2008-2011 subjects) data and extracted records from 211 out of 5,332 households in the database for this study. To identify factors associated with catastrophic health expenditures and, in particular, to examine the relationship between change in economic status and catastrophic health expenditures, we conducted a generalized linear model analysis. Results: Among 211 households with cancer patients, 84 (39.8%) experienced catastrophic health expenditures, while 127 (40.2%) did not show evidence of catastrophic medical costs. If a change in economic status results from a change in job status for head of household (job loss), these households are more likely to incur catastrophic health expenditure than households who have not experienced a change in job status (odds ratios (ORs)=2.17, 2.63, respectively). A comparison between households with a newly-diagnosed patient versus households with patients having lived with cancer for one or two years, showed the longer patients had cancer, the more likely their households incurred catastrophic medical costs (OR=1.78, 1.36, respectively). Conclusions: Change in economic status of households in which the cancer patient was the head of household was associated with a greater likelihood that the household would incur catastrophic health costs. It is imperative that the Korean government connect health and labor policies in order to develop economic programs to assist households with cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.149-170
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• 2002

The use of health behavior theory in health counseling may improve its effectiveness. This article provides an overview of health behavior theory and guidelines on how to incorporate various theories into effective health counseling. Models that focus on behavior change at the individual level are described, including the health belief model, which focuses on individual health beliefs; social learning theory, which emphasizes interactions between individual, behavior and its environment; theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behavior, which examines factors influencing behavioral intention;. the stages of change model, which focuses on one's stage of readiness for change. Research review provides explanatory and predictive utility of four health behavior theories. Suggestions for effective health counselling are as follows: 1. Unified theoretical framework incorporating key concepts from different health behavior theories is needed. 2. Need assessment should be included in counselling process. 3. Behavior-change counselling should target changes in one or more key variables previously identified. 4. Focusing on promotional efforts into a high profile behavior(gateway behavior) can be an an adjunctive way of initiating other health promotion behaviors. 5. Counselling should be staged based, and different strategies and processes of changes should be applied at different stages.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.59-75
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• 2008

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the stages of change distributions for nine major health behaviors among poor children in underserved area, and to provide basic information for developing specific objectives and strategies for health education program. Methods: The health behavior data were obtained with a self-administered questionnaire and analysed for 3,081 poor children in 106 local children's centers nationwide. Stages of change classification were based on self-reported responses to five statements. The health behaviors included were balanced diet, safety behavior (helmet and protective device use while riding), regular exercise, smoking, alcohol use, drug use, sleep pattern, weight management and stress management. Results: Poor children were more likely in precontemplation and less frequently in action and maintenance stages for a safety behavior. 33.1% of respondents were precontemplators, 29.9% contemplators, and 6.5% in preparation stage. Only 4.3% and 9.6% were in action and maintenance stages, respectively. Gender differences were apparent. Boys were more likely to be precontemplators for nine health behaviors. Children from the lowest socioeconomic status and disrupted family were more likely to be in precontemplation for weight management and exercise behaviors. Children living with both parents were more likely to be in the action and maintenance stages for nine health behaviors. Stages of change for balanced diet and smoking were significantly related with those for other eight health behaviors. And the stage of exercise adoption was found to be significantly related with those for other seven health behaviors. Conclusion: Safety education must receive high priority in health education program for low income children. Balanced diet smoking cessation and regular exercise could be a possible gateway behavior toward healthier lifestyle practices.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.155-169
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to suggest the direction for improvement of educational curriculum for health education in future while investigating change of organization in curriculum for health education in Korea. Method: It is to analytic thinking the trend of curriculum development and organization of the health curriculum in national level. Results: As a result of this analysis of change of organization in curriculum for health education in Korea, the educational curriculum in Korea is proved to have established diverse subjects about health education in whole educational curriculum. The analysis of organization of educational curriculum in each term shows that subjects on health education has diminished in amount or weakened in content in the education of elementary, middle and high school, as they disappeared from organization of educational curriculum in 4th and 5th terms for education. Seventeen hours per year portioned for health education in revised educational curriculum for 2007, which is currently operated, has been analyzed as being very short to its full requirement. The significant increase of hours for education is demanded for health education to be systematic and practically helpful in actual field of education in schools. Conclusion: It is also demanded that the more diversified and systematic method of education should be applied to and operated for organization and operation of educational curriculum rather than strictly unified educational curriculum.