• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.226-236
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the levels of serum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and evaluate their association with age, body mass index, smoking, military record-based variables, and estimated exposure to Agent Orange in Korean Vietnam veterans. Methods: Serum levels of TCDD were analyzed in 102 Vietnam veterans. Information on age, body mass index, and smoking status were obtained from a self-reported questionnaire. The perceived exposure was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire. Two proximitybased exposures were constructed by division/brigade level and battalion/company level unit information using the Stellman exposure opportunity index model. Results: The mean and median of serum TCDD levels was 1.2 parts per trillion (ppt) and 0.9 ppt, respectively. Only 2 Vietnam veterans had elevated levels of TCDD (>10 ppt). The levels of TCDD did not tend to increase with the likelihood of exposure to Agent Orange, as estimated from either proximity-based exposure or perceived self-reported exposure. The serum TCDD levels were not significantly different according to military unit, year of first deployment, duration of deployment, military rank, age, body mass index, and smoking status. Conclusions: The average serum TCDD levels in the Korean Vietnam veterans were lower than those reported for other occupationally or environmentally exposed groups and US Vietnam veterans, and their use as an objective marker of Agent Orange exposure may have some limitations. The unit of deployment, duration of deployment, year of first deployment, military rank, perceived self-reported exposure, and proximity-based exposure to Agent Orange were not associated with TCDD levels in Korean Vietnam veterans. Age, body mass index and smoking also were not associated with TCDD levels.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.7-15
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• 2018

Purpose - This study surveys factors such as lifestyles, nutritional status, physical indicators, and physical fitness levels that affect the health of seniors over the age of 65 and based on the collected data attempts to create a senior health index model that provides health service information, help support seniors' successful aging, and improve their quality of life. Research design, data, and methodology - This paper conducted the development for senior health index model and the cross validity verification to examine the status of senior health level, and aimed at setting the health status evaluation criteria. Seniors 384 usable data were analyzed. Results - As an attempt to segment the senior health service market, I divided the results of this study based on measurability, accessibility, disparity between groups, and the size of the potential client base. I divided the senior market into five subgroups: very healthy, healthy, normal, weak, and very weak. Conclusions - The findings of this study may prove useful in preparing for the forthcoming super-aged society through segmentation of the senior market, understanding differences between groups with different health conditions, and discovering effective marketing strategies that meet the demands of different senior groups.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2016

This study examined the oral health-related quality of life of the elderly using the oral health index and dental prosthesis status, and explored methods to improve the oral health status. The data collected from 'The fifth Korean national health and nutrition examination survey 2010' were analyzed. The subjects were 2273 elderly people, aged 65 years or older, who had completed an oral examination, health questionnaires and nutrition examination. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 22.0 for Windows. Frequency analysis, multiple regression analysis and structural equation model were used for statistical analysis. The general characteristics, oral health index and dental prosthesis showed differences in the subjective oral health status associated with as age, ST, FS-T, T-Health, maxillary crown needs, maxillary denture needs, mandibular denture needs, chewing status associated with the income level, FS-T, maxillary crown needs, maxillary denture needs, mandibular denture needs, speaking status associated with the ST, T-Health, maxillary implant status, and maxillary denture needs. In conclusion, both the oral health index and dental prosthesis needs affect the oral health related quality of life of the elderly. Governments should implement a variety of oral health programs and dental prosthesis policies to improve the quality of life related oral health of the elderly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.304-314
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• 2017

Background: This study aimed to analyze effects of postpartum care services to women after birth, identify the factors affecting their use, and examine the extent of income-related inequality in the postpartum care services utilization and expenditures using Korean Health Panel data between 2010 and 2013. Methods: The panel data of the year 2010-2013 of the 247 women after birth were used. First, EuroQoL-5D was used to evaluate the effects of postpartum care service to women's quality of life. Second, multinominal logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of the use of the postpartum care services. Finally, concentration index and HIwv (horizontal equity) index were used to find that the concentration index for the inequality in the use of postpartum care services showed negative sign, which implied pro-rich. Results: The estimation results showed that utilization of the postpartum services has a positive effect on women after birth. Also age, area of residence, and number of household members turn out to be the factors of using postpartum services. And there are inequality in the use of postpartum care services whose HIwv index showed positive sign, which implied pro-rich. Conclusion: Therefore, the government's policy of the postpartum care service is necessary to be expanded and diversified considering the personal characteristics and equity of the women after birth.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic characteristics, oral health awareness and oral health behavior of 1,356 Korean senior citizens based on the fourth raw materials of the 2008 national health and nutrition survey, and to analyze their DMFS, DMFT and FS-T indexes, which were oral health indicators. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. The mean DMFS index of the Korean senior citizens was 26.62, and their average DMFT index was 6.76. Their mean FS-T index was 21.51. 2. Out of the demographic characteristics of the Korean elderly people, education made statistically significant differences to the DMFS(p<0.05) and FS-T(p<0.001) indexes, and whether they worked or not made statistically significant differences to the DMFT(p<0.01), DMFS(0.001) and FS-T(0.001) indexes. There were no significant gaps according to gender, age and presence or absence of a spouse. 3. The oral health awareness of the Korean senior citizens(subjective oral health status, whether to need a dental treatment, concern for oral health and mastication) had no statistically significant relationship to their DMFS, DMFT and FS-T indexes. 4. Among the oral health behaviors of the Korean elderly people, whether they got a dental checkup over the past year made statistically significant differences to the DMFT(p<0.01), DMFS(p<0.001) and FS-T (p<0.001) indexes, and there were statistically significant gaps in the DMFT(p<0.010, FS-T(p<0.01) and DMFS(p<0.001) indexes according to yesterday's toothbrushing frequency. The time when they went to a dentist made a significant difference to the FS-T(p<0.01) index only.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to examine the geriatric status, oral health, and oral health related quality of life of stroke patients hospitalized at a rehabilitatio ward and assess the relationships among these factors. A total of 78 stroke patients participated in this cross-sectional study. The following oral examinations were performed by a dentist and dental hygienist: Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth, gingival, debris, calculus, and community periodontal index (CPI). The patients' sociodemographic and geriatric status were evaluated using the Barthel index and a mini-mental state examine (MMSE) according to their medical record and a questionnaire survey. Oral health related quality of life was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 questionnaire. Except for three participants, most stroke patients had a gingival index of 2 or more, which means probing results in bleeding gums. Additionally, 53.8% of participants had a CPI code of 3 or 4, which indicates a probing depth of 4 mm or more. CPI index was significantly related to debris, calculus, and gingival index. The OHIP-14 score significantly related to the Barthel index and MMSE (p<0.05). The oral health of stroke patients in the rehabilitation ward was relatively poor and related to poor oral hygiene. Oral health related quality of life was related not to oral health but to geriatric status significantly.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.670-684
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• 2009

Objectives : This research analyzed the general characteristics that closely affect the children's dental health and the mothers' dental health knowledge and dental health behavior to identify the correlation of the latter with the status of children's dental health in order to provide the basic data for the development of dental health business that would target children. Methods : Research subjects were selected arbitrarily from three nursery schools located in Busan metropolitan city, targeting 186 children between the ages of four to six and their mothers. The children were subjected to dental Inspection, and the status of their dental caries was studied whereas the mothers were subjected to the surveys on the general characteristics, dental health knowledge and dental health behavior. Results : 1. Level of mothers' dental health knowledge is higher when the mothers' educational level is higher(p=0.02) and when the household's monthly income is higher(p=0.009). 2. When the level of mothers' dental health knowledge is higher, children tended to brush their toothbrushing using proper method(p=0.025). Moreover, when the level of mothers' dental health knowledge is higher, they tended to take their children to dental clinic mostly for preventive measures than for treating cavity(p=0.023). 3. When the level of mothers' dental health knowledge is higher, children's dmft index was significantly low(p=0.02). When the mothers use fluoride-containing toothpaste, children's children' dmft index was even lower(p=0.02). 4. As the children tended to brush their teeth more often, dmft index was lower(p=0.003). When the reason that the children visited dental clinic was more to prevent, than to treat cavity, dmft index was even lower(p=0.000) Conclusions : When the above mentioned results are summarized, it is possible to know that the mothers' dental health knowledge and dental health behavior significantly affect children's dental health. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop maternal and child dental health program that factors in both the mothers and children in order to prevent children's dental caries and to increase their dental health, and continued care is required to discover and treat dental caries early on.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.228-237
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to investigate allergic rhinitis and the relationship between allergic diseases, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, and dental caries and periodontal disease using the raw data from third year of the 6th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: A total of 3,729 subjects aged over 30 years who underwent examination for allergic diseases and an oral health checkup were selected. The data were analyzed using SPSS IBM SPSS ver. 25.0 (IBM Corp., USA). Composite sample cross correlation and composite sample logistic regression analyses were performed using the composite sample general linear model. Results: On examining the socioeconomic characteristics of the subjects suffering from allergic disease and the relationship between allergic disease and oral health, allergic rhinitis was more frequently found in younger subjects with a higher level of education. Periodontal disease and dental caries were more frequent among female, older age groups, lower income earners, and subjects with a lower level of education (p<0.05). On examining the relationship between the oral health characteristics of the subject and allergic diseases and oral health, allergic rhinitis was more common in subjects with a good oral health status perception than those who answered "bad" to the oral health status question. The community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) score was higher in subjects who answered "poor" to the oral health status question, lower frequency of brushing, and higher in subjects using secondary oral hygiene products; the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index was higher in subjects with a perception of poor oral health status (p<0.05). The DMFT index was high in the asthma group, and the CPITN score was high in the group who answered "no" to allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: There is a relationship between asthma and allergic rhinitis and the DFMT index and CPITN score. Corresponding oral programs for allergic patients need to be developed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.229-240
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the impact of dietary habits and obesity on level of oral health in the elementary school children and to characterize the relationship among dietary habits, obesity and level of oral health by DMFT index and perceived oral health. Methods : Participants were 314 total students from one elementary school who lived Yeosan. Self-administered questionnaires were given to the subjects from March 25 through May 12, 2008, to identify their the degree of dietary habits, perceived oral health. A trained investigator made an oral examination of them in natural light using a mirror and explorer to determine their DMFT index. We classified the subjects into Data were analyzed with T-test, one-way ANOVA, and Duncan's multiple range test, pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression using the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results : Regarding dietary habit, the subjects achieved a mean of 10.52${\pm}$3.80 out of a maximum 20 points. The DMFT index in the subject was 0.60${\pm}$2.03. The group of obesity by gender were 19.2% and 22.5%. Moreover, those who were children and had more severe level of obesity felt that their perceived oral health and DMFT index were higher. There was a significant assocciation of oral health among elementary school children with obesity. Conclusion : These results suggest that oral health behavioral and attitude, dietary habits and obesity influenced the level of oral health. Thus further research targeting to positive attitude toward effective management of childhood obesity combined with significant dietary habits, may lead to promotion of oral health.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.101-113
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the self-rated oral health status of local residents and their quality of life in urban and county areas in an effort to provide information on how to improve their quality of life. Method : The 2015 community health survey data for South Gyeongsang Province(10 urban regions and 10 county areas) were analyzed. Result : The findings of the study were as follows: As for the characteristics of self- rated oral health, there were better self-rated oral health, less chewing difficulty, less use of dentures, higher rate of receiving dental checkups and more scaling experience in the urban communities than in the county areas. Concerning EQ-5D and happiness index by region, the two were higher in the urban regions than in the county areas. In regard to EQ-5D and happiness index by the characteristics of self-rated oral health, better self-rated oral health status and less chewing difficulty led to higher EQ-5D and higher happiness index. And the two were higher when dentures were not used, when more dental checkups were received and when there was more scaling experience. Conclusion : Therefore in order to boost the quality of life of local residents, the preparation of various educational programs is necessary to raise their awareness of health, and they should be provided with a wide range of medical benefits by dispersing medical institutions that are mostly located in urban communities or by expanding public health services in county areas.