• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6307-6313
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge and awareness of women in Kuwait with regard to risk factors, symptoms and diagnostic procedures of breast cancer. A total of 521 questionnaires were distributed among women in Kuwait. Results showed that 72% of respondents linked breast cancer factors to family history, while 69.7% scored abnormal breast enlargement as the most detectable symptom of the disease. Some 84% of participants had heard about self-examination, but knowledge about mammograms was limited to 48.6% and only 22.2% were familiar with diagnostic procedures. Some 22.9% of respondents identified the age over 40 years as the reasonable age to start mammogram screening. Risk factor awareness was independent on age groups (p>0.05), but both high education and family history increased the likelihood of postivie answers; the majority knew about a few factors such as aging, pregnancy after age 30, breast feeding for short time, menopause after age of 50, early puberty, and poor personal hygiene. In conclusion, 43.1% of participants had an overall good knowledge of breast cancer with regards to symptoms, risk factors and breast examination. Very highly significant associations (p<0.005) were evident for all groups except for respondents distributed by nationality (p=0.444). Early campaigns for screening the breast should be recommended to eliminate the confusion of wrong perceptions about malignant mammary disease.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2002

The purpose of the study was to develop a Web site for the middle-aged women and test the usability of the site. Users' need for information were identified via online survey of 189 middle-aged women. It was found that they had various health problems but very few did any health prevention or health promotion activities. A web site for the middle-aged women was developed based on the result of needs assessment. The site includes content on exercise, diet including weight control, osteoporosis, climacteric, aging, breast and cervical cancer. Besides this health information, FAQ on women's health, my health knowledge test, statistics, link to related institutes and web sites, newspaper articles/mass media clips, journal articles, conferences, papers and other educational information were added. The site was developed as a subsystem of the Healthguide(http://healthguide.kihasa.re.kr). As a way of utilizing the homepage, twenty two women aged 40-50 were recruited at a community-based gathering and health promotion education program was conducted. To test the effectiveness of the education, knowledge, attitude and behavior changes of before and after education were compared. There were significant differences of knowledge and behavior in breast cancer, cervical cancer, osteoporosis, menopause and sexual life. It is expected that Web-based women's health information will contribute to women's health promotion and provide an effective learning media for health education.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2021

Leguminosae plants are known for its phytoestrogen constituents which play a major role in the prevention of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease. In this study, the estrogenic activity of 158 samples from 58 species, 3 subspecies and 10 varieties of Leguminosae plants growing in Korea was evaluated. An estrogen, 17β-estradiol was used as a reference compound, and the potency of each sample was expressed in relative efficacy (%) compared to that of the reference by a reporter gene assay using MCF-7 cells. As results, the estrogenic activity of methanolic extracts of Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis, Sophora flavescens, Lespedeza × robusta, Indigofera pseudotinctoria, Maackia amurensis, Glycine soja, Wisteria floribunda, Robinia pseudoacacia, Astragalus sinicus, Pueraria lobata, Lespedeza maximowiczii var. tomentella, Trifolium repens and Crotalaria sessiliflora showed similar to or higher at 100 ㎍/ml than the positive control at 10 nM. These findings can be a potential evidence for developing estrogen alternatives resolving various types of menopause symptoms with information on proper harvest season and usage plant part. To the best of our knowledge, the estrogenic activity of Lespedeza × robusta, Indigofera pseudotinctoria, Wisteria floribunda, Robinia pseudoacacia and Lespedeza maximowiczii var. tomentella is reported for the first time in this study.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.342-350
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• 2004

Purpose: It has been suggested that approximately 40% of women between 40 and 64 years of age cease their sexual activity. The aim of this study was to establish the basic data for FSD(female sexual dysfunction) and FSD-related factors in regional urban and rural areas of Korea. Method: Three hundred twenty five women over 20 years of age and resident in regional urban and rural areas were analyzed by a visit survey with an organized questionnaire. The female sexual function index(FSFI) for measurement of sexual dysfunction was used. The significance between the degree of sexual dysfunction and characteristics of the participants was analyzed by a t-test and ANOVA test. The relationship between the degree of sexual dysfunction and related factors was analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: All analyzing tools including the FSFI had a high validity for measuring. The FSFI in Korean women was $19.97{\pm}4.87$ and ranged from 2 to 29. Old age, menopause, medication, no contraception usage and longer marital duration were significantly related with a lower FSFI score. Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed the significance in degrees of sexual distress (r=-.469, p=.000), sexual attitude(r=.305, p=.000) and a stressful life event(r= -.141, p=.038) with the sexual function index score. Conclusion: Women with sexual dysfunction should be evaluated for these sexual function-related factors in the history taking, and this data can be a basis for study for sexual dysfunction.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-33
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• 2022

Objectives: Since the importance of Korean Medicine (KM) treatment for Poor Ovarian Response (POR) is high, we intend to present appropriate treatment standards and methods by analyzing information on KM knowledge presented in related research papers and literature. Methods: First, research papers dealing with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) and POR are analyzed. In addition, we analyze and refer to research papers on Premature Ovarian Failure and Premature Menopause, which are closely related to DOR. Results: It is considered that the application of KM treatment alone for DOR should be based on the age that best reflects the ovarian reserve rather than the value of the ovarian reserve-related index centered on Anti-Müllerian Hormine (AMH). Accordingly, as a DOR woman under the age of 38, if normal sexual intercourse is achieved and the spouse factor is excluded, KM treatment, focusing on herbal medicine and acupuncture, can be applied. Conclusions: Korean Medicine treatment for infertility caused by decreased ovarian reserve is expected to be effective. However, research on specific treatments and targets will have to be added.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet education program tailored to Korean adults and to examine the effect of the DASH diet education program on bone mineral density in middle aged women. Methods: The subjects of this study were 26 middle aged women, pre and post menopause, who attend a church located in Kyung-In district. The DASH group I (n=13) was provided with the DASH diet education program only, while the DASH group II (n=13) was provided with DASH diet education program along with calcium supplements (1 g/day). The DASH diet education program included one lecture on DASH diet, one face to face counseling, and five telephone counseling sessions during the 8 weeks period. Results: The knowledge and subjective compliance level of DASH diet increased significantly in both groups, at 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention. The level of objective compliance of DASH diet in both groups increased over the study period, but it was not significant as compared to those of the baseline. Bone mineral density of both groups decreased at 8weeks as compared to the baseline after the intervention. Conclusion: Although 8weeks of DASH diet education program increased the knowledge and compliance of DASH diet, it was not effective to bring the changes in bone mineral density among the middle aged women.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.527-538
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a model that explains causal relationships between post-menopausal women's osteoporosis general knowledge and awareness of their own bone mass density(BMD) and their osteoporosis health beliefs and preventive behaviors. Methods: Retrospective design using structural equation model tested seven variables by using questionnaires of osteoporosis knowledge test, osteoporosis health belief scale, osteoporosis self-efficacy scale, and osteoporosis preventive behaviors scale. 162 middle age and post-menopausal women were recruited. Results: Mediating effect of health beliefs was not significant in the relationship between BMD awareness and preventive behaviors. Instead, BMD awareness had a direct influence on the preventive behaviors that is strong and significant. Between the relationship of the BMD awareness and health beliefs, direct pathways of perceived threat, relative benefits, and self-efficacy were not significant. However, relative benefits and self-efficacy showed direct influence on the preventive behaviors. Conclusion: Having middle age women get their BMD test done in order for them to be aware of their own BMD results might be a critical strategy to promote osteoporosis preventive behaviors. There is a need to develop diverse strategies to enhance their self-efficacy which has been shown to be important to osteoporosis preventive behaviors.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.339-347
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• 2019

This study was conducted from November 1, 2017 to November 30, 2017 in 268 women in late postmenopausal period in D and S shipyards located in G city. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the risk factors of cerebrovascular disease according to the presence or absence of risk factors of cerebrovascular disease. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their general characteristics, cerebrovascular disease prevention knowledge, attitude and health behavior. The variables that had statistically significant difference in health group and risk group were age (F=92.239, p<.001), cohabitation type ($x^2=20.056$, p<.001), income level ($x^2=39.023$, p<.001), the number of working hours per week (F=32.217, p<.001), the number of working years (F=12.310, p=.001), family history of cardiovascular disease ($x^2=233.442$, p<.001), subjective health status($x^2=19.058$, p=.001). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the degree of knowledge related to prevention of cardiovascular disease (F=2.679, p=.008) and health behavior fulfillment (F=4.339, p<.001). (r=.348, p<.001), the risk group had a higher knowledge (r=.279, p=.002), and the other group Attitude (r=.194, p=.030) showed a statistically significant correlation. Based on this, it is necessary to develop and apply an intervention program considering the characteristics of vulnerable group of cerebrovascular disease.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2018

Objectives: The present mini review aimed to summarize the existing knowledge regarding the beneficial and adverse effects of raloxifene in menopausal women. Methods: This study is a review of relevant publications about the effects of raloxifene on sleep disorder, depression, venous thromboembolism, the plasma concentration of lipoprotein, breast cancer, and cognitive function among menopausal women. Results: Raloxifene showed no significant effect on depression and sleep disorder. Verbal memory improved with administration of 60 mg/day of raloxifene while a mild cognitive impairment risk reduction by 33% was observed with administration of 120 mg/day of raloxifene. Raloxifene was associated with a 50% decrease in the need for prolapse surgery. The result of a meta-analysis showed a significant decline in the plasma concentration of lipoprotein in the raloxifene group compared to placebo (standardized mean difference, -0.43; 10 trials). A network meta-analysis showed that raloxifene significantly decreased the risk of breast cancer (relative risk, 0.572; 95% confidence interval, 0.327-0.881; P = 0.01). In terms of adverse effects of raloxifene, the odds ratio (OR) was observed to be 1.54 (P = 0.006), indicating 54% increase in the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) while the OR for pulmonary embolism (PE) was 1.05, suggesting a 91% increase in the risk of PE alone (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Raloxifene had no significant effect on depression and sleep disorder but decreased the concentration of lipoprotein. Raloxifene administration was associated with an increased risk of DVT and PE and a decreased risk of breast cancer and pelvic organ prolapse in postmenopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.578-592
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• 1997

The use of semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires to estimate dietary intake has become widespread in nutritional epidemiologic studies. It had been suggested that knowledge about a person's usual portion size of each meal in addition to consumption frequency will improve the accuracy of this method. This study was performed to investigate the dietary intake status(nutrient, food, and dish intake) and one portion size of commonly consumed food and dishes to develop a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire that will be used to expore the relationship between the incidence of cardiovascular disease and diet in Korean women after menopause. Intake of food or dish in 123 elderly women were measured by 3-day food records in March to May, 1996. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follow : 1) Calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin E intakes were less adequate than Recommended dietary allowances(RDA). 2) The subjects who consumed more than 20% of the energy from fat were 35% and the subjects consumed dietary cholesterol more than 300mg were 18$\%$. 3) The most frequently consumed foods or dishes by the subjects were Korean cabbage kimchi〉cooked rice, well-milled〉laver〉apple〉strawberry〉mixed rice〉soybean soup. 4) The major dish groups which contributed to most daily nutrient intakes were cooked rice, Korean cabbage kimchi, soybean soup because of large amount and high frequency of intake although they do not contain large amount of most nutrients. 5) One portion size of commomly consumed foods and dishes in elderly women was different from one portion size suggested in the Korean nutrition society. This study provides information for the design of data-based semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. for Korean elderly women. In addition, they may be useful to health care planners or nutrition educators. (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(4) : 578-592, 1997)