• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2023

Head louse infestation is a significant public health problem across the world, particularly among preschool and primary schoolchildren. This study investigated the trends of head louse infestation in the Republic of Korea over a 9-year period (2011-2019), targeting primary schoolchildren in 3 areas of Seoul, 4 other large cities, and 9 provinces. A survey was administered annually by the health staff of each regional office (n= 16) of the Korea Association of Health Promotion (KAHP). The branch offices of KAHP examined a total of 51,508 primary schoolchildren, comprising 26,532 boys and 24,976 girls. Over the 9-year survey, a total of 1,107 (2.1%) schoolchildren tested positive for adults and/or nits of Pediculus humanus capitis. The prevalence was 2.8% (133/4,727) in 2011-2012 and gradually decreased to 0.8% (49/6,461) in 2019 (P< 0.05). Head lice were found more frequently in girls (3.0%; 746/24,976) than in boys (1.4%; 361/26,532) (P< 0.05). In terms of geographic localities, the highest infestation rate, 4.7% (average prevalence over 9 years), was observed in southern Seoul (Gangnam branch of KAHP), whereas the lowest infestation rate, 0.7%, was seen in Gyeongsang (north and south provinces) and western Seoul. Although the prevalence decreased significantly during the 9-year period, head louse infestation remains a health and hygiene issue among primary schoolchildren in the Republic of Korea. Regular surveys along with health education are needed to further improve children's hair hygiene.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.79-94
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation clinics for soldiers in the Korean armed forces. In so doing it attempted to identify the predictors of smoking cessation and positive transition of stages of change. Methods: In a single-group pre-post test study design, 5,362 smokers from Korean armed forces participated in the smoking cessation clinic programs based on both the Transtheoretical model and life skills approaches. Changes in stages of change and related variables were measured before the intervention and at 3-month follow-up after the intervention. Results: The cessation rates was 66.0% at 3-month follow-up. With the positive transition to action/maintain stage, proportion of participants in action/maintain stage increased more than 5 times after the intervention. Cons of smoking, self-efficacy, processes of change, and life skills increased, and pros of smoking decreased after the intervention. Predictors of smoking cessation included nicotine dependency, pros of smoking, high levels of self-efficacy, processes of change and life skills. Positive stage transition was predicted by pros of smoking and high self-efficacy. Conclusions: Application of the Transtheoretical model and life skills approaches provided useful strategies for a smoking cessation program in armed forces.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-139
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the health promotion activities of the elderly Korean aged 65 or older and to examine the related factors associated with the health promotion activities. Methods: Data were obtained from 2008 Social Statistics Survey of Korea National Statistical Office of 6,207 people aged 65 or older. We measured the socio-demographic characteristics, physical health status, social health status, and health promotion activities. Statistical analyses were employed through the $X^2$-test and Odds ratio using Logit Model. Results: In our study, health promotion activity practice rates were varied among the socio-demographic characteristics, physical and social health status. Our findings also support that better socio-demographic and physical health status explain the higher practice rates of health promotion activities. In addition, the higher social health status was associated with better practice rates of health promotion activities. Conclusion: We found that the health promotion activities of the elderly could be encouraged by better socio-demographic status and physical and social health status. To better accomplish the health promotion for the elderly in our community, policy-makers should need careful political deliberation for executing health promotion services considering the distinctions of programme and target groups.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.705-708
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• 2019

Gymnophalloides seoi (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) is a human intestinal trematode contracted by eating raw oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the Republic of Korea (=Korea). It has been known to be highly endemic in Aphae Island, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Province). However, recent epidemiological status of G. seoi has not been reported since the 1990s. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of G. seoi metacercariae in natural and cultured oysters collected from 3 islands and 2 coastal areas in western parts of Korea. The oysters were examined using the artificial digestion method followed by stereomicroscopy. The overall positive rate of G. seoi metacercariae in natural oysters was 66.0% (99/150), and the oysters collected from Yubu Island showed the highest infection rate (74.0%). However, the metacercarial density per oyster was relatively low (1.5-2.4 per oyster). By contrast, no metacercaria was found in cultured oysters purchased from 2 coastal areas in Chungcheongnam-do. Thus, we could confirm that natural oysters produced from 3 western coastal islands are infected with G. seoi metacercariae, whereas cultured oysters purchased from 2 coastal areas were free from infection.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2007

Objectives: The purpose of the this study was to evaluate lifestyle intervention program for the treatment of the metabolic syndrome. Methods: Subjects of this study were 700 adults with metabolic syndrome who took health examinations in health promotion centers of Korea Association of Health Promotion between May 1 and June 30, 2006. Subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a comparison group. Participants in the experimental group received intensive 3-month lifestyle modification intervention and participants in the comparison group received minimal information on lifestyle modification. Pre test and Post test were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention program. Results: After the intensive intervention on lifestyle modification(healthy diet, physical activity, moderate drinking, stress management, and smoking cessation), the levels of blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose and triglycerides were significantly reduced for those in experimental group(P<0.001). For those in comparison group, the levels of blood pressure(P<0.001), waist circumference(P<0.001), and triglycerides(P<0.01) were significantly reduced after the intervention. No change in the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed in both groups. After 3-month intervention, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was reduced to 35.7% in experimental group and 48.5% in comparison group. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the efficacy of therapeutic lifestyle intervention for the management of metabolic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.129-143
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• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify prevalence and related factors of the elderly, who took health examination, with metabolic syndrome. Methods: The health examination and lifestyle survey were performed for 21,512 adults at 60 years of age or older who took health examination in H health promotion center during January-March 2009. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome for the subject was 24.0%. Of the subject with metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of the diseases was obesity 60%, abdominal obesity 78.5%, hypertension 82.6%, dyslipidemia 89.7% and diabetes 51.9%. In comparison of the relationship between metabolic syndrome and other diseases, the male subject with metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in BMI, waist circumference, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, AST, ALT, $\gamma$-GTP, TG, AC glucose, creatinine than normal male(p<0.001). In comparison of the relationship between metabolic syndrome and lifestyle, more drinking frequency and amount in male and more drinking frequency in female were associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome(p<0.01). Regardless of exercise intensity, practice of exercise contributed to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome(p<0.01). Conclusion: In conclusion, TLC program, focused on lifestyle behaviors which is strongly associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, should be developed for the improvement of life quality in the elderly with metabolic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.65-85
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• 2007

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the major health problems of poor children, and to provide basic information for developing health care program for low income children in underserved area. Methods: Health data were collected through medical examination(KAHP Social Welfare Service) and analysed for 3,081 poor children in 106 local children's centers nationwide. Results: 1. The mean height and weight of poor children were lower than those of nonpoor children. The differences were increased by age. 2. The rate of relative low weight was higher in poor children than in nonpoor children. On the contrary, The obesity rate was higher in nonpoor children than in poor children. 3. Poor children were more likely to have vision problem, anemia, high blood pressure, and oral health problems than nonpoor children. 4. The Health problems of children were the most serious in single father family. Conclusion: In order to improve children's health status, health promotion program for poor children should be developed and implemented. Health promotion program should include activities including regular health examination, home visiting, nutrition support, managed health care, health counseling and education. And the community support network was suggested for the efficacy of the program, including home, school and community.

• Proceedings of the KSCN Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.26-31
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• 2007

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.47-56
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate trends of smoking characteristics and to identify the relationship between smoking characteristics and obesity among military personnel in Korea. Methods: The study participants were 50,680 military personnel who participated smoking cessation clinic from January in 2009 to December in 2017(excluded in 2011). Obesity was defined as body mass index${\geq}25kg/m2$. Smoking characteristics was included cigarettes of smoked per day, age of initial smoking, smoking duration, and nicotine dependence. Binominal logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the relationship of smoking and obesity among military personnel. Results: The prevalence of obesity of study subjects was 20.4%. The military personnel were more likely to be obese if they who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day(adjusted OR 2.271, CI 2.027-2.545), who smoked for more than 10 years(adjusted OR 2.046, CI 1.820-2.299), and who smoked their initial smoking at later than 20 years(adjusted OR 1.357, CI 1.223-1.493). Conclusions: Obesity is closely related to cigarettes of smoked per day, age of initial smoking and smoking duration among military personnel. Thus, intervention included both smoking cessation and weight control are necessary for smokers with obese who are interested in losing weight among military personnel.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.339-348
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• 2013

Translational research (TR) as high quality research can accelerate collaboration strongly between biotechnology-based researchers and clinical-research experts for overcoming diseases. TR facilitates basic science translated to clinical efficacy and effectiveness from bench (basic science) to bedside (clinical practice) for the enhancement of human health. Disease-oriented TR programs were defined as unilateral, bilateral and multilateral TR in this patent performance analysis. Patent performance was measured in a R&D project on Health and Medical Technology to enhance the productivity of R&D investment on disease-oriented TR in Health Technology (HT). Patent Map (PM) analysis and Bibliometrics were conducted to collect information for the assessment of research patents of TR programs. Futhermore, PIAS (Patent Information Analysis System) and Thinklear programs were applied for quantitative and qualitative analysis successfully. These indicate that multi-dimensional analysis of patent performance for disease-oriented TR could promote the connection of R&D-IP (Research and Development-Intellectural Property) and R&BD (Research and Business Development) supporting system significantly.