• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4595-4599
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer is a serious health problem. Early detection of colorectal cancer is crucial for treatment and reducing mortality. Beliefs related to colorectal cancer have been found to be a factor in a person's decision about colorectal cancer screening programs. To determine such beliefs, a valid and reliable instrument is necessary. Objective:The aim of this study was to adapt and determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Champion's Health Belief Model Scale of breast cancer screening in the measurement of beliefs toward colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Materials and Methods: The 'forward-backward' procedure was applied to translate the instrument from English into Persian. This study was conducted in Iran from June 2012 to May 2013. A convenience sample of 200 individuals aged 50 years and older was recruited from the population at the outpatient clinics in the three teaching hospitals. Validity was assessed using content, face and construct validity. To test reliability, the internal consistency was assessed by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test-retest (intraclass correlation coefficient) analyses. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity and determine the factors of adapted Champion's Health Belief Model Scale. Results: The mean age of the participants were 62.5 years (SD=10.8 years) and the majority of them (75.5 percent) were female. The results of exploratory factor analysis indicated a six-factor solution for the questionnaire (benefits, motivation and confidence, seriousness, susceptibility, emotional barriers and background barriers) that jointly accounted for 55.52% of variance observed. Cronbach's alpha of the subscales ranged from 0.57 to 0.89 and test-retest reliability ranged from 0.81 to 0.93 indicating a good range of reliability. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the Persian version of Champion's Health Belief Model Scale of CRC screening has good psychometric properties and could be an appropriate measure for health beliefs related to CRC screening in national and international studies.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.75-86
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• 2009

Objectives: To identify the factors associated with the intention to undergo mammography among Korean women without a prior screening experience. Methods: Among 1,039 women of the general population, we selected 145 women (mean age: 54.2 years, age range : 40-78 years) without any prior experience with mammography. They were recruited for the 'Cancer Information Needs Assessment Survey' by using the method of random multi-stage cluster sampling. Data on the socio-demographic characteristics, intention to undergo mammography based on the Precaution Adoption Process Model, level of self belief and self efficacy for breast cancer screening, motivation for decision to undergo breast cancer screening were obtained by conducting a household survey. Results: Of the study subjects, 49.7% were classified as "unengaged" and "decided not to act" regarding breast cancer screening. Women with the intention to undergo mammography were more likely to be younger (OR 0.11, 95%CI 0.04-0.36), to have been recommended to undergo screening by others (OR 3.27, 95%CI 1.36-7.87), to have a high level of perceived sensitivity (OR 3.15, 95%CI 1.27-7.82), and to have a high level of self efficacy (OR 1.09, 95%CI 0.97-1.23). Exposure to campaigns and information regarding breast cancer screening, whether cancer patients are or not in around, perceived severity, perceived benefit, and perceived cost were factors that were not significantly associated with the intention to undergo mammography. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop tailored intervention strategies for women who have never undergone breast cancer screening on the basis of their demographic characteristics and factors that positively influence the intention to undergo mammography.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2017

Objective : A pilot project entitled '50s mental health screening project' was conducted in Seoul. As a part of this project, we conducted surveys to obtain the opinions of psychiatrists regarding mental health screenings. Methods : A questionnaire was mailed to members registered with the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, which enquired about the '50s mental health screening project'. Results: A majority (90.9%) of the subjects agreed on the purpose and implementation of the project. However, there were fewer individuals that actually showed the intent to participate (65.8%). The mean age of the group with the intention to participate was higher compared to the group with no intention to participate. The factors that negatively affected the intent to participate included prejudice and discrimination against psychiatry (3.795), low health insurance reimbursement (3.784), and inconvenience of reporting to public health centers (3.664). The most appropriate method that scored the highest for screening mental health was face-to-face consultation with a psychiatrist (3.889). Most of the participants agreed on the method of a self-reported survey along with an interview of psychiatrist (84.9%). Conclusion : Subjects were concerned about prejudice and discrimination against psychiatry, low health insurance reimbursement, and inconvenience of reporting to public health centers. These problems need to be supplemented. Face-to-face consultation with a psychiatrist may be considered an appropriate method for future mental health screening.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.202-209
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate relationships among sun-screening agents use, bone health promotion behavior, and bone mineral density. Methods: The participants of this study were 105 female college students. The data were collected using a questionnaire about sun-screening agent use and bone health promotion behavior. Bone mineral density was measured with Ultrasound Bone Densitometer/Osteo Pro Series. Data were analyzed with the SPSS/Win 18.0 program. Results: The mean Z-score in female college students was $-1.04{\pm}1.26$, and the T-score was $-1.16{\pm}1.22$, 21.39% of the participants have osteopenia. Bone mineral density showed a significant correlation with weight. Bone mineral density showed no significant correlation between sun-screening agent use, and bone health promotion behavior. There was a significant correlation between protection power of sun-screening agents and the protection by clothes. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, we need to develop an intervention program for bone health promotion of female college students.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2059-2065
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• 2013

This goal of this research was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for breast cancer in the Republic of Korea from a government expenditure perspective. In 2002-2003 (baseline), a total of 8,724,860 women aged 40 years or over were invited to attend breast cancer screening by the NCSP. Those who attended were identified using the NCSP database, and women were divided into two groups, women who attended screening at baseline (screened group) and those who did not (non-screened group). Breast cancer diagnosis in both groups at baseline, and during 5-year follow-up was identified using the Korean Central Cancer Registry. The effectiveness of the NCSP for breast cancer was estimated by comparing 5-year survival and life years saved (LYS) between the screened and the unscreened groups, measured using mortality data from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation and the National Health Statistical Office. Direct screening costs, indirect screening costs, and productivity costs were considered in different combinations in the model. When all three of these costs were considered together, the incremental cost to save one life year of a breast cancer patient was 42,305,000 Korean Won (KW) (1 USD=1,088 KW) for the screened group compared to the non-screened group. In sensitivity analyses, reducing the false-positive rate of the screening program by half was the most cost-effective (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER=30,110,852 KW/LYS) strategy. When the upper age limit for screening was set at 70 years, it became more cost-effective (ICER=39,641,823 KW/LYS) than when no upper age limit was set. The NCSP for breast cancer in Korea seems to be accepted as cost-effective as ICER estimates were around the Gross Domestic Product. However, cost-effectiveness could be further improved by increasing the sensitivity of breast cancer screening and by setting appropriate age limits.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.272-278
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• 2008

Objectives: To compare the health behaviors of widowed women with those of currently married women. Methods: We randomly sampled the subjects from the Jeollanamdo Resident Registration Data and we then selected 2,331 widowed women and 4,775 married women. Well-trained examiners measured the height, weight, blood pressure and abdomen circumference, and the women were interviewed with using a questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios(OR) of the two groups. Results: The smoking rate (OR=2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]1.65, 3.66) was significantly higher for the widowed women. On the contrary, the awareness rate of a smoking cessation campaign (OR=0.80; 95% CI=0.70, 0.92), a quit tobacco telephone line (OR=0.73; 95% CI =0.61, 0.88) and a quit smoking clinic (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.62, 0.89) were lower for the widowed women. The rate of receiving a health exam (OR=0.80; 95% CI=0.70, 0.91), the rate of undergoing gastric cancer screening (OR=0.77; 95% CI=0.68, 0.88), breast cancer screening (OR=0.79; 95% CI=0.69, 0.89), cervix cancer screening in the last 2 years (OR=0.81; 95% CI=0.71, 0.92), colon cancer screening in the last 5 years (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.63, 0.87) were significantly lower for the widowed women. Conclusions: This study revealed that the health behaviors are significantly different between the widowed women and the married women. To improve the health behaviors of the widowed women, further study and research that will investigate the socioeconomic and environmental factors that affect the health behaviors of widowed women will be needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether screening by clinical breast examination (CBE) in addition to mammography affected participant satisfaction in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP). Data were derived from the Quality Evaluation of National Cancer Screening satisfaction survey. This population-based nationwide telephone survey included participants who had been screened by the NCSP for breast cancer between June and August 2010 (n=2,370), and collected information on satisfaction with screening and screening service use. Five multiple regression models were used to determine satisfaction according to screening method, and according to each of five satisfaction measures (pre-screening information transfer, staff interpersonal skills, physical surroundings, reporting of results and general satisfaction). A total of 1,858 (78.4%) participants were screened by mammography alone and 512 (21.6%) by both mammography and CBE. Satisfaction was significantly higher in subjects screened by both mammography and CBE compared with those screened by mammography alone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8461-8467
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• 2014

Background: In this study we investigated factors influencing cancer screening intention and behavior to develop measures to increase the rate of cancer screening in the Korean elderly. Materials and Methods: Participants included 425 elderly subjects 65 years of age or older from D city, South Korea. The health behavior characteristics and cancer screening-related and theory of planned behavior (TPB) factors influencing the participant attitudes on cancer screening were examined to identify determinants significantly affecting cancer screening intentions and behavior. Results: Predictive factors influencing cancer screening behavior included smoking, exercise, cancer concerns, preference for the type of cancer screening, prior experience with the National Cancer Screening Program, perception of the National Cancer Screening Program, behavioral control with respect to cancer screening and cancer screening intentions. The factors influencing cancer screening behavior were different from those for cancer screening intentions. Conclusions: Increasing the cancer screening intentions of the elderly is necessary to raise the rates of cancer screening. Additionally, identifying the inhibitory factors that serve as obstacles to cancer screening in the elderly and changing screening intentions into actual screening behavior is necessary. This study provides a reference for developing and applying policy measures and intervention strategies to increase the cancer screening rates of the elderly in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.225-243
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• 1995

Benzidine Industry in Korea has started after Japan has banned its production in early 1970's, and it has been in operation in Korea for over 20 years. However, it is not known yet whether any bladder cancer has developed from benzidine exposure. This study was done to screen benzidine-exposed workers for bladder cancer, and to examine the feasibility of employing screening test at the workplace. All the workplaces that manufacture or use benzidine for more than 20 years in Korea have been covered in this study, and they include 2 benzidine manufacturing factories, 5 benzidine using factories, as well as 2 benzidine free factories as an outside control. In total, 516 workers were screened with urine stick test and urine cytology test for the evidence of hematuria and abnormal urothelial cells. Each worker was also asked about risk factors and symptoms of bladder cancer including past medical history, smoking, medication and occupational history Benzidine in the air was measured by personal and area sampling. Out of 516 screened workers, 84(16.3%) workers showed positive hematuria in urine stick test, and 7(1.4%) workers showed degenerative cells in urine cytology tests. Those workers with abnormal urine test results who have been exposed to benzidine fo more than 10 years were further screened, and, in total, 23 workers were examined with intra-venous pyelography and cystoscopy. None of those screened had any evidence of bladder cancer When workers with only past hematuria history were included in the positive hematuria group, 96(18.5%) had positive hematuria. On the multiple logistic regression analysis, positive hematuria was significantly associated with benzidine exposure, history of other occupations with elevated bladder cancer risk, pyuria and glycosuria. The association got stronger as direct benzidine exposure was accounted through individual task analysis, and as exposure duration was accounted with tenure analysis. For those with benzidine exposure with more than 10 years of tenure, the odds of having positive hematuria was elevated 2.14(95%C.I is 1.08 to 4.25) times more than for those without exposure. Even though bladder cancer was not detected for several limitations including short observation period, majority of studied workers with short latency, healthy worker effect, and low sensitivity of single screening test in a cross-sectional study, the study results suggest that hematuria screening is a feasible and very useful test for bladder cancer screening among benzidine exposed workers.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.357-362
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• 2007

There is an increasing demand for high throughput (HTP) methods for gene analysis on a genome-wide scale. However, the current repertoire of HTP detection methodologies allows only a limited range of cellular phenotypes to be studied. We have constructed two HTP-optimized expression vectors generated from the red fluorescent reporter protein (RFP) gene. These vectors produce RFP-tagged target proteins in a multiple expression system using gateway cloning technology (GCT). The RFP tag was fused with the cloned genes, thereby allowing us localize the expressed proteins in mammalian cells. The effectiveness of the vectors was evaluated using an HTP-screening system. Sixty representative human C2 domains were tagged with RFP and overexpressed in HiB5 neuronal progenitor cells, and we studied in detail two C2 domains that promoted the neuronal differentiation of HiB5 cells. Our results show that the two vectors developed in this study are useful for functional gene analysis using an HTP-screening system on a genome-wide scale.