• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.239-246
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• 2021

Purpose: Previous studies have reported the difference in nutritional status between South and North Korean infants and young children (IYC). Clear understanding on the nature of such differences is essential for planning food and nutrition policies and programs to prepare for a possible re-unification of the two Koreas in future. This study was undertaken to yield valid statistics comparing the nutritional status between North and South Korean IYC. Methods: Raw data obtained from the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart and the 2013-2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to determine the comparable statistics that include weight for age z-score (WAZ), height for age z-score (HAZ) and weight for height z-score (WHZ), with data reported in the Survey Findings Report of the 2017 DRP Korea Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. The average weight and height by gender and month were estimated for North Korean IYC and calculated for South Korean IYC. SPSS analysis was applied to evaluate the acquired statistics and compare the nutritional status of South and North Korean IYC. Results: WAZ, HAZ and WHZ of North Korean IYC were observed to be lower than values obtained for South Korean IYC as well as the median values of World Health Organization Child Growth Standards across all ages. Similar patterns were observed for average height and weight. The nutritional status of North Korean IYC revealed a prevalence of highly underweight (9.3%), stunting (19.1%) and wasting (2.5%) values, and was determined to be significantly lower than values obtained for South Korean IYC (0.8%, 1.8%, and 0.7%, respectively). Conclusion: This study has yielded valid statistics that compare the nutritional status of North and South Korean IYC. Results of this study confirm the prevalence of nutritional status difference between South and North Korea.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.216-226
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude on tuberculosis by parents of North Korean refugees' children. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from July to November, 2014 in Hanawon and 74 North Korean refugee parents participated in the study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0. Results: The score for knowledge was 17.72 out of 30 points, for awareness in attitude, 49.34 out of 60 points and for prevention behavior in attitude, 48.39 out of 60 points. There were positive significant correlations among knowledge, attitude and health interest. There was also a significant positive correlation between awareness and prevention behavior in attitude, and between prevention behavior and health interest. Conclusion: North Korean refugee parents showed a low level of knowledge and a negative attitude. The implication of these results is an awareness of the need for education on the causes, transmission and importance of treatment for tuberculosis. This kind of education can guide North Korean refugee parents to obtain correct information and positive attitudes and therefore, be able to effectively practice appropriate health behaviors in tuberculosis management for their children.

• 의학교육논단
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.95-101
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• 2012

As North Korea passed from the Devotion (Jeongseong) movement to the black market (Jangmadang) system, the medical service system in that country was effectively destroyed. North Korean physicians who have successfully defected to South Korea (North Korean defector physicians, NKDPs) have experienced socio-economic hardships on their way to becoming incorporated into the South Korean medical system due to different medico- social cultures, different (English-based) medical terminology, and the clinical knowledge gap between North and South Korea. Since 2009, we have operated programs at the Seoul Medical Center to help NKDPs prepare for the South Korean medical licensing examination. These programs consist of clinical education at the medical center, personal mentoring, arrangement of educational programs at the medical college, mock tests at the consortium, and administrative aid. Looking forward, we hope to achieve the following: 1) More systematic support plans are needed involving medical education experts, field physicians, and experts on reunification. 2) An evaluation of defector physicians' current medical knowledge may provide information about the areas where supplementary education is most needed and the standards for certificating licenses. 3) In the short term, a customized glossary should be developed to assist defector physicians prepare for the examination. 4) To secure internships and residencies is the most important issue for further sustained training of NKDP physicians to become good clinicians after certification. Hopefully, this short report on the current ongoing educational course will lead to more extensive discussion.

• 대한치과의사협회지
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• 제58권9호
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• pp.536-545
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• 2020

In preparing for the era of Korean reunification, it is essential to consider the integration of medical systems and human resources. While Korean dental practitioners are expanding their activities in various fields both domestically and internationally, there are many restrictions on the activities for improving the health of North Korean people due to political and historical reasons even nowadays. In addition, there is little is known about the current state of dental health in North Korea. We analyzed the reports published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health of North Korea prepared individually or in cooperation, and investigated the current status of the health care strategy applied to the dental field by conducting a full investigation of the 2018 『Rodong』newspaper. Based on the above, we tried to grasp the major health care strategies in North Korea and their application. Understanding the direction and status of North Korea's health care system would be an important cornerstone for international cooperation and practical activities to improve oral health care of North Koreans in the future. And there is a need that studies should be steadily conducted in various methods to overcome the heterogeneity of the two Koreas in the long-term perspective.

• 가정∙방문간호학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.166-176
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and prevention attitudes of female North Korean refugees regarding cervical cancer and human papillomavirus(HPV) infection. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from November 2015 to March 2016 and 130 female North Korean refugees participated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Score on knowledge and prevention attitudes regarding cervical cancer and HPV were 2.53 out of 8 points, 1.67 out of 17 points, and 28.90 out of 36 points. There were significant differences between entry duration, the number of children, previous cervical cancer tests, Precognition about HPV, preferred education method, and knowledge of cervical cancer. There were significant differences between previous cervical cancer tests, Precognition about HPV and knowledge of HPV. The correlation between knowledge and prevention attitudes regarding cervical cancer and HPV was significant positive. Conclusion: Female North Korean refugees' knowledge level of cervical cancer and HPV is very low. However, their attitudes towards prevention was higher. These results imply a need for education, aimed at guiding North Korean female refugees, so as to enhance their knowledge regarding cervical cancer and HPV, and to promote their sexual health.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.103-111
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• 2013

Objectives : Herbal medicines were used a lot in the Northeast Asia, traditionally. However, the pharmacopoeia standards in South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and North Korea including many other Asia are different and cause confusion. If the origins are not belonging to same genus, it should be careful to distinguish. In this study, herbal medicines in the pharmacopoeia were analyzed for different genus of origins in order to identify the disruptive items for each country. Methods : The scientific names of herbal medicines (plant based) was analyzed origins from Pharmacopoeias of Republic of Korea, People's Republic of China, Japan, Taiwan, and Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The origins specified differently were examined. Especially, the items which have different genus were analyzed in detail and confirmed for correct scientific name. Results : The analyzed herbal medicines in Pharmacopoeia were all 753 items. 320 items were in only one country's Pharmacopoeia. 237 items were in more than two countries' Pharmacopoeia, but their origins were same on each other. The items which have different genus were 35 items. Conclusions : In general, species belonging to the same genus have similar ecological, morphological, and pharmacological activity. However, species with different genus may have different medicinal ingredients and pharmacological activity. Thus, the items which have same name but different genus are required to analyze for comparison of pharmacological activity. Also, other species belonging to the different genus should be used for different items.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.310-321
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the interpersonal caring program for young North Korean defectors which we developed based on Kim's interpersonal caring technique. Methods: This study employs a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of this study are 36 young North Korean defectors living in three areas. The participants are recruited through alternative schools, churches, and acquaintances. The experimental group consists of 20 participants and the control group consists of 16 participants. Experiments are conducted by four days. Specifically, the experiments are conducted eight times and each takes about 120 minutes. Furthermore, we run the camp for two nights and three days. We test our hypothesis by using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Independent t-test, Paired t-test, and Independent t-test. Results: All the test statistics support our hypotheses such as self-esteem (t=1.87, p=.035), mental health (t=-1.69, p=.049), interpersonal relationships (t=1.93, p=.031), and quality of life (t=1.88, p=.034). Conclusion: We found that the interpersonal caring program developed in this study is effective in improving North Korean defectors' self-esteem, mental health, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.48-57
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• 2011

Purpose: The study was conducted to explore the parenting experience of mothers who have defected from North Korean. Methods: Nineteen mothers who defected from North Korean were recruited in Hanawon and data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss and Corbin (1998) was adapted for theoretical sampling and analysis. Interviews were recorded with consent and transcribed verbatim. Results: The core category was discovered to be 'pursuing positive parenting'. Phenomenon was identified as 'acting out of frustration' and this series of processes was categorized as having four stages: 'harsh reality', 'moving forward', seeking transition', and 'internalization'. Conclusion: The results indicate that their parenting experiences were in a transition process and, thus, it is critical to develop positive parenting intervention programs as a way to promote the empowerment of these mothers in parenting to help them support themselves and their children.

• 가정∙방문간호학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.44-51
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• 2017

Purpose: This descriptive study was conducted to identify the attitudes of nursing college students to North Korean refugees (NKR) and to examine factors influencing these attitudes. Methods: A total of 195 participants completed a structured questionnaire between September and October 2016. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 program. Results: The results of this study were as follows: attitudes toward NKR was 2.74 out of 4 points; cultural receptivity was 3.25 out of 5 points; nationalism was 2.46 out of 4 points. Cultural receptivity (r=.26, p<.001) and nationalism (r=-.18, p=.036) were significantly related to attitudes toward NKR. Unification attitude (${\beta}=0.27$, p <.001) and cultural receptivity (${\beta}=0.20$, p=.005) explained 13.7% of the variance in attitudes toward NKR. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide fundamental data for the development of a nursing education program on multicultural perspectives. Furthermore, these findings might highlight the need for a nursing education program that could enhance understanding of patients from different backgrounds and recognize their differences, going beyond a national point of view as commonly found in Korea. The nursing education program should also promote an open and receptive attitude.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.488-498
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the influence of trauma experiences and social adjustment on health-related quality of life in North Korean defectors. Methods: The subjects were 117 North Korean defectors living in B and Y city. The data were collected from September 1 to September 20, 2014, and analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: Significant differences were found in the health-related quality of life with respect to the subjects' education, marriage status, types of dwelling, family types, duration of residence in South Korea, jobs in South Korea and in North Korea, families left in North Korea or other surrounding countries, and subjective health status. Health-related quality of life is negatively related to trauma experiences during escape from North Korea and during their life in South Korea. Health-related quality of life positively is related to social adjustment. The meaningful variables which influenced the subjects'health-related quality include social adjustment, job in South Korea, job in North Korea, current family structure, and trauma experiences in South Korea. Total explanatory power of these factors for health-related quality in North Korean Defectors is 43.0% and social adjustment is the most influential factor. Conclusion: Therefore, in order to enhance health-related quality of life in North Korean defectors, it is necessary for them to increase social adjustment and decrease trauma experiences. In addition, methods are needed to provide job opportunities, better education and family services for North Korean defectors.