• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3709-3712
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• 2012

This study evaluated the advantages and applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-supported percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation, based on clinical details. CEUS-supported percutaneous RFA was adopted to treat 12 patients with hepatic metastatic carcinomas after liver transplantation. The diameters of the metastatic carcinomas varied from 1 cm to 5 cm, and the foci were discovered after 3 months to 12 months. Each focus was diagnosed and localised by CEUS for RFA once or twice. Curative effects were evaluated by CEUS or contrast-enhanced CT after the treatment. The re-examination results at 2 weeks post-treatment showed that the foci of 11 patients were ablated completely, whereas one patient with the largest focus required retreatment by RFA because of a partial residue. No local recurrence was found one month later in the re-examination. CEUS-supported percutaneous RFA in the treatment of hepatic metastatic carcinoma after liver transplantation has the advantages of accurate localisation, good efficacy, easy operation, and minimal invasion without any complications. Therefore, it can be recommended as the preferred therapy for hepatic metastatic carcinoma after liver transplantation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1791-1796
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death among Vietnamese Americans, yet screening remains underutilized. We investigated the effectiveness of a culturally tailored DVD intervention in promoting CRC screening among unscreened Vietnamese Americans age 50 and over. Materials and Methods: Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted a trial comparing twenty-eight subjects who received a mailed DVD in Vietnamese, with twenty-eight subjects who received a mailed brochure in Vietnamese. Subjects completed telephone surveys at baseline, One-month, and one-year. The primary outcome was receipt of screening. Secondary measures were participants' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about CRC screening. Two focus groups explored the intervention's acceptability and effectiveness. Results: At one year, CRC screening rates of 57.1% and 42.9% were observed in experimental and control group respectively (p=0.42), Subjects in both groups showed increased knowledge about CRC after one month. Focus group findings revealed that the DVD was an effective method of communicating information and would help promote screening. Conclusions: The findings suggest that culturally tailored, linguistically appropriate content is more important than the type of media used. This relatively low intensity, low cost intervention utilizing a DVD can be another useful method for outreach to the often hard-to-reach unscreened population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.589-594
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• 2014

Few studies have examined reasons why those with low socioeconomic status do not adequately receive cancer screening. We therefore conducted a qualitative study to assess the barriers to cancer screening in people with low socioeconomic status, and to examine the reasons why Medical Aid Program (MAP) recipients do not participate in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP). A focus group methodology was used. Participants included MAP recipients (men aged 45-79 years, women aged 35-79 years) who had been invited to cancer screening at least twice based on the NCSP protocol, but had not been screened for any cancer from 2009-2012. We recruited participants living in the cities of Goyang and Paju. A total of 23 MAP recipients participated in four focus group discussions, including 12 men and 11 women. In this qualitative study, we identified six barriers to screening: lack of trust in the NCSP and cancer screening units; fear of being diagnosed with cancer; discomfort or pain from the screening procedure; lack of time, lack of knowledge about cancer screening or lack of awareness of the existence of the NCSP; physical disability or underlying disease; and logistic barriers. Interventions such as individualized counseling, letters and reminders, or other individually-targeted strategies, especially for those with lower socioeconomic status are required to increase participation and reduce disparities in cancer screening.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2901-2907
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• 2016

Background: Despite increasing debate about overdiagnosis and overtreatment of thyroid cancer in Korea, information to guide decisions on whether or not to undergo screening for and treatment of abnormal lesions of the thyroid is lacking. Moreover, studies have yet to outline what lay people know and want to know about thyroid cancer. The primary aim of this study was to explore general awareness of thyroid cancer among Korean women, their sources of information, and their satisfaction with the information they are provided. The secondary aim was to investigate information needs about thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study using focus group interviews was conducted. Twenty-nine women were divided into four groups: (1) participants who had never undergone thyroid ultrasound screening; (2) those who had undergone screening, (3) those who continued to undergo regular check-ups with ultrasonography for benign nodules of the thyroid; and (4) participants who had undergone surgery for thyroid cancer. Results: A widespread lack of awareness of information on thyroid cancer was noted among participants in groups 1 and 2 who were not well aware of thyroid cancer and generally recognized it as a 'good cancer'. Surprisingly, instead of doctors and medical personnel, most participants reported obtaining information from acquaintances and media outlets. Moreover, most participants described dissatisfaction with their experience with screening and a lack of explanation on treatment and test results from medical personnel. Conclusions: Women in Korea seek reliable information on thyroid cancer that could help them to better understand the disease and make informed decisions regarding screening and treatment. More effort is needed from medical personnel to communicate the implications of thyroid cancer, screening results, and treatments thereof to lay people.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2012

The level of information protection is relatively low, in comparison with the informatisation in this country. The budget for information protection is also quite marginal at 5% of the entire information-related policy budget. The passive information protection practices by companies, which focus more on the aftermaths, lead to repeated expenses for risk management. The responses to the violation of information protection should be changed from the current aftermaths-oriented focus to prevention and early detection of possible violations. We should also realize that the response to a violation of protected information is not a responsibility of an individual but a joint responsibility of the nation and the industry. South Korea has been working towards to building a systematic foundation since 2004 when guidelines were announced regarding the information protection policy and the safety diagnosis. The current level of safety policies cannot provide a perfect protection against actual violation cases in administrative, technological and physical ways. This research evaluates the level of prevention that the current systematic protection policy offers, and discusses its limitation and possible ways for improvement. It also recommends a list effective measures for protection against information violation that companies can employ to maintain the actual target safety level.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.2-17
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to seek in-depth perspectives of stakeholders on the necessity and specific criteria for designating a specialized hospital for urologic diseases. Methods: Eight participants experts in urology medicine and specialized hospital system were divided into four groups. Following the semi-structured guidelines, an in-depth interview was conducted twice and a focus group discussion was conducted three times. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed. Results: The majority of participants predicted that there would be demand for specialized hospitals for urologic diseases. The criteria of designating a specialized hospital, such as the number of hospital beds and quality of health care, have to be modified in consideration of the specificity of urology. The introduction of a specialized hospital would improve the healthcare delivery system, positively affecting hospitals and patients. Furthermore, government support is essential for the maintenance of specialized hospital systems as urology hospitals experience difficulties in generating profits. Conclusion: This study is expected to be used as base data for introducing and operating a specialized hospital for urologic diseases. In addition, it is expected that the methodology and results of this study would encourage follow-up studies on specialized hospitals and provide guidelines to evaluate the effectiveness of such hospitals in other medical fields.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify and compare the factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intention between male and female high school students. The focus is on the knowledge, attitudes and health beliefs related to HPV. Methods: The participants were 246 male and 298 female students from an academic high school located in Seoul. Data were collected in June 2017, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-test, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation coefficients and logistic regression with SPSS for Windows 21.0. Results: 47.6% of the male participants and 86.2% of the female participants indicated HPV vaccination intention. The median score of the HPV knowledge level was 0 (total score:16) in the boys and 3 in the girls (p<.001). There were significant differences in attitudes and health beliefs related to HPV by gender. Religion (OR=0.50), sexual experience (OR=0.09), safety concerns (OR=0.65), perceived needs (OR=1.59), importance of prevention (OR=1.78) and perceived susceptibility (OR=1.80) determined HPV vaccination intention in the male students, whereas awareness of HVP vaccination (OR=2.25) and importance of prevention (OR=1.92) significantly predicted HPV vaccination intention in the female students. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that different strategies need to be taken for different genders: education focusing on safety concerns as well as perceived needs, importance of prevention and perceived susceptibility for male students and education emphasizing importance of prevention for female students.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.19-27
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• 2013

Along with green growth era in the 21st century and with the increasing economic, social, and cultural stabilization, people expect absolute freedom from the drought and flood and long for ecological exchange in the waterfront as a part of the living base at the same time. In order to match the changes in social demand, the focus on the river management policy urgently requires a comprehensive river management that considers the nature's environmental and ecological aspects as well as a new disaster prevention approach that grows out of existing simple flood prevention. Therefore, this thesis provides feasible solutions by suggesting the following findings to maintain and manage rivers to be harmonized with the natural environment considering disaster prevention aspects. It is necessary to change the river management policy and integrated river basin management, to control the river management lead by the central government and to promote close-to-nature river management approach for environmentally sound and sustainable development.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.90-103
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was designed to confirm the effects of the Korean Medicine health promotion program targeting young children. One important aspect of the Korean Medicine health promotion program for children is to bring awareness of health benefits of introducing Korean Medicine methods to young children and to promote incorporating such methods in children's daily activities to develop healthy habits. Methods: The following experiment was conducted for 6 weeks, and the participants were in the age between 2 to 6 years old from 6 child care centers in Wonju and Chungju. 268 participants were in the intervention group, and 277 in the control group. To measure the outcomes of the Children Korean Medicine health program, the intervention group received Korean Medicine prevention programs (children education, parent education, growth exercises, common cold prevention scarf, and pear herb tea), control group did not. This research collected and compared the following data as the children's health indicators to measure the outcomes before and after the program: medical services usage, the number of absences, early leaves, and tardiness to the child care centers due to the participant's health condition. Results: After applying the children's health promotion programs on children between the age of 2-6, there was a decrease in the overall medical services usage, absences, early leaves, and tardiness to the child care center. This health promotion program was purely based on Korean medical theories and Korean Medicine resources without any conventional medical mediation. Conclusions: It can be concluded that a positive change was noted in raising awareness of Korean Medicine through educating both the parents and children. By learning to incorporate Korean Medicine prevention practices to daily habits, not only was there a reduction in the Medical services usage, but the children also became familiar and comfortable with Korean Medicine and its treatment procedures; the overall satisfaction level of the program was also high.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10367-10374
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• 2015

Background: Cancer and non-communicable diseases are a major issue not only for the developed but also developing countries. Public health and primary care nursing offer great potential for primary and secondary prevention of these diseases through community and family-based approaches. Within Thailand there are related established educational curricula but less is known about how graduate practitioners enact ideas in practice and how these can influence policy at local levels. Aim: The aim of this inquiry was to develop family nursing practice in primary care settings in the Isaan region or Northeastern Thailand and to distill what worked well into a nursing model to guide practice. Materials and Methods: An appreciative inquiry approach involving analysis of written reports, focus group discussions and individual interviews was used to synthesize what worked well for fourteen family nurses involved in primary care delivery and to build the related model. Results: Three main strategies were seen to offer a basis for optimal care delivery, namely: enacting a participatory action approach mobilizing families' social capital; using family nursing process; and implementing action strategies within communities. These were distilled into a new conceptual model. Conclusions: The model has some features in common with related community partnership models and the World Health Organization Europe Family Health Nurse model, but highlights practical strategies for family nursing enactment. The model offers a basis not only for planning and implementing family care to help prevent cancer and other diseases but also for education of nurses and health care providers working in communities. This articulation of what works in this culture also offers possible transference to different contexts internationally, with related potential to inform health and social care policies, and international development of care models.