• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3443-3449
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• 2012

Introduction: Despite health education efforts to educate women on breast cancer and breast cancer screening modalities, the incidence of breast cancer and presentation at an advanced stage are still a problem in Malaysia. Objectives: To determine factors associated with the uptake of breast cancer screening among women in the general population. Methods: This pre-intervention survey was conducted in a suburban district. All households were approached and women aged 20 to 60 years old were interviewed with pre-tested guided questionnaires. Variables collected included socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge on breast cancer and screening practice of breast cancer. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results: 41.5% of a total of 381 respondents scored above average; the mean knowledge score on causes and risks factors of breast cancer was 3.41 out of 5 (SD1.609). 58.5% had ever practiced BSE with half of them performing it at regular monthly intervals. Uptake of CBE by nurses and by doctors was 40.7% and 37.3%, respectively. Mammogram uptake was 14.6%. Significant predictors of BSE were good knowledge of breast cancer (OR=2.654, 95% CI: 1.033-6.816), being married (OR=2.213, 95% CI: 1.201-4.076) and attending CBE (OR=1.729, 95% CI: 1.122-2.665). Significant predictors for CBE included being married (OR=2.161, 95% CI: 1.174-3.979), good knowledge of breast cancer (OR=2.286, 95% CI: 1.012-5.161), and social support for breast cancer screening (OR=2.312, 95% CI: 1.245-4.293). Women who had CBE were more likely to undergo mammographic screening of the breast (OR=5.744, 95% CI: 2.112-15.623), p<0.005. Conclusion: CBE attendance is a strong factor in promoting BSE and mammography, educating women on the importance of breast cancer screening and on how to conduct BSE. The currently opportunistic conduct of CBE should be extended to active calling of women for CBE.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5901-5904
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• 2013

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of different methods of recall for repeat Pap smear among women who had normal smears in the previous screening. Design: Prospective randomized controlled study. Setting: All community clinics in Klang under the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Participants: Women of Klang who attended cervical screening and had a normal Pap smear in the previous year, and were due for a repeat smear were recruited and randomly assigned to four different methods of recall for repeat smear. Intervention: The recall methods given to the women to remind them for a repeat smear were either by postal letter, registered letter, short message by phone (SMS) or phone call. Main Outcome Measures: Number and percentage of women who responded to the recall within 8 weeks after they had received the recall, irrespective whether they had Pap test conducted. Also the numbers of women in each recall method that came for repeat Pap smear. Results: The rates of recall messages reaching the women when using letter, registered letter, SMS and phone calls were 79%, 87%, 66% and 68%, respectively. However, the positive responses to recall by letter, registered letter, phone messages and telephone call were 23.9%, 23.0%, 32.9% and 50.9%, respectively (p<0.05). Furthermore, more women who received recall by phone call had been screened (p<0.05) compared to those who received recall by postal letter (OR=2.38, CI=1.56-3.62). Conclusion: Both the usual way of sending letters and registered letters had higher chances of reaching patients compared to using phone either for sending messages or calling. The response to the recall method and uptake of repeat smear, however, were highest via phone call, indicating the importance of direct communication.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between self-efficacy and health promotion lifestyle in middle and high school teachers. Methods: This study used survey data from 26 middle and high schools The study included 181 teachers who completed questionnaires. The questionnaires were consisted of demographic and occupational characteristics, self-efficacy on health behaviors, and Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Analyses were done using frequency, percentage, correlation, and multiple regression analysis with dummy variables. SAS 8.2 was used. Results: Mean self-efficacy score on health behaviors was 4.1${\pm}$0.5. Mean health promotion lifestyle scores were healthy diet (2.4${\pm}$0.5), physical activity (2.0${\pm}$0.8), stress management (2.3${\pm}$0.5), self-fulfillment (2.9${\pm}$0.5), responsibility of health (2.3${\pm}$0.6), and personal relationship (2.7${\pm}$0.6). Self-efficacy was significantly related to all health promotion lifestyle scores (healthy diet, physical activity, stress management, self-fulfillment, responsibility of health, and personal relationship). Among demographic and occupational characteristics, sex and school level was significantly related to healthy diet. Sex was significantly associated with physical activity. Marital status was significantly related to responsibility of health. Conclusions: The results showed that intervention programs for middle and high school teachers targeting health promotion lifestyle are needed. These intervention programs would be effective when sex, age, marital status, and school level are considered. In addition, given that higher self-efficacy was related to higher health promotion lifestyle scores, it strengthens the need for further investigations aimed at how to change self-efficacy in teachers.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.316-339
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• 2022

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across various sectors are far-reaching, and the education sector is not an exemption. Approved and recognized vaccines are clinically proven to provide protection and have been considered one of the primary mitigations against the virus. Knowledge, attitude, and related practices (henceforth KAP) toward the virus is widely considered to be an essential cognitive key in public health for health intervention, prevention, and promotion. Previous studies revealed a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude. This study investigated the KAP and their relationship among the 857 college students in one state college in the Philippines using an online survey. Using descriptive statistics, the findings showed that the majority of the respondents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Respondents were shown to be knowledgeable about COVID-19, specifically about its transmission, clinical symptoms, treatment, risk groups, isolation, prevention, and control. Positive attitudes toward individual and governmental mitigation and control of the virus were shown. Their scores on practices revealed that they always exhibit protective and preventive behavioral practices. Pearson correlation revealed a weak significant relationship between knowledge and practice, and a fair significant relationship between attitude and practice. No significant relationship is found between knowledge and attitude. This study hopes to find its place in the literature worthy of consideration as empirical support toward understanding a specific group's perceptive risk and preventive behavior toward the virus, policy making, and health intervention and promotion.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 2022

Objectives: The Regional CardioCerebroVascular Center (RCCVC) project was initiated to improve clinical outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction or stroke in non-capital areas of Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and issues identified by the Busan RCCVC project in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: Among the patients who were registered in the Korean Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction for the RCCVC project between 2007 and 2019, those who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI at the Busan RCCVC were selected, and their medical data were compared with a historical cohort. Results: In total, 1161 patients were selected for the analysis. Ten years after the implementation of the Busan RCCVC project, the median door-to-balloon time was reduced from 86 (interquartile range [IQR], 64-116) to 54 (IQR, 44-61) minutes, and the median symptom-to-balloon time was reduced from 256 (IQR, 180-407) to 189 (IQR, 118-305) minutes (p<0.001). Inversely, the false-positive PCI team activation rate increased from 0.6% to 21.4% (p<0.001). However, the 1-year cardiovascular death and major adverse cardiac event rates did not change. Even after 10 years, approximately 75% of the patients had a symptom-to-balloon time over 120 minutes, and approximately 50% of the patients underwent inter-hospital transfer for primary PCI. Conclusions: A decade after the implementation of the Busan RCCVC project, although time parameters for early reperfusion therapy for STEMI improved, at the cost of an increased false-positive PCI team activation rate, survival outcomes were unchanged.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.415-423
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• 2022

Economic evaluations in the healthcare are used to assess economic efficiency of pharmaceuticals and medical interventions such as diagnoses and medical procedures. This study introduces the main concepts of economic evaluation across its key steps: planning, outcome and cost calculation, modeling, cost-effectiveness results, uncertainty analysis, and decision-making. When planning an economic evaluation, we determine the study population, intervention, comparators, perspectives, time horizon, discount rates, and type of economic evaluation. In healthcare economic evaluations, outcomes include changes in mortality, the survival rate, life years, and quality-adjusted life years, while costs include medical, non-medical, and productivity costs. Model-based economic evaluations, including decision tree and Markov models, are mainly used to calculate the total costs and total effects. In cost-effectiveness or costutility analyses, cost-effectiveness is evaluated using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, which is the additional cost per one additional unit of effectiveness gained by an intervention compared with a comparator. All outcomes have uncertainties owing to limited evidence, diverse methodologies, and unexplained variation. Thus, researchers should review these uncertainties and confirm their robustness. We hope to contribute to the establishment and dissemination of economic evaluation methodologies that reflect Korean clinical and research environment and ultimately improve the rationality of healthcare policies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2023

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus patients usually experience various physical and psychological challenges. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, these challenges have become even harsher. Using the participatory action research approach, this study evaluated how an e-wellness program (eWP) impacted SLE-related knowledge and health behaviors, mental health, and quality of life among lupus patients in Thailand. Methods: A 1-group, pretest-posttest design study was conducted among a purposive sample of lupus patients who were members of Thai SLE Foundation. The 2 main intervention components were: (1) online social support, and (2) lifestyle and stress management workshops. Sixty-eight participants completed all the study requirements, including the Physical and Psychosocial Health Assessment questionnaire. Results: After being in the eWP for 3 months, participants' mean score for SLE-related knowledge increased significantly (t=5.3, p<0.001). The increase in sleep hours was statistically significant (Z=-3.1, p<0.01), with the percentage of participants who slept less than 7 hours decreasing from 52.9% to 29.0%. The percentage of participants reporting sun exposure decreased from 17.7% to 8.8%. The participants also reported significantly lower stress (t(66)=-4.4, p<0.001) and anxiety (t(67)=-2.9, p=0.005). The post-eWP quality of life scores for the pain, planning, intimate relationship, burden to others, emotional health, and fatigue domains also improved significantly (p<0.05). Conclusions: The overall outcomes showed promising results of improved self-care knowledge, health behaviors, mental health status, and quality of life. It is recommended that the SLE Foundation continues to use the eWP model to help the lupus patient community.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2022

Background: Nowadays, dental health problems in Indonesia are still quite high. It is one of which influenced by low public awareness of the importance of maintaining the health of teeth and mouth that can be measured by toothbrushing behavior. Based on the results of RISKESDAS 2018, only 2.8 percent of the population has a proper toothbrushing behavior. Behavior tends to form at age 6 to 12 years. At this age, children begin to develop habits that tend to settle until adulthood, including toothbrushing behavior. Social cognitive theory is a theory of behavioral change that explains that behavioral changes are influenced by the environment, personal, behavior where these three factors influence each other. This study aims to identify changes in the dental behavior of second grades students before and after the joint toothbrushing at school for 21 days. Methods: A pre-experimental study-design was conducted on elementary school by pre-post treatment method where there are 2 classes that get intervention and 2 other classes as control. A joint toothbrush is performed every morning before the school activities begin. Before and after the joint toothbrushing, all classes are given questionnaires to see if there are any changes in behavior seen through knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Results: Respondent group showed increasement on their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards toothbrushing. In contrast, the control groups showed no significant differences in the 3 factors. Conclusion: In this study the education of toothbrushing through environmental changes is quite effective in elementary school children. Insights into the benefits of this program and refinements of optimally targeted intervention, including longitudinal studies are needed to improve the results.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.343-348
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• 2009

This study sought to determine changes in self-selected diets in response to a high energy tomato pasta entree. Thirty men, mostly African-American, who were diagnosed with prostate cancer and also scheduled for prostatectomy were enrolled in the study. Dietary intakes were obtained by 24 hr diet recall for 3 days before the intervention and 3 days in week 2 during the intervention. Tomato pasta entrees were formulated to contain 30 mg of lycopene with roughly the same macronutrient composition and averaged 771 kcal/entree. Mean adherence to lycopene dose was 82% and, days when the entree was consumed, the mean adherence to lycopen was 90%. Lycopene intake in their self-selected diet decreased from 5 to 1 mg/day which lowered the exposure to lycopene, planned during the intervention. The men were able to decompensate for most of the added energy to their diet, but there was still a mean increase in total intake of 242 kcal/day (p=0.04), which did not result in weight gain over the short period of the study. There were no significant changes in the percent of energy from protein, fat or carbohydrates, but dietary cholesterol increased from 341 to 472 mg/day (p=0.0002). Mean intakes of vitamins A and C, and folate were not significantly different and were above the EAR. Vitamin E intake decreased, but, because of the variance in intake, the decrease was not statistically significant. Possible deterioration of diet quality should be a consideration when recommending whole food interventions for the prevention of chronic disease or the amelioration of physiological dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.11-27
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a tailored program based on the Transtheoretical Model to smoking cessation in high school girls. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. The participants were 35 industrial high school girls who have been smoking. The girls were allocated to an experimental group(18) and a control group(17) by randomization. For intervention, the experimental group received the group smoking cessation program and individual program which tailored according to the stage of change. A common group smoking cessation program was given to the control group. Data were collected before the program, immediately after and 4 weeks after the program was completed and were analyzed with repeated measure ANOVA. Result: In the experimental group, the daily smoking amount, nicotine dependency and decisional balance(Pros) score were significantly decreased and the self-efficacy score were significantly increased at one month after the intervention in comparison with before and immediately after it. The decisional balance(Cons) and processes of change score of the experimental group were significantly increased at immediately after the intervention and one month after it in comparison with before it, and at one month after it in comparison with immediately after it. A significant difference in the daily smoking amount, urine cotinine, nicotine dependency, decisional balance(Pros, Cons) and processes of change score between the both groups was found after one month of intervention. Conclusions: The tailored smoking cessation program was more effective, compared to the common smoking cessation program on smoking behavior, self-efficacy, decisional balance, processes of change. This program can be used for favorable changes in high school girl's smoking behavior.