• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5867-5870
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• 2013

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Malaysian women with an ASR of 17.9 and a mortality rate of 5.6 per 100,000 population in 2008 (GLOBOCAN, 2008). The 5 year prevalence was estimated to be 14.5 per 100,000 population. As the second most common cancer affecting productive females, cervical cancer imposes an impact to the socioeconomic aspect of the country. However, the poor uptake of cervical cancer screening is a major problem in detecting early pre-cancerous lesions and thus, delay in initiating treatment for cervical cancer. Realizing the urgency to increase the uptake of PAP smear, besides enhancing the promotion of PAP smear screening for women above 35 years old, the call-recall system for pap smear screening had been piloted in one of the suburban districts which aimed to improve regular participation of women for cervical and breast cancer screening. This is of public health importance as identifying the best feasible option to increase patient's respond to participate in the screening program effectively in our setting will be helpful in implementing an organized regular population based screening program tailored to our setting. The pilot program of cervical cancer screening in Klang was an opportunity to assess different options in recalling patients for a repeat pap smear to increase their participation and adherence to the program. Methods and Results: This was a population based randomized control trial. Women aged 20-65 years in the population that matched the inclusion and exclusion criteria were re-called for a repeat smear. There are four different intervention groups; letter, registered letters, short messages services (SMS) and phone calls where 250 subjects were recruited into each group. Samples were generated randomly from the same population in Klang into four different groups. The first group received a recall letter for a repeat smear similar to the one that has been given during the first invitation. The intervention groups were either be given a registered letter, an SMS or a phone call to re-call them. The socio-demographic data of the patients who came for uptake were collected for further analysis. All the groups were followed up after 8 weeks to assess their compliance to the recall. Conclusions: The study will provide recommendations about the most effective methods for recall in a population based pap smear screening program on two outcomes: i) patients response; ii) uptake for repeat pap smear.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2010

Objectives: The pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus has required decision-makers to act in the face of the substantial uncertainties. In this study, we evaluated the potential impact of the pandemic response strategies in the Republic of Korea using a mathematical model. Methods: We developed a deterministic model of a pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in a structured population using the demographic data from the Korean population and the epidemiological feature of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009. To estimate the parameter values for the deterministic model, we used the available data from the previous studies on pandemic influenza. The pandemic response strategies of the Republic of Korea for novel influenza A (H1N1) virus such as school closure, mass vaccination (70% of population in 30 days), and a policy for anti-viral drug (treatment or prophylaxis) were applied to the deterministic model. Results: The effect of two-week school closure on the attack rate was low regardless of the timing of the intervention. The earlier vaccination showed the effect of greater delays in reaching the peak of outbreaks. When it was no vaccination, vaccination at initiation of outbreak, vaccination 90 days after the initiation of outbreak and vaccination at the epidemic peak point, the total number of clinical cases for 400 days were 20.8 million, 4.4 million, 4.7 million and 12.6 million, respectively. The pandemic response strategies of the Republic of Korea delayed the peak of outbreaks (about 40 days) and decreased the number of cumulative clinical cases (8 million). Conclusions: Rapid vaccination was the most important factor to control the spread of pandemic influenza, and the response strategies of the Republic of Korea were shown to delay the spread of pandemic influenza in this deterministic model.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2002

Objective : Until now, there have been no evidence-based guidelines produced for the mass screening of hyperlipidemia cases in Korea. This study was done to find the most efficient strategy for a hyperlipidemia-screening program among Korean adults, Method : Seven alternative strategies for hyperlipidemia screening were formulated and compared ir terms of cost-effectiveness. Cost and effectiveness were estimated from social perspectives and using a two-stage screening process (initial testing and additional testing for positives from the first test). A computerized database (based on persons who had visited a health promotion center in one teaching hospital for a routine health check-up) was used to determine the cost and the outcome of various strategies. Official data was used in calculating direct and indirect costs. Effectiveness was measured according to the number of persons who needed clinical intervention for hyperlipidemia. A stratified analysis, considering age group and sex, was then done. Sensitivity analyses, focusing on several uncertain parameters, were also done. Results : Of the seven test alternatives available, the most cost-effective strategy was a screening program, which consisted of an initial test of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. There was some variation in the rank of the cost-effectiveness ratios for the seven alternatives dependent on age group or gender. Conclusions : Current hyperlipidemia screening practice, for National Health Insurance beneficiaries, tests only the total cholesterol level with a cut-off value of 260mg/dl as an initial screening test. It is not the best strategy for cost-effectiveness, and should be modified. Different screening strategies taking age group and sex into account should be developed and used for the efficient mass screening of hyperlipidemia cases among Korean adults.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.515-522
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• 2022

This study analyzed the child protection system in Germany from a preventive perspective and attempts to find the applicable implications to Korea. The research method was analyzed in terms of legal, policy and professionalism. The result is as follows. First, Child and Youth Support Act in Germany stipulated a preventive support system to restore the function of the family. Second, according to the Civil Act, it was stipulated that the family court could intervene early. Third, the federal Child Protection Act stipulated community cooperation for thd child protection system. Fourth, the Youth Agency as the general authority made it possible to provide preventive support and intervention at the same time. Firth, qualification standards were specified in the Child and Youth Support Act. Child protection specialists are granted to public officials who have worked for more than three years. The implications are as follows. First, the child protection system, which operates as a child abuse reporting system, should be expanded to a preventive support system. Second, it is necessary to expand monitoring by establishing an early warning system between networks in order to establish a support system for potentially at-risk children. Third, local governments should support children and parents flexibly and comprehensively for dysfunction caused by difficulties at home. Fourth, it is necessary to enact the Child Protection System Cooperation Act for a network cooperation system.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-66
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• 2002

Sexual abuse is emerging as one of the major form of child abuse. In the late 1990s, official reports of sexual abuse began to mushroom at a much more rapid rate than reports of other forms of abuse in Korea. In addition, sexual abuse can cause the most serious emotional-cognitive-behavioral sequelae to victims. Although child & adolescent psychiatrists meet many sexual abuse victims who are referred from many types of child protective services, the psychiatrists may not be likely to give them sufficient and appropriate treatment and guideline for victims and their parents. In this article, the historical concepts, pathophysiological processes, shortterm & longterm sequelae of sexual abuse are reviewed and summarized. And I summarize the intervention and outcome studies for sexual abuse victims. In the close future, the active participation of psychiatrists who help the child and adolescents will be expected in the development of nationwide preventive and therapeutic projects for victims and families of sexual abuse.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2018

Background: This study investigates the potential volume and outcome association of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a large and representative sample. Methods: We used a National Health Insurance Service-Cohort Sample Database from 2002 to 2013 released by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. A total of 8,908 subjects were analyzed. The primary analysis was based on Cox proportional hazards models to examine our hypothesis. Results: After adjusting for confounders, the hazard ratio of thirty-day and 1-year mortality in hospitals with a low volume of CHD patients with PCI was 2.8 and 2.2 times higher (p=0.00) compared to hospitals with a high volume of CHD patients with PCI, respectively. Thirty-day and 1-year mortality of CHD patients with PCI in low-volume hospitals admitted through the emergency room were 3.101 (p=0.00) and 2.8 times higher (p=0.01) than those in high-volume hospitals, respectively. Only 30-day mortality in low-volume hospitals of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction patients with PCI was 5.3 and 2.4 times those in high-volume hospitals with PCI, respectively. Conclusion: Mortality was significantly lower when PCI was performed in a high-volume hospital than in a low-volume hospital. Among patients admitted through the emergency room and diagnosed with angina pectoris, total PCI volume (low vs. high) was associated with significantly greater cardiac mortality risk of CHD patients. Thus, There is a need for better strategic approaches from both clinical and health policy standpoints for treatment of CHD patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of autogenous brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas and to investigate the factors associated with 1-year patency after initiation of hemodialysis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 41 patients who underwent surgery to create an autogenous brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistula between January 2015 and December 2017, received hemodialysis at the same hospital for longer than 1 year, and were monitored for their vascular access status. Intraoperative flow was measured using transit-time ultrasonography. Results: The 1-year primary and secondary patency rates were 61% (n=25) and 87.8% (n=36), respectively. The functional group (subjects who required no intervention to maintain patency within the first year after hemodialysis initiation) displayed a significantly higher median intraoperative flow rate (450 mL/min) than the non-functional group (subjects who required intervention at least once regardless of 1-year patency) (275 mL/min) (p=0.038). Based on a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, all patients were additionally subdivided into a high-flow group (>240 mL/min) and a low-flow group (≤240 mL/min). The high-flow group included a significantly greater number of functional brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas than the low-flow group (74.2% vs. 20%, respectively; p=0.007). Conclusion: Transit-time flow, as measured with intraoperative transit-time ultrasonography, was associated with patency without the need for intervention at 1 year after initiation of hemodialysis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4705-4709
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• 2013

Background: Cambodian Americans have high rates of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver cancer. There is very limited information about the utility of community health worker (CHW) approaches to cancer education for Asian American men. We have previously reported our positive findings from a trial of CHW education about HBV for Cambodian Americans who had never been tested for HBV. This report describes similarities and differences between the outcomes of our CHW HBV educational intervention among Cambodian American men and women. Methods: The study group for this analysis included 87 individuals (39 men and 48 women) who were randomized to the experimental (HBV education) arm of our trial, participated in the CHW educational intervention, and provided follow-up data six months post-intervention. We examined HBV testing rates at follow-up, changes in HBV-related knowledge between baseline and follow-up, and barriers to HBV testing (that were reported to CHWs) by gender. Results: At follow-up, 15% of men and 31% of women reported they had received a HBV test (p=0.09). HBV-related knowledge levels increased significantly among both men and women. With respect to HBV testing barriers, women were more likely than men to cite knowledge deficits, and men were more likely than women to cite logistic issues. Discussion: Our study findings indicate that CHW interventions can positively impact knowledge among Cambodian American men, as well as women. They also suggest CHW interventions may be less effective in promoting the use of preventive procedures by Cambodian American men than women. Future CHW research initiatives should consider contextual factors that may differ by gender and, therefore, potentially influence the relative effectiveness of CHW interventions for men versus women.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.12-27
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• 2020

Purpose: Bullying is a global problem, and various programs are under way to prevent it. The purpose of this study was to review school bullying interventions for Korean school-age children and adolescents. Methods: Online databases such as RISS, KISS, DBpia, NDSL and KMBASE were searched, identifying 32 intervention studies published from January 2009 to November 2018. Results: Thirty-two intervention studies were identified: 23 included school bullying prevention and 9 included school bullying treatment for victims or youth at high risk for bullying. The main purpose of preventive intervention was to decrease the bystander's attitude toward group bullying and treatment program was to improve the psychosocial adaptation of bullying victims. The school bullying interventions varied from group counseling, social skills training, art therapy, bibliotherapy using role-play, game & activities. Classroom environment variables and self-esteem, peer-related variables improved significantly after the school bullying prevention programs and school bullying treatment programs, respectively. Conclusion: There is potential for enhancing the outcomes of the behavioral, interpersonal psychological variable. Integrated interventions considering the individuality, gender and physical health of children and adolescents will also be needed. However, a rigorous study design is required to compensate for the methodological limitations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the trends in school health research in Korea using probabilistic latent semantic analysis. The study longitudinally analyzed the abstracts of the papers published in 「The Journal of the Korean Society of School Health」 over the recent 17 years, which is between 2004 and August 2020. By classifying all the papers according to the topics identified through the analysis, it was possible to see how the distribution of the topics has changed over years. Based on the results, implications for school health research and educational uses of latent semantic analysis were suggested. Methods: This study investigated the research trends by longitudinally analyzing journal abstracts using latent dirichlet allocation (LDA), a type of LSA. The abstracts in 「The Journal of the Korean Society of School Health」 published from 2004 to August 2020 were used for the analysis. Results: A total of 34 latent topics were identified by LDA. Six topics, which were「Adolescent depression and suicide prevention」, 「Students' knowledge, attitudes, & behaviors」, 「Effective self-esteem program through depression interventions」, 「Factors of students' stress」, 「Intervention program to prevent adolescent risky behaviors」, and 「Sex education curriculum, and teacher」were most frequently covered by the journal. Each of them was dealt with in at least 20 papers. The topics related to 「Intervention program to prevent adolescent risky behaviors」, 「Effective self-esteem program through depression interventions」, and 「Preventive vaccination and factors of effective vaccination」 appeared repeatedly over the most recent 5 years. Conclusion: This study introduced an AI-powered analysis method that enables data-centered objective text analysis without human intervention. Based on the results, implications for school health research were presented, and various uses of latent semantic analysis (LSA) in educational research were suggested.