• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.336-345
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• 2013

Objectives: Research has shown that obesity appears to spread through social ties. However, the association between other characteristics of social networks and obesity is unclear. This study aimed to identify the association between social network characteristics and body mass index (BMI, $kg/m^2$) in an elderly Korean population. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 657 Koreans (273 men, 384 women) aged 60 years or older who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Network size is a count of the number of friends. Density of communication network is the number of connections in the social network reported as a fraction of the total links possible in the personal (ego-centric) network. Average frequency of communication (or meeting) measures how often network members communicate (or meet) each other. The association of each social network measure with BMI was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, the men with lower density (<0.71) and higher network size (4-6) had the higher BMI (${\beta}$=1.089, p=0.037) compared to the men with higher density (>0.83) and lower size (1-2), but not in the women (p=0.393). The lowest tertile of communication frequency was associated with higher BMI in the women (${\beta}$=0.885, p=0.049), but not in the men (p=0.140). Conclusions: Our study suggests that social network structure (network size and density) and activation (communication frequency and meeting frequency) are associated with obesity among the elderly. There may also be gender differences in this association.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Purpose: sexual permissiveness, sexual behaviors and the consumption of mass media in female high school students. Methods: 306 students, from three different girls' high schools in Seoul, who understood the purpose of the study, participated as subjects in the research. The research tools were the mass-media consumption scale, the sexual attitudes survey, the sexual permissiveness survey, and the sexual behaviors scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA with SPSS/WIN. 18.0 program. Results: The subjects' daily mass media consumption was 143.7 minutes of TV watching on weekdays, while 253.9 minutes on weekends, 88.5 minutes of Internet surfing, 57.8 minutes of listening to pop music. Watching TV music programs was 68.3 minutes a week. Watching TV 'alone' was 30.7% and Internet surfing in one's 'own room' was the highest at 39.9%. The average score of sexual attitudes, sexual permissiveness, and sexual behaviors was 25.7/55, 35.4/64 and 0.7/10, respectively. Sexual attitudes and sexual permissiveness varied according to how much time they spent surfing the Internet, with whom they watched TV, and how much time they spent listening to popular music; and sexual behavior differed according to the time spent on the Internet. Conclusion: Educational programs need to be developed to help young people control their media consumption behaviors. In addition, political attention and a proper system are needed to promote a healthier and sounder pop culture through a public review system.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.274-284
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• 2009

Purpose: This study surveyed how victims with acute traumatic hand injuries received pre-hospital care and how satisfied they were with that care. Method: A total of 100 adults were interviewed using a questionnaire at one microsurgical clinic in Korea. Results: Only 12 patients (12.0%) were transported by the ambulance and the others by private or company's vehicles. Only 9 patients (9.0 %) were able to get appropriate first response from the EMTs or industrial health providers at the scene of the accidents. The mean time required for transportation from the scene of the accident to the operation room of the microsurgical clinic was $372.65{\pm}719.17$ minutes. Most of the patients were satisfied with the pre-hospital care provided by the EMT or industrial health providers but dissatisfied with that provided by lay persons. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there is a lack in the first response provided at the scene and the activation of EMS (Emergency Medical System) for acute hand injury. It is necessary to educate the public about the appropriate first response and rapid transportation to the appropriate microsurgical clinic.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7769-7779
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• 2015

Background: This study was conducted with the purpose of evaluating the effect of skin cancer training provided to maritime high school students on their knowledge and behaviour. Materials and Methods: The study had a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test intervention and control groups. Two maritime high schools located in the city of Antalya were included within the scope of the study between March and June 2013, covering a total of 567 students. Results: While the knowledge mean scores of students regarding skin cancer and sun protection did not vary in the pre-test ($6.2{\pm}1.9$) and post-test ($6.8{\pm}1.9$) control group, the knowledge mean scores of students in the experimental group increased from $6.0{\pm}2.3$ to $10.6{\pm}1.2$ after the provided training. Some 25.4% of students in the experimental group had low knowledge level and 62.2% had medium knowledge level in the pre-test; whereas no students had low knowledge level and 94.3% had high knowledge level in the post-test. It was determined that tenth grade students, those who had previous knowledge on the subject, who considered themselves to be protecting from the sun better, had higher knowledge levels and their knowledge levels increased as the risk level increased. It was found that the provided training was effective and increased positively the knowledge, attitude and behaviour levels of students in the experimental group in terms of skin cancer and sun protection. Conclusions: Along with the provided training which started to form a lifestyle, appropriate attitudes and behaviours concerning skin cancer and sun protection could be brought to students who will work in outdoor spaces and are members of the maritime profession within the risk group.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.22-44
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• 2007

The objective of this study is to examine relevant factors of the service level of aged care facilities. The sample used in this study consisted of 357 aged care facilities in Korea. Data were collected with self-administered questionnaire and 140 returned questionnaire were analyzed by SPSS Version 12.0. The major findings of the study are as follows: First, there was no significant mean difference in the service level by the facility characteristics, except the length of operation. Second, it was found that both administrative characteristics and employer characteristics were positively associated with the level of nursing and supportive services. Third, the study results revealed that the following three variables of employee education and training, community networks, and employer's philosophy and management principles had significant positive effects on the level of nursing services. Meanwhile, the following two variables of employee education and training, and community networks had significant positive effects on the level of supportive services. In conclusion, in order to improve their service level, the managers of aged care facilities in Korea should make efforts to provide more employee education and training, establish networks with the community stakeholders, for example, local clinics and hospitals. It is also recommended for the government to make a policy inducing more qualified private investors to enter the aged care market, as well as to strengthen the qualification of the managers of the public aged care facilities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2041-2047
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• 2016

Background: Liver cancer (LC) is the sixth world most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. Due to the importance and necessity of awareness about the incidence and mortality of diseases to perform prevention programs, this study focused on data for LC and its relationship with the human development index (HDI) and its components in Asia in 2012. Materials and Methods: This ecological study was based on GLOBOCAN data for Asian countries. We assessed correlations between standardized incidence rates (SIR) and standardized mortality rates (SMR) of LC with HDI and its components using of SPSS18. Results: A total of 582,420 incident cases and 557,097 deaths were recorded in Asian countries in 2012. The five with the highest SIR were Mongolia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Republic of Korea and Thailand and those with the highest SMR were Mongolia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. A negative relation was observed between HDI and LC for SIR of 0.049 (P=0.748) and for SMR of 0.07 (P=0.645), with life expectancy at birth a positive relation for SIR of 0.061 (P=0.687) and a negative relation for SMR of 0.079 (P=0.603), with the average years of education a negative relation fo SIR of 0.476 (p=0.952) and for SMR of 0.032 (P=0.832), and with the country income level per person a negative relation for SMI of 0.11 (p=0.465) and for SMR of 0.113 (P=0.455). Conclusions: The incidence of LC is more in less developed and developing countries but statistically significant correlations were not found between standardized incidence and mortality rates of LC, and HDI and its dimensions.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.87-96
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of contents for the serious game development of the customized diet education in Type II Diabetes. Because the development of the existing serious game focuses on Type I Diabetes, this study was designed to carry out customized education through the interaction between Type II Diabetes and health manager. The period of data collection was from July 11 to December 26 in Y2015, the subjects were selected from a total of 26 people suitable for Type II diabetes who visited the public health center to apply for a diabetic diet education and completed the 8 continued education. After receiving customized diet prototype education, the self-care behaviors and HbA1C of the subjects were statistically significantly increased(p<.05)

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 1998

This primary study was done to develop an ethical guideline for organ transplantation, a life-saving treatment which helps improve the quality of life. This study tried to identify the current situation in Korea, in terms of ethical considerations in organ transplantations. This study collected basic data in organ transplantations, in the hope that procedure of organ transplantations could be developed that would be fair to both organ donors and recipients. The immediate goals of this study were : 1)to identify staff in charge of organ transplantations and their jobs in the hospital, 2)to survey whether there exists a Hospital Ethics Committee(HEC), 3)to research what consideration are formally taken in selecting recipients, and 4)to accumulate data on how consent from donors are currently obtained. The study used a survey questionnaire and received responses from 31 hospitals out of 45 hospitals where organ transplantation are being done. Organ transplantation coordinators were found in 16 hospitals, but the job description varied among hospitals. The survey showed that all 16 hospitals with an HEC that health care personnel unnecessarily dominate the committee. The study notes that HECs should be vitalized by recruiting, as members, ethicists, theologians, patients, guardians, as well as the general public outside of the hospital. The study revealed that in selecting recipients the hospital take into account ABO blood type, histocompatibility, age, waiting time. and level of patient compliance. Finally, it was shown that in the cases of living donors the transplanting hospitals seek a formal consent, whereas there are no common consenting practice established for cadaveric donors. The study concludes with three proposals. First, a nationwide institution responsible exclusively for procurement and distribution of cadaveric organs for transplantation should be established. Second. we should rebuild the national health insurance system so that have costly organ transplantation expenses are substantially covered. Last, but certainly not least. there is a need to emphasize the HEC's committment to prepare a proper ethical guideline for organ transplantation in general.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2020

Objectives: Dehospitalization of long-term inpatients with schizophrenia can be difficult because of complex factors such as chronic symptoms and low family and social support. The aim of this study was to identify factors related to dehospitalization and readmission of long-term inpatients with schizophrenia. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients discharged from a psychiatric hospital in Yongin, South Korea, from February 1, 2016, to July 31, 2017. Patients who were hospitalized for over 3 months were divided into two groups: readmission (n=47) and dehospitalization (n=55). Differences in sociodemographic and clinical factors were analyzed between the two groups. Results: Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, female sex, familylessness, discharge to nursing homes, and discharge after symptom improvement were more prevalent in the dehospitalization group, whereas male sex, having a sibling as next of kin, and discharge because of other problems were more prevalent in the readmission group. Among clinical characteristics, hospital stay was longer in the readmission group. Conclusion: In this study, patients without a family showed a tendency to not be readmitted when they were discharged to nursing homes after symptom improvement. Expansion of social welfare support may encourage dehospitalization of long-term inpatients with schizophrenia.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.153-202
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• 2014

Aside from political leaders' popularity rates and the stock exchange index of business firms, ordinary people are highly interested in aspects of daily life, such as housing, income, health, family, food, human relations and work. Cross-national opinion polls on daily-life satisfaction were carried out in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, the Philippines, India, Myanmar, Taiwan, China, Malaysia and Pakistan in the fall of 2013 and winter 2014. The percent difference index (PDI) is formulated as the sum of two positive responses (satisfied and somewhat satisfied) minus the sum of two negative responses (dissatisfied and somewhat dissatisfied). Percent difference indices are given according to society and daily-life aspects. For our analysis to go beneath national average and to go beyond national borders, two lines of analysis are carried out. First, the distance between the level of satisfaction of the top and bottom quartiles is given for each society and according to each of the daily-life aspects. Second, the regional sum of satisfaction of the top quartiles and bottom quartiles are shown crossed by daily-life aspects. In this article we confine ourselves to preliminary comparative description and analysis. More solid and deep comparisons will be carried out by local polling leaders of 12 Asian societies in the succeeding issue of the Asian Journal of Public Opinion Research. Nevertheless, two key threads stand out from this preliminary comparisons. First, social relations (family and human relations) stand out as most satisfied aspects of life in most of twelve societies. Second, the need to go beneath national averages and beyond national borders in analyzing cross-national surveys is confirmed. The comparability and validity of cross-national surveys with varying sampling method and survey mode are briefly discussed toward the end of the article.