• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10565-10571
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• 2015

Gastric cancer incidence rates vary dramatically by world region with East Asia having the highest rate. The Asian population of the United States (US) is growing rapidly and over 17 million Americans are of Asian descent. A majority of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese Americans are immigrants. Americans of East and Southeast Asian descent experience marked gastric cancer disparities and the incidence rate among Korean men in the US is over five times higher than the incidence rate among non-Hispanic white men. Randomized controlled trials have provided evidence for the effectiveness of helicobacter pylori identification and eradication in preventing gastric cancer. Additionally, Japan and South Korea have both experienced improvements in gastric cancer mortality following the implementation of programs to detect early stage gastric cancers. There are currently no clear US guidelines regarding the primary and secondary prevention of gastric cancer in high-risk immigrant populations. However, it is likely that a proportion of US physicians are already recommending gastric cancer screening for Asian patients and some Asian immigrants to the US may be completing screening for gastric cancer in their native countries. Surveys of US primary care physicians and Asian American communities should be conducted to assess current provider practices and patient uptake with respect to gastric cancer prevention and control. In the absence of clinical guidelines, US health care providers who serve high-risk Asian groups could consider a shared decision-making approach to helicobacter pylori identification and eradication, as well as gastric endoscopy.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-76
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop a case review form for detecting adverse events through a medical records review in hospitalized patients in South Korea. Methods: To develop the case review form, several literatures were reviewed, first. Through the clinical expert meeting, screening criteria were selected and case review form was developed. Result: The Korean version of case review form consisted of the review form-1 for adverse event screening and form-2 for adverse event identification. The applied methodology for the case review form is determined according to the previous studies. For example, the method used in the first stage review is nurse review. Furthermore, the National Coordinating Council for Medication Errors Reporting and Prevention index is used to categorize disability, and a scale of 1 to 6 was used in the causation scores and preventability scores, respectively. Through the clinical expert meeting, a total of 41 screening criteria were selected. Conclusion: The Korean specific case review form was developed for detecting adverse events in hospitalized patients. The results from this study can be used in a large-scale study regarding the nationwide incidence of adverse events.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2007

Purpose : This study identified the patterns of smoking of students attending middle schools and high schools, and analyzed its related health risk behaviors. Methods: The data was based on the survey of 1,517 middle students and 911 high students residing in Kyung-Gi district. Results: The current smoking rates of male and female middle students are 5.3%, and 3.1% respectively. The rates of experiences in smoking are 21.4% and 16.0%(male/female). The current smoking rates of male and female high students are 17.9% and 8.5%, whereas the rates of experiences in smoking are 34.2% and 23.3% respectively. On the other hands, 14.1% of middle students and 12.0% of high students were exposed to smoking for at least 2 hours per day. The majority of middle and high school smokers started smoking when they were in middle or high school. And the most popular places to smoke were children's playgrounds, public open area., parks, and so on. Whether having a smoker as a friend or not and students' own perception towards smoking influenced the decisions to smoke for middle and high students. Both middle and high students, regardless of their gender, who have higher rates of drinking experiences and the hours of computer usage were found to have higher rates of smoking experiences. Meanwhile, the sleeping hours is in reverse proportion to the rate of smoking experiences. There was statistically significant difference in smoking experiences related to the degree of obesity only in the female high students: underweight and overweight students showed higher rates of smoking experiences than those falling in the normal weight range. Conclusion: For the effective prevention of adolescence smoking, it is necessary to adopt a comprehensive approach, which classifies the target population according to their age and sex and cover all health risk behaviors.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.425-430
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• 2020

Background: Asbestos exposure is associated with the development of the cancer malignant mesothelioma (MM). Measurement of soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) has been suggested as a method for detection of MM in its early stages. We prospectively examined SMRP levels in participants with asbestos exposure who are a group at a high risk of development of MM. Methods: This study was a follow-up of our cohort of 322 asbestos-exposed participants. No further participants developed MM or malignancy over the study period. Mean follow-up time was 22.9 months. Results: Mean (standard deviation) SMRP levels at baseline and follow-up were 0.94 (0.79) and 0.91 (0.86) nmol/L (p = 0.1033), respectively. Mean SMRP levels of the healthy individuals exposed to asbestos at baseline was significantly lower than those of participants with asbestosis and pleural plaques alone; similar patterns were found on follow-up measurements. There was a statistically significant effect of age on serial SMRP measurements. Our study confirms higher levels in participants with nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders. Levels decreased in asbestos-related disorders other than asbestosis, where a small increase was observed. We did not detect any further cases of malignancy. Conclusion: Monitoring programs for early detection of MM need to take into account increased SMRP levels found in benign asbestos-related diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.80-89
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• 2022

Purpose: In Japan, the long-term care insurance and health insurance acts have stipulated the visiting rehabilitation system to provide support at the national level. The prior case of Japan would provide guidelines for seeking a suitable policy direction in South Korea. This study aims to examine the historical transition process of the visiting rehabilitation system in Japan, and the issues that emerged in the process of the institutionalization of this system. Methods: To examine the historical transition process of the system, the regulations announced by the government and their reports were reviewed. The relevant issues were qualitatively analyzed based on the opinions of scholars, therapists, and interested organizations that were reported in published papers on the topic. Result: The visiting rehabilitation system has been implemented in the following chronological order: The Health and Medical Service Act for the aged (1982-2006), the Health Insurance Act (1988-), and the Long-term Care Insurance Act (2000-). Currently, visiting rehabilitation is provided through hospitals, clinics, visiting nursing stations, etc. The following issues came to the fore in the process of the institutionalization of the system: (1) the complexity of the system, (2) the necessity of changing perceptions into a life model approach, (3) insufficient service provision by therapists, (4) the lack of human resources and an education system, (5) the lack of awareness of care managers and doctors about visiting rehabilitation, and (6) the necessity of quality enhancement through a team approach. Conclusion: It is deemed worthwhile to refer to the visiting rehabilitation system in Japan and the issues that emerged in the process of institutionalizing the system while seeking a policy direction for a similar system in South Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.96-107
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• 2024

Objectives: While several food assistance programs in the United States tackle food insecurity, a relatively new program, "Food is Medicine," (FIM) initiated in some cities not only addresses food insecurity but also targets chronic diseases by customizing the food delivered to its recipients. This review describes federal programs providing food assistance and evaluates the various sub-programs categorized under the FIM initiative. Methods: A literature search was conducted from July 7, 2023 to November 9, 2023 using the search term, "Food is Medicine", to identify articles indexed within three major electronic databases, PubMed, Medline, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Eligibility criteria for inclusion were: focus on any aspect of the FIM initiative within the United States, and publication as a peer-reviewed journal article in the English language. A total of 180 articles were retrieved; publications outside the eligibility criteria and duplicates were excluded for a final list of 72 publications. Supporting publications related to food insecurity, governmental and organizational websites related to FIM and other programs discussed in this review were also included. Results: The FIM program includes medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, and produce prescriptions. Data suggest that it has lowered food insecurity, promoted better management of health, improved health outcomes, and has, therefore, lowered healthcare costs. Conclusions: Overall, this umbrella program is having a positive impact on communities that have been offered and participate in this program. Limitations and challenges that need to be overcome to ensure its success are discussed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.81-96
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• 1994

The primary purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting health promoting lifestyles of college students on the basis of Pender's Health Promotion Model. The subjects were 1,159 students of one university in Seoul. These data were collected by self reporting questionnaire from April 19 to May 3, 1993. This study examined health promoting lifestyles, cognitive-percep-tual factors: perceived health status, perceived importance of health, health locus of control, and health conception, and modifying factors: sex, grade, major, residence type, and attendance at a health care course. The instruments used in this study were Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile by Walker et al. (1987), Health Value Scale by Wallston et al. (1976), Health Locus of Control by Wallston et al. (1978), and Health Conception Scale by Laffrey(1986). The data were analyzed by Cronbach's $\alpha$, mean, standard deviation, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise Multiple Regression with SPSS PC+ Program. The results were as follows : 1. The means of health promoting lifestyles revealed total 3.33, self actualization 3.74, health responsibility 2.72, exercise 2.80, nutrition 3.55, interpersonal surpport 3.76, and stress management 2.96. Interpersonal support showed the highest score and health responsibility showed the lowest score. 2. No significant differences between sex, grade, major, and residence type, and health promoting lifestyles Were founded(p>.05). Attendants at a health care course showed a significant higher score than nonattendants (p<.001). Male showed a significant higher score in exercise subscale, female showed significant higher scores in health responsibility, nutrition, interpersonal support, stress management subscales(p<.001), residence type showed a significant difference in nutrition subscale(p<.001). 3. No significant differences between perceived health status and sex, grade, major, residence type, and attendance at a health care course were founded(p>.05). Perceived importance of health showed no differences among sex, grade, major, and residence type(p>.05), showed only in attendance at a health care course (p<.001). Attendants at a health care course showed a significant higher score than nonattendants(p<.001). No significant differences between health conception and sex, grade, major, and residence type were founded (p>.05), only significant difference between health conception and attendance at a health care course was founded(p<.05). Nonattendants showed a significant higher score in clinical health conception, attendants showed a significant higher score in wellbeing health conception(p<.05). 4. A significant positive correlation between health promoting lifestyles and perceived health status was founded(r=.2415, p<.001). A significant positive correlation between health promoting lifestyles and perceived importance of health was founded (r=.1475, p<.001). The health promoting lifestyles revealed significant positive correlations in internal and powerful others locus of control (r=.3187, p<.001: r=.1475, p<.001), but revealed a significant negative correlation in chance locus of control(r=-.997, p<.001). A significant positive correlation between health promoting lifestyles and clinical health conception and wellbeing health conception were founded (r=.1241, p<.001 : r=.3047, p<.001). 5. Perceived health status was the highest factor predicting health promoting lifestyles of college students(R=.3415, $R^2=11.62$). Perceived health' status, perceived improtance of health, internal locus of control, wellbeing health conception, powerful others locus of control accounted for 28.19% in health promoting lifestyle patterns. In conclusion, college students who reported more helath promoting lifestyles evaluated their health positively, perceived importance of health highly, perceived their health as affected by theirselves, powerful others but not by chance or luck, and accepted health as high level wellness rather than merely the absence of illness. Those who attending at a health care course had healthier lifestyle patterns. And attendance at a health care course had significant. correlations in these cognitive-perceptual factors. Further studies are required to identify reasons of attending a health care course, and to compare health promoting lifestyles pre-post attending a course related to health care.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.236-247
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of health program s on hypertension in a public health center located in Y-si. Most interesting were the effects on hypertension-related knowledge, self-care behavior, quality of life, and physiological parameters for hypertensive patients. Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was employed. A total of 48 patients with hypertension living in Y-si were assigned to either the experimental group (n=23) or the control group (n=25). The experimental group was provided with an 8-week health program on hypertension between August 31 and October 23 in 2015. Data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 21.0 using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$-test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test. The result indicated a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group with respect to the scores of hypertension-related knowledge (t=-3.76, p<.001), self-care behavior (t=-3.33, p=.002), physiological parameters, including systolic blood pressure (t=6.27, p<.001) and diastolic blood pressure (t=4.70, p<.001), total cholesterol levels (t=3.08, p=.003), and Abdominal circumference (t=2.52, p=.015). We conclude that the self-group program on hypertension has a significant effect on the change of hypertension-related knowledge and self-care behavior for hypertensive patients.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.180-190
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the influencing factor of the quality of life of the elderly with mild dementia in rural community. Methods: A total of 123 elderly who were managed by public health center participated. They were diagnosed as mild dementia by MMSE-DS and CDR. Data were collected during the period from May to September in 2017 by a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, depression, dependence, comorbidity, sleep scale. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The quality of life was correlated significantly with depression. Depression was the factor affecting the quality of life of the elderly with mild dementia in rural community. Depression accounted for 54.0% as a variable of quality of life. Conclusion: This study was meaningful in that it directly measured the quality of life of the elderly with mild dementia is known to be difficult to measure and found meaningful results. it is necessary to identify the cause of depression and establish a linkage system between public health centers and health related organizations in the community. We suggest the need for individualized preventive intervention program and integrated psychological health service considering depression.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.217-230
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to find out problems in obesity management through survey and analysis of the actual conditions from the view of a elementary schools school-nurses and to establish fundamental data for efficient obesity management. The subjects for this study were 313 numbers of elementary school-nurses in Kyung-Sang-Pook-Do. The data were collected through mail questionaries from November 1 to November 30, 1997. The major findings in this survey were as follows: 49.8% of the school-nurses who responded in the survey were in their 30s. The average career was 7.3years. The average service duration in their present school was 2.3 years, 55.6% of them were serving at schools which have less than ten classes total 77.2% of them were serving rural areas, 79.6% of them were serving at schools with fewer than 100 obese students. The total obesity prevalence rate was 11.4%, 13.3% were girls, 9.3% were boys. The measurement of height and weight is performed once a year for all surveyed students (91.7%), but obese students were measured as much five times (51.1%). The rate of obesity management planning was 74.1%, however the rates of evaluation and role assignment were 41. 2%, and 24.3%. 79.6% of the surveyed schools have health education classes for obesity, the rate compared (8.0 periods per year) to the whole of health education (79.1 periods per year) is 10.1%. 99.9% of the schools had counseling rooms for obesity (combined with nursing rooms) but they were used. The roote of individual counseling was 84.3%. The frequency counseling was six times a year for about 15 minutes. Obesity counseling records were kept 93.6% of the time and individual information cards were kept 98.7% of the time. The frequency of parents counseling was 42.8% and the survey shows that the main problem here was insufficient counseling facilities. The frequency of dietary guidance and exercise therapy was 84.3% and the dietary instructor was usually the school nurse at 51.7%. The frequency of obesity student exercise was 1-2 times a week and more-than-10-minutes at a time. They skip rope during the morning self-study class. The number on problem of exercise guidance at 56.2% was students' non-cooperativeness. School-nurses, 87.9%, answered that obesity management at school is necessary and 86.9% mentioned the shortage of obesity related information in present physical exercise books. From the plural responses of executing the obesity management, there are many similar problems: lack of knowledge and non-cooperation in parents at 41.9%, is predominant followed by of knowledge and non-cooperation in the children. The third problem is the lack of funds and facilities.