• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify relationships between light- and heavy alcohol drinking and health-risk behaviors such as smoking, inappropriate weight control, physical inactivity, and sexual activity among adolescents. Methods: The data of 68,043 adolescents in middle- and high school collected from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey in 2015 were analyzed. For statistical analysis, logistic regression model was used. Results: The rate of heavy alcohol drinking increased with increasing age up to 21.5% among boys and 13.9% among girls. Among boys, heavy alcohol drinkers were at a higher risk of smoking (adjusted odds ratios [OR]=3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.8-3.8), inappropriate weight control (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.4-2.1), having sexual intercourse (OR=3.6; 95% CI=3.0-4.2) than light drinkers. Multiple health-risk behaviors of smoking, inappropriate weight control and sexual intercourse also increased in accordance with the severity of drinking alcohol beverage compared to non-drinker. Physical inactivity was decreased among heavy drinkers compared to light drinkers (OR=0.8; 95% CI=0.7-0.9 for inactivity of moderate exercise). Similar results were observed among girls. Conclusions: Alcohol drinking especially heavy alcohol drinking among adolescents is related to other risky behaviors including smoking, inappropriate weight control, and sexual activity. To prevent health problems in adolescents, it is necessary to adopt a combined approach regarding heavy drinking and health-risk behaviors.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.504-511
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• 2007

Built-out issue of copper processing appearing recently in the Paldang watershed is a critical problem to deteriorate the basic framework of national water management policy as well as to be simply a copper-related problem. Up to now, Korea government has invested hard and relevant upstream areas have been victimized readily in a variety of field to comply its goal of 'Safe Water Supply'. Because of the reason, the desirable water quality level of the Paldang watershed has been maintained regardless of its dense population. Paldang drinking water management policy is based on residents' understanding which is considered as a 'social capital'. The issue raised in the aspect of water quality management policy should be reviewed on the basis of the 'social capital' concept. One regarding semiconductor industry as a potential industry to export many products in 10 years insists that the industry not be a simple private business but be a prominent part for national competitiveness. There is no doubt about this opinion. However, a nation should support environmental right-to-life of its people prior to any other tasks. In other words, it is really risky to give up people's right due to economic benefits. Therefore, it should not happen to trade 'life', the dignity of man, with national competitiveness which is likely to be preferred in these days. In addition, coherent policy not to destroy 'social capital' promoting Paldang drinking water resource management policy should be maintained.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.139-147
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• 2020

Purpose: The study aimed to identify factors affecting unintentional injuries at school focusing on violent experiences in adolescents. Methods: The study used the raw data of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2019). A total of 60,040 students were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics, χ2 test, and multiple logistic regression were performed, using SPSS version 25.0. General characteristics, gender, school, academic achievement, living with family, socioeconomic status, vigorous physical activity, perceived stress, sleep satisfaction, high caffeine drinking, risky alcohol drinking, smoking, sexual experience, drug use, and safety education, were adjusted for and the relationship between unintentional injuries and violence was analyzed. Results: The results showed 2.4% of the adolescents had experienced violence and 24.7% had suffered unintentional injuries. Violent experiences had a significant effect on unintentional injuries among adolescents. Injuries were 1.93 times higher among adolescents who had experienced violence. Gender, school levels, high-intensity physical activity, stress, sleep satisfaction, high caffeine drinks, dangerous drinking, drug use, and safety education were associated with unintentional injuries among adolescents. Conclusion: Adolescents at high risk of suffering violence and injuries should be identified and assessed preemptively. In addition, it is necessary to implement systematic school health-centered safety education programs in order to prevent violence and injuries.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.397-410
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• 2014

This study sought to identify types of health behavior clusters among Korean adults and their related factors. A secondary analysis of 1,441 subjects, aged 19 to 64, in the 2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-3) was conducted. A cluster analysis was used to identify types of clusters related to physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking. A complex samples chi square test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to analyze the associations between types of health behavior clusters and sample's characteristics using SPSS WIN 21. Five clusters were identified: health promotion, smoking, alcohol drinking, passive attitude, and risky behavior. The passive attitude cluster had the most subjects, with 47.7% of subjects as members. Socio-demographic factors, hypertension, and depressive symptoms were associated with membership in the alcohol drinking, smoking, passive attitude, or risky behavior cluster rather than the health promotion cluster. The findings of this study suggest that integrated health promotion programs incorporating multiple strategies need to be investigated. In addition, further studies should explore psychosocial factors that affect health behavior clusters, such as stress, self-efficacy, social support, and social networks.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.3333-3343
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors related to substance use focusing on the sexual experiences and risky sexual behaviors among Korean adolescents. This study conducted with a secondary data analysis using the Seventh Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey 2011 in South Korea. The study participants selected 75,643 Korean adolescents who were recruited anonymously through national web-based survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, rao-Scott ${\chi}^2$, and logistic regressions considering complex samples. Results indicated that substance use was significantly associated with sexual experiences such as sexual intercourse with the opposite sex (adjusted OR=5.691; 95% CI=4.223-7.670), sexual intercourse with the same sex (adjusted OR=21.180; 95% CI=14.704-30.507) and risky sexual behaviors such as sexual assaults (adjusted OR=9.936; 95% CI=7.217-13.680), date rape (adjusted OR=16.979; 95% CI=11.648-24.751), sexual intercourse after drinking (adjusted OR=6.564; 95% CI=3.986-10.810), unexpected pregnancies (adjusted OR=18.628; 95% CI=8.476-40.936), and sexually transmitted diseases (adjusted OR=21.872; 95% CI=13.920-34.367) in Korean adolescents. Findings of this study show that adolescents who use substances are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Therefore, intervention program should be designed to consider both substance use and sexual problems and to include the effective approaches at the family and school level.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2011

Purpose: The objective of this research was to measure health literacy level of the visitors of a university hospital's out patient clinic and to consider its influence factors. Methods: Subjects were 400 visitors in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital. By using self-report questionnaire which included Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and general information inquiry, the level of health literacy and its influence factors were measured. The data were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation. Results: The NVS score of subjects was $3.54({\pm}1.91)$ out of maximum 6 scale. The factors that have significant relationships with the health literacy were age, sex, marital status, educational background, monthly income, health information source, number of diseases, number of medications and drinking status. Participants who are men, in old age, having lack of supportive relationship, having low levels of education, having low income, having more comorbid diseases & medications, tend to have lower NVS score compared to others. Conclusion: We suggest extending our research results for evaluating the risky group to improve the health literacy and to develop the strategic methods for better health outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.272-283
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• 2007

This study was performed to delineate the relationship between lifestyle and nutritional risk factors associated with hypertension in representative middle-aged Korean population. Hypertension in this study is defined as hypertensive ($SBP{\geq}140mmHg\;or\;DBP{\geq}90mmHg$) adults without recognition of a disease state before a health exam. With data from the 1998 and 2001 National Health and Nutritional Survey, nutrient intakes of 6,112 adults, 40-64 years of age were calculated using food composition database and matched with health examination records by individual ID. After excluding those with extreme intake values, the number of final subjects included in the analysis was 5,200 (male 2,458, female 2,742). Using logistic regression method, socio-demographic data, lifestyle factors, and nutrient intakes were analyzed. Risky factors for hypertension revealed in this study were age, sex, BMI over 23, waist circumference, alcohol intake of more than 16g (male) or 8g (female). Regarding nutrient intakes, the intakes of highest quartile for energy (${\geq}2363.0kcal$) and protein (${\geq}90.2g$) were significantly associated with higher risk of hypertension after adjusting for age, sex, and other socio-demographic factors (OR=1.312(1.046-1.711), OR=1.488(1.194-1.854), respectively)). Although high intakes of sodium (${\geq}6604.0mg$) and phosphorus seemed to be risk factors of hypertension also before energy adjustment (OR=1.278(1.034-1.581), OR=1.280(1.024-1.600), respectively), only high intakes of energy and protein remained significant after adjustment. This study revealed that modifying risky lifestyles and dietary patterns, especially high energy intake, high protein intake, and high alcohol drinking, in middle-aged Korean adults could result in a prevalence decrease and/or prevention of hypertension.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2217-2220
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• 2013

Background: Knowledge regarding risk factors and primary signs of oral cancer in the general population can help them to avoid risky behaviour and seek timely advice from a physician. The aim of this study was to survey adult knowledge about risk factors and signs of oral cancer in Shiraz Dental University. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study using an investigator-made questionnaire, 783 adults who were referred to Shiraz Dental University participated. Questionnaire data were analyzed by ANOVA and T-test. Results: The results showed that 32.3% of participants were aware of oral cancer and gained their knowledge from the media. The risk factors mentioned by these participants was as follows: sunlight 30.8%, hot and peppery food 40.7%, alcoholic drinks 47.4% and smoking 73.6% (there was significant relationship for drinking alcohol and gender, education and times of using dental service, p<0.05). They also mentioned the primary signs of oral cancer as follows: red patch without pain 27.8%, white patch without pain 13.5% and prolong scarring without pain 56.7% (there was significant relationship between these three signs and education and times of using dental service, p<0.05). The mean knowledge about the risk factors and signs of oral cancer were 1.94 from 5 with 1.14 standard deviation and 0.96 from 3 with 0.93 standard deviation. Conclusions: The observed low level of knowledge of people regarding both risk factors and signs of oral cancer emphasizes the need for more efforts to be made about the above mentioned issues by the media.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.499-506
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• 2010

The study aimed to analyze the lifestyles, weight control behavior, dietary habits, and depression of female university students. The subjects were 532 students from 8 universities located in 4 provinces in Korea. According to percent ideal body weight, 33 (6.4%), 181 (34.0%), 283 (53.2%), 22 (4.1%) and 13 (2.5%) were severely underweight, underweight, normal, overweight and obese, respectively, based on self-reported height and weight. As much as 64.1 % and only 2.4%, respectively, overestimated and underestimated their body weight status. Six overweight subjects were excluded from overestimation group for the purpose of this study, resulting in overestimation group consisting of only underweight and normal weight subjects. Compared to those from the normal perception group, significantly more subjects from the overestimation group were currently smoking (P=0.017) and drank more often than once a week (P=0.015), without any significant differences in dietary habits. Despite similar BMIs, subjects who overestimated their own weight statuses had significantly higher weight dissatisfaction (P= 0.000), obesity stress (P= 0.000), obsession to lose weight (P = 0.007) and depression (P = 0.018). Also, more of them wanted to lose weight (P = 0.000), checked their body weights more often than once a week (P=0.025) and had dieting experiences using 'reducing meal size' (P=0.012), 'reducing snacks' (P=0.042) and 'taking prescribed pills' (P = 0.032), and presented 'for a wider range of clothes selection' as the reason for weight loss (P = 0.039), although none was actually overweight or obese. Unlike the case with overestimating one's own weight, being overweight was associated with less drinking 0.035) and exercising more often (P=0.001) and for longer (P=0.001) and healthier reasons for weight control (P=0.002), despite no differences in frequency of weighing and depression. The results showed that weight overestimation, independent of weight status, is associated with risky lifestyles, weight control behaviors, and mental conditions. Preventive interventions should focus not only on obesity, but also on body weight overestimation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.170-170
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• 2003

An initial study has been conducted with Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral resources and National Institute of Environment Research to evaluate the distribution of radon levels and their risk levels of groundwater in Korea. Probability distribution of 616 samples was log-normal one with 1,867pCi/L as arithmetic value, 920pCi/L as median and 40,010pCi/L as maximum during iou. years(1999-2002). In addition, 10% of total samples are in excess of 4,000pCi/L, 20% in excess of 2,700pCi/L, and 30% in excess of 1,700pCi/L, and 15 samples exceeds 10,000pCi/L. Total samples are grouped into 10 areas and 5 rocks unit, and difference of concentrations among areas and rocks are statistically significant(respectively, p<0.0001). The highest area is Daejeon located in ogcheon metamorphic rocks and granitic rocks, and most of all sites with high concentration sites are located in granitic rocks. The lowest area is Jeju located in volcanic rocks. We have estimated excess cancer risks of radon based on these data. To estimate risks, first of all, use patterns of groundwater are categorized with 6 groups: for drinking, household, farming, washing cars, raising stock, and others. We considered risk only for drinking water and household water because radon is rapidly dispersed before it of other use reach human respiratory organs. We select 565 samples for risk analysis, and applied unit risk which is 6.6210-7 per pCi/L to be recommended by NAS committee. Unit risk was derived from considering radon ingestion and radon inhalation from water use. When estimating risk, we analyzed PDF of concentration and represented risk as 50 and 95 percentile values to consider uncertainty with Monte-Carlo simulation. It results in 10-4 level of their excess cancer risk and in 10-2 level in some areas with high concentration of radon. It must be monitor periodically and take adequate actions in these risky sites. We recommend that it needs to take more survey and finally set guideline for radon regulation in groundwater.