• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.2-6
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• 2006

Ever since the foundation of the Korean Society for Preventive Medicine in 1947, members of the Society had made remarkable contributions to the public health development and national health promotion. They had played key roles in establishing national health system, improving environmental hygiene, controlling infectious and chronic diseases, promoting family planning, improving industrial and environmental health, and developing health service management. However, the Society had less actively responded to the changes in health service needs of the population that were caused by a rapid epidemiologic transition in last a few decades. Early detection and treatment of chronic diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases and risk reduction by the life style modification are major approaches to the contemporary national health problems and they are the core contents of preventive medicine. The author proposed to develop the clinical preventive medicine specialist who will have additional training in clinical medicine for health screening and life style modification to the current preventive medicine training program and thus will be able to provide comprehensive preventive medical services. Another area that the Society may take the initiative is training preventive medicine specialist in the disaster, including bioterrorism, preparedness and management. The Society should be more active in proposing health policy and health service program and also participate collectively in a large scale health research project of the government. These approaches may not only contribute more effectively to the national health promotion but also improve the identity of the Society.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2014

Background: This study aims to analyze West African pregnancy experienced women's self-rated health and related factors in Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo, and provide basic data which can be used in developing maternal and child heath projects and health promotion programs to enhance women's self-rated health in the DR Congo. Methods: A survey was conducted among 400 women, 300 of whom were from Kenge and 100 from Boko in Bandundu Province. Three hundred and fifty-two questionnaires were administered on factors expected to affect the self-rated health, categorized into basic information and economic status of respondents, healthcare service, and illness patterns. The hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed taking each variable into account. Results: The results show that those who have had nutrition education, work in the office, have no health insurance, or have had no illness for the last one year perceive themselves to be in good health. Conclusion: To improve the self-rated health status and promote maternal and child health in DR Congo, the results suggest that the government or relevant agencies should develop programs to educate people regarding health and nutrition, and policies based on the right status of each country. Systems are also required for healthcare at all social levels along with aspects to avoid illness in daily life.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.479-492
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• 2020

Background: As the prevalence of hypertension is increasing in Korea, the government is seeking policy actions to manage patients with hypertension more efficiently. In this paper, we aimed to identify factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Methods: We analyzed a total of 15,040 cases of 3,877 outpatients with hypertension obtained from the Korea Medical Panel database from 2010 to 2016. The dependent variable was whether a patient with hypertension visited a hospital or not; and independent variables were the patient's various socio-demographic, health-related, and heath-status characteristics. We conducted a generalized linear mixed model analysis with logit link for all the cases and then conducted it stratified by gender. Results: As a result of a multivariable analysis, women were less likely than to visit at a hospital (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.61) and people aged 65 years and older than those aged less than 65 years (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89). Residents in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam were more likely than those in than Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Jeju to visit a hospital (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.05-1.86). The likelihood of visiting a hospital was high in people belonging to a group of: the highest level of annual household income (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.30-2.29); Medical care aid recipients (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.34-2.83); people having three or more complex chronic diseases (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.19-2.11); people having diabetes (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.41-2.32); or people having ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease (OR, 6.80; 95% CI, 5.28-8.76). Also, we found that factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension differed between genders. Conclusion: A variety of factors seem to be associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Future research needs to find a way to help patients with hypertension visit an appropriate medical institution between clinics and hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore how university students perceive the mental health, what are the factors affecting the mental health in their lives. Methods: The participants of this study were eight university students who haven't participated in a class of mental health, residing in G city. This study collected the data between May 9 and June 13, 2016, and adopted a photovoice methodology of participatory action research. Results: The mental health perceived by the participants was expressed as new things re-experiencing in a familiar daily life of themselves, and things seem the same but different from others. Through discussion, the participants found that affecting factors of the mental health they negatively perceived could work on others as positive factors. Also, the participants were in search of a strategy to individually protect the mental health barriers in ways of that could contribute to mental health of the community such as conformity to social regulations. Conclusions: Based on these results, this study was meaningful in that various views were derived to prepare strategies and policy alternatives to promote university students' mental health.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the factors influencing on the oral health-related quality of life of migrant women in multicultural families. Methods: An interview survey was conducted through the general characteristics, oral health behaviors, and OHIPs(oral Health Impact Profiles) of 200 migrant women in multicultural families registered in multicultural family support center in Pohang. The survey was carried out from March 2 to 29, 2011. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0 program. by frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: Oral health promotion behavior showed statistically significant differences(p<0.01) in the number of tooth brushing and in those using oral health care supplementary device by each country. The oral health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by economic compensation, pregnancy, and the economic status of the native country(p<0.05). Conclusion: The nationwide oral health policy should be established for migrant women in multicultural family.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.208-214
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the factors affecting re-smoking in male workers. Methods: A self-administrated questionnaire survey was conducted during April 2003 to examine the smoking state of 1,154 employees of a company that launched a smoking cessation campaign in1998. Five hundred and eighty seven persons, who had stopped smoking for at least one week, were selected as the final study subjects. This study collected data on smoking cessation success or failure for 6 months, and looked at the factors having an effect on re-smoking within this period. This study employed the Health Belief Model as its theoretical basis. Results: The re-smoking rate of the 587 study subjects who had stopped smoking for at least one week was 44.8% within the 6 month period. In a simple analysis, the re-smoking rates were higher in workers with a low age, on day and night shifts, blue collar, of a low rank, where this was their second attempt at smoking cessation and for those with a shorter job duration (p<0.05). Of the cues to action variables in the Heath Belief Model, re-smoking was significantly related with the perceived susceptibility factor, economic advantages of smoking cessation among the perceived benefits factor, the degree of cessation trial's barrier of the perceived barriers factor, smoking symptom experience, recognition of the degree of harmfulness of environmental tobacco smoke and the existence of chronic disease due to smoking (p<0.05). In the multiple logistic regression analysis for re-smoking, the significant variables were age, perceived susceptibility for disease, economic advantages due to smoking cessation, the perceived barrier for smoking cessation, recognition on the degree of harmfulness of environmental tobacco smoke, the existence of chronic disease due to smoking and the number of attempts at smoking cessation (p<0.05). Conclusion: From the result of this study, for an effective smoking ban policy within the work place, health education that improves the knowledge of the adverse health effects of smoking and the harmfulness of environmental tobacco smoke will be required, as well as counter plans to reduce the barriers for smoking cessation.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.73-86
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• 2007

Objective: The purposes of this study are to understand the characteristics of the participants in a community walking campaign and to analyze the factors related to their participation based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM). Methods: The study composed of the description of participant characteristics and comparison of them with non-participant characteristics in a walking campaign in K province. The data were collected through a survey of 2,590 participants and 258 non-participants from the same community. The survey instrument included questions about stages of walking and exercise, knowledge and attitude toward walking, and environmental condition for walking. Results: A majority of the walking campaign participants were in the action(24.8%) and maintenance(43.6%) stages of walking and exercise behavior. The non-participant group was split between maintenance(51.6%) and precontemplation (30.6%) stages. Among the participants, effective campaign promotion channels differed by age group while motivation for participation and participation patterns were associated with both age and gender. Favorable physical environment was a significant factor of participating in walking campaign(OR=1.396, CI=1.149-1.696). Although the campaign participants scored higher than the non-participants in most attitude toward walking questions, differences in knowledge scores between two groups were less significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, further social marketing to increase the awareness and to increase the concern of population in the community is needed based on the survey result. Transtheoretical model seems appropriate to apply to the evaluation and the planning the program of the behavior change in the community. Also, more organized and sustainable support in need to maintain the good habit of walking for the participants in walking campaign.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.427-432
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• 2019

Objectives: In Indonesia, 61 million adults smoked in 2018, and 59 million were exposed to secondhand smoke at offices or restaurants in 2011. The Presidential Decree 109/2012 encouraged local governments to implement a smoke-free policy (SFP), and the city of Jayapura enacted a local bill (1/2015) to that effect in 2015. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with this bill and to explore challenges in implementing it. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study. Quantitatively, we assessed compliance of facilities with 6 criteria (per the bill): the presence of signage, the lack of smoking activity, the lack of sale of tobacco, the lack of tobacco advertisements, the lack of cigarette smoke, and the lack of ashtrays. We surveyed 192 facilities, including health facilities, educational facilities, places of worship, government offices, and indoor and outdoor public facilities. Qualitatively, we explored challenges in implementation by interviewing 19 informants (government officers, students, and community members). Results: The rate of compliance with all 6 criteria was 17% overall, ranging from 0% at outdoor public facilities to 50% at health facilities. Spatial patterning was absent, as shown by similar compliance rates for SFP facilities within a 1-km boundary around the provincial and city health offices compared to those outside the boundary. Implementation challenges included (1) a limited budget for enforcement, (2) a lack of support from local non-governmental organizations and universities, (3) a lack of public awareness at the facilities themselves, and (4) a lack of examples set by local leaders. Conclusions: Overall compliance was low in Jayapura due to many challenges. This information provides lessons regarding tobacco control policy in underdeveloped areas far from the central government.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4839-4842
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• 2012

The recent policy statement by the Cancer Council of Australia on infant circumcision and cancer prevention and the announcement that the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will be made available for boys in Australia prompted us to provide an assessment of genital cancer prevention. While HPV vaccination of boys should help reduce anal cancer in homosexual men and cervical cancer in women, it will have little or no impact on penile or prostate cancer. Male circumcision can reduce cervical, penile and possibly prostate cancer. Promotion of both HPV vaccination and male circumcision will synergistically maximize genital cancer prevention.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.137-154
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• 2005

Objectives: This study aims to examine the positive effects of developmental assets on the prevention of health risk behaviors among Korean adolescents. The framework of developmental assets was introduced as building blocks for healthy child and adolescent development by Benson and his colleagues. These assets represent positive external environmental factors and internal personal qualities which strongly influence the quality of life of adolescents. Methods: In 2001, we administered self-reported questionnaires to 3,739 girls and boys in grade 9 at eight schools in two cities, Chinju and Suwon in South Korea. The data was compiled into a 'Korean Youth Health Related Behaviors and Developmental Assets Survey' and then analyzed Youth health risk behaviors, which we measured in terms of their frequency, included tobacco, alcohol, and substance use, sexual intercourse, anti-social behaviors, violence, feelings of social isolation at school, depression or attempted suicide, absenteeism from school, gambling. Results: Overall, with respect to developmental assets, the Korean adolescents surveyed only 12.6 of the 40 assets, and 88 percent of adolescents had 20 or fewer of the assets. Based on their number of developmental assets(DA), adolescents were categorized into four groups: Group I(DA 0-10): Group II(DA 11-20): Group III(DA 21-30): Group IV(DA 31-40). We examined the differences in the frequency of each health risk behavior across the four groups, Group I-IV, and found that the frequency of most health risk behaviors decreased as the number of developmental assets increased. Conclusion: We therefore concluded that in order to make effective approaches for the prevention of health risk behaviors among adolescents, we should consider and develop more comprehensive and adolescents-based policy and programs to promote various aspects of adolescents' health and quality of life.