• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.357-384
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• 2013

"The IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto" affirms that libraries should serve all members of the community without discrimination based on cultural and linguistic heritage; provide information in appropriate languages and scripts; and, give access to a broad range of materials and services reflecting all communities and needs. Public libraries in Korea currently are facing the challenge to adopt this IFLA manifesto as Korea is rapidly changing toward a multicultural society. In regard to these speculations, this study explores the experiences and major characteristics of public library services for multicultural population in Richmond, Canada. Based on the case study, this paper scrutinizes the current situation of public library services for multicultural immigrant population in Busan area, and develops several service agenda as they can be oriented to the new strategic plans of public libraries in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.241-264
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• 2016

This study aimed to examine multicultural acceptance of librarians and to investigate the factors affecting librarians' multicultural acceptance. For this, this study collected its data through a questionnaire conducted for the public librarians. The total 319 questionnaires were collected and 292 were finally analyzed. The results showed that the factors affecting the multicultural acceptance of the librarians were the experience of overseas residence, of multicultural service and of multicultural education. Based on the results, the ways to cultivate librarians' multicultural acceptance were discussed.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.713-742
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• 2009

In the near future, the multicultural families are expected to be the majority of population living in the rural area, which is an aged and small-scaled society. Moreover, they are expected to have an important role in sustaining the culture of agriculture and a rural community. Therefore, it is very important for them to adjust and settle urgently as well as to develop a policy and social services for the adjustment and settlement. The purpose of this study is to identify different aspects of the participation in agricultural, social, and job activities of married immigrant women in a Korean rural area as well as to investigate the change of life satisfaction resulting from the l activities. The following findings were established from this study. First, married immigrant women participate in local social and agricultural activities in a Korean rural area more frequently than in their own country. However, the frequency of their participation in job activity in a Korean rural area is lower than in their own country. Second, the main factor that prevents married immigrant women from participating in agricultural activity in a Korean rural area is to carry out childcare, household chores, and farming at the same time. Their low participation in social activity and job activity mostly results from their lack of fluency in Korean. Third, married immigrant women score higher in the change of life satisfaction after participating in social activity and job activity than in agricultural activity.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1460-1467
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• 2004

Purpose. This study examined the predictive factors enabling access to children's oral health care at the level of financial barriers, beliefs, and the provider. Methods. In-depth interviews were conducted with 320 immigrant mothers of low-income families regarding their use of oral health services for children aged four to eight years old. Access to oral health care was measured with frequency of planned dental visits, continuity of care, and age at first visit to dentist. Results. The mother took her child to the dentist at a younger age if she received referrals to a dentist from pediatrician. Regular dental visits were significantly related to household income, provider availability on week-ends, and insurance coverage. The extended clinic hours in the evenings, and the belief in the importance of the child's regular dentist visits increased the likelihood of continuing care. The mothers perceiving a cost burden for the child's dental care were also less likely to return to the dentist. Conclusion. The available care delivery system, coordinated medical care, and health beliefs were among important predictors of the health service use. The study findings suggest need for culturally competent dental health interventions to enhance access to oral health care among particularly vulnerable populations such as low-income children in Korean communities.

• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1179-1200
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• 2008

Knowledge about somatization (somatic manifestation of psychological distress symptoms) among immigrant populations is limited. While several studies have recognized somatization as a culturally distinctive expression of depression amongst older Korean immigrant population, somatization has not been incorporated into the comprehensive empirical model for depression of this population. In order to improve our general understanding of the phenomenon, the objective of this study is to empirically investigate principal contributing factors of somatization as well as inter-relationships among them. Data were collected from a cross-sectional community survey of 234 older Korean immigrants ($$age{\geq_-}55$$) in the New York metropolitan area. The statistical methodology employed a robust hierarchical regression procedure that iteratively downweights outliers. The results indicated that living arrangement, greater numbers of physical illnesses, and depression were significant explanatory factors of somatization. Furthermore, physical illness had a significant joint effect with perception of health on somatization, which confirms that positive perception of health exerts a moderating effect on the relationship between physical illness and somatization. The knowledge obtained from this study will contribute toward extending our knowledge on somatization and implementing more culturally sensitive mental health services for this population.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.343-364
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• 2020

Historically, mothers have been noted as active health information seekers, reflecting their roles as health mangers and caregivers for their family members. However, previous studies have focused on health-related information behavior among mothers in native populations or mothers of children with specific diagnoses. To fill this research gap, this study focused on health information behavior among mothers of healthy infants and toddlers. Using Wilson's (1997) information-seeking model, this study aimed to uncover the relationships between mothers' demographic characteristics and their health information source use. Online surveys were completed by 851 mothers: 255 U.S.-born mothers, 296 Korean-born mothers, and 300 Korean immigrant mothers living in the United States. Results indicated that there were statistically significant relationships between mothers' nine demographic characteristics (mother's age, education level, household income, employment status, the number of children, years living in the U.S. (or Korea), fluency in speaking English, size of household, housing status) and their health information source use. Based on the results, the implications for information professionals at diverse organizations are discussed when they provide health information services to this specific population.

• 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.