• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.20
• /
• pp.8607-8612
• /
• 2014

Background: Breast cancer patients experience a variety of altered appearance - such as loss or disfigurement of breasts, discolored skin, and hair loss - which result in psychological distress that affect their quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic status on the altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life among Korean breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at advocacy events held at 16 different hospitals in Korea. Subjects were eligible to participate if they were 18 years of age or older, had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, had no evidence of recurrence or metastasis, and had no psychological problems at the time of the survey. Employment status, marital status, education, and income were assessed for patient socioeconomic status. Altered appearance distress was measured using the NCI's cancer treatment side effects scale; body image and quality of life were measured by the EORTC QLC-C30 and BR23. Means and standard deviations of each outcome were compared by socioeconomic status and multivariate linear regression models for evaluating the association between socioeconomic status and altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life. Results: A total of 126 breast cancer patients participated in the study; the mean age of participants was 47.7 (SD=8.4). Of the total, 83.2% were married, 85.6% received more than high school education, 35.2% were employed, and 41% had more than $3000 in monthly household income. About 46% had mastectomy, and over 30% were receiving either chemotherapy or radiation therapy at the time of the survey. With fully adjusted models, the employed patients had significantly higher altered appearance distress (1.80 vs 1.48; p<0.05) and poorer body image (36.63 vs 51.69; p<0.05) compared to the patients who were unemployed. Higher education (10.58, standard error (SE)=7.63) and family income (12.88, SE=5.08) was positively associated with better body image after adjusting for age, disease stage at diagnosis, current treatment status, and breast surgery type. Similarly, patients who were married and who had higher education had better quality of life were statistically significant in the multivariate models. Conclusions: Socioeconomic status is significantly associated with altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life in Korean women with breast cancer. Patients who suffer from altered appearance distress or lower body image are much more likely to experience psychosocial, physical, and functional problems than women who do not, therefore health care providers should be aware of the changes and distresses that these breast cancer patients go through and provide specific information and psychosocial support to socioeconomically more vulnerable patients.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.19-49
• /
• 2011

In this study, multilateral conceptualizations of underemployment were measured in terms of wages, social status, skill utilization and permanence of the job, and then the effects of antecedents on underemployment and the effects of underemployment on organizational adaptation were examined. Data obtained by a longitudinally designed survey at intervals of 18 months with the reemployed(N = 153) after job loss were used. The underemployment measures include 1) the ratio of wage change 2) the ratio of status change 3) the ratio of education 4) the occurrence of change from the permanent job to temporary job, 5) overqualification - growth opportunity, 6) overqualification - mismatch. The first four measures are social-economic and objective measures and the last two measures are psychological and self-reported ones. Demographic variables(sex, age, education level, and period of unemployed), circumstantial variables(economic hardship, number of dependents), and psychological variables(job-seeking self-efficacy, depression/anxiety, latent function) are included in antecedents. In the effects of antecedents on underemployment, age increases the level of underemployment in the aspects of wage and job status. Economic hardship increases the possibility of underemployment in the aspects of education and number of dependents increases the possibility of underemployment in the aspects of job status. Job seeking self-efficacy decreases the possibility of underemployment in the overqualification - no growth. Retention of latent function during the period of unemployment lowers the possibility of underemployment in the overqualification - no growth. The level of depression and anxiety during the period of unemployment raises the possibility of underemployment in terms of education and in the overqualification - mismatch. In the effects of underemployment on organizational adaptation, the higher the level of underemployment in the aspect of education is, the lower the level of person-organization fit, emotional commitment, and job satisfaction are. And the transition from permanent job to temporary job makes emotional commitment and job satisfaction lower. No growth and mismatch exerted a significant influence on organizational adaptation generally.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.94-107
• /
• 1990

The survey of emotional behavioral problems in elementary school children provide baseline data for understanding, treating and preventing emotional behavioral problems in children. Since children can show different behaviors at home and at school, parents' information alone can lead to underestimate severity and prevalence rate of emotional behavioral problems in children. Thus, the author investigated the different the pattern of emotional behavioral problems in elementary school children by various socio-enviornmental factors in urban(Seoul) and rural area, by employing both parents' and teachers' questionnaire. The results were as follows ; Analysis of Rotter's questionnaire, in which high scores mean more serious emotional behavioral problems than low scores. The mean total problems scores for rural elementary school children were higher than those of Seoul elementary school children, and boys showed higher scores than girls. In relation to grade, mena total problems scores diminished as grade increased up to 4th or 5th, and then relatively high score for the 6th grade. Parent's education had significant effect on the total problem scores, that children of less educated parents showed higher score than children of more educated parents. Likewise the highest score was observed in children of unemployed parents. These results demonstrated that emotional behavioral children are related to various socio-environment factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.2445-2451
• /
• 2016

Background: To evaluate knowledge of Bangkok women regarding HPV and self-sampled HPV testing, and their attitudes towards testing. Materials and Methods: Thai women who had lived in Bangkok for more than 5 years, aged 25-to-65 years old, were invited to join the study. Participating women were asked to a complete self-questionnaire (Thai language), with literate assistance as needed. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts: (I) demographic data, (II) knowledge and (III) attitudes towards self-sampled HPV testing. Before proceeding to Part III of the questionnaire, a 15-minute educational video of self-sampled HPV testing was presented to all participants. Results: Among 2,810 women who answered the questionnaires, 33.7% reported that they did not know about HPV. The characteristic features of these women were older age (> 50 years), lower income (< 600 USD/month), unemployed status, and non-attendees at cervical cancer screening. Only small numbers of women (4.6%) responded that they had heard about self-sampled HPV testing. After having information, 59.6% would not use the self-sampled HPV testing as a method of cervical cancer screening (non-acceptance). Factors significantly associated with the non-acceptance were older age, lower income, having no knowledge about HPV or self-collected HPV testing, a perception that the testing was unreliable and a concern that they might not be able to perform it correctly. Conclusions: Nearly half and almost all Bangkok women did not know about HPV and self-sampled HPV testing, respectively. Approximately 60% of Bangkok women refused to do the self-sampled HPV testing. Significant negative attitudes were concerns that the testing would be unreliable and a lack of confidence to perform the procedure correctly. Education about HPV and self-sampled HPV testing, ease of the procedure, or the testing models may increase rate of acceptability or positive attitudes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.482-494
• /
• 2016

This study examines the longitudinal trends regarding awareness of informatization, Information Technology (IT) use, and attitudes towards IT among older adults aged 60 or over. Surveys were conducted in 2004 and 2014 at senior welfare centers in Seoul, Korea. The trends between 2004 and 2014 showed that the rate of Internet use increased among older adults who lived alone, were aged 70 or over, had middle education level, had low income, or were unemployed. Older adults had positive attitudes towards IT, and users were more positive than non-users. The levels of IT use were low among users, and their reasons for IT use were for psychological, emotional, and practical purposes. For non-users of IT, their passive tendencies toward IT use and informatization were amplified. As such, the state of IT use and attitudes toward it among older adults in Seoul were longitudinally different, and the differences in awareness and ability between users and non-users tended to increase.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4073-4081
• /
• 2012

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of arthritis and to identify subgroups with high prevalence rates of arthritis. Study subjects were 18,406 Korean adults aged 19 and more from the 4th (2007-2009) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data. Annual self-reported prevalence and its rate ratios by demographic and behavioral factors were calculated using SAS 9.2 with survey procedure. The result was as follows. The crude prevalence of arthritis was 11.7% (osteoarthritis 10.2% and rheumatoid arthritis 1.7%). The prevalence was increased by age strata (2.4% in 19-44 aged, 16.4% in 45-64, 38.3% in 65 and more). After adjusting for age, we found the subgroups with high prevalence: older people, women, residents in non-apartment area, separated and divorced people, people with low education, people with several occupations (agricultural and fishery workers, elementary occupations, and unemployed), people with low household incomes, people with medical aid, and people with higher BMI. Those subgroups may be target populations in community health programs to control the disability from arthritis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.8
• /
• pp.268-275
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate what items are needed for reemployment according to the life cycle of women and to provide basic data to address the career discontinuity of women. The study selected five women currently unemployed living in Daejeon who were taking classes related to entrepreneurship at the Cultural Center and the Women Resource Development Center. The data collection period was from October to December, 2017, and collected from in depth interviews. An open-ended interview was used to explore the content of the interview process. The results of the study are as follows: Support policies for women with career disruptions should, above all, be given priority over career support to ensure that currently employed women do not quit their jobs due to marriage, childbirth or childcare. In addition, there is a need to improve the relevant systems and to implement vocational education and training programs so that women with career discontinuity can reenter the labor market. To do this, it is necessary to establish and support career planning in order to understand the effects of women's lifecycles and to support women's economic activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.2597-2606
• /
• 2014

Background: There is a scarcity of information about the proportion of the adult Saudi population that meet the recommended guidelines of physical activity (PA) to reduce cancer risk. Moreover, their awareness about the role of PA in cancer prevention is unclear. Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed at estimating the proportion of adult Saudis meeting the PA guidelines, specifically those recommended by American Cancer Society (ACS) for cancer prevention, and to assess the public awareness about the role of PA in cancer prevention. Materials and Methods: Using a multistage sampling method, 2,127 adult Saudis of both genders were recruited from 6 urban and 4 rural primary health care centers in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Participants were personally interviewed to gather information about their sociodemographic characteristics, searching activity about PA and cancer, and the time spent in leisure time PA (moderate and vigorous)/week using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire with show cards. Finally, items about the role of PA in cancer risk reduction were inquired. Results: Of the included participants, 11.6% met the recommendations for cancer prevention (${\geq}45$ minutes of moderate-vigorous PA activity/${\geq}5$ days/week or 225 minutes/week). Multivariate regression showed that being male (AOR=1.49, CI=1.09-2.06), <20 years of age (AOR=3.11, CI=2.03-4.76), and unemployed (AOR=2.22, CI=1.57-3.18) were significant predictors for meeting PA recommendations for cancer prevention. Only 11.4% of the sample indicated correctly the frequency and duration of PA required for an average adult to be physically active and while >70% of them indicated the role of PA in prevention of hypertension, coronary heart disease and lowering elevated blood cholesterol, only 18.6% and 21.7% correctly mentioned the role of PA in reducing colon and breast cancer risk, respectively. Poor knowledge was found among those with less than college education and aged ${\geq}50$ years. The level of knowledge was significantly positively correlated with total leisure time PA of the participants. Conclusions: A minority of adult Saudis in Al Hassa was aware about the role of PA in cancer prevention and engaged in sufficient LTPA for cancer risk reduction benefits, highlighting the need for public health actions to include policies and programs that address factors deterring their participation in LTPA and increasing their awareness with remedies to manage the prevalent misconceptions.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.41-53
• /
• 2018

Objectives : It was to classify and its affecting factors to the patients of Korean medicine hospital with short term and long term hospitalization. Methods : I focused on long-term hospitalized patients. I was conducted on 344 hospitalized patients among the original data of usage and consumption of Korean medical report in 2014. Among those patients, I have classified them into long term inpatients(131 patients) and short term inpatients(213 patients) based on 16 days of hospitalization. Also multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the characteristics of the hospitalization, treatment satisfaction and dissatisfaction, the characteristics of long term hospitalization according to the sociodemographic of the subjects, the top 21 diseases and the distribution of human bodies, side effects and kinds of Korean medicine. Results : There was a statistically significant difference between the short term and long term hospitalized patients due to age, occupation, marital status, all 21 diseases and institutional fees, experience of Korean medical treatment due to traffic accidents. There was no significant difference in gender, education level, residence, income level, type of medical insurance, whether private insurance, type of medical treatment for Korean medicine, medical expenses for car accidents, reason for dissatisfaction with treatment. The number of long term patients at Korean medicine hospitals increased by a statistically significant by age in model 1 where confounding factors were differently controlled. In model 2, the number of long term patients at Korean medicine hospitals increased by a statistically significant by age, among those who earned 5,000,000 Korean won or more, and among those with nerve diseases. The number of long term patients at Korean medicine hospitals decreased by a statistically significant amount among the unemployed and others in model 2. In model 3, the number of long term patients at Korean medicine hospitals increased by a statistically significant by age, among those who earned 5,000,000 Korean won or more, and among those with nerve diseases, while the number decreased by a statistically significant amount among the married. Conclusions : These results suggest that the factors affecting the short term and long term hospitalization of patients with Korean medicine hospital are different from each other. Especially it was significant by age, over 5,000,000won Income per month, nerve disease, but decrease significant married.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.69 no.3
• /
• pp.193-212
• /
• 2017

This study is purposed to explain the characteristics of injured workers' labor market situation and to analyze the factors influencing labor market transition of those workers. Using the Worker's Compensation Insurance Panel Data ver.1~3 which was surveyed by the Korean Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service in 2013-2015, this study analyzed 1,668 injured worker cases. The study shows that workers who have experience job retention at least once are 36.8% of all, 51.5% of them have experienced re-employment, and 36.9% have done unemployment. One result of the longitudinal analysis is that socio-demographic factors including gender, age, education years, convalescence period, ability on job performance, company size, term of service, temporary employment, daily-workers status before job accident and job training were associated with return to pre-injury job. The other result is that statistically significant factors affecting the probability to be the unemployed are gender, age, levels of disability, convalescence, ability on job performance, term of service before job accident, job rehabilitation service utilization. These findings indicate that we need to develop efficient intervention programs for supporting return-to-work and labor market transition of injured workers.