• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2014

Objectives : We aimed to explore the relationship among fatigue and perceived stress, depressive mood in the working population. We also examined associations with demographic and life style factors and investigated the effect of individual coping skills on these associations. Methods : Fatigue Severity Scale(FSS), Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument - Korean version(BEPSI-K), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Stress Coping Skill Questionnaire were administered to 621 civil servants. All of above and other demographic factors are self-administered questionnaire survey and this study is cross sectional. Results : Mean FSS score was 3.04 which was lower than 3.22, the severity cut off score. FSS, PSS, BEPSI-K, BDI were all higher in female. Subjects with active coping skills showed relatively low fatigue, perceived stress, depressive mood than those with passive coping skills. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the PSS, BDI, BEPSI-K in working population increase the risk of fatigue and regular exercise lowers the risk. Conclusions : Adults who were afflicted by stress, experienced depressive mood or were physically inactive were at much higher risk of feeling fatigue. Since no other large data sets are available for fatigue, the results from this study could serve a very useful purpose, to furnish a basis for comparison with future research results based on more complete data.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.239-249
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• 1996

Despite the importance of prenatal nutrition, many studies find inadequate calcium intake among pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of the Theory of Planned Behavior in explaining the intentions and the actual consumption of milk among pregnant women participating in or eligible for WIC. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect information regarding attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, milk allocation within the family, intentions and consumption of milk. The survey questionnaire was developed using open-ended questions and interviews with 112 pregnant women. One-hundred-eighty women recruited from prenatal clinics completed the survey questionnaire. Multiple regression was used separately to investigate the association of factors to intentions and to the consu-mption of milk, as proposed in the theory. Milk allocation within the family was used as an exploratory variable to explain milk consumption. Study findings revealed that all three factors, attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control contributed to the model in explaining intentions (explained variance : 36.2%), with perceived control being most important. For milk consumption, intentions and perceived control were related significantly to actual consumption, while milk allocation within the family was not (explained variance : 44.6%). These findings suggest that perceived control is important in understanding both intentions and milk consumption, providing empirical evidence for the Theory of Planned Behavior. With respect to the role of perceived control, more strong evidence was provided in explaining intentions. Findings suggest that educational interventions to increase milk consumption among pregnant women should incorporate strategies to enhance the perception of control, and to strengthen positive attitudes and to elicit social support from significant other. (Korean J Community Nutrition 1(2) 239-249, 1996)

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.147-155
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the educational needs for nurses who care for terminal cancer patients and their families. To identify top needs along with key issues in consideration to develope hospice training program and provide specific recommendations. Methods: A cross-sectional design with nurses from nine universities' hospice specialist courses and seven cancer centers was used. Data were collected via e-mail or mail service from March to April in 2008. One hundred seventy three questionnaires were returned (return rate: 73.6%), and 156 questionnaires were eventually analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of Mason and Ellershaw's The Self-efficacy in Palliative Care (SEPC) and self-reporting confidence and educational needs in hospice care. Results: The mean age of the participants was 37.94 years, 82.1% were staff nurses, and 44.9% completed over six months hospice education. Mean$\pm$standard deviation score for total SEPC was $2.67{\pm}.62$, which was lower than average (score 3), with communication score being the lowest ($2.49{\pm}.69$). The lowest self-reporting confidence score was $2.03{\pm}.77$ in hospice administration and management, followed by providing complement therapy ($2.34{\pm}.77$), bereavement care ($2.34{\pm}.71$), lymph edema management ($2.35{\pm}.79$), and care planning ($2.36{\pm}.81$). The participants reported that additional education is needed in all topics, with pain management score being the highest ($3.71{\pm}.50$), followed by pain and symptom evaluation ($3.67{\pm}.52$), care for dying ($3.67{\pm}.52$), and communication and counseling ($3.63{\pm}.53$). There were significant subgroup differences in SEPC and self-reporting confidence between groups who completed 6 months hospice education or not, however, no significant difference in educational need between the groups. Conclusion: This study showed the need for developing hospice training program to improve compentency of nurses in hospice palliative care.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.285-293
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• 2007

The study was to determine zonal characteristics of nutrients and chlorophyll and evaluate their trophic relations in Daechung Reservoir. For this study, we compared longterm water quality data among three zones along with trophic state using 1993 to 2002 dataset, obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea. Total phosphorous (TP), Secchi depth (SD) and chlorophyll (CHL) showed typical longitudinal declines from the riverine to lacustrine zone, but total nitrogen (TN) was not evident. Largest seasonal variations in TP and CHL occurred during the summer monsoon from July to August. In the reservoir, ambient TN averaged 1.67 mg $L^{-1}$ and ratios of TN : TP averaged 88.04, indicating that nitrogen is not likely limited but phosphorus limitation was evident. Trophic State Index (TSI), based on CHL, TP, and SD, varied depending on the zones and seasons. Mean TSI (TP) in the riverine zone was 62 during the monsoon, indicating a hypertrophic condition, whereas the mean was 40 in the lacustrine, indicating a nearly oligotrophic. Values of TSI (CHL) showed maximum in the transition zone during the monsoon. The deviation analysis of TSI showed that about 65% of TSI (CHL)-TSI (TP) and TSI (CHL)-TSI (SD) values were less than zero and the lowest values were -42, indicating an effect of inorganic turbidity on algal growth in the reservoir. Correlation analysis of CHL vs. SD shewed greater correlation coefficient (p<0.001, r=-0.47) in the transition than other two zones (p<0.001, $r{\leq}-0.40$). Correlation analysis of TP vs. CHL was greatest in the lacustrine and TP was minimum in the lacustrine zone, indicating a lowest yield of algal biomass in the lacustrine. Overall data suggests that zonal response of chlorophyll yield at a given nutrient unit is clearly differed among the longitudinal gradients, so the management strategy such as cross sectional modelling should be provided in each zone.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.324-335
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of dietary self-efficacy and illness beliefs, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers for the reduction of sodium intake in the elderly. A cross-sectional study was performed on 252 elderly people, aged 65 yrs and above, living in Daejeon Metropolitan city and Jecheon city, Chungbuk from March 21 to March 30, 2011. Dietary self-efficacy of three factors (resisting relapse, reducing salt and behavioral skills), perceived benefits and barriers, accurate and inaccurate illness beliefs were measured by 5 or 4 point Likert scale. With the increasing education level of the elderly, dietary self-efficacy, and accurate illness belief score increased and perceived barrier score decreased. Perceived benefits score was higher in the subject living alone compared to those living with siblings or spouses. Among three factors of dietary self-efficacy, reducing salt was scored highest and behavioral skills scored lowest in the elderly. Recording meal diary and reading labels for salt content in the items of behavioral skills showed lower score than other items. Accurate illness beliefs and perceived benefits were more scored than inaccurate illness beliefs and perceived barriers respectively in the subjects. The subjects with higher accurate illness beliefs, lower inaccurate illness beliefs, higher perceived benefits, and lower perceived barriers for the reduction of sodium intake showed higher dietary self-efficacy. In summary, accurate illness beliefs and perceived benefits positively correlated with dietary self-efficacy for the reduction of sodium intake in the elderly, whereas inaccurate illness beliefs and perceived barriers are negatively correlated.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life and evaluate the risk factors affecting severity of menopausal symptoms in early and late postmenopausal women based on the stages of reproductive aging workshop(STRAW) paradigm. Methods : This cross-sectional study examined 497 Korean postmenopausal women aged 41-59 years in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. We divided subjects into early postmenopause group and late postmenopause group. Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) was used to measure the quality of life. MRS scores, sociodemographic variables, smoking, alcohol use, age at menopause, and risk factors such as attitude to menopause, depression, history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder were compared between early and late postmenopause groups. Multiple regression analysis was performed in each group to assess the independent contribution of several variables. Results : Early postmenopause group showed significantly higher MRS scores, more negative attitude toward menopause, higher scores of depressive symptoms than late postmenopause group. Moderate to very severe hot flush group showed significantly, more negative attitude toward menopause, higher score of depressive symptoms, and higher MRS scores than none to mild hot flush groups. Depressive symptoms and attitude toward menopause contributed to the severity of menopausal symptom in both early and late postmenopause groups. Chronological age, age at menopause, history of PMDD contributed to severity of menopausal symptoms in early postmenopause group while marital status and occupation contributed in late postmenopause group. Conclusion : Health-related quality of life in postmenopause women was significantly lower in early postmenopause group than the late. Attitude toward menopause and depressive symptoms contributed significantly to quality of life in both early and late postmenopause groups but other variables contributed differently in each group. Further studies on clinical samples of postmenopausal women in order to confirm quality of life and its risk factor are needed to be done.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.314-328
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• 1997

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to low-dose solvent on neurobehavioral performance of 48 male workers exposed to organic solvents. A control group of 50 workers was selected from same factories. Each worker completed a medical and occupational questionnaire and four tests of Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery. These included Benton visual retention test, digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. Comparison of mean performance showed a significantly poorer performance on digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. In univariate analysis, age contributed to poor performance on Benton visual retention test and educational level was found to reduce the performance on symbol digit in both groups. Amount of alcohol intake was found to reduce the performance on digit symbol and smoking appeared to slow pursuit aiming in the exposure group. In multiple regression analysis, controlling for age, educational level, alcohol, and smoking, Solvent exposure was found to be associated with performance of digit span, and number of correct dot of pursuit aiming. Age on Benton visual retention, educational level on digit symbol, arid smoking on pursuit aiming were found to be a significant factors on each test items. This study suggest that short-term memory, and perception can be affected easily by chronic exposure of organic solvents which air concentration levels were under the Threshold Limit Value.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.518-531
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the association between fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used the data from the 2014-2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national cross-sectional survey on 137,101 boys and 130,806 girls aged 12-18. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed based on the frequency of consumption. The outcome variables were the perceived happiness, perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation over the previous 12 months. Logistic regression models were used after adjusting for the demographic, life style and other dietary factors. Results: Only 34% and 29% of Korean adolescents consumed fruits more than 5 times/week and vegetables more than 2 times/day, respectively; whereas 37%, 25% and 12.2% of Korean adolescents had perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation, respectively. After adjusting for the confounding variables, the greater consumption of fruit and vegetable were all associated with a higher odds of perceived happiness; the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) (95% CI) were 1.53 (1.46-1.60) in boys and 1.82 (1.73-1.90) in girls who consumed fruit ≥ 5 times/week, and 1.65 (1.54-1.76) in boys and 1.62 (1.51-1.72) in girls who consumed vegetable ≥ 2 times/day. In contrast, the consumption of fruit or vegetable were all significantly associated with a lower odds of perceived stress, depressive symptom, and suicidal ideation; the AOR (95% CI) were 0.70 (0.67-0.73), 0.88 (0.84-0.93), and 0.78 (0.73-0.83) in boys who consumed fruit 3-4 times/week, and 0.71 (0.67-0.76), 0.88 (0.81-0.94), and 0.68 (0.62-0.74) in boys who consumed vegetable 5-7 times/week. Similar associations of fruit or vegetable consumption with perceived stress, depressive symptom, or suicidal ideation were found in girls. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that increasing fruit and vegetable intake is important for better mental health among adolescents.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.242-248
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• 2016

The purposes of this study were to investigate the factors affection the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances for Children (C-OIDP) in elementary and middle school students, and identify the association between oral health-related behaviors, oral health condition and C-OIDP. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three schools in Incheon, Asan, Korea. A total of 175 selected children were interviewed by a trained examiner using a questionnaire. Oral Health Related Quality of Life was assessed by the Korean version of C-OIDP. Socio-economic characteristics, oral health-related behaviors, oral health condition and C-OIDP were verified using the questionnaire. ANOVA analysis was performed to determine the oral health and C-OIDP, and multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting the C-OIDP. The activities with the greatest effect were eating (28.0%), cleaning teeth (22.9%), and smiling (18.9%). In the logistic regression model, the high item score of C-OIDP was associated with experiencing dental caries and gum pain in the past month. The more the C-OIDP prevalence item, the more the fillng deciduous tooth surface (fs) (p=0.024), caries experienced deciduous tooth surface (dfs) (p=0.049), total caries tooth surface (ds+DS) (p=0.021), and total caries experienced tooth surface (dfs+DMFS) (p=0.047). It can be concluded that the factors affecting C-OIDP are fs, dfs, dfs+DMFS, and gingival pain. Based on these results, we can improve C-OIDP to advance preventive practice.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2009

About 380 dental hygienists who were working in public health centers in 2004 joined this study with questionnaires about the evaluation of job training programs regarding oral health care. The findings are as follows. 1. As for the general characteristics of subjects including location, age and career, the dental hygienists in Public Health Subcenters outnumbered the dental hygienists in Public Health Centers, as the former accounted for 61.1 and the latter 35.3 percent. And the dental hygienists in their 36~40s made up the largest age group. The group in their 11~15 years career revealed 48.4, over 16 years career 35.7, under 10 years career group 15.9 percent, respectively. 2. The portion of certification in the respondents was 28.9 percent, as compared to the 71.1percent of non-certification. The major reasons of non-certification were not-applying(44.6%), participation rejected (29.3%). 3. Freqently requested curriculums were school based oral health program(4.42, the highest by Linkert 5 point scale), followed by oral health education(4.41), public oral health services for the toddler and for the elderly(4.04), for the disabled(3.92), oral health planning evaluation(3.85) and oral health survey& investigation(3.69). The gap between Dental hygienists at Public Health Center and Public Health Subcenter was statistically significant different(p < 0.001) in oral health survey& investigation and oral health planning evaluation.