• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4169-4172
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• 2012

Background: The majority of women in rural India have poor or no access to cervical cancer screening services, although one.quarter of all cervical cancers in the world occur there. Several large trials have proven the efficacy of low-tech cervical cancer screening methods in the Indian context but none have documented the necessary components and processes of implementing this evidence in a low-resource setting. Methods: This paper discusses a feasible model of implementation of cervical cancer screening programme in low-resource settings developed through a pilot research project carried out in rural Tamilnadu, India. The programme used visual inspection of cervix after acetic acid application (VIA) as a screening tool, nurses in the primary care centres as the primary screeners and peer educators within Self-Help Women groups to raise community awareness. Results: The uptake of screening was initially low despite the access to a screening programme. However, the programme witnessed an incremental increase in the number of women accessing screening with increasing community awareness. Conclusions: The investigators recommend 4 key components to programme implementation in low-resource setting: 1) Evidence-based, cost-effective test and treatment available within the reach of the community; 2) Appropriate referral pathways; 3) Skilled health workers and necessary equipment; and 4) Optimisation of health literacy, beliefs, attitudes of the community.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5243-5251
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• 2015

Background: To assess women's awareness from diverse sections of society in Delhi regarding various aspects of breast cancer (BC) - perceptions, signs and symptoms, risk factors, prevention, screening and treatment. Materials and Methods: Community-level survey was undertaken in association with the Indian Cancer Society (ICS), Delhi during May 2013-March 2014. Women attending BC awareness workshops by ICS were given self-administered questionnaires before the workshop in the local language to assess BC literacy. Information provided by 2017 women was converted into awareness scores (aware=1) for analysis using SPSS. Awareness scores were dichotomized with median score=19 as cut off, create more aware and less aware categories. Bivariate and multivariate analysis provided P-values, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Broadly, 53.4% women were aware about various aspects of BC. Notably, 49.1% women believed that BC was incurable and 73.9% women believed pain to be an initial BC symptom. Only 34.9% women performed breast self-examination (BSE) and 6.9% women had undergone clinical breast-examination/mammography. 40.5% women had higher awareness (awareness score > median score of 19), which was associated with education [graduates (OR=2.31; 95%CI=1.78, 3.16), post-graduates (OR=7.06; 95%CI=4.14, 12.05) compared to ${\leq}$ high school] and socio-economic status (SES) [low-middle (OR=4.20; 95%CI=2.72, 6.49), middle (OR=6.00; 95%CI=3.82, 9.42) and upper (OR=6.97; 95%CI=4.10, 11.84) compared to low SES]. Conclusions: BC awareness of women in Delhi was suboptimal and was associated with low SES and education. Awareness must be drastically increased via community outreach and use of media as a first step in the fight against BC.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.93-102
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: The effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions on functional brain changes in older adults remain unclear. This preliminary study aimed to explore the effect of physical exercise intervention (PEI), including HIIT, on cognitive function, physical performance, and electroencephalogram patterns in Korean elderly people. Methods: We enrolled six non-dementia participants aged >65 years from a community health center. PEI was conducted at the community health center for 4 weeks, three times/week, and 50 min/day. PEI, including HIIT, involved aerobic exercise, resistance training (muscle strength), flexibility, and balance. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for data analysis. Results: After the PEI, there was improvement in the 30-second sit-to-stand test result (16.2±7.0 times vs. 24.8±5.5 times, p=0.027), 2-minute stationary march result (98.3±27.2 times vs. 143.7±36.9 times, p=0.027), T-wall response time (104.2±55.8 seconds vs.71.0±19.4 seconds, p=0.028), memory score (89.6±21.6 vs. 111.0±19.1, p=0.028), executive function score (33.3±5.3 vs. 37.0±5.1, p=0.046), and total Literacy Independent Cognitive Assessment score (214.6±30.6 vs. 241.6±22.8, p=0.028). Electroencephalography demonstrated that the beta power in the frontal region was increased, while the theta power in the temporal region was decreased (all p<0.05). Conclusions: Our HIIT PEI program effectively improved cognitive function, physical fitness, and electroencephalographic markers in elderly individuals; thus, it could be beneficial for improving functional brain activity in this population.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.333-342
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• 1974

In September 1974, a survey was conducted towards 900 women respondents, each representing a household, residing in 18 selected Myuns(townships) of 18 Guns(counties) in Kyunggi-Do. Fifty households were selected randomly in each Myun and the sample Myuns were also randomly selected from the 18 Guns home-visiting interviews were carried out by Myun level maternal and child health workers with questionnair forms designed to measure the maternal and child health status at each household. Major findings obtained from this survey can be summarized as follows: 1. Of the women responents who were investigated in this survey, 13.1% of them were comprised in the illiterates, indicating no difference in literacy rate from that in most urban areas. 2. Most(93.8%) of the respondents were found to have married at ages of 20-24 years old. 3. Most(85.8%) of the respondents were found to have delivered their first babies at ages of 20-24, while only 13.4% had their first babies at 25-29. 4. About 22% of the respondents had 2 children, while 19% and another 19% had 2 and 4 children, respectively. 5. A great majority of the respondents (78%) experienced not a single death of a child within the family, while about 17% experienced death of one child. 0.7% of the women experienced deaths of 4 or more children. 6. 18% and 17% of the women experienced 4 and 3 pregnancies, respectively, and 12% of them experienced 7 or more pregnancies. 7. About 29% of the women experienced an induced abortion at least once. Nearly 2% of them were found to have experience of 4 or more induced abortions. 8. One half (51%) of the women were found to have received prenatal guidances in the latest pregnancies by (Ub(town) and Myun (township) level maternal and child health workers at least once or more times. 9. 52% women received professional prenatal care in the latest pregnancies: 24% at hospitals or clinics and 20% at health centers. 10. Most (89%) of the last-born children were delivered at home, while only 8.7% were delivered at hospital or clinics. 11. Materials used at delivery comprise vinyl (40%), cement bags (32%) ana gauzed or absorbent cottons (19%). 12. The largest preportion of the attendants at delivery comprises mothers in-law (48). Only 24% were found to be attended by either doctors, midwives or maternal and child health workers. 13. In most (90%) of the deliveries scissors were used to cut the umbilicus. But most (7%) of them used unsterilized scissors, 6 while only 20% of them used sterilized ones. 14. About 68% of the last-born babies were breast-fed for 12 months or more. Those who weaned during 6-12 months were 21%. 15. During 12 months after birth, 65% of the last-born babies were breast-fed, while 24% were given a combination of breast milk and cooked rice. 16. About nine out of the 10 births were found to be registered. 17. 71% of babies received BCG vaccination, while 79% and 56% received samllpox and DPT vaccinations, respectively within a year after birth. Those who were vaccinated against poliomyelitis were about 50%. 18. About 87% of the respondents recogninized the existence of government-sponsored maternal and child health guidance program.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.31-48
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide an understanding of the trajectories of multidimensional health among older adults, including depression, chronic diseases, and cognitive function. Data were drawn from the 1-6 waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing(KLoSA), and a sample of 2,059 respondents aged 65 and older at baseline was used for the analyses. Latent growth curve models and growth mixture models were used to explore the changes in depression, chronic diseases, cognitive function, and heterogeneous trajectories among them. One-way ANOVAs with Scheffé post-hoc analysis and chi-square tests were used to find differences in sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and life satisfaction across the latent trajectory classes. Latent growth curve models revealed that depressive symptoms and the number of chronic diseases increased over time, while cognitive function showed gradual decreases. Three heterogeneous patterns of multidimensional health trajectories were identified: normal aging, increase in chronic diseases, and chronic deterioration. Significant differences were observed in sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and life satisfaction across the three latent classes. In particular, low educational attainment, household income, and life satisfaction were associated with the chronic deterioration class. Based on the findings, we discussed suggestions for health promotion education targeting older adults. This study also emphasizes the importance of home economics education in promoting health literacy across the life course.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.381-390
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to review studies on factors related to empowerment of patient with chronic diseases in Korea. By a literature search of databases, a total of 14 quantitative studies published in both Korean and English between January 2011 and April 2020 were identified. All the studies used a cross-sectional design and the majority of the studies used regression analyses. In 4 (28.6%) studies adopted Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form (DES-SF) as the instrument to measure empowerment. The results confirm that self-care, social support, health literacy, and quality of life are associated with empowerment of patients with chronic diseases in Korea. This study will provide basic data with developing instruments and intervention programs of empowerment of patients with chronic diseases in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.795-804
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of interactive pictorial education on community dwelling older Korean adults' self-efficacy and knowledge for safe medication. Methods: A quasi-experimental, three-group pre- and post-intervention design was used in this study. The interactive pictorial education was designed to suit the learning patterns and psychomotor skills of older adults. The education content, dealing with safe medication, was delivered over three sessions. A total of 136 older adults from local senior centers were assigned to one of the three groups: a) interactive pictorial education plus information booklet (experimental); b) education only with information booklet (conventional); or c) no intervention (control). Results: Participants receiving interactive pictorial education had significantly higher self-efficacy (F=24.32, p<.001) and knowledge (F=24.26, p<.001) scores than the information booklet or control group at post intervention. Post-hoc analyses indicated that both the interactive pictorial and the information booklet groups had significantly higher self-efficacy and knowledge scores than the control group at the post-test point (p<.05). Furthermore, the interactive pictorial group had higher self-efficacy and knowledge scores than the information booklet group at the post-test point (p<.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that the interactive pictorial education is an innovative approach that provides a means for older adults to learn appropriate medication use to improve their own health. It empowers older adults with different literacy levels to enhance their self-efficacy and knowledge for the safe use of medication.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.166-176
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• 2017

Purpose: The study aimed to assess differences between nurses' and patients' perception of the communication skills to promote patients' health literacy in a hospital. Methods: The convenience sample consisted of 150 patients and 169 nurses in a university hospital. The data were collected from January to February 2014 using the Communication Skills Scale for Hospital nurses and patients. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Lin's concordance were used to analyze the data. Results: There were significant differences (t=9.44, p<.001) between the perception of nurses ($8.18{\pm}2.00$) and patients ($5.49{\pm}2.95$) on the communication skills used by nurses. Most nurses ($3.87{\pm}0.39$) perceived that the communication skills were effective, but more patients ($4.13{\pm}0.62$) reported significantly higher scores (t=-4.34, p<.001). Conclusion: The results implied that nurses need to make sure that their communication skills are effective when they communicate with patients, and education programs for nurses to develop the advanced communication skills would be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to explore the readability and comprehensibility of the drug information on a patient leaflet for the senior by employing performance-based user-testing. Methods: We included 36 elderly (65 years old or older) as the senior group (intervention group) and 36 adults (40~59 years old) as the adult group (control). We developed a questionnaire to test if participants could access to drug information. After completing a questionnaire, the participant was interviewed about their understanding over the patient leaflet. We performed t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test or Fisher's exact test to examine differences between two groups in primary outcomes. Results: The senior were less likely able to find information (78%) than the adult (91%); they were much less likely able to understand information (42%) than the adult (69%). While we found differences between the ability of finding and understanding drug information in both groups, the senior group had greater difficulties in understanding all kinds of drug information. They had significant difficulties to remember information after reading the patient leaflet and frequently failed to find proper information even though they were allowed to access freely to the leaflet during interviewing. Conclusion: To secure safe and effective use of drugs for the senior, it is necessary to develop drug leaflets for the senior.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.7-18
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the core competencies for 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and to provide evidence for the development and utilization of 119 EMTs, education and training programs. Methods: Data were collected with a questionnaire that consisted of items on the general characteristics of the subjects (8 items) and importance and satisfaction levels for 10 competencies, including 34 items on subfactors. The Borich Needs Assessment Model was used in designing the questionnaire. A locus for focus model was used to derive the top priority competencies for the improvement of core competency in the profession. Data were analyzed with by SPSS ver.21 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The core competencies for 119 EMTs were derived from technical competency, information competency, communication competency, problem-solving competency, self-development competency and interpersonal competency. In addition, among the sub-factors of these competencies, 16 abilities (including leadership), ability to apply technical knowledge, technical comprehension, conflict management ability, ability to create documents, problem handling ability, ability to think, technical selection ability, and computer literacy were included in the priority category. Conclusion: This study derived and presented the core competencies for 119 EMTs to enable them to meet the modern day requirements of their roles, which may contribute to enhancing their professionalism.