• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2024

Objectives: This study examined the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and chronic diseases in elderly Koreans. Methods: Data from the 2019-2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Dietary intake and UPF consumption were assessed using the NOVA food classification based on 24-hour recall data from 3,790 participants (aged 65+ years). Participants were divided into 4 groups based on the quartile of energy intake from UPFs. Regions were classified as urban or rural. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after controlling for potential confounders. Results: Among the participants, 71.3% resided in urban and 28.7% in rural areas. Compared to the urban elderly, rural participants tended to be older, have lower education and income levels, be more likely to live in single-person households, and have a higher smoking rate (P < 0.05). Urban elderly consumed more UPFs daily (146.1 g) compared to rural residents (126.6 g; P < 0.05). "Sugar-sweetened beverages" were the most consumed category in both regions. "Sweetened milk and its products" and "traditional sauces" were prominent in urban areas, while rural elderly consumed more "traditional sauces" and "distilled alcoholic beverages." Rural areas also had a higher carbohydrate-to-calorie ratio than urban areas. Compared to the lowest quartile of UPF intake, the highest quartile was significantly associated with impaired fasting glucose only in rural areas (AOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00-2.19; P for trend = 0.0014). No significant associations were observed for diabetes in either urban or rural areas. Conclusions: This study suggests that high intake of UPFs is associated with increased odds of impaired fasting glucose in rural elderly. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific negative health effects of UPFs in different populations, and targeted efforts should promote healthy diets in both urban and rural areas.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.321-353
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• 2012

This study aims to find out ways of improving life satisfaction of rural elderly by investigating their work and leisure activity, two significant axis of the life in later life. For this purpose, researchers and one assistant researcher visited house, senior citizen's center and health center, in order to have interviews with senior citizen above 65, who are currently working in the field. The summary of the research findings are as follows; First, the average size of the farm land which each senior citizen works on is $9,237.92m^2$ and they mostly work for economic reason. During farming season, they work on average 8.62 hour per day. As primary reasons for why farming work is difficult, "insufficient income" was picked. In fact, the average annual income senior citizens earn from farming is about 15.4 million won. 49.1% of sample senior citizens work both on watered farm and farm, and they are engaged in farming 48.82 years on average, showing that most of their lives have been spent on farming. In spite of these difficulties, most senior citizens showed high intention to continue farming work further. Second, senior citizens turn out to spend their leisure time mostly on public leisure activities such as watching TV, hearing radio and gatherings with families, relatives. However, individual activities such as meditation, yoga, drawing and calligraphy turn out to be low because they require foundations to enjoy. Third, senior citizen in rural areas were divided into four groups by farm work and leisure activity: group separated from work and leisure activity(27.09%), group centered to leisure activity(24.42%), group centered to work(23.75%), and group integrated work and leisure activity(23.75%). Fourth, the groups were different depending on demographic characteristics. Namely, male senior citizen, higher educational level, living in elderly couple households, and satisfied with their economic level belonged to the group integrated work and leisure activity. But senior citizen aged above 65 years old and working for their livelihood belonged to the group centered to work, and most of female and senior citizen aged above 80 years old belonged to the group separated from work and leisure activity. Finally, as the result of analysis of differences in life satisfaction according to farm work and leisure activity of senior citizen in rural areas, the group integrated work and leisure activity, and group centered to leisure activity were higher in life satisfaction than the group separated from work and leisure activity, and group centered to work. The above result indicates that life satisfaction of senior citizen depends upon leisure activity rather than work.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the relationships of the several socioeconomic position indicators with the mortality risk in a representative longitudinal study of South Korea. Methods : The 1998 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted on a cross-sectional probability sample of South Korean households, and it contained unique 13-digit personal identification numbers that were linked to the data on mortality from the National Statistical Office of Korea. Of 5,607 males and females, 264 died between 1999 and 2003. Cox's regression was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of mortality. Results: Socioeconomic differences in mortality were observed after adjustments were made for gender and age. Compared with those people having college or higher education, those people without any formal education had a greater mortality risk (RR=2.21, 95% CI=1.12-4.40). The mortality risk among manual workers was significantly greater than that for the non-manual workers (RR=2.73, 95% CI=1.47-5.06). A non-standard employment status was also associated with an increase in mortality: temporary or daily workers had a greater mortality risk than did the full-time workers (RR=3.01, 95% CI=1.50-6.03). The mortality risk for the low occupational class was 3.06 times greater than that of the high and middle occupational classes (95% CI=1.75-5.36). In addition, graded mortality differences according to equivalized monthly household income were found. A reduction of monthly household income by 500 thousand Korean Won (about 400 US dollars) was related with a 20% excess risk of mortality. Self-reported poor living standards were also associated with an increased risk of mortality. Those without health insurance had a 3.63 times greater risk of mortality than the insured (95% CI=1.61-8.19). Conclusions: This study showed the socioeconomic differentials in mortality in a national longitudinal study of South Korea. The existence of socioeconomic mortality inequalities requires increased social discussion on social policies in Korean society. Furthermore, the mechanisms for the socioeconomic inequalities of mortality need to be explored in future studies.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.19-32
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• 2014

This study evaluated economic value recognized by the residents for the pleasant urban park management using contingent valuation method(CVM) to APEC Memorial Park in Pusan in terms of private fund development for the management of the city park. As a result, the estimated amount payable by each household for the management of APEC Memorial Park in Busan was between 5,673 won and 8,358 won. If such amount is expanded to households in park hosting area, it was 2.2~2.3 times of the park management budget in 2012, which demonstrates the willingness to pay (WTP) of residents for pleasant park was higher than the management budget. Social factors of respondents affecting WTP for city park management operation included age, educational level and income level. Those with high age and high education level had higher WTP. And, WTP was much affected by the use of park and recognition of residents. In particular, those with high frequency in the use of parks had higher WTP, and the users with more than once per week had 1.1 times higher WTP than overall WTP. Then, the satisfaction of park rather than recognition of necessity of park had led to higher WTP. Accordingly, it is necessary to manage park facility management and use program operation to enhance park satisfaction and it is also required to develop a park culture distribution policy to link such recognition to donation.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.37-44
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• 2012

In this paper, we investigate several factors that affect the locational decision of discount stores by using previous studies on the marketing area and the location of commercial facilities. We selected 21 primary variables that are expected to influence the decision of store location and, by factor analysis, grouped them into five underlying factors. Among these, the demographic factor, which shows the potential purchasing power level, had the greatest impact on the locational decision for the store. However, we found individual stores positioned according to unique locational characteristics in addition to the demographic factor. It means that we have to additionally consider if the vicinity of the market is based on any physical properties. Many previous studies proposed four decision factors for store location: the economic factor, the demographic factor, the land utilization factor, and traffic factor. However, the fivefold factors-our distinctive contribution-are more concrete and persuasive according to Korean reality. We show that location preference is based on the following criteria: (1) the area is densely populated, (2) houses stand close together, (3) residents have a high income level, (4) road traffic is developed and easy to access, and (5) public transportation is well developed. The demographic factor has the greatest impact on the location of a discount store. The number of households has a greater relevance to the demographic factor than does the individual consumer. Second, discount stores relatively prefer places where houses are located close together because such places offer easy access to the market. Third, a place whose residents have a high income level will be preferred, with its large cars and excellent traffic conditions. Fourth, a location would be highly rated if the roads around commercial facilities are well developed and their accessibility is good. Finally, discount stores must be located close to bus stops because female consumers, including housewives-the most important customers-evaluate stores based on distance. In this research, the variable of consumer attitude and preference was excluded, and the location factors of discount stores were analyzed according to a microscopic view through physical spatial data. In the future, the opening of new discount stores based on the five factors indicated above will require a comparatively shorter time from the first project feasibility analysis. In addition, the result of our study can be applied to the field of public policy for constructing and attracting large-scale distribution facilities.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.143-160
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to empirically verify the difference between traditional gender role attitude and realistic dual earner attitude. Most preceding studies analyzed gender role attitude by summated rating scale while few studies have been conducted on the difference between traditional gender role attitude and dual earner attitude. Method: By using the 9th Korea Welfare Panel Data (year 2014), this study extracted households of married couples and with children in working age (18 through 64 years of age) who are the main subjects in work-family relationship. First, this study classified traditional group and modern group in their gender role attitude and passive group and active group in their dual earner attitude and by crossing these attitudes, drew out 4 gender role/dual earner attitudes. For analysis, this study investigated frequency of attitude types through descriptive statistics. By conducting ANOVA, study verified if there are significant differences in the satisfaction with family relationship depending on the types of gender role/dual earner attitudes. Lastly, study examined the effect of socio-economic status and demographic characteristics on the types of gender role/dual earner attitudes by conducting multi-nominal logistic regression analysis. Results: As the result of analysis, first, half of respondents belonged to 'equal-role-oriented type' who has modern gender role attitude and active dual earner attitude. However, there were not a few 'dual-earner-avoiding type' who has modern gender role attitude but passive dual earner attitude and 'incongruous attitude type' who has traditional gender role attitude but active dual earner attitude. Next, 'incongruous attitude type' had significantly low level of satisfaction with overall family life, relationship with spouse and relationship with children than other attitude types. Lastly, those whose incomes belong to poor strata, those who are high school graduates and lower, males and those who are over the age of 60 had significantly higher probability of belonging to 'incongruous attitude type.' Conclusion: The results of analysis demonstrate that the difference between gender role attitude and dual earner attitude is an important matter and since 'incongruous attitude type' exhibits low level of satisfaction with family relationship, scrupulous policy approaches are required for those who have high possibility of belonging to 'incongruous attitude type.'

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.141-155
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to identified the relationship between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, subjective health, and health-related quality of life among the middle-aged and elderly population in Korea. Methods: Adults aged 40 or older were extracted from the total 22,559 respondents to the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VIII, and secondary analysis was conducted on a total of 6,659 middle-aged and elderly people with no missing values. Logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea risk factors and subjective health as well as quality of life. Results: The subjective health status decline in the high-risk group compared to the non-risk group for obstructive sleep apnea was statistically significantly higher, with an odds ratio of 1.84 (p<0.001). The health-related quality of life was also statistically significantly lower by 0.02 points (β, -0.02; p<0.001). As a result of subgroup analysis on specific variables, the association between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and subjective health and health-related quality of life was statistically significant depending on gender, sleep time, presence of depression, household income, and number of household members. Based on the obstructive sleep apnea risk group, women had a higher correlation with low subjective health and lower health-related quality of life scores than men. Sleeping time of more than 8 hours or less than 6 hours was more associated with low subjective health and lower health-related quality of life score than sleeping time of 6-8 hours. Patients with depression were more likely to have low subjective health than those without depression. The lower the household income level and the smaller the number of household members, the higher the association with low subjective health and the lower the health-related quality of life score. Conclusion: It is essential to recognize that the risk of obstructive sleep apnea not only directly affects sleep disorders but also impacts individuals' subjective health and quality of life. Consequently, social support and education should be provided to raise awareness of this issue. Particularly, programs for preventing and managing obstructive sleep apnea should target vulnerable groups such as women, individuals in single-person households, low household income, and those with depression, aiming to improve their subjective health and quality of life.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7853-7857
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• 2015

Background: Mortality from breast cancer is high in low- and middle-income countries, in part because most patients have advanced stage disease when first diagnosed. Case-finding may be one approach to changing this situation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a pilot study to explore the feasibility of population-based case finding for breast cancer by community health workers (CHWs) using different data collection methods and approaches to management of women found to have breast abnormalities. After training 8 CHWs in breast problem recognition, manual paper data collection and operation of a cell-phone software platform for reporting demographic, history and physical finding information, these CHWs visited 3150 women >age 18 and over they could find-- from 2356 households in 8 villages in rural Bangladesh. By 4 random assignments of villages, data were collected manually (Group 1), or with the cell-phone program alone (Group 2) or with management algorithms (Groups 3 and 4), and women adjudged to have a serious breast problem were shown a motivational video (Group 3), or navigated/accompanied to a breast problem center for evaluation (Group 4). Results: Only three visited women refused evaluation. The manual data acquisition group (1) had missing data in 80% of cases, and took an average of 5 minutes longer to acquire, versus no missing data in the cell phone-reporting groups (2,3 and 4). One woman was identified with stage III breast cancer, and was appropriately treated. Conclusions: Among very poor rural Bangladeshi women, there was very limited reluctance to undergo breast evaluation. The estimated rarity of clinical breast cancer is supported by these population-based findings. The feasibility and efficient use of mobile technology in this setting is supported. Successor studies may most appropriately be trials focusing on improving the suggested benefits of motivation and navigation, on increasing the numbers of cases found, and on stage of disease at diagnosis as the primary endpoint.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.3
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• pp.426-433
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• 2012

This study was carried out for preliminary feasibility review to consult forest farmer, to make policy and to search improvement for Ligularia fischeri forest farm. The survey for eight Ligularia fischeri forest farmer in Inje-gun was conducted. And the case study was conducted with computing labor input, gross margin, net margin in each planting stages, which is contented each cultivating stage from creating to harvesting. B/C ratio, Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return were used for profitability analysis. The results applied 3% of discount rate showed IRR 48.6%, B/C ratio 1.5 and NPV 41 million KRW, which means high profitability. Forest farming is early step in Korean forestry so that standard methods of cultivation for that haven't established yet, and differences among farmers in productivity are being. Establishing organized methods of cultivation in each stages and being political supports are essential for income generation to forest households, supply of safe food and rest place for urbanity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2014

This study was conducted to develop a Han-sik database as well as to assess the effects of Han-sik on dietary quality among Koreans. The Han-sik database was developed by a focus group composed of food and nutrition specialists considering the results of Han-sik perception surveys conducted in previous studies for frequently consumed dishes. Among the 1,322 dish items identified in the $4^{th}$ (2007-2009) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 973 items (73.6%) were classified as Han-sik. Han-sik usage was defined as the percentage of Han-sik items of all individually consumed dish items in the dietary data of 22,113 subjects who participated in a 24-hour diet recall in the $4^{th}$ (2007-2009) KNHANES. Dietary quality was evaluated based on adherence to the Korean Food Guidance System (KFGS), which was calculated as the percentage of the number of servings consumed in each food group out of recommended servings according to age and sex. Mean usage of Han-sik was 80.1% and was higher in older age groups, rural areas, as well as in households at the lowest income level. Han-sik usage was also higher on weekdays as well as for breakfast. Adherence to the KFGS was significantly higher for grains, meat fish egg beans, vegetables, and fruits (p<0.001) but lower for milk dairy products and oils fats sugars (p<0.001) across the quartiles of Han-sik usage. The results of this study indicate that Han-sik usage is high among Koreans. Further studies are needed to update the Han-sik database as well as investigate the association between health-related factors and Han-sik use.