• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.547-552
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• 2013

To investigate patient, cancer and treatment characteristics in females with breast cancer from more remote areas of Australia, to better understand reasons for their poorer outcomes, bi-variable and multivariable analyses were undertaken using the National Breast Cancer Audit database of the Society of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand. Results indicated that patients from more remote areas were more likely to be of lower socio-economic status and be treated in earlier diagnostic epochs and at inner regional and remote rather than major city centres. They were also more likely to be treated by low case load surgeons, although this finding was only of marginal statistical significance in multivariable analysis (p=0.074). Patients from more remote areas were less likely than those from major cities to be treated by breast conserving surgery, as opposed to mastectomy, and less likely to have adjuvant radiotherapy when having breast conserving surgery. They had a higher rate of adjuvant chemotherapy. Further monitoring will be important to determine whether breast conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy utilization increase in rural patients following the introduction of regional cancer centres recently funded to improve service access in these areas.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2018

Objectives: To explore alcohol perceptions and their association hazardous alcohol use in the populations of Alberta, Canada and Queensland, Australia. Methods: Data from 2500 participants of the 2013 Alberta Survey and the 2013 Queensland Social Survey was analyzed. Regression analyses were used to explore the association between alcohol perceptions and its association with hazardous alcohol use. Results: Greater hazardous alcohol use was found in Queenslanders than Albertans (p<0.001). Overall, people with hazardous alcohol were less likely to believe that alcohol use contributes to health problems (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 0.78; p<0.01) and to a higher risk of injuries (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.90; p<0.05). Albertans with hazardous alcohol use were less likely to believe that alcohol contributes to health problems (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.92; p<0.05) and were also less likely to choose a highly effective strategy as the best way for the government to reduce alcohol problems (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.91; p=0.01). Queenslanders with hazardous alcohol use were less likely to believe that alcohol was a major contributor to injury (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.77; p<0.01). Conclusions: Our results suggest that people with hazardous alcohol use tend to underestimate the negative effect of alcohol consumption on health and its contribution to injuries. In addition, Albertans with hazardous alcohol use were less in favor of strategies considered highly effective to reduce alcohol harm, probably because they perceive them as a potential threat to their own alcohol consumption. These findings represent valuable sources of information for local health authorities and policymakers when designing suitable strategies to target alcohol-related problems.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1111-1113
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• 2012

The ER-/PR+ breast tumor may be the result of a false ER negative result. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in patient and tumor characteristics of the ER-/PR+ phenotype in an Asian setting. A total of 2629 breast cancer patients were categorized on the basis of their age, ethnicity, tumor hormonal receptor phenotype, grade and histological type. There were 1230 (46.8%) ER+/PR+, 306 (11.6%) ER+/PR-, 122 (4.6%) ER-/PR+ and 972 (37%) ER-/PR-. ER-/PR+ tumors were 2.5 times more likely to be younger than 50 years at diagnosis (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.72-3.67). Compared to ER+/PR+ tumors, the ER-/PR+ phenotype was twice more likely to be associated with grade 3 tumors (OR:2.02; 95%CI: 1.00-4.10). In contrast, compared to ER-/PR- tumors, the ER-/PR+ phenotype was 90% less likely to be associated with a grade 3 tumor (OR: 0.12; 95%CI:0.05-0.26), and more likely to have invasive lobular than invasive ductal histology (OR: 3.66; 95%CI: 1.47-9.11). These results show that the ER-/PR+ phenotype occurs in a younger age group and is associated with intermediate histopathological characteristics compared to ER+/PR+ and ER-/PR- tumors. This may imply that it is a distinct entity and not a technical artifact.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2945-2950
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• 2014

Background: This study compared risk factors for depression and suicidal ideas among cancer patients for comparison with the general population, and identified influencing factors. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from 2,472 cancer patients in the National Cancer Center and nine Regional Cancer Centers and frequency-matched data for age and sex from 2,349 members of the general population who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2008. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors affecting depression and suicidal ideas. Results: Cancer patients were not likely to have more depression (OR=0.96, 95%CI=0.79-1.18) and were less likely to have suicidal ideas (OR=0.64, 95%CI=0.53-0.79) compared to the general population. Female sex, more stress, and lower quality of life were influencing factors. The additional risk factors for suicidal ideas among cancer patients included income (OR=0.62, 95%CI=0.43-0.91), smoking (OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.06-2.50), recurrence (OR=1.50, 95%CI=1.15-1.95), and chemotherapy (OR=1.66, 95%CI=1.26-2.19). Conclusions: No differences appeared in depression rates between cancer patients and the general population, and cancer patients were less likely to have suicidal ideas. However, cancer patients were likely to have more risk factors than the general population, and those classified as being at high risk of suicide should receive distress management and social economic support, from early in the treatment process.

• Architectural research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2002

In order to examine theoretical underpinnings of preference for built forms, 129 subjects are asked to rate a series of 9 slides of residential houses depicting a wide range of architectural styles on a 5 point scale, for coherence, complexity, excitement, familiarity, and natural harmony, respectively. Based on Lee's (2002a, 2002b) two previous studies addressing the issue of aesthetic beauty evaluation for man-made creatures (e.g., residential housing scenes), this study summarizes several meaningful findings. As reported by all the subjects, first, both "desire to visit" and "desire to live in" turned out to be a good predictor of preference as the two measures are highly correlated in statistically significant levels (99.9%). People who desire to visit a spot are more likely to desire to live in it. Second, Pearson's correlations showed that coherence is the opposite end of complexity. The more likely a housing setting is hanging together, the less likely it looks to be complex. Overall, though, it is not clear that the two variables work directly in that way, as weighted on preference ratings. That is, coherence and complexity are likely to be totally two independent systems that affect the ratings of preference. Third, both excitement and environmental sensitivity (e.g., harmony of a house with its surrounding nature) most highly account for the preference for various housing scenes, while familiarity has only a little effect on preference ratings. Possibly, people like or dislike a visual thing, no matter how much they are familiar with it. Finally, this study suggested that design professionals could communicate effectively with their clients if sets of visual standards as an appropriate communication tool for better design are properly established.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Folic acid supplementation before pregnancy is known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. The purposes of this study were to investigate the awareness, knowledge, and use of folic acid supplements along with their associated factors among non-pregnant Korean women of childbearing age. SUBJECTS/METHODS: From August 2012 to March 2013, 704 women aged 19-45 years completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding their awareness, knowledge, and use of folic acid as well as questions to identify risk of inadequate folate intake. RESULTS: Approximately 67% of women reported that they had heard of folic acid, and 23.7% had knowledge of both the role of folic acid in preventing birth defects and appropriate time for taking folic acid supplements to prevent birth defects. However, only 9.4% of women took folic acid supplements at the time of the survey. Women aged 19-24 years, unmarried women, and women who had never been pregnant were less likely to be aware and knowledgeable of folic acid or take folic acid supplements. In addition, women at high risk of inadequate folate intake were less likely to take folic acid supplements. In a multivariate analysis, women aged 19-24 years, women with a high school diploma or lower education level, and unmarried women were less likely to be aware and have knowledge of folic acid. The percentage of women taking folic acid supplements was significantly higher among knowledgeable women than among unknowledgeable women. CONCLUSIONS: These results support our hypothesis that women with knowledge of folic acid are more likely to take folic acid supplements. Therefore, educational programs or campaigns to improve knowledge regarding the importance of folic acid and to promote consumption of folic acid supplements as well as folate-rich foods are needed to target young, less educated, and unmarried women.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

The purpose of this research is to find out the differences of participation in common activities and life satisfaction of Swedish senior cohousing residents between the years of 2001 and 2010 by conducting a longitudinal study. The same questionnaire were surveyed nationwide to 186 residents of 8 Senior $G{\aa}rden$ cohousings in 2001 and 127 residents of 4 +40 cohousings in 2010, resulting in total 313 respondents' data. The results show that the +40 cohousing respondents are more likely than Senior $G{\aa}rden$ cohousing respondents to participate in all common activities, especially common meals and common coffee meetings. However, the subjective evaluation of the quantity as well as the contents of participating in common activities does not statistically differ in the two groups and life satisfaction is similarly high with a few differences. The +40 cohousing respondents are less likely to stay at and more likely to move into age-mixed cohousing if they have a chance to move when compared to their Senior $G{\aa}rden$ cohousing counterparts. The result of this research reveals that the general characteristics of senior cohousing residents have been changed and they have become more likely to be active participants of various common activities and have high life satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.141-154
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine consumers' product experiences from the time when the consumer purchases a smart phone, through to the period of use, and to evaluate the product after a period of usage by comparing two groups of smart phone users of the two leading brands, Galaxy S and iPhone 4G. Product experiences were considered through the process of a consumer purchasing and using a product throughout the whole cycle of product consumption. Product experiences were compared between the two brand users according to their demographic backgrounds. The results indicated that iPhone 4G users were more likely to experience functional superiorities and emotional varieties than Galaxy S users. Especially, iPhone 4G users were more likely to experience enjoyment, aesthetics, enhanced self-images and good relationships with others through the smart phone than the Galaxy S users. Galaxy S users were more likely to identify a corporate's image as a superior feature, while iPhone 4G users were more likely to identify multi-functions and endless applications. This study implies that not only the product's functional superiorities but also the consumers' entire cycle of product experiences should be carefully examined and reflected in the development of successful new products in this competitive market.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.147-172
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the relative influences of variables that affect baby boomers' perceptions and preparations for later life planning. An age-group comparison was made to examine differences in later life planning within baby boomers. 814 respondents were selected from The National Survey of Korean Families undertaken by the Ministry of Equality and Family in 2010. They were devided into two groups according to the year of their birth, the former baby boomers was 397 respondents who was born from 1955 to 1959, and the latter baby boomers was 417 respondents who was born from 1960 to 1963. The major results of this study were as follows: First, the former baby boomers was less likely to prepare for later life, while was more likely to be aware of their later life planning than the latter baby boomers. Second, educational attainment and the number of children affected the level of perceptions and preparations for later life planning of the former baby boomers, whereas sex and region affected those of the latter baby boomers. Third, household income and subjective awareness of economic status were the major determinants of the preparation level for later life by both the former and the latter baby boomers. Fourth, former baby boomers who had greater awareness of the need to support their parents and their children were more likely to prepare for later life. Fifth, baby boomers' subjective awareness of their economic status chiefly explained the gap between their level of perceptions and their preparation for later life, with the former baby boomers with more children and single-earner households more likely to show a gap between their level of needs and their preparation for later life.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2017

Objectives: Although dietary supplements use in Korea has been rapidly increasing and women are more likely to take dietary supplements more than men, only a few studies have been conducted to investigate factors contributing to gender differences in dietary supplement use in the Korean population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of dietary supplement use and also identify gender-specific key factors that contribute to it using the data of the 4th KNHANES. Methods: Subjects were divided into user and non-user groups according to the answer given to the question that asked whether they had used any dietary supplement for more than 2 weeks on a regular basis during the previous year. Factors related to dietary supplement use were examined by general characteristics, health behavior and eating behavior. Results: Prevalence of dietary supplement use was 13.6% for men and 20.6% for women. Users were more likely to be middle-aged, have higher income and education, have a spouse, or reside in dong areas in both men and women. Regarding health behaviors, men with desirable lifestyle behavior were more likely to take dietary supplements, while men who smoked were less likely to take dietary supplements. Regarding disease history, both men and women with a current disease had higher odds of taking supplements. With regard to dietary behavior, frequent eating out and nutrition attitude were associated with higher odds of taking supplements in both men and in women. Conclusions: Health or dietary behavior related factors that were associated with taking supplements differed by gender. These findings can be useful for planning gender-specific dietary education and health programs.