• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Purpose: Terminal cancer influences on patients as well as their family members. This research was performed to evaluate the quality of lift of primary family caregivers and to investigate the influencing factors. Methods: The results of survey were collected from 81 family caregivers who were taking care of hospitalized terminal cancer patients at an oncology department of university hospital in Daejeon from March 2005 to January 2006 with questionnaires. The questionnaires were consisted of the general characteristics of the subjects, and 36-items short-form Health Survey (SE-36) Korean version to evaluate the quality of life of family caregivers, the characteristics of patients and family caregivers' caring trait. Results: Family caregivers' mean (${\pm}SD$) SF-36 score was 47.9 (${\pm}20.7$). Influential factors on family caregivers' life quality were daily raring hours, economic burden, type of treatment; only supportive care, caring duration, sex, the numbers of ADLs (activity of daily livings) items that patients needed help in order by stepwised multiple logistic regression analysis (overall $R^2=0.639$, P=0.044). Conclusion: Daily raring hours and economic burden were two influential modifiable factors on family caregivers' quality of life. Therefore, social supportive systems are required to reduce family caregivers' daily caring hour and economic burden.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the total white blood cell count (WBC) in predicting bacterial infections in febrile infants<6 months of age. Methods : A prospective study was performed with infants <6 months of age who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with a fever of uncertain source between July and September 2008. Spinal taps were performed according to clinical symptoms and physical examination. Serum PCT levels were measured using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Results : Seventy-one infants (mean age, 2.62 months) were studied. Twenty-six infants (36.6%) had urinary tract infections (UTIs), and 22 infants (31.0%) had viral meningitis. The remaining infants had acute pharyngitis (n=1), herpangina (n=1), upper respiratory tract infections (n=7), acute bronchiolitis (n=8), acute gastroenteritis (n=4), and bacteremia (n=2). The median WBC and CRP levels were significantly higher in infants with UTIs than in infants with viral meningitis. However, there were no differences in the median PCT levels between the groups (0.14 ng/mL vs. 0.11 ng/mL, P=0.419). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896) for WBC, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879) for CRP, and 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710) for PCT. An elevated WBC count (>11,920/${\mu}L$) and an increased CRP level (>1.06mg/dL) were significant predictors of UTIs based on multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : Serum PCT concentrations should be interpreted with caution in infants <6 months of age with a fever of uncertain source.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate follow up tests and related factors in students who tested positive for in urine tests. For the purpose of this study, the authors analysed a self-administered questionnaire collected from 316 middle school students and 451 high school students who had positive urinalysis results in Kyungpook province during the month of February, 1996. The major findings of this study were as follows : The proportion of follow up tests among students was 39.2% in middle school students and 34.1% in high school students. There was a significant relation among a number of factors : parents' environment, health concern, and knowledge of urinalysis results, existence of nursing teachers, education concerning urinalysis, medical facility visits, and notification methods. In a multiple logistic regression analysis a higher economic level, parents' concern, knowledge of urinalysis results, medical facility visits, anti direct notification of parents were all significantly related with the follow up tests. On consideration of the above findings, in order to perform practical and effective follow-up management of students who have a positive result in urine test, direct notification of urine test result to parents as well as active health guidance in school are required.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.392-396
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• 2010

Purpose : The association between iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsion in infants has been examined in several studies with conflicting results. Therefore, the authors aimed to evaluate the precise relationship involved. Methods : In this case-control study, the authors assessed 100 children with a diagnosis of febrile convulsion, aged between 9 months and 2 years, during January 2007 to July 2009. The control group consisted of 100 febrile children without convulsion; controls were closely matched to the cases by age, gender, and underlying disease. Results : The mean ages of the febrile convulsion and control group were $16.3{\pm}7.4$ and $15.8{\pm}6.1$ months, respectively, and the two groups had no differences in clinical features. Iron deficiency anemia (Hb <10.5 gm/dL) was more frequent in the febrile convulsion group than in the control group, although there was no statistical significance. Unexpectably, the RDW (red blood cell distribution width) was significantly lower and the MCNC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) was significantly higher among seizure cases than among the controls (P <0.05). There is no statistical difference between simple and complex febrile groups in the clinical and laboratory profiles. On multiple logistic regression analysis, iron deficiency anemia was more frequent, but the RDW was lower, among the cases with febrile convulsion, compared with the controls. Conclusions : Our study suggests that the iron deficiency anemia is associated with febrile convulsion, and screening for iron deficiency anemia should be considered in children with febrile convulsions.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was to evaluate the compliance of hypertensive patients and its related factors registered at Community Health Practitioner Post(CHCP). Methods: 304 patients were interviewed by trained nursing students during one month(June~July 2004). The questionnaire included general charactristics, knowledge of hypertension, health education experience, constructs of Health Belief Model, self efficacy and so on. Compliance group was defined "having regularly medication and good life style". Good life style included regular exercise, non-smoking, little alcohol, low salt diet, weight control. Results: In compliance group 90.3% of man and 93.3% of woman were regularly taking hypertensive medicine, and 45.2% of man and 56.4% of woman were having good life style (compliance group). In both man and woman, the group of higher education were more compliance group, but were statistically significant were in man(p<0.05). In woman, the compliance group have significantly higher score in knowledge of hypertension(p(0.05). The compliance group have significantly higher self-efficacy score in both man and woman (p<0.05). In Health Belief Model, susceptibility and benefit were statistically significant in man, seriousness, benefit and barrier in woman(p<0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis, education level and self efficacy in man and knowledge of hypertension, self-efficacy and benefit in woman were significant variables (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is very important to evaluate and modify life-style adding to having regularly medication in hypertensive patients registered at CHCP. To this, health education programs about benefit to compliance and the methods to improve self-efficacy should be developed for this patients.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-88
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• 2005

Objectives: This survey was intended to provide basic data which can be available as a baseline in the set up of dietary guidelines for assuring community-based self-support of the rural elderly, through investigation of the relationship of the various dietary consumptions with their ADL and IADL. Methods: The study subjects, 439 rural residents(male: 196, female:243) aged over 65 in Kumsan Kun and Chongyang Kun, Chungchongnamdo Province were interviewed, in June of 2004, about their sociodemographic characteristics, daily life styles, the variety of dietary consumption, ADL and IADL with the following major findings: Results: In terms of the scores' distribution to show variety of food consumption among all subjects, 68.3% got 1~3 points, 23.2% 4~6 points, and 8.4% 7~10 points with a decreasing proportion of subjects in higher points. In terms of their functional status, normal-range groups showed 93.2% of ADL and 72.9% of IADL whereas, impaired ADL group 6.8% of ADL and 27.1% of IADL, respectively. Concerning the relation of ADL and IADL with the variety of their consumed food, the greater scores for food variety was associated with the significantly higher proportion of normal ADL group and the lower proportion of impaired ADL group. Multiple logistic regression analysis with ADL and IADL as dependent variables, and food variety scores as explanatory variables, the relative risk of impaired-ADL group was 0.84 in the food variety group of 4~6 points, 0.63 in 7~10 points with no statistical significance. The relative risk of impaired- IADL group was 0.52(p<0.01) in the food variety group of 4~6 points, 0.41(p<0.05) in 7~10 points with statistical significance. Conclusions: These study results suggest that the lower dietary variety, the lower functional capacity of daily living, and the variety of dietary is associated with the functional capacity of daily living in rural elderly.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.133-147
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• 2000

To provide data for the improvement of primary health care through the study on the utilization rate of community health practitioner(CHP) post and its related factors toward some rural residents in Mooan County Chollanamdo, a questionnaire survey was made from 382 persons during August 1999. Comparison was made between persons at the seaside area under difficult transportation and persons at the railroad area under convenient transportation. The results are as follows: 1. For the last one year, 83.3% of seaside area residents and 67.0% of railroad area residents used CHP post. As the purpose of visit to CHP post at seaside area, 94.3% visited for medical care, 25.3% for chronic disease control and 22.2% for health counselling and 14.1% for chronic disease control. 2. By simple analysis, sex, age, marital status, educational level, residence area, distance from living village to CHP post, presence of chronic diseases, satisfaction with CHP and confidence on CHP were related significantly with the utilization of CHP post for the last one year. 3. By multiple logistic regression, statistically significant variables related with the utilization rate of CHP post for the last one year were analyzed as age, sex, residence area and distance from living village to CHP post.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.227-237
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the utilization and its determinants of rehabilitation services of people with disabilities in a rural area. Methods: From March 2 to April 1, 2011, we interviewed 101 disabled people with either physical disabilities or brain lesions. The subjects completed questionnaires about the utilization of rehabilitation services, general characteristics (age, sex, marital status, education level, economic status, health insurance, housing, and employment) and disability characteristics (type, level, comorbidity, reason for the occurrence of the disability, self-rated degree of disability, and daily life care giver). Frequency, Pearson's chi-square test, and a multiple logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: This study showed that 70.3% of the people in this rural area with disabilities were using rehabilitation services. The two most common reasons for not using the services were "doubt about the effectiveness of the service" and "no facilities nearby." The facilities that the disabled people were currently using, in the order of most used to least, were general hospitals or clinics, rehabilitation centers, oriental medicine clinics, and public health centers. Only 19.7% of those who received rehabilitation responded that they were satisfied with the service. Significant factors in the utilization of rehabilitation services were sex, employment, self-rated economic status, and the reason for the occurrence of the disability. Women, people who were currently working, people who were of middle or higher economic status, or people who had acquired a disability were significantly more likely to use the services. Conclusions: A large number of people with disabilities in a rural area use rehabilitation services at present, but accessibility and satisfaction were low. Quantitatively and qualitatively, rehabilitation services for disabled people in a rural area should be centered around Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR). Effective strategies, for example reaching those who have not used the rehabilitation services, will be needed to improve services in rural areas.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.88-102
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• 1998

Objectives : We attempted to study obstructive sleep apnea symptoms prevalence and sleep apnea-associated factors in Korean rural adult population. Methods : In 1,441 adult subjects of three rural communities selected by cluster sampling, we administered an epidemiologic survey using questionnaire methods from July 14, 1996 to July 28, 1996. Results : 1) In 14.1% of the subjects, snoring was reported to occur almost daily and 2.9% of the subjects reported sleep apnea symptoms occurring almost daily. 2) Snoring and sleep apnea symptoms were found more frequently in males or in mid-aged group(45 - 64 years old) than in females or in younger- and older-aged groups, respectively. Compared with the subjects who have no snoring, the subjects who have snoring or sleep apnea symptoms had greater body mass index(BMI), waist-hip ratio, hemoglobin level, RBC count, and higher diastolic blood pressure. 3) Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking more than once a week were significantly associated with suffering from sleep apnea symptoms. 4) In multiple logistic regression analysis, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were independently associated with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. Conclusion : We conclude that, in the Korean rural adult population, males or mid-aged group suffers more from snoring and sleep apnea symptoms than females or younger- and older-aged groups. In addition, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were significantly associated independently with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.4 s.51
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• pp.795-807
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• 1995

This study was carried out from 1993 to 1994 in the small industries in Incheon. The objectives of this study was in order to estimate the quitting rate, to identify its relating factors and to propose effective quitting management policy in the small industries. The results were as follows ; 1. The quitting rate of 266 study workers was 42.1%(112 workers). 2. Age, working duration, position, marrital status were significant difference between the quitting group and the non - quitting group. In the quitting group, mean age was young, working duration was short, general employees and unmarried workers were many compared with the non - quitting group. 3. In the industry characteristics, total assets, total assets, sales per person, establishment duration and occupational health and safely status were significant difference between the quitting group and the non - quitting group. In the quitting group, total assets, total sales and sales per person were little, establishment duration of company was short and occupational health and safety status were poor compared with the non - quitting group. 4. In the quitting group, worker's response to employer's disposal about health and safety was more passive and the relation to employer with employee was significantly poor compared with the non - quitting group. 5. Multiple logistic regression analysis of quitting against family income per person, working duration, relation to employer with employee, occupational health and safety status in industry, worker's response to employer's disposal about health and safety and sales per person was done. Working duration, occupational health and safety status, worker's response to employer'1 disposal about health and safety were significant explainatory variables for quitting. Above results showed that the quitting rate was high and it was significant difference between the quitting group and non : quitting group according to characteristics of workers and of industries. Especially, it suggested that working duration, occupational health and safety status and worker's response to employer's disposal about health and safety were significant quitting factor. Therefore, it should be reflected in the quitting management and the policy of steady employment.