• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Objectives: By the end of the 2000s, the economic situation in many European countries started to deteriorate, generating financial uncertainty, social insecurity and worse health status. The aim of the present study was to investigate how the recent financial crisis has affected the lifestyle health determinants and behaviours of older adults living in the Mediterranean islands. Methods: From 2005 to 2015, a population-based, multi-stage convenience sampling method was used to voluntarily enrol 2749 older adults (50% men) from 20 Mediterranean islands and the rural area of the Mani peninsula. Lifestyle status was evaluated as the cumulative score of four components (range, 0 to 6), that is, smoking habits, diet quality (MedDietScore), depression status (Geriatric Depression Scale) and physical activity. Results: Older Mediterranean people enrolled in the study from 2009 onwards showed social isolation and increased smoking, were more prone to depressive symptoms, and adopted less healthy dietary habits, as compared to their counterparts participating earlier in the study (p<0.05), irrespective of age, gender, several clinical characteristics, or socioeconomic status of the participants (an almost 50% adjusted increase in the lifestyle score from before 2009 to after 2009, p<0.001). Conclusions: A shift towards less healthy behaviours was noticeable after the economic crisis had commenced. Public health interventions should focus on older adults, particularly of lower socioeconomic levels, in order to effectively reduce the burden of cardiometabolic disease at the population level.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.443-451
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• 1999

Objective: To examine the relationship between hypertension prevalence and the four commonest anthropometric measurements for obesity(body mass index(BMI), wasit-hip ratio(WHR), waist circumference(WC) and body fat in Korean adults. Methods: We studied the cross-sectional association of the anthropometric indices and blood pressure in 1,197 individuals(who were participants in the population-based cohort study). Hypertension was defined as blood pressure $\geq160/95\;mmHg$ or current use of antihypertensive medication. Informations on life-style factors were obtained from personal interview. Results: There were close associations between BMI, WHR and WC with blood pressure in both men and women. After age adjustment, BMI and WC showed significantly positive correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in both men and women. Odds ratio(ORs) of being hypertensive were estimated comparing the highest to the lowest quantile, adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol intake levels, education attainment. The simultaneously adjusted ORs of being hypertensive, comparing the highest vs the lowest categories, was for BMI 2.0(95% confidence interval(CI)=0.9-3.2) in men and 3.2 (95% CI=1.7-6.1) in women, for WC 2.1(95% CI=1.0-4.4) in men and 3.1 (95% CI=1.6-5.9) in women, for fat(%) 4.2(95% CI=1.9-9.5) in men and 2.1(95% CI=1.2-3.6) in women. Conclusion: In addition to measures of overall obesity(BMI) as well as central obesity(WHR, WC), body fat(%) was independently associated with prevalence of hypertension. Among obesity indices, body fat was the most predictor variable in hypertensive state in male and BMI was in female.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.193-207
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• 2004

The aims of the study are as following : First, define and clarify the role and function of the dental hygienist. Second, based on thai definition, present an improved dental hygienist curriculum, improving their special competence. This study seeks to present a way for promoting role of dental hygienists as independent specialists, rather than as auxiliaries, contributing to better dental service in the process. The research was pursued by surveying by questionnaire those directly related to dental hygiene. They are 58 professors of dental hygiene, 164 dentists, 253 dental hygienists and 496 dental hygiene students, selected by the method of simple random sampling. Due to the small size of the sample, professors' group was analysed only through frequency and probabilities. For groups with larger samples(dentists, dental hygienists, dental hygiene students), methods of chi square(${\chi}^2$) tests, frequency analysis and one-way ANOVA were used in their analysis. Conclusions of the study are as following : First, role and function of the dental hygienist was defined and clarified. According to the analysis of the survey, main role of the dental hygienists as perceived by 62.9% of dentists was supporting treatments and managing patients and facility. This perception by dentists differs significantly to perception of other groups, which saw main role of dental hygienists as preventive dental treatment and dental hygiene education. Also, only 20.2% of dental hygienists perceived patients and facility management as their main role. This divergence of perception between groups weakens speciality competence of dental hygienists. To strengthen dental hygienists' speciality competence, preventive dental treatment and dental hygiene education must be defined as main role of dental hygienists. Furthermore, role of dental hygienists can be categorized into cooperative and auxiliary role. Second, in order to strengthen speciality competence of dental hygienists, their education must be augmented with curriculum emphasizing cooperative role. Specifically, courses on preventive dental treatment, dental hygiene education and dental X-ray photography must become compulsory, as well as becoming more comprehensive and organized. Also, training in schools and hospitals must be focused on those subjects. In addition, courses concerning auxiliary role must be incorporated into optional courses and more pedagogical courses are needed to widen students' career choices. Third, practical relevance of national dental hygienist certification examination must be heightened. In the survey, all groups gave negative response to questions concerning practical relevance of national dental hygienist certification test. Specifically, contents of the tests must be changed to test participants' competence in the cooperative area. Also, the test itself must be strengthened by adding practical examination to the certification scheme, as well as having more difficult examinations.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.256-259
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• 1998

The association of menarche and nutritional status was studied in 116 female students of the 6 th grade in a rural primary school. Participants were divided into two groups based on menarcheal status. The anthropometric data showed that mean heights and weights of menarcheal group on two occasions were significantly higher than those of the other group (p<0.01). Neither hemoglobin levels nor hematocrit values for determination of anemia were not associated with menarche. Twenty four hour dietary recall revealed that young females with menarche consumed less energy and Ca compared to the other group. Ca intake was 34.8% of RDA in menarcheal group. It might be suggested that effective intervention strategies need to be developed and include education programs for nutritional needs and food sources of Ca, targeting rural residents.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.109-120
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the implementation status of Health Promoting Schools (HPS) among elementary, middle and high schools and to identify characteristics of the schools that affect the implementation of HPS. Methods: A total of 703 teachers (male 32.2%, females 67.8%) from 70 elementary, middle and high schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi participated in the survey. A 60-item self-evaluation questionnaire was used to assess implementation status of HPS. Results: Implementation of HPS in elementary schools were more favorable than middle and high schools after controling for participants' characteristics, such as age, gender, and their duties at school (<0.001). Being a private school was associated with higher score on implementation of HPS in both elementary (${\beta}$=0.170) and middle/high schools (${\beta}$=0.275). However, being located in rural areas (${\beta}$=-0.409) and having larger number of students (${\beta}$=-0.521) were associated with lower score on implementation of HPS in middle/high schools. Conclusions: Middle and high schools, especially large public and/or rural schools, were less favorable in implementing HPS. Therefore, supporting those schools are necessary and developing evaluation and monitoring system for HPS implementation will contribute to promote students' health.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.51-61
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• 2009

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the percentage of body fat and bone mineral density (BMD). Methods: 886 students of the 4, 5, 6th grade were sampled from 6 elementary schools in Daejeon city from May to June 2005. Participants completed the questionnaire on socio-demographic factors, eating habits and physical activities, and had the measurements of body composition, BMD, height and weight. T-test, one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to compare body composition and BMD among groups defined by study factors. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the factors related with percentage of fat and BMD in each sex. Results: When adjusting age, height, weight and family income, the amount of food intake and regular exercise including the days of exercise per week and the daily exercise duration were significantly associated with percentage of fat in boys, but not in girls. When adjusting the same variables, regular exercise, the days of exercise per week and the daily exercise duration were positively associated with BMD in both sexes. Conclusion: Regular exercise with one or more days per week were the common factor to decrease percentage of fat and increase BMD in school children. This showed that regular exercise program could improve the body composition of school children.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.83-98
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• 2011

Objectives: This study aims to assess the stages of individual readiness to take the cancer screening test and to identify factors relating to the progress of their readiness to take the test. Methods: We analyzed the data acquired from our 'Cancer Screening Behavior among Korean Adults' Survey' in 2003. 1,057 participants' stages of readiness to take the cancer screening test were classified through the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM). Their knowledge, beliefs and other factors related to cancer screening were examined at each PAPM stage through the Health Belief Model (HBM), and the various PAPM stages were compared with each other to identify factors likely to determine progress between stages. Results: The distribution of the PAPM stages of readiness for cancer screening was as follows: 18.9% were unaware; 9.7% were unengaged; 29.8% were deciding to take the test; 1.5% decided not to take the test; 11.6% decided to take the test, while 28.6% had taken the test. The factors likely to determine progress from one to another stage were 'Knowledge', 'Perceived susceptibility', 'Perceived benefits', 'Perceived barriers' and 'Family member's experience of cancer screening'. Conclusions: This study can be used to develop health promotion programs that enhance cancer screening behavior in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권7호
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• pp.3529-3533
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• 2012

Objectives: To investigate the current prevalence and knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in rural Chinese women, and to explore the acceptance and feasibility of implementing a combined screening program in rural China. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among women aged 30 to 59 years old in Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province from 2009 to 2010. Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and RTIs, and the attitude toward single or combined screening were collected by an interview questionnaire. Each participant received a clinical examination of the cervix, breast and reproductive tract. Examinations included visual inspection, mammography, laboratory tests and pathological diagnosis. Results: A total of 1,530 women were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of cervical precancerous lesions, suspicious breast cancer, suspicious benign breast disease and RTIs was 1.4%, 0.2%, 14.0% and 54.3%, respectively. Cervicitis, trichomonas vaginitis, and bacterial vaginitis were the three most common RTIs among our participants. Television, radio broadcast, and public education during screening were the major source of healthcare knowledge in rural China. Moreover 99.7% of women expressed great interest in participating in a combined screening project. The affordable limit for combined screening project was only 50 RMB for more than half of the rural women. Conclusion: A combined screening program would be more effective and popular than single disease screening projects, while appropriate accompanied education and a co-pay model for its successful implementation need to be explored, especially in low-resource settings.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.62-71
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate North Korean refugees' knowledge of mental illnesses and treatments and analyze the factors affecting this knowledge. Methods: Subjects were selected via a snowball sampling method, and the survey outcomes of 152 North Korean refugee participants were analyzed. The factors affecting knowledge of mental illnesses were analyzed via a regression analysis by constructing a multivariate model with mental illness knowledge score as the dependent variable. Results: The North Korean refugees' mental illness scores ranged from 3 to 24 points, with an average score of 13.0. Regarding the factors that influence mental illness knowledge, the subjects with South Korean spouses and those who had spent more time in South Korea had higher knowledge scores. Furthermore, the subjects who considered the mental health of North Korean refugees to be a serious issue revealed lower knowledge scores than those who did not believe it was a serious issue. The subjects who visit psychiatric clinics showed higher knowledge scores than those who do not. The South Korean subjects who had at least a college education exhibited higher scores than did those without advanced education. The subjects who are satisfied with life in South Korea manifested a higher mental illness knowledge score than those who are not. Conclusions: This study is significant as being the first study to ever measure and evaluate the level of North Korean refugees' knowledge of mental illnesses. In addition, the evaluations of North Korean refugees' mental illness knowledge and influencing factors while residing in South Korea created basic data that formed the foundation of an effort to enhance mental health literacy and provide proper mental health services. The results of this study can be utilized to solve mental health problems that might frequently occur during the unification process of North and South Korea in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.57-69
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition and health-related behavior on quality of life in some adolescents. Methods: The subjects of this study were total 243 middle school students in Deagu, Korea. A self-administrated questionnaires were used to obtain general characteristic, health-related behaviors, nutrition status, and quality of life. The height and weight of participants were measured, then calculated body mass index(BMI). To assess an association between nutrition and health-related behavior and quality of life, an univariate and multivariate analysis were applied using PASW Statistics 18(SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA). Results: As the perceived general health and subjective happiness were better, there were a higher score for all subscales of quality of life. The adolescents, the highest of total intake of energy and overweight, were more likely to have lower quality of life score but there were no statistically significant. Factors related to the adolescents's quality of life were found to be gender, perceived general health, subjective happiness and physical activity. Conclusions: Various factors were related to quality of life in adolescents. To improved the quality of life in adolescent, it is need to develope a physical activity program and counseling of mental condition as well as adequate diet programs.