• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1162-1167
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• 2018

Objective Motor, perceptual, and cognitive functions are known to affect driving competence. Subcortical ischemic changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reflect reduction in cognitive and motor performance. However, few studies have reported the relationship between subcortical ischemic changes and driving competence of the elderly. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the association between subcortical ischemic changes on MRI and driving abilities of the elderly. Methods Participants (n=540) were drawn from a nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based, longitudinal cohort. Each participant underwent MRI scan and interview for driving capacity categorized into 'now driving' and 'driving cessation (driven before, not driving now)'. Participants were divided into three groups (mild, n=389; moderate, n=116; and severe, n=35) depending on the degree of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on MRI at baseline. Driving status was evaluated at follow-up. Statistical analyses were conducted using ${\chi}^2$ test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), structured equation model (SEM), and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results In SEM, greater baseline degree of WMH was directly associated with driving cessation regardless of cognitive or motor dysfunction (${\beta}=-0.110$, p<0.001). In GEE models after controlling for age, sex, education, cognitive, and motor dysfunction, more severe change in the degree of WMH was associated with faster change from 'now driving' state to 'driving cessation' state over time in the elderly (${\beta}=-0.508$, p<0.001). Conclusion In both cross-sectional and longitudinal results, the degree of subcortical ischemic change on MRI might predict driving cessation in the elderly.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.32-40
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• 2024

Objectives The main aim was to quantify forward head posture using POM Checker®, a postural balance analyzer, among elementary school students. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate whether postural imbalance improved following three sessions of the school doctor program focused on body posture correction. Methods The program was conducted as part of the school doctor program in Korean Medicine, featuring lectures by a designated Korean Medicine doctor at an elementary school. The curriculum covered the importance of maintaining correct posture and included posture correction exercises. Pre- and post-program self-reported surveys were administered, alongside postural measurements taken over three months at one-month intervals. The survey included data on gender, grade, lifestyle habits, and awareness of correct posture. Result Out of 73 participating students, 63 underwent body balance measurements from the upper grades of one elementary school. Survey results revealed significant variations in daily sitting hours and weekly exercise levels. Attendance at lectures increased knowledge about correct posture. Initial measurements of forward head posture categorized 41.0% and 1.6% of participants into caution and risk groups, respectively. After the second measurement, the caution group representation decreased to 3.2%, and by the third measurement, only 1.6% of participants remained in the caution group. Conclusions Improvements in the angle and understanding of forward head posture among elementary school students were observed before and after the Korean Medicine school doctor program. However, posture improvement may be temporary, necessitating consistent follow-up management and monitoring.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the mediating effect of head nurses' emotional leadership as perceived by nurses in the relationship between nurses' job stress and job satisfaction. Methods: Study participants were 278 staff nurses currently working at two university hospitals in Busan, Korea. SPSS/WIN 21.0 program was used for data analysis to analyze descriptive statistics, t-test, correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. The significance level was set at p<.05. Results: Nurses' job satisfaction had a significant correlation with job stress (r=-.31, p<.001) and emotional leadership of nurse managers as perceived by nurses (r=.53, p<.001). Also, head nurses' emotional leadership experienced by nurses had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between nurses' job stress and job satisfaction. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the nurse managers' emotional leadership has an important influence on nurses' job stress and job satisfaction. Therefore, head nurses' emotional leadership is very important for effective human resource management and the hospital should offer education and training to booster head nurses' leadership by developing emotional intelligence to promote staff job satisfaction.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the present status of the work performance of the construction industry health managers and the developmental direction for the construction industry health management. Methods: The subjects of this study were 149 health managers working in the construction industry. Data of a total of 130 participants were analyzed by excluding the missing data among field workers. The contents of the survey were the characteristics of the workplace, the difficulties and requirements of health management, and the level of job performance. Results: The factors affecting measuring work environment task were age, number of workers, number of safety managers, and lack of support from the headquarters. The factors affecting managing work environment and physicochemical harmful factors were age, type of contract and conflicting business opinions. The factors affecting implementing health examination were age, type of contract, and number of safety managers. The factors affecting healthcare were age, type of contract, number of safety manager, presence of healthcare room, and conflicting business opinions. Conclusion: It is necessary to provide practical guidance and practical resources, and education for strengthening capacity. The support for business owners and managers support is needed.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.192-203
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• 2018

Alcohol consumption among soldiers impairs health status, performance, and increases the risks of injuries and violence. This study examined drinking behaviors, health problems, and violence among enlisted soldiers at Adisorn military unit in Saraburi, Thailand. Data collection using self-reported questionnaires were distributed to 256 enlisted male soldiers in May 2017. Participants were age 20-22 (93%), Buddhists (98%), high school education or lower (93%). They purchased alcohol at their own expense (46.5%). For alcohol consumption, all were lifetime drinkers (100%). The current drinking patterns were different 28.5% were current drinkers, 65.5% are currently abstaining from drinking (64.5%), and 6.6% stopped drinking permanently. The top three alcohol beverages were beer (52.3%), brandy (25.0%), and hard liquor (19.5%). Problems related to alcohol were from lost balance/falls (6.7%), illness (10.2%), driving under the influence (19.5%), and accidents (24.2%). Violence from drinking in the past month was from fighting (28.1%). This study is the first to provide information about alcohol-related problems in enlisted male soldiers. There is the need to offer straightforward advice, brief counseling, and refer soldiers to receive treatment to prevent alcohol-related problems. Online social media and web-based programs were recommended as platforms to provide preventive alcohol message to the enlisted.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.3-15
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of a convergent web-based educational program on cognitive function, depression, and dementia prevention behavior among elders living in the community. Method: Participants were 16 elders over 65 years of age (8 in the experimental group and 8 in the control group). The educational program was given twice a week for 9 weeks. Results: Cognitive function and dementia prevention behavior improved in the experimental group. Cognitive function and dementia prevention behavior were reduced in the control group compared to the results of the pre-inspection; however, no statistically significant difference was found. As homogeneity test was not conducted previously for the assessment of depression, the assessment was conducted based on covariates, Although no significant difference found between the two groups, depression level did increase in the control group. Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that the educational program prevented worsening of depression and was effective in reducing depression. For further assessment, it is necessary to conduct long-term research including a revision and supplementation of the contents and length of the program.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.467-474
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• 2023

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious public health issue that places a heavy financial, social, and health-related burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is extensively used for monitoring the general population's health conditions and measuring the effectiveness of interventions. Therefore, this study investigated HRQoL and associated factors among patients with type 2 DM at a primary healthcare center in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Klaten District, Central Java, Indonesia, from May 2019 to July 2019. In total, 260 patients with DM registered with National Health Insurance were interviewed. HRQoL was measured with the EuroQol Group's validated Bahasa Indonesia version of the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) with the Indonesian value set. Multivariate regression models were used to identify factors influencing HRQoL. Results: Data from 24 patients were excluded due to incomplete information. Most participants were men (60.6%), were aged above 50 years (91.5%), had less than a senior high school education (75.0%), and were unemployed (85.6%). The most frequent health problems were reported for the pain/discomfort dimension (64.0%) followed by anxiety (28.4%), mobility (17.8%), usual activities (10.6%), and self-care (6.8%). The average EuroQoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) index score was 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 0.88). In the multivariate ordinal regression model, a higher education level (coefficient, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.14) was a significant predictor of the EQ-5D-5L utility score. Conclusions: Patients with diabetes had poorer EQ-5D-5L utility values than the general population. DM patients experienced pain/discomfort and anxiety. There was a substantial positive relationship between education level and HRQoL.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.324-333
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the latent classes and predictors of chronic diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, arthritis, thyroid disease, depression, atopy, allergy, and diabetes. The subjects of this study were Korean citizens who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2014. Stratified cluster sampling method was used with a sample size of 7,550. Latent hierarchy analysis was applied to this data. Four classes were identified. Class 1 consisted of participants with hypertension and diabetes. Class 2 consisted of participants with atopy and allergies. Class 3 consisted of participants with dyslipidemia, arthritis, thyroid disease, and depression. Class 4 consisted of participants without any chronic diseases. In comparing Class 1 to Class 4, age, physical activity, self-management, obesity, and presence of high cholesterol were found to be significant. In comparing Class 2 to Class 4, gender, age, and education level were significant. When Class 3 was compared to Class 4, gender, age, pain and discomfort, as well as high cholesterol were found to be significant. Diabetes and hypertension should be treated as comorbid conditions, applying integrated treatments involving effective drug treatment, diet, and physical activity programs. Atopy was found to be strongly correlated with allergies. Thyroid disease was found to coexist with dyslipidemia and arthritis, along with having a strong correlation to depression. Age-appropriate preventive measures can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.4 s.51
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• pp.911-923
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• 1995

With increased use of neurotoxic agents in manufacturing industries, hazardous effects of neurotoxic agents pose significant problems in protecting health of workers who work in these industries. A normal range of neurobehavioral performance is required to study hazardous effects of neurotoxic agents among workers. However, such reference for Korean population is not available yet. The objective of this study is to estimate a normal range of neurobehavioral test performance of female workers in Korea. Data for neurobehavioral test performance developed by the World Health Organization were obtained from 165 female workers. Study subjects, 140 production workers and 25 clerks, who voluntarily participated in this study were not occupationally exposed to neurotoxic agents. The mean age and the mean education years of them were 32 years and 10.9 years, respectively Santa Ana dexterity, pursuit aiming, digit symbol, simple reaction time, and Benton visual retention tests among the Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery(NCTB) were included in the evaluation. Subjects were interviewed by a trained interviewer for their detailed occupational history $Mean({\pm}SD)$ performance of the participants were: $45.7{\pm}7.1\;and\;41.9{\pm}6.4$ in the Santa Ana dexterity test of the preferred and non-preferred hands; $45.7{\pm}7.1\;and\;41.9{\pm}6.4$ in correct dot of the pursuit aiming test; $57.7{\pm}16.0$ in the digit symbol test; $274.8{\pm}44.6$ msec in the mean simple reaction time and $70.5{\pm}69.0$ msec in the mean standard deviation of it; and $7.8{\pm}1.7$ in the Benton visual retention test. Most neurobehavioral performance scores were correlated significantly with age and educational level. Educational level was found to be a significant independent variable which was associated with all test scores. Age was significantly associated with scores of pursuit aiming and digit symbol tests.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.11-27
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a tailored program based on the Transtheoretical Model to smoking cessation in high school girls. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. The participants were 35 industrial high school girls who have been smoking. The girls were allocated to an experimental group(18) and a control group(17) by randomization. For intervention, the experimental group received the group smoking cessation program and individual program which tailored according to the stage of change. A common group smoking cessation program was given to the control group. Data were collected before the program, immediately after and 4 weeks after the program was completed and were analyzed with repeated measure ANOVA. Result: In the experimental group, the daily smoking amount, nicotine dependency and decisional balance(Pros) score were significantly decreased and the self-efficacy score were significantly increased at one month after the intervention in comparison with before and immediately after it. The decisional balance(Cons) and processes of change score of the experimental group were significantly increased at immediately after the intervention and one month after it in comparison with before it, and at one month after it in comparison with immediately after it. A significant difference in the daily smoking amount, urine cotinine, nicotine dependency, decisional balance(Pros, Cons) and processes of change score between the both groups was found after one month of intervention. Conclusions: The tailored smoking cessation program was more effective, compared to the common smoking cessation program on smoking behavior, self-efficacy, decisional balance, processes of change. This program can be used for favorable changes in high school girl's smoking behavior.