• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1483-1490
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• 2004

Community-based centres were surveyed to determine the frequency of and risk factors for falls among elderly Koreans. We examined fall-related risk factors, including physiological and physical health, psychosocial functions, self-reported physical capacity and activity, vision, and the use of medication, among 351 elderly people aged 65 years or older, with ambulatory. Forty-two per cent of elderly Korean subjects reported at least one episode of falling in the previous 12 months, $38\%$ of whom had consequences that required either the attention of a physician or hospitalization. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of falling were a restricted activity during the previous five years (adjusted OR 1.3), use of alternative therapy (adjusted OR 2.7), low knee flexor and extensor-muscle strength (adjusted OR 1.21 and 1.20), and poor balance with closed eyes (adjusted OR 8.32). We conclude that falls among older persons living in the community are common in Korea and that indicator of bad health and frailty or variables directly related to neuromuscular impairment are significant predictors of the risk of falling.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the socioeconomic factors, the psychosocial factors and the heath behavior factors that have an influence on abdominal obesity, as measured by using the waist circumference. Methods: Data was obtained from individuals aged above 20 years who had their waist circumference measured on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001, which was a cross-sectional health survey. Results: Regression analysis of the factors that affect abdominal obesity showed that the education level, income, smoking, duration of smoking, drinking consumption, frequency of exercises and sleeping were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. For men, the duration of smoking, education level, income and drinking consumption were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. For woman, the education level, income, duration of smoking, drinking consumption and frequency of exercise were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and it is associated with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Based on the findings, it is essential to modify heath behaviors for preventing abdominal obesity, which is a condition associated with the incidence of chronic disease.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2016

Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders (WMSD) are a significant issue in the health care sector. Allied Health professionals (AHP) in this sector are exposed to physical and psychosocial factors associated with increased risk of developing a WMSD. Clarification of relevant hazard and risk factors for AHP is needed to improve understanding and inform WMSD risk management. A systematic analysis of the literature was undertaken to determine prevalence and risk factors for WMSD in AHP. Databases of Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL (EBSCO), EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were reviewed. This quality of articles was low. Outcome measures were varied, with prevalence rates of WMSD reported from 28% to 96% over a one-year time period. The lower back was the most commonly affected body part. Relevant factors identified with the development of WMSD included inexperience in the role and area of employment. Future research needs to focus on undertaking high quality prospective studies to determine the factors associated with WMSD development in AHP.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.285-299
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• 2020

Purpose: This systematic review aims to identify factors associated with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO), including the uptake rate and decision timing, among women at high risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Methods: We found 4,935 relevant studies using MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO on July 6, 2020. Two authors screened the articles and extracted data. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality assessment of articles was conducted using the Risk of Bias for Nonrandomized Studies tool. Results: Five types of factors were identified (demographic factors, clinical factors, family history of cancer, psychological factors, and objective cancer risk). The specific significant factors were older age, having child(ren), being a BRCA1/2 carrier, mastectomy history, perceived risk for ovarian cancer, and perceived advantages of RRSO, whereas objective cancer risk was not significant. The uptake rate of RRSO was 23.4% to 87.2% (mean, 45.2%) among high-risk women for HBOC. The mean time to decide whether to undergo RRSO after BRCA testing was 4 to 34 months. Conclusion: RRSO decisions are affected by demographic, clinical, and psychological factors, rather than objective cancer risk. Nonetheless, women seeking RRSO should be offered information about objective cancer risk. Even though decision-making for RRSO is a complex and multifaceted process, the psychosocial factors that may influence decisions have not been comprehensively examined, including family attitudes toward RRSO, cultural norms, social values, and health care providers' attitudes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.858-870
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• 2001

Purpose: This study was to compare changes in health behaviors, motivational factors, cardiovascular risk factors, and functional status (SIP) after implementing the 6-month motivation-enhancing program to institutionalized elderly women. Methods: Sixty-four elderly women participated. Face to face interviews with blood sampling and anthropometric assessment were conducted at the pretest, 10 weeks and 6 months during the program. Results: 1. The program participants showed significantly better health behaviors over 6 months. The mean motivational level was also significantly improved, especially for perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and emotional salience. 2. The mean of cardiovascular risk factors for the participants was 21.8 at the level of low to moderate risk. After completing the program, total risk score was significantly decreased to 18.7 at 10 weeks, and further to 17.7 at 6 months. A significant reduction was also found in HDL and LDL-cholesterol levels, blood pressure, obesity, inactivity, and stress. 3. The functional status (SIP) was 11% at the baseline and significantly changed in positive direction at 10 weeks(M=9.3) and at 6 month(M=6.3). The significant improvement was also found in physical and psychosocial dimensions and sleep/rest dimension. Conclusion: The motivation enhancing program was effective to reduce cardiovascular risks and to improve the functional status of institutionalized elderly women by motivating them to perform better health behaviors.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.734-740
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of psychosocial stress and its related factors. The self-administered questionnaires were delivered to 514 high school students of both sexes in Daejon city during the period from April 1 to May 31, 2011. As a results, the degree of psychosocial stress of study subjects was 6.4% in healthy group, 72.4% in latent stress group, 21.2% in high risk stress group. The high risk stress group was significantly high in the group of worse relation with friend, lower satisfaction with the school life, none of siblings and lower satisfaction with the home life. The odds ratio of the high risk stress group significantly increased in the worse relation with friend, lower satisfaction with the school life, none of siblings and lower satisfaction with the home life than their respective counterparts. Multiple regression analysis showed that the major variables of influence on psychosocial stress included satisfaction of school life, friendship with the school fellow, number of siblings and satisfaction of home life.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.284-293
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• 2023

Background: Attitudes towards smoking, lung cancer screening, and perceived risk of lung cancer have not been widely studied in Malaysia. The primary objective of this study was to describe the factors affecting the willingness of high-risk current smokers and ex-smokers to undergo low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in current smokers or ex-smokers aged between 55 and 80 years at three hospitals in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The questionnaire recorded the following parameters: perceived lung cancer risk; Prostate Lung Colon Ovarian Cancer 2012 risk prediction model excluding race and ethnicity predictor (PLCO_m2012norace); demographic characteristics; psychosocial characteristics; and attitudes towards lung cancer and lung cancer screening. Results: A vast majority of the 95 respondents (94.7%) indicated their willingness to undergo screening. Stigma of lung cancer, low levels of knowledge about lung cancer symptoms, concerns about financial constraints, and a preference for traditional medication were still prevalent among the respondents, and they may represent potential barriers to lung cancer screening uptake. A desire to have an early diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 11.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53 to 84.05; p=0.02), perceived time constraints (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.32 to 11.73; p=0.01), and proximity of LDCT screening facilities (OR, 14.33; 95% CI, 1.84 to 111.4; p=0.01) had significantly higher odds of willingness to undergo screening. Conclusion: Although high-risk current smokers and ex-smokers are likely to undergo screening for lung cancer, several psychosocial barriers persist. The results of this study may guide the policymakers and clinicians regarding the need to improve lung cancer awareness in our population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5847-5852
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• 2015

Background: Smoking behavior is related to numerous factors, including psychosocial parameters. This study investigated the association between family context factors and smoking among male adolescents. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, school-based study was conducted during 2014. The study sampled 900 students from intermediate and secondary schools in Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. Data concerning smoking status, sociodemographic, parental and friends' smoking behavior, and family factors were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. These data were employed to estimate the prevalence of smoking using appropriate statistical analyses including multivariate logistic regression. Results: Of 900 students, 870 completed the study questionnaire (96.7%). Of the respondents, 181 students (20.8%, 95% CI=18.1%-23.5%) were current smokers, and a much higher prevalence was observed among adolescents with most or all of their friends smoking (48.1%) and those living with neither parent (47.4%). The adjusted risk of smoking increased significantly among adolescents who lived with neither parent (OR=3.3; 95% CI=1.1-9.2) and among those who reported little or no parental supervision (OR=1.5; 95% CI=1.0-2.1). Conclusions: Family context factors are associated with an increased risk of smoking behavior among male adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2023

This study analyzed the effect of workers' socio-psychological burden factors on musculoskeletal disorders. A survey was conducted targeting office and field workers in the Seoul metropolitan area. Analysis was performed using the results of 357 surveys out of 400 surveys. The analysis results were derived as follows. First, the socio-psychological burden factor did not show statistically significant results for musculoskeletal disorders. Second, it was found that job stress factors also had a positive effect on musculoskeletal disorders. Third, social psychological burden factors were found to be more positive than office workers than field workers. Fourth, there was a statistically significant correlation between job stress and musculoskeletal disease risk scores. From the above results, job stress factors affect musculoskeletal disease risk factors (work frequency, pain level, and duration) and the increase in musculoskeletal disorders and the number of accidents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major health burden worldwide, with over 600 million confirmed cases and 6 million deaths by 15 December 2022. Although the acute phase of COVID-19 management has been established, the long-term clinical course and complications due to the relatively short outbreak is yet to be assessed. The current COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant morbidity and mortality around the world. Interestingly, epidemiological studies have shown that fatality rates vary considerably across different countries, and men and elderly patients are at higher risk of developing severe diseases. There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 infection causes neurological deficits in a substantial proportion to patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. Furthermore, lack of physical activity and smoking are associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility. We should therefore explore why lack of physical activity, smoking, etc causing a population more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and mechanism involved. Thus, in this review article, we summarize epidemiological evidence related to risk factors and lifestyle that affect COVID-19 severity and the mechanism involved. These risk factors or lifestyle interventions include smoking, cardiovascular health, obesity, exercise, environmental pollution, psychosocial social stress, and diet.