• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.183-198
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of clinical nutrition services provided at tertiary hospitals and general hospitals in Korea. In total, 157 questionnaires were distributed to the departments of nutrition at hospitals on September 2013. The results of this study are as follows. The median number of beds was 607 and average length of stay was 8 days. 63.1% of dietitians had over 5 years of career experience. Nutritional screening rate was 97% in tertiary hospitals but only 67.2% in general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of equipment with computerized nutritional screening system was 100% in tertiary hospitals but 71.9% in general hospitals (P<0.001). Hospitals with the best regarding nutritional care were hospitals accredited by JCI (Joint Commission International). On the other hand, hospitals not accredited by the JCI but KOIHA (Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation) showed the lowest performance rate of nutritional care. Nutrition support teams (NSTs) were established in all tertiary hospitals but in only 73% of general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of actively operating NSTs was 89% in tertiary hospitals but only 62% in general hospitals (P<0.001). There is a need to provide proper standardized clinical nutrition services as a primary treatment and we observed large variations in the quality of nutritional service between hospitals. Therefore, local solutions are needed to implement nutritional programs and policies for improved service and care.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.79-88
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• 2023

Objective : This study was to apply a cognitive rehabilitation group program based on sensory activity in patients with dementia living in a facility and to check its effectiveness on cognitive function, depression, and quality of life (QOL). Methods : Sensory-based cognitive rehabilitation group programs (20 sessions) were conducted for eight elderly with dementia over the age of 65 living in a nursing facility located in H-gun, Gangwon-do. The participants' cognitive function, depression level, and QOL were evaluated before and after the program. Results : The mean of Mini-Mental State Examination-Dementia Screening increased; however, there was no statistically significant difference. In contrast, the mean post-test score of the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire decreased, and there was a statistically significant difference (p < .05). The mean post-evaluation score of Short Geriatric Depression Scale measured to confirm the decrease in depression compared to the pre-evaluation score, but there was no statistically significant difference. Finally, the mean post-evaluation score of the World Health Organization QOL assessment instrument-Brief confirmed the change in the QOL, and there was a statistically significant difference (p < .001). Conclusion : This study will provide the basis for suggesting the usefulness of developing a sensory activity-based cognitive rehabilitation group program for dementia patients living in facilities.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.574-583
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• 2023

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most prevalent and fatal cancers worldwide. National cancer screening programs in countries with high incidences of this disease provide medical aid beneficiaries with free-of-charge screening involving upper endoscopy to detect early-stage GC. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruptions to routine healthcare access. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis, overall incidence, and stage distribution of GC. Materials and Methods: We identified patients in our hospital cancer registry who were diagnosed with GC between January 2018 and December 2021 and compared the cancer stage at diagnosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age and sex. The years 2018 and 2019 were defined as the "before COVID" period, and the years 2020 and 2021 as the "during COVID" period. Results: Overall, 10,875 patients were evaluated; 6,535 and 4,340 patients were diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 period, respectively. The number of diagnoses was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (189 patients/month vs. 264 patients/month) than before it. Notably, the proportion of patients with stages 3 or 4 GC in 2021 was higher among men and patients aged ≥40 years. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of GC diagnoses decreased significantly in a single institute. Moreover, GCs were in more advanced stages at the time of diagnosis. Further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the delay in the detection of GC worldwide.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.296-310
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• 2000

During the past 10 years, concern for community people's health has increased together with the changes. Public health policies and studies for community people's health, however, have influenced those in childmaternal health care to want more general coverage and studies of health and wellness. Particularly, the study of community people's health in the extent an island area is almost rare as that personal and the material benefits in this area are lacking of community people's work is large, and the basic elements of living, such as diet and elimination, are irregular due to the schedule of the tide. Thus, there are many potential health problems. In this regard, the study attempted to understand the health problems of island community people and to provide a basis for developing health promotion and health education programs. In collecting data for the study, face to face interviews were made through a structured questionnaire from October 1 to December 30, 1996. Collected data were analyzed with the SAS statistics program, descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. Subjects' health status was examined by classifying into such categories as their health perception, complaints of health problem, related lifestyle, psychosocial health staus, the result of examination is as follows; 1. For subjects' health perception, 26.9% of the subject answered not sick, but not so healthy'; 30.9% thought they were healthy, while 22.9% answered that they were not healthy. 2. For the health problem complaints many complained of pains in their muscles and skeletal system, especially knee joint pain. Women's health problems related with breast and the reproductive system included 52.3% of cases doing breast self examination, while 56.55% received the cervical cancer screening test. In men's health problems, 44.2% of subjects answered that they have moderate to severe BPH(Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy) symptom. 3. There were statistically a significant difference in the degree of physical health according to marital status(p=0.0028), occupation(p=0.0442), income(p=0.0357). 4. For stress status, 17.2% was to need the intervention, 50.2% was to need observation. 5. The mean score of self-esteem was 27.7 showing a relatively high score. 6. For the rate of smoking, 37.7% used to smoke, while 28% used to take alcohol. 7. The rate of substance abuse was 45.9% of subjects. 8. Most of subjects' health behaviors included most of the acupuncture (52%). 9. The rate of subjects receiving comprehensive medical testing was 34.36% while 34.78% did after care managing behavior. 10. For the obesity grade, 53% is normal weight, low-weight 32.8%, obesity 33%. 11. For nutrition status, 78.7% illy balanced to need intervention of nutritional education. 12. For 78.7% of subjects, muscle strength and 40.7% of stretching were not good enough to need health education on physical exercises. Therefore, based on the results, appropriate health education programs need to be developed to promote health of community people on an island.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of being from low-income families on children's behavior problems and obesity. Methods: The research design was a descriptive survey study, and the participants were 197 children from low-income families who took part in activities at a local children's center. They were selected through convenience sampling. The participants completed a questionnaire, BASC-2 (Behavior Assessment System for Children). Results: The results are as follows: 22.3% had obesity, a rate higher than that of children in general. Further, 37.3% had attention deficit problems, 33.8% had problems adapting to school and 49% had other adaption problem. There was a gender-specific difference with respect to all of the behavior problems. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate a lack of an identified child policy for behavior problems and health, and suggest a need for various programs and policies which could lead to development of behavior screening programs for children from low-income families.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe depression, caregiving burden and the correlation of the two variables in the families of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to clarify factors predicting caregiving burden. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 139 family members who provided care to patients with ALS. The characteristics of patients and families, Korean-Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), Korean version of Zarit Burden Interview (K-ZBI) and Korean-Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale - Revised (K-ALSFRS-R) were used as study measures. Results: The mean score for K-BDI was 19.39 out of 63 suggesting sub-clinical depression and 38.2% of the family members exhibited depression. The mean score for K-ZBI was 66.03 out of 88. The predictors for K-ZBI were K-BDI, age of family member, length of time spent per day in caring, relationship to patient and K-ALSFRS-R. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that levels of depression and caregiving burden are high among family members caring for patients with ALS. As depression is associated with caregiving burden, screening and emotional supports should be provided to reduce the burden of care for these family. Support programs to alleviate the care burden are also needed, considering family demographics, time per day in caring giving and K-ALSFRS-R.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.1185-1193
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• 2009

An act of children's welfare was made in 1961 for the first time in Korea but it had been nothing but the name in view of practical impact to prevention of child abuse. Real undertakings of Child Abuse Prevention were commenced overtly since 2000 in Korea, when the law for children's welfare was revised to put protective settings for the victims and to establish criterion for children's safety. The history of Child Abuse Prevention is very short in Korea but the reporting cases increased very fast from 4,133 cases in 2001 up to 9,570 cases in 2008 with the enthusiastic activities from people of the associated organizations along with the national supports. But the portion reported by the mandated reporters such as teachers or doctors is still low compared to those of the developed countries. The National Child Protection Agency (NCPA) was founded in 2001 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to prevent child abuse and to aid recovery of abused and neglected children including their families, through the cooperation of related organizations. NCPA refers reported cases of child abuse to appropriate local centers, operates a computer database system for case management, publicizes national reports of child abuse on a yearly basis and technically supports the Local Child Protection Agency (LCPA) by developing scales for assessment of child abuse and neglect and distributing programs for the education of mandatory reporters. LCPAs operate 24-hour telephone hotline, investigate and visit homes and provide in home services networking with local resources, and operate multidisciplinary teams for screening child abuse victims and supervising case management through multimodal systems. We summarized the present state of child abuse in Korea and reviewed the operating systems for child protection in this country. Through this article, we hope that medical peoples are to be informed on the seriousness of child abuse and to be able to devote themselves for the prevention of child abuse.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2667-2671
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• 2013

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world and also ranks as the fifth-leading malignancy and death in Thailand. This study aimed to provide a present outlook of colorectal diseases among Thai patients with special emphasis on CRC in Hatyai, Songkhla, southern Thailand. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study covered ten year data of CRC, benign colorectal tumors and non-colorectal tumors from the Department of Pathology in Hatyai Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand, between years 2003-2012. Incidence rates based on age, gender, ten year incidence trends, and distribution of histopathological characteristics of patients were calculated and demonstrated. Results: Out of 730 biopsies, 100 cases were benign colorectal tumors, 336 were CRC and 294 were non-colorectal tumors. Colorectal tumors (both benign and CRC) (60.1%) were more common than non-colorectal tumors (39.9%). CRC (77.1%) were more common than benign colorectal tumors (32.9%). Colorectal tumors were mainly found in patients aged over sixty whereas non-colorectal and benign colorectal tumors were found in those under sixty (P=0.01). sAmong CRC, adenocarcinoma contributed about 97.3% of all cases with well differentiated tumors being the most frequent (56.9%). Both benign colorectal tumors and CRC were more commonly found in males (63%) than females (37%). The incidence trend of CRC demonstrated increase from 2003-2012. Conclusions: The incidence of CRC increased in Hatyai from 2003-2012. CRC tends to be more common in people older than sixty, thus, screening programs, cost-effective analysis of treatment modalities, and treatment protocols for the elderly should be examined. Proper implementation of preventive measures such as changing lifestyle factors might enhance control of colorectal disease.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.53-65
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• 2012

Purpose: With the increasing national interest in health, the number of health examination centers is growing rapidly, and it is growing as independent medical institutes separated from hospitals. With the growing functions and size of health examination institutes, considerations for testees, who are the most important users of the health examination centers, have taken the back seat. In particular, for health examination programs that take on a sequential traffic line, it is important to be aware of the space of each examination room, but the lack of a scientific evaluation method for this has resulted in great discomforts for testees using the health examination center. Method: Thus, this study proposes risk evaluation indices (RCF TCF, RC3, RR, ARR), and set a standard health examination program based on the national health examination program. This was applied to 11 different sized health examination centers to find their features, and together with identifying the trends of the indices, the following results were deduced. Result: 1) ARR showed a wide-range feature as the number of unit spaces increased, while RR were discovered regardless of the size, thus displaying local features. 2) The increase of ARR is affected more by internal factors in the health examination center than from outside factors. 3) By gender, when separating the basic health examination fields, the connective relation of the comprehensive health examination fields had a big effect on ARR. 4) By becoming larger, the fields of function become independent and the waiting space that results from it increases the number of total movement, so there is space for improvement in this.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-71
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• 2011

Purpose: This study explored cardiovascular health (CVH), depressive symptoms, and well-being among community-based Korean women according to hwa-byung (HB) symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study measured HB symptoms, depressive symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and spiritual well-being (SWB) in addition to biophysical indicators of CVH. Results: Fourteen women of the HB group are more likely to live alone with lower income than 36 women in the comparison group. Compared to the comparison group, the HB group has larger mean waist circumference and higher prevalence of abdominal obesity along with more knee arthritis and back pain. Although women in the HB group appeared worse in other CVH than their counterparts, this was not statistically significant. It is noteworthy, that the HB group showed a higher probability of having a hard cardiovascular event (CVE) within 10 years than the comparison group. Women in the HB group reported more depressive symptoms, poor QoL, and low SWB as well as smoking and sleep difficulties. Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, significant relationships of HB symptoms to abdominal obesity, the probability of a hard CVE within 10 years, and psychosocial health were found. Strategies for effective community-based cardiovascular programs for Korean women may include HB screening and/or management.