• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2009

Objectives : Both organized and opportunistic screening programs have been widely used in Korea. This paper examined the determinants of the use of opportunistic screening programs in Korea. Methods : The subjects were a national stratified random sample of 10,254 people aged 45 or older from the first wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing in 2006. A logit model was used to examine the determinants of the use of opportunistic screening programs in terms of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the type of health insurance and the health status. Results : Thirteen point seven percent of the individuals received opportunistic screening programs within 2 years from the time the survey was conducted in 2006. The individuals who graduated from college or who had even more education were 3.0 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs compared with the individuals who were illiterate. The individuals who resided in urban areas and who had religious beliefs were more likely to receive opportunistic screening programs compared with their counterparts. Those who were in the first quartile for the total household assets were 2.6 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs than those who were in the fourth quartile for the total household assets. Privately insured people were 1.6 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs than those who were not insured. Finally, the individuals who self-assessed their health status as worst were 2.1 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs compared individuals who self-assessed their health status as best. Conclusions : This study suggests that opportunistic screening programs can be an indicator for whether or not an individual is among the advantaged group in terms of their socioeconomic characteristics and type of health insurance.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.272-279
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• 2021

Background: Korea's health screening program has been faced the need for changes as the population and diseases structure are changing. In addition to Korea, many countries operate state-led health check-up programs to improve the health level of the people, and the operating methods of the program appear in various forms according to each country's health insurance system. This study examines other state-led health screening programs and proposes a direction for the development of Korea's health screening program. Methods: The study was conducted using the literature review method, and the "country" was set as a unit for the case analysis. The operating method of the health screening programs and the financial resources were compared according to the health insurance system. Five countries were selected as Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Taiwan. Results: The analyzed countries mainly operate the health screening program as a management method for chronic diseases, but there were differences in the operating method, financing, and targeted subjects and examination items. In most countries, a risk assessment was performed prior to the examination (screening), and the subjects who needed the examination were first selected, and a follow-up management service was provided in accordance with the risk each individual exposed. Conclusion: Rather than applying the same screening method to populations with different risk levels, a health screening program will be constructed in consideration of the individual's health level and exposure risk, and the healthcare delivery system will be reorganized so that screening and treatment services can be linked.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.395-400
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• 2015

Both Japan and Korea provide population-based screening programs. However, screening rates are much higher in Korea than in Japan. To clarify the possible factors explaining the differences between these two countries, we analyzed the current status of the cancer screening and background healthcare systems. Population-based cancer screening in Korea is coordinated well with social health insurance under a unified insurer system. In Japan, there are over 3,000 insurers and coordinating a comprehensive strategy for cancer screening promotion has been very difficult. The public healthcare system also has influence over cancer screening. In Korea, public healthcare does not cover a wide range of services. Almost free cancer screening and subsidization for medical cost for cancers detected in population-screening provides high incentive to participation. In Japan, on the other hand, a larger coverage of medical services, low co-payment, and a lenient medical audit enables people to have cancer screening under public health insurance as well as the broad range of cancer screening. The implementation of evidence-based cancer screening programs may be largely dependent on the background healthcare system. It is important to understand the impacts of each healthcare system as a whole and to match the characteristics of a particular health system when designing an efficient cancer screening system.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07b
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• pp.781-783
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• 1996

An important purpose of screening DSM(Demand Side Management) programs is to determine which programs or technologies seem to be moot worthy of further development, given the characteristics of the particular utility system. Complication found in screening DSM technologies is the consideration of costs and benefits from several perspectives : the utility, society, participants, free riders and nonparticipants. In this paper, a nation-wide DSM screening model is presented using a rigorous mathematical formulation on the financial basis and the concept of marginal coots considering all affected parties inside the nation is fully exploited.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2001

Objectives : To examine the screening rate of cervical cancer in women and to find out the predictive factors for participation in cervical cancer screening programs within their life-time and within the last two years. Methods : The data was based on self-reported questionnaires from 1,613 women whose ages ranged from 26 to 60 years; this survey was peformed between December 1999 and January 2000. This study analyzed the predictive factors for participation in cervical cancer screening programs within their life-time and within the last two years. A logistic regression analysis was performed in order to derive the significant variables from the predisposing factors(demographic factor, health promotion behavior, reproductive factor), intervention factors(information channel, relation with medical stan, and proximal factors(attitude, social influence, self-efficacy). All analyses were peformed by the PC-SAS 6.12. Results : Our analyses showed that the screening rate for the women who received a cervical cancer screening(Pap smear) more than once within their life-time was 56.1% while those who had received one within the last two years was 34.5%. The significant factors for participation in cervical cancer screening program within their life-time were their income, married age, health promotion score, relation with medical staffs, social influence, and self-efficacy. On the other hand, age, number of pregnancies, menarche age, relation with medical staffs, social influences, and self-efficacy were significant factors for those being screened within the last two years. The predictive power of the logit model within their life-time was 68.8% and that within the last two years was 66.6%. Conclusion : The predictive factors for participation in cervical cancer screening program within their life-time are different from those for within the last two years. and that women's relations with medical staffs and social influences were the critical factors impacting on cervical cancer screening rates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5377-5383
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• 2015

Background: Participation is one of the major factors affecting the long-term success of population-based prostate cancer screening programs. The aim of this study was to explore strong factors linked to participation in prostate cancer screening among older Jordanian adults using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from Jordanian older adults, aged 40 years and over, who visited a comprehensive health care center within the Ministry of Health. A pilot test was conducted to investigate the internal consistency of the the Champion Health Belief Model Scale for prostate cancer screening and the clarity of survey questions. Sample characteristics and rates of participation in prostate cancer screening were examined using means and frequencies. Important factors associated with participation in prostate cancer screening were examined using bivariate correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: About 13% of the respondents had adhered to prostate cancer screening guidelines over the previous decade. Four out of the seven HBM-driven factors (perceived susceptibility, benefits and barriers to PSA test, and health motivation) were statistically significant. Those with greater levels of susceptibility, benefits of PSA test and health motivation and lower levels of barriers to PSA testing were more likely to participate in prostate cancer screening. Family history, presence of urinary symptoms, age, and knowledge about prostate cancer significantly predicted the participation in prostate cancer screening. Conclusions: Health professionals should focus more on the four modifiable HBMrelated factors to encourage older adults to participate in prostate cancer screening. Intervention programs, which lower perceived barriers to PSA testing and increase susceptibility, benefits of PSA testing and health motivation, should be developed and implemented.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3279-3286
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• 2014

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Korea. To reduce cancer incidence, the Korean National Cancer Center (KNCC) has been expanding its organized cancer screening program. In addition, there are opportunistic screening programs that can be chosen by individuals or their healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with participation in organized and opportunistic cancer screening programs, with a particular focus on socioeconomic factors. Materials and Methods: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a cross-sectional nationwide study conducted by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare from 2007 to 2011. The study included information from 9,708 men and 12,739 women aged 19 years or over. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted, adjusting for age, year of data collection, residential region, current smoking status, current alcohol consumption status, exercise, marriage status, job status, perceived health status, stress level, BMI, limitation of activities, cancer history, health insurance type, and private insurance status, to investigate the association between education level, economic status, and cancer screening participation. Results: In terms of education level, disparities in attendance were observed only for the opportunistic screening program. In contrast, there was no association between education level and participation in organized screening. In terms of economic status, disparities in opportunistic screening participation were observed at all income levels, but disparities in organized screening participation were observed only at the highest income level. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that socioeconomic factors, including educational level and economic status, were not significantly associated with participation in organized cancer screening, except at the highest level of income.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.183-200
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• 2014

Cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world, including the countries of North-East and South-East Asia. Assessment of burden through cancer registration, determination of risk and protective factors, early detection and screening, clinical practice, interventions for example in vaccination, tobacco cessation efforts and palliative care all should be included in comprehensive cancer control programs. The degree to which this is possible naturally depends on the resources available at local, national and international levels. The present review concerns elements of cancer control programs established in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan in North-East Asia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia as representative larger countries of South-East Asia for comparison, using the published literature as a guide. While major advances have been made, there are still areas which need more attention, especially in South-East Asia, and international cooperation is essential if standard guidelines are to be generated to allow effective cancer control efforts throughout the Far East.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4025-4032
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• 2013

Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for all US populations including Asian Americans. CRC screening has considerable benefits to prevent CRC and reduce mortality. The purpose of this article was to review the published literature on rates of colorectal cancer screening and factors associated with colorectal cancer screening practice among Asian Americans. Methods: Through searching electronic reference databases from 2000 to 2013, 30 articles were found on Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans. Findings: Asian Americans had significantly low ratesfor CRC screening; Korean Americans reported the lowest rates, while higher screening rates were found among Japanese Americans. Older age, longer length of stay in the US, and having a physician's recommendation were the most common facilitators to receiving screening. The common inhibiting factors were financial issues, employment status, and worries/fears about the procedure. Conclusions: Despite a number of Asian Americans being vulnerable to CRC, individual Asian subgroups were underserved with CRC screening and intervention. Further studies should focus on each individual Asian subgroup and culturally proficient CRC screening intervention programs should be developed for each.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3263-3267
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• 2013

Background: The importance of cervical screening has been addressed in numerous studies. However, reviews conducted to explore of strategies to promoting attendance for cervical screening have been limited. This study aimed to explore strategies to promote attendance for cervical screening. Materials and Methods: A literature search from databases (1994-2011) was undertaken to include papers that identified strategies related to the cervical screening. Results: Twenty-four papers were included in this review. The review of existing strategies identified valuable information on cervical screening and areas that could be improved in meeting womens' needs. Conclusions: The review highlighted important aspects of cervical screening that could be further addressed by promoting strategies to attendance. Assessing women's health beliefs, inpatient cervical cancer screening, nurse-led screening, and cognition-emotion focused programs are among the strategies to promote attendance for pap smear testing.