• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.307-318
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Relocation to new environments can have a negative impact on health by altering body weight and dietary patterns. This study attempted to elucidate changes in body weight, food security, and their current food and nutrient consumption in adult North Korean refugees (NKR) living in South Korea (SK). SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed data on 149 adult NKR from a North Korean refugee health in SK cohort at four time points (leaving North Korea, entering SK, first examination, and second examination). Body weight was self-reported at the two earlier time points and directly measured at the two later time points. Food security, diet-related behaviors (dietary habits and food consumption), and sociodemographic information were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Nutrient intake information was obtained by one-day 24-hour recall. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS ver 23.0. RESULTS: Body weight increased during relocation by an average of 4 kg, although diversified patterns were observed during the settlement period in SK. Approximately 39.6% of subjects maintained their body weight between the first and second examinations, whereas 38.6% gained and 22.1% lost at least 3% of their body weight at the first examination by the second examination. Food security status improved from 12.1% food secure proportion to 61.7%. NKR showed generally good food and nutrient consumption (index of nutrient quality: 0.77-1.93). The body weight loss group showed the most irregular meal consumption pattern (P < 0.05), and eating-out was infrequent in all three groups. Consumption frequencies of food groups did not differ by group, except in the fish group (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: This study observed considerable body weight adjustment during the settlement period in SK after initial weight gain, whereas food security consistently improved. More detailed understanding of this process is needed to assist healthy settlement for NKR in SK.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.355-365
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• 2019

Objectives: In rural areas of Korea, where public transportation infrastructure is lacking and alternative systems are poor, the elderly experience inconveniences in using healthcare, although their need is high. This study aimed to analyze the association between the convenience of transportation and unmet healthcare needs among the rural elderly. Methods: The data used were collected in the 2016 Community Health Survey among rural elderly individuals aged 65 or older. Dependent variable was the unmet healthcare needs, explanatory variable was the convenience of transportation. The elderly were divided into 3 groups: with no driver in the household, with a driver, and the elderly individual was the driver (the self-driving group). Covariates were classified into predisposing, enabling, and need factors. They included gender, age, education, income, economic activity, household type, motor ability, subjective health level, number of chronic diseases, anxiety/depression, and pain/discomfort. The data were analyzed using logistic regression and stratification. Results: A significant association was found between the convenience of transportation and unmet healthcare needs. When examined unadjusted odds ratio of the group with a driver in the household, using the group with no driver as a reference, was 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 0.68), while that of the self-driving group was 0.34 (95% CI, 0.30 to 0.38). The odds ratios adjusted for all factors were 0.69 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.80) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.67 to 0.91). Conclusions: We confirmed a significant association between inconvenient transportation and unmet healthcare needs among the rural elderly even after adjustment for existing known factors. This implies that policies aimed at improving healthcare accessibility must consider the means of transportation available.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.353-360
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• 2019

Purpose: The depression of the elderly in recent years has been increasing every year due to the remarkable change of the psychological function, which has a great influence on the life. Depression which is a powerful predictor of suicide in elderly people, causes various psychological and social problems. In this study, we try to understand convergently about the adaptation experiences of the depressed elderly with suicidal ideation. Procedures and Methods: Seven elderly people with a GDS(Geriatric Depression Scale) score of ${\geq}17$ and a SSI(Scale for Suicidal Ideation) score of ${\geq}9$ in the self-help group were interviewed until theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed based on the Grounded theory method. Results and Contribution: Depressed elderly recognized the importance of being the center of their lives through interactions with peer groups and they started to embrace their lives. Further studies: Empirical studies on positive interactions with peer groups affecting the adjustment experience of depressed elderly should be expanded and continued.

• The Korean journal of sports medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the difference of body mass index (BMI) to smart phone proficiency in men and women over the age of 60. Methods: Patients were divided into three groups with high (n=33), average (n=34), and low (n=33) smart phone proficiency. Fitness characteristics related to smart phone usage were evaluated by measuring cardiorespiratory endurance, grip strength, eye-hand coordination. As well, smart phone proficiency was evaluated by a self-reported questionnaire and a smart phone usability task that was composed of two categories: usage of the smartphone device itself and usage of phone applications. The differences in BMI of the subjects was analyzed by analysis of covariance adjusting for independent variables including age, smartphone usage period, eye-hand coordination, education and income. Results: There was a significant difference in BMI among the three groups after adjustment of age, eye-hand coordination, smartphone usage period, education and income. The results showed that the self-reported questionnaire showed a significant difference in BMI between high proficiency and low proficiency groups (high $24.88{\pm}2.46$, low $23.37{\pm}2.56$; p=0.037). Smart phone usability test results also showed a significant difference in BMI among the three groups (high $25.18{\pm}2.58$, low $23.15{\pm}2.6$; p=0.000 and high $25.18{\pm}2.58$, middle $23.57.7{\pm}1.69$; p=0.010). Conclusion: Our results suggest that high smart phone proficiency shows increased BMI in the elderly. This study suggests that people over the age of 60 who have high smartphone proficiency should be cautious of an increased BMI score.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.326-336
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• 2021

Purpose: This study explored the prevalence of prenatal and postpartum depression in Korea and its influencing factors from 20 weeks of pregnancy to 12 weeks postpartum. Methods: Using a prospective cohort study design, data on women's depression and its influencing factors were collected at 20, 28, and 36 weeks of pregnancy and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks postpartum. The participants were 219 women and 181 spouses during pregnancy; and 183 mothers and 130 spouses after childbirth. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and influencing factors were measured by the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised, parity, and spousal depression. Results: The prevalence of maternal depression was 10.5% to 21.5% before birth, and it was 22.4% to 32.8% postpartum. The prevalence slightly decreased during the prenatal period but peaked at 2 weeks postpartum. Antenatal depression was influenced by low socioeconomic status, lower self-esteem, having experienced prenatal depression, having experienced prenatal anxiety, a previous history of depression, lower social support, lower marital satisfaction, and higher life stress. The factors influencing postpartum depression were lower self-esteem, having experienced prenatal depression, having experienced prenatal anxiety, lower social support, lower marital satisfaction, and higher life stress, as well as infant temperament and maternal blues. Parity and spousal depression had no impacts. Conclusion: The prevalence and influencing factors of maternal depression changed over time. Nurses need to screen women accordingly during the perinatal period and should provide education or counseling to prevent depression and promote adjustment to parenthood.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2020

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the association between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and depressive symptoms among Korean adults. This study also explored the mediating role of self-rated health (SRH) and perceived usual stress (PUS) in the association between depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and SHS exposure. Methods Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) in 2014 and 2016 was analyzed for 10539 participants aged 19 years or older. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in the logistic regression analysis with adjustment for the potential confounding factors. We also adopted the mediation analysis method by Hayes and Preacher. Results After adjusting for the potential confounding factors, SHS at home and at public places were associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among non-smokers. After adjusting for the potential confounding factors, SHS at home and at public places was associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among non-smokers. Meanwhile SHS at workplaces was associated with depressive symptoms among former smokers and with suicidal ideation among current smokers. There was an additive effect of SHS on depressive symptoms only among non-smokers. SRH mediated the association between SHS and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among non-smokers. We did not observe any significant mediating effect of SRH nor PUS on the association between SHS and depressive symptoms among former and current smokers. Conclusions SHS may be associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in Korean adults. Our study elucidated how SHS interacted with depressive symptoms among non-smokers through the mediation by SRH.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.261-270
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• 2016

This study attempted to survey nursing students' motives for choosing nursing as their major, and to examine how such motives affect their satisfaction with their major, campus-life satisfaction, and self-directed learning ability. This study was conducted as a descriptive survey. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire during the period from the 1st to 15th of April, 2015, and the questionnaires from 195 nursing students were used in the analysis using Fisher's exact test, t-test, one way ANOVA, Mann Whitney test, and ANCOVA. Only 41.5% of the nursing students chose nursing as their major because of their aptitude and interest. The motive for the selection of the major was found to have a significant effect on their satisfaction with the major (p<.001), campus-life satisfaction (p=.008), and self-directed learning ability (p=.001). Middle and high school students should be provided with various types of information on nursing, so that they can have the opportunity to choose nursing based on their aptitude and interest before entering university. Once they start university, nursing students' adjustment to campus-life and learning ability should be enhanced through various extracurricular activity programs in order to stimulate their interest in the major.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.52-57
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• 2003

A PID parameter tuning method was presented by the fuzzy singleton inference, based on step response-shaping of plant and experience knowledge of expert. The parameter-tuning has tow levels. The higher level determines modified coefficients for the controller based on operator's tuning know-how for characteristics of plant which can not be modeled. The lower level determines specified coefficients based on characteristics of response by Ziegler-Nickel's bounded sensitivity method. The last level parameters tuning of a PID controller is adjusted which the modified and specified coefficients makes adjustment rule, and is adjusted the proper value to each parameters by fuzzy singleton inference. Moreover, proposed the tuning method can reflex exporter knowledge and operator's tuning know-how and fuzzy singleton inference is rapidly operated.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.300-311
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• 2017

Purpose: There are many forest and outdoor programs being offered but systematic reviews of effects are lacking. This study was done to identify content, format, and strategies of forest therapy programs for elementary school students. Methods: Literature search using keywords in English and Korean was performed using 6 electronic databases in December 2016. Search participants were elementary school students and interventions conducted in the forest. Seventeen forest therapy studies were selected for evaluation. Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized study was used for quality assessment. Results: All studies were quasi-experimental designs. Forest therapy programs included various activities in forests such as experience of five senses, meditation in the forest, walking in the forest, ecological play, observation of animals and insects. All studies used psychosocial health variables and forest healing programs had positive effects on sociality, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, stress, aggression, anger, and school adjustment. Limitations of these studies were vague reporting of the study, lack of ethical review and rigorous research designs. Conclusion: Forest therapy for elementary school child can be an effective way to improve psychosocial health. Future studies with rigorous study designs are needed to assess long-term effects of forest therapy on physical and psychosocial health.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-42
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• 2017

Objectives : This study analyzes the characteristics of hospital organization structures, insurance claims reviews and assessment tasks and their effects on hospitals in Pusan. Methods : The data for this study were collected through interview and self-administered surveys in 109 hospitals. The study included only - hospitals with a minimum of 50beds and excluded those providing only dental, psychiatric, or long-term care. Results : The findings of this study state that the number of beds has an influence on the organizitional structure. Conclusions : Hospital managements should seek human resources management(the insurance claims reviewer and evaluator) schemes that take into account the characteristics of the medical institution. In addition, insurance claims review and assessment tasks in hospitals require considerable knowledge and experience, and hospitals should be equipped with staff that have the relevant expertise. Therefore, to further deepen knowledge, comprehensive training should be continuously carried out in order to produce specialists in claims review and assessment.