• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2001

Objectives : To compare the multiple outcomes of patients with cataract surgery at perioperative time,3-4 months and 12 months after surgery and to assess patient outcomes associated with visual improvement(visual acuity of operated eye, visual function-14(VF-14), symptom score). Methods : For this assessment, a prospective study was conducted with 389 patients who had undergone cataract surgery for either one eye or both eyes. The surgery was peformed by 20 ophthalmologists who were practicing at university hospitals and general hospitals. Patients were interviewed and clinical data were obtained. Doctors were questioned with self-reported questionnaire forms. Medical records were examined in order to measure variables related to the surgical process such as surgical methods and ocular comorbidity. The survey was 'conducted at 4 stages' : preoperative time(389 cases), perioperative time(344 cases, 88.4%), postoperative 3-4 months (343 cases, 88.2%), and postoperative 12 months (281 cases, 72.2%). After excluding cases with incomplete data, 198 cases were enrolled in the study. Patient outcomes was measured for any improvement in the functional outcomes(visual acuity of operated eye, visual function, symptom score) at postoperative 3-4 months. Results : The visual acuity(operated, weighted average), symptom score, VF-14 score, satisfaction with vision, and subjective health status were shown to be improved at the perioperative time, postoperative 3-4 months and 12 mouths. An improvement in the Snellen visual acuity score was observed in 190 patients(96.0%), whereas improvements of the VF-14 score and cataract symptom sure were observed in 151 patients(76.3%) and 179 patients(90.4%), respectively. All three outcome measures demonstrated improvement in 137 patients(09.2%). The improvement of the three functional outcomes at 3-4 months after receiving surgery was associated with a lower level of visual function and a higher level of cataract symptom score at perioperative time, as well as a greater experience level of the surgeon. Conclusions : In this study, the estimates of the proportion of patients benefiting from cataract surgery varied with the outcome measure of benefit. Preoperative VF-14 score, a measure of functional impairment related to vision, and symptom score may be better measures of the benefit derived from cataract surgery than the change in visual acuity.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.271-278
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water fluoridation program(WFP) on dental caries prevention in Ulsan, Korea. Methods: The data of control group were extracted from 2012 Korean National Oral Health Survey(KNOHS). Since 1998, WFP was implemented in Ulsan. The subjects were 670 subjects including 10 to 12-years old children in 2009. The control subjects were 4,871 people in non-fluoridated metropolitan cities comparable to Ulsan. The control subjects were selected from 2012 KNOHS. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by the variables including oral health behaviors on daily frequency of toothbrushing, eating snacks and beverages. Oral health examination was carried out by two dentists who received a training in KNOHS with an inter-examiner-agreement. Caries preventive fraction was calculated by the difference of DMFT and DMFS index. The preventive effects of the WFP program were focused on gender, number of fissure sealed teeth, daily frequency of toothbrushing, eating snacks and beverages. Data were analyzed using SPSS $19.0^{(R)}$(SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) statistical package. Results: DMFT indices of 12-year-old subjects(n=670) in WFP and control population(n=4,871) were 2.11 and 1.23, respectively with an estimated prevention effect of 41.7%. Conclusions: WFP in Ulsan reduced the prevalence of dental caries. WFP should be recommended for the public oral health program in other metropolitan cities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the relationships of the several socioeconomic position indicators with the mortality risk in a representative longitudinal study of South Korea. Methods : The 1998 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted on a cross-sectional probability sample of South Korean households, and it contained unique 13-digit personal identification numbers that were linked to the data on mortality from the National Statistical Office of Korea. Of 5,607 males and females, 264 died between 1999 and 2003. Cox's regression was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of mortality. Results: Socioeconomic differences in mortality were observed after adjustments were made for gender and age. Compared with those people having college or higher education, those people without any formal education had a greater mortality risk (RR=2.21, 95% CI=1.12-4.40). The mortality risk among manual workers was significantly greater than that for the non-manual workers (RR=2.73, 95% CI=1.47-5.06). A non-standard employment status was also associated with an increase in mortality: temporary or daily workers had a greater mortality risk than did the full-time workers (RR=3.01, 95% CI=1.50-6.03). The mortality risk for the low occupational class was 3.06 times greater than that of the high and middle occupational classes (95% CI=1.75-5.36). In addition, graded mortality differences according to equivalized monthly household income were found. A reduction of monthly household income by 500 thousand Korean Won (about 400 US dollars) was related with a 20% excess risk of mortality. Self-reported poor living standards were also associated with an increased risk of mortality. Those without health insurance had a 3.63 times greater risk of mortality than the insured (95% CI=1.61-8.19). Conclusions: This study showed the socioeconomic differentials in mortality in a national longitudinal study of South Korea. The existence of socioeconomic mortality inequalities requires increased social discussion on social policies in Korean society. Furthermore, the mechanisms for the socioeconomic inequalities of mortality need to be explored in future studies.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.243-256
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• 2015

This study aimed at investigating the effects of sub-variables of elderly people's lifestyle health and leisure oriented pursuits, outdoor and challenge pursuits, security and material pursuits, family oriented pursuits, and peer oriented pursuits on what they perceive to be successful later years. The background of this study was that there has been few study on the older population in Korea with focus on their cultural and traditional norms. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of elderly people's lifestyle on what they perceive to be successful later years, thereby identifying practical implications for better social welfare associated with successful later years. Analysis was carried out of self reported questionnaires and self-interviews with elderly people aged over 65 frequenting a welfare center for elders and a community center in a city in Korea. In order to examine the effects, a reliability test, a descriptive analysis, a correlation analysis, and a multi-regression analysis were performed. The results of the analysis for sub-variables of lifestyle showed that health and leisure oriented pursuits, outdoor and challenge pursuits, security and material pursuits, family oriented pursuits, and peer oriented pursuits had significant positive impact on successful later years. The two most influential were peer oriented and family oriented pursuits. Drawing on the results, this study suggests that what is needed for dejected and lonely elderly members in the society is to provide them with opportunities for developing and keeping good relationships with friends and family members and there is a need for a system where old people, as consumers of cultural capital, can have easy access to a variety of cultural resources and activities at a local and regional level.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2014

Few studies have examined burnout among the faculty of medical schools in the Republic of Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the level of burnout and its associated factors among the faculty members of three medical schools in the Busan-Gyeongnam area, and to summarise the available literature on burnout. We conducted the survey using a validated questionnaire that incorporated the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as questions about demographic characteristics, working experience, health, lifestyle, most time spent and most difficult work, and suicidal ideation and job quitting ideation of the survey participants. MBI-HSS scores were analysed in the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (De), and personal accomplishment (PA). Through the survey, the 186 professors, 49% among the total, provided data which were included in the present analysis. More than thirty per cent (37.1%) of the professors reported at least 1 symptom of burnout. For burnout dimensions, 11.8% of the respondents scored high for EE burnout, 25.3% for De, and 14.5% for PA, with 1.6% scoring high on all three dimensions of burnout. High burnout was found to be strongly associated with several of the variables under study, especially hours worked per week, self-rated health, career (range, 4 to 9 years), and age (range, 50 to 59 years). The EE score was highest for the professors who chose 'patient care' as the most difficult type of work. This study showed that just over one-third of professors have at least 1 symptom of burnout and working more hours per week, short length of work (years), and especially suicidal ideation seem to be associated with the burnout of medical school faculty members in the Busan-Gyeongnam area. In summary, a greater risk of burnout of physicians (including medical professors) seems to be associated with specialties at the front line of care, working more hours per week, work-life imbalance, low self-efficacy, depression, and conflicts with colleagues and patients.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify cell phone addiction in school-age children and factors influencing addiction. Methods: The participants were 163 parents of elementary school students in the 1st to 4th grades. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires completed by the parents, and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 19.0 IBM program. Results: Of the children, 86.5% were reported as being average users, 9.2%, at risk users, and 4.3%, at high risk users. Cell phone addiction in the children was significantly different according to games played by the children and parents' monthly income. Significant factors influencing cell phone addiction in the children were children's self-control, games played by the children, parents' cell phone addiction and parental control for children's cell phone use, explaining 24% of variance in cell phone addiction. Conclusion: The findings indicate that cell phone addiction in school-age children is influenced by parent-related factors as well as personal factors. Therefore approaches to education programs on cell phone use in school-age children should include parent-related factors as well as personal factors of the children.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.371-382
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• 2000

This study was performed to research how predominantly TMD is known among people and how exactly it is understood. The data set up by this study could be used as beneficial references. Based on this data, people can be more knowledgeable of TMD so that they can recognize the signs and symptoms of TMD. Then, the patients can visit eligible clinician, TMD professionals. Nine hundred thirty six people (426 men and 510 women, ranging from 18 to 69 years old) were selected for the subjects of this study and were investigated by use of self-administered questionnaire. The obtained results were as follows : 1. 10.68% of the subjects were reported to have heard of the term, "Temporomandibular disorders". Females occupied significantly higher percentage than males and 18-29 age group occupied higher percentage than 30-49 age and 50-69 age groups. On the other hand, even more people (52.24%) were reported to have heard of the tenn, "Jaw joint disease". It also had same sex and age prevalences, too. 2. As for the route through which people have heard of TMD, more than half (58.38%) of the people mentioned mass media of communication (T.V. radio 40.36%, newspapers magazines 15.86%, internet 2.16%). Other people who had already heard of TMD (25.05%), dentist (7.75%), and other sources (8.83%) such as physicians, physicians of Chinese medicine, pharmacists were also mentioned. There were not significant differences among sex and age groups. 3. When it comes to the cause and concept of TMD, 32.59% of the subjects considered" an inappropriate overuse of the mandible" as the cause of TMD. There were not significant differences among sex and age groups. 4. The most frequently reported presumable TMD signs and symptoms were jaw pain (61.00%), jaw joint sound (57.80%), and difficulty with mouth opening (50.11%). 5. In answer to the question who is the eligible person to treat jaw joint disease, 35.26% answered the dentists are and 41.99%, orthopedicians. Of the people who chose dentist, 30-49 age group occupied the largest part. In the case of orthopedicians, 18-29 age group was the largest. 6. Of the 7.69% of subjects who had been treated of TMD, only 5.02% of them visited the dentist for the treatment of TMD. There were not significant differences among sex and age groups. 7. In answer to the question of how to prevent development of TMD, 58.87% selected "Avoid eating hard food", 58.65%, "Avoid opening the mouth wide", and 51.07%, "Avoid chewing gum frequently".

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.449-464
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• 2019

Purpose: North Koreans could be at higher risk for their bone health because of previous periods of severe famine and the continuing low availability of food. This study determined the bone mineral density (BMD) status and its relationship with dietary behaviors and nutrient intake of North Korean refugees (NKR) in South Korea (SK). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 110 female NKR from a NORNS cohort of a non-probability sample of adult NKR in Seoul. BMD examined by DEXA was used to divide participants into the normal group (NG) and the non-normal group (NNG) according to the WHO guideline. A self-administered questionnaire included questions on age, the socioeconomic situation in North Korea (NK) and SK, the food security in NK and SK, and the health behaviors, dietary behaviors, and food frequency questionnaire administered in SK. A one-day 24-hr recall was conducted and the results were analyzed by using CanPro. SPSS was used to analyze whether BMD and related dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes differed according to the groups. Results: NG (62.7%) was significantly younger and had a lower abdominal obesity score than NNG (p < 0.001). While 14.5% of NG reported experiencing menopause, all of NNG reported experiencing menopause. The NG more frequently consumed the dairy group of foods (9.6 times a week) than did the NNG (4.8 times a week) after the statistics were adjusted for age (p < 0.007). The NG consumed significantly more animal protein and animal calcium than did the NNG (p = 0.01, p = 0.009, respectively). Calcium intake was low with 49.3% of NG, and 78.0% of the NNG reported consuming calcium lower than the estimated average requirement. Only calcium showed an index of nutrient quality lower than one in both groups. Conclusion: These results showed that NKR women and possibly all North Korean women are at high risk for bone health and they consumed low levels of bone-related nutrients, and this should be considered for the nutrition policy for NKR and North Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2015

Objective: This study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with diabetes in Korea and to compare them with the HRQoL of individuals without diabetes history. Methods: The study subjects were 17,655 adults aged over 19 who participated in the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). The EuroQoL-5Dimension was used to evaluate HRQoL. Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were performed to test the difference of HRQoL in diabetic subjects and controls. Results: The mobility dimension was the highest reported problem: 36.4% for diabetic subjects. The proportion of any reported problem was significantly high among diabetic subjects compared with two controls in terms of mobility [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.77, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=0.66-0.91, healthy controls: aOR=0.61, 95% CI=0.50-0.75], self-care [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: aOR=0.68, 95% CI=0.55-0.83, healthy controls: OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.51-0.94]. and usual activities [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: aOR=0.85, 95% CI=0.72-0.99, healthy controls: OR=0.79, 95% CI=0.62-0.98]. Also, EQ-5D index were significantly low in subjects with diabetes compared to two controls. Conclusions: Subjects with diabetes had a significantly lower HRQoL compared with two controls. To improve the quality of life of diabetics, it is necessary to study various variables related to the quality of life, and develop and manage various health programs or welfare policies reflecting socio-demographic characteristics and health related features that affect the quality of life.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.361-373
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• 2019

Falls are a threat to the physical health of the elderly as well as to their overall quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify which type of exercise is effective for improving the balance of the elderly, and to obtain the basic data for developing the falls prevention exercise intervention program for the elderly. We compared to the differential effects between rhythmic step exercise and core muscle strengthening exercise in terms of functional balance test and self-reported balance test. Women older than 65 years and under 80 years of age were assigned to one of the step exercise group(21), core muscle exercise group(20), and control group(21), and for 8 weeks, twice per week, 20-30 minutes of exercise were treated. All participants performed one foot static balance test with open and closed eyes. And they responded to self-reported balance test, such as Fall Efficacy Scale(FES) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence(ABC) Scale. The results of statistical analysis are summarized as follows. First, rhythmic stepping exercise was more effective in improving functional balance than core muscle strengthening exercise. In particular, the effect of step exercise was obvious in the one-foot static balance test with open eyes. Second, the self-reported balance test showed better step exercise than core muscle exercise. Specifically, rhythmic step exercise was more effective in enhancing fall efficacy than core muscle exercise. In conclusion, the rhythmic step exercise was more effective in improving the balance ability of the elderly than the core muscle exercise. The rhythmic step exercise is more related to the lower extremity muscles, and especially since the rhythmic step exercise is performed in various ground changes, it seems to have a high similarity to the fall occurrence situation. For future research, we recommended the development of task-oriented ankle proprioceptive exercise intervention program and exercise equipment based on the specific motion situation in which the fall accident occurs in the elderly.