• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.195-198
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• 2012

To date, there was no controlled-study regarding awareness and knowledge of colorectal cancer in the Turkish population. We therefore designed a questionnaire consisting of items related to socio-demographic parameters, medical and family history and questions of awareness and knowledge about colorectal cancer for use in a descriptive cross-sectional study. An interviewer-administered technique was applied and 450 subjects were interviewed in the outpatient clinics at Near East University Hospital. Among all subjects, 337 were found to be eligible for the study group. Exclusion criteria were age below 18 years, any cancer history, family history of colorectal cancer, current colorectal problems, history of any diagnostic or therapeutic interventions for colorectal diseases. All participants stated that they heard about colorectal cancer. When asked about the lifetime risk of colorectal carcinoma, only 25.4% of women and 37.9% of men estimated correctly. Univariate analysis revealed that the total awareness score was significantly correlated with age, marital status, parenthood and fecal occult blood testing history. On multivariate analysis of independent predictors for awareness of colorectal cancer were found to be history of fecal occult blood testing, age and marital status were found to be the most important determinants. As a conclusion, opportunistic screening with fecal occult blood test by physicians from non-gastrointestinal specialties not only helps to reduce the mortality but also increases the awareness of colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8371-8375
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common neoplasms in Iran. Secondary prevention (colorectal cancer screening) is important and a most valuable method of early diagnosis of this cancer. The objectives of this study were to determine the factors associated with colorectal cancer screening adherence among Iranians 50 years and older using the Health Belief Model. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2012 to May 2013. A convenience sample of 200 individuals aged 50 and older was recruited from the population at outpatient clinics in teaching hospitals. Data gathering tools were the Champions health belief model scale (CHBMS) with coverage of socio-demographic background and CRC screening information. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with colorectal cancer screening adherence. Results: The mean age of participants was $62.5{\pm}10.8$ and 75.5% were women. A high percentage of the participants had not heard or read about colorectal cancer (86.5%) and CRC screening (93.5%). Perceived susceptibility to colorectal cancer had the lowest percentage of all of the subscales. Participants who perceived more susceptibility (OR =2.99; CI 95%: 1.23-5.45) and reported higher knowledge (OR =1.29; CI 95%: 1.86-3.40) and those who reported fewer barriers (OR =.37; CI 95%:.21-.89), were more likely to have carried out colorectal cancer screening. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that CRC knowledge, perceived susceptibility and barriers were significant predictors of colorectal cancer screening adherence. Strategies to increase knowledge and overcome barriers in risk individuals appear necessary. Education programs should be promoted to overcome knowledge deficiency and negative perceptions in elderly Iranians.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2637-2643
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• 2015

Background: It has been proven that an individuals health behavior is determined through a series of processes. This study aimed to assess the stages of adoption of breast cancer screening, and to identify the factors relating to progress through these stages. Materials and Methods: There were 202 female participants aged 20-59 years who were living in Chungbuk, South Korea. They were informed of the study purpose and agreed to participate. Data were collected from October 2010 to January 2011 by assessing the breast cancer screening stage, health beliefs, socio-demographic factors, and other facilitating factors. The participant current stage of adoption of breast cancer screening was classified using the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM), and the various PAPM stages were compared with each other to identify factors likely to determine progress between stages. The data were analyzed using the ${\chi}^2$-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, and multiple logistic regression. Results: Approximately half of all participants were not on-schedule for breast self-examination and mammography (unaware, 9.4% and 11.4%, unengaged, 8.4% and 5.0%, undecided, 20.3% and 17.8%, decided not to act, 1.5% and 1.0%, decided to act, 13.4% and 15.3%, respectively). The factors likely to determine the progress from one stage to another were age, marital status, exposure to media information about breast cancer, self-efficacy, and perceived severity. Conclusions: These results suggest that it is necessary to develop a tailored message for breast cancer screening behavior.

• Architectural research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.125-132
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• 2012

In contemporary Korean society, urban community environment is often associated with high-density and high-rise residences that make people's relationships superficial, instrumental and impersonal. Furthermore, urban community consistently interplays with neighboring residents and childhood emotional experience are influential on their unconscious images and attitude about their current neighborhood environment, while affecting the environmental attitude and the formation of community sense. Previous research found evidences that increased level of community sense is fostering more feeling of living in so-called "real neighborhood environment." This study aimed to cross-culturally examine what the respondents' emotional perception and their attitude were about the community environment in their childhood through environmental autobiography method and to examine the effects of the results on adults' formation of sense of community for their current community environment. Extensive literature review explored a few important theoretical framework which are closely related to sense of community (SOC) as a result of emotional experience: membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, shared emotional connection and community satisfaction. Chi-square and GLM analysis revealed that there were no demographic, and socio-economic differences between two groups of Korean and US residents. Correlation analysis indicated that childhood emotional experience of Koreans and US citizens was statistically significant on sense of community for their current living community. Multi-regression analysis also found that the degree of influence were the main predictors for building strong sense of current community throughout a cross-cultural group. Furthermore, the relationship between various emotional experience of each factor in previous and current community environment were statistically significantly related. It is concluded that as the positive childhood experience of influence in their past community was going up, the level of sense of community for their current community was strengthened across their cross-cultural background.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2017

Objectives: Environmental pollution is a significant global issue. Both objective (scientifically measured) environmental pollution and perceived levels of pollution are important predictors of self-reported health. The purpose of this study was to compare the associations between perceived environmental pollution and health in China, Japan, and South Korea. Methods: Data were obtained from the East Asian Social Survey and the Cross-National Survey Data Sets: Health and Society in East Asia, 2010 (n=7938; China, n=3866; Japan, n=2496; South Korea, n=1576). Results: South Koreans perceived environmental pollution to be the most severe, while Japanese participants perceived environmental pollution to be the least severe. Although the Japanese did not perceive environmental pollution to be very severe, their self-rated physical health was significantly related to perceived environmental pollution, while the analogous relationships were not significant for the Chinese or Korean participants. Better mental health was related to lower levels of perceived air pollution in China, as well as lower levels of perceived all types of pollution in Japan and lower levels of perceived noise pollution in South Korea. Conclusions: Physical and mental health and individual socio-demographic characteristics were associated with levels of perceived environmental pollution, but with different patterns among these three countries.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.519-530
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• 2015

This study examines the effects of coping resources on life satisfaction of middle and older caregivers looking after family members with activities of daily living disabilities. Personal resources and socio-relational resources were included as predictors after controlling for demographic characteristics. We studied 154 middle and 132 older adults drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA). The multiple regression results of this study were as follows. First, subjective health and family satisfaction had significant effects on middle-aged caregivers' life satisfaction. Specifically higher levels of subjective health and better relationships with their family predicted higher levels of life satisfaction. Second, cognitive function, household income, and family satisfaction had significant effects on middle-aged caregivers' life satisfaction. Higher household incomes, higher levels of cognitive function, and better relationships with family predicted higher levels of life satisfaction. For both middle and older adults, the effect size of family satisfaction was the largest out of all coping resources. The results revealed discrepancies regarding the importance of coping resources between middle and older caregivers, implying that developing interventions for middle and older caregivers (in accordance with their need for coping resources) is necessary. The results also indicated that having good relationships with one's family was the most important factor for both middle aged and older caregivers' life satisfaction. The results suggest that policies or services focused on endorsing healthy family relationships should be developed to improve the life satisfaction of caregivers.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.73-98
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between social support, social network and health behaviors as surveyed by cross-sectional study in 744 rural people aged above 30 of a community dwelling sample of one county for 6 days of July in 2000. Objectives of this study was in order to establish an effective health promotion. The sample was accrued by face to face interview of direct visiting from clustered sampling method. Interview was conducted by trained medical students with the questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic data, health behavior, social support and social network based on previous literature. The summarized results were as follows: 1. There were significant difference in the level of social support and social network by general characteristic variables except occupation and residency type(p〈0.05). 2. There were significant difference in knowledge about hypertension, smoking status, status of physical exercise, diet patterns by social support and social network in spite of variation of social support and social network subconcept(p〈0.05). And there were significant difference in alcohol drinking status, body weight control and diet pattern according to level of social network(p〈0.05). But smoking status by social support and network results opposite direction(p〈0.05). 3. There were no regular or consistent result in the relationship between social support, social network and health behavior. 4. Major predictors for health behavior on the multiple logistic regression that included general characteristic, social support and social network were age, instrumental social support and worry about health. Significant variables of multiple logistic regression for health behavior that included social support(instrumental and emotional) and social network were instrumental social support and social network. These results suggest that only a instrumental element and social network may be associated with health behavior. Inconsistent with prior research in these some item, a positive consistent relationship was not found between social support, social network and health behavior. So the study should be replicated to determined the reliability of our findings.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2008

Objectives: This study identified the factors associated with successful smoking cessation for 6 months at a smoking-cessation clinic of a public health center in an urban area. Methods: The subjects of this study were 670 visitors to the smoking cessation clinic of Dongjak-Gu public health center in Seoul, from September 6, 2005 to March 24, 2006. The 274 visitors of them responded to the questionnaire with registration, which contained the information related to the study except that of registered card for the clinic. A dependent variable was success or failure in smoking cessation during the 6 month-smoking cessation program, measured the status of smoking cessation in each week by self-report. Independent variable included demographic information, the characteristics in using the clinic, health status and smoking related behaviour, exposure to other smokers in daily life and motivation. Multiple logistic regression model was used to find the factors associated with success of smoking cessation. Results: The success rate in smoking cessation for 6 months was 33.6%. Five pretreatment characteristics were identified as univariate predictors of continuous abstinence. Finally, age, job, and practice oriented motivation were associated significantly with the success of smoking cessation for 6 months from a multiple logistic regression analysis. The lower socio-economic smokers such as people having lower literacy level, lower income people, unskilled workers, and recipients by Medical Assistant Program were more likely to fail in continuous abstinence for 6 months. Conclusions: In order to increase the success rate in smoking cessation clinics of public centers, counselors should activate self confidence and practice oriented motivation of participants for smoking cessation.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• no.39
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• pp.29-56
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to find out correlation and predictors of posttraumatic growth of North Korean refugees in South Korea in 7years. This survey was conducted on 105 North Korean refugees in 7 years with questions on depression, anxiety, socio-demographic characteristics, personal & social variables, psychological trauma in North Korea, stress experience in South Korea. The influence of these variables was analysed. Result indicated that education in North Korea and living period in the 3rd country iwas associated with PTG. Date for escaping from North Korea, depression, acculturative stress in South Korea, hope for future, social support from South Korean, perceived satisfaction had correlation with PTG. And Date for escaping from North Korea, living period in the 3rd country, social support from South Korean, acculturative stress in South Korea predicted PTG of North Korean refugees. Finally, social political intervention and mental health service programs for North Korean refugees were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.81-106
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to find out correlation and predictors of recovery predictive factors for North Korean refugees experienced torture in South Korea. This survey was conducted on 205 North Korean refugees with questions on socio-demographic variables, mental health & personality variables, and social & economical variables. The influence of these variables was analysed. Result indicated that sex, age, disease, child living in the North, marriage experience in the North and the China were associated with post-traumatic stress of torture. Also, depression, rumination, self-efficacy, resilience, secure-attachment, social support from the South, economic difficulties predicted the recovery for North Korean refugees with torture experience. Finally, clinical intervention with healing relationship and human rights for North Korean refugees were discussed.