• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2007

A deuterium oxide leakage accident occurred on October 4, 1999, at nuclear power plant in Korea. The concentration of tritium in air increased and 22 workers were exposed by tritium at that time. It is well known that tritium causes internal exposure. Therefore, we examined complete blood cell count, physical and biological dosimetry fur 13 workers among whole 22 workers to check the health effect and to evaluate the dose estimation of tritium exposure. The leukocyte count test, one of general blood test, was normal. The estimated doses were 0 - 4.44 mSv by physical dosimetry and 0-37 mGy by biological dosimetry. This dose does not exceed radiation dose limit, and the clinical symptoms of the exposed workers were not shown. The consistency between clinical sign and estimated dose means that physical and biological dosimetry were very useful especially in accident evaluation.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if osteoarthritis patients would benefit in terms of pain, fatigue, difficulty with physical activity, joint stiffness, and flexibility of the joints from a structured self-help program. Method: This self-help program was carried out 2-3 hours once a week for 6 weeks in 2005-2006, and evaluated in one group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design. The subjects of this study who were diagnosed osteoarthritis were recruited at two different Community Health Centers in Kangwon. The subjects who agreed with the purpose of this study and participated both pretest and post-test were 55 patients. Mean age is 63.48 (9.48) years, mean duration of disease is 7.95 (7.66) years. The self-help program was consisted of weekly health contract, exercise, health education, group discussion, group counseling, and recreation. At every meeting, researcher and trained public health nurse evaluated the program, and prepared the next program. The measurement tools were pain rating scale (0-10), fatigue rating scale (0-10), Korean WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis) Index, ruler, and goniometer. Results: At the completion of 6 weeks of self-help program, the subjects reported significantly less pain and difficulty with physical activity and more flexibility in both shoulder and knee joints compared to pretest. Conclusion: The self-help program would be helpful on pain, physical activity, and joint flexibility for arthritis patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.76-91
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• 2017

Background: Agricultural work is physically demanding and is associated with a high frequency of musculoskeletal disorders. It is challenging to comprehensively understand the present status of work-related diseases and injuries among farmers in underdeveloped countries. Objects: This study aimed to elucidate the current status of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in local farmers in Tigray, Ethiopia, and identify the agricultural factors associated work-related musculoskeletal pain (AFWMP) and healthy living and healthy behavior factors associated work-related musculoskeletal pain (HFWMP). Methods: The Institute for Poverty Alleviation and International Development at Yonsei University conducted a survey of 126 households in Tigray, Ethiopia in 2014. A total of 116 individuals (73 men, 43 women) representing each household answered the questionnaires. Results: 1) Work-related musculoskeletal pain (WMSP) most commonly occurred when performing heavy lifting and most frequently occurred in the lower back. 2) Age, self-perceived labor intensity, and months of farming work were significantly higher in the pain group than those in the non-pain group. 3) Overall work-related musculoskeletal pain intensity (WPI) showed positive and negative correlations with years of farming experience and self-perceived health status, respectively. 4) In binary logistic regression, the occurrence of WMSP showed significant associations with self-perceived labor intensity. 5) On multiple linear regression analysis, age, months of farming work, and self-perceived health status had a significant impact on overall WPI. Conclusion: The WMSP of farmers in Tigray, Ethiopia was related to the characteristics of farm working and health status. Furthermore, HFWMP and AFWMP were the chief factors affecting the occurrence of WMSP in farmers in Tigray. Therefore, both HFWMP and AFWMP should be considered for clinical health assessments of farmers with WMSP in underdeveloped African countries.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 1991

While the threat from traditional communicable diseases have been decreasing non communicable chronic diseases are increasing due to the aging of population and change in life pattern of the people such as over intake of cholesterol and lack of physical exercise etc. On the other hand, since 1980s, AIDS is spreading rapidly throughout the globe and environmental pollution, accidents, addictive diseases such as drug abuse and alcoholism are becoming serious factors to hinder the health promotion of the people. In order to improve general public health and promote individual health status, existing program for communicable disease control by the government such as tuberculosis, leprosy, STD and acute communicable diseases should be effectively continued. In principle, effort should be placed on eradication of source of infection, reduction of communicability of source in infection, treatment of source of infection as well as increase of individual registance to the diseases through immunization and improvement of physical status. Since the pattern of illness is being shifted from communicable diseases to non communicable chronic diseases such as cancer, cerebral hemorrhage, heart disease and hypertention etc., special emphasis should be placed on the prevention and control of those adult diseases. Early detection of the patients, registration and treatment of patients and health education should be systematically developed for effective control of the diseases. In addition, program activities on MCH, nutrition, dentistry, mental health, environmental health, accident prevention. medical delivery system, health insurance. and all other health issues should be improved in order to achieve our goal of health promotion.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.55-68
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• 2002

While the survival rate of preterm infants and employment rates of mothers with infants have been dramatically increasing, little is known about the impact of maternal employment and having premature infants on maternal health recovery after delivery. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine differences in postpartum health by mother's employment and infant's prematurity over time during the first 3 months postpartum. The study used a longitudinal design and was secondary data analysis from a large study. A convenience sample of 132 mothers was recruited with mothers who had fullterm or preterm infants through the postpartum unit. They were followed up for 3 times (at 1-2 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months) during the first 3 months postpartum period. Level of fatigue and hysical symptoms were indicators for postpartum physical health; Positive affect and negative affect were assessed for postpartum mental health, and role functional status after childbirth was for role performance. Finding indicated that health indicators changed significantly over time but there was no main or interaction effect for maternal employment status. There were main effects of infant's prematurity on positive affect, negative affect, and role functional status (self-care and social and community activities). This study enhanced the understanding of postpartum health of mothers with preterm infants as well as those with fullterm infants during the postpartum period.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.781-790
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a model of an elderly health promotion center after witnessing the effect of a social support program on dependent variables in older adults at a local community health center. Method: The subjects were 60 female adults over 65 years dwelling in a rural area, and they were divided into experimental and control groups each with 30 people. A social support program was implemented 6 hours a day, 3 times a week, for 4 months in the experimental group. Included was health assessment, health education, counseling, consultation, exercise, physical & occupational therapy, primary care, recreation, lunch & transfer service. Data was collected from May 1stto September 14th, 2002 by questionnaires, and analyzed by $x^2$-test, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression using SAS. Result: The social support program in the elderly was very effective on all dependent variables of physical health (t=4.68, p=.001), health knowledge (t=3.60, p=.001), life satisfaction (t=8.65, p=.001), and health promoting behaviors (t=5.23, p=.001). Conclusion: The Social Support Program at a Community Health Center was effective on health promoting behaviors in the elderly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2020

Objectives: Police officers may be at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population due to their highstress occupation. This study evaluated how an educational program based on the health belief model (HBM) may protect police officers from developing CVD. Methods: In this single-group experimental study, 58 police officers in Iran participated in a 5-week intervention based on HBM principles. Outcomes included changes in scores on an HBM scale, time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), body mass index (BMI), blood lipid profile, blood glucose, and blood pressure. The intervention consisted of 5 HBM-based educational sessions. Follow-up was conducted at 3 months post-intervention. The paired t-test was used to examine differences between baseline and follow-up scores. Results: All aspects of the HBM scale improved between baseline and follow-up (p<0.05), except the cues to action subscale. Self-efficacy and preventive behaviors improved the most. BMI decreased from 26.7±2.9 kg/㎡ at baseline to 25.8±2.4 kg/㎡ at follow-up. All components of the lipid profile, including triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein, showed significant improvements post-intervention. Blood glucose and blood pressure also decreased, but not significantly. Nearly 25% of participants who were not physically active at baseline increased their physical activity above or beyond the healthy threshold. Conclusions: A relatively brief educational intervention based on HBM principles led to a significant improvement in CVD risk factors among police officers. Further research is needed to corroborate the effectiveness of this intervention.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify relationships between light- and heavy alcohol drinking and health-risk behaviors such as smoking, inappropriate weight control, physical inactivity, and sexual activity among adolescents. Methods: The data of 68,043 adolescents in middle- and high school collected from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey in 2015 were analyzed. For statistical analysis, logistic regression model was used. Results: The rate of heavy alcohol drinking increased with increasing age up to 21.5% among boys and 13.9% among girls. Among boys, heavy alcohol drinkers were at a higher risk of smoking (adjusted odds ratios [OR]=3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.8-3.8), inappropriate weight control (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.4-2.1), having sexual intercourse (OR=3.6; 95% CI=3.0-4.2) than light drinkers. Multiple health-risk behaviors of smoking, inappropriate weight control and sexual intercourse also increased in accordance with the severity of drinking alcohol beverage compared to non-drinker. Physical inactivity was decreased among heavy drinkers compared to light drinkers (OR=0.8; 95% CI=0.7-0.9 for inactivity of moderate exercise). Similar results were observed among girls. Conclusions: Alcohol drinking especially heavy alcohol drinking among adolescents is related to other risky behaviors including smoking, inappropriate weight control, and sexual activity. To prevent health problems in adolescents, it is necessary to adopt a combined approach regarding heavy drinking and health-risk behaviors.

• 한국사회복지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.365-382
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to explore the concepts of health among people with mobility disabilities in order to develop a new holistic model of health and to identify implications for social work practice. A qualitative study based on face-to-face interviews with people with mobility disabilities was conducted. Nine consumers and nine social workers with mobility disabilities participated in the study. Social constructionism, heuristic paradigm, empowerment paradigm, and strength perspectives were used to form conceptual foundations to guide the study. Study participants' holistic descriptions of the concept of health encompassed five domains: biological/physical, mental/emotional, financial, relationships with others, and spiritual. Participants described health as harmony among these five domains. Harmony indicates that all five domains contribute to the concept of health, and that each domain is related to the others. Participants also viewed disability and health as an interconnected whole, not separate concept. The conceptual model developed in this study expands on the existing concepts of health by considering multiple factors at the personal and environmental levels, as well as interactions among the factors and between the levels. The personal level has five domains: biological/physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, financial, and relationships with others. The environmental level has also five domains: relationship with others, financial, social programs, social attitudes toward peoplewith disabilities, and physical environment. All factors under the personal and environmental levels also affect each other. The holistic concept of health for people with disabilities is not solely a part of the person, but rather is a function of the interaction between the person and their environment. The study demonstrated that people with disabilities have strength and resiliency, and health is an attainable goal for them, particularly when environmental and cultural barriers are addressed. The focus of social work practice should be the removal of those barriers encountered by their consumers with disabilities, as well as, the enhancement of internal factors that facilitate well-being.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation among middle class Korean. Methods: Cross sectional study was designed for secondary data analysis. From the 8th Korea Health Panel survey (2008~2013), a total of 6,037 data was drawn and analyzed by developmental stage using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, $x^2$ test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Across all age groups, high physical-mental stress, frustration, anxiety about the future and low self-perceived health status or social class were found to be the risk factors of suicidal ideation. Peer-compared subjective health status and frustration significantly influenced the adolescents. The young adults'suicidal ideation was mainly influenced by physical and mental stress, frustration and absence of economic activity. For the middle-aged, physical and mental stress, frustration, future anxiety, low peer-compared subjective health status were found to be the major influencing factors. The predominant risk factors for the elderly were frustration and low peer-compared subjective health status. Conclusion: Making comparisons to others significantly influence suicidal ideation throughout all life cycles. Improvement of mental health and suicide prevention can be enhanced by avoiding negative comparison to others.