• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of drinking patterns and the prevalence of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder with the assessment of alcohol policy needs in community population of urban city in Korea. Methods : Data was collected from 1,000 residents in a single urban city in Korea, from June 1 to July 31, 2011 by a questionnaire. As research tools, socio-demographic characteristics composed of variables based on study purpose, alcohol problems and alcohol use disorder state scales composed with Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test(AUDIT) and Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener(CAGE), and the assessment of alcohol policy needs in community population questions were used. Results : The lifetime experience of alcohol drinking was 97.4%. For the frequency of drinking, 21.9% of population responded 2 to 4 times per weekly. 24.4% of male had one time or more high risk drinking, defined as having four or more drinks in a sitting, per week. 51.6% experienced the first time drinking of alcohol in adolescence. The lifetime prevalence of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder were 14.9% and 3.3%, respectively using AUDIT. Alcohol use disorder were 9.6% with the CAGE scale. Problem drinking were 8.4% in this study. They requested the program such as prevention education(57.2%), construction of liaison system to treatment facilities(50.1%), alcohol counseling and intervention(41.7%), and rehabilitation program(39.8%). Conclusions : These results demonstrate that alcohol problem and alcohol use disorder were much prevalent, and these problem started in the earlier age. It is necessary to develop an effective alcohol prevention program or policy with considering the needs in community population.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1227-1239
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify alcohol status and related factors of drinking problems among Residents at Permanent Rental Apartments in Incheon. Data was collected from 20 August 2012 to 28 September 2012, and the 663 subjects were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression. As a result of survey, alcohol consumption was low, but prevalence of alcohol was high. From the logistic regression analysis, age(less than 40), unmarried, drinking reason for habituation, insomnia, anxiety, unemployed and interpersonal relationships were associated with in drinking problems of the residents of permanent rental apartments. Considering of these variables, the future research is necessary to provide an individual approach based on problem drinking level as well as to provide a proactive approach and policy development for of permanent rental apartment residents.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.439-452
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• 2008

This study was conducted to identify major dietary patterns of generally healthy Korean middle-aged women and to examine associations of the dietary patterns with socio-demographic, psychological, and physical characteristics. Data were drawn from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which is an ongoing national surveillance system. Healthy female subjects aged 40-64 years and provided the health interview examination and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data were included. We conducted factor analysis based on daily mean intake frequency of 26 food groups and identified 3 major dietary patterns, healthy, convenient, and alcohol-animal. The healthy pattern was characterized by higher intakes of fish, seafood, poultry, mushroom, seaweed, vegetable, tomato, potato, and fruit, the convenient pattern by processed meat and fish, ramen, noodle and rice cake, sweet snack, egg, bread, and fast food, and the alcohol-animal pattern by alcohol, poultry, meat, and fish. The healthy pattern was significantly related with higher socio-economic status, more stable family structure, healthier mentality, and sounder status of anthropometric and biochemical variables. Those with higher factor scores for the convenience pattern were found to be younger and having higher socio-economic status, higher subjective levels of health, and lower subjective levels of worry on health. Several physical characteristics significantly improved as the levels of the convenience pattern increased. The alcohol-animal pattern was significantly associated with several socio-demographic characteristics including a low education level, a young age, a small family size, and blue-collar jobs. Public health policy makers can utilize the study findings to select prior target populations with higher needs and to tailor dietary behavioral messages to lower chronic disease risks among Korean middle-aged women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.416-423
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to examine medical care utilization of psychiatric patients and to explore patients' characteristics associated with extended hospitalization. Methods : Data were extracted from information of Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. All data associated with admission and outpatient clinic visit were analysed by patient characteristics. We selected first psychiatric admission patients who diagnosed mental and behavioral disorders due to use of alcohol (main disease code: F10), schizophrenia and related disorders (F20-29) and mood disorders (F30~33) from January to June 2005. We analysed status of admission, mean length of stay, regular access to outpatient clinic and rates of extended hospitalization during 3 years. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with extended hospitalization. Results : The number of psychiatric patients during the first six month of 2005 was 30,678. The mean length of stay was longest for schizophrenia and related disorders but shortest for mood disorders. Patients who experienced an extended hospitalization were 18.8% of total subjects. An extended hospitalization was more common in schizophrenia and related disorders than other diagnostic groups. The factors associated with the extended hospitalization were age, sex, diagnostic group, type of insurance and medical care utilization groups. Conclusions : The study indicates the problem of an extended hospitalization for psychiatric patients in Korea. It is suggested that variations in rates of extended hospitalization among medical care utilization group may need an active early intervention system in psychiatric treatment service. Particular attention needs to be devoted to planning and funding for reducing extended hospitalization.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2020

In South Korea, female individuals in their forties show a high rate of incidence, with approximately 13% of the patients being <40 years. This statistic is more than twice as high as that in Western countries. It is therefore necessary to identify the risk factors for breast cancer incidence by age and economic activity participation status. Women aged 30 to 59-whether breast cancer patients or those in the control group and having no breast cancer-were appraised from the sample cohort database. The data were analyzed using the statistical software R36.2. To identify the factors affecting breast cancer incidence, the degree of association was determined with HR and 95% CI by means of cox regression analysis. As for the socio-demographic variables, the older the individual, the higher the risk of breast cancer incidence becomes. As for the economic activity variables, those who were dependents (unemployed) and who had higher income (medium and high) were at higher risk of breast cancer incidence, which was statistically significant. The income-adjusted HR (model 1) for breast cancer development associated with the economic activity was 1.452 (95% CI, 1.19-1.77). The body mass index and alcohol intake-adjusted HR (model 2) was 1.431 (95% CI, 1.18-1.74). One needs to pay attention to policy plans regarding women's quality of life, as well as to the risk of breast cancer incidence by their economic activity. In other words, policies need to give post care, instead of focus on early detection and cancer treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.5983-5991
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• 2014

Introduction: Upper aero-digestive tract cancer is a multidimensional problem, international trends showing complex rises and falls in incidence and mortality across the globe, with variation across different cultural and socio-economic groups. This paper seeks some explanations and identifies some research and policy needs. Methodological Approach: The literature illustrates the multifactorial nature of carcinogenesis. At the cellular level, it is viewed as a multistep process involving multiple mutations and selection for cells with progressively increasing capacity for proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis. Established and emerging risk factors, in addition to changes in incidence and prevalence of cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract, were identified. Risk Factors: Exposure to tobacco and alcohol, as well as diets inadequate in fresh fruits and vegetables, remain the major risk factors, with persistent infection by particular so-called "high risk" genotypes of human papillomavirus increasingly recognised as also playing an important role in a subset of cases, particularly for the oropharynx. Chronic trauma to oral mucosa from poor restorations and prostheses, in addition to poor oral hygiene with a consequent heavy microbial load in the mouth, are also emerging as significant risk factors. Conclusions: Understanding and quantifying the impact of individual risk factors for these cancers is vital for health decision-making, planning and prevention. National policies and programmes should be designed and implemented to control exposure to environmental risks, by legislation if necessary, and to raise awareness so that people are provided with the information and support they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.143-156
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• 2008

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the effective health education measures and health education programs for college students and also investigated the demands of restriction on drinking and smoking behavior in public area at the school level. Methods: The data were collected from 446 students of five universities located in Seoul and analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 program. Results: 1) Current drinkers were average 87.7% (male 90.1%, female 85.3%) and binge drinker was 68.4% (male 76.5%, female 60.2%). Among all drinkers, 19.4% drank more than eight times per month. As for the rate of smoking, 50.9% among the male student, and 12.1% among females were smokers. Among all smokers. the largest group (41.5%) smoked between >$11{\sim}20$ cigarettes per day. Many of the students started smoking in their middle schools (male 29.8%, female 51.5%). It implies that smoking prevention programs need to be emphasized in these schools. 2) The analysis of the correlation between drinking and smoking shows that no smoking students who drank were 66.2%, but abstainer who is smoker were only 5.7%(p=0.004). Alcohol consumption frequency and amount of smokers were higher than those of nonsmokers (p=0.000). The rate of attempts to reduce drinking was 38.1%, mainly for health reason. More than 34.5% of smoking student had made attempts to quit smoking, but succeeded only 16.9%. 3) As for the needs of moderate drinking and smoking cessation education, 67.8% among female students and 53.6% among male demand special education programs. About effective health education measures on drinking and smoking, 49.3% of drinkers and 35.2% of smokers had an inclination for health educator, and the next were video, campaign and pamphlet. 4) The largest group (45.0%) of respondents had agreed to regulate on drinking behavior, and especially 74.5% of them wants to ban the practice in most public area in school. 35.7% among female students and 27.0% among male desired to extend the non-smoking area on whole campus. The health policy for college students, through various ways, such as education, counseling service, and special program on orientation, should be employed. For public health perspectives, university and college community had to institute the detailed enforcement regulation on drinking and smoking.