• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4903-4907
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• 2014

Background: This study aimed to identify factors associated with women's decisions to attend cervical cancer screening and to explore those linked with intention to attend in the coming year and to continue regular screening. Materials and Methods: A community based case-control study was conducted among woman 30-60 years of age in catchment area of Chatapadung Contracting Medical Unit (CCMU), networking of Khon Kaen Center Hospital, Thailand. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data, and in-depth interviews were then performed to explore in greater detail. Results: There were 195 participants. Only one third (32.3 %) had been screened for cervical cancer within the past 5 years. Some 67.7% reported that they had not been screened because they had no abnormal symptoms, single marital status, and no children. Only 10.6% of those never had screening intent to be screened within the next 12 months. High family income (adjusted OR=2.16, 95%CI=1.13-4.14), good attitude towards a Pap test (OR=1.87, 95%CI=1.09-4.23), and having received a recommendation from health care providers were important factors associated with decisions to attend cervical cancer screening (OR=1.73, 95%CI=1.01-4.63). From in-depth interviews, there were five reasons of their decisions to attend cervical cancer screening including yearly check-up, postpartum check-up, having abnormal symptom, encouragement by health care providers, and request from workplace. Conclusions: High family income, good attitude towards a Pap test, and receiving proper recommendation by health care providers, were important factors associated with decision to have cervical cancer screening among women 30-60 years old. Trying to enhance these factors and reduce barriers regarding screening, may increase the coverage rate for cervical cancer screening in Thailand.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.135-152
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• 2002

Objectives: Cancer is the most frequent cause of death in Korea. Cancer screenings can save lives through early detection and their effect can be enhanced by regular repeat adherence rather than one-time screening. The aim of this study was to investigate major cancer screening rates and the reasons for not having screening for providing the basic data required. Materials and Methods: The study sample were recruited from the parents of students in 3 different middle and high schools in Pusan. 428 participants(l93 of males, 214 of females) completed a structured self-administered questionnaire from Dec. 21 to 31, 2001 and the response rate was 73.8%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with SPSS Win 10.0. Results: The cancer screening rates of the subjects(male and female respectively) who have had one or more in their life-time were about 36.3% and 34.6% in gastroendoscopy for stomach cancer, about 11.1 % and 8.5% in stool hemocult test and colonoscopy for colon cancer, 13.5% and 9.3% in prostate-antigen test and rectal digit exam for prostate cancer, 36.4% in mammograpy for breast cancer, and 59.3% in Pap smear test for cervical cancer. And the higher proportions of having regular screening were 36.0% in Pap smear test for cervical cancer and 11.7% in mammograpy for breast cancer. The reasons related to not having screening tests were found that ‘seem to be healthy’ was 44.8%∼58.9% and the most common reason and the following was ‘not having opportunity for check-up’. The most common reason related to not having regular screening tests were ‘for the finding of previous check-up was normal’.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3653-3657
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• 2015

We aimed to investigate the differences in health screening, including medical checkups and cancer screening, between HBV carriers and non-carriers in the Republic of Korea. In the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), conducted between 2010 and 2012, 17,865 persons who answered regarding their HBV-infection status, medical checkup history, liver cancer screening and general cancer screening within the past years were included in the final analysis. In total, 295 persons were HBV carriers. Logistic regression models were used to compare the health check-up rate between the HBV carriers and non-HBV carriers. The HBV carriers were more likely to have been screened for liver cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.83, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.90-4.21] or cancer [OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.04-1.99]. The HBV carriers showed a probability of receiving medical checkups that was identical to that of the non-carriers [OR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.72-1.35]. The HBV carriers, who were at higher risk of developing chronic liver disease, were more likely to be screened for cancer, including liver cancer, than the non-HBV carriers; no difference in the rate of medical checkups was observed between the HBV carriers and non-HBV carriers.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.99-110
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors related to prostate disease and follow-up procedure on health examination program in Gangwon-do. Methods: The studied population was 16,501 male aged 40 or more, who underwent screening tests for prostatic disease in 2011 health examination program designed for the low income residents in Gangwon-do. The screening tests included prostate specific antigen (PSA), international symptom score (IPSS), and maximal flow rate (Qmax). We conducted chi-square test for trend, two independent samples t-test, and binary logistic regression to find out the relationship between prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia and risk factors such as age, PSA level, and IPSS. Results: The number of subjects who turned out positive for PSA level (> 3.8ng/ml) was 971 men accounting for 5.9%. The result of post survey on them showed that 511 subjects (52.6%) got the urology check-up: 156 (30.5%) were diagnosed as normal, 286 (56.0%) as benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 69 (13.5%) as prostate cancer. The detection rate for prostate cancer was 8.8% when PSA level was between 3.81 and 9.99g/ml, and was 30.6% when PSA level was more than 10.00ng/ml. The rates of further testing varied depending on the communities from 26.7% to 68.2%, which was mainly affected by the role of local health center. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that enhanced quality control of local health center and empowerment of screening agency would increase the effort of coupled institutions between public and private sectors.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 2014

The purpose of this report is to discuss the obtained findings gathered from ultrasound screenings of the liver. After running diagnostic tests health, screens were then conducted to analyze and compare the gained results. This data was then charted and used to strengthen our theorized hypothesis. From January 2013 to June 2013 a recorded 2906 people over the age of 20 visited Health Promotion Centers in various areas throughout Daejeon. Of those 2906 participants 1789 underwent screenings for abdominal ultrasonography; these participants as well as their ultrasound results were used as the bases of our study. For the establishment of our baseline and the comparison of our results, we gathered case-controlled studies from various reputable sources. Both the control and the experimental groups were tested to measure the following liver enzymes (AST, ALT, r-GTP, ALP, and etc.). Kidney functions were measured as well enzymes such as BUN, Creatinine, and Uric Acids levels were analyzed and recorded to see if any relationships existed between the levels documented in the liver and those in the kidneys. It was shown that the two primary causes of fat build up within the liver were significantly connected to obesity BMI(OR=4.14) and waist circumference(OR=3.88).

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.212-222
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to survey children's health status and need of customized visiting health care services in one province. Methods: The participants in this study were 237 caregivers of infants and preschoolers. Data were collected at the participant's home or public health center. Results: Many of the children did not receive developmental screening tests or dental examinations. In the beneficiary group, the prenatal checkup rate and children's vaccination rate were lower, and caregivers had more health problems than the other groups. On the assessment of home safety, unsafe conditions were more frequently found in the beneficiary group. The caregivers in the beneficiary group showed lower child rearing confidence than the other groups, and wanted customized visiting health care services most in the areas of developmental screening, regular health check-up and counseling, nutritional supplementation, and oral health care. Conclusion: These results indicate that it is necessary for children and parents in poverty to be provided with professional home visiting interventions for the promotion of child health and prevention of developmental problems and diseases. These findings can be used for developing future customized visiting health care service programs for infants and children in this community area.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2002

Objective : Until now, there have been no evidence-based guidelines produced for the mass screening of hyperlipidemia cases in Korea. This study was done to find the most efficient strategy for a hyperlipidemia-screening program among Korean adults, Method : Seven alternative strategies for hyperlipidemia screening were formulated and compared ir terms of cost-effectiveness. Cost and effectiveness were estimated from social perspectives and using a two-stage screening process (initial testing and additional testing for positives from the first test). A computerized database (based on persons who had visited a health promotion center in one teaching hospital for a routine health check-up) was used to determine the cost and the outcome of various strategies. Official data was used in calculating direct and indirect costs. Effectiveness was measured according to the number of persons who needed clinical intervention for hyperlipidemia. A stratified analysis, considering age group and sex, was then done. Sensitivity analyses, focusing on several uncertain parameters, were also done. Results : Of the seven test alternatives available, the most cost-effective strategy was a screening program, which consisted of an initial test of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. There was some variation in the rank of the cost-effectiveness ratios for the seven alternatives dependent on age group or gender. Conclusions : Current hyperlipidemia screening practice, for National Health Insurance beneficiaries, tests only the total cholesterol level with a cut-off value of 260mg/dl as an initial screening test. It is not the best strategy for cost-effectiveness, and should be modified. Different screening strategies taking age group and sex into account should be developed and used for the efficient mass screening of hyperlipidemia cases among Korean adults.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.376-386
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• 2020

Objectives: This study identifies the trend of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease in lead or cadmium workers. It is also required to check the usefulness of follow-up management in lead or cadmium workers by reviewing the relevance between the results of follow-up management and the trend of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease. Methods: From 2009 to 2018, the results of the Ministry of Employment and Labor's special health-screening program for hazard agents for workers were used. The correlation between the ratio of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease of lead or cadmium workers and the ratio of those who observed were and underwent observed follow-up management was analyzed to confirm the usefulness of follow-up management. Results: Over the past decade, the average annual proportion of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease among lead workers has been on the decline. Among cadmium workers, it has generally shown a trend of increasing and decreasing. After the implementation of follow-up management, possible occupational disease in lead workers showed significant relevance to work prohibitions and restrictions, and probable occupational disease in lead workers showed significant relevance to the work prohibitions and restrictions, on-duty treatment, and boundary lines. However, there was no significant correlation between persons involved in cadmium workers. Conclusion: In this study, more active managements such as work ban and restrictions, on-duty treatment among follow-up management of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease of lead worker and observers are related to a decrease in the ratio of those who have been diagnosed with possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.4 s.55
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• pp.853-861
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• 1996

Pneumoconiosis is one of the major problem in the field of occupational health at Korea. Therefore, the efficient diagnosis of pneumoconiosis is a hot issue on the occupational health program. The author executed this study to estimate the diagnostic value of high resolution computed tomography(HRCT) compared with chest radiography for screening of welder's lung. HRCT was introduced very recently for the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, however, the diagnostic value for screening of welder's lung - principally nonfibrogenic and reversible - has not been evaluated. The subjects were fifty cases of welder's lung or suspected cases who had been collected between 1989 and 1994 from one shipyard and continuously followed-up on the basis of in-plant periodic health check program. We applied both chest radiography and HRCT on the same subjects from May 1 to 30, 1996. The images were evaluated by two careered radiologists independently. The findings of chest radiography were classified into four category by ILO classification, and the findings of HRCT according to the criteria of Bergin et al. The concordance between two radiologists expressed with Kendall's tau-b was 0.72 by chest radiography and 0.44 by HRCT- that is, interobserver variation of HRCT was bigger than that of chest radiography. The concordance between the two different methods was highly variable as 0.44 by radiologist A and 0.06 by radiologist B - that is, interobserver variation was very big. However, HRCT looked more detectable for the minor parenchymal change. These findings suggested that it is not appropriate to use HRCT routinely for screening of welder's lung due to lack of diagnostic criteria, and feasibility, acceptability and economic aspects. Nevertheless, HRCT might be recommendable in the case of equivocal parenchymal features on the chest radiography, unexplained respiratory symptoms, and/or lung function abnormalities suggestive of interstitial fibrosis.

• CELLMED
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.4
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• 2016

Consumption of herbal products from the medicinal plants contaminated with heavy metals can cause serious consequences on human health. This is a major concern for traditional and herbal medicine. The present study was carried out to analyze and quantify the levels of six potentially toxic heavy metals namely arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and nickel in ten important Indian medicinal herbs. The air dried raw herbs were processed by microwave assisted wet digestion and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with graphite tube atomizer. Except the chromium content in three plants, all the levels of six heavy metals analyzed were found to be quite below the permissible limits in all the ten raw medicinal herbs analyzed. The present work implies that, regular and systematic screening of raw medicinal herbs is necessary to check the levels of the heavy metal contaminants before using them for consumption or preparation of herbal formulations so that the possible contamination cannot cumulate up to the finished products.