• Anxiety and mood
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2009

Objective : This study examined changes in the depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among Air Force conscripts during their Basic Military Training. Methods : Study participants were 500 Air Force conscripts. The study reviewed participants' self-reports on depression, symptoms of anxiety, and suicidal ideation at weeks 2, 4, and 6 of their training. Results : At weeks 2 and 4 of training, participants' mean BDI, BAI, and SCL-90-R depression and anxiety subscale scores were within the mild ranges. However, at week 6, those mean scores were in the normal ranges. The mean scores for the BDI, the BAI, and the depression and anxiety subscales of the SCL-90-R at weeks 2 and 4 were significantly elevated over the corresponding scores for week 6 (each F=8.78, df=2, p<0.01 ; F=22.16, df=2, p<0.01 ; F=11.08, df=2, p<0.01 ; F=3.42, df=2, p<0.05). Suicidal ideation, revealed by the mean BSIS score, fell within the normal range (F=9.94, df=2, p<0.01) throughout the study period. Conclusions : These results suggest that conscripts' initial levels of psychological distress in the form of depression and anxiety are slightly elevated, but most adapt to this distress during basic training. Therefore, more attention must be paid to the early stages of conscripts' basic training in order to address these concerns.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.661-667
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• 2014

This study is a cross-sectional study for conscripts with chronic low back pain, where it is designed to investigate general characteristics that conscripts with chronic low back pain carry, and it is also aimed to analyze the correlation as well as discrepancy within pain, depression and body mass index depending on their ranks. In this study, 90 Korean conscripts with chronic low back pain participated. And in order to analyze general characteristics as well as pain, depression and body mass index of the subjects, this study adopted a survey questionnaire upon general characteristics, and it also employed Visual Analogue Scacle(VAS) and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression(CES-D) Scale which have proven their credibility, where BMI values for the subjects were calculated based on 'Asian Pacific standard' Body Mass Index(BMI). From the general characteristics exhibited by the subjects through this study, average age and average height of the subjects were $20.78{\pm}1.41$ and $175.97{\pm}5.34$ respectively; and corporals displayed the highest ratio of 42% with the chronic low back pain while 40% of the total subjects experienced the duration of the illness less than 6 to 9 months. Moreover, 57.8% of all subjects were reportedly suffering moderate pain, and 48% exhibited depression while 49% carried BMI value between 18.5 and $22.9kg/m^2$(normal range). Based on the analysis of correlation among pain, depression, discrepancy of BMI depending on the ranks and each independent variable, it appears that there is no significant difference amongst the ranks, and there is no correlation between independent variables; however, it was obvious that all groups divided by the ranks had a moderate pain(45-74mm), depression(${\geq}16$) and BMI value in normal range(18.5-22.9).

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2010

Objectives : In this study, we aimed to elucidate the demographic and psychological characteristics of maladaptive soldiers in the Republic of Korean Army. Methods : Study participants included 110 male conscripts who had participated in the Green camp, which was a form of group psychosocial treatment program for maladaptive soldiers. All participants were interviewed and diagnosed by a psychiatrist, and classified into two groups according to whether they left or rejoined the army. We analyzed the differences between these two groups in terms of demographic features, psychiatric diagnosis and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) subscores. Results : Compared with soldiers who rejoined their units, those who left military service exhibited significantly lower educational level (p=0.041) and a higher rate in psychiatric treatment prior to enlistment (p=0.011). Among the 106 subjects, 63 (59.4%) and 23 (21.7%) were diagnosed with personality disorder and adjustment disorder, respectively. Further, those who left military service were diagnosed more frequently with mood disorder (p=0.001) and schizophrenia (p=0.014) than those who rejoined their units. Additionally, the MMPI scores of soldiers who left military service were significantly higher on the psychasthenia (p=0.028) and schizophrenia (p=0.039) scales than those of soldiers who rejoined their units. Conclusion : Most of the maladaptive soldiers were diagnosed with mental disorders. The results of this study suggest that systematic, consistent psychiatric evaluation and intervention for maladaptive male conscripts is crucial in the Republic of Korean army.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2012

Objective : Previous studies reported a correlation between the low serum cholesterol level and impulsive behaviors. In this study, we investigate an association between the serum lipid levels and psychological parameters in maladaptive soldiers in the Korean Army. Methods : A total of ninety-six maladaptive subjects and thirty-six normal controls in the Korean army were evaluated with the Korean version of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (K-BIS), Korean version of Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale (K- BSIS), Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI) and Korean version of Beck Anxiety Inventory (K-BAI). Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) level were measured by overnight fasting blood sampling. Results : There were no significant differences between the groups in demographic characteristics. Serum total cholesterol levels (t=-2.209, p=0.032), triglyceride levels (t=-4.593, p<0.001), and LDL levels (t=-3.753, p=0.001) of maladaptive subjects were significantly lower than those of normal controls, and maladaptive subjects had higher K-BIS scores than normal controls (t=7.542, p<0.001). Negative correlation was found between LDL levels and non-planning impulsiveness in the maladaptive subjects (r=-0.253, p=0.013). LDL levels (${\beta}=-0.258$, p=0.008) and K-BDI scores (${\beta}=0.266$, p=0.043) emerged as significant predictors for non-planning impulsiveness. Conclusion : These results suggested that LDL level was associated with non-planning impulsiveness. These findings suggested that serum cholesterol levels might be available as a biological marker of impulsiveness. However, more large samples, longitudinal biological study and psychiatric evaluations should be needed to develop a preventive intervention for maladaptive male conscripts in the Korean army.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.298-305
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• 2019

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) causes substantial health burden to the Korean military. This study aims to assess the impact of infectious TB cases on close and casual contacts in the Korean Army settings based on contact investigation data. Methods: Six Army units with infectious TB cases from September 2012 to May 2013 were enrolled in the study. We analyzed the clinical data from close and casual contacts screened using the tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube to identify latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) cases. For the control group, 286 military conscripts with no reported TB exposure were tested by TST only. Results: Of the 667 contacts of index cases, LTBI cases identified were as follows: 21.8% of close contacts of smearpositive cases (71/326), 8.5% of casual contacts of smear-positive cases (26/305), and 2.8% of close contacts of smearnegative cases (1/36). In the control group, 16.8% showed positivity in TST. In a multivariate analysis, having stayed in the same room or next room with TB patients was identified as a risk factor of LTBI. Conclusion: Using the data from TB contact investigations in the Korean Army units, we found an overall LTBI rate of 14.7% among the contacts screened. This study demonstrates that contacts living in the same building, especially the same room or next room, with TB patients are at a high risk of acquiring LTBI, serving as additional evidence for defining close and casual contacts of a TB patient with regard to Army barrack settings.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and correlated factors of high myopia in 19 year-old men in Southeast Korea. Methods: This retrospective study was based on the medical checkup data of conscription during 2005. The study subjects were 19 years old men in Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do. The health checkup data of the conscripts consisted of noncycloplegic autorefraction test, the biometric data and social factors. To analyze the social and biometric effects, we classified the biometric factors into 4 or 5 groups and the social factors into 3 groups. High myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent of under -6.0 diopter. Data analysis was performed using the chi square test for trends and multiple logistic regression analysis. The SAS(version 9.1) program was used for all the analyses. Results: The prevalence of high myopia was 12.39% (6256 / 50 508). The factors correlated with high myopia were the residence area (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.77 to 2.4 for small city; OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.72 to 2.34 for metropolis; the reference group was rural area), academic achievement (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.34 to 1.53 for students of 4-and 6-year-course university; the reference group was high school graduates & under) and blood pressure (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.16 for hypertension; OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.17 for prehypertension; OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20 for hypotension; the reference group was normal blood pressure). Conclusions: More than one tenth of the young men were high myopia as one of the risk factor for visual loss. Further studies on high myopia and its complications are needed to improve eye health in Southeast Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.356-360
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• 2005

Background : This study examined the clinical utility of using indirect chest radiography during a physical examination of new conscripts for determine the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods : Over an eight-month period, this study examined 25386 people who underwent a physical examination after conscription. The abnormal findings on mass miniature radiography were followed-up using direct chest radiography. The positive predictive value of mass miniature radiography and direct chest radiography was compared. The incidence, degree of infiltration and clinical outcome of active pulmonary tuberculosis were also evaluated during a follow-up examination. Results : The positive rate of mass miniature radiography was 1.19% (n=302). Various lesions were identified: Parenchymal lesions (n=109), mediastinal lesions (n=6), cardiovascular lesions (n=45), pleural lesions (n=49), bony lesions (n=90) and miscellaneous lesions (n=7). The incidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis by mass miniature radiography was 0.26% (n=67). The first diagnosis was made in 50 people; active pulmonary tuberculosis (n=42), pneumonia (n=1), a mediastinal mass (n=1), a rib fracture (n=2) and a pneumothorax (n=4). Most cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis were mildly infiltrated and either improved or were cured by the follow-up examination. Conclusion : Although mass miniature radiography in a physical examination after conscription has limitations, but it is a useful means for detecting the presence of early disease, particularly in active pulmonary tuberculosis.