• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2013

Background: It is known that blood group antigens are related to the development of peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. Infections due to H. pylori are most widespread among the developing regions due to poor standard of public health. This study sought to determine the association of H. pylori with ABO blood groups, age, gender, and smoking status among inpatients at a public sector hospital in Karachi. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at endoscopy suite at a public sector hospital in Karachi in the year 2011. All the symptomatic patients coming for upper GIT endoscopy were included in this study. Results: Biopsy for histopathology was taken from 93 patients, with an age range from 15-65 years. Age group of 15 to 20 years was found to be associated with H. pylori infection but without significance (p-value 0.83). In all, 36 (38.7%) turned out to be H. pylori positive with a significant male preponderance (p=0.04). Distribution of ABO blood groups in H. pylori positive group were A=31.4%, B=15.4%, AB=25.0% and O=53.7%, with a statistically significant link for blood group O (p=0.05). Rhesus factor was also compared but significant relationship was evident (p-value 0.73). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that H. pylori infection can be related to ABO blood group, middle age persons and male gender. People of blood group O are more prone to develop infection related gastritis, ulcers, and even perforations, so they should be more cautious against transmission of the bacterium.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1919-1923
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• 2013

Background: Smoking is known as a major risk factor for different types of cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease. Its prevalence is increasing in developing countries. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of smoking and its associated factors among the population aged 40-64 years in the city of Shahroud which is a representative urban population in Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study with stratified random cluster sampling was conducted in 2009 as the first phase of Shahroud Eye Cohort Study. Of 6,311 people, 5,190 participated (82.2%). Information about smoking habit was obtained by face-to-face interview. Results: The overall prevalence of current tobacco smoking was 11.3% (95%CI: 10.5-12.3). It was significantly higher among males than females (25.7% and 0.71%, P<0.001). The prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 10.8% and 1.75% were past smokers. The smoking rate of water-pipe was 0.67%. Unemployed people smoked more than employed (OR=2.66, 95%CI: 1.38-5.14). Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking is low in Shahroud compared with other parts of Iran and other countries. Age, sex, job and marital status were associated with smoking. The low smoking rate among women may be attributed to cultural and social reasons.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3983-3988
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer though preventable is still the leading cause of cancer death among women secondary to breast cancer. Persistent infection with HPV has been causally linked to the disease. A school based HPV vaccination program was introduced in late 2010 in Malaysia and nurse support is essential for its success. Objectives: To determine nurses knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and its vaccines, and factors associated with their knowledge. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working at primary health clinics in Kelantan from mid-June till the end of July 2014. Its involved 330 nurses selected through multistage random sampling. A validated self-administered questionnaire consisting of 11 items for the knowledge domain and eight items for the attitude domain was used. Results: The response rate of the study was 93.7%. The mean knowledge and mean attitude (SD) scores were 5.37 (1.76) and 29.8 (3.51) respectively. Only 24% knew that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and 67% correctly answered that Gardasil vaccine can protect against four types of HPV. Nearly 60% of participants wrongly answered that HPV vaccines cannot be offered to sexually active women. Likewise, 70.9% participants were not aware that HPV vaccine may be appropriate for females aged 9 through 26 years. Though 90% of participants believed that the vaccine is safe, nearly half of them were unsure about efficacy. From multiple linear regression analysis, among the factors tested only participant's level of education showed a statistically significant association with the HPV knowledge score (p <0.001). Conclusions: This study indicates nurses have favorable attitudes towards HPV vaccination; however they have significant knowledge deficit and major misunderstanding in critical knowledge items. Among the factors tested, nursing qualification is the only factor that is significantly associated with the nurses knowledge score.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2008

Objectives : This study aimed to examine current educational experiences, knowledge, intention to report, and requests for child abuse education in medical interns. Methods : A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2006 and 2007. The study sample consisted of 193 medical interns who served their internships at the university hospital. They answered 11 self-administered questionnaires related to child abuse. Results : Although respondents indicated a strong will to assist in eradicating abuse of children, about 90% had no educational experiences and knowledge of child abuse. Ignorance was a major factor for low reported cases of abused children. The preferred nominated reporting agency for child abuse was the National Child Protection Agency in 47.9% of female respondents, while 48.3% of males nominated Police Stations as their preferred option. In relation to sexual abuse, Police Stations were the preferred reporting agency by 49.2% of males and 37.0% of females. Medical school curricula were chosen by the majority of interns as the most appropriate stage where child abuse education should be introduced. Conclusion : This study found that medical graduates had limited experience and knowledge related to child abuse. The medical school curricula for child abuse needs to be further developed, implemented, and evaluated when appropriate.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 2015

Diet is closely related to an economic level, but few studies have reported on the relationship between the economic level and eating habits, especially in college students. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify differences in eating habits with a focus on processed foods according to allowance level in college students. This study was a cross-sectional survey of 500 college students using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics, eating behaviors, purchase of processed foods, and preference and intake frequency of processed foods. All subjects were classified based on monthly allowance: less than \300,000 (n=149), \300,000~400,000 (n=177), and more than \400,000 (n=124). All survey results were comparatively analyzed among the spending money groups. As the level of spending money of the subjects increased, the rate of skipping meals, eating out, and unbalanced diet increased (P<0.05). The reason for consuming processed foods was because they are easy to prepare. The factor considered the most when buying processed foods was price. However, these results showed no significant difference according to level of spending money. As spending money increased preference for retort, convenience, canned, and bottled foods significantly increased. Intake frequency of dairy products was lower, and the frequency of processed foods was significantly higher with more spending money. This study found that a higher level of monthly allowance in college students, was associated with higher rate of skipping meals, eating out, and unbalanced diet, and the preference and intake frequency of processed foods were also high. These results suggest that spending money level in college students, as an economic indicator, is relevant to intake of processed foods.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2004

Purpose: Adolescence is viewed as a critical period in the formation of health behavior and many health behaviors developed during this era persist into adulthood. Social-cognitive theory, self-efficacy as a central construct, has been used to predict and intervene the health behavioral patterns in adolescent. Previous research demonstrated that the attachment in childhood and self-esteem as psychosocial factors are predictors of the health efficacy in adolescent and it is viewed as solely an antecedent for the lifelong health behavior. Method: To investigate the path pattern of attachment in childhood, self-esteem and health efficacy in adolescents, 381 adolescents in high school from two urban cities in Korea were recruited for cross-sectional sample. Attachment in childhood was measured using Mother-Father-Peer Scale. Self esteem was measured with Hare self esteem. Perceived self efficacy in Health was measured by the School Health Efficacy Questionnaire. The path analysis revealed a significant relationship between attachment in childhood and self-esteem, self-esteem and health efficacy in adolescents. Self esteem was the strongest contributing factor for health efficacy in adolescent. The results suggest that attachment in childhood may aid in formulating positive self -esteem in adolescents and self-esteem played a major role in predicting health efficacy in adolescents. Conclusion: Therefore, self-esteem enrichment should be incorporated with adolescent health promotion and certainly should be a component in any health education program in school health program and interventions. These results have implications of psychosocial and family related factors on health promotion and health education for the health care provider with regard to primary and secondary prevention in adolescent population.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.370-379
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of self-care adherence in the elderly with diabetes mellitus (DM) who have lived alone, and to investigate the association between health literacy, diabetic knowledge and self-care adherence. Methods: Descriptive research using the cross-sectional approach was conducted. Data was collected by using a convenience sampling of 201 participants who aged sixty-five years old or more and have lived alone. Statistical analysis was conducted by using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Mean scores of health literacy, diabetic knowledge and adherence of self-care were $4.41{\pm}3.54$ points out of a possible $12, 6.22{\pm}2.55$ points out of a possible $15, 58.56{\pm}17.28$ points out of a possible 112, respectively. Adherence of self-care showed a statistical association with health literacy (r=.26, p<.001) and diabetic knowledge (r=.30, p<.001). Statistically significant factors in the regression model were monthly income, diabetic knowledge and exercise. Conclusion: The level of self-care adherence in the elderly with diabetes living alone was relatively low. Diabetic knowledge was an important factor to improve the level of self-care adherence for the elderly with diabetes living alone.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2007

Purpose: A diverse range of measurement methods to evaluate the effect of smoking is more powerful than using a single measure. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationships among smoking pack year, self-reported smoking dependence, and urinary cotinine levels, and to investigate the psychological variables in working men. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed men working in an electronic company who participated in a smoking cessation program. Among 57 men who completed questionnaires, 25 participate in a test for cotinine levels. Results: Smoking pack year was significantly and positively correlated with the FTND-K (Korean version of Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence) sum scores (r=0.631, p=0.000) and with the levels of urine cotinine (r=0.463, p=0.023). The relationship between FTND-K sum scores and urinary cotinine levels was also significantly positive (r=0.639, p=0.001). Those with higher social support, especially family support, tended to perceive a higher self-efficacy to smoking cessation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that self-reported smoking pack year and nicotine dependence in working men may be a valid way to evaluate the effect of smoking. A supportive family may influence smoking cessation in working men as it increases self-efficacy to avoid smoking.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.617-630
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• 1993

Factors related to health promotion activities and quality of life in Korean women with arthritis have not been clearly identified. Predictors of health promotion might be identified that will enhance the well - being of this group. Accordingly, the findings of the study will contribute additional information about the relationship between health promotion and quality of life and will add to the research on quality of life of individuals with a leading cause of disability--arthritis. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship of selected background factors (years of illness, perceived severity of illness, uncertainty in illness), perceived self- efficacy, and health promoting behaviors to the quality of life of Korean women with arthritis. A cross - sectional descriptive design was used in this study to investigate relationships among the variables of interest. The sample was composed of 96 women who had arhtrits and visited large university hospital in Seoul for regular check up or pre-scription of medication. The purpose of a descriptive correlational design was to determine the absence or presence of relationships among variables that were measurable (Polit & Hungler, 1981, p.147). The design of this study was appropriate because it yielded answers to the research questions and hypotheses regarding the relationships among the model variables. the Questionnaire contained demographic information, translated Mishel Uncertainty in illness Scale-Community form (MUIS-C) (Mishel, 1987), translated and modified Disease Course Graphic Scale(DCGS) which was developed by Braden (1990), translated Sherer. et al.’s General Self-Efficacy Scale (1982), The Health -Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), developed by Walker, Sechrist, and Fender (1987) and traslated to Korean by Ha, and quality of life was measured by Face Scale (Andrew, 1976). Several steps of verification for the translation process were carefully conducted. Data analysis included descriptive correlational statistics and multiple regression techniques. Health promotion was the only contributor to pre-dict quality of life. Results showed that enabling cognitive perceptual factor (self-efficacy) mediates the disruptive force (uncertainty in ill-ness) on achieving a health promoting self- help behavior. The findings of this study also indicated that illness - related variable of severity of illness was mediated by health promotion, which buffered it's impact on quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2015

The counter weight filling is a technology to accumulate soils on the side of berm with a proper width and height for improving the stability of the embankment. This study aims to assess a feasibility of the counter weight filling in the construction of pavement roads for recovery of shear failure during the construction. An effective counter weight filling section was suggested using the numerical analysis. The results showed that the effective counter weight filling section is two-fold (x2) higher than the ratio of width in counter weight filling : embankment height and one third (1/3) to the ratio of height in counter weight filling : embankment height. Also a range of effective trench crossing the counter weight filling required when a trench crossing counter weight filling is installed was suggested by supplying a proper distance between the counter weight filling section and cross-sectional trench.