• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6175-6179
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• 2012

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are still important to the health of Thai rural residents. IPIs are the cause of many chronic diseases with, for example, opisthorchiasis resulting in progression to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). This cross-sectional study in a prospective cohort study aimed to examine the prevalence and co-infection of intestinal parasites among Northeastern Thai rural residents, recruited into the Khon Kaen Cohort Study (KKCS), and who were residing in areas of high-risk for developing CCA. On recruitment, subjects had completed questionnaires and provided fecal samples for IPI testing using the formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Data on selected general characteristics and the results of the fecal tests were analysed. IPI test results were available for 18,900 of cohort subjects, and 38.50% were found to be positive for one or more types of intestinal parasite. The prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini) infection was the highest (45.7%), followed by intestinal flukes (31.9%), intestinal nematodes (17.7%), intestinal protozoa (3.02%), and intestinal cestodes (1.69%). The pattern of different infections was similar in all age groups. According to a mapping analysis, a higher CCA burden was correlated with a higher prevalence of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes and a greater intensity of O. viverrini. Both prevention and control programs against liver fluke and other intestinal parasites are needed and should be delivered simultaneously. We can anticipate that the design of future control and prevention programmes will accommodate a more community-orientated and participatory approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1791-1796
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death among Vietnamese Americans, yet screening remains underutilized. We investigated the effectiveness of a culturally tailored DVD intervention in promoting CRC screening among unscreened Vietnamese Americans age 50 and over. Materials and Methods: Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted a trial comparing twenty-eight subjects who received a mailed DVD in Vietnamese, with twenty-eight subjects who received a mailed brochure in Vietnamese. Subjects completed telephone surveys at baseline, One-month, and one-year. The primary outcome was receipt of screening. Secondary measures were participants' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about CRC screening. Two focus groups explored the intervention's acceptability and effectiveness. Results: At one year, CRC screening rates of 57.1% and 42.9% were observed in experimental and control group respectively (p=0.42), Subjects in both groups showed increased knowledge about CRC after one month. Focus group findings revealed that the DVD was an effective method of communicating information and would help promote screening. Conclusions: The findings suggest that culturally tailored, linguistically appropriate content is more important than the type of media used. This relatively low intensity, low cost intervention utilizing a DVD can be another useful method for outreach to the often hard-to-reach unscreened population.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.277-302
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• 2007

This study aimed at understanding the staff recruitment process of social welfare organization and providing specific practical implications for better practice in the process. To achieve this, we have contacted a community welfare center which has decided to adopt open and multi-method approach in recruitment process. The data has been collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation and documents review. Case study analysis has been used for data analysis. The research findings have been presented at five different processes, i.e. recruitment advertisement, documents screening, job interview, selection and result announcement, appointment. A number of themes has been raised such as 'By others faults wise men correct their own', 'Lessons from experience', 'No two men are of a mind', 'Lack of speciality in recruitment methods of social welfare organization'. These themes have been discussed in detail. In conclusion, we have made some practical suggestions for both social welfare organization and job applicants concerning recruitment process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4401-4408
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• 2015

Background: Cancer is a primary source of concern in Thailand and other countries around the world, including the Asian-Pacific region. Evidence supports that an important contributing cause of cancer and other chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, and hypertension is excessive alcohol consumption. Studies conducted in Thailand reveal a worrisome rise in the number of new and regular drinkers in communities. Therefore, actions for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of problem drinking are necessary. In recent years nurses in North East Thailand have been developing and implementing the Khon Kaen Family Health Nursing model to embed disease prevention in communities through the actions of family health nurses and local family health leaders. Aim: The aim of this qualitative research was to better understand the experiences of the local family health leaders using this model and to synthesize lessons learned. Materials and Methods: As part of a participatory action research approach involving analysis of focus group discussions and individual interviews, the experiences of 45 family health leaders were synthesized. Results: Four main themes were identified, namely: i) Family first: role modeling beginning at the personal and family level. ii) Local leverage: using village community forums to reduce alcohol drinking. iii) Gentle growth: making the first step and treading gently; and iv) Respect, Redemption, Rehabilitation: valuing the person to re-integrate them in the village society. Conclusions: As alcohol consumption in the village declined significantly following the prevention program, these findings illuminate how low-tech integrated prevention approaches may be very useful, particularly in rural communities. The lessons learned may have relevance not only in Thailand but in other countries seeking to prevent and mitigate behavior that conduces to diseases such as cancer.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2000

This paper presents the status of nutrition education for older adults in Korea, and examines considerations in developing effective nutrition education programs for the elderly based on literature reviews. Finally, strategies of nutrition education for older adults in Korea are examined. Status of nutrition education were examined by surveying 90 senior centers, and 46 public health centers providing nutrition services. Most senior centers(96%) provided health education programs, however, nutrition was only a part of health programs. Among the 41 public health centers which responded to the survey, 73.1% provided nutrition education for older adults. The frequently covered topics were prevention & management of hypertension/stroke, diabetes, nutritional management during later adulthood, and osteoporosis. Common barriers in planning and implementing elderly education were; lack of educational materials for older adults, reliance on lectures, difficulty in following-up. To develop effective nutrition education, four stages consisting of needs assessment, planning and implementation of programs, and evaluation should be carefully done. Needs assessment might be done using quantitative or qualitative assessment. Factors influencing nutrition behavior of older adults can be systematically examined using a theoretical approach such as the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework. Qualitative methods, such as focus group interviews, also provide insightful information regarding the needs of older adults. In planning nutrition education programs, physical and pshychological changes associated with aging should be considered. Literature regarding elderly education suggest that active participation or participatory learning is also effective for older adults. Educational materials are developed following the principle of KISS and pre-tested. Program evaluation has been rarely done in practice, although it provides valuable feedback to the program. Strategies for developing nutrition education for Korean elderly include; performing needs assessment, developing a standard program by topics in a logical and systematic way, developing programs for subgroups of elderly, applying diverse education methods developing educational materials for the elderly, evaluating programs using simple tools, and delivering a nutrition program as a part of health promotion program. Finally, the interaction and communication between researchers and practitioners is strongly recommended to ensure better nutrition education and services to the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.83-106
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• 2008

The Purpose of this study is to explore if people with intellectual disabilities can play a role as 'meaningful informants' in research process in Korea, by challenging the existing paradigm which consists of suspicion on the communication ability of people with intellectual disabilities and truthlessness of their statements, which results in ignorance on the covered life of people with intellectual disabilities. In this research, lessons which could learn through reinterpretation of my research experience are as follows. Firstly, the deficits of communication ability can be supplemented with restructuring interview instruments such as research questions, visual aids etc and adopting conversation analysis methods. Secondly, Suspicion on the truthlessness of their statements can be restructured by epistemological and methodological reinterpretation on the representation of social reality. Thirdly, the mechanism of exclusion and oppression according to the ignorance can be substituted by 'uncovering the life of people with intellectual disabilities', which can be basis of reconstructing the contents of programmes in the disability service centers and disability policies in the government. With these research results it could be argued that there needs to include people with intellectual disabilities as meaningful informants in the research projects funded by the government and also to provide people with intellectual disabilities with diverse roles in the research process by virtue of the development of qualitative research methods in the near future.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.3-10
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to seek a planning approach for children's museum within Korean context that promotes community participation. A literature review method and a field survey method were used. Literature reviews on community participation paradigm, residents' participation and donation networks in community regeneration processes, and finally on case studies on children's museum in Korea were carried out. Through the field survey on Chicago Children's Museum(CCM) located in downtown Chicago, its role was identified as networking systems of community participation and donation and was verified as a socio-physical base for vitalizing donation culture that is an active and a leading community participation method. As a result, CCM has engaged many partnerships with city organizations and local schools to provide diverse and unique programs that are not only targeted to children but also parents, teachers and visitors. Also, an evolution of CCM through various types of donations and community participation was delineated. CCM was found successfully in restoring community spirit and vitalizing economical growth where it once was a decayed city area. Rather than focusing on descriptive technique of typical children's museum, this study explored how community fabric is made and acted out, through rethinking community participation's value, and how it can influence a physical space. CCM, as a good example of community participatory museum, the results can be used as a reference in planning and directing community participation based children's museums in Korea. It is significant to shed light on children's museum as an opportunity of social space which can empower community.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.866-874
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• 2014

This study is case study. The purpose of this study is to analysis 'the project of market' connected with ESD in early childhood education and to examine children's meaningful experiences during the process. This study was carried out in the kindergarten in K city, Chunng-Nam. 5-year children of 2 classes were participated. The results of this study concluded as follows: 'The project of market' showed the possibilities of ESD through reconstructing the existing curriculum. In every stage of the project, skills of ESD were included and developed. This project reflected the key concepts of social, environmental, economic areas. This project resulted by integrated curriculum, participatory engagement, multiple instructional methods.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 2011

Firefighters and police officers have the third highest prevalence of obesity among 41 male occupational groups in the United States (US). However, few studies have examined the relationship of firefighter working conditions and health behaviors with obesity. This paper presents a theoretical framework describing the relationship between working conditions, health behaviors, and obesity in firefighters. In addition, the paper describes a detailed study plan for exploring the role of occupational and behavioral risk factors in the development of obesity in firefighters enrolled in the Orange County Fire Authority Wellness Fitness Program. The study plan will be described with emphasis on its methodological merits: adopting a participatory action research approach, developing a firefighter-specific work and health questionnaire, conducting both a cross-sectional epidemiological study using the questionnaire and a sub-study to assess the validity of the questionnaire with dietary intake and physical activity measures, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the body mass index as an obesity measure in comparison to skinfold-based percent body fat. The study plan based on a theoretical framework can be an essential first step for establishing effective intervention programs for obesity among professional and voluntary firefighters.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.173-184
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• 2019

This study investigated the effects of applying the flipped classroom approach with MOOC to the college educational system. A total of six undergraduate students participated in the 10-week innovative learning setting. The participants performed online activities using the learning content from a MOOC website; this was followed by a participatory learning process in the offline classroom. The semi-structured face-to-face interviews for the six participants after the classes were completed and analyzed. The results showed that the instructional method enabled students to be highly motivated and to perform learning activities. However, there were some limitations: (1) learning was impeded due to English language issues and (2) the Korean education culture was still unfamiliar with this pedagogical method. Finally, suggestions for future research are discussed.