• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2023

Background: The objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population. Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization. Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07-20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07-20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50-10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51-3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26-4.52) and a greater prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74-10.32). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.272-282
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) raises the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. An awareness of MetS is vital for early detection and proactive management, which can mitigate the risks associated with MetS. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the level of awareness of MetS among the Korean population. Methods: We conducted a nationwide survey between January and February 2023 among a representative sample of the Korean population using an online survey. Information regarding the awareness of MetS and its risk, the importance of lifestyle modification, and health behavior were collected. The question about the awareness of MetS was "How much do you think you know about MetS?" and there were five answers: 1) I know very well, 2) I know well, 3) I know a little, 4) I do not know, and 5) I have no idea. The high-awareness group was defined as those who answered that they knew very well or well. Results: Among 1,000 participants (mean age, 45.7 ± 13.2 yr), 29% were unaware of MetS, and only 20.8% had high awareness. The high-awareness group was significantly more knowledgeable about lifestyle modifications and demonstrated better health behaviors. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, younger age, low household income, and absence of comorbidity were independently associated with a lack of awareness regarding MetS. Conclusions: The high-awareness group showed greater knowledge of the importance of lifestyle modifications and better health behaviors regarding MetS. The findings highlight the need for improved public education and awareness programs regarding MetS.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.348-357
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• 2024

Objectives: The total population of Korea began to decline in 2019; in particular, the population in rural areas has been rapidly decreasing and is aging. Therefore, the government has designated depopulation areas and is seeking ways to support them. To assess whether health disparities exist between areas with population decline and those without, this study used community health survey data to observe temporal changes in health behaviors between the two types of areas. Methods: The analysis used Community Health Survey data from 2010 to 2019, and regional classification was divided by depopulation areas designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Trends in health behavior and chronic disease prevalence between depopulation and non-depopulation areas were analyzed. All analyses were conducted using complex sample analysis procedures in SAS 9.4 software. Results: The smoking rate steadily decreased in both depopulation and non-depopulation areas, whereas the high-risk drinking rate increased slightly. The walking practice rate did not improve in depopulation areas compared to non-depopulation areas. Furthermore, nutritional labeling usage rate was consistently lower in depopulation areas than in non-depopulation areas, with the gap being the largest. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension showed that the gap between depopulation and non-depopulation areas is continuously increasing. Conclusions: Health behaviors in depopulation areas have not improved, and the prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing rapidly. Therefore, the demand for health care services that support healthy lifestyle practices and chronic disease management in these areas is expected to increase.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.600-612
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• 2012

Nutritional researchers world-wide are using large-scale sample survey methods to study nutritional health epidemiology and services utilization in general, non-clinical populations. This article provides a review of important statistical methods and software that apply to descriptive and multivariate analysis of data collected in sample surveys, such as national health and nutrition examination survey. A comparative data analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used to illustrate analytical procedures and design effects for survey estimates of population statistics, model parameters, and test statistics. This article focused on the following points, method of approach to analyze of the sample survey data, right software tools available to perform these analyses, and correct survey analysis methods important to interpretation of survey data. It addresses the question of approaches to analysis of complex sample survey data. The latest developments in software tools for analysis of complex sample survey data are covered, and empirical examples are presented that illustrate the impact of survey sample design effects on the parameter estimates, test statistics, and significance probabilities (p values) for univariate and multivariate analyses.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2017

This study analyzed the relationship between environmental factors and the temporal changes of the bird populations during the every January from 1999 to 2016 (18 years) in Donglim reservoir. 'Winter Waterbird Census of Korea' data by National Institute of Biological Resources were used for the bird population data, and principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to analyze the changes of annual population. The average temperature of January and the average storage rate of the reservoir were used as environmental factors. According to the results of the study, the population changes in the study area can be explained by the increase and decrease of two water bird groups and a mountain bird group. The average temperature of the years when the population of water bird groups increased was more than $1.4^{\circ}C$ in comparison with the year when mountain birds increased. On the other hand, the influence of the water content was not clear. The visiting of Baikal Teal affected by temperature was a factor affecting the other group of water bird and a mountain bird group. The results of this study suggest that the temperature change affects the global spatial distribution of birds and the migration of large population species such as Baikal Teal affects species composition and populations of birds at local scale. Therefore, understanding of environmental changes at large scale and spatial distribution of species and flock contributes to understand the temporal variation of the bird population at regional or local scales.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.823-835
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• 2021

Identification of factors influencing regional population is critical for establishing government's population policies as well as for improving residents' social, economic and cultural well-being in the region. In this study we analysed the data from 2019 Population Housing Survey in Korea to identify the factors affecting the population size in each of the three regions: Seoul, metropolitan cities, and provincial regions. We applied a Bayesian quantile regression to account for asymmetry and heteroscedasticity of data. The analysis results showed that the effects of factors vary greatly between the three regions of Seoul, metropolitan cities, and provincial regions as well as between sub regions within the same region. These results suggest that population-related variables have very heterogeneous characteristics from region to region and therefore it is important to establish customized population policies that suit regional characteristics rather than uniform population policies that apply to every region.

• Survey Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.67-89
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• 2007

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES) consists of Health Interview Survey, Health Behaviour Survey, Nutrition Survey, and Health Examination, and is designed to produce a broad range of descriptive health and nutritional statistics for sex and age subdomains of the population. These data can be used to measure and monitor the health and nutritional status of the population of Korea. The survey has been conducted three times from 1998. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDC) is preparing for the 4th survey which is to be conducted from 2007 through 2009. This study is to design a sample for the 4th survey. The main new feature of the sampling design is using a rolling sampling design method. Since KCDC has imposed some operational requirements, e,g., the needs of producing the annual national statistics and of year-round data collection by some regular staffs, a rolling sampling design method is introduced. This is the first time in history of applying a rolling sampling design for a national-wide large scale survey in Korea. Bringing in the rolling sampling, measurement variation due to different data collectors may be minimized.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.650-657
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate average total fat and fatty acid intakes as well as identify major food sources using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI-1 (2013). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Total fat and fatty acid intakes were estimated using 24-hour dietary recall data on 7,048 participants aged ${\geq}3years$ from the KNHANES VI-1 (2013). Data included total fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), n-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA), and n-6 fatty acid (n-6 FA) levels. Population means and standard errors of the mean were weighted in order to produce national estimates and separated based on sex, age, income, as well as residential region. Major food sources of fat, SFA, MUFA, PUFA, n-3 FA, and n-6 FA were identified based on mean consumption amounts of fat and fatty acids in each food. RESULTS: The mean intake of total fat was 48.0 g while mean intakes of SFA, MUFA, PUFA, n-3 FA, and n-6 FA were 14.4 g, 15.3 g, 11.6 g, 1.6 g, and 10.1 g, respectively. Intakes of MUFA and SFA were each higher than that of PUFA in all age groups. Pork was the major source of total fat, SFA, and MUFA, and soybean oil was the major source of PUFA. Milk and pork were major sources of SFA in subjects aged 3-11 years and ${\geq}12years$, respectively. Perilla seed oil and soybean oil were main sources of n-3 FA in subjects aged ${\geq}50years$ and aged < 50 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of mean fatty acid intakes of this study using nationally represented samples of the Korean population could be useful for developing and evaluating national nutritional policies.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.786-794
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to establish an association between the consumption of ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC), milk, and calcium within the context of the most current population dietary practice in Korea. Inadequate calcium intake among Korean children and adults is one of the important public health concern. Milk is one of the best calcium sources because or its bioavailability, and RTEC is one or the foods commonly consumed with milk. The most recent Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2001 dataset was used as the source of data for this research. Subjects excluding pregnant women, were categorized according to gender and age ($1{\sim}5,\;6{\sim}11,\;12{\sim}19,\;20{\sim}49,\;50+$ years) and then by consumption of RTEC and milk. SAS and SUDAAN were used for statistical analyses. Sample weighted means, standard errors, and population percentages were calculated, and multiple regression model with adjustment for covariates were used to determine the predictability of total daily calcium intake from inclusion of RTEC and milk compared to the meal without RTEC and milk. RTEC was consumed by 2.4% or Korean people. Average calcium intake was 17 times greater when RTEC was consumed with milk than when RTEC was consumed without milk. Respondents who consumed RTEC with milk had significantly higher mean daily calcium and other nutrient intakes than respondents who consumed neither. in the multiple regression analysis, milk consumption with or without RTEC predicted total daily calcium intake after adjusting for age, income, and alcohol consumption (p<0.0001). The percentage of respondents below the estimated average requirement (EAR) level for calcium was lower for RTEC consumers than for RTEC non-consumers in all age-gender groups, especially significant differences were in children aged $1{\sim}5$, boys and girls aged $12{\sim}19$, men aged $20{\sim}49$, and women older than 50 years of age. RTEC consumption was not associated with intake in excess of the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for calcium. In conclusion, RTEC consumption was positively associated with both milk and calcium intakes in all age and gender groups in Korean population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.887-899
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• 2008

Recently the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea, announced the “Dietary Guidelines for Korean Adults (DGKA)”, which includes ten Dietary Goals, six Dietary Guidelines, and twenty-three Action Guidelines. DGKA are developed as the revision of the 2003 Dietary Guidelines for Koreans, targeting adult population. Dietary Guidelines are developed for general purpose as well as for different age groups. They are revised periodically to accommodate changes in diet and health problems of the population. The process of developing new DGKA can be summarized as 1) selection of focus areas, 2) analysis and review of available data for each area selected, and 3) derivation of guidelines based on the analyzed data, and 4) finalizing the guidelines after open discussions among the experts and general public. Five focus areas were selected by examining the Nutrition Goals of the Health Plan 2010 of Korea, soliciting proposals from the experts in the related fields, and reviewing existing and international guidelines. Five areas selected were 1) adequate intake of nutrients and foods, 2) balance of energy intake and physical activities, 3) alcohol intake, 4) food security and nutrition service, and 5) food safety. Adequacy of nutrient and food intakes of the Korean adult population was assessed using 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Newly developed Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans were used as reference values to assess the prevalence of inadequacies and excesses in nutrient intakes. Energy balance was examined with energy intake of 2005 KNHANES survey and results of physical activity questionnaire in the survey. Alcohol intake was also examined using 2005 KNHANES results of dietary intakes as well as the results of questionnaire survey on alcohol intakes. Food security, nutrition services, and food safety were analyzed using various government data and published results on the issues. Ten Dietary Goals and six Dietary Guidelines were developed after data analysis and were subjected to reviews of experts and general public. The final DGKA are: 1) Eat a variety of foods from each food group, 2) Increase physical activity and maintain healthy weight, 3) Eat proper amount of clean foods, 4) Avoid salty foods and try to eat foods with bland taste, 5) Avoid foods with high fat contents and deep-fried foods, and 6) When you drink alcohol, limit the amount. Twenty-three action guidelines are developed in order to achieve these guidelines in actual diet and life among the population. The government is disseminating the guidelines with “337” slogan and emblem. “337” indicates everyone should practice “3” guidelines of promoting good eating practice, “3” guidelines to limit or decrease in your diet, and you should practice them for “7” days a week. The guidelines will be useful in promoting healthy food habits and good nutritional status which will result in decrease nutrition related health problems in Korea.