• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1443-1450
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• 2004

The involvement of health-care professionals in tobacco-control activities is essential to prevent smoking-related morbidity and mortality. The purposes of this predictive correlational study were to examine tobacco-control activities and to identify the predictors of such activities of community health practitioners (CHPs). Of the 1,813 members of the Korean Association of CHP, 1,247 participated in this study. A mailed survey was conducted to collect data. The majority of CHPs supported tobacco-control policies and recognized tobacco-control activities as an important role for them. Only $44.3\%$ of CHPs were confident in their knowledge and skills regarding tobacco-control activities, and only $30.8\%$ had received professional tobacco-control education. While the majority of the CHPs 'asked, advised, and assessed' their clients, only a small number 'assisted or arranged'. The tobacco-control activities of CHPs were predicted by their attitude toward it, age, experience of tobacco-control education, educational level, and general perception of the risk of smoking; these variables accounted $13.5\%$ of variance in the tobacco-control activities of CHPs. These findings provide the basis for developing a continuing education program for CHPs. CHPs should be encouraged to integrate tobacco-control activities into their routine practice, and CHP education programs should be adjusted to increase the time spent on the tobacco-control intervention techniques.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1069-1078
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• 2012

This study was performed to evaluate the asbestos exposure levels and to calculate excess lifetime cacer risks(ELCRs) in asbestos-containing buildings for maintenance and management. The range of airborne asbestos concentration of 33 buildings was 0.0018 ~ 0.0126 f/cc and one site exceeded indoor air-quality recommended limit 0.01 f/cc. And ELCRs based on US EPA IRIS(Integrated risk information system) model are 1.5E-06 ~ 3.9E-05 levels, and there was no site showed 1.0E-04 (one person per million) level or more, and 11 sites showed 1.0E-05 (one person per 100,000 people) level or more. To prevent the release of asbestos fibers, it needs operation and maintenance of asbestos-containing building materials, and there are some methods such as removal, repairment, enclosure and encapsulation. In conclusion, a risk-based air action level for asbestos in air is an appropriate metric for asbestos-containing building management.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.105-116
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• 2013

Background: In Korea, there is low awareness of the respiratory health problems caused by the use of humidifiers, leading to a lack of governmental measures. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to review cases of varying degrees of humidifier lung and fever in connection with the use of humidifiers and to summarize the probable environmental agents causing these cases. Methods: We searched all articles reporting on humidifier lung, humidifier fever, and humidifier diseases caused by the use of a humidifier both at home and in the workplace. Results: We summarized a number of cases of varying degrees of respiratory diseases resulting from inhalation of water mist of humidifiers containing various species of bacteria and fungi and their toxins. Type of respiratory disease connected with humidifier lung includes interstitial pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, fever and several respiratory symptoms. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Actinomycetes, endotoxins and contaminated humidifier water were the most commonly suspected probable environmental agents causing humidifier lung. In Korea, the use of humidifier biocide is suspected as a likely cause of fatal lung injury including death and lung transplantation. Conclusion: Governmental policy should be devised and measures including a national surveillance system should be taken to prevent humidifier lung caused by the use of humidifiers.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.301-313
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• 2010

Growth promoters including hormonal substances and antibiotics are used legally and illegally in food producing animals for the growth promotion of livestock animals. Hormonal substances still under debate in terms of their human health impacts are estradiol-$17\beta$, progesterone, testosterone, zeranol, trenbolone, and melengestrol acetate (MGA). Many of the risk assessment results of natural steroid hormones have presented negligible impacts when they are used under good veterinary practices. For synthetic hormonelike substances, ADIs and MRLs have been established for food safety along with the approval of animal treatment. Small amounts of antibiotics added to feedstuff present growth promotion effects via the prevention of infectious diseases at doses lower than therapeutic dose. The induction of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and the disruption of normal human intestinal flora are major concerns in terms of human health impact. Regulatory guidance such as ADIs and MRLs fully reflect the impact on human gastrointestinal microflora. However, before deciding on any risk management options, risk assessments of antimicrobial resistance require large-scale evidence regarding the relationship between antimicrobial use in food-producing animals and the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in human pathogens. In this article, the risk profiles of hormonal and antibacterial growth promoters are provided based on recent toxicity and human exposure information, and recommendations for risk management to prevent human health impacts by the use of growth promoters are also presented.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.sup1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2008

Enterobiasis and head lice infestations, contact-borne parasitic diseases, are the most prevalent parasitic infections of children in Korea, and they are transmitted by close contact with infected persons. They are not of major concern in public health, therefore their importance in children's health care are overlooked in Korea. Egg positive rates of Enterobius vermicularis have been reported to be 10~20% among children in kindergartens and primary schools. Enterobiasis is diagnosed by scotch tape anal swab, but repeated examination is necessary for accurate diagnosis. Albendazole or mebendazole are extremely effective for treatment, however, reinfections usually occur if treatment is not repeated at least three times at a 3-week-interval, targeting the whole family members including the patients. Environmental sanitation and health education are also necessary to guarantee the successful treatment of enterobiasis. Head lice infestation is still an indication of public health status. Children of 3 to 12 years old and their families have infestations more frequently, and girls have more than boys. Diagnosis can be made by identification of live lice or nits on the head. Pediculicides are effective treatment of infestations, however they do not kill nits completely, requiring second treatment. Recently wet combing is preferred as an alternative by parents in England because of possible toxicity of drugs and resistance of lice. It is impossible to completely prevent enterobiasis and/or head lice infestations. Therefore, mass screening and prevention are required, and, in local clinics, a thorough evaluation of the symptoms and past history, and appropriate laboratory tests are necessary.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.199-209
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms and psycho-behavioral factors affecting depressive symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled a convenience sample of 157 patients with osteoarthritis in a university hospital between March and December 2018. Depressive symptoms, osteoarthritis function, therapeutic self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life (QoL) were measured using structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors affecting depressive symptoms. Results: The mean age of participants was 73.3 years with 76.4% of them being women. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 38.5%. Patients with depressive symptoms were more likely to be currently smoking and had an occupation and worse flexibility function associated with osteoarthritis. Whereas they were less likely to engage in regular physical activity and had a low level of therapeutic self-efficacy and perceived health-related QoL. Conclusion: Therapeutic self-efficacy to regular physical activity, including flexibility function may be primary factors influencing depressive symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis. With the management of osteoarthritis, psycho-behavioral factors should be considered in developing interventions to prevent depressive symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.115-123
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• 2012

Objectives: Students' life changes substantially as grade increases. It implies that risk factors that trigger students' smoking may not be consistent across grades. Most previous studies on student smoking have considered grade simply a control variable. This study examines which and to what extent risk factors are differently associated with smoking initiation according to grade level among high school students in Korea. Methods: Data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) in 2007 and 2008 were analyzed in this study. Results: Among boys, school location, school type and pocket money etc. significantly influence smoking initiation in the first grade than in any other grades, but the strength of the association decreased as grade increases except academic performance. Among girls, most independent variables were associated with smoking initiation in the second grade except school location, pocket money per week and academic performance. Conclusions: Our results suggested that the variables related smoking initiation in Korean high school students were notably different by grade and gender. These findings can serve as the basis of policy recommendations with regard to school efforts to prevent student smoking.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.288-294
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to comprehensively examine middle-aged male taxi drivers' perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods: A qualitative method was used, with focus group interviews. The participants were middle-aged male taxi drivers who had been driving for more than ten years and for more than six hours daily. Results: The data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Middle-aged male taxi drivers' perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease were categorized into three main themes: "individual perceptions of cardiovascular disease", "possibility of behaviors for cardiovascular disease" and "motivations of behaviors for cardiovascular disease". Six sub-themes were extracted as follows: "perception of vulnerability", "perception of seriousness", "perception of profitability", "perception of disability", "self-awareness" and "advancing toward health care". Conclusion: It is necessary to invigorate support systems through measures including education, counseling, and web-based programs to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged male taxi drivers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare birth outcomes between Korean women and immigrant women. Methods: Medical records were reviewed retrospectively from 201 immigrant women and 201 Korean women who delivered babies at K women's hospital in U city from January 2006 to December 2009. Maternal outcomes related factors included nationality, age, obstetric history, delivery type, indications of cesarean section, and complications of pregnancy and delivery. Principal neonatal outcomes were birth weight, Apgar scores, and complications of newborns. Results: Immigrant women were younger and had fewer pregnancies, abortions, and surviving children than Korean women. The rate of primary cesarean section and its indication in immigrant women were not significantly different from Korean women. However, immigrant women's newborn were more likely to have low birth weight and meconium staining. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate less equity of immigrant women in women's health care, although immigrant women's babies had lower Apgar score and more meconium staining. Nurses should help immigrant women cope with labor process effectively to prevent adverse health outcomes for their newborns.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components and to examine the related factors in urban and rural community, South Korea. Methods: The data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-V) conducted in 2010 were utilized in this study. The subjects were 5,760 adults 20 years or over. The data were consisted with health survey questionnaire and health examination. $x^2$-test and logistic regression was used for the analysis SAS 9.3 applying sampling weights. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome based on the latest definition proposed the joint scientific meeting was 23.4% and 29.0% respectively in urban and rural community. Rural community showed higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (29.9% vs 38.5%), elevated blood pressure (31.3% vs 38.5%), elevated blood glucose (24.3% vs 28.4%) than urban community. The related factors were age, marital status, high risk drinking, obesity in urban community and age, marital status high risk drinking, severe physical activity, obesity in rural community. Conclusion: This study showed there was difference in prevalence and the related factors of metabolic syndrome and these findings have important implications to prevent and manage metabolic syndrome in public health field.