• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.391-395
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• 2014

Background: We aimed to evaluate the role of genetic polymorphisms in tobacco carcinogen-metabolizing genes and their interactions with smoking in a hospital-based case-control study of Japanese subjects. Materials and Methods: We examine the associations of pancreatic cancer risk with genetic polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1, phase II enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of toxic and carcinogenic electrophilic molecules. The study population consisted of 360 patients and 400 control subjects, who were recruited from several medical facilities in Japan. Unconditional logistic regression methods were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between genotypes and pancreatic cancer risk. Results: Among the control subjects, the prevalence of the GSTM1-null genotype and the GSTT1-null genotype was approximately 56% and 48%, respectively. Cases and controls were comparable in terms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotype distributions. Neither of the deleted polymorphisms in GSTM1 and GSTT1 was associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer, with an age- and sex-adjusted OR of 0.99 (95%CI: 0.74-1.32) for the GSTM1-null genotype, and 0.98 (95%CI: 0.73-1.31) for the GSTT1-null genotype. The OR was 0.97 (95%CI: 0.64-1.47) for individuals with the GSTM1 and GSTT1-null genotypes compared with those with the GSTM1 and GSTT1- present genotypes. No synergistic effects of smoking or GST genotypes were observed. Conclusions: Our results indicate no overall association between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms and pancreatic cancer risk in the Japanese subjects in our study.

• Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.363-363
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• 2018

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy among women worldwide, and women of reproductive age in Thailand. However, information on the behavior regarding cervical cancer in rural community Thailand is sparse. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical cancer (CC) among rural community women in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, using predesigned structured questionnaires. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8 villages of Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, during January to April 2015. Bloom's taxonomy was used as a framework for the study. 265 women aged between 30-60 years old were selected by simple random sampling. All participants completed predesigned questionnaires with 4 parts: demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical cancer. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis in this study. Results: The majority of participants were in the age group of 41-50 years old (42.6%) with senior secondary school level of education (32.1%), marriage status (85.0%), agricultural employment (59.6%), and family income between 6,000-10,000 baht per month (54.3%). Some 63.4% and 68.7% participants had high knowledge and moderate level of attitudes regarding CC, while 41.1%, 48.7%, and 10.2% had neem regularly, irregularly or never screened for CC, respectively. The main reasons for not screening were were shyness (44.4%) and no time (55.6%). Vaginal discharge and itching were the common signs and symptoms of participants who were screened at a health promotion hospital of sub-district. Conclusions: CC is still a health problem in the rural community. Therefore, health education is required, particularly for those who have never undergone screening.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.468-480
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was to describe and develop public health nursing. Methods: Data were collected from 19 nurses sampled from 5 public health centers. The grounded theory of Strauss and Corbin (1990) was applied. Results: As a result, 48 concepts, 23 subcategories, and 11 categories were deduced from open coding. In axial coding, casual conditions 'facing difficulties of practical administration' and 'attaching importance to health support for residents' and context condition 'assessing of residents' service needs' impacted phenomenon 'searching for efficient performing methods.' Intervening conditions 'forming of support system' and 'working with positive,' and action-interaction conditions 'improving of resident's health and medical accessibility' and 'striving for self-development' lead to consequences 'carried out promptly for field-based problem solving,' 'mastered of successful program planning methods' and 'solving the issues with existing style.' The periods of process were divided into 4 stages, confirming program-contents, probing program-method, developing program-strategies, and applying program-competencies. The core category, ‘strengthening of practical-planning work competencies' incorporated the relationship between and among all categories and explained the process. Conclusion: This study described public health nurses' performance in Korea. These findings have important implications for the practice and must be considered to develop competencies for planning and practice of public health.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5721-5726
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• 2015

Lung cancer is the leading contributor to cancer deaths in the developing world. Within countries, significant variability exists in the prevalence of lung cancer risk, yet limited information is available whether some of the observed variability is associated with differences in the consumption pattern of local tobacco products with differing potency. We recruited 606 lung cancer cases and 606 controls from the B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Nepal from 2009-2012. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for lung cancer risk associated with different tobacco products, using unconditional logistic regression. Unfiltered cigarettes tended to be the most frequently used products across ethnic subgroup with about 53.7% of Brahmins, 60.1% of Chettris, and 52.3% of Rai/Limbu/Magar/others. In contrast, about 39.9% of Madishe/Tharu smokers reported using bidi compared with only 27.7% who smoked unfiltered cigarettes. Among those who only smoked one type of product, choor/kankat smokers had the highest lung cancer risk (OR 10.2; 95% CI 6.2-16.6), followed by bidi smokers (OR 5.6; 95% CI 3.6-8.7), unfiltered cigarettes (OR 4.9; 95% CI 3.4-7.2), and filtered cigarettes (OR 3.4; 95% CI 2.2-5.3). A clear dose-response relationship was observed between increased frequency of smoking and lung cancer risk across all ethnic subgroups. These results highlight the important role of traditional tobacco products on lung cancer risk in the low income countries.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.365-382
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• 2012

Background : Public hospitals suffer worsening shortage of physicians and face great pressure of recruiting doctors. This study is aim to identify the factors associated with retention of physicians who are working in public hospitals. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional and self-administered questionnaire survey in July, 2011. A total of 333 physicians responded from the 31 public hospitals. We analyzed the difference of job retention across the variables among doctors stratified as salaried and public health doctors. We used chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results : To the salaried doctor, longer work period(OR=2.04 in 3rd quartile), professional autonomy(OR=2.69), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=2.39) affect to the higher job retention whereas complain of low income(OR=0.33) and complain of poor clinical environment(OR=0.26) affects to the lower job retention. To the public health doctors, community connections such as hometown(OR=6.27), spouse factors(OR=3.49), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=3.19) affect to the higher job retention. But longer work period(OR=0.17 in 3rd quartile) affects to the lower job retention. Conclusions : Associated factors of job retention vary across physician's status. Professional autonomy has major impact on the job retention to the salaried doctor. And familial factors as well as community relationship have greatest impact to the public health doctor. Positive attitude toward public health is associated with the higher job retention to the both of salaried and public health doctors.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

Purpose: To improve and establish functions for public health centers in rural public, an analysis will be done on arrangement plan and area by function for public health centers in farming and fishing villages. After finding out this relationship and architectural characteristics, spatial organization and area ratio for providing efficient medical service and the relationship between the two will be examined. Methods: 8 of them were selected and site visit and interview with the person in charge were conducted to investigate the current status. The drawings collected for analysis were input as CAD data and schematized. The relationship between the arrangement type and area for the public health centers in farming and fishing villages was analyzed and based on this, an analysis was done on agricultural scale and characteristics, and putting these analyzed results together, an appropriate method of improvement was proposed for spatial organization by function for public health centers in farming and fishing villages and to provide efficient service. Results: Firstly, the Plan types found in the public health centers in farming and fishing villages could be classified into three including single-type, multiple-type and radial-type. Secondly, according to an analysis of areas by function, in the case of treatment function, there was a difference in the area ration for selective treatment. This ratio is considered to be greatly influenced by the project each public health center focuses on. Thirdly, I could become aware of the relationship between spatial organization and area ratio based on the analysis of arrangement and area derived above. Implication: As the data to refer to in future research on spatial organization for public health centers, if the object of analysis becomes more expanded and investigated, it will be utilized in detail for spatial planning of public health centers, thereby being expected to contribute to more efficient and qualitatively enhanced medical service provided by public health centers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

Valid evaluation of self-perceived health status is important for the promotion of individual health and quality of life, In advanced countries, many types of health profile have been developed, and currently, the SF-36, NHP, and EuroQol, etc, are widely used. However, the outcomes of these profiles may vary according to regional, cultural or emotional backgrounds. For these reasons a Korean Health Profile should be developed. In this study, we reviewed the concept of self-perceived health status, and its significance to public health, and reviewed some of the differences between the available profiles in 139 related publications. Based on this review, we are trying to develop a Korean Health Profile in order to measure the self-perceived health stati of Koreans.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.312-321
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the quality of chronic care provided by public health centers located in a South Korean metropolitan city using a modified Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC). Methods: We conducted self-evaluation surveys and collected data using a modified ACIC from twenty five public health centers. Cultural validity of the original ACIC was examined by the public health and nursing science experts. Based on expert reviews, cognitive interviews, pre-test results, five items of the original ACIC that were not relevant were deleted. The response scale was changed from twelve-point Likert scale to Guttman scale but its scoring system was maintained. Results: Eighty eight percent of public health centers in this study reported that their overall quality of chronic care was at a limited or basic level. About 68% of the centers reported that the organization was as reasonably good or fully developed to provide chronic care. On the other hand, 96% of the public health centers reported that the clinical information system was at a very limited or basic support level. The decision support, the integration of Chronic Care Model components, the delivery system design, the community linkages, and the self-management support were evaluated as limited or basic level of support by more than half of the public health centers, respectively. Conclusion: In a metropolitan area of South Korea, quality of chronic care in public health centers was not found to reach acceptable levels of services. It is critical to enhance the quality of chronic care in public health centers.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.303-313
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the correlation between social support, loneliness, sleep quality, and perceived health status among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Older adults who lived in urban and rural local communities were taken into account. Among them, 396 people participated in this study. Path analysis was conducted in order to verify the study model and its verification. SPSS WIN 18.0 and AMOS17.0 were used for analysis of collected data. Results: The results showed that social support had a significant effect on perceived health status (${\beta}$=.17, p= .003) and loneliness (${\beta}$=-.56, p<.001), while loneliness had a significant effect on perceived health status (${\beta}$=-.12, p=.045) and sleep quality (${\beta}$=.20, p<.001). In addition, the results also indicated that sleep quality had a significant influence on perceived health status (${\beta}$=-.16, p <.001). According to results derived from the model, Chi-square=.359, df=1 NC=.359, CFI=1.0, NFI=0.98, RMSEA=.000; thus, the model was shown to be significant. Conclusion: For maintenance of the health of the aged, social support, loneliness, and sleep quality should be secured; in order to realize this, an effort should be made toward health promotion while providing the aged with more social attention.