• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2020

Background: In January 2015, South Korea's government raised the cigarette tax, and the retail price of cigarettes abruptly increased by 80% compared to the previous year. This research aimed to determine the effect of this increase on smoking cessation among South Korean smokers. Methods: We analyzed data collected by the 2013-2015 South Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 15,203 South Koreans over 19 years old using regression analysis. We examined the recent non-smoking period of nonsmoking people, prepared according to the survey, and analyzed the recent smoking cessation ratio. Results: Among smokers, from 2013 to 2014, the smoking cessation rate was 7.2%, and it increased to 9.9% in 2015 after the increase in the cigarette tax. In 2015, the recent smoking cessation rate was higher among people over the age of 60 (odds ratio [OR], 2.67) compared to those between the ages of 40 and 49. The recent smoking cessation rate was higher among people with below elementary education (OR, 2.28) and above university education (OR, 1.94) compared to high school, higher for those with apartments (OR, 1.74) compared to general type residences, and higher among those with a household income in the low-middle quartile (Q2) (OR, 2.32) compared to the highest quartile (Q4). Conclusion: This innovative policy including increase in cigarette prices affected smoking cessation, and its impact varied by sub-group of smokers in South Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.176-187
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• 2013

Background: In 2006 Emergency Medical Services Index (EMSI), which summarizes the performance of regional emergency medical services system, was developed. This study assesses the performance of the EMSI to help determine whether EMSI can be used as evaluation tool. Methods: To build a composite score of the EMSI from predefined 24 indicators, 3 normalized values were calculated for each indicator, the normalized values of each indicator were weighted using 4 weighting methods, and the weighted values were aggregated into the final composite score using 2 aggregation schemes. The performance of EMSI was evaluated using 3 criteria: discrimination, construct validity, and sensitivity. Discrimination was the proportion of regions that did not include the overall median rank in the 5th to 95th percentiles rank interval, which was calculated from Monte Carlo simulation. Construct validity was a correlation among the alternative EMSIs. Sensitivity of EMSIs was evaluated by total shift of quartile membership and changes of 5th to 95th percentile intervals. Results: The total discrimination performance of the EMSI was 50.0%. Correlation coefficients between EMSIs using standardized values and those using rescaled values ranged from 0.621 to 0.997. Variation of the quartile membership of regions ranged from 0.0% to 75.0%. The total change in the 5th to 95th percentile intervals ranged from -19 to +17 places. Conclusion: The results suggested that the EMSI could be used as a tool for evaluating quality of regional EMS system and for identifying the areas for quality improvement.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2017

Background: This study purposed to analyze the effects of metabolic syndrome on the total medical charge of patients. Methods: 2013 National Health Insurance Service sample research database (eligibility database, medical database, and health examination database) was used for this study. Gamma regression was applied to analyze the effects of metabolic syndrome on the total medical charge and logistic regression was used to determine the probability of medical charge which was higher than the third quartile. Sociodemographic characteristics (age and household income), health behavior factors (smoking, drinking, exercise, and body mass index), and disease related factors (family history and metabolic syndrome) were included as the independent variables. Results: people who had metabolic syndrome spent more medical expenses than those without metabolic syndrome both in man and woman group. The standard regression coefficient was 0.09 (p< 0.001) in man with metabolic syndrome and 0.16 (p< 0.001) in woman. In addition, woman with metabolic syndrome spent more than the third quartile of medical charge. The odds ratios was 1.04 (p= 0.16) for man with metabolic syndrome and 1.18 (p= 0.013) for woman. Conclusion: people with metabolic syndrome spent more medical charge, so it will need to consider policy interventions for preventing the incidence and management of metabolic syndrome in Korean people.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.871-879
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• 2015

24-hour recall is the dietary assessment method most frequently used to evaluate dietary intake; however, accuracy is an issue when using this method, especially in large-scale studies. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of dietary intake estimation using one serving size. Estimates of energy and nutrients taken in over a 24-hr period based on actual intake amount (24HRAI) and based on estimates of one serving size (24HRSS) were compared. Data were analyzed using a paired t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and a cross-classification method. In male subjects, intake levels of energy, fat, vitamin C, vitamin $B_1$, Zn, and total food measured using 24HRAI were significantly higher than those measured using 24HRSS. In female subjects, intake of carbohydrates, fiber, fat, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B complexes, various minerals, and total food measured using 24HRAI were significantly lower than those measured using 24HRSS. Energy-adjusted Pearson's correlation coefficients revealed that intake of all nutrients showed a significant positive relationship between the two measurement methods in both males and females. Cross-classification analysis revealed that 50.5~67.6% of women and 40.3~71% of men were classified in the same quartile of intake of each nutrient when comparing data from 24HRAI and 24HRSS. We conclude that using one serving size in 24-hr recall analysis was valid and therefore may be used in studies to assess food consumption in the general adult population. Also, this method can be used to classify energy and nutrient intake into quartile, which is useful in examining the association between diet and chronic diseases.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2008

Although dietary intake of pregnant is supposed to have beneficial effects on development of infants, it may be harmful for fetal growth and development since specific food is a common source of toxicants including heavy metal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of maternal food intake and mid-pregnancy and their newborns blood lead levels. Pregnant women of 18-20 weeks of gestation were recruited from prenatal clinic in Seoul, Cheonan and Ulsan. In 422 pregnant women, dietary intake during pregnancy was assessed by a 24-hour recall method. Blood sample from pregnant (18-20 wks) and their cord blood at delivery were collected. Blood leas levels were analyzed by atomic-absorption spectrometry methods. Pregnant blood lead levels whose meat and meat products intake were in the highest quartile was significantly higher compared to the lowest quartile. Maternal meat and meat products intake was positively correlated maternal blood lead level (r=0.120, P=0.014). After adjusting for age, maternal blood lead level was positively correlated with their newborn blood lead level (r=0.303, P=0.030). As maternal food intake effects on blood lead levels of pregnant, careful regulation of food intake during pregnancy is perceives to be important in order to bring about desirable pregnancy outcomes.

• Water for future
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.205-217
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• 1995

The historical data from 3, 550 event storms during 11 years in Wi-stream basin have been used to investigate the statistical parameter of the time distribution for design storms by the method of Yen-Chow, Huff, Pilgrim-Cordery and Mononobe. The dimensionless value of triangular hyetograph, $a^0$, ranges from 0.44 to 0.50 and trapezoidal hyetograph, $h^0$, value increases as the duration time is getting longer in Yen-Chow method. In the Huff, the second-quartile storms occurred most frequently and third-quartile storms occurred most infrequently. In the Pilgrim-Cordery, the shapes for shorter than 6-hour durations are advanced tendency. However, for longer than 6-hour durations show delayed tendency. In the Mononobe, every one hour rainfall occured Centered Type. The application of these methods for each duration time was tested by using the observed rainfall-runoff data of Wi-stream basin. As a result, the reappearance of hydrographs of triangular hyetograph by Yen-Chow method showed promising, and it was approved to be used for prediction of the ungaged basins.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.389-396
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• 2006

Objectives: A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine theprevalence of osteoporosis and to evaluate the effects of body composition, health behaviors and reproductive history on bone density in postmenopausal women. Methods: The study subjects were 362 postmenopausal women, aged 45 years old or over, who were invited to the hospital. Information on their socio-demographic characteristics and the potential risk factors such as their past medical history, smoking, alcohol intake, exercise, diet and menstrual/reproductive histories were collected by trained interviewers. Weight, height, the body mass index ($kg/m^{2}$), and body composition variables were measured. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: The prevalence of osteoporosis was 30.6% in the $45{\sim}64$ years old women, 52.5% in the elderly women aged $65{\sim}74$, and 68.7% in the women aged 75 years or over. After adjustment for the effect of potential covariates, those women in the highest 25% (4th quartile) of the lean body mass are less likely to have osteoporosis (aOR=0.31, 95% CI=0.12-0.76), compared with the lowest quartile group. More parity also had significantly detrimental effects on osteoporosis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women increased with age from 46.3% of those aged 45-64 to 68.7% for those aged 75 and over. Lean body mass and parity appeared significant contributor to bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in this population.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.10.1-10.4
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• 2013

Objectives Children are one of the most vulnerable populations to the impact of disasters. We aimed to examine children's mental health in the area affected by the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident on December 7, 2007. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted using the Korean versions of the Children's Depression Inventory and State Anxiety Inventory for Children on 1,362 children attending elementary schools in the affected area. The information on distances between the nearest contaminated coastline to the child's residential house or attending school were obtained using a web-based map by inputting two address points. The symptom risks of depression and state anxiety were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, and other covariates. Results Children with the closest distance (in the fourth quartile) to the school from the contaminated coastline showed a significantly higher symptom risk of depression compared to those with the farthest distance (first quartile)(odds ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-5.33), while there was no significant association between anxiety symptoms and distance. Conclusions Children, a vulnerable population for mental health impact by the oil spill accident, should be included in mental health programs in the community along with their family as victims of the disaster.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.298-307
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of physical activity on glycemic control among Koreans with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A total of 215 patients with type 2 diabetes (82 male and 133 female) were recruited (mean age = $59.0{\pm}9.7$ years). The amounts of physical activity was assessed using the physical activity scale for elderly (PASE). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), Hemoglobin A1c ($HbA_1c$), and 2 hours post-prandial glucose (2hrPG) were measured. Results: The highest PASE score was housework-related physical activity. However, the amounts of walking was significantly higher in good FBG level (Z = 1.39, p=.041) and the amounts of leisure-time physical activity was higher in good HbA1 and 2hrPG level than in the poor glycemic control group (Z = 2.29, p<.001; Z = 1.99, p=.001). A logistic regression analysis showed that patients with leisure-time physical activity in the top quartile more likely presented with good glycemic control in $HbA_1c$, OR=3.84 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.65~8.95) and in 2hrPG, OR=4.06 (95%CI = 1.77~9.27), compared to patients in the lowest quartile. Conclusion: Leisure-time physical activity is effective for controlling the glucose levels, especially $HbA_1c$ and 2hrPG among type 2 diabetic patients. It is suggested that health providers need to more focus on providing aggressive recommendations on physical activity considering physical activity patterns by individuals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1453-1461
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• 2016

Regarding 'mate' intake (infusion of Ilex paraguariensis herb, a staple beverage in temperate South American regions), most epidemiologic studies showed positive associations with risk of some cancers, (e.g. upper aerodigestive tract), but evidence on breast cancer (BC) risk is limited to a previous multi-site study, which reported a non significant odds ratio [OR]=0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.67-1.09, p for trend=0.31) for the highest quartile of intake. The present study was conducted in order to further assess associations of 'mate' intake with BC risk. We combined two databases of women belonging to public and private healthcare hospitals. The sample included 572 BC incident cases and 889 controls interviewed with a specific questionnaire featured by socio-demographic, reproductive and lifestyle variables, and a food frequency questionnaire of 64 items, also analyzing 'mate' intake (consumer status, daily intake, age at start, age at quit, duration of habit, intensity of intake). ORs and their 95%CI were calculated through unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant potential confounders. The highest quartile of 'mate' intake was inversely associated with BC risk (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.26-0.57, p for trend <0.001). Stratified analyses also displayed strong significant inverse associations for 'mate' in frequent tea drinkers (OR=0.22), high energy intake (OR=0.23), high body mass index (OR=0.29) and in postmenopausal women (OR=0.36), among other results. As conclusions, we found evidence of a significant inverse association for 'mate' intake and BC risk.