• The Korean Journal of Urological Oncology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2018

Purpose: We evaluated the relationship of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and obesity indices (weight, body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC]) in Korean middle-aged men. Materials and Methods: From February to September 2013, 1,900 police men under 60 years old who participated in a prostate health screening program were included this cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent clinical examinations including weight, height, BMI, WC, fasting blood sugar, lipid profiles, estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and PSA. Total prostate volume (TPV) was assessed clinically. Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression tests were performed to evaluate the obesity indices and PSA relationships. Results: The mean age was $52.0{\pm}4.7years$, and the mean PSA was $0.97{\pm}0.99ng/mL$. The PSA showed a significant positive correlation with the age (r=0.108, p<0.01), TPV (r=0.349, p<0.01), height (r=-0.052, p<0.05), weight (r=0.186, p<0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.056, p<0.05), and GFR (r=-0.096, p<0.01). All obesity indices including weight, BMI, and WC showed negative correlations with PSA (beta=-0.013, p<0.001; beta=-0.039, p<0.001; and beta=-0.010, p=0.005; respectively) in age and TPV-adjusted model. Conclusions: Common obesity indices (weight, BMI, and WC) were associated with lower PSA in Korean middle-aged population. Thus, an individual's degree of obesity should be considered when PSA is checked in the first prostate cancer screening of life.

• Korean Public Health Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.25-34
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• 2018

Objective : This study aimed to examine the association Self-Rated Health(hereafter SRH) and Activities of Daily Living(hereafter ADL), Independent Activities of Daily Living(hereafter IADL) among Korean elderly. Methods : Using nationally representative cross sectional studies called 2014 Survey of living conditions and welfare needs of Korean elder persons. We used SRH as an independent variable, disabilities of ADL and IADL as dependent variables. Logistic regression was implemented and potential confounders such as socio-economic status, demographic characteristics and others were adjusted. Results : It was revealed that people who were female(than male) and 75 or more years old(than less than 75 years old) were shown to have poor SRH and disabilities of both ADL and IADL. In logistic regression model, poor SRH was associated with ADL and IADL disabilities. Especially, their association was more remarkable among male than among female. It can be understood that socio-economic contexts affect quality of life among elderly and SRH can be differently perceived by gender. Conclusions : Our notable findings showed that gender perspective is needed to understand SRH and daily living among elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore self-directed learning ability and its affecting factors among undergraduate students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Using a convenience sampling method, data were collected from 196 undergraduate students enrolled in one national university. Negative psychological tendency (i.e. Type D personality), academic engagement, and self-directed learning ability were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and analysis of covariance, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple linear regression, using SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. Results: The mean age of the students was $21.61{\pm}2.40years$ and 56.6% were male students. Approximately, one third (n=67, 34.2%) of the students had Type D personality. The average scores of academic engagement and self-directed learning ability were $3.01{\pm}1.14$ and $3.46{\pm}0.50$, respectively. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, the Type D personality and academic engagement were significant predictors of self-directed learning ability (${\beta}=.64$, p<.001; ${\beta}=-.13$, p=.021, respectively). This model explained 53.6% of the variance in self-directed learning ability. Conclusion: The study identified that Type D personality and academic engagement affect self-directed learning ability of undergraduate students, one in a negative way, the other in a positive way. Educators and educational policy makers need to make efforts to include interventions and strategies that increase academic engagement and change negative psychological dispositions such as D-type personality in the undergraduate education curriculum.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.224-233
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• 2019

Objectives: In women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death. Screening tests are the basis for early diagnosis. In Iranian women, the mortality rate of breast cancer is high due to insufficient screening examinations and delayed visits for care. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors affecting breast self-examinations among Iranian women employed in medical careers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 501 women working in the medical professions at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in western Iran in 2018. The subjects were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed, self-report questionnaire that contained demographic information and questions based on protection motivation theory and social support theory. Descriptive data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23 and model fitting with PLS version 2. Results: The mean age of the participants was $37.1{\pm}8.3years$, and most of the women (80.4%) were married. Most women had a bachelor's degree (67.5%). The findings of this study showed that the coping appraisal construct was a predictor of protection motivation (${\beta}=0.380$, p<0.05), and protection motivation (${\beta}=0.604$, p<0.05) was a predictor of breast self-examination behavior. Additionally, social support theory (${\beta}=0.202$, p<0.05) had a significant positive effect on breast self-examination behavior. Conclusions: The frequency of practicing self-examinations among women employees in the medical sector was low; considering the influence of social support as a factor promoting screening, it is necessary to pay attention to influential people in women's lives when designing educational interventions.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1162-1167
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• 2018

Objective Motor, perceptual, and cognitive functions are known to affect driving competence. Subcortical ischemic changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reflect reduction in cognitive and motor performance. However, few studies have reported the relationship between subcortical ischemic changes and driving competence of the elderly. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the association between subcortical ischemic changes on MRI and driving abilities of the elderly. Methods Participants (n=540) were drawn from a nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based, longitudinal cohort. Each participant underwent MRI scan and interview for driving capacity categorized into 'now driving' and 'driving cessation (driven before, not driving now)'. Participants were divided into three groups (mild, n=389; moderate, n=116; and severe, n=35) depending on the degree of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on MRI at baseline. Driving status was evaluated at follow-up. Statistical analyses were conducted using ${\chi}^2$ test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), structured equation model (SEM), and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results In SEM, greater baseline degree of WMH was directly associated with driving cessation regardless of cognitive or motor dysfunction (${\beta}=-0.110$, p<0.001). In GEE models after controlling for age, sex, education, cognitive, and motor dysfunction, more severe change in the degree of WMH was associated with faster change from 'now driving' state to 'driving cessation' state over time in the elderly (${\beta}=-0.508$, p<0.001). Conclusion In both cross-sectional and longitudinal results, the degree of subcortical ischemic change on MRI might predict driving cessation in the elderly.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to provide basic data to establish a foundation for efficient operation of the organization by assessing the effects of self-efficacy and job stress (measured by self-efficacy, job demand, and job autonomy) on organizational commitment among clinical dental hygienists. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study that used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data. After institutional review board approval, a survey was conducted from January to May 2017, targeting dental hygienists working in dental clinics and hospitals. The final 199 questionnaires were analyzed with PASW 18.0 for Windows (IBM Corp.). The data were analyzed using mean and/or standard deviation t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The means for self-efficacy, job demand, job autonomy, and organizational commitment were $55.94{\pm}9.65$, $26.55{\pm}2.29$, $20.24{\pm}3.88$, and $49.49{\pm}8.39$, respectively. Along with self-efficacy, the other factors of organizational commitment among dental hygienists that were statistically significant included job autonomy, mean salary (2,500~2,990 thousand Korean won [KRW] and ${\geq}3,000$ thousand KRW), and employee welfare (good), which are sub-areas of the surface acting. In other words, it was found that the higher the mean salary, the better the employee welfare, the higher self-efficacy, and the higher the organizational commitment, and the explanatory power of the model was approximately 42.1%. Conclusion: These results suggest that the higher the self-efficacy, job autonomy, mean salary, and employee welfare, the higher the organizational commitment. In order to improve job demand among dental hygienists, it is necessary to establish an effective plan to improve job welfare, self-efficacy, and job autonomy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.299-307
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• 2019

Objectives: While occupational stress has long been a central focus of psychological research, few studies have investigated how immigrant microbusiness owners (MBOs) respond to their unusually demanding occupation, or how their unresolved occupational stress manifests in psychological distress. Based on the job demands-resources model, this study compared MBOs to employees with regard to the relationships among emotional demands, job resources, and depressive symptoms. Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 1288 Korean immigrant workers (MBOs, professionals, office workers, and manual workers) aged 30 to 70, living in Toronto and surrounding areas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between March 2013 and November 2013. Results: Among the four occupational groups, MBOs appeared to endure the greatest level of emotional demands, while reporting relatively lower levels of job satisfaction and job security; but MBOs reported the greatest job autonomy. The effect of emotional demands on depressive symptoms was greater for MBOs than for professionals. However, an inspection of stress-resource interactions indicated that though MBOs enjoyed the greatest autonomy, the protective effects of job satisfaction and security on the psychological risk of emotional demands appeared to be more pronounced for MBOs than for any of the employee groups. Conclusions: One in two Korean immigrants choose self-employment, most typically in family-owned microbusinesses that involve emotionally taxing dealings with clients and suppliers. However, the benefits of job satisfaction and security may protect MBOs from the adverse mental health effects of job stress.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2019

Purpose: Liver metabolism plays a pivotal role in the development of metabolic disorders. We aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in young adolescents from an urban population in Korea. Methods: A population of 120 apparently healthy adolescents aged 12-13 years was included in the cross-sectional design study; 58 were overweight or obese and 62 were of normal weight. We estimated anthropometric and laboratory measurements, including waist-to-height ratio, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, aspartate aminotransferases (AST), ALT, and lipid profiles. Results: The mean ages of the overweight or obese and normal weight participants were $12.9{\pm}0.3$ and $13.0{\pm}0.3years$, respectively. Height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, AST, ALT, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score were significantly higher and the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index were significantly lower in the overweight/obese participants in comparison to the normal-weight participants (all P<0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, waist-to-height ratio, systolic blood pressure, and HOMA-IR score were independently and positively associated with serum ALT levels. Conclusion: Screening for ALT levels in adolescents may help to differentiate those at risk of metabolic abnormalities and thus prevent disease progression at an early age.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Korean males. Methods: This study was conducted on males aged ${\geq}50years$ who participated in the 2011 Korean Community Health Survey. LUTS severity was assessed using the Korean version of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, and was dichotomized as severe (IPSS >19) and non-severe ($IPSS{\leq}19$). BMI was divided into 6 categories: <18.5, 18.5-22.9, 23.0-24.9, 25.0-27.4, 27.5-29.9, and ${\geq}30.0kg/m^2$. To evaluate the relationship between BMI and LUTS, a survey-weighted multivariate Poisson regression analysis was performed to estimate prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). Age, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, educational level, household income, and comorbidities were adjusted for in the multivariate model. Results: A U-shaped relationship was detected between BMI and severe LUTS. Compared with a BMI of $23.0-24.9kg/m^2$, the PRR for a BMI < $18.5kg/m^2$ was 1.65 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 2.02), that for a BMI of $18.5-22.9kg/m^2$ was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.09 to 1.44), that for a BMI of $25.0-27.4kg/m^2$ was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.45), that for a BMI of $27.5-29.9kg/m^2$ was 1.11 (95% CI, 0.83 to 1.47), and that for a BMI ${\geq}30.0kg/m^2$ was 1.85 (95% CI, 1.18 to 2.88). Conclusions: This study showed that both high and low BMI were associated with severe LUTS.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2019

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to validate a shortened transformational leadership (TL) scale (12 items) comprising core TL behaviour and to test the associations of this shortened TL scale with depressive symptoms. Methods: The study used cross-sectional data from 1632 employees of the overall workforce of a middle-sized German company (51.6% men; mean age, 41.35 years; standard deviation, 9.4 years). TL was assessed with the German version of the Transformational Leadership Inventory and depressive symptoms with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The structural validity of the core TL scale was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis. Associations with depressive symptoms were estimated with structural equation modelling and adjusted logistic regression. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling showed better model fit for the core TL than for the full TL score. Logistic regression revealed 3.61-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.20 to 5.93: women) to 4.46-fold (95% CI, 2.86 to 6.95: men) increased odds of reporting depressive symptoms (HADS score >8) for those in the lowest tertile of reported core TL. Conclusions: The shortened core TL seems to be a valid instrument for research and training purposes in the context of TL and depressive symptoms in employees. Of particular note, men reporting poor TL were more likely to report depressive symptoms.