• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.334-346
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• 2024

Background: Research on the link between subjective health and unmet healthcare needs is limited. This study examines whether experiences of subjective healthcare needs and unmet needs are related to subjective health in South Korea, where the rate of poor subjective health is notably high. Methods: This analysis utilized data from the Korea Health Panel (2014-2018), incorporating 68,930 observations from 16,535 adults aged 19 or older. The dependent variable, subjective health, was dichotomized into poor (bad or very bad) and non-poor (fair, good, or very good) categories. The primary variables of interest were the experiences of subjective healthcare needs and unmet needs, while control variables included 14 socio-demographic, health, and functional characteristics. The study employed population proportion analysis and multivariable two-level binary logistic regression analysis for each gender, accounting for the complex sampling design. Results: In 2018, the rate of reporting poor health was 8.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0%-9.5%) for men and 14.7% (95% CI, 13.8%-15.6%) for women. For both genders, compared to individuals whose healthcare needs were met, those without healthcare needs were less likely to report poor subjective health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.86 for men; AOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.93 for women). Conversely, individuals whose healthcare needs were not met were more likely to report poor subjective health (AOR, 2.31; 95% CI, 2.01-2.65 for men; AOR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.98-2.43 for women). A policy simulation indicated that reducing the experience of subjective healthcare needs would be approximately 5 times more effective in reducing poor subjective health than a policy focused on reducing the experience of unmet needs. Conclusion: South Korea must make significant efforts to reduce the deterioration of subjective health and promote appropriate healthcare utilization. To achieve this, a set of policies is recommended to address subjective healthcare needs. These policies should include (1) prompting individuals to proactively manage their own health, (2) providing primary healthcare similar to that in advanced countries, (3) ensuring the healthcare delivery system operates effectively, (4) decentralizing the healthcare management system, and (5) reducing the likelihood of people being misled into thinking they have a healthcare need.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.497-503
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a program geared toward improving elderly people's oral function. After a program was provided to the selected elderly people free of charge for three months, they were asked to rate their own oral function to see whether they underwent any changes after their participation in the program, and their oral function was tested to obtain objective data. The collected data were analyzed by the statistical package SPSS WIN 18.0. The findings of the study were as follows: As for changes in their self-rated indicators of oral function, they faced less troubles in most of the oral function items after they participated in the program, and there were statistically significant differences in some of the items. As a result of making an objective evaluation of their oral function, they underwent a little change in salivary flow rate from 1.19 to 1.30, though the change was not statistically significant. In terms of opening, they showed a statistically significant rise of scores from 4.22 to 4.53, and they also showed a statistically significant rise of scores in pronunciation from 30.52 to 38.88. Regarding satisfaction with the program, they gave 4.48 to the program, which implied that they were greatly satisfied with the program. The abovementioned findings suggest that oral health experts and program providers should try to encourage elderly people to keep on taking oral health programs with interest. Currently, oral exercise programs are conducted in some public health centers and in the field of clinical dentistry, and it's required to offer more oral exercise programs as community exercise programs for the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1029-1044
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• 2021

This research was conducted to investigate the prevalence of depression and convergent factors related to depression in male and female wage workers. Using data from the 2014 and 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 3,763 adults (1,888 males, 1,875 females) between the ages of 19 and under 65 were analyzed. Depression was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the depression (PHQ-9≥10) of all workers was 4.1% (3.2% for men, 5.0% for women). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the depressive factors of male and female wage workers. In male workers, work-related characteristics such as employment type and working hours per week were found to be significantly related to depression even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, health-related characteristics, and life style characteristics. However, in female workers, work-related characteristics did not expose a significant relationship, showing a difference from male workers. Therefore it is necessary to develop and implement workplace counselling or mental health promotion programs that take into account the gender characteristics of depression risk factors. Also, as health-related characteristics (diagnosis of depression, suicide plan, perceived stress level, unmet medical services, self-rated health status) were found to be related to depression for both male and female workers, continuous management of these factors is required.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2020

Background Pectus excavatum is less common in females than in males, and it often aggravates a coexistent breast asymmetry. We conducted a study comparing female patients' versus medical professionals' evaluation of pectus excavatum repair to assess differences in aesthetic outcome ratings. Moreover, we evaluated the influence of surgical correction on patients' self-perception. Methods Of 30 female patients who were initially screened, 18 patients (mean age, 20 years) who underwent bar removal after surgical correction of pectus excavatum deformity participated in the survey (60%). They completed a questionnaire rating their appearance before and after surgery and responded to a psychological questionnaire about the changes that they had experienced. The mean interval between pectus bar removal and evaluation was 28 months. Standardized preoperative and postoperative patient photographs were evaluated using the same questionnaire by a panel of medical professionals and students (n=24) and the results were compared. Results Patients rated their preoperative deformity as more severe than the other evaluators, revealing the significant impact of the deformity on patients' self-perception. Postoperatively, patient and professional evaluations were much better than before and were very similar. The psychological evaluation showed a clear improvement in well-being. The ratings of the medical professionals were not influenced by their degree of medical education. Conclusions Surgical correction of pectus excavatum in female patients positively influences body perception and psychological well-being. It should therefore not be considered as a merely aesthetic correction, but as an important procedure to restore a patient's self-perception.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.916-925
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare dietary and lifestyle habits in middle-aged women based on their self-perceived health-related physical fitness (SPF) level as well as investigate the effects of dietary and lifestyle habits on SPF. The study subjects were divided into two groups, 'High' group (${\geq}3.2$, n=64) and 'Low' group (<3.2, n=69), based on average SPF value (3.2). Women in the 'High' group showed a greater lean mass (P<0.05), whereas women in the 'Low' group had higher triglycerides (P<0.05). In analyzing characteristics of lifestyle habits, it was found that the 'High' group showed significantly higher scores for 'vitality level (P<0.001)', 'self-rated health status (P<0.001)', 'regular medical checkups (P<0.05)', and 'regular exercise (P<0.05)'. The average score for dietary habits was significantly high in the 'High' group (P<0.05). Furthermore, ordinary dietary habits showed a significant positive correlation (P<0.001) with SPF in the regression analysis after adjusting for disturbance factors. From these results, ordinary desirable dietary habits were shown to be an important factors having positive effects SPF. Therefore, healthy dietary and lifestyle habits should be practiced to improve the SPF of middle-aged women. For this purpose, related educational programs should be developed for the middle-aged women to take interest in their dietary habits.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.3326-3337
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• 2013

This study was performed to determine health-related dietary and lifestyle of characteristic factors associated with sodium hyperingestion of korean adults by sexual difference. Study subjects were 30~69years (n=1,622) adults who participated in the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1). Subjects were divided into the hyperingestion group (HG, n=1,494) and normal ingestion group (NG, n=128) by 'WHO growth standard sodium intakes(2,000mg/day)' and the relationships between Comparison of demographics and physical measurement, eating behaviors and health-related factors were analyzed. By logistic regression method, risk factors for sodium hyperingestion group revealed in this study were gender(female), number of family', 'breakfast', 'lunch', 'dinner', 'nutrition labeling use'. and In case of male, risk factors for sodium hyperingestion group were 'lunch', 'dinner', 'self-rated body image' of eating behaviors. In case of female, Which were number of family' of demographics, 'breakfast', 'lunch', 'dinner' of eating behaviors. In these results, according to different sexual aspect of sodium hyperingestion, we suggest that nutrition label use and proper nutrition intake criteria among sexual, recognition promotion campaign along with education program for repressed sodium hyperingestion related to hypertension prevention of korean adults should include eating habits improvement and demographics lifestyle modification.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.940-955
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the degree nutrient intake, health status and other characteristics of females aged 65 years and over in a longevity area according to family arrangement. For analysis, 585 female elderly were recruited from the Kugoksoondam area (Kurye, Goksung, Soonchang and Damyang counties), known as the longevity-belt region in Jeonla province, Korea. The subjects were categorized into three groups according to family arrangement (living alone, living with spouse only and living with family). Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, health status and health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, consumption frequency of food groups, nutrient intake and mini nutrition assessment. In the group living with their spouse only, the highest education, physical activity, diverse food intake, frequency of eating meats and fish, energy and nutrients intake, and score on the mininutrient status assessment (MNA) were found to be significantly favorable factors. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the group living with their spouse only had relatively superior nutrient intake and the quality of diet. In contrast, the group living alone showed the lowest self-rated economic status, diversity of food intake, and physical activity, with the highest frequency of drinking, smoking and regular exercise for almost everyday compared with the other groups. On the other hand, those living with family demonstrated the lowest intake of supplements or functional foods, and levels of hemoglobin hematocrit MCH, but the highest HBA1c and blood sugar. Therefore, the group living with family was assumed to be at risk of anemia and diabetes. These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase the health-life expectancy of Korean elderly people living in rural areas, according to family arrangement.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2000

The questionnaire survey using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale(CES-D) was conducted to determine the prevalence of depression and related factors in the rural elderly. The subjects were 922 individuals of 60 years of age and over, living in Chonnam province. The results of this study were as follows. The prevalence rates of depression were 14.6% in male and 24.4%, in female. As the age increased, the prevalence rate increased and the rate was higher in non-educational and widowhood group. The prevalence rate was lower in the group of having good health habits and having a good health status. In the regression analysis, significant predictors of the depression were sex, education, physical activity, perceived health status and body image. In conclusion, main, characteristics which had close relationship to depression in the rural elderly were physical function and self-rated health status.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2011

Objectives: Alcohol problems of parents have an influence on not only their psychological problems but also on their children's psychosocial adaptation. The purpose of this study was to compare the emotional and behavioral problems, including school bullying and social skills, between children of alcoholics (COAs) and children of non-alcoholics (non-COAs). Methods: We recruited $4^{th}$ grade children (n=741) from 7 primary schools in Seoul and their parents as subjects. The self-rated psychiatric symptoms were assessed with the Korean version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-K), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale (RSES), the School Bullying Scale, the Social Skill Rating Scale and the Korean version of Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire-Adolescent (AEQ-A). The Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ARS) was completed by the parents. Results: 518 children were non-COAs and 223 were COAs. The COAs showed higher CDI and ARS-IV scores and lower RSES scores than the non-COAs. Especially, the COAs also showed higher school bullying scale scores and lower cooperative scale scores on the social skill rating scales. But there was no difference of alcohol expectancy between the COAs and non-COAs. Conclusion: It was plausible that the COAs had more behavioral & psychosocial problems than the non-COAs among the school aged children. It is important to identify and intervene to solve the problems of peer relationships of school age COAs in order to prevent victimization by bullying and to improve psychosocial adaptation.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2014

Few studies have examined burnout among the faculty of medical schools in the Republic of Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the level of burnout and its associated factors among the faculty members of three medical schools in the Busan-Gyeongnam area, and to summarise the available literature on burnout. We conducted the survey using a validated questionnaire that incorporated the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as questions about demographic characteristics, working experience, health, lifestyle, most time spent and most difficult work, and suicidal ideation and job quitting ideation of the survey participants. MBI-HSS scores were analysed in the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (De), and personal accomplishment (PA). Through the survey, the 186 professors, 49% among the total, provided data which were included in the present analysis. More than thirty per cent (37.1%) of the professors reported at least 1 symptom of burnout. For burnout dimensions, 11.8% of the respondents scored high for EE burnout, 25.3% for De, and 14.5% for PA, with 1.6% scoring high on all three dimensions of burnout. High burnout was found to be strongly associated with several of the variables under study, especially hours worked per week, self-rated health, career (range, 4 to 9 years), and age (range, 50 to 59 years). The EE score was highest for the professors who chose 'patient care' as the most difficult type of work. This study showed that just over one-third of professors have at least 1 symptom of burnout and working more hours per week, short length of work (years), and especially suicidal ideation seem to be associated with the burnout of medical school faculty members in the Busan-Gyeongnam area. In summary, a greater risk of burnout of physicians (including medical professors) seems to be associated with specialties at the front line of care, working more hours per week, work-life imbalance, low self-efficacy, depression, and conflicts with colleagues and patients.