• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.84-92
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• 2022

Background: Topical corticosteroids (TCs) are available both as over-the-counter drugs and prescription medicines at pharmacies. Although they are generally safe drugs, inappropriate and excessive use could result in potential side effects. Thus, it is important to have appropriate knowledge regarding the use of TCs. We performed a cross-sectional survey to assess public knowledge and the potential misuse or overuse of TCs. Methods: A cross-sectional and nationwide online survey was conducted among participants who were aware of TCs. The survey items included sources of information, indications, potential side effects, and methods of application of TCs. A comparative analysis was conducted between those with (TC users) and without (TC non-users) an experience of using TCs. Results: Among 3,000 participants, 74.4% were TC users. The mass media was the most common information source of TCs, and only one-third of the surveyed people relied on pharmacists or doctors for information. Regarding indications and application methods, incorrect answer rate was high in some items, but respondents showed adequate knowledge. However, awareness of the safety of TCs was low. Overall, the TC users showed a higher knowledge of TCs than TC non-users. Conclusions: Public knowledge of the use of TCs appears to be appropriate. However, we found potential misuse or overuse of some items and a lack of awareness of the side effects concerning TCs. Thus, healthcare professionals' significant role is required.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2007

This study was designed to evaluate Saturday nutrition classes for obese elementary students in Chungnam Province. Obesity index, nutrient intake, nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitude, and self-satisfaction of 36 obese elementary students were compared before and after attending nutrition classes every other Saturday for 3 months. The average age, height, weight, body fat, % body fat, and obesity index were 11.9 years, 145.5 cm, 53.3 kg, 24.5 kg, 45.7%, and 32.4%, respectively. Most of the subjects(94.5%) viewed themselves as fat. Sixty-three percent of children were discontent with their body-image. All answered that they have experience with weight control. The major methods of weight control were exercise and reduction of snacks. The mean serum cholesterol, blood glucose, GOT/GPT, and hemoglobin were 177.4 mg/dL, 90.4 mg/dL, 25.8/25.5 IU/L, 14.5 g/dL, respectively. After attending nutrition classes, the daily intakes of energy, plant protein, plant fat, carbohydrate, crude fiber, and cholesterol increased significantly. The scores for nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitude, and self-satisfaction also increased after nutrition classes, but there were no significant differences. Percent body fat decreased significantly after nutrition classes. In conclusion, nutrition education for elementary students is effective for the prevention and control of obesity. Further research is needed to develop a systematic program of nutrition education for obese children.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5119-5124
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• 2015

Background: HPV vaccination in Singapore is voluntary and physician prescription-based. This study investigated the current status and intention for HPV vaccination among Singapore nurses. Materials and Methods: All female nurses in a general hospital were given an anonymous questionnaire on HPV vaccination experience and intention of vaccinating their daughters. The influence of age, knowledge and perceived-risk of cervical cancer, and cultural background on mother's intention of vaccinating their daughters was analyzed. Results: Of 2,000 nurses, 1,622 (81.1%) responded and analysis was performed on 1,611 with valid data. They showed good awareness on association of cervical cancer with multiple sexual partners (81.9%), history of sexually transmissible diseases (78.2%), and history of genital warts/HPV infection (73.5%), and on cervical cancer preventive effects of HPV vaccination (54.6%). The prevailing misconceptions of the vaccines were: investigational nature (38.9%), side effects (27.9%) and indicated for women at high risk for cervical cancer (20.5%). Conclusions: Misconceptions on the nature, role and safety of HPV vaccines low vaccine up-take rates and daughters. Dissemination of adequate and accurate HPV vaccine information and a review for school-based vaccination are needed for optimal delivery of HPV vaccines in Singapore.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.79-95
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• 2010

Objective : In this study, we try to identify the herbal formulated by Heo Im from Kyeongheombang(經驗方), and investigate its medical property. Method : Those articles referenced from Heo Im's herbal formulas in "Sauikyeongheombang(四醫經驗方)" were extracted and results were quantitatively analyzed. From extracted empirical formulas, those categorized as externally applicable formulas were grouped by several standards and their medical significance was analyzed. Results and Conclusions : 85 and 66 articles were designated to be referred from Heo(許) in "Sauikyeongheombang" and "Uibanghapbu(醫方合部)" in each category, and 263 and 155 were identified to be Heo Im formulas, respectively. Externally applicable formulas in Heo Im's empirical recipes have following characteristics. First, various methods were used by Heo Im. Second, Heo Im's empirical formulas suggest useful clinical information maximizing therapeutic effect, which is of much value, originated from his practical experiences as a clinician. Third, Heo Im's therapy favorably succeeds the tradition of Hyangyak-medicine and Empirical -medicine. From this information, Heo Im is thought to have had rich insight and experience, not only in acupuncture but also in the prescription of herbal formulas at those days.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.899-902
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• 2009

As computer network and wireless technology continue to grow rapidly, a wide range of remote application has been applied to medical field such as remote medical consulting and remote patient monitoring. This research aims to design RF telecommunication-based healthcare application to collect and manage patient's physiological data, and describe the overall procedure of experiment. MySQL database is designed to record patient's physiological data including temperature, blood pressure and heart rate and save information about medical behaviors such as doctor's prescription for patients. Therefore, users approved by healthcare application can query patient's data and collected data can be used to reorganize data for clinical test. As a result, temperature and humidity of patient's room which must be checked frequently can be processed automatically through ubiquitous sensor network. The information entered from mobile phones or web is saved in database, ensuring systematical management through computer. Moreover, patient's family members can easily access hospital data, improving their experience with medical service.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the nutritional status, health conditions, eating habits and experience and demand for nutrition dietary management of senior citizens. And these data are formed foundation of development of nutrition dietary management education program and contents in welfare facilities for the aged. Methods: We visited 3 public health centers, 3 senior citizens centers, and 4 welfare centers in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Chungnam province, and Daejeon area and carried out interview by semi-structured questionnaire for senior citizens older than 65 years who use those facilities. Results: The study included 17%, 30.7% and 52.3% of senior citizens from public health centers, seniorcitizen centers and and welfare centers, respectively. The age range of 43.9% of the population was 65-74 years and and 56.1% were older than 75 years. We observed that 83.2% of subjects took some medicines due to diseases that they have and 58.0% took prescription medicines for hypertension. The thing that they considered the most when selecting food was 'the taste'(p<0.05). Regarding the level of practice to keep the dietary life, they answered more than 'average' for most of items but answered less than 'average' for lot of salt intake, drinking, exercise. For the experience of nutrition dietary life education, only 19.8% answered 'Yes' and the service for nutrition dietary life management showed the highest score in the demand for 'provide nutritious food'. For the size of consulting group for nutrition/dietary life education, the public health center and welfare center preferred a larger group size but the senior citizens center preferred a smaller group. With regard to who will carry out the consulting, the demand for dietitian was the highest and the operation type showed the high demand in the order of consulting, education. The contents that they want to have consultation in nutrition dietary life education were diet therapy for diseases and the ordinary diet therapy for health. Conclusions: This study suggested the management of nutrition dietry life necessitates qualitative measures according to the different types of welfare facilities. For these, it is in need of development of counseling and education program included therapy for disease. Above all, the policy to secure dietitian of welfare facilities for the aged to perform these should be achived.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.813-818
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• 2014

Aims: To describe our institutional experience with high dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) compared with previously reported results on the low dose rate (LDR) practice for head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients with oral cavity (n=70) or oropharyngeal cancer (n=14) were treated with 192Ir HDR-IBT. Seventy-eight patients had stage I or II tumour. The patients treated with IBT alone (n=42) received 39-42 Gy/10-14 fractions (median=40 Gy/10 fractions). With respect to the combination therapy group (n=42), prescription dose comprised of 12-18 Gy/3-6 fractions (median=15 Gy/5 fractions) for IBT and 40-50 Gy/20-25 fractions (median=50 Gy/25 fractions) for external radiotherapy. Brachytherapy was given as 2 fractions per day 6 hours apart with 4 Gy per fraction for monotherapy and 3 Gy per fraction for combination therapy. Results: Four patients were not evaluable in the analysis of outcome. The primary site relapse rates were 23.8% (10/42) and 68.4% (26/38) in patients treated with IBT alone and combination therapy, respectively (p<0.001). Salvage surgery was performed in 19 patients. The 5-year local control rate was estimated at 62% and the disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 52% for all patients. Local control with respect to T1 and T2 tumours was 84% and 42%, respectively. Conclusions: Our present series on HDR-IBT and the previous report on LDR-IBT for head and neck cancer demonstrated similar DFS rates at 5 years (52%). The rate of regional failure in node-negative patients was <20% in both of our series. HDR-IBT offers similar results to LDR-IBT for head and neck cancer.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.400-416
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to find ways to improve education about safe medication use by investigating the current status of medication use by middle and high school students, and by evaluating their knowledge, attitudes, practices and education needs toward safe medication use. For this purpose, a survey was administered to 200 middle and high school students in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Over the past year, 92.0% and 57.5% of respondents used over-the counter drugs and prescription drugs at least one time, respectively. Regarding the experience of education on safe medication use, 34.0% of respondents have been educated more than once since their admission to middle school. The overall mean score of knowledge·attitude·practice (KAP) toward safe medication use was 3.79, but the mean score of practice scope was relatively lower than the others. Moreover, there were no significant differences in KAP scores for safe medication use by school grade or educational experience. Based on these findings, we suggest further studies regarding 1) expansion and differentiation of education content on safe medication use, 2) transition of education method to outcome-based education approach, and 3) inclusion of education on safe medication use in the regular curriculum of middle and high schools.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.315-329
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• 1999

Recently, dissatisfaction with aspects of health care has been complemented by directly at complaints such as informal, formal and litigation. But some people take action and other not in spite of feeling of dissatisfaction. This study was to investigate an accounts of patient's disagreement with doctor's care from a community sample, and make a distinction between felt disagreement and disagreement actions. This study was done in six hundred forty residents in Sungjoo County of Kyungbuk Province and Nonman city of Chungnam Province. The questionnaires of interview included sociodemographic data, health status data, a nature of patient's disagreement with doctor and actions taken following or during the disagreement episode. Approximately sixteen percent of sample reported a disagreement, and nine percent reported action taken following or during the disagreement episode. Age, educational attainment, income and area were significantly related with experience of disagreement episode in univariate analysis. In people who experienced the disagreement episode, nearly forty-one percent reported on disagreement about the diagnosis related, twenty-eight percent reported doctor-patients relationship related, twenty percent reported treatment related, and eleven percent reported prescription drug related. In people who experienced actions taken following or during the disagreement episode, nearly fifty-four percent acted as 'sought a second opinion or visit other doctor', thirty-six percent acted as 'verbally challenged the doctor', thirty-two percent acted as 'stopped prescribed treatment or medication', twenty-nine percent acted as 'made repeat visits to the same doctor', twenty-five percent acted as 'eventually left and changed doctor'. Results of multivariate analysis, age, marital status, have or haven't chronic disease, and general satisfaction with health service were significantly related with experience of disagreement episode and marital status was significantly related with experience of actions taken following or during the disagreement episode. This study is experimental and exploratory trial about a relationship between patient's disagreement with doctor and actions taken following or during the disagreement episode in some community of Korea. We find that patient's disagreement with doctor and actions taken following or during the disagreement episode is latent in our community. We suggest that the relationship between felt disagreement and disagreement action is more complicated and worthy of further study.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2001

Purpose : Pain is the most serious symptom that cancer patients experience. About $60{\sim}90%$ of advanced cancer patients and four million patients worldwide, according to the WHO statistics, are reported to suffer from cancer pain. Although about $70{\sim}80%$ of the pain could be controlled according to the pain control principles, to our regret, only $30{\sim}40%$ are managed appropriately. This research was aimed to (1) investigates the prevalence of pain among cancer patients, (2) compare patients' perception of pain with physician's recognition and (3) evaluate appropriateness of the doctor's prescription of analgesic. Materials and Methods : Patients with advanced or terminal cancers admitted at department of internal medicine of Seoul National University Hospital for at least 7 days were enrolled. A questionnaire for the patients and the physicians in charge were given and the answers were compared for each other. We also examined their medical records and the physician's orders. Results : Total 59 patients were enrolled. Among them, 43 patients answered the questionnaire, and 27 patients (62.8%) suffered hem cancer pain. The survey also showed that physicians underestimated the severity of pain, overlooked frequently analgesic prescription principle, and that as the patients' pain became severe, the less adequate was pain managements. Conclusion : For cancer patients, pain was frequently overlooked, and treatment still inadequate. Based on this evidence, it seemed that more active practice and education about evaluation and management of cancer pain are needed.