• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.162-173
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study investigated the health and socioeconomic status of single-parent and partnered families, and examined the intersection between sex and single-parent status focusing on inequalities of health and socioeconomic status. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using the data from the nationally representative 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 14,827 respondents had custody of their own children and other family members (13,943 were coupled families and 891 were single-parent). Results: Our result indicate that single-parent had poorer health status and were more likely to have lower educational attainment, lower household income, no home ownership and be unemployed. However, the association between single-parent status and socioeconomic and health inequality were in divergent ways according to sex. The most socioeconomically disadvantaged were single-parent women. Inequalities in health differ markedly by sex but vary little according to single-parent status. Conclusions: An uneven distribution of socioeconomic resources might help us to understand why single-parent, both women and men, have worse health than parents who live together. Previously recognized sex gap with regard to health status also might help us to understand the difference in health between single-parent men and single-parent women found here.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.442-449
• /
• 2020

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) versus ultrasonography (US) in symptomatic patients with dense breasts, while using histology as the gold standard. Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from the local ethics board, this prospective study collected data from patients with symptomatic breasts who underwent CESM and US examinations from May 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017. We then selected those with dense breasts and pathological results as our sample population. Both CESM and US results were classified by a radiologist through the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, and the results were compared with their corresponding histological results. The chi-square test was conducted to compare the diagnostic performance of CESM and US, and the receiver operating characteristic curves for the two imaging modalities were obtained. Results: A total of 131 lesions from 115 patients with dense breasts were included in this study. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were 93.8%, 88.1%, 88.2%, 93.7%, and 90.8% for CESM, and 90.6%, 82.1%, 82.9%, 90.2%, and 86.3% for US, respectively. The p values for sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 0.687, 0.388, 0.370, 0.702, and 0.238, respectively. The area under the curve of CESM (0.917) was comparable with that of US (0.884); however, the differences between CESM and US were not statistically significant (p = 0.225). Eight false-positive cases and 4 false-negative cases for breast cancer were found in CESM, while 12 false-positive cases and 6 false-negative cases were found in US. Conclusion: The diagnostic performances of CESM and US are comparable in symptomatic women with dense breasts; however, the routine use of additional US imaging is questionable for lesions that can be detected by CESM.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.20
• /
• pp.8719-8724
• /
• 2014

Background: Breast cancer incidence is increasing among South Asian migrants to the United States (US). However, their utilization of cancer screening services is poor. This study characterizes attitudes of South Asians towards breast health and screening in a community sample. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) was conducted among South Asians (n=124) in New Jersey and Chicago. The following beliefs and attitudes towards breast cancer screening were assessed-health motivation, breast self-examination confidence, breast cancer susceptibility and fear, and mammogram benefits and barriers. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were computed for HBM subscales. Findings: Mean age of participants was 36 years with an average 10 years stay in the US. Most women strived to care for their health ($3.82{\pm}1.18$) and perceived high benefits of screening mammography ($3.94{\pm}0.95$). However, they perceived lower susceptibility to breast cancer in the future ($2.30{\pm}0.94$). Conclusions: Increasing awareness of breast cancer risk for South Asian women may have a beneficial effect on cancer incidence because of their positive attitudes towards health and breast cancer screening. This is especially relevant because South Asians now constitute one of the largest minority populations in the US and their incidence of breast cancer is steadily increasing.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.21 no.9
• /
• pp.1027-1035
• /
• 2020

Objective: To assess the appropriate follow-up interval, and rate and timepoint of cancer detection in women with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 3 lesions on screening ultrasonography (US) according to the type of institution. Materials and Methods: A total of 1451 asymptomatic women who had negative or benign findings on screening mammogram, BI-RADS 3 assessment on screening US, and at least 6 months of follow-up were included. The median follow-up interval was 30.8 months (range, 6.8-52.9 months). The cancer detection rate, cancer detection timepoint, risk factors, and clinicopathological characteristics were compared between the screening and tertiary centers. Nominal variables were compared using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test and continuous variables were compared using the independent t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Results: In 1451 women, 19 cancers (1.3%) were detected; two (0.1%) were diagnosed at 6 months and 17 (1.2%) were diagnosed after 12.3 months. The malignancy rates were both 1.3% in the screening (9 of 699) and tertiary (10 of 752) centers. In the screening center, all nine cancers were invasive cancers and diagnosed after 12.3 months. In the tertiary center, two were ductal carcinomas in situ and eight were invasive cancers. Two of the invasive cancers were diagnosed at 6 months and the remaining eight cancers newly developed after 13.1 months. Conclusion: One-year follow-up rather than 6-month follow-up may be suitable for BI-RADS 3 lesions on screening US found in screening centers. However, more caution is needed regarding similar findings in tertiary centers where 6-month follow-up may be more appropriate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.5835-5838
• /
• 2012

Objective: Cervix cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancer types that cause cancer deaths among women. This study was planned based on a descriptive method in order to evaluate the results of PAP smear screening during pregnancy for prevention of cancer. Materials and Methods: The research involved 110 pregnant women registered at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic of Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital and 86 non-pregnant women of the same ages as a control group. As criteria for acceptance were conditions such as not being in coitus within the last 48 hours, not using vaginal ovule, and not performing vaginal lavage. A survey consisting of 33 questions was conducted and the results were processed using Bethesda. Results: The average ages were $27.1{\pm}4.70$ for the pregnant women and $28.8{\pm}4.24$ for the control group. 60.7% of cases had previously heard of a PAP smear test, 49% were aware of why PAP smear tests were conducted, 26.4% of pregnant participants and 27.3% of non-pregnant participants had previously undergone a smear test. In this study, smear results of all cases were 95.4% sufficient. 18.2% of pregnant cases had an infection, 54.5% had reactive cellular change, and 0.9% had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US). 16.3% of non-pregnant cases had an infection, 58.1% had reactive cellular change, 3.5% had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), and 1.2% had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL). Conclusion: PAP smear test is a good opportunity to identify pre-invasive lesions in early phases of pregnancy.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
• /
• v.30
• /
• pp.53-71
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study is to compare and analyze the similarities and differences in traditional perspective about women between Algery and Korea. Through this study, we found out following common denominators: sexual discrimination and denigration of women. Under the patriarchal system in Korea and Algery in the past, women were considered to be inferior to men and treated as men's possessions. The noteworthy feature is the perspective of mother. In both countries, the image of woman as a mother is regarded as the source of life and a central axis leading our society. It is very remarkable that we could find a lot of common ground despite that there are a lot of social, cultural and geometrical differences. Therefore, through this study, it is proved that the proverbs tell us the universality among people in the world regardless of culture and region.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.150-151
• /
• 2003

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2007

Approximately 70% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV types 16/18 and thus the implementation of vaccination programmes with vaccines against HPV types 16/18 will have a major impact on the incidence of cervical cancer worldwide. However, this reduction will not be seen until several decades after full implementation of such vaccination programmes since the vaccines must be given to young adolescents before exposure to the virus and women who are already sexually active are not likely to be protected. Both GSK and Merck insist that even vaccinated women must continue to participate in regular cervical screening by the most sensitive method available since the vaccine can only give protection against up to 70% of cervical cancers. It is unlikely that the current vaccines will be modified to include additional high risk HPV types in the foreseeable future. While HPV testing is highly sensitive, it is not recommended for women under 30 years of age nor for vaccinated women. Additionally, HPV testing has poor specificity. The Digene Hybrid Capture 2 test is licensed for use only in conjunction with a cytology test, not as a stand-alone test, and the high risk panel has recognised cross reactivity with low risk HPV types. None of the other HPV test methods currently commercially available are FDA approved and all must be internally validated before use. This makes comparison of test results between laboratories difficult. The most sensitive and specific screening test currently available for women of all ages is the Cytyc ThinPrep System consisting of the ThinPrep Pap Test (TPPT) and the ThinPrep Imaging System (Imager). The TPPT was the first LBC system approved by the US FDA in 1996 and there are about 4,000 processors in use worldwide. The Imager was FDA approved in 2003 and over 350 systems are in routine use, mainly in the US. 40% of TPPT in the US are processed on Imager. There is clear evidence in peer reviewed literature that the Imager increases laboratory productivity by 100% and growing evidence that Imager detects more high grade SIL than the conventional smear or manual evaluation of TPPT. This aspect is particularly important since the number of cytological abnormalities will decrease as vaccination programmes are implemented. Cytotechnologists will see fewer and fewer abnormal smears and their skills will be put at risk. By doubling throughput, Imager will allow cytotechnologists to maintain their skills.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.255-272
• /
• 2011

As the demand of English education is increasing, the demand for Native English speaking teachers (NEST) is rising, especially in Asian countries. However, due to the low number of NEST, the Korean government is suggesting that Filipino Women be used as English teachers as an alternative. This study aims to answer three questions: (1) are Filipino women in Korea qualified to teach English based on the error analysis of their written essays? (2) what are the linguistic features found in their diagnostic essays? and (3) is their written English better than Korean college students' written English based on the comparison of the two groups? The findings from the Filipino participants show the most frequently occurring errors are related to punctuation usage (commas and hyphens), vocabulary (word choice), verb usage, redundancy, and even as basic as capitalization usage. The results from the comparison of the two groups show that the percentage of the Filipino participants' written error was 14% while the percentage of the Korean participants was 17%. The findings would give us some ideas on the qualification of Filipino women in Korea as English teachers.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.105-116
• /
• 2003

The purposes of this study were to examine the fashion adopted by young women in the United States in the 1970s and to explore how the dynamic shifts toward feminist values influenced those fashion trends. Fifteen American women who were college students in the 1970s were interviewed for the study. Throughout the decade, casual and comfortable styles became more prevalent; for example, pants became widely accepted for formal occasions as well as informal occasions due to an overall emphasis on practicality. The feminist and civil rights movements along with more liberal attitudes toward religion were among the more dominant cultural values that influenced the respondents' choices in clothing styles. Feminist presentation was diverse extreme or eclectic - and constantly renegotiating itself. This study helped us better understand the dynamics involved between fashion and value changes as well as the influence of feminism on the 1970s fashion in the United States.