• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.400-410
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• 2021

This study analyzed the determinants of carbon dioxide emissions through the expanded STIRPAT model using panel data from 16 metropolitan cities and provinces in Korea from 2000 to 2019. After testing cross-sectional dependence and coefficient heterogeneity of panel data, we performed analysis using MG, CCEMG, and AMG estimation methods reflected these characteristics. The results of analysis using the AMG estimation method are as follows. The coefficients of income, population, and energy intensity were statistically significant with a positive sign, but urbanization was statistically insignificant. Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in Korea can be achieved through an increase in energy efficiency and sustainable economic growth. It is necessary to establish a policy that can contribute to sustainable economic growth by inducing productivity improvement through technology innovation reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the long-term as well as building a low-carbon society through active development of carbon dioxide reduction technology.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is warranted when cross-sectional imaging demonstrates common bile duct (CBD) dilatation without identifiable causes. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of EUS in CBD dilatation of unknown etiology. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with dilated CBD without definite causes undergoing EUS between 2012 and 2017. Results: A total of 131 patients were recruited. The mean age was 63.2±14.1 years. The most common manifestation was abnormal liver chemistry (85.5%). The mean CBD diameter was 12.2±4.1 mm. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of EUS-identified pathologies, including malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and benign biliary stricture (BBS), was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.00). The AUROC of EUS for detecting malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and BBS was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97), 1.00 (95% CI, 1.00-1.00), and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87-0.99), respectively. Male sex, alanine aminotransferase ≥3× the upper limit of normal (ULN), alkaline phosphatase ≥3× the ULN, and intrahepatic duct dilatation were predictors for pathological obstruction, with odds ratios of 5.46 (95%CI, 1.74-17.1), 5.02 (95% CI, 1.48-17.0), 4.63 (95% CI, 1.1-19.6), and 4.03 (95% CI, 1.37-11.8), respectively. Conclusions: EUS provides excellent diagnostic value in identifying the etiology of CBD dilatation detected by cross-sectional imaging.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2024

Background: Though the artificial neural network (ANN) technique has been used to predict noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the established prediction models have primarily relied on cross-sectional datasets, and hence, they may not comprehensively capture the chronic nature of NIHL as a disease linked to long-term noise exposure among workers. Methods: A comprehensive dataset was utilized, encompassing eight-year longitudinal personal hearing threshold levels (HTLs) as well as information on seven personal variables and two environmental variables to establish NIHL predicting models through the ANN technique. Three subdatasets were extracted from the afirementioned comprehensive dataset to assess the advantages of the present study in NIHL predictions. Results: The dataset was gathered from 170 workers employed in a steel-making industry, with a median cumulative noise exposure and HTL of 88.40 dBA-year and 19.58 dB, respectively. Utilizing the longitudinal dataset demonstrated superior prediction capabilities compared to cross-sectional datasets. Incorporating the more comprehensive dataset led to improved NIHL predictions, particularly when considering variables such as noise pattern and use of personal protective equipment. Despite fluctuations observed in the measured HTLs, the ANN predicting models consistently revealed a discernible trend. Conclusions: A consistent correlation was observed between the measured HTLs and the results obtained from the predicting models. However, it is essential to exercise caution when utilizing the model-predicted NIHLs for individual workers due to inherent personal fluctuations in HTLs. Nonetheless, these ANN models can serve as a valuable reference for the industry in effectively managing its hearing conservation program.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.389-399
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between cognitive coping, hope, depression, and life satisfaction of hemodialysis patients based on the stress-coping model. Methods: For this cross-sectional survey, 142 participants were recruited from 10 local clinics in Seoul and Daegu during 2012-2013. The data collection instruments included the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Herth Hope Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The cognitive coping scores were significantly related to hope, depression, and life satisfaction. The coping strategies explained 80%, 37%, and 38% of the variances in hope, depression, and life satisfaction, respectively. The most powerful coping strategy was positive refocusing, explaining 73% in hope, 25% in depression, and 25% in life satisfaction. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that cognitive coping plays an essential role for psychological adaptation of hemodialysis patients. Thus, interventions integrating positive refocusing would help instilling hope of hemodialysis patients in Korea.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2016

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the direction and degree of lip-line cant in Korean adult orthodontic patients and to identify the effects of sex and age on changes in the cant severity. Methods: In this cross-sectional retrospective study, lip-line cant was measured in the frontal photographs of 585 Korean patients (92 men and 493 women) aged 18-48 years. The outcome variables (direction and degree of lip-line cant) were assessed in terms of predictor variables (sex, age, sagittal skeletal relationship, and menton deviation angle). Results: The direction of lip-line cant did not differ according to sex, age, or skeletal classification. Patients had $1.6^{\circ}$ of lip-line cant on average before orthodontic treatment. Middle-aged adults displayed a significant trend toward a lower degree of lip-line cant compared to younger adults (p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the degree of lip-line cant was weakly negatively correlated with age (p < 0.001). Conclusions: While the direction of lip-line cant did not differ according to the parameters explored here, the degree of cant was correlated with age in adults, independent of menton deviation. Specifically, middle-aged adults tended to display significantly lower degrees of lip-line cant than did younger adults.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.230-237
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in elementary school students according to the body mass index. Methods: This study was conducted as cross-sectional descriptive research using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from 6,398 students at 15 elementary schools located in Y City in Korea. The cross-sectional survey used the Korean version of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratios of body mass index. Results: The symptom prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in the last 12 months was 12.4%, 49.5%, and 24.5%, respectively. The symptom prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in the obesity group. The number of those without any asthma symptom in lifetime was significantly smaller in the overweight (OR=0.70, p=.004) and obesity (OR=0.57, p=.005) groups than in the healthy weight group. Conclusion: These results suggest that asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis prevention programs for elementary school students should include weight control intervention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1337-1341
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, including Malaysia. This study focused on media choice and attempted to determine the communication channels mostly used and preferred by women in seeking information and knowledge about breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to examine the breast cancer prevention information seeking behavior among 450 students at one private university in Malaysia. Results: The mean age of respondents was $25{\pm}4.3years$. Common interpersonal information sources were doctors, friends, and nurses and common channel information sources were television, brochure, and internet. Overall, 89.9% used cell phones, 46.1% had an interest in receiving cell phone breast cancer prevention messages, 73.9% used text messaging, and 36.7% had an interest in receiving text breast cancer prevention messages. Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences among age, eduation, nationality and use of cell phones. Conclusions: Assessment of health information seeking behavior is important for community health educators to target populations for program development.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.2 s.46
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• pp.313-325
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• 1994

A cross-sectional study was conducted in an effort to investigate the effect of air pollution on respiratory symptoms. Two groups of female aged more than 20 living in the unpolluted rural area of Taebul (n=159) and urban area of Taegu (n=140) were selected. The ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire was translated into Korean and administered with minor modification. The proportion of smoker was less than 1% in both area. Exposure to smoking and higher educational level were more frequent in Taegu. Age-adjusted prevalence rates of 'chronic cough', 'chronic sputum', 'wheezing', and 'dyspnea' were higher in Taegu than in Taebul. In particular, the prevalence rate of 'chronic sputum' in Taegu was found to be higher, which was statistically significant. Exposure to smoking and education level were not concerned with all respiratory symptom prevalence rates. In conclusion, this study Indicates that an urban factor is related to the rates of respiratory symptoms in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.31-53
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• 2007

The purpose of a national health care system is to improve health care outcome among population. The objective of the study was to explore the determinants of health outcome in the 24 OECD countries between two health care financing systems. The study employed the pooled time series and cross-sectional analysis with tax-funded and social insurance-funded countries over the period of 1980 to 1999 using OECD Health Data 2002. The study revealed that health expenditure per capita, physicians per 1,000 of the population and calorie intake were positively significantly associated, smoking rate was negatively associated with health outcome while controlling all variables in the tax-funded countries. But in the insurance-funded countries, health expenditure per capita and the number of physicians were not statistically significant factors explaining health outcome. Only the calorie intake was positively associated with, and smoking rate, alcohol consumption per capita, and total nitrogen oxide emission per capita were negatively significantly associated with health outcome. In conclusion, healthy life style factors were much more important to improve health outcome in the both systems.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2012

Objectives: By analysing the recent trends of published papers in the Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion, this study aims to identify and discuss some challenging issues, and to provide recommendations for quality improvement of the research papers. Methods: One hundred and sixty five papers published between 2009 and 2011 were examined and categorized according to selected standards. Results are displayed in frequencies and percentages. Results: The volume of articles published has increased by two-folds in three decades since the publication of the first issue. More than 90% of the papers were original articles. Cross-sectional research design was most frequently applied, while only 11.5 % of the articles were intervention studies. For cross-sectional research articles, limitation in generalizability of the study findings was mentioned as one of the major issues, in relation with the frequent use of convenient sampling methods and lack of theoretical evidence in inclusion of variables. Consideration of internal and external validity of the study, utilization of scientific evaluation design and mixed evaluation methods were recommended for intervention research to improve the quality of the research results. Conclusion: To serve as a key resource for evidence-based practices in health promotion, more strict scientific research criteria should be applied to the articles published in the Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion.