• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.227-238
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine physical activities and health belief in order to provide basic data on obesity prevention and management among elementary school students based on the health belief model. Methods: Participants included 194 fifth grade students in an elementary school located in Seoul. Data were collected by questionnaires and physical measurement, including weight and height. The SPSS Win 17.0 program using descriptive statistics, ANOVA with Scheff$\acute{e}$ post hoc tests, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients was used in data analysis. Results: Significant differences were observed in physical activity according to perceived severity (F=3.444, p=.034), perceived benefit (F=7.674, p=.001), perceived barrier (F=21.014, p<.001), and self-efficacy (F=22.098, p<.001). A significant difference in physical activity (t=4.502, p<.001) and perceived severity (t=-2.278, p=.024) was observed according to gender. Significant differences in physical activity (t=7.633, p=.006), perceived barrier (t=10.826, p=.001), and self-efficacy (t=5.928, p=.016) were observed according to obesity status. Significant differences were observed in physical activity (F=7.503, p=.001), perceived susceptibility (F=37.904, p<.001), and perceived barrier (F=3.425, p=.035) depending on level of satisfaction with body image. Conclusions: In order to promote physical activity among children with low physical activity, development of program with an emphasis on the benefits of physical activity and physical activity self-efficacy, and to decrease the barriers to physical activity is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.3
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• pp.360-365
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to provide the basic information for the early enforcement and extension of the improvement project of management scale of private forest land by understanding the characteristics of forest owners, who have an influence on the participation of the project as one of the private forest management vitalization plans. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire survey targeting 373 forest owners was conducted and analyzed by Binary-Logistic Regression. The variables for binary-logistic regression included gender, age, academic ability, occupation, income, residence, purpose of forest ownership, and status of cooperative membership. As a result of the analysis, 267 forest owners (71.6%) of total 373 forest owners have the intention to participate in the scaling project for private forest management. The rest of forest owners (106 forest owners, 28.4%) would not be willing to participate in the project. As a result of binary-logistic regression, the most important variables, which have an impact on the participation of private forest management scale improvement project, are age, job and forest own purpose.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.336-345
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• 2013

Objectives: Research has shown that obesity appears to spread through social ties. However, the association between other characteristics of social networks and obesity is unclear. This study aimed to identify the association between social network characteristics and body mass index (BMI, $kg/m^2$) in an elderly Korean population. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 657 Koreans (273 men, 384 women) aged 60 years or older who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Network size is a count of the number of friends. Density of communication network is the number of connections in the social network reported as a fraction of the total links possible in the personal (ego-centric) network. Average frequency of communication (or meeting) measures how often network members communicate (or meet) each other. The association of each social network measure with BMI was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, the men with lower density (<0.71) and higher network size (4-6) had the higher BMI (${\beta}$=1.089, p=0.037) compared to the men with higher density (>0.83) and lower size (1-2), but not in the women (p=0.393). The lowest tertile of communication frequency was associated with higher BMI in the women (${\beta}$=0.885, p=0.049), but not in the men (p=0.140). Conclusions: Our study suggests that social network structure (network size and density) and activation (communication frequency and meeting frequency) are associated with obesity among the elderly. There may also be gender differences in this association.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.623-632
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between table attitudes(or table manners), nutrition knowledge, eating/snacking habits, and BMI in elementary school children. For the study, 350 [4~6th grade] elementary students were recruited and surveyed. Each response for 10 questions regarding table attitudes was scored by a 5-point scale(5 points=strongly agreed & 1 point=strongly disagreed) with a total score of 50. The reliability of 10 questions about nutrition knowledge was validated using Cronbach's ${\alpha}$(Cronbach's ${\alpha}$=0.80). Total scores for table attitudes were significantly different between the boys and girls(p<0.05). The total score for nutrition knowledge was significantly higher in the girls(7.67/10.0), compared to the boys(7.35/10.0)(p<0.05). The children showed high rates of incorrect answers in questions regarding the function or importance of specific nutrients. No significant differences between the boys and girls were found for places of snack purchase, or pocket money/day. Most of the children answered spending less than 800 won of pocket money per day. More boys preferred meals with meats and disliked Kimchi and vegetables compared to girls, and the differences were statistically significant. The score for table attitudes was significantly and negatively correlated with nutrition knowledge and gender. No significant correlations between BMI and table attitudes or nutrition knowledge were shown.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine whether any pretreatment parameters were associated with pharmacological effect or toxicity parameters after vincristine administration and to describe a mathematical model, which explains the interpatient pharmacodynamic variability. The relationship between patient characteristics and vincristine dose and hematological toxicity were evaluated. 68 pediatric and adolescence patients and 107 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with vincristine $1.5mg/m^2/day$ IV and other anticancer drugs as scheduled. Complete blood counts and other blood test results were obtained. The input variables were age, gender, weight, lean body weight (LBW), height, body surface area, vincristine dose and total vincristine dose. The outcome measures were nadir values (white blood cells, absolute neutrophil counts, hemoglobin, and platelets); the absolute decrease, relative decrease, and survival fraction of blood cells. Polynomial regression analysis was carried out to determine the other significant covariates. The variability of $WBC_{nadir}$ was modeled with good precision and accuracy with a two-covariate model. This model should be validated and improved on with further clinical data. We believe that such pharmacodynamic modeling should be explored further to determine its performance and clinical relevance compared with modeling using pharmacokinetic parameter.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2015

Objective : Venous thromboembolism (VTE) after spinal surgery affects a patients' postoperative recovery and also carries a mortality risk. Some studies recommended chemical prophylaxis for high-risk patients and for those after complex spinal surgeries. However, chemoprophylaxis for VTE in spinal surgery is underemployed and there is no agreement on the use of VTE prophylaxis in spinal surgery. The aim of this study was to document the incidence of VTE after an elective instrumental spinal surgery, among those receiving preoperative chemoprophylaxis as compared with patients who did not receive it. Methods : This study was carried out on eighty-nine patients allocated randomly to receive either low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or no prophylaxis before elective instrumental spinal surgery. All patients received postoperative compression stockings. A compression Doppler ultrasonography was performed for all patients to detect postoperative deep vein thrombosis. In addition, further imaging studies were performed for patients suspected of VTE. Results : Three (3.3%) patients were diagnosed with VTE. One of them had received preoperative chemoprophylaxis. There were no significant difference in incidence of VTE between the two groups (p>0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-8.7). Laterality of gender and postsurgical recumbence duration were all independent predictors of VTE (p=0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion : The difference in the incidence of thromboembolic complications between the two groups was not significant. Moreover, we found that preoperative prophylactic LMWH injection has no major bleeding complications altering postoperative course; still, the issue concerning the initiation time of chemoprophylaxis in spinal surgery remains unclear.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.236-243
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• 2014

Objectives: Despite the recent emphasis on a patient-centered chronic care model, few studies have investigated its use in older adults in South Korea. We explored how older Korean adults perceive and cope with their chronic illness. Methods: We conducted focus group interviews in Seoul, Korea in January 2010. Focus groups were formed by disease type (hypertension and type 2 diabetes) and gender using purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 60 and over who had been diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension and received care at a community health center for at least six months prior to participation. Interview data were analyzed through descriptive content analysis. Results: Among personal factors, most participants felt overwhelmed when they received their diagnosis. However, with time and control of their acute symptoms using medication, their worry diminished and participants tended to denying being identified as a patient or sick person. Among socio-familial factors, participants reported experiencing stigma with their chronic illness and feeling it was a symbol of weakness. Instead of modifying their lifestyles, which might interfere with their social relationships, they resorted to only following their medicine regime prescribed by their doctor. Participants also reported feeling that their doctor only prescribed medications and acted in an authoritative and threatening manner to induce and reinforce participants' compliance with treatment. Conclusions: For successful patient-centered management of chronic illnesses, supportive environments that include family, friends, and healthcare providers should be established.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.105-122
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• 2009

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes (discrimination towards HIV/AIDS and lives with HIV infected persons) and HIV/AIDS related sexual behaviors among middle school and high school students in Seoul, Korea. Methods: The population of this study was junior and senior high school students in Seoul, Korea. Eight junior high schools and eight senior high schools were randomly selected from Seoul City. Two thousand nine hundred and ninety-six responses from the sixteen schools were analyzed (fifty-nine were excluded). A self-administered questionnaire measuring socio-demographic variables, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, as well as discriminatory attitudes of HIV/AIDS was utilized. Results: The level of HIV/AIDS knowledge was low and the levels of discriminatory attitudes were high. The results indicated that students had considerable misconceptions about HIV transmission as well as stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV-infected people and their lives. The proportions of sexual intercourse were 1.3 % for middle school students and 7.7% for high school students. Only 30.7% of current sexually active subjects were to use condoms at the last step of sexual intercourse. The HIV/AIDS related risk-taking behavior were predicted by gender, school types, parents' marital status, reported academic performances, and attitudes towards to homosexuals. Conclusions: It is important to design HIV prevention strategies that improve in the knowledge of HIV transmission for adolescents in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.559-568
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intakes and perceptions of convenient breakfast related to age and family type. The survey included 545 men and women living in Seoul from June to July. Questionnaire items covered their age, gender, family types, breakfast intakes and preference for convenient breakfast menu. As a result, there were significant differences in the number of breakfast intakes per week according to family types; large families recorded the highest frequency in "I have breakfast everyday" and the couple-only families and nuclear families scored relatively high numbers. In terms of the type of breakfast, the first choice was "rice and side dishes" across all the age groups (69.3%). There were differences in the preference of convenient breakfast in "bread", "cereal", "rice cake", "sunsik", and "rice gruel" by different age. The teens exhibited the highest preference of bread (5.63), and cereal (5.53) for breakfast; those who were in their fifties for rice cake (5.42). Both forties and fifties showed the higher preference of sunsik (4.58, 4.76) and rice gruel (5.89, 5.77) than other age groups. As for the preference for convenient breakfast according to family types, single person families displayed the highest preference of bread (5.42) and cereal (5.75). Couple families showed higher preference of rice gruel (5.82) than other family groups. The preference level for "rice cake" was similar among all the family types. As a result, it is suggested that the development of various breakfast menus considering age groups and family types is needed so that modern people can enjoy breakfast in terms of quality and quantity in their busy daily life.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.216-228
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• 2009

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influences of contract foodservice managers' personal characteristics, foodservice characteristics and organizational characteristics on job satisfaction, including interpersonal relationships, self-actualization and promotion opportunity categories. A survey was administered to four hundred contract foodservice managers of five large companies and five small/medium companies in the Seoul and Kyungin areas. The final response rate was 66%(N=265), and the data were analyzed using SPSS Windows(ver. 12.0). The respondents were 76.1% female, average age 28.8 years, and 73.0% were regular workers. Contract foodservices have profit and loss contracts(69.1%), single menu types(59.6%) and buffet serving styles(37.7%). There are significant differences of job satisfaction by some personal characteristic variables(gender, martial status, age, education, position, work hours, period of working for the present company, and payroll per year) and foodservice characteristic variables(type of contract and charge of food costs). In three job satisfaction categories, foodservice managers reported the highest interpersonal relationship satisfaction, following self-actualization satisfaction and promotion opportunity satisfaction in both large companies and small/medium companies. However, foodservice managers of large companies tended to be more satisfied regarding their promotion opportunities than foodservice managers of small/medium companies(p<0.05). Work hours, number of meals served/day, male, workload, communication with the clients, relationship with co-workers, obvious role and autonomy were significant factors to increase the job satisfaction in contract foodservices of large companies. On the other hand, relationships with co-workers and males were significant factors to increase the job satisfaction in contract foodservices of small/medium companies. This research suggests that contract foodservice companies need to understand the characteristics of their managers, foodservices and organizations to enhance the job satisfaction of foodservice managers and to develop specified human resource management strategies that can be applied to each company scale.