• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6657-6663
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• 2014

Background: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of sexual problems of Turkish patients receiving gynecologic cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample of 168 women completed the Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) and a Patient Identification Form in a hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Mean IFSF scores of the patients were low ($15.7{\pm}5.72$, out of a possible 45), indicating high rates of sexual problems. Results: Women frequently reported problems with dyspareunia (97.1%), vaginal dryness (97.6%), decreased sexual desire (91.1%), and difficulties of sexual arousal (92.9%) related with the cancer treatment process. They reported increased sexual problems following the period of treatment as compared to before treatment (p<0.05). Sexual dysfunction was associated with low educational and income levels, advanced age, TAH-BSO-LND surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salphingoopherectomylymph node dissection), experiencing side effects of chemotherapy, receiving chemotherapy in addition to surgery and radiotherapy (CT+RT+Surgery), and having a large number of chemotherapy cycles (p<0.05). Conclusions: Patients hoped for and expected counseling from healthcare professionals about their sexual functioning in relation to cancer treatments. Nurses and physicians can help to improve the overall quality of life for gynecologic cancer patients through sexual counseling.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.271-282
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• 2005

This study analyzed the physical indices, food habits and nutrient intakes of patients with hypertension, to provide better research data for the prevention and the cure for disease as well as basic data for nutrition education. The subjects were 44 patients who visited the general hospital, located in Daegu, to receive hypertension treatment The lifestyle, food habit, nutrient intakes, anthropometric measurements, body fat and blood pressure were measured as main indices. By the BMI, $72.8\%$ of the patients were over weight or obesity $(>23\;kg/m^2)$. In the male group, the WHR tended to increase according to the BMI (p<0.05). In the female group, the body fat tended to increase according to the BMI (p<0.05). The group with more monthly income showed lower systolic blood pressure than the group with smaller monthly income (p<0.05). The scores about food habits concerning balanced diet and preference for salt were low, which implied that food habits of subjects were not desirable. The intakes of riboflavin and calcium didn't meet the RDA requirements. Especially, the lack of calcium was more ap~nt in the female patients than the male ones. Despite this, they had more than enough protein, vitamin C, and iron. The physical indices according to blood pressure revealed that the group of higher blood pressure showed greater WHR (p<0.001). The male group with higher systolic blood pressure showed greater BMI than one with lower systolic blood pressure (p<0.05). As for nutrient intakes according to blood pressure, the group with higher blood pressure had more sodium and iron than one with lower blood pressure (p<0.05). The patients with hypertension tended to be more overweight or obese, preferred salty foods, and were in an unbalanced state of nutrient intakes. Thus more systematic and ongoing measures should be pursued to take care of patients with hypertension.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing depression in breast cancer patients. Method: A descriptive correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of 155 subjects was recruited from the outpatient for breast cancer patients at one hospital in Gyeonggi, South Korea. Body image was measured with the category of "Body image" from the EORTC QLQ-BR23(European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast cancer version) and sexual function was measured with category of "sexual function" from it. Depression was measured with Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). Results: The mean score of body image was relatively low(M = 54.44, SD = 30.92), of sexual function was low (M = 24.82, SD = 22.50), and of depression was relatively low(M =14.90, SD = 8.00). Depression had a significant relationship with body image(r = -.363, p = <.001), however, there was no significant relationship between depression and sexual function(r = -.137, p = .103). In the regression analysis, depression was found to be influenced significantly by monthly income and body image, these variables explained 28.8% of the variance in depression(F = 4.662. p = <.001). Conclusion: It suggests that nurses need to take into consideration body image and economic status in management depression in breast cancer survivors.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.329-338
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• 2017

This study aims to identify factors to affect cancer screening utilization and differences in cancer screening by household income. This research selected 3,393 adults aged ${\geq}40years$ among surveyees from the 6th(2014) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We analyzed state of cancer screening utilization according to general characteristics, life style, health status, income level using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with cancer screening utilization. In result, cancer screening rate was significantly different according to household income. And the significant factors associated with cancer screening utilization were sex, age, marital status, education level, economic activity, private insurance, smoking, presence or absence of high physical activity, number of chronic diseases, and household income. This indicates that the effective cancer screening program on the low household income, chronic disease patients is needed, suitable for digital age. We believe that these results will be used positively for the equity of cancer screening utilization, providing the basic materials for the further research on the establishment of the health-related policy.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.297-306
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of diabetes has continued to increase globally. Changes in eating habits, lack of exercise, increased stress, and aging are major contributors. Glycemic control is the key strategy of diabetes management. The purpose of this study was to analyze the utilization of nutrition labels and related factors among patients with diabetes. MATERIALS/METHODS: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. General, health-related, diabetes-related characteristics from 1,587 adults with diabetes history were included. Nutrition label utilization was assessed with awareness and use of nutrition labels and effects on food choice. For statistical analyses, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of awareness, use, and effects of nutrition labels on food choice among diabetic patients were 48.8%, 11.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. High monthly income, walking frequency, family history of diabetes, younger age at diagnosis, and shorter duration of diabetes were associated with higher nutrition label awareness. Nutrition label use and effect on food choice were higher in women, those with high monthly income, those diagnosed at younger than 45 yrs, those with diabetes for less than 10 yrs, those with meal therapy, or patients who had undergone a fundus examination. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition label utilization status was low in Korean patients with diabetes. Strategies are needed to promote nutrition label use as a diet management tool for patients with diabetes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2023

Purpose: Pediatric patients in low-income countries are at a high risk of malnutrition. Numerous screening tools have been developed to detect the risk of malnutrition, including the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA), Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS), Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP), and Screening Tool for Risk of Nutritional Status and Growth (STRONGkids). However, anthropometry remains the main tool for assessing malnutrition. We aimed to identify the value of four nutritional screening tools versus anthropometry for evaluating the nutritional status of children. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,000 children aged 1-12 years who visited the outpatient clinic of Cairo University Pediatric Hospital. Each participant was evaluated using anthropometric measurements (weight, length/height, and weight for length/height) as well as the PYMS, STAMP, STRONGkids, and SGNA screening tools. The sensitivities and specificities of these four tools were assessed using anthropometry as the gold standard. Results: Of the patients, 1.7% were underweight, 10.2% were wasted, and 35% were stunted. STRONGkids demonstrated the highest sensitivity (79.4%) and a high specificity (80.2%) for detecting malnutrition compared with weight for height, followed by STAMP, which demonstrated lower sensitivity (73.5%) but higher specificity (81.4%). PYMS demonstrated the lowest sensitivity (66.7%) and the highest specificity (93.5%), whereas SAGA demonstrated higher sensitivity (77.5%) and lower specificity (85.4%) than PYMS. Conclusion: The use of nutritional screening tools to evaluate the nutritional status of children is valuable and recommended as a simple and rapid method for identifying the risk of malnutrition in pediatric patients.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.88-104
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• 2002

According to the change of mandatory referral system in July 1, 2000, the effect to the medical utilization of outpatient clinic and medical income in ophthalmology of tertiary care medical institute, S Hospital in Seoul was evaluated for 6 months before(1999. 12$\sim$2000. 5) and after(2000. 12$\sim$2001. 5). The results were as follows: 1. The number of outpatients was reduced by 16.6%. The number of patient with blindness low vision, retina, glaucoma increased and that of patient with accommodation refractive error, cataract decreased. 2. The number of cataract patients was reduced by 36.6%. The major location of patient's address was changed to nearer to the hospital. The number of cataract surgery reduced in 4.1%, the waiting time reduced in 42.2%, however surgery time increased in 20.2% and number of postoperative complications increased in 11.4%. 3. The income of outpatient clinic and cataract surgery reduced. Among items of outpatient clinic income, the most increased was ocular examination and the most reduced was injection and drugs. Among items of cataract surgery income, the most increased was operation fee and the most decreased was doctor's fee. In conclusion, for the patient, due to the lowered density of outpatient population more space was provided to the patients with more severe disease entity such as blindness' low vision, retina and glaucoma. For the hospital, the need for the expansion of ophthalmology was not found, however that for creation of the special clinics dealing with more severe disease entity was found. Due to reduced income and increased need of financial investment for the equipment and manpower for the more severe disease entity, the ophthalmology of tertiary care medical institute is faced with financial disaster. It is strongly suggested that the cost of medical practice of more severe disease entity be raised to achieve the success after change of mandatory referral system in ophthalmology.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2011

Objectives : Bell's palsy is the most common acute facial paralysis but its causes still unclear. At present, one of the most widely accepted cause is viral infections, and generally socioeconomic factors influence the viral infections. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of incidence of facial palsy with socioeconomic factors. Methods : Seventeen patients with a acute facial palsy, who volunteered and completed all of the assessment measures participated. Using data on 17 participants, we examined the independent contribution of education, income, and occupation to a risk factor of severe facial palsy. Severity of global facial impairment was assessed by the facial disability index (FDI), the house-brackmann facial nerve grading system, WHO quality of life - bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and visual analogue scale (VAS) about discomfort of life. Results : There was no correlation between severity of facial palsy and gender, marriage, education, or occupation. Age greater than 60 years (p<0.05), and low monthly income(p<0.05), poor self-rated health was associated with greater severity of idiopathic facial paralysis. Conclusions : The number of subjects with facial palsy in our study (n-17) was small, and therefore generalization to larger patient populations might be unwarranted. But according to the outcome, we suggest that socioeconomic factors, especially low monthly income influence severity of bell's palsy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.290-300
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• 2017

This study concerns whether the public spirit of medical services, which is the foundational goal of national hospitals, is being realized. To derive results regarding this question, it is necessary to identify the determinants that influence the choice of national hospitals. The data are based on the number of cases of medical service use among the data for 6 years from 2008 to 2013 in the Korea Medical Panel, and the subjects were limited to those who were 18 years old or older. In the final analysis, 14,365 cases of hospitalization service uses were employed. For the research method, Andersen's behavioral model theory was applied, and predisposing, enabling, and individual factors were determined to be variables. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the determinants of national hospital choice factors. It was found that the rate of use of national hospitals was very low, with 5.23% for hospitalization services. Furthermore, socioeconomically vulnerable people, such as the elderly, low-income people, the national meritorious and medical care beneficiaries, chronic patients, and disabled patients are more likely to choose national hospitals than private hospitals. Therefore, for the appropriate management of medical service use for low-income vulnerable groups, it is necessary to discuss the enhancement of primary medical care in national healthcare.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.563-568
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide and its frequency is increasing gradually in many countries. Over the last three decades an increase in the breast cancer has been witnessed in the earlier low-risk Asian countries including Pakistan. Purpose: The objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of known risk factors like early menarche, late menopause, socio economic, reproductive and demographic factors, among women diagnosed with breast cancer at INMOL hospital, Lahore, Punjab, as little information exists in this regard. Materials and Methods: A survey study was conducted on 200 women diagnosed with breast cancer who were seen at Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL) hospital, Lahore. A structured questionnaire was administered to these patients regarding the known risk factors through face to face interviews after obtaining appropriate consent. Results: Regarding non-modifiable risk factors, our study showed that majority of the breast cancer patients were diagnosed at 35-45 years (32.5%) or at older age (${\leq}46$) and experienced menarche at 12 years or older (66 %). Likewise, a large number of patients reached menopause at the age of 45 years (60%), had no family and personal history of breast cancer (80%) and hence fell in a low risk category. Regarding modifiable risk factors in women diagnosed with breast cancer, most of the patients fell in low risk strata as the majority were married (98%) at young age, breastfed their children for 12 months or more (88%) and bore two to three children (80%). Considering income criteria, the majority of the patients had a low risk profile as they belonged to middle class (70%), urban area (60%) and were house wives (80%). However, it was noted that a considerable number of women (34%) diagnosed with breast cancer experienced menarche at an early age (<12) and reached menopause after the age of 45 years. This situation is further augmented by environmental changes and dietary habits and places them in a high risk category.