• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate whether long-term, low-level exposure to monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) induced insulin resistance. Methods: The subjects were 110 male workers who were occupationally exposed to styrene, toluene, and xylene. One hundred and ten age-matched male workers who had never been occupationally exposed to organic solvents were selected as a control group. Cytokines, which have played a key role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, and oxidative stress indices were measured. Assessment of exposure to MAHs was performed by measuring their ambient levels and their urinary metabolites in exposed workers, and the resulting parameters between the exposed group and non-exposed control groups were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in general characteristics and anthropometric parameters between the two groups; however, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance levels were significantly higher in the exposed group. Phenylglyoxylic acid levels showed significant association with tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, total oxidative status, and oxidative stress index via multiple linear regression analysis. Further, there was a negative correlation between methylhippuric acid levels and total anti-oxidative capacity, and there was a significant relationship between MAHs exposure and fasting glucose levels, as found by multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio = 3.95, 95% confidence interval = 1.074-14.530). Conclusion: This study indicated that MAHs increase fasting glucose level and insulin resistance. Furthermore, these results suggested that absorbing the organic solvent itself and active metabolic intermediates can increase oxidative stress and cytokine levels, resulting in the changes in glucose metabolism and the induction of insulin resistance.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between the Korean healthy eating index (KHEI) and periodontal disease in the Korean adult population. Methods: The data used in the analyses were obtained from the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). Data were analyzed by chi-square tests and t-test. Multiple regression analysis was also performed to assess the association between KHEI and periodontal disease. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for socioeconomic variables showed that medical and health behavior variables were significantly related to the KHEI 1 (<63.7, odds ratio [OR]: 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.46), KHEI 2 (63.7-79.9, OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.97-1.34), and risk for periodontal disease. Conclusions: The results showed a significant association between the KHEI and periodontal disease in the Korean adult population.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.417-426
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• 2021

Background: Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common patient complaint imposing great costs on the healthcare system. It is associated with psychological factors such as depression. The aim of the present study is determining depression predictors in NCCP patients. Methods: The participants of this cross-sectional study were 361 NCCP patients. Patients filled out questionnaires concerning their sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors (severity of pain, type D personality, somatization, cardiac anxiety, fear of body sensations, and depression). Results: Based on multiple ordinal logistic regression, lack of physical activity (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.87), sleep quality (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.15-7.69), being a smoker (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 2.41-4.03), present pain intensity (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.11), type D personality (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.47-4.03), and somatization (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.15-1.3) were significant predictors of depression in NCCP patients. Additionally, multiple linear regression showed that being unmarried (β = 1.51, P = 0.008), lack of physical activity (β = 1.22, P = 0.015), sleep quality (β = 2.26, P = 0.022), present pain intensity (β = 0.07, P = 0.045), type D personality (β = 1.87, P < 0.001), somatization (β = 0.45, P < 0.001), and fear of bodily sensation (β = 0.04, P = 0.032) increased significantly depression scores in NCCP patients. Conclusions: Physicians should consider the predictors of depression in NCCP patients which can lead to receiving effective psychological consultations and reducing the costs and ineffectual referrals to medical centers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.492-498
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• 2021

This study examined how the emissions of pollutants affect the volume of traffic of freight vehicles in the transport sector. Multiple regression analysis was conducted considering several variables, including population by region, area of urban district, GDP, and the number of businesses by industry, e.g., agriculture, forestry, fishery, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail. These variables differ according to the characteristics of the freight vehicles (industry, by the ton). Therefore, it is essential to fully consider the volume of traffic of the specific freight vehicles by region before implementing relevant programs and policies, such as specific restrictions on the operation of vehicles. Some specific areas, in which logistic centers are located have heavy freight traffic, and these centers deserve extra consideration. Thus, in this study, different regional factors that affect the traffic of freight vehicles should be considered before determining the areas that will be subject to restrictions on the operation of these vehicles.

• Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.230-239
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• 2018

Objective The suicide rate in South Korea is very high and is expected to increase in coming years. Intoxication is the most common suicide attempt method as well as one of the common reason for presenting to an emergency medical center. We used decision tree modeling analysis to identify predictors of risk for suicide by intentional intoxication. Methods A single-center, retrospective study was conducted at our hospital using a 4-year registry of the institute from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. Demographic factors, such as sex, age, intentionality, therapeutic adherence, alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical disease, cancer, psychiatric disease, and toxicological factors, such as type of intoxicant and poisoning severity score were collected. Candidate risk factors based on the decision tree were used to select variables for multiple logistic regression analysis. Results In total, 4,023 patients with intoxication were enrolled as study participants, with 2,247 (55.9%) identified as cases of intentional intoxication. Reported annual percentages of intentional intoxication among patients were 628/937 (67.0%), 608/1,082 (56.2%), 536/1,017 (52.7), 475/987 (48.1%) from 2013 to 2016. Significant predictors identified based on decision tree analysis were alcohol consumption, old age, psychiatric disease, smoking, and male sex; those identified based on multiple regression analysis were alcohol consumption, smoking, male sex, psychiatric disease, old age, poor therapeutic adherence, and physical disease. Conclusion We identified important predictors of suicide risk by intentional intoxication. A specific and realistic approach to analysis using the decision tree modeling technique is an effective method to determine those groups at risk of suicide by intentional intoxication.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the degree of non-nursing tasks and nursing care left undone in integrated nursing care wards, and examine their relationships with nurses' burnout, job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and medical errors. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from 346 nurses working in 20 wards of seven small and medium-sized general hospitals, and analyzed using multiple regression and multiple logistic regression analysis with the SPSS WIN 25.0 program. Results: The mean score for non-nursing tasks was 7.32±1.71, and that for nursing care left undone was 4.42 ± 3.67. An increase in non-nursing tasks (β = .12, p = .021) and nursing care left undone (β = .18, p < .001) led to an increase in nurses' burnout (F = 6.26, p < .001). As nursing care left undone (β = .13, p = .018) increased, their turnover intentions also (F = 3.96, p < .001) increased, and more medical errors occurred (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.02~1.15). Conclusion: Non-nursing tasks and nursing care left undone are positively associated with nurses' burnout, turnover intentions, and the occurrence of medical errors. Therefore, it is important to reduce non-nursing tasks and nursing care left undone in order to deliver high quality nursing care and in turn increase patient safety.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2024

This study investigates whether personality characteristics and learning behaviors can predict medical students' academic achievement in Korea, specifically in terms of successfully completing medical school without delays or achieving a high grade point average (GPA) in their final year. In May 2018, 316 medical students took the Multi-Dimensional Learning Strategy Test, 2nd edition, which provided data on their personality and learning behavioral characteristics. Their final year's GPA and any delays in completing medical school were ascertained by reviewing all electronic academic records of each semester they had been enrolled. The combination of personality and learning behavioral characteristics was significantly associated with completing medical school without delays, even after adjusting for sex and admission path. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for completing medical school without delays were 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-2.78) and 3.64 (95% CI, 1.70-7.82) for "others" and "both high" categories, respectively, when compared with the "both low" category. For 235 students who completed medical school without delays, their learning behavioral characteristics (scores) were significantly associated with their final year's GPA even after adjusting for sex, admission path, and personality characteristics (scores) as determined by the multiple linear regression analysis. This study suggests that individual personality and learning behavior characteristics are predictors of medical students' academic achievement. Therefore, interventions such as personalized counseling programs should be provided in consideration of such student characteristics.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.639-657
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of individual differences in recognition of retirement responsibility on financial preparedness for retirement and to examine moderating effect of income-level on the relationships between the two variables, using the 7th Korean Retirement and Income Study(KReIS). Two research methods, descriptive analysis and hierarchical multiple logistic regression(HMLR) analysis, have been conducted. The total number of sample was 3,869 subjects with an average age of 58.9 years and 55.3% males. The results show that only 35.8% of the respondents make financial plans for retirement, and 64.2% did not. Main findings are as follows. First, 65% of respondents take a responsibility for financial preparedness for retirement, compared to 37% in European countries. Second, people with responsibility for their own retirement are more likely to have a financial preparation for retirement than people who think others(family, society, government) have to take a responsibility for retirement instead of them. Third, there is a significant moderating effect of income-level on relationships between recognition of retirement responsibility and financial preparedness for retirement. As income level decreases, the moderating effect reduces the positive effect of recognition of retirement responsibility on financial preparedness for retirement and vice versa. Fourth, as income level increases and educational level is higher, the tendency to prepare financially for retirement is also increasing. Low-income and low-educated people are less likely to have a financial preparation for retirement than their counterparts. The findings suggest that it is necessary to design an effective incentive scheme for financial preparedness for retirement for low-income and low-educated people and to develop various policies and services to encourage them to prepare financially for retirement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.346-354
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• 2017

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common disease that may contribute to morbidity and mortality among trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study evaluated the associations between trauma factors and the development of VAP in ventilated patients with multiple rib fractures. Methods: We retrospectively and consecutively evaluated 101 patients with multiple rib fractures who were ventilated and managed at our hospital between January 2010 and December 2015, analyzing the associations between VAP and trauma factors in these patients. Trauma factors included sternal fracture, flail chest, diaphragm injury, traumatic aortic dissection, combined cardiac injury, pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemopneumothorax, abbreviated injury scale score, thoracic trauma severity score, and injury severity score. Results: Forty-six patients (45.5%) had at least 1 episode of VAP, 10 (21.7%) of whom died in the ICU. Of the 55 (54.5%) patients who did not have pneumonia, 9 (16.4%) died in the ICU. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that VAP was associated with severe lung contusion (odds ratio, 3.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 8.39; p=0.029). Conclusion: Severe pulmonary contusion (pulmonary lung contusion score 6-12) is an independent risk factor for VAP in ventilated trauma patients with multiple rib fractures.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.213-225
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Agent Orange exposure and self-reported diseases in Korean Vietnam veterans. Methods: A postal survey of 114 562 Vietnam veterans was conducted. The perceived exposure to Agent Orange was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire. Two proximity-based Agent Orange exposure indices were constructed using division/brigade-level and battalion/ company-level unit information. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for age and other confounders were calculated using a logistic regression model. Results: The prevalence of all self-reported diseases showed monotonically increasing trends as the levels of perceived self-reported exposure increased. The ORs for colon cancer (OR, 1.13), leukemia (OR, 1.56), hypertension (OR, 1.03), peripheral vasculopathy (OR, 1.07), enterocolitis (OR, 1.07), peripheral neuropathy (OR, 1.07), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.14), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.24), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), psychotic diseases (OR, 1.07) and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the division/brigade-level proximity-based exposure analysis, compared to the low exposure group. The ORs for cerebral infarction (OR, 1.08), chronic bronchitis (OR, 1.05), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.07), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.16), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the battalion/company-level analysis. Conclusions: Korean Vietnam veterans with high exposure to Agent Orange experienced a higher prevalence of several self-reported chronic diseases compared to those with low exposure by proximity-based exposure assessment. The strong positive associations between perceived self-reported exposure and all self-reported diseases should be evaluated with discretion because the likelihood of reporting diseases was directly related to the perceived intensity of Agent Orange exposure.