• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.67-81
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• 2011

Background : Complementary and alternative medicine has bee used to cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, many hospitals have tried to integrate complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) with conventional medical approaches for patients with chronic diseases. Recently, the prevalence of the use of traditional Korean medicine(TKM) among patients with chronic diseases, expecially, hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident is increasing in Korea. To date, however, there were only few studies addressing the patients' attitudes, and utilization of TKM, compared to the well-documented escalating use of TKM among consumers in Korea. Objectives : The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of TKM use among hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident and to determine what factors affect to use CAM among the patients. The study also aims to provide information on TKM and assist therapy selection among various CAM therapies for hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident within health care system in which both practitioners of TKM and practitioners of modern Western medicine coexisted. Methods : The design of the study was descriptive cross-sectional, and data were collected using a 32-items questionnaire. The subjects were one hundred fifty nine patients with chronic diseases who visited or admitted to health care facilities in a hospital in Seoul Metropolitan city, Korea. Data were analyzed using 'SPSS Statistics 18.0 Network Version(on release 18.0.1 of PASW Statistics)' program. Various statistical methods were used to obtain a profile for participants and the therapies most frequently used by hemiplegia patients of TKM. Logistic regression analysis was employed in order to determine the predicting variables of TKM use. Results : The prevalence of the use of TKM was 51.6%. The most common TKM therapies used by the patients included acupuncture(93.2%), herbal medicine(64.8%), and cupping(37.5%). Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the variables significantly related with TKM use were gender, marital status, job, No. of visiting health care facilities/week. Conclusions : This study shows that the use of TKM among the hemiplegia patients is relatively high in Korea, this topic should be taken into account in the development of a holistic approach for patients with chronic diseases and an efficient chronic disease management system in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3455-3459
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• 2013

Background: Smoking and smokeless tobacco use are almost always initiated and established during adolescence. More than 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age. The main objective of the present study is to assess the feasibility of preventing adolescent tobacco use with the help of a specially designed tobacco control program. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey on tobacco use and related health effects was conducted using a structured questionnaire in 13 randomly selected schools in Kannur district of Kerala. These students were followed for a period of one academic year with multiple spaced interventions such as anti-tobacco awareness classes, formation of anti-tobacco task forces, inter-school competitions, supplying IEC (information, education and communication) materials and providing a handbook on tobacco control for school personnel. Final evaluation was at the end of one year. Results: There were 4,144 school children who participated in the first phase of the study. The prevalence of tobacco smoking and chewing habits were 9.85% and 2.24% respectively. Ninety-one percent had parental advice against tobacco use and only 3.79% expressed desire for future tobacco use. The final evaluation witnessed a sharp decline in the current tobacco use as 4.68%. We observed a statistically significant difference towards the future use of tobacco (p<0.001) and awareness about the ill effects of passive smoking (p<0.001) among boys and girls. Further a significantly increased knowledge was observed among boys compared to girls about tobacco and oral cancer (p=0.046). Conclusions: The comprehensive school based tobacco control project significantly reduced the tobacco use pattern in the target population. School tobacco projects incorporating frequent follow ups and multiple interventions appear more effective than projects with single intervention.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.47
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• pp.71-106
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• 2001

The purposes of this study were to provide information on the prevalence and change of Korean adolescent alcohol use and to identify related factors to adolescent alcohol use. This study collected data from a total of 4,373 adolescents nationally. Followings are the major findings of this study. First, 75.7 percent of respondents reported that they tried alcohol in their life time. More male respondents tried alcohol in their lifetime than female respondents, but there was no big difference. Findings on alcohol consumption by grade showed that as adolescents get older, they are more likely to try alcohol. Second, this study also found that whereas the drinking rates of male adolescents and higher graders were steady, the rates of female adolescents and lower graders were increased since 1997. Third, this study compared its findings with adolescent alcohol use in the United States. Little differences existed in measures of adolescent alcohol use in the two countries, but the differences in the rates of the past-month alcohol use and heavy drinking was greater in Korean adolescents than in American adolescents. Finally, this study found that peer related factors such as friend's alcohol use was the strongest factor related to respondents' alcohol use. Family-related factors and respondents' levels of psychosocial resources (cognitive control, coping skills, social support) were also significantly related to their alcohol use. This study suggest that future studies consider cultural aspects and regional differences in order to understand adolescent alcohol use in more depth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6151-6154
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• 2014

A growing body of literature is evidence that identifying subtypes of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) has impacted on various steps of cervical cancer prevention.Thus, it is mandatory to determine the background prevalence and distribution of HPV subtypes for designing and implementing area-specific management. The present study was conducted to evaluate prevalence and distribution of HPV subtypes among women aged 30-70 years living in Lampang, an area with a high incidence of cervical cancer, through use of a mobile screening unit. Of 2,000 women recruited in this study, 108 (5.40%, 95%CI: 4.45-6.48) were found to have HR-HPV infection. Risk was significantly correlated with age and number of partners. Singly or in combination, the most common genotype was HPV 52 (17.6%), followed by HPV 16 (14.81%), HPV 58 (13.89%), HPV 33 (11.11%), HPV 51 (11.11%), and HPV 56 (9.26%). HPV 18 was found in only 5.6% of cases. Together, HPV 16/18 were noted in approximately 20.4% of cases. Eighteen(16.67%) women were positive with multiple subtypes of HR-HPV. Co-infection most frequently involved HPV 16 or HPV 58. These findings have obvious implications for vaccine policy.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.51
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• pp.329.1-329.9
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• 2018

Background: Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely performed to identify brain lesions in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). We aimed to investigate the prevalence and type of brain lesions among Korean girls with CPP and evaluate the need for routine brain MRI examinations. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated data on 3,528 girls diagnosed with CPP from April 2003 to December 2016, and identified 317 girls who underwent sellar MRI. Exclusion criteria were patients with a known brain tumor or who did not undergo brain MRI due to refusal or the decision of the pediatric endocrinologist. Results: Normal sellar MRI findings were observed in 291 of the 317 girls (91.8%). Incidental findings were observed in 26 girls (8.2%). None of the patients had pathological brain lesions. Conclusion: The prevalence of intracranial lesions among girls who were generally healthy and without neurological symptoms but diagnosed with CPP was lower than that previously reported. Furthermore, none of the identified lesions required treatment. It may be prudent to reconsider the routine use of brain MRI to screen all patients with CPP, especially if they are healthy and neurologically asymptomatic, and are girls aged 6-8 years.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.235-249
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to use data from the third year of the 4th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to study relationship between oral disease and chronic disease that generally persist from 6 months to over a year, or more specifically, circulatory disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Methods : Of the data from the third year of the 4th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 7,893 adults over 19 years old who completed medical examination, health survey, and nutrition survey were selected as the final research subjects. Relationship between chronic disease and oral disease was analyzed by cross tabulation (2-test) and logistic regression analysis using SPSSWIN ver 18.0. Results : 1. Differences in the rate of prevalence of periodontal disease and the rate of prevalence of missing teeth were statistically significant with respect to age, gender, marital status, education level, residential area, income level, and occupation. Rate of prevalence of dental caries was statistically significant with respect to age, education level, and income level. 2. After examining the relationship between existence of chronic disease as diagnosed by doctor with oral disease, rate of prevalence of periodontal disease and missing teeth, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and osteoporosis showed statiscally significant difference. 3. Examination of rate of prevalence of chronic disease with respect to oral disease, periodontal disease and missing teeth exerted statistically significant influence on hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and osteoporosis (p<0.05), while dental caries did not have statistically significant effect. 4. Analysis of coupling effect of periodontal disease and missing teeth on chronic disease showed that they were related in all chronic diseases examined in this study (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and osteoporosis) (p<0.05). Conclusions : Periodontal disease and missing teeth were found to increase the rate of prevalence of chronic disease.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2013

Background: This study was conducted to provide preventive measure for the musculoskeletal disorders in automobile parts manufacturing workers. Method: The author surveyed to the musculoskeletal symptoms prevalence and its related factors from 10th to 17th April 2011 with structured self administered questionnaires. 223 out of 225 collected questionnaires were used for final analysis, excluding 2 questionnaires with no valid response. Based on the diagnostic criteria of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational and Health), an investigation was made into the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms as well as into the factors related to individual items. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms according to the criteria of NIOSH was the highest in the shoulder (52.9%), followed by the neck (39.%), the hand/wrist (35%), the waist (29.6%), the arm/elbow (24.7%), and the leg/food (23.8%). One-way analysis showed that among general characteristics, age was the musculoskeletal risk factor with the greatest effect. Whereas among work-related characteristics, significant risk factor didn't find. Yet it was shown that among ergonomic work postures, high degree of musculoskeletal risk was shown by the posture involving frequent and repetitive movement of the arm and the hand/wrist and also by the posture involving standing for a long time. Multiple regression analysis showed that musculoskeletal risk was 1.795 times higher in those age 50 and over than in those under age 50; 1.67 times higher in the high risk stress group than in the low risk stress group; and 1.131 higher in the group involving the repetitive use of the hand/arm than in the other groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The prevalence and stress score of automobile parts manufacturing workers were higher than other occupation workers. Among general characteristics, drinking and smoking were shown to be related to stress score; while age was shown to have significant effect on musculoskeletal risk.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1109-1119
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and prevalence of periodontal disease in a representative sample of Korean adults older than age 20. Methods: Data of 3,837 adults were collected by the six Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted in 2015. Socioeconomic, demographic, and oral health-related behavior data were collected as independent variables. We determined frequencies, percentage, and determining statistical significance using multiple regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of periodontal diseases showed statistically significant difference in accordance with sex, age, socioeconomic and demographical characteristics and oral health-related behavior. It was confirmed that the prevalence of periodontal diseases was increased in the lower educational level and income (OR, 1.478 and 1.520) after adjusting for conditions such as age, sex, recent dental check-ups, visiting dental clinic, tooth brushing frequency, use of self-care devices. Conclusions: The prevalence of periodontal disease was related with socioeconomic factors in Korean adults. Therefore, differentiated oral health service policies and dental health education among adults with lower education and income is required in order to reduce the prevalence of periodontal disease.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.631-641
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to confirm the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and the prevalence of periodontal disease, with a focus on employment status, in a representative sample of Korean adults aged 19-39 years. Methods: Data were obtained from 3,178 adults who completed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, health-related questionnaires, and an oral examination. Socioeconomic, demographic, and oral health-related behavior data were adopted as independent variables. The chi-square test was used to assess differences in the distribution of socioeconomic status, oral health behavior, and nutrition factors according to employment status. Logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the relationships between the prevalence of periodontitis and the related variables. Results: Significant differences in sex, educational level, income, marital status, smoking status, prevalence of periodontitis, number of dental check-ups in a year, and unmet dental care were confirmed according to employment status. The prevalence of periodontal disease was not significantly related to employment status. Conclusions: These results suggest a significant difference in periodontal disease according to socioeconomic factors in Korean adults. However, the prevalence of periodontal disease was not related to employment status. To prevent the progression of periodontal disease, attention should be paid to oral health, time available for dental treatment, smoking cessation, and use of floss.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.7589-7598
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and risk factors of diabetes according to gender among Korean employees over 30 years from 2007 to 2011 using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survery. Mutiple survey logistic tests were performed using SPSS 19.0. The prevalence of diabetes was higher for men than for women, but the odds ratio was higher women physical employee than men. And the prevalence amd over 50 years, with physical employee, with obesity, with hypertension, with Hyperlipidemia increased in comparison with the respective control group. Considering with this results, we can use as a basal data to control the prevalence of diabetes by both preventing and consistently monitoring these identified risk factors.