OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the individual and regional characteristics that influence suicidal ideation among the Korean elderly population.METHODS: Using data collected from the 2013 Korea Community Health Survey, a multilevel analysis was performed to establish an understanding of individual behavioral patterns and regional influences on suicidal ideation.RESULTS: Among the 77,407 individuals sampled, 11,236 (14.5%) elderly people over 60 years of age experienced suicidal ideation. Among individual factors, age, frequency of communication with friends, religious activity, social activity, leisure activity, trust in neighbors, subjective stress level, depressive symptoms, and subjective health status were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The results showed that the lower the regional deprivation level, the higher the suicidal ideation odds ratio. In terms of regional size, the most significant effects were found in rural areas.CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that suicidal ideation in the elderly is associated with community factors, such as the regional deprivation index, as well as personal factors.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Depression ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Friends ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Leisure Activities ; Multilevel Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Suicidal Ideation

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that marital status is associated with household composition and living arrangements, which partially explain observed differences in health status according to marital status. However, due to the rapid socioeconomic and demographic transformations of the last few decades, the distribution of marital status among middle-aged adults has become more diverse. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain up-to-date information on the associations between marital status and health and to investigate the implications of these findings for conventional explanations of the health effects of marriage.METHODS: The data for this study were obtained from the 2015 Korean Community Health Study. We compared 4 modifiable lifestyle behaviors—smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and self-rated health status—as outcome variables in association with marital status in Korean middle-aged men (age 40-44) living in Seoul and other regions.RESULTS: Married men showed the lowest cigarette smoking prevalence and the highest subjective health status both before and after adjusting for education and income. The odds of engaging in vigorous physical activity did not show a major difference before and after adjustment for income and education.CONCLUSIONS: In married men, the prevalence of cigarette smoking was lowest and subjective health status was highest, similar to previous studies. However, the prevalence of engaging in physical activity was highest in divorced/widowed/separated men. The health behaviors and health status of Korean middle-aged adults should be more closely followed, since they are representative of demographic changes in the Korean population.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Marital Status ; Marriage ; Motor Activity ; Prevalence ; Residence Characteristics ; Seoul ; Smoking

The goal of the present study was to test the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) scale. Correlations between the QOLIBRI and Glasgow Coma Scale scores, anxiety, depression, general quality of life (QOL), and demographic characteristics were examined to assess scale validity. The structure of the QOLIBRI was investigated with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as the Partial Credit Model. Test–retest reliability was assessed over a 2-week interval. Participants were 129 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) recruited from rehabilitation centers in Japan. The QOLIBRI showed good-to-excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.82–0.96), test–retest reliability, and validity (r = 0.77–0.90). Factor analyses revealed a 6-factor structure. Compared to an international sample (IS), Japanese patients had lower QOLIBRI scores and lower satisfaction in several domains. There were positive correlations between the QOLIBRI scales and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (r = 0.22–0.41). The Japanese version of the QOLIBRI showed good-to-excellent psychometric properties. Differences between JS and IS may reflect sampling bias and cultural norms regarding self-evaluation. The QOLIBRI could be a useful tool for assessing health-related QOL in individuals with TBI.
Anxiety ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Brain Injuries ; Brain ; Depression ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Japan ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Reproducibility of Results ; Selection Bias ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: This study was designed to allow a student at School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University (KNUSOM) to self-assess how well they had achieved competency and to analyze the differences and trends of the scores by year. Furthermore, students are asked to evaluate the need for curriculum improvement by competency, the tendency of the score is analyzed by year, and the results are reflected in the improvement of the curriculum. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey for fourth-year students of KNUSOM who took medical education classes from 2015 to 2018. Questionnaire items were evaluated on the basis of their current achievement of 30 subordinate competencies of competency and the degree of necessity with respect to revising the curriculum. One-way analysis of variance was performed for the yearly difference analysis. RESULTS: The students' scores on the graduation competency were 2.03 to 4.06. In the yearly difference analysis, there was no significant difference in the average of 30 total competencies, but 16 of the sub-competencies showed significant year-to-year differences. The scores for the 30 graduation competencies were different for each year, but the competencies showing high scores and low scores were found to be similar each year. CONCLUSION: We found that the achievement level of the students was approximately 60% to 70%. We were able to confirm the contents of the education that the students continuously demand. The curriculum trend graphs for each year showed that the students' scores improved when the curriculum was being revised. We found that it is necessary to accept the students' self-evaluation reliable as the students indicated that the contents of the curriculum should be added to the areas where the contents were lacking in the present curriculum.
Curriculum ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Self-Assessment

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to understand the level of successful aging and to analyze the factors that affect successful aging. METHODS: This study was a descriptive study. The data collection of this study using questionnaires was from October 1, 2017 to December 30, 2017, and the 169 elderly people living in Chungcheongnam-do were surveyed. RESULTS: The mean level of successful aging of the subjects was 3.57 (±0.58), which was higher than the median, it was significantly different among the presence of religion, participation in senior facility, regular exercise, pain, and subjective health status. Regression analysis showed that the factors that have the greatest influence on the successful aging of the subjects were the participation in senior facility (β=0.24, P<0.001), self-esteem support (β=0.20, P=0.024), emotional support (β=0.19, P=0.048), regular exercise (β=0.19, P=0.002), and pain (β=−0.14. P=0.029). The explanatory power of these variables on successful aging was 53% (F=20.37, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that emotional support and support for self-esteem were important in successful aging, and that pain, which was not considered in previous studies, was an important factor.
Aged ; Aging ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Data Collection ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the level of health problems and the factors that affect health problems for concrete mixer truck divers. METHODS: The questionnaires were administered to 111 drivers in 6 Remicon workplaces located in D city and 7 Remicon workplaces located in K city from September 10 to 28, 2018. A total of 111 questionnaires were collected and 106 were used, excluding 5 incomplete ones. Data were analyzed with frequency, percentage, χ2 test, multiple logistic regression analysis by SPSS/WIN 23.0. RESULTS: The factors affecting subjective health were eating habits, sleeping hours and drinking conditions. The factors that affected chronic diseases were age, eating habits, sleep hours, and drinking conditions. The factors influencing musculoskeletal complaints were work experience, eating habits, and sleep hours. CONCLUSION: The major influencing factors of health problems were eating habits, sleeping hours. This study suggests that it is necessary to run a systematic health care program for the desirable health behaviors in the communities and industrial fields.
Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Drinking ; Eating ; Health Behavior ; Health Status ; Logistic Models ; Motor Vehicles ; Musculoskeletal Diseases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze risk factors for positional vertigo (PV) and the influence thereof on daily life and subjective quality-of-life (QoL). SUBJECT ANDMETHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data of the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study population consisted of 1,274 individuals aged >40 years for whom complete dizziness-related data were available. Blood and urine tests were performed, and nutritional intake, QoL, and subjective health status were measured using a questionnaire. The associations between PV and blood/urine test data and nutritional intake were evaluated via multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A history of PV within the previous year was reported by 98 individuals (7.7%). Advanced age and female gender were both significantly associated with such a history. Serum hemoglobin, creatinine, and triglyceride levels correlated significantly with a history of PV. Carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin B2 intakes were significantly lower in individuals with PV. Multivariate analysis revealed that only age was significantly associated with a history of PV (p=0.003). Although subjective health status score was not significantly lower in subjects with PV, subjective impairments in mobility, self-care, the performance of usual activities, and anxiety/depression were more prominent in individuals with PV. A fall history and limitations of activity were also significantly higher in individuals with PV (p < 0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Age was a risk factor for PV, which affected most QoL parameters, fall frequency, and the performance of normal activities.
Carotenoids ; Creatinine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Dizziness ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Surveys ; Riboflavin ; Risk Factors ; Self Care ; Triglycerides ; Vertigo ; Vitamin A

BACKGROUND: The health condition of old age is affected by various factors such as economic level, disease condition, and nutrition. With the aging population in Korea, the ratio of single-person households increased rapidly. Research on the health status and nutrition of the elderly in the single-person household is very insufficient. In this study, we compared the health and nutritional status of the elderly by the household type. METHODS: Data from the 2013 to 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. A total of 2,730 patients were classified into 2 groups (single-person, with family), and general, chronic disease, health behavior, nutrient intake, and food insecurity status were compared by the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Single-person households had a low economic and educational level and a higher percentage of women. In addition, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction disease rate was significantly higher. Sing-person households answered that their subjective health status was bad, and their quality of life was low. As a result of analysis of the quality of the diet in the single-person, the intake of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin C was significantly lower. In particular, the intake of calcium was the most insufficient. Food insecurity has also been observed, including the inability to consume diverse and sufficient foods due to economic difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be paid to the health of single-person households in elderly population and various policies should be prepared.
Aged ; Aging ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Chronic Disease ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Diet ; Dyslipidemias ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Food Supply ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iron ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Niacin ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; Quality of Life ; Riboflavin ; Single Person ; Stroke

PURPOSE: Recently, considering the large number of adolescents suffering from chronic illness, it is important to identify the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) in order to develop intervention programs. METHODS: Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 21.0. The general characteristics, psychosocial health status, and life satisfaction distributions of the participants were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated to test the reliability of the instrument. The differences in psychosocial health status and life satisfaction according to gender were tested with t-test and Chi-square test. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was used to examine the effect of psychosocial health status on life satisfaction. RESULTS: The multiple regression analysis revealed that depression, ego resilience, and self-esteem were associated with the QoL in both male and female participants. Economic status, subjective health, peer attachment, and smart phone addiction were associated with the QoL in male participants, while exercise time during physical education classes, social withdrawal, and school adaptation were associated with the QoL in female participants. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a health promotion program should be developed, which reflects gender differences, to improve the QoL of adolescents with chronic illness.
Adolescent ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Ego ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Education and Training ; Quality of Life ; Smartphone ; Social Class

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships among nutritional supplement intake, subjective health status, health control level and health promotion behaviors and to investigate factors affecting health promotion behaviors in pregnant women. METHODS: A total of 153 pregnant women was recruited from a university hospital in J city in Korea. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: Most participants (91.5%) took nutritional supplements. Health promotion behavior had positive correlations with subjective health status (r=0.313, p < 0.001), internal control (r=0.229, p=0.004), powerful others locus of control (r=0.162, p=0.046), and doctors locus of control (r=0.215, p=0.008). There was a negative correlation between health promotion behavior and chance locus of control (r=−0.273, p=0.001). Health status (β=0.25, p=0.001), chance locus of control (β=−0.28, p < 0.001), doctors locus of control (β=0.20, p=0.009), and powerful others locus of control (β=0.16, p=0.033) were significant predictors for health promotion behavior. These variables explained 25.8% of the variance in health promotion behavior. CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that it is necessary to develop a nutrition education program and nursing intervention in order to promote health for pregnant women.
Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Education ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Korea ; Nursing ; Pregnant Women