PURPOSE: The pollen calendar is the simplest forecasting method for pollen concentrations. As pollen concentrations are liable to seasonal variations due to alterations in climate and land-use, it is necessary to update the pollen calendar using recent data. To attenuate the impact of considerable temporal and spatial variability in pollen concentrations on the pollen calendar, it is essential to employ a new methodology for its creation.METHODS: A pollen calendar was produced in Korea using data from recent observations, and a new method for creating the calendar was proposed, considering both risk levels and temporal resolution of pollen concentrations. A probability distribution was used for smoothing concentrations and determining risk levels. Airborne pollen grains were collected between 2007 and 2017 at 8 stations; 13 allergenic pollens, including those of alder, Japanese cedar, birch, hazelnut, oak, elm, pine, ginkgo, chestnut, grasses, ragweed, mugwort and Japanese hop, were identified from the collected grains.RESULTS: The concentrations of each pollen depend on locations and seasons due to large variability in species distribution and their environmental condition. In the descending order of concentration, pine, oak and Japanese hop pollens were found to be the most common in Korea. The pollen concentrations were high in spring and autumn, and those of oak and Japanese hop were probably the most common cause of allergy symptoms in spring and autumn, respectively. High Japanese cedar pollen counts were observed in Jeju, while moderate concentrations were in Jeonju, Gwangju and Busan.CONCLUSIONS: A new methodology for the creation of a pollen calendar was developed to attenuate the impact of large temporal and spatial variability in pollen concentrations. This revised calendar should be available to the public and allergic patients to prevent aggravation of pollen allergy.
Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Busan ; Climate ; Corylus ; Cryptomeria ; Forecasting ; Ginkgo biloba ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Methods ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seasons

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship of the nutrition of rice and the positive evaluation of the rice-based meal with the food consumption habits, physical and emotional health status, and learning efficacy of 601 middle and high school students in Jeonju area. METHODS: The participants were divided into two groups using cluster analysis in that the participants belonging to the upper groups had a center score of 46.86 (n = 348), while the people belonging to the lower group had a center score of 36.89 (n = 253). Statistical differences were tested for all the relationships between the physical and emotional healths symptoms and learning efficacy between the groups at the α = 0.05 level. RESULTS: Significant differences in the physical self-evaluated symptoms were observed in all five items in each cluster (p < 0.05). In the case of the emotional health status, nine out of 10 items showed significant differences between the groups. Similarly, significant differences in all five items in learning efficacy questionnaire were noted (p < 0.05). Positive attitudes of the parents toward having breakfast also showed significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: The nutrition of rice and a positive evaluation of the rice-based meals significantly affect the physical and emotional health status and learning efficacy of juveniles. These findings can be used as baseline information for promoting nutrition education, particularly rice-based breakfast.
Adolescent ; Breakfast ; Education ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Learning ; Meals ; Parents

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare scaling rates in 16 cities and provinces using data from the Community Health Survey (CHS) and National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). METHODS: This study involved cross-sectional secondary data analysis. A total of 16,646,190 subjects who participated in the CHS and 218,184 subjects in the NHIS were included in the final analysis. The dependent variable was the scaling rate, and the independent variables were sex, age, and 16 regions. The study included individuals aged 19 years or older who received scaling between August 2014 and August 2015 in the past year in the CHS and codes U2232 (scaling) and U2233 (scaling before periodontal treatment) in the NHIS. The total scaling rates were compared between the CHS and NHIS. The differences in scaling rates according to sex, age, and 16 regions were analyzed. RESULTS: The CHS (42.6%) scaling rates were 17.5% higher than the NHIS (25.1%) scaling rates in 16 regions in 2015. The median in the CHS data was in Busan (41.5%), while that in the NHIS data was in Jeonbuk (23.5%). There was no significant difference between scaling rates above and below the median region in the CHS and NHIS. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that CHS data, which show a higher rate, should be used to assess and monitor the dental needs of community residents. NHIS data should be used to evaluate community oral health projects. It is necessary to develop health indicators for the community oral health project of input, process, and outcome evaluation.
Busan ; Dental Scaling ; Health Surveys ; Jeollabuk-do ; National Health Programs ; Oral Health ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to determine the influence of social support on the relationship between emotional labor and nursing performance of general hospital nurses. METHODS: Data collection was conducted at three general hospitals in Jeollabuk-do from August 10 to 25, 2017. Collected questionnaires (188 nurses) were analyzed based on percentages, means, SD, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé, Pearson correlation analysis, and moderated regression analysis using SPSS Statistics 24.0 software. RESULTS: Social support was found to moderate the influence of nurses' emotional labor on nursing performance. That is, high level of social support can reduce the negative effect of emotional labor on nursing performance. CONCLUSION: Based on findings in the present study, it can be said that establishing positive organizational culture through harmonious social support at the work site is necessary to improve nursing performance. In addition, measures to effectively improve social support need to be explored and practiced at the work site. Efforts should be made to come up with strategies to properly cope with and overcome emotional labor. The results of this study suggest the scope for further research to identify additional variables that moderate or mediate the relationship between emotional labor and nursing performance.
Data Collection ; Hospitals, General ; Jeollabuk-do ; Nursing ; Organizational Culture ; Workplace

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the status of children's favorite foods intake and the relationship with the policy environment based on the Special Act on Safety Control of Children's Dietary Life for suggesting a supportive policy strategy. METHODS: The subjects were 4th grade students (n=1,638) in elementary school from 45 schools collected from seven areas (Seoul, Daegu, Daejeon, Gyeonggi, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongnam). The children participated in a self-administered questionnaire survey in class under the supervision of the teacher. The questionnaire consisted of items, such as social demographic characteristics, frequency of intake of the children's favorite foods, and policy cognition. A t-test and ANOVA were applied to explore the relationship between the frequency of children's favorite foods intake and policy cognition. The survey was implemented from August 2016 to September 2016. RESULTS: For the boys, the frequency of ‘high-calorie low nutrient foods intake’ (HCLN) was significantly higher than that of the girls (p<0.01). For the children who received information on their favorite foods from the internet, the frequency of HCLN was higher than the other sources (p<0.01). The time of TV viewing and computer usage, and smartphone usage was associated with a higher frequency of HCLN, and a lower healthy favorite food intake (all p<0.001). The intake frequency of healthy favorite foods indicated a positive correlation with the policy cognition, including policy perception, usefulness, necessity and buying intention, and educational experience. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a correlation with the frequency of children's favorite foods intake and policy. In particular, the frequency of children's healthy favorite foods intake indicated a meaningful relationship with the policy than the frequency of HCLN. This study also found that the consumption of children's healthy favorite foods was positively correlated with the educational experience. To develop a supportive policy for a good dietary environment for children, there is a need to focus on how to collaborate with multiple levels of influences, such as the national level, school level, and family.
Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cognition ; Daegu ; Eating ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Intention ; Internet ; Jeollabuk-do ; Organization and Administration ; Smartphone

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the status of children's favorite foods intake and the relationship with the policy environment based on the Special Act on Safety Control of Children's Dietary Life for suggesting a supportive policy strategy. METHODS: The subjects were 4th grade students (n=1,638) in elementary school from 45 schools collected from seven areas (Seoul, Daegu, Daejeon, Gyeonggi, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongnam). The children participated in a self-administered questionnaire survey in class under the supervision of the teacher. The questionnaire consisted of items, such as social demographic characteristics, frequency of intake of the children's favorite foods, and policy cognition. A t-test and ANOVA were applied to explore the relationship between the frequency of children's favorite foods intake and policy cognition. The survey was implemented from August 2016 to September 2016. RESULTS: For the boys, the frequency of ‘high-calorie low nutrient foods intake’ (HCLN) was significantly higher than that of the girls (p<0.01). For the children who received information on their favorite foods from the internet, the frequency of HCLN was higher than the other sources (p<0.01). The time of TV viewing and computer usage, and smartphone usage was associated with a higher frequency of HCLN, and a lower healthy favorite food intake (all p<0.001). The intake frequency of healthy favorite foods indicated a positive correlation with the policy cognition, including policy perception, usefulness, necessity and buying intention, and educational experience. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a correlation with the frequency of children's favorite foods intake and policy. In particular, the frequency of children's healthy favorite foods intake indicated a meaningful relationship with the policy than the frequency of HCLN. This study also found that the consumption of children's healthy favorite foods was positively correlated with the educational experience. To develop a supportive policy for a good dietary environment for children, there is a need to focus on how to collaborate with multiple levels of influences, such as the national level, school level, and family.
Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cognition ; Daegu ; Eating ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Intention ; Internet ; Jeollabuk-do ; Organization and Administration ; Smartphone

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the inflow and outflow patterns of emergency department patients with si-gun-gu in the Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam areas. METHODS: Data from the Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam were extracted from the National Emergency Department Information System in 2016. The extracted data (on 42 areas in Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam) using the variables of the patient's address (zip code) and the emergency medical institution code (emergency medical institution address) were used to calculate the relevance index and commitment index. The calculated indices were classified into the regional types by applying NbClust and cluster analysis (K-means) of the R package. RESULTS: The relevance indices ranged from 12.5% to 90.4%, and the commitment indices ranged from 9.2% to 90.3%. The results of cluster analysis with the relevance indices and commitment indices revealed three types for 39 areas. In cluster 1, the relevance indices ranged from 43.5% to 61.6%, and the commitment indices ranged from 9.2% to 49.5%. Three out of the thirty-nine areas were classified as the inflow type. In cluster 2, the relevance indices ranged from 12.5% to 56.0% and the commitment indices ranged from 62.5% to 90.3%; 12 areas were classified as the outflow type. The areas in cluster 3 were classified as the self-sufficient type, with relevance indices ranging from 60.1% to 90.4% and commitment indices ranging from 59.0% to 89.7% for 24 areas. CONCLUSION: Three area types and 11 out of 12 areas classified as outflow types were found to be emergency medical vulnerable areas. The results of this study can be used to establish local emergency medical policies.
Cluster Analysis ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Jeollabuk-do ; Jeollanam-do

BACKGROUND: We investigated somatization symptoms experienced by dental hygienists due to stress from emotional labor. Our aim was to provide basic research data that could be useful in the development of efficient stress management schemes for this occupational group. METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 208 dental hygienists working in Jeollabuk-do Province, Korea. To measure the level and intensity of emotional labor among research participants, we used the Korean Emotional Labor Questionnaire. We used the Somatization Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to measure the level of somatization symptoms among participants. RESULTS: On analyzing the level of emotional labor and somatization symptoms according to general characteristics, participants aged 23~25 years showed high scores for stress due to emotional labor (p<0.05). Working 5 days per week, subjective health status, and organizational support and protection systems were found to correlate with the level of stress due to emotional labor (p<0.05). In the analysis of correlations between emotional labor and somatization symptoms, scoring high across all domains of emotional labor was associated with scoring high for somatization symptoms in the subdomains of emotional labor. When emotional labor and demographical variables were used as independent variables, having higher scores for emotional labor and having poor subjective health status were found to be associated with having higher levels of somatization symptoms (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that working at night and organizational support and protection systems were correlated with emotional labor and somatization symptoms. Measures must be taken at the organizational level to reduce emotional labor and somatization symptoms.
Dental Hygienists ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Occupational Groups

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphism is associated with neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Although the effects of the gene differ by ethnic group, few studies have examined Asians. Therefore, the association between APOE polymorphism and mortality in Koreans was evaluated in this study. METHODS: This study population included participants from the Dong-gu and Namwon Studies. APOE genotypes were categorized as E2 (E2/E2 and E2/E3), E3 (E3/E3), and E4 (E3/E4 and E4/E4). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were constructed using the E3 allele as a reference. RESULTS: In the model adjusting for study site, age, gender, and lifestyle, the hazard ratio (HR) of mortality for those with the E4 allele was 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97–1.20), while that for those with the E2 allele was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.74–0.96). After adjusting for blood lipids to evaluate their mediating effects, the HRs of mortality for those with E4 and E2 alleles were 1.08 (95% CI, 0.97–1.20) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.70–0.92), respectively. These associations were more evident in younger groups, with HRs of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.52–0.92) for the E2 allele and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.03–1.53) for the E4 allele. CONCLUSION: In two large population-based cohort studies, the E2 allele was associated with a lower risk of mortality compared with the E3 allele, whereas the E4 genotype was not associated with mortality in Koreans.
Alleles ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Ethnic Groups ; Genotype ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Life Style ; Mortality ; Negotiating ; Proportional Hazards Models

PURPOSE: This study examined the menu pattern, food diversity, and satisfaction of parents with the snack menus of childcare centers provided by the Center for Children's Foodservice Management (CCFM) in Jeonbuk area. METHODS: Data from 2,432 snack menus (1,321 for morning snacks and 1,111 for afternoon snacks) of March, June, September, and December 2017 from 13 CCFM in Jeonbuk area were analyzed. In addition, the participants for the survey were 247 parents in Jeonju and Kunsan. The data were analyzed using a t-test, χ²-test, and hierarchical regression analysis with SPSS v. 24.0. RESULTS: Differences in the menu pattern and food diversity were observed between morning and afternoon snack menus. The majority of snack menus (61.6%) were one menu item. The percentage of ‘G’ (20.0%) was highest in the food group patterns. The morning snacks served mainly porridge, raw fruits, and milk, and the afternoon snacks served mainly flour-based foods, juices, and milk. The awareness level of parents about the snack menus of daycare centers was 4.09±0.82, and its overall satisfaction was 4.06±0.69. In the snack-quality attribute analysis, the hygiene of foods was the most important factor, and parents judged that they were doing well. Regression analysis showed that the hygiene of personnel was the most influential variable on the overall satisfaction, followed by balance with the main meal and the portion size. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is important to establish snack menu guidelines considering the eating behaviors of the children and to strengthen hygiene for the increasing the satisfaction of various stakeholders in daycare centers.
Child ; Feeding Behavior ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Jeollabuk-do ; Meals ; Milk ; Parents ; Portion Size ; Snacks