No abstract available.
Humans ; Male* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

BACKGROUND: Although adults in 30s and 40s are at risk for hypertension management due to low rates of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, there has been a lack of study on hypertension management for this population. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine blood pressure screening and other associated factors with hypertension management in terms of awareness, control, and treatment. METHODS: Secondary data analysis was performed on the data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2007-2009. To examine whether blood pressure screening affects hypertension management in 929 subjects aged 30s and 40s with hypertension. Other factors, such as socio-demographics, health status, and health behaviors, were also included for data analysis. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were carried out using SAS 9.1. RESULTS: Hypertension awareness rates were high in those who had diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR] 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-3.90), self-rated their health status as poor (OR 2.89; 95% CI 1.82-4.58), and received a blood pressure check up (OR 5.96; 95% CI 2.90-12.25). Hypertension treatment rates were high in women (OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.47-4.27), and high in those who had diabetes mellitus (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.49-4.47), self-rated their health status as poor (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.54-4.14), self-reported as past smoker (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.22-3.29), and received a blood pressure check up (OR 12.64; 95% CI 4.87-32.77). Hypertension control rates were high in women (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.29-4.72), and high in those who self-reported as past smoker (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.35-4.50), and received a blood pressure check up (OR 9.24; 95% CI 3.15-27.15). CONCLUSIONS: For effective hypertension management in 30s and 40s, we should encourage this population to have a regular blood pressure screening.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Nutrition Surveys ; Phenothiazines ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the current situation of community health nursing practicum in bachelor programs. METHOD: Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of questions on education goals, teaching items, teaching methods, and evaluation methods and items. Forty five nursing departments/colleges or 84.9% of four-year nursing schools in Korea responded to the survey. RESULT: Nursing process application and understanding about the role and function of community health nurses were major goals of practice education. Community health centers were the most significant practice fields because all nursing schools mentioned them as places for practice. All nursing schools used a specific evaluation tool to measure students outcomes and utilized guidebooks to help students. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the goals of practice education should be standardized to improve the quality of education. Besides, evaluation tools that can be used commonly at all nursing schools should be developed to measure the effectiveness of practice education of community health nursing.
Community Health Centers ; Community Health Nursing* ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing ; Nursing Process ; Schools, Nursing ; Teaching ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine physical, psycho-social, and individual factors influencing musculoskeletal symptoms among Korean military trainees. METHODS: Using a correlation study design, military trainees who had completed almost of all the basic combat training (BCT) days were recruited from two military training units selected by convenience sampling. Data from 415 participants were analyzed. RESULTS: Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 29.6% defined as a participant having pain or discomfort in one or more body parts during training hours for more than seven consecutive days. Back/pelvic (10.8%), knees (10.1%), shoulders (7.7%), feet/toes (5.6%), ankles (4.8%) were prone to musculoskeletal symptoms. Musculoskeletal symptoms appeared to be related to physical exertion during BCT, stress during BCT, social support from fellow trainees, or previous musculoskeletal injuries. In the logistic regression model, physical exertion during BCT (OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.42~3.65), stress during BCT (OR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.15~2.78), and previous musculoskeletal injuries (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.01~2.47) were the significant factors affecting prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that physical exertion and psycho-social stress should be managed to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms in military trainees with more attention being given to trainees having a history of musculoskeletal injuries.
Ankle ; Human Body ; Humans ; Knee ; Logistic Models ; Military Personnel* ; Musculoskeletal System ; Physical Exertion ; Prevalence ; Shoulder ; Statistics as Topic ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study was to identify factors explaining health empowerment of older adults with high-risk of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. METHODS: Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 148 older adults residing in two areas who have one or more of the following diseases; hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: Health empowerment had a positive correlation with health literacy and social support. Perceived health status and social activity participation showed significant contribution in explaining health empowerment. CONCLUSION: This study showed that enhancing perceived health status and social activity participation are vital in an effort to improve health empowerment of the population. Main findings of this study can contribute to developing health empowerment interventions to improve health behavior practices of the older adults.
Adult* ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Health Behavior ; Health Literacy ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Power (Psychology)*

PURPOSE: (a) To examine geographical distribution of childhood allergic diseases in Korea and (b) to identify geographical and sociodemographic risk factors for allergic diseases. METHODS: Data on doctor-diagnosed asthma during lifetime and allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis during the past 12 months of 8,631 children (< or = 18 years) were obtained from the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, along with information on housing type and presence of an indoor smoker. The SaTScan program identified geographical case clusters of allergic diseases, and multiple logistic regression determined risk factors, including geographical case clusters, for each allergic disease. RESULTS: Prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis was 3.2%, 13.2%, and 15.5%, respectively. Older children (10-18 years) were more likely to have allergic rhinitis whereas younger children were more likely to have atopic dermatitis. It is noteworthy that children living in areas of geographical risk for asthma and atopic dermatitis were more likely to develop the respective allergic disease than children living in other areas (odds ratio [OR] = 3.47 for asthma, and OR = 9.74 for atopic dermatitis). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the areas in which children live may influence the development of certain allergic diseases. Implications include the need to assess geographical location of children with allergic diseases and to develop community-based preventive programs for children with allergic diseases.
Asthma ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Geography ; Housing ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Tibia*

Background: Fluvastatin is the first entirely synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A(HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor. Clinical data indicate that this agent exhibits the proven efficacy of its class and also has some theoretical advantages in safety for long-term use because of its unique pharmacololgic property consistent with hepatoselectivity(i.e., low systemic exposure). This study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of fluvastatin in hypercholesterolemic patients in Korea. Methods: An open clinical trial with fluvastatin was conducted in 31 subjects who continued to have high blood cholesterol levels of 6.21 mmol/L(240 mg/dl) or greater after 1 month of lipid-lowering diet plus single blind placebo period. Fluvastatin was administered for 8 weeks with the initial dose of 20 mg per day and if serum cholesterol levels did not fall below 5.20 mmol/L(200 mg/dl) after 4 weeks the dose was increased to 40 mg per day for the second 4 weeks. On each visit every 4 weeks they underwent interview and laboratory tests about side effects and tolerability. Results: The mean % changes in plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol from baseline were
Cholesterol ; Creatine Kinase ; Diet ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Korea ; Oxidoreductases ; Plasma ; Sleep Stages ; Triglycerides

Purpose: Climate change has various negative effects on human health, which has resulted in increased burden on the health care system. Nurses contribute significantly to assessing climate-related health risks and creating a healthy environment. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Climate, Health, and Nursing Tool (K-CHANT) to measure nurses’ awareness, motivation, concern, and behaviors at work and at home regarding climate change and health. Methods: The 22 items of English CHANT were translated into Korean with forward-backward translation techniques. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, and construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis were performed using SPSS WIN (25.0) and AMOS (26.0). Survey data were collected from 220 master’s, doctoral, and post-doctoral nursing students. Results: The K-CHANT consists of 20 items across 5 domains.Two items of the original CHANT were excluded because of low content validity index and standardized regression weights. The internal consistency reliability of the K-CHANT, assessed by Cronbach’s αá was .81, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of .66~.90. The five subscales model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (SRMR < .08, RMSEA < .08, AGFI > .70, CFI > .70). Conclusion The K-CHANT has satisfactory construct validity and reliability to measure nurses’ awareness, motivation, concern, and behaviors at work and at home regarding climate change and health. Future research should examine nurses’ perceptions and behaviors related to the health effects of climate change and develop an action plan to improve it.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define and clarify the concept of political competence for nurses.METHODS: A hybrid model method was used to investigate the dimensions, attributes, and definitions of the concept. In the theoretical stage of the study, literature on nursing, politics, and other discipline were reviewed. In the fieldwork stage, individual in-depth interviews and focus groups interviews were conducted with politically seasoned experts or activists who had an understanding of the concept of political competence for extensive descriptions in nursing and field of health care.RESULTS: The concept of political competence was represented in four dimensions as political knowledge, political efficacy, political interaction, and political activity. In the political knowledge dimension, there were three attributes, namely, political knowledge, political information and systematic analysis ability. The political efficacy dimension had three attributes of internal political efficacy, external political efficacy, and self-pride of nursing profession. The political interaction dimension had three attributes of organizations and community service, networking, and persuasive power. The political activity dimension had six attributes of political leadership, political expression, assertive behavior, political advocacy, political participation, and policy intervention.CONCLUSION: This concept development might provide a basic understanding of developing a measurement tool and for constructing a theory promoting nurses' political competence.
Concept Formation ; Delivery of Health Care ; Focus Groups ; Leadership ; Mental Competency ; Methods ; Nursing ; Politics ; Professional Competence ; Seasons ; Social Welfare