BACKGROUND: Influenza causes morbidity and mortality, resulting in the medical and socioeconomic costs. We aimed to analyse whether socioeconomic and medical factors may affect influenza vaccination status divided into 2 groups; one aged 19 to 64 years old and the other aged 65 or over who are eligible for free vaccination. METHODS: The study included 1,412 individuals aged 19 and over who responded to influenza vaccination survey, based on 2013 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Related factors were categorized into socioeconomic factors and medical factors. Univariate analyses were conducted to examine the correlations between vaccination rate and each variables. Multivariate analysis was obtained after adjusting variables which were statistcally significant. RESULTS: Influenza vaccination rate was significantly different in the population aged 19 to 64 (24.9%) and the population aged 65 or over (80.5%). In the former population, high vaccination rate was associated with healthcare usage (odds ratio [OR]=1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.03-1.83), underlying chronic diseases (OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.43-3.40), and public assistance recipient households (OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.03-4.78), while low vaccination rate was correlated with no use of medical check up (OR=0.70, 95% CI=0.52-0.94) and heavy alcoholics (OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.24-0.70). In the latter population aged 65 or over, high vaccination rate was associated with healthcare usage (OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.28-2.59), and underlying malignancies (OR=4.79, 95% CI=1.07-21.54), whereas low vaccination rate was associated with public assistance recipient households (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.14-0.76), and no use of medical check up (OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.19-0.73). CONCLUSIONS: In the population below 65 years old, vaccination rate would be expected to rise by the recommendation of medical care providers and expanding the coverage of free vaccination. In elderly, individualized care for those who have less access to medical care and high susceptibility is highly recommended.
Adult* ; Aged ; Alcoholics ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human* ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Surveys ; Public Assistance ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Vaccination*

BACKGROUND: Youth suicide is increasingly being recognized as a major social problem in South Korea. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of parental support on the relationship between life stress and suicidal ideation among middle-school students. METHODS: This study analyzed data from a cross-sectional study on mental health conducted by the South Korea National Youth Policy Institute between May and July of 2013. Questionnaire responses from 3,007 middle-school students regarding stress factors, thoughts of suicide during the past year, and parental support were analyzed in terms of 3 subscale elements: emotional, academic, and financial support. RESULTS: Among the participants, 234 male students (7.8%) and 476 female students (15.8%) reported experiencing suicidal ideation in the past year. Life stress significantly influenced suicidal ideation (P<0.001), and parental support and all of the subscale elements had a significant influence on decreasing suicidal ideation. As shown in model 1, life stress increased suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.318; P<0.001), and, in model 2, the effect of life stress on suicidal ideation decreased with parental support (aOR, 1.238; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Parental support was independently related to a decrease in suicidal ideation, and life stress was independently related to an increase in suicidal ideation. Parental support buffered the relationship between life stress and suicidal ideation.
Adolescent ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Financial Support ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mental Health ; Negotiating* ; Odds Ratio ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents* ; Social Problems ; Stress, Psychological* ; Suicidal Ideation* ; Suicide

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training is becoming more wide-spread in clinical education because of the increased technology of patient simulators in conjunction with their increased use by many medical centers. Simulation-based training enhances the learning, clinical skills and judgment of the trainees. However, the effect of repetition of simulation-based training has not yet been evaluated. The purpose of this presentation will be to examine whether the number of experiences could have an influence on the interest of the trainee. METHODS: Simulation-based training was designed as an introductory course for new interns and residents. The training course was divided into three sessions: Airway management training, cardiac massage training and advance cardiac life support mega code training. All the trainees were divided into the new interns and residents group. The two group's performances during conducting the three sessions were monitored by video equipment. All the trainees were debriefed and given a post intervention survey to assess their satisfaction with the simulation-based training. RESULTS: A total of 110 trainees completed the survey. On a four point scale, the students rated their stimulation of interest, the usefulness of the knowledge that they learned and if they enjoyed the simulation. There were no significant differences in the effectiveness of the three sessions of simulation-based training among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Simulation is a powerful tool to get trainees excited about applying the skills they learned in the classroom. Most trainees in both groups agreed that the exercises were a great experience helpful and exciting. We postulate that the repetition of simulation-based training will not decrease the effectiveness of the training.
Airway Management ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Clinical Competence ; Exercise ; Heart Massage ; Humans ; Judgment ; Learning

BACKGROUND: Adolescent smoking is positively related to weight control attempts, especially by unhealthy methods. The co-occurrence of smoking and unhealthy weight control behaviors may cause serious health problems in adolescents. This study examined the relationship of smoking with unhealthy weight control behaviors among Korean adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 31,090 students of grades 7 to 12, who had tried to reduce or maintain their weight during the 30 days prior to The Tenth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2014. Data on height, weight, weight control methods, smoking, alcohol intake, living with one's family, and perceived economic status were obtained through self-report questionnaires. ‘Unhealthy weight control behaviors’ were subcategorized into ‘extreme weight control behaviors’ and ‘less extreme weight control behaviors.’ RESULTS: The smoking rates were 13.3%±0.4% in boys and 3.8%±0.2% in girls. Current smokers were more likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 2.00 in boys, and OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.59 to 2.65 in girls) and less extreme weight control behaviors (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.40 in boys, and OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.76 in girls) compared to non-smokers among both boys and girls. CONCLUSION: Current smoking is independently related to a high likelihood of engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors among Korean adolescents. This relationship is stronger for girls than for boys. Extreme weight control behaviors have a stronger relationship with current smoking than less extreme weight control behaviors.
Adolescent* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea* ; Problem Behavior ; Risk-Taking* ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Weight Loss