In July 2010 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Niigata University (NU) signed a memorandum of agreement to continue collaboration in joint planning and implementation of education, research and practice services in the field of medicine. Since then several undergraduate and postgraduate students including academic staffs have been visiting NU and UKM as part of their learning experience. This collaboration is also a good opportunity for Doctor of Public Health (DRPH) postgraduate candidates to gain experience on the practice of public health in handling public health issues, planning the healthcare facilities, delivering a quality public health services, enforcing public health policies/regulations and finally learn about the health systems in general at other countries especially from developed country like Japan. The learning experience will help student to evaluate the difference of practice of public health in different countries based on their culture, availability of resources, disease trend and other factors influence the practice of public health.
Delivery of Health Care ; ethnology ; Public Health ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Japan

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*psychology ; *Awareness ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*ethnology ; Smoking/*adverse effects/*ethnology

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the levels of parenting efficacy and health-promoting behaviors for children of mothers, and to explore the relationships between parenting efficacy and the behaviors of mothers from native and multicultural families in South Korea. METHODS: Data was collected by a self-report questionnaire completed by 258 mothers who had 6-month to 36-month-old children attending kindergartens or multicultural family support centers located in Seoul and in Gyeounggi Province, South Korea. RESULTS: No significant difference in parenting efficacy was found, depending on the maternal country of origin. However, Chinese mothers performed health-promoting behaviors more frequently for their children than Korean and Vietnamese mothers did (F = 6.87, p < .001). The significant positive correlations between parenting efficacy and maternal health-promoting behaviors for children were found, regardless of maternal country of origin (r = .57, p < .001 for Korean, r = .42, p < .001 for Chinese, and r= .40, p < .001 for Vietnamese mothers). CONCLUSIONS: Since maternal health-promoting behaviors were different depending on the native country of the mothers, maternal country of origin should be considered in designing programs for improving maternal health-promoting behaviors for their children. In addition, increasing the level of parenting efficacy can be an effective way for improvement of maternal health-promoting behaviors.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology ; Child Rearing/*ethnology ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cultural Diversity ; Female ; Health Behavior/*ethnology ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mothers ; Parenting/*ethnology ; Republic of Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the level of knowledge and the attitudes of Korean adults toward sexuality of elderly people. METHODS: This was a descriptive study using a convenience sample of 241 adults. The questionnaire had 34 items for knowledge and 26 items for attitudes. RESULTS: The result showed that, related to sexuality of elderly people, the level of knowledge was average and attitudes were conservative. The level of knowledge was significantly higher in groups that were highly educated and of low economic status (p<.05). Attitudes toward sexuality of elderly people were significantly more conservative in female, older, less educated, and high economic status group. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a need for more education for Korean adults regarding sexuality in elderly people.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Female ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; *Intergenerational Relations/ethnology ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Prejudice ; *Sexuality/ethnology ; Socioeconomic Factors

This paper reports on women's understanding of diseases believed to be sexually transmitted in the Asaro Valley of the Eastern Highlands Province. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) seemed to be a new category of disease as there were no local language terms for them. Women did not associate STDs with infertility. Although some symptoms were recognized and known to be sexually transmitted, STDs sometimes went untreated for years. STDs were thought of as milder than AIDS because they could be treated. Those informants who had good knowledge of AIDS claimed to have known an AIDS patient. It was interesting that those who knew an AIDS patient reported a change in sexual behaviour among people who saw the deteriorating state of their relative who was dying of AIDS. PIP: Women's perception of STDs in the Asaro Valley of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea was studied along with the local language terms for reproductive tract infections. Considering that there are no known specific local language terms for diseases that are sexually transmitted, women tend to view STDs as a new category of disease. The study emphasizes the women's understanding of the risk factors, as well as signs and symptoms, causes and measures taken, behavior towards treatment, and suggestions concerning treatment and protection. Interviews were conducted with 30 women aged 17-50 years. 14 of those participated in the clinical side of a community- based STD study, while the rest provided information independently. Particular emphasis was given to sources of information on STDs, understanding of risk factors, signs and symptoms, causes and measures taken, attitude towards treatment, and suggestions for treatment and protection. Since the local language does not have a term to refer to any diseases thought to be passed on through sexual intercourse, three terms were used: "sik nogut" (bad sickness), gonorrhea, and syphilis; additionally, signs and symptoms were described rather than named. It was found that rumors and educated relatives were the primary sources of information about "sik nogut." One of the major findings was that women did not link infertility with STDs, even if symptoms were felt in and around the reproductive tract. The paper concludes that sexual intercourse, as identified by women, is the dominant mode of disease transmission in the Valley. Condoms are becoming acceptable but are not used because of their unavailability. An interesting finding in this study is the reported change in sexual behavior among people who have seen their relatives die of AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - ethnology ; Disease Transmission, Infectious - prevention & ; control ; Educational Status ; HIV Infections - transmission ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & ; control

PURPOSE: This study examined current research theories and methods, cultural factors, and culturally relevant interventions associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in Korean American (KA) women. METHODS: Based on Ganong's guidelines, the literature on cultural factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in KA women was searched using MEDLINE and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Sixty-eight articles on breast cancer screening and 66 articles on cervical cancer screening were retrieved from both databases, and a total of 22 articles were included in the literature review based on the selection criteria. RESULTS: Of the 22 studies reviewed, 14 (63.6%) were descriptive and 8 (36.4%) were interventional. Many studies have used individual focused cognitive theories such as health belief model and different types of operationalization for measures of cultural beliefs. Cultural factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in KA women that were identified in descriptive quantitative and qualitative studies included family, embarrassment, preventive health orientation, fatalism, and acculturation. Most culturally relevant interventional studies used education programs, and all education was conducted by bilingual and bicultural health educators at sociocultural sites for KA women. CONCLUSIONS: Theories focusing on interpersonal relationships and standardized, reliable, and valid instruments to measure cultural concepts are needed to breast and cervical cancer screening research in KA women. Traditional cultural factors associated with cancer screening should be considered for practical implications and future research with KA women.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Americans/ethnology ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; *Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea/ethnology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study examined the predictive factors enabling access to children's oral health care at the level of financial barriers, beliefs, and the provider. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 320 immigrant mothers of low-income families regarding their use of oral health services for children aged four to eight years old. Access to oral health care was measured with frequency of planned dental visits, continuity of care, and age at first visit to dentist. RESULTS: The mother took her child to the dentist at a younger age if she received referrals to a dentist from pediatrician. Regular dental visits were significantly related to household income, provider availability on weekends, and insurance coverage. The extended clinic hours in the evenings, and the belief in the importance of the child's regular dentist visits increased the likelihood of continuing care. The mothers perceiving a cost burden for the child's dental care were also less likely to return to the dentist. CONCLUSION: The available care delivery system, coordinated medical care, and health beliefs were among important predictors of the health service use. The study findings suggest need for culturally competent dental health interventions to enhance access to oral health care among particularly vulnerable populations such as low-income children in Korean communities.
Adult ; Attitude to Health/*ethnology ; Chicago ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clinical Competence/standards ; Continuity of Patient Care/standards ; Cultural Diversity ; Dental Care for Children/economics/*utilization ; Emigration and Immigration ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Health Care Surveys ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Services Accessibility/standards ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Hispanic Americans/education/*ethnology ; Humans ; Mexico/ethnology ; Mothers/education/*psychology ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Poverty/economics/*ethnology ; Puerto Rico/ethnology ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore and describe Khmer mothers' understanding of HBV and HPV prevention as well as their perception of parenting on health and health education of their daughters in the US. METHODS: The qualitative pilot study guided by the revised Network Episode Model and informed by ethnographic analysis and community-based purposive sampling method were used. Face-to-face audiotaped interviews with eight Khmer mothers were conducted by bilingual female middle-aged community health leaders who spoke Khmer. RESULTS: The findings revealed that Khmer mothers clearly lacked knowledge about HBV and HPV infection prevention and had difficulty understanding and educating their daughters about health behavior, especially on sex-related topics. The findings showed that histo-sociocultural factors are integrated with the individual factor, and these factors influenced the HBV and HPV knowledge and perspective of Khmer mothers' parenting. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that situation-specific conceptual and methodological approaches that take into account the uniqueness of the sociocultural context of CAs is a novel method for identifying factors that are significant in shaping the perception of Khmer mothers' health education related to HBV and HPV prevention among their daughters. The communication between mother and daughter about sex and the risk involved in contracting HBV and HPV has been limited, partly because it is seen as a "taboo subject" and partly because mothers think that schools educate their children regarding sexuality and health.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Americans/psychology ; Cambodia/ethnology ; Child ; Child Rearing/*psychology ; Communication ; Female ; *Health Education ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mothers/*psychology ; Nuclear Family ; Papillomavirus Infections/*prevention & control ; Parenting/*psychology ; Pilot Projects ; Qualitative Research ; United States ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To compare perimenstrual (premenstrual, menstrual, postmenstrual) symptoms by concurrent reporting using the Women's Daily Health Diary (WDHD) and by retrospective reporting using the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MMDQ). METHODS: A prospective and retrospective study was conducted among 31 Korean women, aged 27 to 48 yrs, living in the USA. RESULTS: On the prospective report using the WDHD, the most severe complaints were fatigue or tiredness (1.48 +/-.98), sensation of weight gain (.88+/-98), increased appetite (.79+/-.96) in premenstrual phase, fatigue or tiredness (1.34+/-.85), backaches (1.06+/-.79), and bloating or swelling of the abdomen (.93+/-.86) during the menstrual phase. On the retrospective report using the MMDQ, the most severe complaints during the premenstrual phase were fatigue (2.2 6+/-1.65), irritability (2.06+/-1.48), and backaches (1.97+/-1.68) and during the menstrual phase backaches (2.35+/-1.62), fatigue (2.29+/-1.75), and cramps (2.23+/- 1.80). According to both measurements of PMS symptomology during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, the most frequently reported symptom was fatigue or tiredness. Highly rated symptoms on the MMDQ and on the WDHD were found to be similar. CONCLUSION: The WDHD was found to be suitable for daily prospective PMS assessment, which will be necessary for the screening and management of women with severe PMS.
Acculturation ; Adult ; Asian Americans/*ethnology ; Attitude to Health/ethnology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Data Collection/*methods/standards ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea/ethnology ; Longitudinal Studies ; Medical Records/*standards ; Michigan ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Assessment/methods/standards ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Nursing Methodology Research ; *Premenstrual Syndrome/diagnosis/ethnology ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires/*standards ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of gastric cancer couples in Korea and to generate a substantive theory integrating the experiences of gastric cancer survivors and their spouses as a whole. The specific aims of this study were to explore major problems gastric cancer couples faced and how they resolved these problems, focusing on inter-relational dynamics within the couples and on similarities and differences between the couples. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis study using grounded theory techniques. The study used the data of 11 married couples which was collected from in-depth interviews from two primary studies. The unit of analysis was dyads of gastric cancer survivors and their spouses. RESULT: The basic social psychological process that emerged from the analysis was "taking charge of their health." Major categories involved in this process were identified as 1) adjusting to new diets, 2) reinforcing physical strength, 3) seeking information, 4) strengthening Ki, 5) lowering life-expectations, and 6) going their separate ways. These six categories represent major strategies in overcoming critical problems that occurred in day-to-day experiences. In terms of the process, the first five categories characterize the earlier stage of the process of "taking charge of their health," while "going their separate ways" indicates the later stage and also the beginning of their separate ways: "pursuing spiritual life" for the survivors, and "preparing for the future" for the spouses. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will help design family care for the people with gastric cancer by providing in-depth understanding and insight on the lives of gastric cancer couples.
*Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Attitude to Death/ethnology ; Attitude to Health/*ethnology ; Female ; Grief ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Interpersonal Relations ; Korea ; Male ; Marriage/psychology ; Middle Aged ; Models, Psychological ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Qualitative Research ; Questionnaires ; Self Care/psychology ; Social Support ; Spirituality ; Spouses/education/*ethnology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*ethnology ; Survivors/*psychology