PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of dietary supplement (DS) use, investigate the related factors associated with DS use among preschoolers and support the adequate nutrition. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey of mothers of children aged between 1 and 6 years who visited pediatric clinics in 3 Korean cities (Jeonju, Suncheon, Jeongeup) between October and November 2012 at Presbyterian Medical Center. The responses from 929 questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: Approximately 45.1% of the preschoolers used DS in the past month. The following factors were associated with greater use of DS: older age (p<0.001), whether or not the preschoolers attended kindergarten (p<0.001), higher mother's concern about the nutritional facts (p<0.001), whether or not the mother use DS (p<0.001), whether or not the mother counsel with a doctor or pharmacist about DS use (p<0.001). Vitamin.mineral supplements (77.5%) were the most commonly used DS among the preschoolers, followed by ginseng (49.3%) and probiotics (25.6%). Additionally, of the DS users, 95.9% gave DS to their healthy children. Of the users and non-users, 97.6% and 62.2%, respectively, indicated that they would like to have their children take DS. The information on DS was obtained from family or friends in 48.2% of the DS users and from doctors in only 6.1%. CONCLUSION: Approximately half of the preschoolers in our study used DS, which might not have been medically indicated for most of them. Therefore, the role of professionals in counseling on desirable diet behaviors and DS use for preschoolers is warranted.
Aged ; Child ; Counseling ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; Energy Intake ; Friends ; Humans ; Mothers ; Panax ; Pharmacists ; Prevalence ; Probiotics ; Protestantism ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was done to examine the correlations between weight, BMI and risk factors of coronary heart disease in men and women in their forties and fifties. The subjects were 412 adults, who had regular health examinations between January and December of 1996 at S-Hospital in Seoul. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results are as follows : 1. The men between 50 and 59 years of age had higher levels for BMI, weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar, plasminogen activator-1, and hemoglobin A1C than the group of women in their forties. Yet, HDL-cholesterol was lower than in the former group. 2. In the group of men in their forties, weight was significantly correlated to diastolic blood pressure(r=.22), LDL-cholesterol(r=.20), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(r=.35) HDL-cholesterol(r=-.19). Their BMI was significantly corrected to systolic blood pressure(r=.27), diastolic blood pressure(r=.33), total cholesterol(r=.23), LDL-cholesterol(r=.26), plasminogen activator-1(r=.36) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-.25). 3. As for the group of women in their forties weight was significantly correlated to systolic blood pressure(r=.20), diastolic blood pressure(r=.22), triglyceride(r=.32), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(r=.30) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-.37). Their BMI was significantly correlated to diastolic blood pressure(r=.25) triglyceride(r=.47), plasminogen activator-1(r=.35), fibrinogen(r=.27) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-.47). 4. In the group of men in their fifties, weight was significantly correlated to total cholesterol(r=.32), LDL-cholesterol(r=.29), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(r=.26). Their BMI was significantly correlated to systolic blood pressure(r=.24), diastolic blood pressure(r=.22), total cholesterol(r=.34), LDL-cholesterol(r=.32), and plasminogen activator-1(r=.25). 5. In the group of women in their fifties, weight was significantly correlated to diastolic blood pressure(r=.33), total cholesterol(r=.21), LDL-cholesterol(r=.20), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(r=.43) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-.21). Their BMI was significantly corrected to systolic blood pressure(r=.25), diastolic blood pressure(r=.40), total cholesterol(r=.24), LDL-cholesterol(r=.24), triglyceride(r=.22), and HDL-cholesterol(r=-.30). The above findings indicate that the BMI was more predictive than weight as a risk factor for coronary artery disease for men and women in their forties and fifties.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight* ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activators ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Triglycerides

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses towards clinical trials and to provide evidence for the development of clinical trial education programs for oncology nurses. Methods: The study was conducted on 142 nurses who had more than six months of nursing experience working with cancer patients at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. A structured questionnaire was used to measure the knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses towards clinical trials. Results: The participants scored an average of 15.03±3.52 out of 19 in terms of knowledge about clinical trials. In terms of attitudes towards clinical trials, the participants scored an average of 5.91±1.37 out of 8. There was a significant positive correlation between the knowledge and attitudes of the participants towards clinical trials (r=.23, p=.007). Conclusion This study found that there was a relationship between the knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses towards clinical trials. To improve the competency of oncology nurses and provide high-quality care to patients participating in clinical trials, more systematic and sustainable education is needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between communication competence, empathy, and geriatric nursing practice of nurses caring for elderly cancer patients and to provide evidence supporting the practice of geriatric nursing. Methods: This study was conducted on 149 nurses who had more than six months of nursing experience caring for cancer patients aged 65 or older at veterans hospital, a general hospital in Seoul, Korea. Communication competence, empathy, and geriatric nursing practice were measured using a self-reported questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 27.0 program. Results: The mean of communication competence was 3.77±0.46 out of 5, empathy was 3.96±0.42 out of 5, and geriatric nursing practice was 3.40±0.35 out of 4. The participants’ geriatric nursing practice showed a significant positive correlation with communication competence (r=.39, p<.001), and empathy (r=.47, p<.001). Conclusion To improve the geriatric nursing practice of nurses caring for elderly cancer patients, it would be necessary to develop an effective program and apply interventions to improve communication competence and empathy for elderly cancer patients.

PURPOSE: It is difficult to diagnose acute pyelonephritis(APN) in young children, because of their nonspecific symptoms. The younger the age, the higher the risk of renal scars after APN, which can be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment. We compare the significance of renal imaging studies by age for diagnosis of APN in febrile urinary tract infection(UTI) in children. METHODS: Fifty-three hospitalized children(34 patients under age 2 and 19 patients over age 2) with febrile UTI and who had undergone dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan, renal ultrasonography(RUS) and voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) during the acute stage were reviewed. We compared the renal imaging studies between the different age groups. RESULTS: The DMSA scan showed cortical defects in 23.5% of patients under age 2, which was significantly lower than 63.2% of patents over age 2(P<0.05). The renal cortical defects on DMSA scan were associated only with a high peripheral leukocyte count, but not with fever duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), and C-reactive protein(CRP). And there was no correlation between the DMSA scan, VCUG or RUS findings. CONCLUSIONS: The DMSA scan is not sensitive for diagnosis of APN in children less than 2 years of age and the findings cannot predict the presence of vesicoureteral reflux(VUR). VCUG may be necessary for proper management in this age group.
Blood Sedimentation ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Pyelonephritis* ; Succimer ; Urinary Tract

PURPOSE: To evaluate current complementary feeding and maternal nutritional knowledge of a multicultural family in Korea. METHODS: Foreign mothers of babies aged 9~24 months, who visited pediatric clinics or attended a meeting on a multicultural family party between December 2010 and April 2011, were asked to fill out questionnaires. Data from 146 questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: Complementary food was introduced at 4~7 months in 78% of babies. The following were the sources of information on complementary feeding: friends (34%), relatives (27%), books/magazines (19%), multicultural family educational support center (8%), mass media (4%), and hospitals (3%). The cases of complementary food introduction after 8 months (21% vs. 10%, p<0.001), initial use of commercial food (26% vs. 6%, P<0.001) and initial use of bottle feeding (15% vs. 3%, p<0.001) were more frequent compared to the 2009 Korean survey. Mothers agreeing with the following suggestions were relatively fewer: feeding minced meat from 6~7 months (61%), No mixed cereal powder as complementary food (61%), feeding egg white after 12 months (63%), no adding salt or sugar to the complementary food (64%), bottle weaning before 15~18 months (66%) and considering formula better than soy milk (68%). CONCLUSION: Complementary feeding practices of multicultural families showed many points of improvement compared with the 2009 Korean survey. Pediatricians should make more of an effort to consult with families of multicultural infants about nutrition and complementary feeding. Also, the government and the pediatrics academy need to institute policies to support the nutrition of multicultural infants.
Aged ; Bottle Feeding ; Edible Grain ; Egg White ; Friends ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Mass Media ; Meat ; Mothers ; Pediatrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Soy Milk ; Weaning

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid dysfunction in obese children in Korea. METHOD: We measured body mass index and thyroid hormone in obese, overweight, and normal weight children who visited a pediatric clinic in Jeonju, Korea, from January 2009 to September 2012. RESULTS: The free thyroxoine (FT4) level of the obese group (16.35 +/- 2.79 pmol/L) was lower than levels of the overweight (17.65 +/- 2.31 pmol/L) and normal weight (17.28 +/- 2.35 pmol/L; P=0.012) groups. The average value of FT4 in severely obese children (15.71 +/- 1.68 pmol/L) was lower than those of mildly and moderately obese children (16.40 +/- 2.88 pmol/L). We found no significant difference in thyroid stimulating hormone level between the obese group and normal weight group. CONCLUSION: The FT4 level is lower in obese children than in normal weight children.
Body Mass Index ; Child ; Humans ; Korea ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin

PURPOSE: High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is used to support infants with severe respiratory failure unresponsive to conventional ventilation (CV). We reviewed chest radiographs before and after HFOV with clinical correlation in infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). METHODS: Eighteen very low birth weight infants with RDS who had HFOV were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed as having RDS clinically and radiologically. Mean gestational age of infants was 27 weeks (range : 24-31 weeks). The mean duration of HFOV was 3 days (range : 14 hours-9 days). The chest radiographs of these infants within 3 hours before and after application of HFOV were retrospectively reviewed. Radiological findings based on aeration and parenchymal densities were classified into improved, no change, and progressed. Medical records were reviewed for FiO2 levels, clinical outcomes, complications, and causes of death. RESULTS: In 15 of 18 infants, aeration and parenchymal densities were improved and FiO2 levels were also improved after HFOV. Four of these 15 infants who showed improvement of radiological findings developed pneumothorax, sepsis, pulmonary or intestinal bleeding, and subsequently died. In remaining 3 infants in whom chest radiographs after HFOV showed no interval change or progression, oxygenation was also worsened and all died. CONCLUSION: Chest radiographs of HFOV-treated, very low birth weight infants showed improvement of aeration and parenchymal densities in most cases. Clinical outcome was good in infants who showed improvement on chest radiographs compared to those of progression group as far as there was no associated complication. Knowledge of radiological changes after HFOV will help in interpretation of chest radiographs in those HFOV-treated infants.
Cause of Death ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Pneumothorax ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Ventilation*

We describe two cases of alpha-thalassemia in girls from multicultural Korean-Vietnamese family, diagnosed by genetic testing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. To our knowledge, this is the first report of alpha-thalassemia in Korean. We hope that these cases will raise awareness of alpha-thalassemia among pediatricians who care for children with anemia.
alpha-Thalassemia ; Anemia ; Child ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: Child sexual abuse is a significant and serious problem that affects public health and society. Pediatricians are responsible for preventing and detecting sexual abuse of children. The aim of this study was to examine clinical findings of child sexual abuse. METHODS: The authors retrospectively studied 292 patients between the ages of 0 and 18 who were referred for evaluation of sexual abuse to the Emergency Department of the National Police Hospital from Oct 1, 2001 to May 5, 2005. RESULTS: Sixty three (21.6 percent) of sexual abuse victims were younger than 6 years of age; 89 (30.5 percent) were 6-12 years of age; and 104 (47.9 percent) were 12-18 years of age. Attack time was the most common between noon and 6 pm. Victims were attacked in their home or nearby (51.4 percent). One hundred fifty six (53.6 percent) offenders were accquaitances, thirty nine (13.4 percent) of whom were family members. The disclosure of attack by parents with abnormal physical symptoms was more common in younger children than in adolescence. Eighty nine (30.5 percent) victims had no specific physical findings, 51 percent had injury to the hymen, 37.3% had injury to external genitalia, and 4 percent had anal injury. One case of gonorrhea and thirteen cases of chlamydia were found. Sperm was found in 19 cases and acid phosphatase was positive in 28 cases. The absence of physical findings and laboratory findings was more common in younger children than in those in adolescence. The time interval from attacks to hospital visits had a significant negative correlation with age. CONCLUSION: For younger victims, the time interval from attack to hospital visitis was more prolonged. Victims may have no physical evidence of sexual abuse. Therefore, a careful history should be obtained and a through physical examination should be performed. Pediatricians must play a leading role in evaluation and treatment of sexually abused children, considering children,s growth and development. Coordination with other professionals is necessary to provide consultation, medical treatment, and legal assistance for the sexually abused children and families.
Acid Phosphatase ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse, Sexual* ; Child* ; Chlamydia ; Criminals ; Disclosure ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Genitalia ; Gonorrhea ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Hymen ; Parents ; Physical Examination ; Police ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Offenses ; Spermatozoa