PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine factors influencing medication adherence in patients with hypertension. METHODS: This study carried out a secondary analysis of data from the 2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Stratified sampling was used to select a participant sample that was representative of patients with hypertension throughout the country. Using the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi2 test, t-test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the patients with hypertension, 8.8% had showed non-adherence to medication. Medication adherence was associated with age, spouse, Medicare insurance, number of other diseases, and current smoking status. The cases with older age, a spouse, Medicare insurance, higher number of other diseases, and no current smoking status showed significantly high medication adherence. CONCLUSION: Nursing interventions and further studies are needed to achieve high levels of medication adherence based on factors influencing medication adherence such as age, spouse, Medicare insurance, number of other disease, and current smoking status.
Humans ; Hypertension* ; Insurance ; Logistic Models ; Medicare ; Medication Adherence* ; Nursing ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spouses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to survey the health behaviors related to reproductive health, reproductive health history, and sexual behaviors of college students in local areas. METHOD: With a survey design, 792 college students from C and D areas were recruited to assess health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as history of reproductive health and sexual behaviors. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire from November to December, 2007. RESULT: Mean age of the students was 20.8(SD=1.96) and gender distribution was 29.2% for male and 70.8% for female. Unhealthy behaviors were alcohol drinking, smoking, excessive weight loss, and irregular exercise; unsafe sex practices were experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners and history of sexually transmitted disease (STD). Male students had more alcohol drinking (p=.04), smoking(p<.001), excessive weight loss(p=.01), experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners(p<.001), history of STD(p=.025) compared to females. On the other hands, female students participated in regular exercise less than males(p<.001). CONCLUSION: College students seem to perform unhealthy behaviors related to reproductive health and less effective way of safe sex practices. Therefore, a planned education program for reproductive health promotion operated by college level is needed to assess and improve the level of reproductive health in college students.
Alcohol Drinking ; Coitus ; Female ; Hand ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproductive Health ; Safe Sex ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Unsafe Sex ; Weight Loss

Purpose: This study conducted a job analysis of visiting nurses in the process of change. Methods: Participants were the visiting nurses working for the Seoul Metropolitan city. On the basis of the Public Health Intervention Wheel model, two times of the focus group interview (FGI) with seven visiting nurses and one time of the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) with 34 visiting nurses were performed. A questionnaire survey of 380 visiting nurses was conducted to examine the frequency, importance and difficulty levels of the tasks created by using the FGI and DACUM. Results: Visiting nurses’ job was derived as the theme of present versus transitional roles. The present role was categorized as ‘providing individual- and group-focused services’ and ‘conducting organization management’, while the transitional role was categorized as ‘providing district-focused services’ and ‘responding to new health issues’. The job generated 13 duties, 28 tasks, and 73task elements. The tasks showed the levels of frequency (3.65 scores), importance (4.27 scores), and difficulty (3.81 scores). All the tasks were determined as important, exceeding the average 4.00 scores. The group- and district-focused services of the tasks were recognized as more difficult but less frequent tasks. Conclusion The visiting nurses exert both present and transitional roles. The transitional roles identified in the present study should be recognized as an extended role of visiting nurses in accordance with the current changing healthcare needs in South Korea. Finally, the educational curriculum for visiting nurses that reflects the transitional roles from the present study is needed.

PURPOSE: This study was based on social-role theory, and purposes were to investigate (1) how depression and health determinants vary with married and employed women, and (2) what factors contribute to depression according to family cycle. METHODS: A stratified convenience sample of 765 married and employed women was recruited during May to August 2010. Study variables of depression, socio-demographic threatening factors, psycho-stimulating factors, and social-role related factors were measured via a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Prevalence rate for depression was 18.6%, with highest rate (25.4%) from elementary laborers. Greater levels of depression were related to women's occupation, higher life stress, and poorer health; lower social support and vulnerable personality; higher levels of social-role related stress. From multivariate analysis, women with preadolescents were the most vulnerable to depression affected by occupation, life stress, personality, and parenting stress. These factors (except for occupational class) combined with economic status, social support, and housework unfairness were significant for depression in women with adolescents. CONCLUSION: Depression among married and employed women differs by psycho-stimulating and social role relevant factors in addition to occupational class and family life cycle. Female elementary laborers and women with children need to have the highest prioritization for community mental health programs.
Adult ; Depression/epidemiology/*psychology ; Employment ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Marriage ; Models, Theoretical ; Parenting ; Questionnaires ; *Social Support ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; Women's Health

BACKGROUND: Hereditary dysfibrinogenemia is a rare cause of venous thromboembolism. Hereditary thrombophilia is diagnosed in about 10% of patients with thromboembolism, with the prevalence diagnosed increasing with the development of molecular biological method. METHODS: A 27-year-old woman was strongly suspected to have hereditary dysfibrinogenemia; therfore, an analysis of the molecular structure of the purified fibrinogen was performed. RESULTS: An SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified fibrinogen revealed no abnormal finding. The purified fibrinogen was treated with thrombin or coagulation factor XIII, and the products show no difference between the normal and patient's specimen on SDS-PAGE analysis. However, an HPLC analysis showed an additional abnormal peak prior to the normal fibrinopeptid A peak. CONCLUSION: A dysfunctional fibrinogen showing an abnormal peak on HPLC analysis was detected in a Korean patient. Her family also showed dysfunctional fibrinogen. In a Korean patient with recurrent thromboembolism, hereditary dysfibrinogenemia should also be taken into consideration.
Adult ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Factor XIII ; Female ; Fibrinogen* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Molecular Structure ; Prevalence ; Thrombin ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombophilia ; Venous Thromboembolism

Rabbits are being increasingly used as companion animals, and in research; thus, the need for proper veterinary care for rabbits has increased. Surgical access is more challenging in rabbits under inhalation anesthesia compared to other animals, such as dogs and cats. Rabbits have a very narrow and deep oral cavity, large incisors, and a large tongue. Moreover, their temporomandibular joint has limited mobility, making it more difficult to approach the larynx. Various methods have been proposed to overcome this difficulty. The video laryngoscope was introduced in 1999 and is useful when airway intubation is unsuccessful using a conventional laryngoscope. We postulated that a video laryngoscope with a modified size 1 Macintosh blade (McGrath MAC Video Laryngoscope, Medtronic, USA) would facilitate the intubation of New Zealand White rabbits. Sixteen specific-pathogen-free male New Zealand White rabbits weighing 3.45–4.70 kg were studied. All rabbits were intubated using the video laryngoscope. Typically, a 3.0 mm endotracheal tube was used for rabbits weighing < 4 kg, while a 3.5 mm tube was used in those weighing > 4 kg. During surgery, anesthesia was well maintained, and there were no major abnormalities in the animals’ conditions. No rabbit developed breathing difficulties or anorexia after recovering from anesthesia. We established an intubation method using a video laryngoscope with a modified blade and stylet in the supine (ventrodorsal) position and successfully applied it in 16 rabbits. It is useful for training novices and for treating rabbits in veterinary hospitals with few staff members and animal research facilities where there are insufficient human resources.