BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to examine the trends of government-supported health promotion research projects conducted in Korea over the past 12 years. METHODS: Research type, area of interest, organization, and expense of 726 research projects conducted from 1998 to 2009 were examined and the health promotion content analyzed. RESULTS: In Korea, 361 health policy researches (HPR) and 365 general health researches (GHR) were supported by the government during the defined time period. A total of 60.5 health promotion research were conducted annually with a total amount of 27.1 billion won provided (2.26 billion won per year). With the average research project lasting 8.5 months, HPR (7.7 months) projects were completed sooner than GHR (9.2 months). Those who majored in preventive medicine completed 177 research (24.4%), the most number of research projects, followed by public health (22.5%), and family medicine (15.6%). There were 641 health promotion research projects done mostly on policies, legal systems, and grasping current conditions, and only 85 (11.7%) clinical test research on the development or effects of health promotion programs. CONCLUSIONS: HPR have been increasing annually. However, our study could not be certain of how close the studies were to the government's health promotion policies. Furthermore, the main health promotion area, 'healthy living', was not researched as often as should be. Additionally, to improve applicability of the research projects, interdisciplinary cooperation should be promoted.
Hand Strength ; Health Policy ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Preventive Medicine ; Public Health

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the effects of mobile health (mHealth), using mobile phones as an intervention for weight loss in obese adults. METHODS: An electronic search was carried out using multiple databases. A meta-analysis of selected studies was performed. The effects of mHealth were analyzed using changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: We identified 20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 2,318 participants who fit our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that body weight was reduced with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of −2.35 kg (95% confidence interval [CI], −2.84 to −1.87). An examination of the impact of duration of intervention showed that weight loss was greater after 6 months of mHealth (WMD = −2.66 kg) than between three and four months (WMD = −2.25 kg); it was maintained for up to 9 months (WMD = −2.62 kg). At 12 months, weight loss was reduced to a WMD of −1.23 kg. BMI decreased with a WMD of −0.77 kg/m2 (95% CI, −1.01 to −0.52). BMI changes were not statistically significant at 3 months (WMD = −1.10 kg/m2), but they were statistically significant at 6 months (WMD = −0.67 kg/m2). CONCLUSIONS: The use of mHealth for obese adults showed a modest short-term effect on body weight and BMI. Although the weight loss associated with mHealth did not meet the recommendation of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network, which considers a reduction of approximately 5 to 10 kg of the initial body weight as a successful intervention. Well-designed RCTs are needed to reveal the effects of mHealth interventions.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cell Phones ; Humans ; Mobile Applications ; Obesity ; Telemedicine* ; Weight Loss

Purpose: This study was a systematic review to assess the contents and effects of an intervention program for family caregivers of the elderly with dementia in Korea. Methods: A literature search was done using Medline, CINAHL, RISS, KISS, and DBpia to identify studies reported in English or Korean from 2000 to 2021. Results: A total of 1,162 articles were searched; finally, 23 articles were used in the analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most applied intervention contents were knowledge provision and emotional support. Fourteen articles (60.9%) reported on complex interventions, including emotional, social support, relaxation, and various activities. The most frequently measured outcome variable in the reviewed literature was “burden,” followed by “depression” and “coping strategy.” Conclusion The review results can provide basic data for establishing evidence and suggesting directions of interventions for family caregivers of the elderly with dementia.

Purpose: This study was a systematic review to assess the contents and effects of an intervention program for family caregivers of the elderly with dementia in Korea. Methods: A literature search was done using Medline, CINAHL, RISS, KISS, and DBpia to identify studies reported in English or Korean from 2000 to 2021. Results: A total of 1,162 articles were searched; finally, 23 articles were used in the analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most applied intervention contents were knowledge provision and emotional support. Fourteen articles (60.9%) reported on complex interventions, including emotional, social support, relaxation, and various activities. The most frequently measured outcome variable in the reviewed literature was “burden,” followed by “depression” and “coping strategy.” Conclusion The review results can provide basic data for establishing evidence and suggesting directions of interventions for family caregivers of the elderly with dementia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether upright position is effective in labor through systematic review in randomized controlled trials. METHODS: We established the PICO (Patient-Intervention-Comparator-Outcome) strategy, and reviewed 282 literatures from national and international electronic databases, and finally selected 9 references based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. We evaluated the quality of references and carried out a meta-analysis. RESULTS: The maternal outcomes showed that the duration of their second-stage labor was 2.29 minutes shorter than that of the women in the recumbent position, and were less likely to have episiotomy. The other outcomes, including the mode of delivery, blood loss, hemoglobin level, use of oxytocin, use of analgesics, and perineal laceration, did not differ between the groups. The fetal heart rate abnormality occurred less than in the control group. The Apgar scores of the groups did not differ. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that an upright position in the second stage of labor reduces the duration of the second stage of labor, the incidence of episiotomy, and an abnormal fetal heart rate.
Analgesics ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Episiotomy ; Female ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lacerations ; Oxytocin ; Postpartum Period ; Posture ; Pregnancy

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explain the patient assessment experiences of the medical staff responsible for customer satisfaction and quality improvement at their respective medical institutions. Methods: This was a qualitative study using a focus group with quality improvement or custom service department managers. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted with seventeen participants divided into three focus group interviews from July 3 to 5, 2017. Each interview took an average of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Base on the analysis, four categories and eight themes were derived. The categories were: 1) what is the quality of hospital service? 2) between directionality and timeliness, 3) variations in recognition and application, and 4) changing in hospital culture Conclusion The assessment of patient's experience has spread a patient-centered culture and elicited significant changes in the behavior of medical and hospital staff. However, the survey instruments and procedures for assessing patient experiences need to be continuously improved, and additional research is required to secure evidence related to patient experiences.