PURPOSE: This study was implemented to investigate the level of awareness of osteoporosis among urban women. METHODS: A survey was conducted with a sample size of 434 adult females who resided in metropolises in Korea such as Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Pusan, Gyeongsangnam-do, Kangwon-do, Jeju-do and Jeollanam-do. Osteoporosis Awareness Scale was consisted of five areas with total number of 31 questions. The questionnaire's scale was 1 to 4 point, 4 point being the highest understanding level. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics method. RESULTS: The average awareness level of subjects was 2.38 and significant different depending on participants' age, education level, previous encounter with any information about osteoporosis, preventive behavior of osteoporosis, bone mineral density test, fracture history, diet control experience, and regular exercise. In osteoporosis awareness level by five areas, preventive behaviors 2.76 resulted in the highest score and characteristics of osteoporosis 2.51, bone physiology 2.46, improving bone health 2.38, and risk factors 1.80 followed respectively. CONCLUSION: We should implement bone health programs from a various perspective in order to raise women's osteoporosis awareness. In addition, We need follow-up studies on whether or not the increase on awareness level actually would result in changing in their behavior.
Adult ; Bone Density ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors ; Sample Size

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop an instrument measuring awareness of osteoporosis. METHODS: The process included construction of a conceptual framework, generation of 86 preliminary items, verification of content validity, selection of secondary items, verification of construct validity and extraction of final items. The 86 items were reviewed for content validity by two groups of experts and were tested to evaluate inter item correlation coefficient by two groups of adult women. From June to August 2007, data were collected from 383 adult women who lived in Seoul and provinces in Korea. Data were analyzed by performing item analysis, Varimax factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: There were 31 items in the final instrument categorized into 5 factors. The factors were labeled as "preventive behaviors (10 items)", "risk factors (5 items)", "characteristics of osteoporosis (6 items)", "improving bone health (5 items)", and "bone physiology (5 items)". Cumulative percent of variance was 60.92% and eigen values ranged from 1.20 to 12.44. Cronbach's alpha was .948 and ranged from .804 to .917. CONCLUSION: Validity and reliability of the scale are confirmed in this study showing its utility for measuring awareness of osteoporosis for women. Utilization of the scale will also contribute to designing an appropriate prevention program for osteoporosis.
Adult ; Attitude to Health ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis/*prevention & control/psychology ; Program Development ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Women's Health

Purpose: Since the introduction of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (nab-P+GEM) as first-line (1L) treatment for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC), optimal second-line (2L) chemotherapy after progression is unclear. We assessed clinical outcomes of 2L chemotherapy for disease that progressed on 1L nab-P+GEM. Materials and Methods: Among the 203 patients previously treated with 1L nab-P+GEM for mPDAC at Asan Medical Center, between February and December 2016, records of 120 patients receiving 2L chemotherapy after progression on nab-P+GEM were retrospectively reviewed. The response rate and survival were evaluated along with analysis of prognostic factors. Results: Fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin doublets (FOLFOX or XELOX) were used in 78 patients (65.0%), fluoropyrimidine monotherapy in 37 (30.8%), and liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil in two (1.7%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.29 months and 7.33 months from the start of 2L therapy. Fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin regimens and fluoropyrimidine monotherapy did not yield significantly different median PFS (2.89 months vs. 3.81 months, p=0.40) or OS (7.04 months vs. 7.43 months, p=0.86). A high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (> 2.2) and a short time to progression with 1L nab-P+GEM (< 6.4 months) were independent prognostic factors of poor OS with 2L therapy. Conclusion 2L fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin doublets and fluoropyrimidine monotherapy after failure of 1L nab-P+GEM had modest efficacy, with no differences in treatment outcomes between them. Further investigation is warranted for the optimal 2L chemo-regimens and sequencing of systemic chemotherapy for patients with mPDAC.