PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between nursing students' level of knowledge of and attitude toward the elderly and their behavior towards the elderly. METHODS: For this study, 223 nursing students participated. The data was analyzed with PASW statistics program version 18.0 using descriptive statistics, a t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The findings of the study displayed a score of 14.5 out of 25 for the level of knowledge of the elderly, a score of 3.9 out of 7 on the attitude toward the elderly, and 1.3 points on a 4-point scale on behavior towards the elderly. There was a positive correlation (r=.410, p<.001) between attitude and behavior towards the elderly, thus confirming that attitude towards the elderly influences behavior towards them. CONCLUSION: The most influential variable on the behavior towards the elderly emerged to be attitude. Thus, although knowledge and attitude cannot be neglected in manifesting positive behaviors in nursing students when they care for the elderly, knowledge training and elderly nursing practical sessions need to take place in order to strengthen attitude, which displayed a positive correlation with behavior.
Aged* ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing

The incidence of colorectal cancer has been increased gradually and it was about 6.9% of all malignancies in Korea. Early diagnosis was recognized as the most important factor influencing the prognosis of colorectal cancer and the incidence of early colorectal cancer was increasing. Thus great change was observed in the treatment of early colorectal cancer, endoscopic therapy as well as curative surgical resection is being accepted. We report a case of effective and safe endoscopic therapy for early rectal cancer in 5S-year-old male patient. He presented with rectal prolapse and bleeding of a year's duration. A large polypoid mass with fine nodular surface and thick, short stalk was seen in the rectum at 4cm above the anal verge during flexible sigmoidoscopy. After the histologic examination of specimen obtained by bite biopsy, CT scan of pelvic cavity and ultrasonogram of abdomen, the tumor was removed safe and completely by 2 sessions of piecemeal polypectomies and strip biopsy. He has been well without symptoms and signs of recurrence of rectal cancer for 20 months.
Abdomen ; Biopsy* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectal Prolapse ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: It is necessary to develop a proper payment system for more health care facilities to provide hospice and palliative cares. In deciding the proper level of payment for hospice per diem fee, willingness to pay (WTP) may provide one of the critical information. This study was conducted to determine WTP for hospice care and to analyze those factors affecting WTP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A contingent valuation method with a double-bounded dichotomous-choice model was used. Interview survey was organized and conducted by a survey company from April 4 to 18, 2008. The mean WTP was calculated through an infinite integration of survival functions. RESULTS: The average willingness to pay was found to be 42,240 Korean won (KRW) (USD 35), with the amount becoming higher as hospice services were deemed more necessary or where average monthly household income was higher. The amount was also higher among male respondents than females. CONCLUSION: To compare this WTP with actual cost (32,500 KRW) (USD 27) for hospice care. To facilitate hospice service, hospice specific payment system should be developed. This study provides information regarding the general public's preference of hospice service and their WTP for hospice care, and it may be useful in the decision-making process.
Fees and Charges ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Hospice Care/*economics/psychology ; Humans ; Male ; *Public Opinion ; Socioeconomic Factors

BACKGROUND: Recently the Korean society has been challenged with the rapid growth of obese population due to the improved socioeconomic status and lifestyle changes over the past decades. Not only has obesity been known as one of major risk factors for various diseases including cardiovascular diseases(e.g. hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke) and diabetes mellitus, but it has also increased the death from obesity-related diseases. It has been required, however, to establish our own obesity criteria adjusted for Korean since much difference is expected to exist in the degree of obesity between white and Asian people. Therefore, this study was designed to provide with primary data to help establish new criteria through identifying the distribution of Body Mass Index(BMI), and then analysing its relatian with some obesity-related diseases. METHODS: This study calculated BMI and related it to some obesity-related diseases by analysing data from 1995 National Health Interview Surveys, in which a random sample of 5,750 Korean at the age of 15-69 had self-reported their heights, body weights and diagnoses with obesity-related diseases by physicians. Variables under consideration include potential risk factors(e.g. alcohol intakes, smoking, exercise, etc.) as well as demographics of the sample population. RESULTS: Average BMI(kg/m(2)) were 21.6+/- 2.6 for male and 21.7+/-4.8 for female(mean+/-SD), which increased in direct proportion to the increase of age until the age reached the group of 40-59, and then followed by the inverse in its relation with the age at 60 and over. It was revealed, however, that prevalences of obesity-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus etc. were the highest among the population group with their BMI of 23.8~35.6. In short, this study identified the proportional relation of BMI with the prevalence of obesity-related diseases. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence for hypertension and diabetes mellitus was shown to be higher than the average among population with their BMI of 21.9~238, whose figure is much lower than both 26.4, the value of the 90th percentile proposed in MONICA prot and 25, the current WHO criteria of obesity. However, a Japanese study reported that the health risk began to increase at the BMI of 23 with risks for obesity-related diseases dramatically increased at the BMI of 26-27 and over, and concluded that because Asian has more body fats accumulated within the upper body part compared with the white, the Asian persons are more obese, though less in terms of BMI, than the white. Therefore, future works should be focused on establishing our own criteria for obesity with health risks through determining the association of BMI with prevalence of various diseases in Korea.
Adipose Tissue ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Height ; Coronary Disease ; Demography ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Obesity ; Population Groups ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Hyperprolactinemia*

Chordoid meningioma is a recently established meningeal tumor and is characterized by a chordoma like histologic appearance, peritumoral lymphoplasma cell infiltrates causing systemic manifestations similar to Castleman syndrome and having a good prognosis. We experienced a case of chordoid meningioma in a 25 year-old woman. The patient preoperatively manifested iron-resistant hypochromic microcytic anemia, polyclonal gammopathy with beta-gamma bridging and detected a huge mass in the right temporo-parietal convexity of the brain. Microscopically, the mass was composed of nests and cords of cuboid, partly vacuolated cells in a mucoid matrix, simulating chordoma. The tumor was surrounded by masses of lymphoplasma cells around vessels, many of the plasma cells contained Russell bodies. Ultrastructural findings showed intranuclear cytoplasmic invaginations, microvilli protruding from cytoplasmic surfaces and well formed desmosomes. Some portions of tumor cell surface were covered by stretches of basal lamina.
Female ; Humans ; Meningioma

Korean women doctors have expanded their activities globally in various fields within the international community. This study conducted face-to-face interviews or e-mail surveys of representatives among internationally active women doctors with experience in working with the Medical Women's International Association and the World Health Organization. Conveying the activities of these senior women doctors will be valuable to the younger generation of doctors who are interested in international health and who aspire to become potential leaders in the international health care scene in the future.
Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; World Health Organization

Korean women doctors have expanded their activities globally in various fields within the international community. This study conducted face-to-face interviews or e-mail surveys of representatives among internationally active women doctors with experience in working with the Medical Women's International Association and the World Health Organization. Conveying the activities of these senior women doctors will be valuable to the younger generation of doctors who are interested in international health and who aspire to become potential leaders in the international health care scene in the future.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in South Korea. The prevalence of preventable and treatable risk factors for CVD such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking has continued to increase, despite improvements management of hypertension. Active leadership, participation, and support of professional organizations and medical institutions in national cardiovascular registries and regional treatment network have proven to be effective models to reduce the global burden of CVD in the Europe and North America. Regional treatment network systems for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction have established to coordinate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment centers, non-PCI treatment centers, and emergency centers especially across the Europe. The Act on the Prevention and Management of Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease was enacted in South Korea in 2017 to establish the legal frameworks and a comprehensive plan for the prevention and management CVD and risk factors. To fully achieve the goal of a NationalHealth Plan for Cardiovascular Disease, it is necessary to embark on a nationwide registry project and to promote the regional acute treatment accessibility which can therefore play a key role in achieving the objectives of the 2017 Act. In this regard, the Korean Society of Cardiology advocates a national project for health promotion and cardiovascular prevention to improve cardiovascular outcomes, which includes the expansion and establishment of regional cardiocerebrovascular centers (CCVCs) and new local CCVCs.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in South Korea. The prevalence of preventable and treatable risk factors for CVD such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking has continued to increase, despite improvements management of hypertension. Active leadership, participation, and support of professional organizations and medical institutions in national cardiovascular registries and regional treatment network have proven to be effective models to reduce the global burden of CVD in the Europe and North America. Regional treatment network systems for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction have established to coordinate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment centers, non-PCI treatment centers, and emergency centers especially across the Europe. The Act on the Prevention and Management of Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease was enacted in South Korea in 2017 to establish the legal frameworks and a comprehensive plan for the prevention and management CVD and risk factors. To fully achieve the goal of a NationalHealth Plan for Cardiovascular Disease, it is necessary to embark on a nationwide registry project and to promote the regional acute treatment accessibility which can therefore play a key role in achieving the objectives of the 2017 Act. In this regard, the Korean Society of Cardiology advocates a national project for health promotion and cardiovascular prevention to improve cardiovascular outcomes, which includes the expansion and establishment of regional cardiocerebrovascular centers (CCVCs) and new local CCVCs.