PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a comprehensive smoking cessation program for Korean adolescents. METHOD: The study design was quasi-experimental with one pre and three post-tests. The three posttests were done immediately after, three months later, and six months after the completion of the program. A total of 43 high school students who smoked participated in the study with 22 in the experimental group and 21 in the control group. The smoking cessation program consisted of 9 sessions with content on enhancement of self-efficacy, stress management, correction of distorted thoughts, consciousness raising, and assertiveness training. The study variables were urine cotinine levels, self-efficacy, stress, and stages of changed behavior. RESULTS: Urine cotinine levels significantly decreased in the experimental group after the program (F=3.02, p=.06) but significantly increased in the control group (F=6.32, p=.004). Self-efficacy and the degree of stress did not change in either group. The stages of smoking cessation behavior tended to change when compared with raw data for the experimental group. For most participants, the stages of change had been precontemplation and contemplation, but changed to action and maintenance stage among the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The program was effective in smoking cessation and influencing stages of change but did not change psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy and stress. It is suggested a program should be developed to change psychosocial variables on a long-term basis. It is also desirable to involve peers and families of adolescents who smoke when planning programs to enhance social support.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Adolescent Health Services/*organization & administration ; Adolescent Psychology ; Analysis of Variance ; Attitude to Health ; Cotinine/urine ; Educational Status ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea ; Longitudinal Studies ; Needs Assessment ; Patient Education as Topic/*organization & administration ; Personality Inventory ; Program Development ; Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; School Health Services/*organization & administration ; Self Efficacy ; Smoking/*prevention & control/psychology/urine ; Smoking Cessation/*methods/psychology ; Stress, Psychological/complications/psychology

Trotter and Gleser's (1958) Asian equations have most frequently been used for stature estimation of Korean skeletal remains. However, limitations or caveats in using those equations have rarely been argued. This study reviews five issues frequently overlooked in applying the equations and interpreting the outcomes. First, Trotter and Gleser (1958) multiply the standard errors by 2 to obtain the 95% prediction interval (PI). However, there is discrepancy between their calculation and actual PIs, and thus correct method for PI calculation is recommended. Secondly, given the uncertainty about the tibia length measurement, there is a possibility that the tibia-related equations yield biased estimates. Thirdly, since a mathematical error was incorporated in the development process of the combined equations, caution should be taken. Fourthly, extrapolation may cause additional unexpected error in applying regression equations. Therefore, it is necessary to check if a target sample falls within the reference sample range prior to using the equations. Lastly, applying Trotter and Gleser's (1958) equations to female samples should be avoided because they produce highly biased estimates. The issues discussed in this study will contribute to reducing potential errors associated with application of these equations, and eventually enhancing accuracy of the final stature estimates. If errors are anticipated but unavoidable, discussions about the potential errors should be made to minimize misunderstanding about the outcomes.
Accidental Falls ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Female ; Humans ; Methods ; Tibia ; Uncertainty

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe motivational factors and barriers which nurses experience while preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam. METHOD: Data was collected from July 5 to August 28, 2002 using self-administered open questionnaires. A total 144 nurses preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam participated in this study. Descriptive statistics were used and respondents' statements were analyzed using content analysis. RESULT: The motivation for taking the NCLEX-RN Exam was for a new adventure (23.7%), better working conditions and benefits (20.4%), children's education (14.5%), to study aboard (13.8%), economic issues (11.8%), and career issues (11.2%). The barriers while preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam were studying in English (35.3%), fatigue (21.8%), limited time (16.0%), lack of information (8.3%), complicated documentation (5.1%), and cultural differences (4.5%). CONCLUSION: The result suggests that it is imperative to improve working conditions and benefits for nurses in Korea to prevent the brain drain of highly experienced nurses to other countries. It is also essential to develop strategies to minimize the barriers to support nurses preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam and promote jobs overseas.
Brain ; Education ; Fatigue ; Korea ; Licensure ; Motivation* ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore suicidal ideation among adolescents and to identify the factors that may increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation among adolescents. The factors included depression, individuality, relatedness, cognitive deconstruction, social desirability, and alexithymia. METHODS: The data were collected from March 4 to May 29, 2009 from 1,519 adolescents who were conveniently selected from five different middle and high schools in Seoul. The data were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics, correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression with the SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were: 1) More than 30% of the participants had a history of having suicidal ideation while 6.3% had attempted suicide. 2) Suicidal ideation was positively related to depression, alexithymia, and cognitive deconstruction and negatively related to relatedness and social desirability. 3) Regression analysis showed 29% of variance in suicidal ideation can be explained by depression, individuality, cognitive deconstruction, living with father, living alone, and living with relatives. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with depression, higher individuality, cognitive deconstruction, and not living with their parents require more attention to prevent suicide. It is necessary to develop programs to prevent adolescents' suicide.
Adolescent* ; Affective Symptoms ; Depression ; Fathers ; Humans ; Individuality ; Linear Models ; Parents ; Psychology* ; Seoul ; Social Desirability ; Suicidal Ideation* ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of the common polymorphisms in the peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala) and in PPAR-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser) genes on the association with the nephropathy of Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A total of 113 patients with type 2 diabetes and 123 patients with diabetic nephropathy were enrolled in this study. The Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPAR-gamma2 gene and the Gly482Ser polymorphism in the PGC-1alpha gene were determined with the polymerase chain reaction amplification, BstU-I and Msp I enzyme digestion, and gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The genotype and allelic frequency of PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala gene were not different statistically between the diabetic nephropathy and the control. The genotype of PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser in diabetic nephropathy was also not different from those in control. The allelic frequency and carriage rate of Ser allele in PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser were significantly higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy than those in control (respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms of the PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser gene are significantly associated with the nephropathy in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of the common polymorphisms in the peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala) and in PPAR-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser) genes on the association with the nephropathy of Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A total of 113 patients with type 2 diabetes and 123 patients with diabetic nephropathy were enrolled in this study. The Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPAR-gamma2 gene and the Gly482Ser polymorphism in the PGC-1alpha gene were determined with the polymerase chain reaction amplification, BstU-I and Msp I enzyme digestion, and gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The genotype and allelic frequency of PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala gene were not different statistically between the diabetic nephropathy and the control. The genotype of PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser in diabetic nephropathy was also not different from those in control. The allelic frequency and carriage rate of Ser allele in PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser were significantly higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy than those in control (respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms of the PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser gene are significantly associated with the nephropathy in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the reference ranges of serum albumin levels depending on the gestational ages of preterm infants. We also intended to compare the mean serum albumin levels between groups of preterm infants that did not develop clinical disorders later, and groups that did develop clinical disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We also examined the significance of serum albumin as a predictor for the development of clinical disorders. METHODS: The records of 208 neonates with gestational ages from 23 weeks to 41 weeks were reviewed retrospectively. The mean albumin concentrations with reference ranges by gestational ages were determined. Statistics for each two of group were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to model odd ratio, and 95 percent confidence interval as a mean of the association between predictors and outcome. RESULTS: Serum albumin levels were at 23-24 weeks gestation was 2.36 g/dL, rising to 3.43 g/dL in full term babies. There were significant mean differences between the clinical groups and control groups for each clinical disorder such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity and apnea in premature babies of 30-36 weeks of gestation. Low serum albumin appeared to be associated with increased risks of clinical disorders. CONCLUSION: The normal serum albumin levels in preterm infants should be defined according to the gestational ages. Lower albumin levels increase the risks of the later development of clinical disorders, which are common in premature infants.
Apnea ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Gestational Age* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin*

The purpose of this study was to review the existing studies on lymphohematopoietic (LHP) cancer in Korea, estimate the prevalence of workers exposed to carcinogens, and determine the population attributable fraction (PAF) of leukemia. Two case series and 4 case reports were reviewed. Using official statistics, the prevalence of benzene exposure and ionizing radiation exposure was estimated. Based on the prevalence of exposure and the relative risk, The PAF of leukemia was calculated. Between 1996 and 2005, 51 cases of LHP cancer were reported from the compensation system. Greater than 50% of occupational LHP cancer was leukemia, and the most important cause was benzene. In a cohort study, the standardized incidence ratio was 2.71 (95% CI, 0.56-7.91). The prevalence of exposure was 2.5% and 2.2% in 1995 and 2000, respectively. Using the 1995 prevalence, 3.6-4.8% and 0.1% of cases with leukemia were attributable to benzene and ionizing radiation exposure, respectively, which resulted in 39.7-51.4 cases per year. Benzene is the most important cause of occupational leukemia in Korea. Considering the estimated PAF in this study, the annual number of occupational LHP cancer (51 cases during 10-yr period), might be underreported within the compensation system.
Adult ; Benzene/toxicity ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia/*chemically induced/*epidemiology ; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced/*epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology/etiology ; Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects ; Prevalence ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Workers' Compensation

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine how inequalities in suicide by education changed during and after macroeconomic restructuring following the economic crisis of 1997 in South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Korea's 1995, 2000, and 2005 census data aggregately linked to mortality data (1993 - 2006), relative and absolute differentials in suicide mortality by education were calculated by gender and age among Korean population aged 35 and over. RESULTS: Average annual suicide mortality rates have steadily increased from 1993 - 1997 to 2003 - 2006 in almost all sociodemographic groups stratified by gender, age, and education. Based on the relative index of inequality (RII) and slope index of inequality (SII), educational differentials in suicide mortality generally increased over time in men and women aged 45 years +. Although RII did not increase with year among men and women aged 35 - 44 years, SII showed a significantly increasing trend in this age group. CONCLUSION: These worsening absolute inequalities in suicide mortality indicate that the governmental suicide prevention policy should be directed toward socially disadvantaged groups of the Korean population.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Mortality/*trends ; Sex Distribution ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Suicide/*statistics & numerical data

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine how inequalities in suicide by education changed during and after macroeconomic restructuring following the economic crisis of 1997 in South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Korea's 1995, 2000, and 2005 census data aggregately linked to mortality data (1993 - 2006), relative and absolute differentials in suicide mortality by education were calculated by gender and age among Korean population aged 35 and over. RESULTS: Average annual suicide mortality rates have steadily increased from 1993 - 1997 to 2003 - 2006 in almost all sociodemographic groups stratified by gender, age, and education. Based on the relative index of inequality (RII) and slope index of inequality (SII), educational differentials in suicide mortality generally increased over time in men and women aged 45 years +. Although RII did not increase with year among men and women aged 35 - 44 years, SII showed a significantly increasing trend in this age group. CONCLUSION: These worsening absolute inequalities in suicide mortality indicate that the governmental suicide prevention policy should be directed toward socially disadvantaged groups of the Korean population.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Mortality/*trends ; Sex Distribution ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Suicide/*statistics & numerical data