BACKGROUND: There is much harmful influence for health promotion when general publics and medical group misunderstand common health knowledge. Therefore we investigated the proportion of misunderstanding about health knowledge of general publics and medical group. METHODS: The data were collected via questionnaire which consisted of 30 questions (ll health behavior, 5 symptom, 14 treatment knowledge) quoted or revised on the basis of the book ('Misunderstood common health knowledge 100' published by humanism practice medical doctor association, 1994, hanwol company, South korea). The subjects were nonmedical group (third grade elementary school teachers and parents of students in Kyong ju city) and medical group (doctors-specialist, resident, intern, oriental doctor, medical student, nurse, assistant nurse in Kyong-Ju, Pohang city). The score was given 0 for false answer or no answer and 1 for true answer. RESULTS: The dominant subclasses of study subjects were as follows .Sex; female(352:64.5%)/age; 30-40 years old(318 persons : 58.5%) education ; high school graduate group(232: 42.8%)/job; nonmedical group(housewives, 168:36.2%), rnedical group(nurse, 67:36.2%). Medical group acquired higher total average score than non-medical group. There were no differences in the total scores about treatment, symptom, and health behavior in nonmedical group by job. In the medical group, doctors earned significantly higher score than other jobs. The average score per question was 0.53 in nonmedical group and 0.69 in medical group. Non-medical group received average score below 0.5 in 14 questions among 30 questions, while medical group received only in 5 items. CONCLUSIONS: Medical group acquired higher total average score than nonmedical group. Average score per question was 0.53 in non-medical group and 0.69 in medical group.
Education ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humanism ; Humans ; Parents ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Even though there have been much improvment in general understanding of the climacteric period and increased knowledge of biological aspects of menopause such as Hormone Replacement Therapy, the psychosocial aspects of climacterium was relatively out of consideration. The purpose of this paper is to help make it easy understanding the psychosocial determinants of climacterium through the investigation of correlation between the life stress and the climacteric symptoms in the middle aged women. METHODS: This study was performed on climacteric women at the age ranging from 40 to 55 who reside in Kyong-Ju city. Self reported questionnaires composed of inquiry about demographic characteristics, climacteric symptom scale, and life stress scale were distributed and 123 cases were analyzed in June. and July 1996. The Climacteric Symptom Scale was developed by JG Greene in 1976. In this scale, climacteric symptoms were classified to 3 categories of psychological, somatic, vasomotor symptoms by factor analysis. For quantitative measurement of stress, we used Office Stress Measurement Scale developed by Bae JM et al in 1992. We studied the correlation between stress scores and each class of climacteric symptoms, and the difference of climacteric symptom scores according to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the climacteric symptom scores and the stress scores was 0.329(P=0.000) but this correlation was significant in only premenopausal group(correlation coefficient=0.479). Among climacteric symptom classes, the correlation with stress scores is most prominent in psychological symptom class, then somatic symptoms, vasomotor symptoms. There was no difference in climacteric symptom scores to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Women who had more stress complained more climacteric symptoms, especially psychological symptoms. This correlation was significant in the premenopausal group only. And the severity of climacteric symptoms didnt change by demographic characteristics.
Climacteric* ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Self Report ; Stress, Psychological* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Even though there have been much improvment in general understanding of the climacteric period and increased knowledge of biological aspects of menopause such as Hormone Replacement Therapy, the psychosocial aspects of climacterium was relatively out of consideration. The purpose of this paper is to help make it easy understanding the psychosocial determinants of climacterium through the investigation of correlation between the life stress and the climacteric symptoms in the middle aged women. METHODS: This study was performed on climacteric women at the age ranging from 40 to 55 who reside in Kyong-Ju city. Self reported questionnaires composed of inquiry about demographic characteristics, climacteric symptom scale, and life stress scale were distributed and 123 cases were analyzed in June. and July 1996. The Climacteric Symptom Scale was developed by JG Greene in 1976. In this scale, climacteric symptoms were classified to 3 categories of psychological, somatic, vasomotor symptoms by factor analysis. For quantitative measurement of stress, we used Office Stress Measurement Scale developed by Bae JM et al in 1992. We studied the correlation between stress scores and each class of climacteric symptoms, and the difference of climacteric symptom scores according to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the climacteric symptom scores and the stress scores was 0.329(P=0.000) but this correlation was significant in only premenopausal group(correlation coefficient=0.479). Among climacteric symptom classes, the correlation with stress scores is most prominent in psychological symptom class, then somatic symptoms, vasomotor symptoms. There was no difference in climacteric symptom scores to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Women who had more stress complained more climacteric symptoms, especially psychological symptoms. This correlation was significant in the premenopausal group only. And the severity of climacteric symptoms didnt change by demographic characteristics.
Climacteric* ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Self Report ; Stress, Psychological* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: In women, the prevalence of depression is known to be more than twice as high as in men. Because many depressive women complain of their somatic symptoms instead of neurovegetative ones, many cases of depression have been misdiagnosed. Women also tend to use medicine more frequently than men do to manage depression. So we investigated the relationship between somatic symptoms and drug use in housewives for better management. METHODS: From 1st. March to 31st. March in 1996, the prepared questionnaires were presented to housewives living in the area of Kyung-ju city, who responded the questionnaires under direct interview. The questionnaire was composed of two parts. One part included demographic data, somatic complaints, drug use, places of drug purchase, current diseases that had been diagnosed by doctors. The other included Korean standard Beck Depression Inventory-questionnaire. The subjects were divided into two groups by BDI score(21 point), which was the cut-off point for depression in Korea. The relationships of somatic symptoms and drug use between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 110 housewives who had depressive trends among 569 respondents. In general characteristics, there was significant difference between the two groups except the item of religion. In the items of somatic symptoms, there were more somatic symptoms in the group of high BDI score(>_21) except fatigue(P<0.01). More drug users were found in the group of high BDI score(>_21) (P<0.05). In the group of high BDI score(>_21), there was definite correlation between the items of somatic symptoms and drug use. There was no difference between the two groups in the item of drug purchase site. The most common site of drug purchase was the drug store in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive housewives complained of more somatic symptoms and more often used drugs as well.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression ; Drug Users ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence

We performed this study to evaluate the therapeutic responses of bone marrow transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy for aplastic anemia in 103 cases (68 severe and 35 moderate). Among them, 15 cases with severe aplastic anemia having HLA-identical sibling donor underwent bone marrow transplantation, and cases(53 severe and 35 moderate cases)without available HLA-identical sibling donor had received immunosuppressive therapy using antilymphocye globulin and cyclosporin-A. The results were as follows; 1) For cases given bone marrow transplantation, successful engraftment was accomplished in all cases, but 2 cases showed rejection and 1 case died of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), resulting 80% disease-free survival rate. acute graft-versus-host disease above grade II was noted in 2 cases and chronic graft-versus host disease was seen in other 2 cases. The most common pathogenic organism in post-transplantation infection was Herpes zoster (6 cases), and one each cases of Herpes simplex, candidiasis, measles and hemorrhagic cystitis developed. 2) Among 88 cases of receiving immunsouppressive therapy, complete response was seen in 26 cases (29.5%) and partial respones in 37 cases (42.0%), resulting 71.6% of overall response rate and recurrence rate was 19.5% (12 cases). In 53 severe cases, complete response was seen in 9 cases (17.0%) and partial response in 25 cases (47.2%), resulting 64.2% of overall response rate. In 35 moderate cases, complete response was seen in 17 cases (48.6%) and partial response in 12 cases(34.3%), overall response rate was 82.9%. All initial responses were seen within 6 months post-treatment period, and the time interval to initial response was 8 to 162 days (median; 53 days). There was no sex difference concerning response rate, however, partial response was predominant in male and more complete response in female. The complications of immunosuppressive therapy were thrombocytopenia (93.2%), fever (67.7%), hypertension (50.0%), skin eruption (45.8%), gingivitis (17.0%). In conclusion, our date suggest that bone marrow transplantation is preferred initial treatment modality to immunosuppressive therapy in severe aplastic anemia patient with HLA-identical sibling donor, and immunosuppression is a satisfactory alternative therapy for children with severe aplastic anemia in the absence of HLA-identical sibling and for whom with moderate aplastic anemia.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Candidiasis ; Child ; Cystitis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fever ; Gingivitis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Herpes Simplex ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immunosuppression ; Male ; Measles ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; Recurrence ; Sex Characteristics ; Siblings ; Skin ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: A two-dose measles vaccination schedule is recommended routinely for either school entry or 11 to 13 years of age in America since 1989. But, several studies were performed on measles antibody in Korea and it remains controversial whether a second dose measles vaccine after 15 months is necessary. To generate baseline data, measles antibody prevalence and its levels according to different age groups in children and young adults in Taejon area were studied. METHODS: A total of 261 subjects at 3 to 21 years of age, who had received a single dose of measles vaccine, were tested for measles antibody by quantitative alpha enzyme immunoassay. The subjects were divided into five age-groups based on the educational system (preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, young-adult). RESULTS: The seropositivity rates were 97.7% and not significantly different among groups. The expected tendency of declining antibody levels with advancing age, as reported by other studies, was not observed in this study. Except for between Group I and Group II, no significant difference was noted in the antibody levels among the five age groups. Group II showed significantly higher antibody levels than those of Group I (P=0.0025). CONCLUSIONS: No declining tendency of measles antibody levels with advancing age is different from many other studies and contradicts the current recommendations for supplementary vaccinations after 15 months. These might reflect the regional characteristics of the study population in Taejon area and current vaccination rate. Therefore, futher studies with larger population in different geographic regions by quantitative EIA would be needed.
Americas ; Appointments and Schedules ; Child ; Daejeon ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Korea ; Measles Vaccine ; Measles* ; Prevalence ; Vaccination* ; Young Adult

High-protein anti-D reagents prepared from pools of human serum have been used for routine RhD typing but, low-protein, saline reactive anti-D reagents formulated predominantly with monoclonal antibodies are in current use. Because some of the high-protein reagents contain macromolecular additives that may cause red cells coated with immunoglobulin to aggregate spontaneously, antisera with these additives may produce a false-positive reaction. A four-day old male was admitted due to severe jaundice. Initially, the RhD type of the newborn using a high-protein reagent was D-positive and then, using two low-protein reagents, it was D-negative. The blood type of the mother was B, CDe, and that of the newborn was B, CcdEe. The direct antiglobulin test on the newborn's RBC was positive. Anti-E and anti-c were identified in the mother's serum and anti-E only was identified in the newborn's serum. The newborn was treated with phototherapy for 10 days and discharged as recovered. We present a case of hemolytic disease of the D negative newborn, which showed a discrepancy between high protein anti-D and low protein anti-D. With a review of literature, the newborn was possibly misinterpreted as D positive.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Coombs Test ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Immunoglobulins ; Indicators and Reagents ; Infant, Newborn* ; Jaundice ; Male ; Mothers ; Phototherapy

We report a case of nutcracker syndrome diagnosed with 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3-D CTA). Nutcracker syndrome had been confirmed by conventional venography until recent years. Nowadays, with the development of imaging techniques, color Doppler sonogram and 3-D CTA are replacing venography for the diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome. The patient, a 20-year-old male, had abrupt gross hematuria and left abdominal pain 6 months previously and intermittent microscopic hematuria thereafter. Including renal biopsy, the results of conventional hematuria study showed no abnormalities. 3-D CTA showed left renal vein compression between the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery and collateral veins. The angle and distance between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta at the level of the left renal vein were 35degrees and 3.0 mm, respectively. We diagnosed nutcracker syndrome and later confirmed the diagnosis with venography.
Abdominal Pain ; Angiography ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Biopsy ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Phlebography ; Renal Veins ; Veins ; Young Adult

Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Celiac Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: Management of hypertension has been performed mainly in primary care institutions, but hypertension control in population is still unsatisfactory. This study was aimed at finding a strategy to improve health promotion activities in patients with hypertension by exploring the association between health behaviors and quality of primary care. METHODS: April to June in 2007, a questionnaire survey of the patients who has a family physician as a usual source of care was conducted for the development of the Korean Primary Care Assessment Tool (KPCAT). In this study, a usual source of care was defined as a physician of the persons who had visited their primary care clinic on six or more occasions over a period of more than 6 months. Of the data collected from 9 private clinics (3 in Seoul and 6 at small cities), cases of the patients who marked on having hypertension were selected. The associations between levels of quality of primary care and socio-demographic characteristics or health behaviors were analysed by Student t-test and chi-square test. Controlling socio-demographic variables, the association between quality of primary care and health behaviors was examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the patients (n = 602) of 9 private clinics who has a family physician as a usual source of care, those who marked on having hypertension were 134. Among 5 domains of the KPCAT, the highest domain in score was personalized care (71.7/100), and the lowest domain in score was coordination function (49.7/100). In patients who gave total average (69.2/100) or more in total primary care score, after adjustment with age, sex, income, education, and duration, odds ratio to have a normal BMI (<25 kg/m2) was 2.53 (P = 0.02), and odds ratio to have a habit drinking an adequate amount of alcohol was 4.32 (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The fact that high-quality primary care was associated with good health behaviors in this study suggests that improving quality of primary care by health care reform can make health behaviors more desirable in patients with essential hypertension.
Drinking ; Health Behavior ; Health Care Reform ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Physicians, Family ; Primary Health Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires