BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cigarette smoking is the most common risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies of the attitudes toward COPD of smokers, the group at risk of developing this condition, have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of and attitudes toward COPD of current smokers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 502 individuals aged 45 and older from throughout Korea who smoked at least 10 packs of cigarettes per year. Telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted with respondents. RESULTS: First, we evaluated the health status of subjects, finding that 45.4% considered themselves to be in good health. We also asked about COPD-related symptoms, and 60.6% of subjects reported such symptoms. However, only 1.2% of subjects had been diagnosed with or treated for COPD, only 0.4% spontaneously mentioned COPD as a respiratory disease, and only 26.5% recognized COPD as a respiratory disease after seeing a list of such diseases. Television ranked as the top source of information about COPD. The willingness of 45.0% of subjects to stop smoking increased after being informed about COPD. CONCLUSIONS: Despite having COPD-related symptoms, most smokers did not know that COPD is a respiratory disease. The attitudes of smokers toward COPD and smoking cessation varied according to socioeconomic status. In summary, a continuous effort to increase the awareness of COPD among smokers is needed. Additionally, strategies tailored according to different socioeconomic groups will also be necessary.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*psychology ; *Awareness ; Consumer Health Information ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; Health Promotion ; Health Status ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Media ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance/ethnology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis/*ethnology/psychology/therapy ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Smoking/*adverse effects/*ethnology/prevention & control/psychology ; Smoking Cessation/ethnology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors

Objective: To determine the prevalence and relative factors on those who missed the follow-up service among newly reported HIV/AIDS cases that were infected by homosexual behavior. Methods: Data were extracted from both HIV/AIDS case-reporting and follow-up cards on HIV/AIDS in the Comprehensive Response Information Management System, between December 2008 and December 2015. Data was analyzed, using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) to explore the relative factors of influence. Results: Among the newly reported HIV infection among MSM, the proportion of those who missed the follow-up services was 5.06% (6 037/119 358), and decreased dramatically, from 37.57% (1 261/3 356) to 0.84% (267/31 935) (trend χ(2)=103.43, P<0.01). In MSM population, the younger than 20-year olds (OR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.11-1.52), 20-year olds (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.36-1.69), 30-year olds (OR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.12-1.34), 40-year olds (OR=1.10, 95%CI: 1.01-1.20) were receiving less follow-up services than those 50-year olds. Those who had received either junior (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.37-1.69) or senior high school education (OR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.23-1.49) were receiving less follow-up service than those who were more educated. MSM with the following characteristics as unspecified occupation (OR=2.06, 95%CI: 1.49-2.87),unemployed (OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.30-1.83), working in commercial service (OR=1.31, 95%CI: 1.15-1.49) or being student (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.18-1.52) were more difficult to be traced or followed than the cadres. Cases being identified on site (OR=2.99, 95%CI: 2.26-3.95) or under special investigation (OR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.29-1.59) had received less follow-up service than those being identified through voluntary counsel testing service. Floating population (OR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.28-1.66) were getting less follow-up service than local residents. Conclusions: The prevalence of those who had missed the follow-up services in the newly discovered MSM HIV cases declined dramatically. Among the MSM HIV cases, those having the following characteristics as: younger than 50-year old, with less school education, with unspecified occupation or unemployment, working in commercial service, being student, having history of incarceration, recruited from special investigation, and floating population were prone to miss the follow-up program, suggesting that the follow-up service should be targeting on these patients.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Follow-Up Studies ; HIV Infections/transmission* ; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Infections ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Prevalence ; Sexual Behavior/ethnology* ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONThis study investigated the effect of an access-enhanced intervention on hypertension screening and management, as well as on health behaviours among newly diagnosed hypertensives, in a multi-ethnic low socioeconomic status (SES) community. Factors associated with hypertension screening, treatment, and control in the community were also determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study involved all residents aged ≥40 years in 2 public rental housing precincts (low SES), between 2009 and 2011, who were followed-up prospectively for 1 year after a 6-month community-based intervention comprising a 3-month access-enhanced screening component and a 3-month follow-up (outreach) component. Blood pressure was measured at baseline and follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression determined predictors of hypertension management at follow-up.

RESULTSThe follow-up rate was 80.9% (467/577). At baseline, 60.4% (282/467) were hypertensive; 53.5% (151/282) were untreated; 54.2% (71/131) uncontrolled. One year later, postintervention, 51.6% (78/151) of untreated hypertensives were treated; combined with treated hypertensives previously uncontrolled, 53.0% (79/149) achieved control. Older age independently predicted treatment (adjusted relative risk, aRR = 1.98, CI, 1.08 to 3.65); majority ethnicity (aRR = 1.76, CI, 1.05 to 2.96), employment (aRR = 1.85, CI, 1.26 to 2.80) and newly treated hypertension (aRR=1.52, CI, 1.01 to 2.32) predicted control. A total of 52.4% (97/185) were irregularly screened at baseline; at follow-up 61.9% (60/97) were regularly screened. Cost and misperceptions were common barriers to screening and treatment. Newly diagnosed hypertensives were also less likely to go for additional cardiovascular screening (aRR = 0.54, CI, 0.29 to 0.99).

CONCLUSIONAn access-enhanced intervention had some success in improving hypertension management within low SES communities; however, it was less successful in improving cardiovascular risk management, especially in encouraging lifestyle changes and additional cardiovascular screening amongst newly diagnosed hypertensives.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; methods ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Health Services Accessibility ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; therapy ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Patient Compliance ; ethnology ; statistics & numerical data ; Patient Dropouts ; statistics & numerical data ; Poverty ; statistics & numerical data ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Singapore ; Smoking Cessation ; methods ; Social Class ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight Reduction Programs ; methods