This study examines the factors that are associated with accidents from riding on inline skates and/or kick boards among students in the elementary schools. Data were collected from 902 students in 3 elementary schools in Seoul. Data were analyzed based on descriptive statistics and chi-square test. The results were as follows: 1.Thirty-eight percent of the students investigated were found to have kick boards while sixty-one percent of the students had inline skates. 2.The age of mothers who answered the questionnaires showed a statistically significant association with injuries of their children on inline skates and/or kick boards. Children whose mothers are younger had a lower percentage of injuries on inline skates and/or kick boards. 3. Children with a lower score on K-CBCL had a higher chance of having an accident from riding on inline skates and/or kick boards. That is, children with lack of attention were more likely to be involved in an accident. First-born children were less likely to have an accident. 4. While mothers' attitudes toward the safety of inline skates and kick boards appeared not to be associated with accidents of their children, their preventive actions for the safety related to riding on inline skates and kick boards reduced the chance to be involved in an accident of their children. In conclusion, this study shows that mothers with children going to the elementary schools should be more action-oriented to prevent their children's accidents from riding on inline skates and/or kick boards than merely recognizing the safety of inline skates and/or kick boards on their own. Implication of these findings and major findings of this study were discussed.
Chi-Square Distribution ; Child ; Humans ; Mothers ; Seoul ; Child Health

BACKGROUND: The TRUE test is a commercially available ready-to-apply patch test widely used in many countries, but no large-scale study is available on the TRUE test in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the type, frequency, and changes in the common contact allergens in Korea using the TRUE test. METHODS: From January 2009 to March 2010, TRUE tests were performed on patients with contact dermatitis at the Departments of Dermatology of 15 hospitals. The epidemiological findings of patients, and the results of the patch tests were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 795 patch tested cases (246 males, 549 females) were compiled and analyzed. The oldest age distribution was the third decade in both males and females, and housewives and office-workers were the most common jobs, comprising 29.7% and 19.8% of the occupations, respectively. Overall, 65.1% of patients had at least one positive reaction, and the most common allergens were nickel sulfate (34.1%), thimerosal (12.6%), cobalt chloride (11.1%), and p-phenylenediamine (8.4%), in order of frequency. A univariate analysis of multiple variables including age, gender, occupation, and affected sites was conducted and a comparison with a previous multicenter study was also analyzed. CONCLUSION: These results provide the basis for use of the TRUE test in patients with contact dermatitis in Korea.
Age Distribution ; Allergens ; Cobalt ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nickel ; Occupations ; Patch Tests ; Phenylenediamines ; Thimerosal

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema is one of the most common skin disorders and negatively affects quality of life. However, a large-scale multicenter study investigating the clinical features of patients with hand eczema has not yet been conducted in Korea. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of various hand diseases, which is defined as all cutaneous disease occurring in hands, and to investigate the clinical features of patients with hand eczema and the awareness about hand eczema in the general population and to compare the prevalence of hand eczema between health care providers and non-health care providers. METHODS: To estimate the prevalence of hand diseases, we analyzed the medical records of patients from 24 medical centers. Patients were assessed by online and offline questionnaires. A 1,000 from general population and 913 hand eczema patients answered the questionnaire, for a total of 1,913 subjects. RESULTS: The most common hand disease was irritant contact dermatitis. In an online survey, the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema was 31.2%. Hand eczema was more likely to occur in females (66.0%) and younger (20~39 years, 53.9%). Health care providers and housewives were the occupations most frequently associated with hand eczema. Winter (33.6%) was the most common season which people experienced aggravation. The 63.0% and 67.0% answered that hand eczema hinders their personal relationship and negatively affects daily living activities, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hand eczema is a very common disease and hinders the quality of life. The appropriate identification of hand eczema is necessary to implement effective and efficient treatment.
Activities of Daily Living ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Eczema* ; Female ; Hand* ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Seasons ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires