1.Basic Concepts and Detailed Dimensions of Food Security and Related Indicators for Policy Development and Evaluation
Sohyun PARK ; Ji-Yun HWANG ; Jae Eun SHIM ; Kirang KIM
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition 2021;26(6):429-440
Objectives:
Standardized guidelines and reference points for a food security policy are necessary to guarantee that basic social safety nets work properly. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the basic concepts and detailed dimensions of food security, including the potential relevant indicators, and sought to establish standardized well-being baselines.
Methods:
A literature review and 14 expert roundtable discussions were carried out to analyze and extract the key concepts of food security. After determining these concepts and detailed dimensions of food security, a conceptual framework was modeled. Then, indicators for each local government that could be monitored and evaluated for each sub-area were suggested.
Results:
The concept of food security was defined as follows: Individuals should be provided with sufficient, safe, and quality food, which should be accessible to the community and available for use to achieve health and well-being. In addition, food security should be ensured sustainably in a changing environment. Four dimensions were suggested while conceptualizing food security. First, sufficient food, which means sufficient food supply in quantity, quality, and safety. Second, equitable food which includes creating environments in which high-quality and safe food can be purchased at an appropriate price and can be provided regardless of the socioeconomic gap. Third, healthy food which should be provided to promote people’s health and happiness through the eco-friendly consumption of food.Fourth, sustainable food, which can be supplied in a sustainable manner and as part of an eco-friendly food system that considers the conservation of natural environments.
Conclusions
The basic concepts and detailed areas of food security including the potential indicators proposed in this study, may be useful for developing and implementing various policies and programs to support food and nutrition security in the future.
2.Using Service Design Tools in Community Nutrition Research: A Case Study in Developing Dietary Guidelines for Young Adults
Eunbin JO ; Jae Eun SHIM ; Hyun Joo RYOU ; Kirang KIM ; Su Jin SONG ; Hyun Ja KIM ; Jeong Sun AHN ; Kwang-il KWON ; Hye Young LEE ; Sohyun PARK
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition 2022;27(3):177-191
Objectives:
Recent epidemiological data reported that young adults in their 20 ~ 30s are a vulnerable population with unhealthy dietary practices and a few signs of deteriorated health indicators. However, there are no dietary guidelines that are specifically developed for the young adult population. This study introduces some data collection tools that are mostly used in the service design field, and demonstrates how these tools can be used in nutrition research for developing dietary guidelines for specific target groups.
Methods:
To understand the context of food choices among young people, 39 people were enrolled to complete a probes booklet. Thematic analysis and word cloud were performed to capture the main themes from the probes and a persona was developed based on the findings.
Results:
Data from the probes enabled us to grasp the various contextual meanings of eating practices among young people. Most participants understand what a healthy diet is and often have a willingness to practice it. However, there were very few participants who were following the practices. We created four types of persona for developing dietary guidelines: healthy eating, emotional eating, convenient eating, and trendy eating.
Conclusions
Probes and persona were used in order to understand the lives of young adults and develop targeted messages. We hope that this introduction will be helpful to researchers who are looking for new ways of understanding their target population in the field of community nutrition.
3.Cumulative Recurrence Rate and Risk Factors for Recurrent Abdominal Wall Endometriosis after Surgical Treatment in a Single Institution
Su Jin KIM ; Su Hyeon CHOI ; Seyeon WON ; Sohyun SHIM ; Nara LEE ; Miseon KIM ; Mi Kyoung KIM ; Seok Ju SEONG ; Mi-La KIM
Yonsei Medical Journal 2022;63(5):446-451
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate the cumulative recurrence rate and risk factors for recurrent abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) after surgical treatment.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single gynecological surgery center between January 2004 and December 2020. Patients who were surgically treated and followed up for at least 6 months after surgery were selected.
Results:
Eighteen patients with pathologically diagnosed AWE were included in this study. The median follow-up duration was 22.5 months (range, 6–106). The median age was 37 years (range, 22–48), and 33.3% of the patients were nulliparous. Among the patients included in our study, 55.6% complained of a mass with cyclic pain, and 27.8% had a palpable mass. In addition, 22.2% of patients experienced recurrence with 17.5±9.7 months of mean time to recurrence. The cumulative recurrence rates at 24 and 60 months after surgical treatment of AWE were 23.8% and 39.1%, respectively. There were no statistically significant risk factors for the recurrence of AWE, including postoperative medical treatment.
Conclusion
The recurrence rate of AWE appears to be correlated with the follow-up duration. There was no statistically significant risk factor for the recurrence of AWE. Unlike ovarian endometriosis, postoperative hormonal treatment does not seem to lower the recurrence of AWE. The findings of the current study may help healthcare providers in counselling and managing patients with AWE.
4.Pregnancy Outcomes and Obstetrical Complications of Twin Pregnancies with Endometriosis:A Single-Center Cohort Study
Joong Sik SHIN ; Sujin KIM ; Jee Youn CHOI ; Kirim HONG ; Sohyun SHIM ; Yong Wook JUNG ; Seok Ju SEONG ; Hye Sun JUN ; Mi-La KIM
Yonsei Medical Journal 2024;65(6):356-362
Purpose:
There are many studies regarding the increased relationship between pregnancy outcomes of singleton with endometriosis. However, there was limited evidence of twin pregnancies with endometriosis. This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes and complications in twin pregnancies with or without endometriosis in a single institution.
Materials and Methods:
From January 2011 to July 2022, a retrospective analysis of twin pregnancies was conducted. The endometriosis group included patient with histological or visual confirmation before pregnancy or during cesarean section. Pregnancy outcomes and complications were compared between the two groups.
Results:
Out of 1714 patients examined, 127 (7.4%) were included in the endometriosis group. Maternal body mass index (BMI) was lower in the endometriosis group (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in maternal age, mode of conception, chorionicity, and pregnancy outcomes, such as gestational age at delivery (p=0.835) and the preterm birth rate (p=0.579). The endometriosis group had a significantly higher rate of obstetrical complication: small for gestational age (SGA) <10% (p=0.029). However, after adjustment for BMI, the endometriosis group showed no statistical significance in obstetrical complications, including SGA (adjusted odds ratio, 1.568; 95% confidence interval, 0.984–2.499; p=0.059).
Conclusion
Twin pregnancies with endometriosis were not related to adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes and obstetrical complications. To confirm these outcomes, further large prospective studies are required.
5.Beta-Lactam Plus Macrolide for Patients Hospitalized With CommunityAcquired Pneumonia: Difference Between Autumn and Spring
Yoonjung KIM ; Yena JEON ; Ki Tae KWON ; Sohyun BAE ; Soyoon HWANG ; Hyun-Ha CHANG ; Shin-Woo KIM ; Won Kee LEE ; Ki-Hwa YANG ; Ji-Hyeon SHIN ; Eun-Kyung SHIM
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2022;37(45):e324-
Background:
The 2017 Korean guideline on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) recommended beta-lactam plus macrolide combination therapy for patients hospitalized with severe pneumonia, and beta-lactam monotherapy for mild-to-moderate pneumonia.However, antibiotic treatment regimen for mild-to-moderate CAP has never been evaluated for Korean patients.
Methods:
In this retrospective cohort study, study patients were selected from three evaluation periods (October 1 to December 31, 2014; April 1 to June 30, 2016; October 1 to December 31, 2017) of the National Quality Assessment Program for CAP management and the National Health Insurance data on the selected patients was extracted from 1 year before the first patient enrollment and 1 year after the last patient enrollment at each evaluation period for the analysis of risk adjustment and outcomes. The survival rates between beta-lactam plus macrolide (BM) groups and beta-lactam monotherapy (B) were compared using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis after propensity score matching by age, gender, confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure at age of 65 years or older (CURB-65), and Charlson comorbidity index for risk adjustment. The differences between autumn and spring season were also evaluated.
Results:
A total of 30,053 patients were enrolled. Mean age and the male-to-female ratio were 64.7 ± 18.4 and 14,197:15,856, respectively. After matching, 2,397 patients in each group were analyzed. The 30-day survival rates did not differ between the BM and B groups (97.3% vs. 96.5%, P = 0.081). In patients with CURB-65 ≥ 2, the 30-day survival rate was higher in the BM than in the B group (93.7% vs. 91.0%, P = 0.044). Among patients with CURB-65 ≥ 2, the 30-day survival rate was higher in the BM than in the B group (93.3% vs. 88.5%, P = 0.009) during autumn season, which was not observed during spring (94.2% vs. 94.1%, P = 0.986).
Conclusion
Beta-lactam plus macrolide combination therapy shows potential as an empirical therapy for CAP with CURB-65 ≥ 2, especially in autumn.