No abstract available.
Diagnosis-Related Groups* ; Korea*

PURPOSE: Smoking is the leading cause of death and smoking initiation rarely occurs after adolescence. Thus research on adolescent smoking is crucial. A consistent definition of smoking is important because inconsistent definitions make comparisons across studies an arduous task. Thus, the aim of the study was to suggest future research directions for smoking definitions after examining pitfalls in the literature. METHODS: In this study the literature on adolescent smoking in the U.S. and South Korea was examined, and three types of smoking definitions were identified. Limitations in the studies are identified and future research directions are suggested. RESULTS: In the U.S. literature, smoking definitions can be categorized into three groups: definitions based on stage models, smoking trajectories, and definitions derived from specific data. In the South Korean literature, various levels of smoking have not been differentiated. CONCLUSIONS: While the literature does not provide a definitive answer regarding the definition of smoking, it suggests three issues to consider for future research. First, multiple measures of smoking are more desirable than a one-time measure. Second, theory- or trajectory-based smoking definitions are more desirable than definitions derived from available data. Finally, regularity and amount of cigarette use should be incorporated in defining smoking behavior.
Adolescent ; *Adolescent Behavior ; Behavioral Research ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea ; Models, Psychological ; Motivation ; Smoking/*prevention & control/*psychology ; *Terminology as Topic ; United States

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of nurses' patient safety behavior during inter-hospital transfer. The study was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). METHODS: A descriptive survey design was used. Data were collected with a self-administrated 39-item questionnaire completed by 111 nurses from a university hospital in Seoul, South Korea. The questionnaire was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) guideline and included measure of self- reported past patient safety behaviors, intentions, attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral controls. Ethical approval was granted by the hospital review board. Hierarchical regression analyses were carried out. RESULTS: The average score of patient safety behavior was 4.21±0.63 (5 point scale). The TPB variables explained 49.9%of the variance in patient safety behavior. Intention and subjective norm were the most significant predictors of nurses' patient safety behavior. Attitude was related to nurses'patient safety behavior. CONCLUSION: TPB variables predicted the nurses'patient safety behavior during inter-hospital transfer of patients except for perceived behavioral controls. The results of this study suggest that better strategies for subjective norms and intentions related to patient safety behavior will be helpful in safety culture reform.
Financing, Organized ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Patient Safety* ; Safety Management ; Seoul

Investigating the existence of volume-outcome relationships for specific disease groups relates directly to the policy issue of whether, and how, specific inpatient services should be regionalized. This study examined whether medical costs and lengths of stay as outcomes were affected by changes in volume within hospitals. Based on the claims data obtained from National Federation of Medical Associations, each six disease categories from medical and surgical conditions were selected and 29,720 cases from 1,266 hospitals were analyzed. Main findings of the research can be summarized as follows: 1. Analyzing volume and cost per case relationship, tonsillectomy class 1, hernia procedure class 0, appendectomy and cesarean section class 0,1 in surgical conditions showed negative relationship significantly. In cases of medical conditions, costs per case in respiratory neoplasm class 2, COPD class 1, 2, digestive malignancy were also related to volume negatively. 2. Comparing volume with length of stay per case, lens procedure class 0, hernia procedure class 0, appendectomy class 0,1 cesarean section class 1 in surgical conditions showed negative relationships significantly. In medical conditions, volume of respiratory neoplasm class 2, COPD class 1,2, digestive malignancy class 0 were associated with negatively. 3. within same disease categories, changes in cost and length of stay per case to volume were more remarkable in severe cases. These results suggested a significant inverse relationship between disease cases and cost, length of stay per case as outcome variables.
Appendectomy ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hernia ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Length of Stay ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Tonsillectomy

This study was designed to compare the level of medical utilization between the urban and rural areas of Korea and to explain the differences between the two regions. Data from the National Health Interview survey performed by the korean Institute of Health & social Affairs in 1992 were used for this study utilizing a sample size of 21,841 people. The level of medical utilization such as the number of physician visits and the number of hospital admissions was compared between the regions with ANOVA. Various determinants for medical use were also compared by univariate analysis. Statistical models which included enabling factors, predisposing factors, need factors and region were constructed for bivariate analysis in order to further elucidate the level of medical utilization. The results were as follows: 1. There was greater medical use, both in terms of physician visits and inpatient care in the rural areas in spite of insufficient health resources. The particular reasons for higher medical utilization in rural areas were attributed to a higher number of initial physician visits as well as a longer the length of stay per hospital admission. Therefore, indicators representing the degree of met need (utilization/need) showed no significant difference between rural and urban areas in spite of the fact that the medical need is larger in rural areas. 2. Use of public health facilities received a significant portion of physician visits in the rural area. The government's effort to enhance primary health care through health centers, health subcenters and the nurse practitioner's post in rural areas has contributed to the increase of access to medical care in the rural areas. 3. There were some differences in the socio-demographic characteristics between two regions; There were more elderly people over the age of 65; unstable marital status, less education and lower incomes also characterized the rural areas. Therefore, among rural people, there were more predisposing factors for medical use. Additionally, need factors such as poor self-reported health status and high morbidity level were also high in the rural area. 4. In contrast it was learned that, the supply of health resources was mostly concentrated in the urban areas except for public health facilities. Therefore, geographical access to medical care was lower in the rural area both in terms travel time and travel cost. 5. The coefficient of the region variable was insignificant in the regression model which controlled the supply factor only However, utilization was significantly higher in urban areas if the model included predisposing factors and need factors in addition to the supply factor. The results were interpreted as rural people have greater medical needs.
Aged ; Causality ; Education ; Health Resources ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Marital Status ; Models, Statistical ; Primary Health Care ; Public Health ; Sample Size

PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify the differences of individual disease related characteristics, behavior-specific cognitions and affect, health promoting behavior between colorectal cancer patients and the general public. METHODS: Seventy newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients and 72 healthy adults from the general population were recruited and asked to complete a questionnaire on their disease related characteristics, behavior specific cognitions and affect, health promoting behavior from April to September 2011. Independent two sample t-test analysis was used to compare the two groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer, history of colon polyps lifetime tobacco usage, amount of daily smoking, frequencies of alcohol consumption over a year, constipation, interval of bowel movements, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, self-esteem, perceived health status, health locus of control, and health promotion behaviors between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that nursing professionals need to consider family history of colon polyp or colorectal cancer, history of colon polyps, tobacco usage, alcohol consumption, constipation and frequency of bowel movements in developing a colorectal cancer prevention program. Strategies to increase health promotion behavior and behavior-specific cognitions and affect factors including perceived benefit, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, self-esteem, perceived health status, health locus of control should be included in colorectal cancer prevention programs.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cognition ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Constipation ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Nursing ; Polyps ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco

OBJECTIVES: The Study of Small Area Variation(SAV) is most interesting issue in the health care researches. Most studies of SAV have been concluded the existences of variation on the basis of the magnitude of variation without statistical testing. But it is difficult to explain the existence of variation with this way because variation indicies are easily influenced by several parameters and also their distribution are skewed. So, it needs for the study to investigate the distribution of these indices and develop the statistical testing model. METHODS: This study was planned to analyze on the distribution of variation indices such as Extremal Quotient(EQ), Coefficient of Variation(CV), Systematic Component of Variation(SCV) and compare the statistical power among indicies. The simulations was performed on the basis of several assumptions and compared to the empirical data. RESULTS: Main findings can be summarized as follows. 1. If other conditions are constant, the more number of regions, the larger 95 percentile of EQ. But under same situation, 95 percentile of CV and SCV were slightly decreased. 2. If the size of regional population or utilization rate were increased, 95 percentile of all statistics were decreased. Also in the cases of small population size and low utilization rate, 95 percentiles of EQ showed various change contrast to the little change of CV. 3. If the difference at the size of regional population were increased, 95 percentiles of EQ and SCV were increased contrast to the little difference of CV 4. If the utilization rate were increased, 95 percentiles of all indicies were increased. But under the same difference of utilization rate, the power of CV and SCV were increased comparing to no change of the power of EQ. 5. Usually the power of EQ were lower than that of CV or SCV and it is similar between CV and SCV. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, we suggest that in selecting the variation indicies at the SAV, CV or SCV are superior than EQ in terms of significance level and power.
Health Services Research ; Population Density ; Small-Area Analysis* ; Statistical Distributions*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify how peer attachment and parenting style differentially affect self-concept and school adjustment in adolescents with and without chronic illness. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using multiple group analysis on the Korean panel data was used. A nationwide stratified multistage cluster sampling method was used and the survey was conducted in 2013 on 2,092 first-year middle school students in Korea. We used standardized instruments by the National Youth Policy Institute to measure peer attachment, parenting style, self-concept, and school adjustment. Multiple-group structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the difference of relations for peer attachment, parenting style, self-concept, and school adjustment variable between adolescents with chronic illness and those without chronic illness. RESULTS: The model fit of a multiple-group structural equation modeling was good. The difference of the path from negative parenting style to self-concept between the two groups was significant, and a significant between-group difference in the overall path was found. This indicated that self-concept in adolescents with chronic illness was more negatively affected by negative parenting style than in adolescents without chronic illness. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers can promote the process of school adjustment in several ways, such as discussing this issue directly with adolescent patients, along with their parents and peers, examining how the organization and content of the treatment can be modified according to the adolescents' school life.
Adolescent ; Chronic Disease/*psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Object Attachment ; Parenting/psychology ; Peer Group ; Self Concept ; *Social Adjustment

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to analyse factors related to the health promotion behavior on the basis of theory of reasoned action(TRA). METHODS: 509 residents in the city of Kyunggi-do were selected through multistage random sampling. A structured questionnaire was developed on the basis of Triandis model and collected by interviewing. RESULTS: Expectation toward act and social normative influence and age showed significant relationship to health promotion behavior. Also, facilitating factors, affective attitude, education level are indirectly related to health promotion behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The result suggest that TRA is useful in understanding the mechanism of health promotion behavior.
Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Behavior* ; Health Promotion ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the causes of burnout among South Korean counselors for North Korean refugees. METHODS: Data were collected using open-ended questions in a survey from 85 South Korean counselors for North Korean refugees, and a content analysis of the textual data from the questions was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 192 statements were selected from the data and those were categorized into 3 domains, 8 categories, and 24 sub-categories. Institutional, client, and social recognition domains emerged. Findings indicate that the causes of burnout were derived from the following categories: 1) the categories for the Institutional domain were physical environment, work conflict, and work overload, 2) for the client domain, lack of cooperation, selfish attitude, and limits to interventions, and 3) for the social recognition domain, lack of rewards and identity confusion. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that community mental health professionals need to understand these causes of burnout among the counselors working with North Korean refugees. It is also necessary to do further research to develop strategies to prevent burnout and potential mental health problems for these counselors.
Counseling ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Refugees ; Reward