PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine current status of somatic symptoms of late school-aged children using the school health clinic and to investigate the influence of perceived attachment security and social support on their somatic symptoms. METHODS: For this descriptive study, self-report questionnaires were completed by fifth and sixth graders attending 'A' elementary school in Gyeonggi-do. Data from 216 students were included. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Most frequent somatic symptoms were headache, fainting, backache, numbness in a body part, and muscle ache in that order. More frequent somatic symptoms were reported by girls, students who recognized their family SES as low, students who used school health clinic often and students who were dissatisfied with school life. Somatic symptom showed negative correlations with attachment stability and perceived social support from family and teachers. In the regression analysis, the variables; low attachment stability, female gender, and low satisfaction with school affected more frequent somatic symptoms. CONCLUSION: Careful monitoring of late school-aged children expressing frequent somatic symptoms is required. Intervention programs to improve attachment security and satisfaction with school should be developed for school children, especially girls, presenting with somatic symptoms.
Back Pain ; Child* ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Parent-Child Relations ; Psychosomatic Medicine ; School Health Services* ; Statistics as Topic ; Syncope

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify influencing factors on service quality provided by care helpers working for the elderly in long term care. METHODS: The data were collected using self-reported questionnaire from 221 care helpers working in long-term care facility or home care service center. The data were analyzed using multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in service quality depending on the health status, intimacy level, pleasure level, job education, and turnover intention. Factors influencing service quality were gender, intimacy level with elderly, type of working place and job satisfaction with R2 value of 17.3%. The most influencing factor was intimacy level (beta=.249), followed by job satisfaction (beta=.208), gender (beta=.170), and type of working place (beta=.146). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the effort to improve the service quality of care helper should be focused on helping intimacy building between the elderly and the care helper. Also, a more effective way to improve service quality would be intervening for care helpers providing institutional care.
Aged ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intention ; Job Satisfaction ; Long-Term Care ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pleasure ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of obesity and management behaviors of obese adolescents and their families in Korea. METHOD: Nine adolescents with moderate-degree obesity and of four their mothers of them were investigated using semi-structured interviews. RESULT: The perceptions of obesity was classified into four domains and obesity management behaviors was classified into three domains. The domains regarding the perceptions of obesity include definitions of obesity(a danger signal of health status, deviation status, symbols of growth), causes of obesity(out of balance), opinions about their obesity(contempt, negative preconception, superiority) and changes on thought and attitudes owing to obesity(shrinkage, repulsion, sustaining losses, decreased activity, decreased self-confidence, defensive behaviors). The domains regarding obesity management behaviors include attitude about the management of obesity(not having priority, optimistic view, ardent wish), management behaviors for correcting obesity(encouraging physical activity, control of diet, gathering information, trial of diet control), attitudes about performing the management behaviors for correcting obesity(inconsistency, non-autonomy, conflict). CONCLUSION: This study helps to enhance the understanding of the perception of obesity and management behaviors of obese adolescents and their families. Futhermore, based on this understanding, effective and appropriate heath management programs can be planned and conducted.
Adolescent* ; Diet ; Humans ; Korea* ; Methods ; Mothers ; Motor Activity ; Obesity*

PURPOSE: This study attempted to compare the metabolic syndrome components, liver function and heathy living habits according to abdominal obesity in male and female workers. METHODS: The subjects of this study are 1,078 adult workers who visited N hospital in Incheon for health examination. The data were analyzed using t-test or chi2-test with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome are 22.2% in male workers, and 5.2% in female workers. There were significant differences in 4 metabolic syndrome components (high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterolemia), abnormal liver function, and living habits (alcohol drinking) according to abdominal obesity in male workers. There were significant differences in 1 metabolic syndrome component (low HDL cholesterolemia), and abnormal liver function in female workers. CONCLUSION: It is important to manage all metabolic syndrome components and alcohol drinking in the case of male workers with abdominal obesity, and low HDL cholesterolemia in the case of female workers. Also, occupational nurses should include the relevance between abdominal obesity and liver function index when training health for workers in workplace.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Female* ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Incheon ; Liver* ; Male* ; Obesity, Abdominal* ; Prevalence

Antioxidative function of uncooked powdered food (Sangsik) was evaluated in rats consuming nutritionally unbalanced diet including 1% cholesterol, high proportion of animal lipids (lard : soybean oil : 8 . 2) , sub-optimal levels of vitamin and mineral mixture along with 0.5% ethanol in drinking water. The uncooked powdered food tested in the present study was a mixture composed of 42 kinds of plant foods (cereals, legumes, seaweeds, vegetables, and fruits) supplemented with vitamins and minerals, and dietary fiber. Control rats were fed the semi-purified diet based on the AIN-93G composition, and nutritionally unbalanced rats were divided into 3 groups, and fed one of the following diets with 0.5% ethanol in drinking water for 5 weeks : unbalanced control diet (UC) ,20% Sangsik powder supplemented diet (S20), and 40% Sangsik powder supplemented diet (S40) . Food efficiency ratio was significantly higher in rats fed S40 compared to the value for rats fed UC (p<0.05). Hepatic level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was significantly lower in rats fed UC compared to that for control rats (p<0.05), and was not influenced by dietary supplementation of the Sangsik powder. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in rats fed UC compared to that for control rats (p<0.05), and significantly reduced in rats fed S20 or S40 compared to the value for unbalanced control rats. Feeding unbalanced control diet significantly reduced the ratio of hepatic GSH-Px + catalase/SOD activities compared to the value for control rats, and this decrease in the ratio of antioxidant enzyme activities was reversed by adding the Sangsik powder to the diet at 20% (p<0.05) . Based on the results of antioxidant enzyme activities, feeding uncooked powdered diet appears to provide a favorable environment for body's antioxidative defense mechanism. Serum levels of Fe and Cu were significantly lower in rats fed the Sangsik powder supplemented diets compared to the value for unbalanced control rats (p<0.05), and levels of Se, Mn, and Zn were also tended to be decreased by dietary supplementation of the Sangsik powder. These results postulate the possibility that ingredients used in the uncooked powdered food may decrease the bioavailability of trace elements in rats.
Animals ; Biological Availability ; Cholesterol ; Diet* ; Dietary Fiber ; Dietary Supplements ; Drinking Water ; Ethanol ; Fabaceae ; Minerals ; Plants ; Rats* ; Soybean Oil ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Trace Elements ; Vegetables ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify influencing factors on service quality provided by care helpers working for the elderly in long term care. METHODS: The data were collected using self-reported questionnaire from 221 care helpers working in long-term care facility or home care service center. The data were analyzed using multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in service quality depending on the health status, intimacy level, pleasure level, job education, and turnover intention. Factors influencing service quality were gender, intimacy level with elderly, type of working place and job satisfaction with R2 value of 17.3%. The most influencing factor was intimacy level (beta=.249), followed by job satisfaction (beta=.208), gender (beta=.170), and type of working place (beta=.146). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the effort to improve the service quality of care helper should be focused on helping intimacy building between the elderly and the care helper. Also, a more effective way to improve service quality would be intervening for care helpers providing institutional care.
Aged ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intention ; Job Satisfaction ; Long-Term Care ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pleasure ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study attempted to compare the metabolic syndrome components, liver function and heathy living habits according to abdominal obesity in male and female workers. METHODS: The subjects of this study are 1,078 adult workers who visited N hospital in Incheon for health examination. The data were analyzed using t-test or chi2-test with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome are 22.2% in male workers, and 5.2% in female workers. There were significant differences in 4 metabolic syndrome components (high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterolemia), abnormal liver function, and living habits (alcohol drinking) according to abdominal obesity in male workers. There were significant differences in 1 metabolic syndrome component (low HDL cholesterolemia), and abnormal liver function in female workers. CONCLUSION: It is important to manage all metabolic syndrome components and alcohol drinking in the case of male workers with abdominal obesity, and low HDL cholesterolemia in the case of female workers. Also, occupational nurses should include the relevance between abdominal obesity and liver function index when training health for workers in workplace.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Incheon ; Liver ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence

With an increasing trend toward low birth rates and premature births, the importance of managing the health of high-risk infants has received constant emphasis. It is necessary to establish a family-centered care culture in neonatal intensive care units where high-risk infants are hospitalized. This study is intended to examine the current status of family-centered care and the direction of the role played by healthcare professionals, focusing on the characteristics of high-risk infants and their families. Healthcare professionals should listen to the needs of the family and facilitate their involvement to improve the performance of family-centered care and systematic support. Specific guidelines are required to strengthen the competence and leadership of healthcare professionals. The paradigm shift toward family-centered care for high-risk infants is a challenge for healthcare professionals and parents, but it will serve as a vision and strategy to improve the health of high-risk infants and their families by including the family in the healthcare process.

This study was carried out to assess the perception of decisional balance of Korean subjects about 4 health behaviors and to identify the influencing factor of decisional balance for exercise acquisition, smoking cessation, mammography screening and Kegel's exercise acquisition. All are representative health behaviors nurses can intervene in Korea based on the Transtheoretical model. Convenient samples of 2,484 subjects (191; exercise, 169; smoking cessation, 1903; mammography screening and 221; Kegel's exercise) were selected from cities and counties over 9 provinces throughout Korea, and the data was collected from January 1, 1999 to February 29, 2000. The research instrument were the Decisional Balance Measure for Exercise (Marcus & Owen., 1992), Smoking Cessation (Velicer et al., 1985), Mammography Screening (Rakowski et al.,1992) and Kegel Exercise (Lim, 1999) and Stage of Change Measure for Exercise (Marcus et al, 1992), Smoking Cessation (DiClemente et al., 1991), Mammography Screening (Rakowski et al.,1992) and Kegel's Exercise (Lim, 1999). The data was analyzed by the SAS Program. The results are as follows; 1. According to the stage of change measure, 2,484 subjects were distributed in each stage of change for four health behaviors: 1,233 subjects (49.8%), 745 subjects (30.2%), 113 subjects (4.7%), 156 subjects (6.5%), and 216 (8.7%) belonged to the pre- contemplation stage, contemplation stage, preparation stage, action stage and maintenance stage. They were all series of stages of change in their efforts to do health behavior. 2. Factor analysis identified 3 factors (1 of Pros, 2 of Cons) for the exercise, 4 factors for smoking cessation (2 of Pros, 2 of Cons), 2 factors (1 of Pros, 1 of Cons) for the mammogram screening and 2 factors (1 of Pros, 1 of Cons) for Kegel's exercise of decisional balance. 3. The analysis of variance and multiple comparison analysis showed that for all 4 samples, the Cons of changing the problem behaviors outweighed the Pros for subjects who were in the pre- contemplation stage, The opposite was true for subjects in action and maintenance stage. 4. Through the discriminant analysis, it was found that one factor of Pros for exercise, one factor of Cons for smoking cessation, 1 factor of Cons for mammogram screening and one factor of Cons for Kegel's exercise were the more influencing factors, than others in discriminating the stages of change. Results are consistent with the applications of the Transtheoretical model, which have been used to understand how people change health behaviors. This results provide some evidence that subject's report of his/her health behavior corresponds to beliefs about usefulness of related health behaviors. The results of this study have implications for patients' health education and health intervention strategies. The findings of this study give useful information for nursing educators for 4 health behaviors, especially the factors relating to decision making in the different stages of change.
Decision Making ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Korea* ; Mammography* ; Mass Screening* ; Nursing ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking*

BACKGROUND: Nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation is common in elderly and associated with an increased risk for thromboembolism. Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast(SEC) and thrombus. which are easily detected by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and atrial fibrillation, have been known as markers of thromboembolism. However, most of the previous studies on left atrial SEC and thrombus were performed in rheumatic mitral valve disease or various conditions including rheumatic mitral valve disease. Therefore this study was underaken in order to investigatd 1) the prevalence of left atrial SEC and thrombus, and 2) clinical and echocardiographic variables related to left atrial SEC and thrombus in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. METHODS: In patients with estabished atrial fibrillation over 7 days, we examined the clinical gistory and performed transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and TEE simultaneously. Enlisted patients were those without rheumatic mitral valve disease, prosthetic valves, previous thromboembolism, and recent anticoagulant therapy. RESULTS: 1) Left atrial SEC was detected in 32(62.7%) of 51 patients and left atrial thrombus in 10(19.6%). All thrombi were located in the left atrial appendage. 2) In univariate analysis, SEC positive group showed higher prevalence of congestive heart failure(CHF)(56.3% vs 0%, p<0.001), lower ejection fraction(42.2+/-14.1% vs 50.8+/-9.7%, p<0.05), lower left atrial appendage blood flow velocity(peak positive flow velocity ; 18.7+/-11.1cm/sec vs 32+/-12.4cm/sec, p<0.01, and peak negative flow velocity ; 21.4+/-12.4cm/sec vs 31.9+/-12.8cm/sec, p<0.01) than SEC negative group. Multivariate analysis identifed CHF as an independent variable related to left atrial SEC(p=0.02, Odds ratio ; 2.38, 95% CI ; 1.18-4.82). 3) In univariate analysis. left atrial thrombus positive group showed higher prevalence of CHF(70% vs 26.8%, p<0.05), larger left atrial demension(34+/-3.4mm/m2 vs 30.6+/-4.6mm/m2, p<0.05) than thrombus negative group. Multivariate analysis identifed CHF as an independent variable related to left atrial thrombus(p=0.04, Odds ratio ; 4.30, 95% CI ; 1.11-16.68). 4) Left atrial thrombus is more frequent in SEC positive group than in SEC negative group(28.1% vs 5.3%), however, there was no statistical significance(p=0.07). CONCLUSION: 1) Left atrial SEC is common in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and significantly related to CHF. 2) Left atrial thrombus is frequently detected in SEC positive patients, however, it is more realted to CHF than left atrial SEC itself.
Aged ; Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Echocardiography ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis*