Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Fertility preservation (FP) is an important issue for young survivors of breast cancer. Although international guidelines recommend pre-treatment fertility counseling for women with breast cancer, there is no standardized protocol or referral system for FP in South Korea. There are also barriers to discussing FP that make patient-centered decision making difficult. This study aimed to develop a shared decision making program for FP and compare the rates of FP procedures between the usual care and shared decision making groups. We hypothesized that multidisciplinary shared decision making for FP would increase the rate of FP procedures and patient satisfaction. Methods The multidisciplinary shared decision making for FP in young women with breast cancer (MYBC) is a multicenter, clustered, stepped-wedge, randomized trial. A total of 1100patients with breast cancer, aged 19–40 years, from nine hospitals in South Korea, will be enrolled. They will be randomized at the institutional level and assigned to usual care and shared decision making groups. Four institutions, each of which can recruit more than 200 patients, will each become a cluster, whereas five institutions, each of which can recruit more than 50 patients, will become one cluster, for a total of five clusters. The shared decision making groups will receive multidisciplinary programs for FP developed by the investigator. The primary outcome is the rate of FP procedures; secondary outcomes include fertility results, satisfaction, and quality of life. Outcomes will be measured at enrollment, treatment initiation, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year follow-ups after starting breast cancer treatment.Discussion: A multidisciplinary shared decision making program for FP is expected to increase fertility rates and satisfaction among young patients with breast cancer. This study will provide the evidence to implement a multidisciplinary system for patients with breast cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea; it is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common in women. The incidence rate in Korea has continuously increased since 1999 when the National Cancer Registry statistics began. Currently; there are several screening modalities; that have been recommended by expert societies, including fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, computed tomographic colonography The annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has been used in adults aged 50 and older as part of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea since 2004. Although several study results from regional or national colorectal cancer screening programs in other countries have been reported, the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea has not yet been evaluated with evidence-based methods. Herein report the consensus statements on the National Screening Guideline for colorectal cancer developed by a multi-society expert committee in Korea, as follows: 1) We recommend annual or biennial FIT for screening for colorectal cancer in asymptomatic adults, beginning at 45 years of age and continuing until 80 years (recommendation B). 2) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of FIT in adults older than 80 years (recommendation I). 3) Selective use of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening is recommended, taking into consideration individual preference and the risk of colorectal cancer (recommendation C). 4) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of double-contrast barium enema for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I). 5) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of computed tomographic colonography for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I).
Adult ; Barium ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Consensus ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Occult Blood