Joo Eun Lee

Assessment of Kindergarten Principals and Teachers` Performance Degree of Foodservice Hygiene Management and Foodservice Employees` Hygiene Knowledge

This research aimed to survey foodservice hygiene management practices performed by principals and teachers as well as examine foodservice employees` hygiene knowledge in kindergartens. Surveys were administered to principals, teachers, and foodservice employees at 392 kindergartens. The total average score of six categories was 4.28 out of 5.0. Average score of the production process management category was the lowest at 3.90 while safety management was the highest at 4.69. Other average scores were as follows: facilities and equipment 4.20, personal hygiene 4.14, food ingredient control 4.35, and environmental sanitation 4.39. Teachers` foodservice hygiene management practices scored 3.8 points out of 5 on average. Hygiene knowledge of foodservice employees was also tested. The mean score of foodservice hygiene knowledge was 76.29%. The lowest scoring category was personal hygiene, suggesting that foodservice employees require more knowledge on proper personal hygiene practices. Possession rates of dish sterilizer, ultraviolet sterilizer, and hand washing facilities in the kitchen were low. These equipment installation rates should be raised accordingly. To enhance control of foodservice hygiene, kindergarten management should pay more attention to education and training related to foodservice sanitation.

Quality of life and national pension receipt after retirement among older adults.

As the aging population (including baby boomers) retires, its members face the problem of retirement security. Social security, including the national pension, is the most important source of retirement security and thus directly affects the well‐being of retired older adults. We investigated the relationship between national pension receipt and quality of life (QoL) among Koreans aged 60 years or older.

Socio-demographic and clinical factors contributing to smoking cessation among men: a four-year follow up study of the Korean Health Panel Survey

BackgroundTo examine factors contributing to smoking cessation among male smokers, we looked at how socio-demographic and clinical characteristics influence stopping smoking with passage of time.MethodsData from the Korea Health Panel during 2009–2012 were used. In 2009 a total of 2,941 smokers were followed up until 2012. Statistical analysis using a generalized linear mixed model was performed for all smokers, and a subgroup analysis was also performed to determine whether individual characteristics influence smoking cessation differently based on health condition.ResultsMale smokers who have married or graduated college or above were more likely to succeed in smoking cessation. Those with chronic disease(s) were also more likely to quit smoking than those without. Among those without chronic disease, higher education showed significant association with smoking cessation, however, being married or ever married showed significant association with smoking cessation among those with chronic disease.ConclusionsThe finding that higher education helped smokers without chronic disease succeed in smoking cessation suggests that a smoking cessation campaign should focus on those with lower education. In addition, quit smoking programs may be particularly helpful for male smokers with chronic disease(s) who have never married.

The influence of family stress and conflict on depressive symptoms among working married women: A longitudinal study

ABSTRACT In the present study, researchers examined the association between depressive symptoms and family stress and conflict from multiple roles, along with the combined effect of family stress and family-work conflict. We used data from the 2008–2012 Korean Welfare Panel Study, consisting of 4,663 baseline participants. We measured depressive symptoms using the 11-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. There was a significant relationship between depressive symptoms and family stress and conflict among working married women. With regard to the combined analysis, working married women who reported both family stress and family-work conflict exhibited the highest odds of depressive symptoms.

Effect of Changes in Sleep Quantity and Quality on Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Children.

This study aims to determine whether changes in sleep quantity and quality in childhood are associated with incidence of depressive symptoms. We used the three waves of the Korean Children & Youth Panel Survey (2011–2013). Statistical analysis using a generalized estimating equation model was performed. The 2,605 subjects analyzed included 1,453 students in 2012 and 1,152 students in 2013 without depressive symptoms in the prior year. We found that deteriorated or consistently poor sleep quality were important risk factors for depressive symptoms in children. We suggest that early detection and intervention of poor sleep quality in elementary school is required to reduce early onset depressive symptoms.

Lack of Retirement Preparation is Associated with Increased Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly: Findings from the Korean Retirement and Income Panel Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between retirement preparation and depressive symptoms among Koreans 50 years of age or older. We used data from the 2009 to 2013 Korean Retirement and Income Panel Study (KReIS), which included data from the 365 baseline participants of 50 years of age or older. Our sample included only newly retired participants who worked in 2009, but had retired in the 2011 and 2013. To monitor the change in depressive symptoms according to retirement preparation, we used repeated measurement data. We measured depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) 20-item scale. In addition, we measured retirement preparation using a single self-report question asking whether the participant was financially ready for retirement. We evaluated relationship between retirement preparation and depressive symptoms after multivariable adjustment. Compared to subjects who had prepared for retirement (reference group), participants who had not prepared for retirement had increased depression scores (β = 2.49, P < 0.001). In addition, individuals who had not prepared for retirement and who had low household income had the highest increase in depression scores (β = 4.43, P < 0.001). Individuals, who had not prepared for retirement and without a national pension showed a considerable increase in depression scores (β = 3.02, P < 0.001). It is suggested that guaranteed retirement preparation is especially important for mental health of retired elderly individuals with low economic strata.

Effects of Physician Volume on Readmission and Mortality in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure: Nationwide Cohort Study

Purpose Readmission and mortality rates of patients with heart failure are good indicators of care quality. To determine whether hospital resources are associated with care quality for cardiac patients, we analyzed the effect of number of physicians and the combined effects of number of physicians and beds on 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality. Materials and Methods We used national cohort sample data of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) claims in 2002–2013. Subjects comprised 2345 inpatients (age: >65 years) admitted to acute-care hospitals for heart failure. A multivariate Cox regression was used. Results Of the 2345 patients hospitalized with heart failure, 812 inpatients (34.6%) were readmitted within 30 days and 190 (8.1%) had died within a year. Heart-failure patients treated at hospitals with low physician volumes had higher readmission and mortality rates than high physician volumes [30-day readmission: hazard ratio (HR)=1.291, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.020–1.633; 1-year mortality: HR=2.168, 95% CI=1.415–3.321]. Patients admitted to hospitals with low or middle bed and physician volume had higher 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality rates than those admitted to hospitals with high volume (30-day readmission: HR=2.812, 95% CI=1.561–5.066 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians, 1-year mortality: HR=8.638, 95% CI=2.072–36.02 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians). Conclusion Physician volume is related to lower readmission and mortality for heart failure. Of interest, 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality were significantly associated with the combined effects of physician and institution bed volume.

The Association between Social Contacts and Depressive Symptoms among Elderly Koreans

Objective South Korea has an increasing aging population; thus, the management of depressive symptoms in elderly individuals is important. In this population, fewer social contacts might be a risk factor for depressive symptoms. We examined associations between the frequency of social contacts and depressive symptoms among elderly Koreans and factors associated with these symptoms. Methods Data from 62,845 individuals over 65 years of age enrolled in the 2015 Community Health Survey were used in this study. Logistic regression was performed to test the association between depressive symptoms and social contacts. Results Individuals who had contact with neighbors less than once a week were more likely to experience depressive symptoms [odds ratio (OR): 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–1.35] compared to those who had contact more than once a week. Individuals who had frequent contact with neighbors and friends, neighbors and relatives, or all three groups were significantly less likely to experience depressive symptoms. Conclusion The frequency of social contact with neighbors was the most powerful factor associated with elderly adults’ depressive symptoms among other social relationships. Additional senior welfare centers may facilitate the ability of elderly individuals in meeting neighbors, thereby reducing the risk of depressive symptoms.

Projection of Breast Cancer Burden due to Reproductive/Lifestyle Changes in Korean Women (2013-2030) Using an Age-Period-Cohort Model

Purpose The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of breast cancer that can be attributed to rapid lifestyle changes in South Korea in 2013-2030. Materials and Methods An age-period-cohort model was used to estimate the incidence and mortality. The Global Burden of Disease Study Group methodwas used to calculate the years of life lost and years lived with disability in breast cancer patients using a nationwide cancer registry. The population attributable riskswere calculated using meta-analyzed relative risk ratios and by assessing the prevalence of risk factors. Results Women’s reproductive/lifestyle changes, including advanced maternal age at first childbirth (from 37 to 85 disability-adjusted life years [DALYs] per 100,000 person-years), total period of breastfeeding (from 22 to 46 DALYs per 100,000 person-years), obesity (from 37 to 61 DALYs per 100,000 person-years), alcohol consumption (from 19 to 39 DALYs per 100,000 person-years), oral contraceptive use (from 18 to 27 DALYs per 100,000 person-years), and hormone replacement therapy use (from 2 to 3 DALYs per 100,000 person-years) were identified as factors likely to increase the burden of breast cancer from 2013 to 2030. Approximately, 34.2% to 44.3% of the burden of breast cancer could be avoidable in 2030 with reduction in reproductive/lifestyle risk factors. Conclusion The rapid changes of age structure and lifestyle in South Korea during the last decade are expected to strongly increase the breast cancer burden over time unless the risk factors can be effectively modified.

The Health Burden of Cancer Attributable to Obesity in Korea: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Purpose Considering the health impact of obesity and cancer, it is important to estimate the burden of cancer attributable to high body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the present study attempts to measure the health burden of cancer attributable to excess BMI, according to cancer sites. Materials and Methods The present study used nationwide medical check-up sample cohort data (2002-2015). The study subjects were 496,390 individuals (268,944 men and 227,446 women). We first calculated hazard ratio (HR) in order to evaluate the effect of excess BMI on cancer incidence and mortality. Then, the adjusted HR values and the prevalence of excess BMI were used to calculate the population attributable risk. This study also used the Global Burden of Disease method, to examine the health burden of obesity-related cancers attributable to obesity. Results The highest disability-adjusted life year (DALY) values attributable to overweight and obesity in men were shown in liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and gallbladder cancer. Among women, colorectal, ovarian, and breast (postmenopausal) cancers had the highest DALYs values attributable to overweight and obesity. Approximately 8.0% and 12.5% of cancer health burden (as measured by DALY values) among obesity-related cancers in men and women, respectively, can be prevented. Conclusion Obesity has added to the health burden of cancer. By measuring the proportion of cancer burden attributable to excess BMI, the current findings provide support for the importance of properly allocating healthcare resources and for developing cancer prevention strategies to reduce the future burden of cancer.