Sang-Kyu Kim

Drinking and Its Relationship with Smoking among University Students

Objectives: This study examines the drinking behaviors and the relationship between drinking and smoking behaviors among some Korean university students. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in May, 2006. A total of 1,163 students(715 male and 448 female) completed questionnaires, who were randomly selected in a university in Gyeongsangbuk-Do, Korea. Results: The overall drinking and smoking rates for male subjects were 88.7% and 37.2%, and those for females were 83.5% and 2.2%, respectively. Among the male drinkers 39.9% smoked, while 16.0% of the male non-drinkers were smokers. As male drinkers drink more often, heavier amount per drinking episode, even on a binge, their smoking rate was high. The subjects reported there was positive reinforcement between drinking and smoking behaviors. Conclusions: The drinking rate of students was relatively high, especially for male students drinking behavior was strongly correlated with smoking behavior. Health promotion programs should be targeted at university students considering drinking and smoking behaviors simultaneously.

Oral health related quality of life and it’s related factors of stroke patients at home in Korea

OBJECTIVE Due to physical impairments of stroke patients oral health tends to deteriorate, which may have an impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the OHRQoL and analyze its related factors among stroke patients cared for at home in Korea. METHODS OHRQoL of 549 stroke patients aged over 50 who received care at home was assessed by Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) in a City, Korea, from May to June 2009. Trained researchers and five nurses conducted interviews with patients or caregivers in their homes using structured questionnaires. Demographic, general health, stroke, and oral health related variables were surveyed. Statistically, t-test, an analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between OHRQoL and various covariates. RESULTS Mean of total OHIP-14 score was 35.7 ± 10.0. Age, activity of daily living (ADL) (p<0.001), subjective general and oral health status (p<0.001), degree of disability (p<0.001), frequency of tooth brushing (p<0.001), use of dental floss (p<0.01), missing teeth, and use of denture (p<0.001) showed significant association with the OHIP-14 scores. In multiple regression analyses, ADL, frequency of tooth brushing per day, subjective general status, and oral health status were identified as significant factors with the OHIP-14 scores in stroke patients who received care at home. CONCLUSION Among strong patients who received care at home, participants who had more severe physical disability, poorer oral hygiene and more missing teeth showed poorer OHRQoL.

Estimating Quality Adjusted Life Year Loss of Persons Disabled by Stroke Using EQ-5D in Korea

목적: 뇌졸중으로 인한 장애인이 증가하고 있으나 이들을 대상으로 질보정수명을 구한 연구가 없었다. 이 연구의 목적은 일개 시에서 뇌졸중 장애인을 대상으로 EQ-5D로 그들의 건강 관련 삶의 질 수준을 평가하고, 우리나라 전체 뇌졸중 장애인의 QALYs 감소분을 추정하기 위하여 수행하였다. 방법: 2008년 3월을 기준으로 경주시 장애인 등록현황에서 50세 이상인 장애인 중 뇌졸중이 원인으로 파악된 982명을 대상으로 설문조사자들이 방문하여 대면면접조사를 통해 일반적 특성, 임상적 특성, EQ-5D 등의 자료를 수집하였다. 제4기 국민건강영양조사 에서 일반인구집단과 동반질환이 없는 군을 건강비교군으로 선정하여 성별, 연령별 표준화를 통해 비교함으로써 효용 가중치 차이를 구하였다. 이 효용 가중치 차이를 우리나라 전체 뇌졸중 장애인에 적용하여 전체 QALYs 감소분을 추정하였다. 결과: 대상자 982명 중 조사응답자는 566명으로 응답률은 57.6%였다. 여성, 70대 이상군에서 EQ-5D 지표값이 남성이나 60대 이하군에 비해 더 낮았고, 상대 비교군과의 차이도 크게 나타났다. 건강비교군과 일반인구집단 비교군과의 비교에 따른 전체 QALYs 감소분은 각각 연간 67,011.6 QALYs와 54,167.1 QALYs로 추정되었다. 결론: EQ-5D로 우리나라 전체 뇌졸중장애인의 QALYs 감소분을 추정하였고, 이 연구를 바탕으로 뇌졸중 장애인을 대상으로 한 공중보건정책의 집행이나 평가를 수행하여 보다 근거에 기반한 장애인 정책을 수행할 수 있을 것으로 생각한다.

Frequency and Related Factors of Masked Hypertension at a Worksite in Korea

Objectives Masked hypertension is associated with metabolic risks and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of and risk factors of masked hypertension in Korean workers. Methods The study was conducted among 121 employees at a hotel in Gyeongju, Korea, from December 2008 to February 2009. We measured blood pressure (BP) both in the clinic and using 24-hour ambulatory BP monitors for all subjects. Hypertension was defined independently by both methods, and subjects were classified into four groups: true normotension, masked hypertension, white coat hypertension, and sustained hypertension. Results The frequency of masked hypertension in our study group was 25.6%. Compared with true normotension, the factors related to masked hypertension were male gender (odds ratio [OR], 10.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 81.09), aging one year (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.99), clinic BP 120-129/80-84 mmHg (OR, 8.42; 95% CI, 1.51 to 46.82), clinic BP 130-139 / 85-89 mmHg (OR, 12.14; 95% CI, 1.80 to 81.85), smoking (OR, 5.51; 95% CI, 1.15 to 26.54), and increase of total cholesterol 1 mg / dL (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.08). In males only, these factors were clinic BP 120-129 / 80-84 mmHg (OR, 15.07; 95% CI, 1.55 to 146.19), clinic BP 130-139 / 85-89 mmHg (OR, 17.16; 95% CI, 1.56 to 189.45), smoking (OR, 11.61; 95% CI, 1.52 to 88.62), and increase of total cholesterol 1 mg/dL (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.09). Conclusions The frequency of masked hypertension was high in our study sample. Detection and management of masked hypertension, a known strong predictor of cardiovascular risk, could improve prognosis for at-risk populations.

Cultural Competence of Health Care Providers in Daegu and Satisfaction on Health Care Services of Chinese Medical Tourists

Background: This study aims at making a survey on health care service providers’ cultural competence and making an appraisal of Chinese medical tourists on service quality, health care service providers’ cultural competence, perceived value, and satisfaction. Methods: The data was collected from August until November, 2014 and 150 health care service providers and 65 Chinese medical tourists from 12 medical institutions in Daegu were enrolled in analysis. Results: The results showed that health care service provider’s knowledge on Chinese culture was very low with 33.5% of correct answer. Health care service providers were found to get 3.82 point on a 5 point-scale in cultural perception, 3.53 points in cultural sensitivity, and 2.85 points in cultural skills. Chinese medical tourists were analyzed to give 4.08 points on a 5-point scale to satisfaction on health care service, followed by 4.01 points to health care service quality, 4.00 points to perceived value of health care service, and last 3.85 points to a health care service providers’ cultural skills. However, there was a difference in points in cultural skills between health care service providers and Chinese medical tourists. Chinese medical tourists’ satisfaction with health care service in Daegu was found to be comparatively high, but in relation to satisfaction with communication, it was found to be relatively low. Conclusion: Through this research, health care service providers’ knowledge level of Chinese culture and cultural skills were low while they seemed to take a half-hearted attitude towards educational experience for building up cultural competence and foreign patient service response.

Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Cognitive Function Change of the Elderly in a Rural Area, Korea

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to examine the cognitive function change related to aging, the incidence of cognitive impairment, and the association between apolipoprotein E polymorphism and cognitive impairment through a follow-up of the elderly with normal cognitive ability at baseline. METHODS Two hundred and fifteen subjects aged 65 and over were surveyed in February, 1998 (baseline survey), and their cognitive function was assessed again in 2003 (1st follow-up) and the once again in 2006 (2nd follow-up). Ninety one subjects completed all surveys up through the 2nd follow-up and their cognitive function scores using MMSE-K (Korean Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination) and the distribution of apolipoprotein E allele were analyzed. RESULTS The cognitive function scores decreased with aging and the difference between baseline and the 2nd follow-up scores of the study increased with the age group. The incidence rate of cognitive impairment through an 8-year follow-up was 38.5% and higher in older age groups. Age was the only significant factor for incidence of cognitive impairment, but there was no significant association between apolipoprotein E genotype and incidence of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS The cognition of the elderly decreased with aging and the association of apolipoprotein E genotype with incidence of cognitive impairment was not significant in this study. To confirm the association between apolipoprotein E polymorphism and incidence of cognitive impairment further studies will be needed.