• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2013

Objectives: Unprotected leisure time exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial tanning beds is the most important environmental risk factor for melanoma, a malignant skin cancer with increasing incidences over the past decades. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of skin health information provided by several sources and different publishing issues on knowledge, risk perception, and sun protective behavior of sunbathers. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Austrian residents (n=563) spending leisure time outdoors in August 2010. Results: Print media, television, and family were perceived as the most relevant sources of information on skin health, whereas the source physician was only ranked as fourth important source. Compared to other sources, information provided by doctors positively influenced participants' knowledge on skin risk and sun protective behavior resulting in higher scores in the knowledge test (p=0.009), higher risk perception (p<0.001), and more sun protection (p<0.001). Regarding gender differences, internet was more often used by males as health information source, whereas females were more familiar with printed information material in general. Conclusions: The results of this survey put emphasis on the demand for information provided by medical professionals in order to attain effective, long-lasting promotion of photoprotective habits.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2001

Objectives : To investigate the information searching behavior of health care consumers according to sociodemographic characteristics. Methods : A questionnaire survey was conducted of 1,507 persons who were selected through a multi-stage stratified area cluster sampling of the Republic of Korea, excluding the province of Jeiu-do. Personal were conducted through a door-to-door survey between 27 July and 10 August 1999. Results : 80.5% of respondents used more than one source of information and those $40\sim59$ years of age, female, a housewife or student and those who claimed a religion demonstrated more active information searching behavior. A personal informer was used significantly more in those $20\sim39$ years old, female, and those who claimed a religion. Clerical workers, those with post-secondary education and a monthly income greater than 2,000,000 won ($1500) were more actively used a public informer. Low socioeconomic status and older persons used an experimental informer when they chose a health care institution. Conclusion : Regardless of the sociodemographic characteristics, personal and experimental informers were the most useful source of information. Because appropriate information was not easy to obtain, the health care consumer was dependent upon word-of-mouth communication(personal informer) when using health care services.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.122-128
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• 2018

Objectives: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Stigma Questionnaire (ASQ) and the effect of the source of information about mental health on ADHD stigma. Methods: The Korean translation of the ASQ was prepared, and 673 participants, 20-64 years of age, completed the questionnaire using an online panel survey in South Korea. The participants also completed questionnaires detailing sociodemographic variables and the source of their mental health knowledge. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to explore the internal consistency of the ASQ. Factor analysis using Varimax rotation was conducted to investigate the structure of the ASQ. Results: The 26-item ASQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.940). Factor analysis supported a three-factor structure, including Concerns with Public Attitudes, Negative Self-Image, and Disclosure Concerns. There were no significant differences in the total ASQ scores according to sociodemographic characteristics. Participants who reported the internet as their major source of information about mental health showed higher ASQ scores compared to those who used other sources for mental health information. Conclusion: The Korean translation of the ASQ has acceptable psychometric properties among Korean adults. Inaccurate information from the internet could increase the stigma toward ADHD.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.376-384
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the health status of residents who were exposed to sources of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) in the living environment and those who were not exposed to such a source of ELF-EMFs through a survey designed to appraise the residents' health levels. Method: Aimed at 251 residents exposed to a source of ELF-EMFs and 278 residents not exposed to a source, the survey was conducted to investigate the health status of the residents on the basis of questionnaire SF-36. Result: The health status scores of residents exposed to ELF-EMFs turned out to be lower than those of their counterparts. In terms of self-reported symptoms related to health and sleep quality, residents exposed to ELF-EMFs were found to have a higher complaint rate of self-reported symptoms such as dizziness, depression, and fatigue. Regarding sleep disorders, residents exposed to ELF-EMFs appeared to have a slightly higher complaint rate of sleep disorders compared to non-exposed residents. Conclusion: If a region is to be exposed to a source of ELF-EMFs, a more proactive policy for reducing such exposure is advised. In addition, it is necessary to better understand problems of residents by emplacing an ELF-EMFs risk information delivery system and building an efficient communication system for voluntary participation during the construction phase.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.343-364
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• 2020

Historically, mothers have been noted as active health information seekers, reflecting their roles as health mangers and caregivers for their family members. However, previous studies have focused on health-related information behavior among mothers in native populations or mothers of children with specific diagnoses. To fill this research gap, this study focused on health information behavior among mothers of healthy infants and toddlers. Using Wilson's (1997) information-seeking model, this study aimed to uncover the relationships between mothers' demographic characteristics and their health information source use. Online surveys were completed by 851 mothers: 255 U.S.-born mothers, 296 Korean-born mothers, and 300 Korean immigrant mothers living in the United States. Results indicated that there were statistically significant relationships between mothers' nine demographic characteristics (mother's age, education level, household income, employment status, the number of children, years living in the U.S. (or Korea), fluency in speaking English, size of household, housing status) and their health information source use. Based on the results, the implications for information professionals at diverse organizations are discussed when they provide health information services to this specific population.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2006

The Web is an important source of information for health care consumers, and the resources they find on the Web have a direct affect on their health outcomes. Despite the enormous benefits of online health care, the quality of health information on the Internet is an area of increasing concern. Therefore, there's a need to develop quality assessment tools that can filter out poor quality online health information. The purpose of this study is to explore the critical attributes for assessing website quality and for developing quality assessment measurements. We completed three focus group discussions with 24 participants that were administered by a moderator and based on specifically focused group questions. The results suggest that the most important quality criteria, as identified by the respondents, were related to issues of credibility and accuracy. To determine the credibility of Internet health information, the respondents stated one must consider the following: the information source, disclosure of the author's or organization's credentials/qualifications, disclosure of ownership and the updating of the content. For the accuracy of content, elements such as a statement of purpose, evidence-based information, relevance and completeness should be considered. Interactivity, accessibility, and design were additional quality criteria.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.440-448
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• 2005

This study explores some basic issues behind adults' seeking and using patterns of alternative medicine as well as health food (health food/medicine). In order to do this, 791 adult participants in Seoul and Busan were interviewed face-to-face. The results of the survey showed that 1) interpersonal influence was the most influential factor in relation to the adoption of health food/medicine(46.9% of the participants reported on the influences), 2) keeping healthy was the main motivation for the usage of health food/medicine(34.5% of the participants), 3) mass media was the important information source for health food/medicine, 4) with regard to trustworthiness of information sources, experts were believed to be the most trustworthy while information from acquaintances were thought less, and finally, 5) pharmacies and health food stores were main suppliers of health food/medicine. This study suggests some marketing strategies for health food/medicine. For example, it can be suggested that interpersonal communication among other information channels should be focused and might be increased trust by using professionals.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.266-280
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• 2013

Background: Information asymmetry between physicians and patients is one of the most unique characteristics of health care. But as consumerism spreads in health care sector, health care consumers are searching comparative information about quality and cost of providers from many information sources. Providing comparative information to health care consumers not only makes consumers choose hospital rationally, but also invigorates the health care market by providers' competition. However there are few studies regarding information searching behavior of health care consumers, then this study is carried out. Methods: The purpose of this study is to understand the information searching behavior of health care consumers based on their characteristics and the types of medical institutions. For this purpose, 313 spinal patients' data of 11 medical institutions (university hospital, spine specialized hospital, clinic) located in Seoul were collected by self-administered surveys. Results: The results of this study are as follows: 1) t-test/analysis of variance analysis showed that according to various characteristics of health care consumers and the types of medical institutions, the level of information searching of each source and the amount of information searching and searching outcomes are statistically different. 2) Regression analysis showed that influence on searching outcomes are statistically different according to the level of information searching of each source and searching content and the amount of information searching has positive effects on searching outcomes. Conclusion: The significance of this study is to provide empirical basis for establishment of health care policy reflecting information needs and preference of health care consumers.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2014

This study is to confirm that SNS information characteristics have an effect on choosing hospital care and satisfaction on hospital. This study is conducted with a total of 301 respondents (150 of document investigation and 151 of mobile SNS research) from 16th January 2014 to 29th January. 168 respondents who have experience to collect SNS health information within 6 months recently was selected subject of analysis. In the results, we could confirm the followings. The reliability among SNS information characteristics has effect on convenience that is source of choosing hospital care. The reliability and agreement have effect on the professionalism among source of choosing hospital care. In the influence on having hospital satisfaction, the more reliable and agreeable, the more increasing of hospital satisfaction. In the influence between hospital choice element and hospital satisfaction, the more convenient and service available, the more increasing of hospital satisfaction. In conclusion, it is expecting to contribute SNS managers or marketer of medical institutions to taking out commitment on medical consumer's SNS.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.294-302
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• 1999

The influence of source term release parameters on offsite health effects was examined for the YGN 3&4 nuclear power plants. The release parameters considered in this study are release height, heat content, and release time. The effects of core inventory change as a function of fuel burnup was also examined. The health effects by the change of release parameters are early fatalities, cancer fatalities, and early fatality distance. The results showed that early fatalities and early fatality distance decrease as release height increases, although it does not have significant influence on cancer fatalities. The values of both early and late health effects decrease as heat content increases. As release time increases, health consequence shows maximum value in 2 hours of release time and then decreases rapidly. As fuel burnup increases, early fatalities decrease rapidly, while cancer fatalities increase rapidly. Both cases show little variation afterward. Early fatality distance is almost same in all fuel turnup history. The information obtained through this research is very useful in developing strategies for reducing offsite consequences when combined with the influence of weather conditions on offsite risks.