Interorganizational Networks for Smoking Prevention and Cessation: A Blockmodeling Approach

Purpose@#This study examined characteristics and patterns of interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation in Korea. @*Methods@#We surveyed two community health centers, ninety-five hospitals or clinics, ninety- two pharmacies, and sixty-five health welfare organizations in two districts of Seoul in 2020. Data on the organizations’ characteristics of smoking cessation and interorganizational activities for information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration were collected and analyzed using network statistics and blockmodeling. @*Results@#Network size was in the order of information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration networks. Network patterns for interorganizational activities on information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration among four organizations were similar between the two districts. Community health centers provided information and received clients from a majority of the organizations. Their interactions were not unidirectional but mutual with other organizations. Pharmacies were involved in information sharing with health welfare organizations and client referrals to hospitals or clinics. Health welfare organizations were primarily connected with the community health centers for client referrals and program collaboration. @*Conclusion@#A community health center is the lead agency in interorganizational activities for smoking prevention and cessation. However, hospitals or clinics, pharmacies, and health welfare organizations also participate in interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation with diverse roles. This study would be evidence for developing future interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation.

Do Lifestyle Factors Affect Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms? Results from the Korean Community Health Survey / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationships between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and lifestyle factors (physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and stress) in Korean men. METHODS: We analyzed the survey results of South Korean men (n=64,439) who were 40 years of age or older among whom interviews were conducted using questionnaires. Trained interviewers performed face-to-face surveys using computer-assisted personal interviewing, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and standard questions. We assessed the relationships of lifestyle factors (physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, height, weight, and stress) with LUTS. RESULTS: We observed higher IPSS scores in participants who engaged in no exercise (n=46,008 [71.7%], IPSS=3.19±5.36) than in those who engaged in vigorous physical activity (n=10,657 [17.6%], IPSS=2.28±4.15). Former smokers showed higher total, storage, and voiding symptom IPSS scores than current smokers and nonsmokers. Nondrinkers had higher IPSS scores than current alcohol drinkers. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, we detected no relationship between LUTS and current alcohol drinking in the moderate and severe LUTS groups, using the mild LUTS group as a reference (moderate: 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91–0.91; P<0.001, severe: 0.78; 95% CI, 0.78–0.78; P<0.001). Participants with moderate to severe stress showed higher total IPSS scores than those with no or mild stress (3.38±5.77 vs. 2.88±4.90), with significant relationships between stress and LUTS found in the moderate and severe LUTS groups. In logistic regression analysis, stronger relationships were found for storage and voiding symptoms in the moderate and severe stress groups compared to the mild stress group. CONCLUSIONS: A history of smoking, low levels of physical activity, low body mass index, and moderate to severe stress were associated with a greater severity of LUTS. Moderate to severe stress was also related to voiding symptoms. However, there was no association between alcohol intake and LUTS severity.

Prevalence of Main Psychiatric Disorders in Relation to Urbanization in Gyeonggi Province by Using the Korean Version of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological studies have supplied growing evidence of an association between the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the urban/rural division. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of the main psychiatric disorders in two areas of Gyeonggi Province of South Korean with different levels of urbanization. METHODS: A survey was conducted of the adult population (over 40 years of age) in Yangpyeong-gun (lower level of urbanization ; n=639) and Guri-si (higher level of urbanization ; n=335) in Gyeonggi Province. The Korean version of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (K-MINI) was used as a structured psychiatric diagnostic interview instrument. Major depressive disorder (MDD), suicidality, alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), somatoform disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia were selected as the 8 main psychiatric problems. RESULTS: The prevalence of the 8 main psychiatric disorders in Guri-si (25.6%) was higher than those of Yangpyeong-gun (15.1%, p<0.05). In particular, the prevalence of MDD, suicidality, and GAD, which are thought to be strongly influenced by psychosocial factors, were significantly higher in Guri-si (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A greater prevalence of almost all major psychiatric disorders is associated with higher levels of urbanization, exceptions being somatoform disorders and bipolar disorder. This urban.rural difference may be related to environmental risk factors.