Comparative Analysis of the Role of Beliefs in the Causes of Illness and Attitudes toward Medical Services in University Students from Disparate Specialties / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare and investigate the differences in beliefs with regard to the cause of illnesses, medial skepticism, and attitudes toward medical care between medical, Oriental medical, and nonmedical students. METHODS: To this end, we used a structured questionnaire and collected self-reported data from a sample of 667 respondents. RESULTS: First, their beliefs on the causes of illness were markedly different, depending on their specialty. Compared with students from other specialties, Oriental medical students ranked host factors, environmental factors, and natural factors as the highest causes of illness. -the former group regarded supernatural factors as a more influential cause of illnesses compared with the latter. Among Oriental medical students and nonmedical students-who were also subdivided into the aforementioned groups-the upper-grade group regarded host factors as a higher cause of illness than the lower-grade group. Second, Medical skepticism also differed depending on specialty. Compared with the medical students, Oriental medical students were more likely to have high confidence in "overcoming illnesses", "home remedies", "self-decision in treatments", and "understanding their own health". In subdividing medical and Oriental medical students according to grade we observed that the senior group had more confidence in home remedies than the junior group. Third, In an analysis of the students attitudes toward medical care, we found that nonmedical students had the highest score in the "care-oriented" and "cure-oriented" attitude categories. In the overall results, the care-oriented category ranked highest for the nonmedical students, followed by Oriental medical students and medical students; the cure-oriented category ranked highest for nonmedical students, followed by medical students and then Oriental medical students. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we conclude that these differences between specialties should be reflected in medical curricula to bridge the gap between patients and doctors in medical education with regard to the causes of illness and attitudes toward medical care.

Comparative Analysis of the Role of Beliefs in the Causes of Illness and Attitudes toward Medical Services in University Students from Disparate Specialties / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare and investigate the differences in beliefs with regard to the cause of illnesses, medial skepticism, and attitudes toward medical care between medical, Oriental medical, and nonmedical students. METHODS: To this end, we used a structured questionnaire and collected self-reported data from a sample of 667 respondents. RESULTS: First, their beliefs on the causes of illness were markedly different, depending on their specialty. Compared with students from other specialties, Oriental medical students ranked host factors, environmental factors, and natural factors as the highest causes of illness. -the former group regarded supernatural factors as a more influential cause of illnesses compared with the latter. Among Oriental medical students and nonmedical students-who were also subdivided into the aforementioned groups-the upper-grade group regarded host factors as a higher cause of illness than the lower-grade group. Second, Medical skepticism also differed depending on specialty. Compared with the medical students, Oriental medical students were more likely to have high confidence in "overcoming illnesses", "home remedies", "self-decision in treatments", and "understanding their own health". In subdividing medical and Oriental medical students according to grade we observed that the senior group had more confidence in home remedies than the junior group. Third, In an analysis of the students attitudes toward medical care, we found that nonmedical students had the highest score in the "care-oriented" and "cure-oriented" attitude categories. In the overall results, the care-oriented category ranked highest for the nonmedical students, followed by Oriental medical students and medical students; the cure-oriented category ranked highest for nonmedical students, followed by medical students and then Oriental medical students. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we conclude that these differences between specialties should be reflected in medical curricula to bridge the gap between patients and doctors in medical education with regard to the causes of illness and attitudes toward medical care.

A Study on Health/Illness Concepts in Hospitalized Children / 아동간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to explore the health and illness concepts of hospitalized children. The subjects were 129 hospitalized children from 3 to 12 years old in one general hospital. Data were collected through semistructured interviews by authors. This study was conducted from Jun. 1, 2000 to Dec. 31, 2000. Data were coded and categorized by content analysis. The results were as follows: 1.Perceived health concept were physical well- being, food, exercise, powerfulness, emotional stability, obeidence, cleanliness, sleep and ability of social adaptation. 2. Perceived health behavior to maintain health were food, treatment, exercise, cleanliness, obeidence, sleep, emotional stability, powerfulness and psychological stability, physical well-being. 3.Perceived prevention of illness were food, cleanliness, treatment, exercise, obedience, sleep, powerfulness, psychological stability, emotional stability, recreation and ability of social adaptation. 4.Perceived causes of illness were illness, trauma and food. 5.Perceived treatment of illness were treatment, sleep, rest, food, obedience, emotional stability, psychological stability, cleanliness, exercise and powerfulness.

An Exploratory Study on Late Schooler's Health Concept and Health Behavior / 아동간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to explore the late schooler's health concept and health behavior. The research was a descriptive method using a self-report questionnaire which include semi open-ended questions. the subjects were 4581ate schooler's from 4 to 6 grade. The results were as follows : 1. Perceived health concepts were 'having no illness' 'having normal physical feature and strength' 'eating food well' 'take exercise' 'having a bright mind' 'having good interpersonal relationships' 'having strong will' 'recovering well'. 2. Perceived health behaviors to maintain health were 'taking proper exercise' 'eating proper food' 'maintaining cleanliness' 'taking sufficient rest and sleep' 'having a vigor life and positive thought' 'having good interterpersonal relationships' 'receiving health check and immunization'. 3. Health behaviors carried out at present were 'taking proper exercise' 'eating proper food' 'having a vigor life and positive thought' 'receiving health check an immunization' 'taking supplementary drugs' 'having a regular life' 'maintaining cleanliness' 'maintaining warmth'. 4. Perceived causes of illness were 'taking inproper food' 'uncleanliness' 'insufficient warmth or environment' 'lack of exercise or overexertion' 'irregular life habits' 'contact with germs' 'mental stress'. 5. Perceived treatments of illness were 'having sufficient rest and sleep' 'mental relaxation' 'eating food' 'maintinging cleanliness' 'maintaining . warmth' 'taking supplementary drug' 'receiving medical treatment'.