The Effect of Cane Height on Walking and Balance for Stroke Patients / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the effects of using customized walking aids individualized for stroke patients by measuring the effects of different cane lengths to determine the ideal length of walking aids for stroke patients. METHODS: Cane lengths were determined from the greater trochanter with walking aids measured 5cm below, at the greater trochanter and 5cm above. All patients walked for ten meters with each cane length to measure speed. Then, we measured the opto gait, timed up go test, and electromyography three times each. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed model, and in the case of significance, the p-value was corrected using the Bonferroni method. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant differences in time up and go test(TUGT), 10m walking, stride and speed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Long cane length increases body symmetry, stride, increasing muscle activity, and short cane length increases balance and walking.

Enrollment in Private Medical Insurance and Utilization of Medical Services Among Children and Adolescents: Data From the 2009-2012 Korea Health Panel Surveys / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to examine the status of children and adolescents with regard to enrollment in private medical insurance (PMI) and to investigate its influence on their utilization of medical services. METHODS: The present study assessed 2973 subjects younger than 19 years of age who participated in five consecutive Korea Health Panel surveys from 2009 to 2012. RESULTS: At the initial assessment, less than 20% of the study population had not enrolled in any PMI program, but this proportion decreased over time. Additionally, the number of subjects with more than two policies increased, the proportions of holders of indemnity-type only ('I'-only) and of fixed amount+indemnity-type ('F+I') increased, whereas the proportion of holders with fixed amount-type only ('F'-only) decreased. Compared with subjects without private insurance, PMI policyholders were more likely to use outpatient and emergency services, and the number of policies was proportionately related to inpatient service utilization. Regarding out-patient care, subjects with 'F'-only PMI used these services more often than did uninsured subjects (odds ratio [OR], 1.69), whereas subjects with 'I'-only PMI or 'F+I' PMI utilized a broad range of inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services relative to uninsured subjects (ORs for 'I'-only: 1.39, 1.63, and 1.38, respectively; ORs for 'F+I': 1.67, 2.09, and 1.37, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest public policy approaches to standardizing PMI contracts, reform in calculation of premiums in PMI, re-examination regarding indemnity insurance products, and mutual control mechanisms to mediate between national health insurance services and private insurers are required.

The Sugars Intake through Processed Foods and Its Related Factors in College Students / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to examine the sugars intake through processed foods and its related factors in college students. METHODS: The findings of this study was based on the data obtained from the self-administered questionnaire survey of the sugars intake through processed foods. The self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 245 college students between March and April, 2015. RESULTS: The amount of sugars intake through processed foods was 45.9g in male collegians and 47.1g in female collegians. In the bivariate analysis, the amount of sugars intake was significantly different by department of major, current smoking status, subjective health status in female collegians (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the amount of sugars intake was related significantly with current drinking status, sleeping time, degree of depression in male students and student's department of major, current smoking status, whether or not of snack intake in female (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The program for college students to decrease the sugars intake through processed foods would be necessary, especially in student of non-health department.