Barriers, Attitudes, and Dietary Behaviors Regarding Sodium Reduction in the Elderly Korean–Chinese Population in Yanbian, China

OBJECTIVES: This research investigated the barriers, attitudes, and dietary behaviors related to sodium reduction among the elderly Korean–Chinese population in Yanbian, China. METHODS: We conducted this pilot study using both descriptive research and a focus group interview at the elderly community center in Yanbian. RESULTS: In total, 21 elderly Korean–Chinese (average age, 71 years) were examined. The findings showed that the top three barriers to sodium reduction were 1) the difficulties associated with having meals with others, 2) a preference for liquid based-dishes, and 3) the lack of taste in low-sodium dishes. Although the participants strongly believed that a reduced-sodium diet would improve their health, they were poorly aware of the amount of sodium in various foods and dishes. In particular, the focus group interviews with eight participants (mean age, 67 years) revealed that salt-preserved foods (e.g., Korean pickled cabbage called ‘kimchi’ and soybean paste) were frequently consumed as part of their food culture, and that very salty dishes were served at restaurants, both of which lead to a high sodium intake. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful preliminary data to help design a nutrition intervention program for sodium reduction that targets the elderly Korean–Chinese population in China.

Analysis of the status and related factors of health literacy of Korean- Chinese elderly patients with hypertension / 中国实用护理杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the status and related factors of health literacy of Korean-Chinese elderly patients with hypertension. MethodsStructural interview were conducted among 334 Korean-Chinese elderly patients with hypertension using general condition questionnaire,hypertension-related health literacy evaluation scale,and physiological and biochemical parameter of the subjects including SBp,DBp,height,waist and fasting blood glucose were measured. ResultsThe average score of health literacy was (85.0±71.6),while about two thirds (65.0％) had inadequate health literacy and about one quarter (25.4％)had adequate health literacy.Age and SES entered multiple regression equation of health literacy(Cum.R2=0.347). ConclusionsHealth literacy of Korean-Chinese elderly patients with hypertension was serious;age and SES were the important factors about health literacy.

Relationships between Work-related Psychosocial and Acculturative Factors and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Korean-Chinese Migrant Workers Living in Korea / 산업간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study >was to examine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) and to identify the relationship between work-related psychosocial and acculturative factors and WMSDs among Korean-Chinese workers living in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 195 Korean-Chinese workers who have worked full-time for the past 6 months. A structured questionnaire, including measures for musculoskeletal symptoms, physical demand, work-related psychosocial(job demand, job control, interpersonal conflict), acculturative (acculturation strategy and acculturative stress), and personal factors, was used. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were conducted using the SPSS WIN 17.0. RESULTS: The prevalence of WMSDs was 64.1%. In comparison to Korean workers, job demand of this group was lower while both interpersonal conflict and lack of job control were higher among them. Integration was the most commonly used acculturation strategy and mean scores of acculturative stress were below the median. Acculturative stress was positively correlated with integration and assimilation while negatively correlated with separation and marginalization. Interpersonal conflict and integration appeared to be related to WMSDs among male and female Korean-Chinese workers, respectively. CONCLUSION: The WMSD interventions need to be planned in consideration of different influences of work-related psychosocial and acculturative factors on WMSDs by gender.

A Study on Mental Health and Quality of Life of Illegal Status Korean-Chinese in Korea / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the mental health status and quality of life of Korean-Chinese workers, who are residing illegally in Korea. METHODS: Total 147 illegal status Korean-Chinese workers completed to the questionnaire for demographic data, Korean version of Symptom Check List-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) and Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: The results of this study showed that general mental health was relatively poor and the quality of life was relatively poorer among Korean-Chinese. Mental health and quality of life were worse among those who accompanied spouses, had no religion, had less income, and those who experienced unjust treatments such as delayed payment, violence and industrial accidents. There were significant correlations between scores of all categories of SCL-90-R and scores of domains of physical health, social relationship and environment in WHOQOL-BREF. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Korean-Chinese laborers in illegal status in Korea need improved treatment neleved from delayed payment, social violence and industrial accidents and with extended medical service and better residential environment.

Cross-Cultural Study on the Development of Self-Image in Korean, Korean-Chinese and Chinese Adolescents / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: In order to investigate the effect of cultural and ethnic differences on the development of self-image, we conducted a cross-cultural study on Korean, Korean-Chinese and Chinese adolescents. METHODS: A total of 1576 Korean middle and high school students in Seoul/Choongju, 665 Korean-Chinese students and 634 Chinese students living in Yunbyun, China participated in this study. The Korean version of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire was administered to Korean students, and the Chinese version of the questionnaire was administered to Korean-Chinese and Chinese students. The data obtained from all subjects were analyzed according to ethnicity and age variable through ANOVA. RESULTS: A significant difference across ethnicity was found in the 12 subscales and the total self-image score of OSIQ-R. Korean adolescents obtained significantly higher scores in all of the 11 subscales except the sexuality subscale than Korean-Chinese and Chinese adolescents. Korean-Chinese adolescents obtained significantly higher scores on the ethical value, idealism, family functioning, social functioning, impulse control, self-confidence and total self-image scores than Chinese adolescents, whereas Chinese adolescents obtained significantly higher scores in the subscales of emotional tone, sexuality, vocational attitudes, and self-reliance than Korean-Chinese adolescents. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the possibility that the difference in ethnicity(Korean versus Chinese), the tradition associated with each ethnic group, and the cultural-political factor(democracy versus socialism) significantly affects the development of self-image in adolescents. Although Korean-Chinese adolescents seemed to show cultural pluralism between Korean and Chinese cultures, they were similar to Korean adolescents in their tendency to respond in socially desirable ways, which suggests that although raised under the different cultural systems, traditional Korean ethical values were learned and internalized within the family.