Earticle

Purpose : While there have been growing concerns about the effects of Asian dusts on health, there are few studies for relationship between Asian dusts and health outcome. This study was designed to examine the perceived symptoms and behavior change of children during the Asian Dust events. Methods : We surveyed 459 students at an elementary school in Seoul, Korea from November 20th to 27th 2002. Children with parents were asked to return the completed questionnaires within a week. The questionnaires included the sociodemographic factor, previous respiratory disease, and perceived symptom, hospital visits and behavior change during the Asian dusts. Results : The majority of children reported that they restrained going out and outdoor recreational activity during the Asian dusts. The rate of children who worn the mask was 49% and 47% in second grade and fifth grade, respectively. Regarding the perceived symptom during the Asian dusts, the children in 2nd were more likely to have symptom than 5th and there were significant difference between two groups in cough, asthma symptom, dry cough, phlegm and medication for allergy or asthma symptom. In addition, children who had previous disease were more likely to change behavior in order to prevent the effects of Asian dusts. Conclusions : This study suggested that the younger children and children who had past respiratory disease were susceptible to the effect of Asian dusts. There is a need for providing public information and health education to prevent the impact of Asian dusts on health.

The present study was designed to evaluate the factors influential on stress and subjective fatigue symptoms based on school life environments and daily life styles among high school students. The self-administered questionnaires were delivered to 2,381 high school students of both sexes in Taejon Metropolitan city during the period from Mar. 1st to Jun. 30th, 2000. The analysis of study results revealed the following findings: 1. According to the magnitude of stress, the normal subjects were 3.1%, the groups with potential stress were 64.7%, and the groups at high risk for stress were 32.2%. Higher level of stress existed in the female than the male students, and in the third grader than the 1st and 2nd graders. According to the classification of typical constitutional symptoms of fatigue, category III (group with bodily projection of fatigue) was the most frequent and it was followed by category II (group with difficulty in concentration) and category I (group with dullness and sleepiness) in a decreasing order of frequency, which showed that the predominant pattern of fatigue arose from the body parts. 2. With regard to the school life characteristics and stress scores, the higher scores of stress were shown in the groups with the lower grades, with worse friend's relation and with the lower satisfaction with the school life. The scores for the subjective fatigue symptoms were higher in the male, in the low graders, in the better friend's relation, and in the satisfactory group than the respective counterparts. 3. Concerning home life characteristics, the higher scores of stress were associated with the students characterized by the recognized poor economic conditions, lower interests of parents, lack of satisfaction with the home life, the poor subjective health status. On the other hand, the scores for the subjective fatigue symptoms were higher in the student groups with good economic conditions, higher interests of parents, presence of satisfaction with the home life, and good subjective health status. 4. Concerning daily life styles, the higher scores of stress were in the students who had inappropriate sleep hours, skipped breakfasts, daily consumption of intermeal snacks, lack of exercise, daily smoking, normal indices of obesity, and lower indices of health habit. Conversely, the scores of subjective fatigue symptoms were higher in the groups who had daily breakfasts, no intermeal snacks, daily exercise, no smoking than their counterparts. 5. The factors exerting influence upon the stress included the satisfaction with school life, friend's relation, satisfaction with the home life, exercise, school grades, interests of parents, school year, sex, scores of health habit, degree of obesity, economic conditions of home. Those influencing on the degree os stress included stress, intermeal snacks, smoking, friend's relation and satisfaction with the home life.

This study is to provide basic data regarding prevention of VDT syndrome by surveying the computer usage and understanding the VDT subjective symptoms. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire among 617 students in middle and high schools in J city, Chonbuk province from 1 April 2002 to 20 April 2002. Modified and adjusted study tools were used which were based on previous studies on the actual computer usage and the VDT subjective symptoms, and the self-assessment tool for VDT syndrome by Moon et al(1991). Collected data were analyzed by SPSS program. The results were as follows: It showed 97.2% of students in middle schools and 97.6% in high schools to hold personal computer, 92.2% of middle school students and 84.7% of high school students commonly used computer at home. Communication was the obvious reason to use computer in 55.8% of middle school students and 71.6% of high school students. The mean of the VDT subjective symptoms among students in high schools showed which higher than that of among students in middle schools (t=5.666, p=.000). Musculoskeletal symptom was marked the highest in the scoring of VDT subjective symptoms among students in middle and high schools. The higher grade, The more pocket money, The less breaks or exercise taken during computer use, The more they feel harmful about using computer, The actual time of computer longer than 3 hours per use were contributed to the higher score of the VDT subjective symptoms among students. There are suggestions following this study: To establish a systematic preventative program and management regarding the current computer use among students especially in relation to the VDT subjective symptoms. To develop better educational programs for parents regarding time-limit and to create appropriate environment in computer use.

Recent domestic findings indicate steep increase of geriatric diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure among children and adolescents. It is, therefore, necessary to establish a new system for constitution inspection that reflects domestic adolescents' health conditions by the introduction of feasible items and systematic methods in the inspect ion. The objective of this study is to grasp the problems and to present proper ways of improving the system. As the method of the research during the period from September 2001 to March 2002 we refer to the domestic and foreign literature, and ask the advice of the specialists in pediatrics, family medicine, endocrine, cardiology. As on-site research we us e survey of nationwide elementary, middle, and high schools, visit representative local schools and have an interview with school nurses. Through the interview we try to find practical problems of school heath care and find proper method of students physic al examination. The abstract of the problems of student examination system is as following. To the question about the extent of the result of physical examination 46. 46.4%(school doctor) and 42.6%(parents and students) of the respondents answered "don't know". It means neglectfulness about examination itself. 62% of the school nurses responded "unsatisfactory" people who take charge of practical affairs have complaint about pre sent examination method. Because of the short time of the examination, and numerous students, the examination was incomplete. Several questions, method of physical examination, content of physical examination and list of physical examination, were raised. Reform measures for physical examination system of students were presented by physician, school nurses, students and parents of student.

This study was conducted to evaluate the differences of perceived stress level and stress coping behavior for 360 elementary school children in rural area and 360 in urban area. The questionnaire survey was done from December 10 to December 20, 2001. The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference of perceived stress level between rural and urban areas, but there were significant difference of stress coping behavior between them. 2. Significant difference of perceived stress level and stress coping behavior among groups of grade was found. 3. There was significant difference of perceived stress level and stress coping behavior between male and female. 4. There was significant difference of stress coping behavior according to perceived stress levels In conclusion, perceived stress level and stress coping behavior in elementary school children were different according to their grade and sex. It is important to teach them proper stress coping method, depending on their grade and sex. But, we have to focus on the development and application of stress self-control program, which enables children to cope with stress for themselves. Based on: 1. Before starting the study, the subjects should be examined about whether they have ever been on stress education program before or not. 2. The educational environments and the development and implementation of teaching program for the proper stress coping method are needed. 3. This study was performed through the questionnaire for perceived stress level and stress coping behavior, but various methods like observation, person-to-person interview should be used for the further in-depth study.

The purpose of this study was to find out differences between nursing teachers and non-nursing teachers in sex education, to offer the degree of conducting sex education and teachers' perceptions of teaching ability The subjects were 291 middle and high school teachers in Busan from June 25 to July 22, 2002. The results of this study are as follows. 1. According to the survey of 22 items relating to the degree of conducting sex education, the average of nursing teachers(2.87) was higher than that of non-nursing teachers(2.69). This finding showed that there was a significant difference between both groups(p<.05). 2. According to the survey of 22 items relating to teaching abilities, the average of nursing teachers(2.88) was higher than that of non-nursing teachers(2.63). There was also a significant difference between both groups(p<.01). According to the results of the study, I make the following suggestions. 1. Sex education should be adopted as a regular course and conducted as a school health program in regular curriculum. 2. Compared with non-nursing teachers, nursing teachers conducted sex education frequently and efficiently and their perception of sex education was higher. Therefore, the school policy which requires that sex education should be conducted by nursing teachers only is to be established.

This study was conducted to contribute to the basic data for decisions on environment policy improvement in health promotion for students in elementary, middle and high schools. This study was carried out to investigate the extent of indoor air pollution in elementary, middle and high schools in residential, traffic congestional and industrial areas. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, respiratory particulate, radon) and thermocircumstance (temperature, relative humidity, intensity of illumination) indices were observed from June to August 2000. As results of the survey, the mean values of thermocircumstance in school were 26.94±1.15℃ of temperature, 68.88±5.31% of humidity and 268.26±164.60 Lux of intensity of illumination. The mean concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, respiratory particulate were 8.36±0.29ppm, 547.66±175.58 ppm, 36.23±48.39 ㎍/㎥, respectively. These values were lower than those of the indoor environmental standard on the first clause of Article 45 of public utilization service notified public hygiene of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The mean concentration of radon was 20.07±17.95 Bg/㎥. Which was below the U.S. EPA radon action level.

The purpose of this study is primarily intended to examine the stress and physical, emotional and behavioral stress symptoms of elementary school students supply the basic data of intervention for children's health promotion. The subjects of this study were 616 students who were currently enrolled in 5th and 6th grade elementary school in Jeollabukdo ; 3 schools in J city and other 6 in 3 rural area. The data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from 3rd to 13th April 2002 and collected data were analyzed by SPSS WIN 8.0. The results of this study were as followings. 1. The mean score of stress that children experience was 2.73 and the most stressful factor was a friendship stress. The most frequently experienced stress were feel that a friends would leave them alone. 2. The mean score of stress symptom that children experience was 1.92 and the most stressful symptom was the emotion symptom. The most frequently experienced stressful symptom were feel fatigue of everyday. 3. General characteristics related to stress were showed significantly different according to sex(t=-3.243, p=.001) 4. General characteristics related to stress symptoms were showed significantly different according to sex(t=-2.268, p=.024), family circumstances(F=8.697, p=.000), academic scores(F=11.216, p=.000) and parental concerns on a child(t=-2.561, p=.011). 5. The relation between stress and stress symptoms showed a positive correlation, which was significant statistically(r=.453, p=.000). In conclusion, elementary school students experience various stresses and the stress symptoms have positive close connection with health problems. Therefore, to study the students stress and consequent symptoms further, it is recommended that we should subdivide and analyze the stressor and stress symptoms by proper areas. In the meantime, in order to promote children's health using the data in this study, we should develop the correlated program among individual, family, school and community while we are deeply concerned about and support children continuously.

The purpose of this study was to surveyed the smoking status and pattern, nicotine dependence and factors associated with smoking and nicotine dependence for high school students in Daegu. In March. 2000, 1,593 students from 7 male and 6 female high schools located in Taegu were assessed with self-completing questionnaire. The major findings were as follows; Percentage of male smokers was 15.0% in general high school, 30.9% in business high school and that of female smokers was 5.0% in whole woman's high school. The median score of FTQ was 4.0 among male smokers and female smokers. the mean of FTQ score was 4.07±1.96 in male and 3.94±1.63 in female. Percentage of students with high FTQ score(FTQ≥7) was 13.3% in male and 5.9% in female. In multiple logistic regression analysis, smoking had significant association with general characteristics such as personal-specifics factors, family environment factors and school environment factors. In multiple logistic regression analysis, nicotine dependence had significant association with school-age and duration of smoking On consideration of above findings, to prevent students from smoking and to reduce the smoking rate, we have to try together in house, school and society.

The purpose of this study was to find out the status of and attitudes on drug abuse in primary school students, to provide basic data for preventing the youth from their drug abuse and contributing to improve their health. 36.0% of the students had an experience of the education to prevent from drug abuse, the students wanted to have an education on drug abuse in primary school, 71% of the subjects preferred to school nurses as the education about drug abuse, and 2.9% of the students show their intention to use drug when their friends recommend to take drug. For the experience of drinking, there was a significant difference to the degree of satisfaction at their school(x2=23.29, p=.001), their association with father's smoking (x2=13.16, p=.001), and mother's (x2=5.60, p=.018) smoking. The experience of drinking showed no significant differences according to the grade and the experience of prevention education on drug abuse. Attitudes on drug abuse according to the general characteristics showed significant differences according to the grade (t=4.10, p=.007), the degree of satisfaction at the school(t=8.86, p=.000), their association with any father's drinking(t=3.18, p=.002) and mother's(t=5.23, p=.000), father's smoking(t=3.21, p=.001) and mother's(t=31.87, p=.000), the state of drug use during the pain(t=7.18, p=.000).

The purpose of this study was to find out the degree of satisfaction of body image and sex-role identity of primary school boys and girls and to examine their relevance between two sex groups. The data from study would be useful for mapping out some measures for school health education. Two hundred and forty five(245) students of 6th grade from 5 different primary schools in Seoul city and Gyonggi Province were selected for the study. The meaningful difference among demographic sociological characteristics between boys and girls has been shown to be in religion(x2=6.705, p=.044), the order of siblings(x2=7.455, p=.024), mother's academic career (x2=6.705, p=.035) and the levels of living (=4.108, p=.043). In the frequency distribution of sex-role identity, boys and girls were revealed as : undifferentiated 41.0%, 36.4%; as androgynous 24.8%, 25.8% respectively. Boys have masculinity (23.1%), on the other hand girls more feminity (22.7%). The meaningful difference of the degree of satisfaction of body image depends on father's ag(t=3.029, p=.050), mother's occupation(t=2.878, p=.023), home atmosphere(t=9.056, p=.000), level of livin(t=2.216, p=.028), academic achievements(t=4.580, p=.011). Masculine sex-role identity has shown its meaningful difference in mother's academic background(t=7.042, p=.001), academic achievements(t=14.963, p=.000). Feminine sex-role identity according to general characteristics shows meaningful difference in gender(t=2.683, p=.008), the order of siblings(t=3.019, p=0.51), father's academic career(t=5.558, p=.004) mother's academic background(t=7.676, p=.001), mother's occupation (t=3.405, p=.010), home atmosphere(t=4.492, p=.012), school performance(t=16.774, p=.000). Sex-role identity influences on the degree of satisfaction of body image as the relation bet ween the degree of satisfaction of body image and sex-role identity is pro correlative.