Background
: A rapid growth of socioeconomic status in Korea has triggered health information resolution of unprecedented magnitude among the general population. Despite its obvious benefits, the increase in the amount of information could also result in many potentially harmful effects on both consumers and professionals who do not use it appropriately.

Methods : This study was performed to evaluate health information in the television news from June 2003 through January 2004. We evaluated the quality and the accuracy of health information provided in the night news. We reviewed the health information for quality using the evidence-based medicine tools which evaluate the accuracy required to understand the text.

Results : A total of 85 types of information were identified. Among them, 34 (40.0%) contained inaccurate or misleading statement based on evidence-based medicine. These included confusing surrogate outcome with an end outcome (15.3%), extrapolating nonhuman results to human (8.2%), exaggerating results in conclusion (12.9%), incorrect words (7.1%), indefinite study methods (2.4%) In broadcasting stations A, B and C, the rate of error were 55.6%, 38.2% and 42.4%, respectively. The rate of error were higher in information of Korean source compared to those of international sources (65.8% and 27.3%).

Conclusion : Many inaccurate medical information exist in the television news.

Background
: The causes of eosinophilia are allergies, parasite infections, medications, skin diseases, and others. But, the etiologies of eosinophilia and variables associated with eosinophilia are not well known in Korea.

Methods : This study included patients in a health check up at a general hospital from May 21, 1995 until February 14, 2004. Through self-report, serology, and stool exam, variables associated with eosinophilia were tested.

Results : In the eosinophilic group, 5% were helminth infected, and more of C. sinensis infection were found the eosinophilic group with 3.9% compared to the non- eosinophilic group with 1.2% (P＜0.05) Associated variables with eosinophilia were old age, high BMI, drinking, smoking, the season of testing helminth infections, and Clonorchiasis infection. But allergy was not associated with eosinophilia. The odds ratios for eosinophilia after adjustment were 2.280 (1.694∼3.068) in helminth infections and 2.391 (1.716∼3.331) in Clonorchiasis infection.

Conclusion : In the eosinophilic group, 5% were helminth infected, and more C. sinensis infection was found. Associated variables with eosinophilia were old age, high BMI, drinking, smoking, the season of testing, helminth infections, and Clonorchiasis infection. But allergy was not associated with eosinophilia.

Background
: Recently, several health risk appraisal programs have been developed to suit Korean character which is currently implemented. This study was conducted to find out the correlation with health age and health- related quality of life through health risk appraisal.

Methods : From March 1, 2004 to July 30, 2004, 107 male patients aged 30 to 59 who visited the family medicine clinic in a university hospital and had agreed to participate in the study have been assessed to determine the correlation between health age and health-related quality of life by measuring tools of health risk appraisal, CMCHS V1.0 questionnaire and Yangseng measurement questionnaire.

Results : Among the total 107 subjects, 3 were excluded because of incomplete questionnaire. There were 28 people aged in their thirties, 36 in forties, and 40 in fifties. The health age and health-related quality of life showed a negative correlation. The correlation in men in their life showed the strongest. Indexes between the health age and health perception, changes in health, vitality, morality Yangseng, diet Yangseng, sleep Yangseng and active and rest Yangseng have shown a strong negative correlation (P＜0.05).

Conclusion : The lower the health age is, the better health- related quality of life in several domains of CMCHS V1.0 and Yangseng in middle aged Korean men.

Background
: The primary physician may be the first or the only professional who may come in contact with victims of spouse abuse. But little is known about family physician's knowledge of and attitude towards spouse abuse in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted.

Methods : We selected 191 doctors from the participants of the 2003 annual meeting of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine (KAFM). We distributed a 5 paged questionnaire them to fill out and analyzed 125 cases among them. The questionnaire included social demographic characteristics, individual knowledge of and attitudes toward spouse abuse, individual practice experience, education and training experience, and others.

Results : We found a significant relationship between doctor's knowledge of spouse abuse and intervention after coming in contact with the victim. Also, this study showed that 31.8% of doctors intervened and traced the spouse abuse cases actively after physical treatment of victims, but none of the cases were reported to the police. Among the total 64.7% of the doctors explained that they did not want to intervene because they were afraid of getting involved in a legal situation. Some of the doctors who had prior educational experience concerning spouse abuse showed very significant high rate of actual intervention (P=0.0112).

Conclusion : The more educational experience on spouse violence the doctors had, the more active intervention they showed. Therefore, we need to intensify the practical educational program along with the training medical program targeting medical practitioners. Of course we need to request sacrifice from doctors based on moral principles, but we also need systemic aid and reform to legal system to minimize burden to doctors.

Background
: According to previous epidemiologic studies, dietary and life style factors were associated with colon polyps. Despite the high prevalence of colon polyps, little is known about its risk factors in Korean adults. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, physical activity and the presence of colorectal polyps.

Methods : Sigmoidoscopic examinations for colon cancer screening were performed from January 2002 to December 2003 at the Health Promotion Center of Ulsan University Hospital. Alcohol consumption, smoking and other confounding factors were assessed by self-administered questionnaire.

Results : After adjusting for age, physical activity, obesity, total fat and total energy intake, current smokers who had smoked more than 21 pack-years were at significantly higher risk of adenomatous polyps compared to non-smokers (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.30∼5.01). Alcohol consumption was positively associated with risk of adenomatous polyps compared to non-drinkers (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.03∼2.13). Physical activity was negatively associated with risk of distal colon polyps.

Conclusion : These results suggest that alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and obesity were positively associated with risk of colorectal polyps and physical activity was negatively associated in Korean adult males.

Background
: The harmfulness of smoking is well known, but the smoking rate of adult males in Korea is still high. Therefore, we wanted to find out the factors related to smoking cessation among patients who had been admitted to hospital and to make an effective smoking cessation program.

Methods : We reviewed the medical records of patients who had been admitted to the department of internal medicine or orthopedic surgery of an hospital from January 25, 2005 to June 15, 2005. We enrolled 104 male patients who were smokers and gave them telephone interviews. Among them, 74 patients answered (71.2%).

Results : Among the subjects, 10 patients quit smoking and 64 smoked continuously. Age, duration and amount of smoking, past experiences of smoking cessation were not significantly different between the two groups. The patients who were admitted to the department of internal medicine (P=0.047) and advised from doctors to quit smoking (P=0.010) showed a high smoking cessation rate. The patients who were advised by doctors showed a higher rate of planning for smoking cessation, even though they were still smoking (P=0.001).

Conclusion : For smoking cessation in admission patient's, doctor's advice to quit smoking was important.

Background
: Smoking prevention and anti-smoking education in schools must be designed and planned according to age and sex as well as the type of schools and their smoking status. But the current education programs do not consider these factors. This study, therefore, aims to evaluate the actual status of the smoking prevention and anti-smoking education in Korea and to find present recommendations for an effective and, systematic education.

Methods : We surveyed 15,310 teen-age students attending middle schools and high schools in such cities as Seoul, Incheon, Bucheon, Mokpo, and Pohang and smaller areas in the vicinity of these cities from June 1 to 15, 2005. Self- survey was done by the health education teacher of each school. It contained questions about the general disposition of respondents, their smoking habits, and awareness programs on prevention and cessation of smoking. We used SPSS 12.0 for χ²-test to analyze the collected data.

Results : The most prevailing form of anti-smoking education was video;. Most of the students surveyed said that the fourth or fifth grade of elementary school will be a good starting point for anti-smoking education. Only 39.6% of students who were educated by the current smoking prevention and anti-smoking program answered that it was helpful; and 29.6% was satisfied. Higher percentage of middle school students said that they either tried to quit smoking ('pre-contemplation') or had no intention of doing it ('termination-fail') after having been involved in the anti-smoking education program, while high school students turned out to be more oriented towards 'contemplation' and 'termination-success'.

Conclusion : Some students were found to begin smoking even at an early grade in elementary school. Most adolescents knew about the danger of smoking, but current smokers had a low educational satisfaction. The real target of such education programs, however, should be focused on higher grade students in elementary schools and middle school students, because data show that smoking rate increases explosively among these students.