Background
This study compared the impact of Short Message Service (SMS)-based education with traditional group-based education and the control group on body mass index, weight, and lifestyle in obese and overweight patients in a limited-resource country. It also compared the direct financial costs between the two intervention groups.
Methods
In this controlled randomized educational study, 90 overweight or obese adults from four family physician clinics in Shiraz, Iran were randomly allocated to three training groups: SMS-based education, group-based education, and a control group. The participants’ weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were measured at baseline, and the Physical Activity Scale questionnaire was completed. Group-based training was conducted in 1-hour weekly sessions. The SMS group received a text message each morning. The control group received routine care from a family physician. The intervention lasted 12 weeks. All participants were re-examined for the studied variables. Additionally, the direct costs were estimated, calculated, and compared.
Results
The mean weight, BMI, and waist circumference changed significantly after 3 months compared to baseline in each group. The mean weight change differed significantly among the three groups (P-value=0.04), and the mean BMI changes were near significant (P-value=0.06). A post hoc comparison of changes in weight and BMI showed a significant difference between the control and SMS groups. SMS education incurred much lower costs for patients and healthcare services than group-based education.
Conclusion
The study showed that SMS is an effective and cost-saving educational method for weight loss compared to group-based education, especially in developing countries.

Background
The prognosis of end-of-life patients is challenging, and clinicians have attempted to predict survival more accurately. High serum creatinine (sCr) levels are associated with lower survival rates in patients with various cancers; however, low sCr levels are commonly expected in patients with terminal cancer because of muscle wasting and malnutrition. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of low and high sCr levels and their association with survival duration in patients with terminal cancer in a palliative care unit.
Methods
We analyzed the medical records of 280 patients admitted to a palliative care unit. Patients were divided into low (<0.5 mg/dL), normal (0.5–1.2 mg/dL), and high (>1.2 mg/dL) sCr groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves using sCr levels were plotted and compared using the log-rank test. Using stepwise selection, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the significant prognostic factors.
Results
The median survival durations in the high-, low-, and normal-sCr groups were 9.57 days, 22.26 days, and 27.51 days, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard model identified that males (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–2.85), poor performance status (HR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.12–10.54), total parenteral nutrition use (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.09–3.1), high sCr (HR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.52–4.94), and low sCr (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.07–1.43) were significantly associated with a shorter survival time.
Conclusion
Low and high serum creatinine levels were significantly associated with poor survival in patients with cancer at the end-of-life stage. Therefore, readily available and simple biomarkers may help plan advanced care in palliative care settings.

Background
Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker.
Methods
A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests.
Results
Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036).
Conclusion
Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Citations

• Cumulative circadian disruption factors and metabolic syndrome
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(3): 125.     CrossRef

Background
Sleep disorders and insomnia are prevalent worldwide, with negative health outcomes. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used self-report assessment tool for evaluating sleep quality, comprising seven subdomains. The Korean version of the PSQI (PSQI-K) has been tested for reliability and validity in small sample sizes but lacks large-scale validation using objective measures.
Methods
This study was conducted with 268 Korean adults attending health check programs. Participants completed the PSQI-K questionnaire and wore Fitbit devices (Fitbit Inc., USA) to ascertain sleep parameters. Reliability was analyzed using the Cronbach’s α coefficient, and construct validity was determined through factor analysis. Criteria validity was assessed by correlating their index scores with Fitbit sleep parameters. We identified the optimal cutoff for detecting sleep disorders.
Results
The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.61, indicating adequate internal consistency. Factor analysis revealed three factors, explaining 48.2% of sleep quality variance. The index scores were negatively correlated with Fitbit sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and number of awakenings (P<0.05). The optimal cutoff point for identifying sleep disorder groups was ≥6.
Conclusion
The PSQI-K demonstrated good reliability and validity when correlated with Fitbit sleep parameters, offering a practical screening tool for identifying sleep disorders among Korean adults. Cutoff scores can help identify patients for sleep interventions. However, further large-scale studies are required to validate these findings.

Citations

• Association of work ability with job burnout and sleep quality among biosafety laboratory personnel in Xinjiang, China: a cross-sectional study
  Keke Ju, Ruikai Wu, Jing Yu, Lei Ding, Mengjie Xia, Jiwen Liu, Yaoqin Lu
  Frontiers in Public Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Validation of the Korean version of the Sleep Hygiene Practice Scale in a Non-Clinical Population
  Dongyeop Kim, Ji Young Yun, Hye Ah Lee, Pamela Song, Heeyoung Ahn, Chien-Ming Yang, Jee Hyun Kim
  Behavioral Sleep Medicine.2024; 22(6): 791.     CrossRef
• The relationship between sleep quality and happiness among preclinical students in a medical school
  Rusdiah Ruzanna Jusoh, Kavimitha G Krishnasamy, Saila Dharishinee Alagu, Pretha Mohan, Jeslyn Tan Guan Qian, Elayevenee Elanthevan, Muhammad Zulfiqah Sadikan, Haryati Ahmad Hairi
  Journal of Education Technology in Health Sciences.2024; 11(3): 92.     CrossRef

Background
Tobacco use has been the leading cause of disease and death in South Korea. Early detection of tobacco use and evidence-based interventions play pivotal roles in facilitating tobacco cessation.
Methods
In accordance with the earlier iterations of the Lifetime Health Maintenance Program (2009) and recent recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF; 2021), two themes were chosen for investigation: the identification of and intervention for tobacco use. The USPSTF recommendations were formulated by conducting an overview of reviews. In this study, literature searches and quality assessments of reviews were conducted.
Results
The findings highlighted the efficacy of physician-led identification and advising in promoting tobacco cessation, with robust evidence supporting the implementation of behavioral and pharmacological interventions. These interventions significantly increased the likelihood of successful cessation compared with usual care. Digital interventions, such as internet- or mobile-based interventions, showed additive effects for quitting.
Conclusion
Identification and targeted interventions are essential for tobacco cessation. By leveraging evidencebased strategies and enhancing access to resources, healthcare providers can empower individuals to achieve successful tobacco cessation and improve overall health outcomes.

Background
Despite the increase in daily alcohol intake in recent decades and the implementation of national health screenings, effective management strategies for alcohol consumption remain outdated. This review evaluates intervention studies on screening and behavioral counseling for unhealthy alcohol use, with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of interventions and improving health outcomes.
Methods
On the basis of the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation)- ADOLOPMENT framework, systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials were examined to investigate the effectiveness of screening and counseling interventions in reducing unhealthy alcohol use. Five key questions were generated, and an evaluation and quality assessment of existing systematic reviews and new evidence related to each key question were conducted.
Results
Updating the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Cochrane 2018 reviews, we identified five new randomized trials that evaluated screening and counseling interventions for unhealthy alcohol use. For Key Question 2, the sensitivity and specificity of the new screening studies were consistent with those of prior research. Brief interventions were confirmed to reduce alcohol use (Key Question 4a), although additional research is required for a wider array of health outcomes. One study highlighted the benefits of counseling interventions for newborn health indicators in pregnant women (Key Question 4b). No new evidence was found regarding the harms of screening (Key Question 3) or alcohol use reduction interventions (Key Question 5).
Conclusion
This review supports the continued use of brief interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in highrisk groups and highlights the need for culturally tailored research in Korea.

Background
Studies have shown that incident albuminuria is associated with insulin resistance (IR); however, an IR marker that best predicts the prevalence of albuminuria has not yet been established. This study explored the association between IR and incident albuminuria using various IR indices, including the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), metabolic score for IR (METS-IR), and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, and compared their predictive abilities for the prevalence of albuminuria.
Methods
A total of 4,982 Korean adults from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey were analyzed. The odds of albuminuria were determined using the quartiles of the IR indices. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calculate the area under the ROC curve and predictability. The cutoff values for albuminuria detection were also computed.
Results
An increase in the quartiles of all three IR indices was associated with incident albuminuria, even after full adjustment for covariates (HOMA-IR: odds ratio [OR], 1.906; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.311–2.772; P=0.006; METS-IR: OR, 2.236; 95% CI, 1.353–3.694; P=0.002; TyG index: OR, 1.757; 95% CI, 1.213–2.544; P=0.003). The area under the ROC curve for incident albuminuria based on the HOMA-IR, METS-IR, and TyG indices was 0.594 (95% CI, 0.568–0.619), 0.633 (95% CI, 0.607–0.659), and 0.631 (95% CI, 0.606–0.656), respectively. The optimal cutoff values for predicting albuminuria were 2.38, 35.38, and 8.72 for the HOMA-IR, METS-IR, and TyG indices, respectively.
Conclusion
The METS-IR and TyG indices outperformed HOMA-IR in predicting incident albuminuria.

Citations

• The U-shape relationship between insulin resistance-related indexes and chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2016
  Ruihua Shen, Ling Lin, Zexuan Bin, Xi Qiao
  Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Chronic stress is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. This study aimed to assess whether better coping with stress, as assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), is associated with slower cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults.
Methods
This study used 2018/2019 data and 2-year follow-up data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. Of the 3,014 total participants, we included 1,826 participants (mean age, 77.6±3.7 years, 51.9% female) who completed BRS and Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Battery and the Korean version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB).
Results
Higher BRS score at baseline was associated with a lesser decline in the Mini-Mental State Examination score over 2 years after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, and depression (B, 0.175; 95% confidence interval, 0.025–0.325) for 2 years, which represents global cognitive function. Other cognitive function measurements (Word List Memory, Word List Recall, Word List Recognition, Digit Span, Trail Making Test-A, and FAB) did not change significantly with the BRS score at baseline.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that better stress-coping ability, meaning faster termination of the stress response, may limit the decline in cognitive function.

Citations

• The association between stereoscopic vision and cognitive function on community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study
  Yeon Jung Park, Hyun Jin Cho, Kiyoung Kim, Chang Won Won, Miji Kim
  BMC Geriatrics.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Association between Frailty, Quality of Life and Resilience in Community-dwelling Retirement Village Residents
  Katherine Bloomfield, Zhenqiang Wu, Annie Tatton, Cheryl Calvert, Joanna Hikaka, Michal Boyd, Dale Bramley, Martin J. Connolly
  Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.2024; 25(11): 105256.     CrossRef
• Comprehensive Health Strategies for the Post-pandemic Era: Integrating Physical Health, Psychological Resilience, Lifestyle Choices, and Occupational Well-being
  Su Hwan Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 303.     CrossRef

Background
Despite the increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders in Korea, there have been no nationwide studies on the association between tobacco status and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Furthermore, despite the increasing number of people using noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products (NNTPs), the association between NNTP use and GAD remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the association between tobacco use and GAD.
Methods
This nationwide study used data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2021) and included 5,454 adults aged ≥19 years who self-reported on the tobacco use and mental health sections. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the odds ratios (ORs) of GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score ≥10) according to tobacco status among Korean adults. The severity of anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale.
Results
Compared to never tobacco users, the ORs of GAD for combustible cigarette smokers and NNTP users were 2.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66–4.50) and 2.11 (95% CI, 1.16–3.83), respectively. The OR of GAD for former tobacco users was 1.63 (95% CI, 0.98–2.72).
Conclusion
Tobacco use (combustible cigarettes and NNTP) was positively associated with GAD. However, in former tobacco users, there was no significant association with GAD when compared with never tobacco users. Given the OR of GAD among tobacco users, it is crucial to pay attention to screening for GAD and implement appropriate early interventions.

Citations

• Comprehensive Health Strategies for the Post-pandemic Era: Integrating Physical Health, Psychological Resilience, Lifestyle Choices, and Occupational Well-being
  Su Hwan Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 303.     CrossRef

Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare services, including chronic disease management, for vulnerable groups, such as older individuals with hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate hypertension management in South Korea’s elderly population during the pandemic using treatment consistency indices such as the continuity of care (COC), modified, modified continuity index (MMCI), and most frequent provider continuity (MFPC).
Methods
This study used the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID-19-National Health Insurance Service cohort (K-COV-N cohort) from the National Health Insurance Service between 2017 and 2021. The research included a total of 4,097,299 hypertensive patients aged 65 years or older. We defined 2018 and 2019 as the baseline period before the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 and 2021 as the COVID-19 period and calculated the indices of medical continuity (number of visits, COC, MMCI, and MFPC) on a yearly basis.
Results
The number of visits decreased during the COVID-19 period compared to the baseline period (59.64±52.75 vs. 50.49±50.33, P<0.001). However, COC, MMCI, and MFPC were not decreased in the baseline period compared to the COVID-19 period (0.71±0.21 vs. 0.71±0.22, P<0.001; 0.97±0.05 vs. 0.96±0.05, P<0.001; 0.8±0.17 vs. 0.8±0.17, P<0.001, respectively).
Conclusion
COVID-19 had no significant impact on the continuity of care but affected the frequency of outpatient visits for older patients with hypertension. However, this study highlights the importance of addressing healthcare inequalities, especially in older patients with hypertension, during pandemics and advocates for policy changes to ensure continued care for vulnerable populations.

Citations

• Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55.     CrossRef
• The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on hypertension phenotypes (ESH ABPM COVID-19 study)
  Aleksandra Ostrowska, Wiktoria Wojciechowska, Marek Rajzer, Thomas Weber, Michael Bursztyn, Alexandre Persu, George Stergiou, Grzegorz Kiełbasa, Marzena Chrostowska, Michaelis Doumas, Gianfranco Parati, Grzegorz Bilo, Guido Grassi, Giuseppe Mancia, Andrze
  European Journal of Internal Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
In patients with breast cancer, a healthy diet can help reduce breast cancer-specific recurrence, mortality, and comorbid chronic disease rates. There have been few studies on dietary habits immediately after breast cancer diagnosis, especially those involving the Asian population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the nutritional habits of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer and the general population without cancer in Korea using propensity score (PS) matching.
Methods
We conducted a case-controlled study of 157 patients with breast cancer and 2,363 cancer-free control participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The PS values for the predicted probability of patients with breast cancer and the general population were estimated using logistic regression analysis, including age and body mass index. The dietary patterns were assessed using a 24-hour recall of 1 day and the Food Frequency Questionnaire.
Results
PS matching showed that patients with breast cancer consumed fewer calories and carbohydrates; however, they consumed more protein and fat compared to the general population. Compared to the general population, patients with breast cancer consumed more healthy foods such as fish, seaweed, vegetables, fruit, mixed-grain rice, and nuts; however, they also consumed more soup, stew, and red meat.
Conclusion
Newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer have some healthy dietary habits compared to the general population. However, there is considerable room for improvement in their diet quality. Our results support the need to develop tailored dietary recommendations for patients with breast cancer during the diagnostic and posttreatment periods to improve their diet quality.

Background
Physical activity (PA) is associated with a favorable metabolic risk profile in adults. However, its role in adolescents remains unclear. In this study, using data (2019–2021) from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we investigated the optimal exercise type for preventing metabolic complications in adolescents.
Methods
A total of 1,222 eligible adolescent participants (12–18-year-old) were divided into four groups as follows: aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), combined aerobic and resistance exercise (CE), and no exercise (NE). Daily PA was assessed using the international PA questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to measure lipid, glucose, and insulin levels. Additionally, the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) indices were measured. Multivariate regression analysis was used to compare the metabolic risk factors across the PA groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM) adjustment for confounding variables.
Results
The CE group exhibited improved fasting glucose levels, lower TyG index, reduced white blood cell count, and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels than the NE group. The RE group exhibited lower mean blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TyG index and a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than the NE group. The AE group had higher total and HDL cholesterol levels. In detailed comparison of the AE and RE groups, the RE group consistently exhibited favorable metabolic parameters, including lower blood pressure and total and low-density cholesterol levels, which persisted after PSM.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the positive effects of PA on cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. Thus, RE may have a more favorable metabolic effect than AE. Further studies are needed to validate the benefits of exercise according to the exercise type.

Citations

• Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55.     CrossRef

Background
Evidence on the association between obesity parameters, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and osteoarthritis is limited. This study aimed to investigate these associations in Korean adults.
Methods
This nationwide cross-sectional study used data from 24,101 adults aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2020. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for osteoarthritis according to BMI and WC were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Results
The prevalence of osteoarthritis was higher in individuals with general (10.0%) and abdominal obesity (12.8%) compared with those without. Greater BMI and WC were associated with a higher prevalence (P<0.001) and risk of osteoarthritis (Model 3, P for trend <0.001). Individuals with general and abdominal obesity were associated with a 1.50-fold (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.35–1.67) and 1.64-fold (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.47–1.84) increased risk of osteoarthritis, compared with those without. Similar associations were observed in subgroups according to age, sex, smoking status, and presence of diabetes mellitus. The odds of osteoarthritis 1.73-fold increased (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.53–1.95) in individuals with both general and abdominal obesity compared with those without any of them.
Conclusion
Greater BMI, WC, and general and abdominal obesity were associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis in Korean adults. Appropriate management of abdominal and general obesity may be important to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.

Citations

• Association between waist circumference or weight change after smoking cessation and incidence of cardiovascular disease or all-cause death in Korean adults with type 2 diabetes
  Heajung Lee, Jaeyong Shin, Jae Woo Choi
  Frontiers in Endocrinology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Predicting the risk of osteoporotic fractures is vital for prevention. Traditional methods such as the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) model use clinical factors. This study examined the predictive power of the FRAX score and machine-learning algorithms trained on FRAX parameters.
Methods
We analyzed the data of 2,147 female participants from the Ansan cohort study. The FRAX parameters employed in this study included age, sex (female), height and weight, current smoking status, excessive alcohol consumption (>3 units/d of alcohol), and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoporotic fracture was defined as one or more fractures of the hip, spine, or wrist during a 10-year observation period. Machine-learning algorithms, such as gradient boosting, random forest, decision tree, and logistic regression, were employed to predict osteoporotic fractures with a 70:30 training-to-test set ratio. We evaluated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) scores to assess and compare the performance of these algorithms with the FRAX score.
Results
Of the 2,147 participants, 3.5% experienced osteoporotic fractures. Those with fractures were older, shorter in height, and had a higher prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as higher FRAX scores. The AUROC for the FRAX was 0.617. The machine-learning algorithms showed AUROC values of 0.662, 0.652, 0.648, and 0.637 for gradient boosting, logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest, respectively.
Conclusion
This study highlighted the immense potential of machine-learning algorithms to improve osteoporotic fracture risk prediction in women when complete FRAX parameter information is unavailable.

Citations

• Clinical Applicability of Machine Learning in Family Medicine
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(3): 123.     CrossRef
• Integrating Machine Learning for Personalized Fracture Risk Assessment: A Multimodal Approach
  Sheikh Mohd Saleem, Shah Sumaya Jan
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 356.     CrossRef

Although major countries, such as South Korea, have developed and disseminated national smoking cessation guidelines, these efforts have been limited to developing individual societies or specialized institution-based recommendations. Therefore, evidence-based clinical guidelines are essential for developing smoking cessation interventions and promoting effective smoking cessation treatments. This guideline targets frontline clinical practitioners involved in a smoking cessation treatment support program implemented in 2015 with the support of the National Health Insurance Service. The Guideline Development Group of 10 multidisciplinary smoking cessation experts employed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-ADOLOPMENT approach to review recent domestic and international research and guidelines and to determine evidence levels using the GRADE methodology. The guideline panel formulated six strong recommendations and one conditional recommendation regarding pharmacotherapy choices among general and special populations (mental disorders and chronic obstructive lung disease [COPD]). Strong recommendations favor varenicline rather than a nicotine patch or bupropion, using varenicline even if they are not ready to quit, using extended pharmacotherapy (>12 weeks) rather than standard treatment (8–12 weeks), or using pharmacotherapy for individuals with mental disorders or COPD. The conditional recommendation suggests combining varenicline with a nicotine patch instead of using varenicline alone. Aligned with the Korean Society of Medicine’s clinical guideline development process, this is South Korea’s first domestic smoking cessation treatment guideline that follows standardized guidelines. Primarily focusing on pharmacotherapy, it can serve as a foundation for comprehensive future smoking cessation clinical guidelines, encompassing broader treatment topics beyond medications.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an alarming increase in domestic violence against women owing to lockdown measures and limited access to support services. This article provides insights into the global prevalence of domestic violence, barriers to seeking help, its impact on women and children, and the best practices implemented worldwide. Domestic violence encompasses various forms of abuse; many young women experience partner violence. Barriers to seeking help include fear, financial constraints, lack of awareness of available services, and distrust among stakeholders. The consequences of domestic violence affect the mental health of both mothers and children. Countries have increased shelter funding and developed innovative protocols to reach survivors and address this issue. However, the healthcare sector’s involvement in addressing domestic violence has been limited. This review advocates collaboration among healthcare institutions and government bodies. Key recommendations include utilizing telehealth services, implementing comprehensive training programs, establishing effective referral systems, enhancing health education, developing a domestic violence registry, improving the responses of law enforcement and justice systems through healthcare integration, promoting data sharing, and conducting further research. Healthcare systems should recognize domestic violence as a public health concern and detect, prevent, and intervene in cases to support survivors.

Citations

• Implementing an Educational Intervention on Formal Training of MBBS Interns Regarding Response to Violence Against Women
  Madhva Prasad, Amruta Pentakota, Pubali Biswas, Nagavaishnavi Bhaskara
  The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India.2025; 75(1): 28.     CrossRef
• Emerging Trends in Intimate Partner Rape and Marital/Spousal Rape During the Biennium 2020 and 2021, Including the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece
  Maria-Valeria Karakasi, Ioannis Nikolaidis, Eleni Fotou, Anestis Sapounas, Apostolos Patounas, Sofia Sakka, Charalampos Ntentopoulos, Pavlos Pavlidis, Polychronis Voultsos
  Journal of Interpersonal Violence.2025; 40(1-2): 370.     CrossRef
• Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55.     CrossRef
• Understanding domestic violence in rural south India: Prevalence and associated risk factors in married women
  H.V. Nair, A. Dinesh, S. Sidharthan, R. Bhaskaran
  Éthique & Santé.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Investigating and Practicing Orthopedics at the Intersection of Sex and Gender: Understanding the Physiological Basis, Pathology, and Treatment Response of Orthopedic Conditions by Adopting a Gender Lens: A Narrative Overview
  Carlo Biz, Rola Khamisy-Farah, Luca Puce, Lukasz Szarpak, Manlio Converti, Halil İbrahim Ceylan, Alberto Crimì, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Pietro Ruggieri
  Biomedicines.2024; 12(5): 974.     CrossRef

Background
Malaysia is the first country in the Western Pacific Region to receive the validation certificate for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The validation report recommends making sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV a priority. This article explores and assesses the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and access to healthcare services of Malaysia’s women living with HIV (WLHIV).
Methods
A qualitative secondary analysis conducted on 73 WLHIV from all over Malaysia comprised 11 in-depth interviews and 16 focus group discussions. Data were extracted from the original interview transcripts that emerged from the following questions: (1) “What are your experiences as a woman living with HIV in relation to your sexual and reproductive health and rights?” (2) “What are your experiences in accessing contraception?” (3) “What are your day-to-day experiences as a woman living with HIV?” Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Four themes emerged from the study findings: “lack of negotiation,” “idealism in pregnancy,” “coping with restrictions,” and “past and future fears.” The four themes are grounded in religion, a patriarchal culture, meaning and expectations of motherhood, taking risks and going against medical advice to pursue fertility desires, fear of HIV transmission, and the side effects of contraceptive use.
Conclusion
The complexities involved in decision-making regarding contraceptive use revealed how WLHIV may have unresolved reproductive health needs inconsistent with healthcare providers’ focus on HIV management and prevention. Suggestions are made for improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of WLHIV in Malaysia, which include establishing a reproductive health counseling program.

Citations

• Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55.     CrossRef
• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Postpartum modern family planning among women living with HIV attending care at health facilities in Busia County, Kenya
  Florence Zawedde Tebagalika, Derrick Kimuli, Dennis Walusimbi, Edna Nyang’echi, Louisa Ndunyu
  Contraception and Reproductive Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Prediabetes is a condition associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, in which blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. The rapid increase in the prevalence of prediabetes is a major global health challenge. The incidence of prediabetes has increased to pandemic levels and can lead to serious consequences. Unfortunately, nearly 90% of prediabetic individuals are unaware of their ailment. A quarter of prediabetic individuals develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) within 3–5 years. Although prediabetes is a reversible condition, the prevention of diabetes has received little attention. It is essential for prediabetic individuals to implement new health-improvement techniques. Focusing on family systems is one strategy to promote health, which is determined by health patterns that are often taught, established, and adjusted within family contexts. For disease prevention, a family-based approach may be beneficial. Family support is essential for the metabolic control of the disease. This study aimed to show several strategies for involving the patient’s family members in preventing the conversion of prediabetes to T2DM and to emphasize that the patient’s family members are a valuable resource to reduce the incidence of diabetes.

Citations

• Plan, Track, and Live Mindfully: Insights from the Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes Program
  Erin McCallum, Kelly Nordby, Surabhi Aggarwal, Christine Lavelle, Cathy Thomas, Carolyn Dunn
  Diabetology.2025; 6(5): 42.     CrossRef
• Assessment of burden of prediabetes and diabetes with oral glucose tolerance test in community-based settings of Bengaluru rural district
  Gokul Sarveswaran, Vaitheeswaran Kulothungan, Sukanya Rangamani, Deepadarshan Huliyappa, Pruthvish Sreekantaiah
  Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.2024; 13(9): 3806.     CrossRef

Assessment of the risk of bias is an essential component of any systematic review. This is true for both nonrandomized studies and randomized trials, which are the main study designs of systematic reviews. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) was developed in 2013 and has gained wide usage as a risk-of-bias assessment tool for nonrandomized studies. Four risk-of-bias assessment experts revised it by reviewing existing assessment tools and user surveys. The main modifications included additional domains of selection and detection bias susceptible to nonrandomized studies of interventions, a more detailed consideration of the comparability of participants, and more reliable and valid outcome measurements. A psychometric assessment of the revised RoBANS (RoBANS 2) revealed acceptable inter-rater reliability (weighted kappa, 0.25 to 0.49) and construct validity in which intervention effects of studies with an unclear or high risk of bias were overestimated. The RoBANS 2 has acceptable feasibility, fair-to-moderate reliability, and construct validity. It provides a comprehensive framework for allowing authors to assess and understand the plausible risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions.

Citations

• Comparison of working memory performance in athletes and non-athletes: a meta-analysis of behavioural studies
  Chenxiao Wu, Chenyuan Zhang, Xueqiao Li, Chaoxiong Ye, Piia Astikainen
  Memory.2025; 33(2): 259.     CrossRef
• Dysphagia development in heart failure patients: A scoping review
  Mizue Suzuki, Yoko Saino, Shinsuke Nagami, Junko Ueshima, Tatsuro Inoue, Ayano Nagano, Fumiya Kawase, Haruko Kobayashi, Kenta Murotani, Keisuke Maeda
  Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.2025; 130: 105728.     CrossRef
• Preoperative radiotherapy combined with surgery versus surgery alone for primary retroperitoneal sarcoma: a meta-analysis
  Young Rak Kim, Chang-Hyun Lee, Hangeul Park, Jun-Hoe Kim, Chi Heon Kim
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Acute and chronic effects of elastic band resistance training on athletes’ physical performance: a systematic review
  Henrique Sousa, Eduardo Abade, Filipe Maia, Júlio A. Costa, Rui Marcelino
  Sport Sciences for Health.2025; 21(1): 69.     CrossRef
• Suitability of Measures of Pharmacy-Based Medication Adherence for Routine Clinical Use Among Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review
  Wardatul Jannah, Qisty Khoiry, Sofa Alfian, Rizky Abdulah
  Patient Preference and Adherence.2025; Volume 19: 265.     CrossRef
• School nurse-led educational interventions for sexual and reproductive health promotion in adolescents in high-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol
  Yu Mi Choi, Suyeon Noh, Hyun-Ju Seo, Jaehee Yoon
  BMJ Open.2025; 15(2): e087528.     CrossRef
• The protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen on ionising radiation injury: A systematic review
  Amanda Holyer, Thomas Stewart, Edward T. Ashworth
  Acta Astronautica.2025; 232: 296.     CrossRef
• Exploring the Pharmacokinetics of Drugs in Disabled Saudi Patients: A Systematic Review
  Faleh Alqahtani, Saeed A. Al Awadh, Muhammad Fawad Rasool
  Pharmaceuticals.2025; 18(4): 582.     CrossRef
• Circulating angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) and steatotic liver disease related to metabolic dysfunction: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
  Farah Abdelhameed, Lukasz Lagojda, Chris Kite, Alexander Dallaway, Attia Mustafa, Nwe Ni Than, Eva Kassi, Harpal S. Randeva, Ioannis Kyrou
  Frontiers in Endocrinology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Short versus longer duration antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections in companion animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Fiona Emdin, Sean W. X. Ong, Clare McGall, Valerie Leung, Kevin L. Schwartz, Bradley J. Langford, Kevin A. Brown, Susan Massarella, Nick Daneman
  BMC Veterinary Research.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Curative-Intention Surgery with Lobe-Specific Versus Systematic Lymph Node Dissection in Clinical Stage IA–IB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Our Experience and Literature Review
  Bogdan Cosmin Tanase, Teodor Horvat, Mihnea Davidescu, Claudiu Eduard Nistor, Calin Muntean, Gabriel Veniamin Cozma, Alin Nicola, Felix Bratosin, Sorina Maria Denisa Laitin, Alin Burlacu
  Healthcare.2025; 13(8): 957.     CrossRef
• Gut microbiota of patients with post-stroke depression in Chinese population: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Qiaoling Li, Yuejuan Zhang, Xiaoqian Wang, Lin Dai, Wenli Zhao
  Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Occupational risk factors for lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review
  S Y Kim, M-Y Yang, S Salo, R Sund, J Sirola, H Kröger, H Yoo, M-Y Kang
  Occupational Medicine.2025; 75(2): 91.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of radioiodine therapy on preventing recurrence in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a systematic review
  Bima Indra, Nur Qodir, Didit Pramudhito, Legiran Legiran, Zen Hafy, Andi M Iqbal Yusran
  Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Physiological, Physical and Technical Demands During Sided Soccer Game Formats: a Review
  Filipe Manuel Clemente, Diogo V. Martinho, Rui Silva, Robert Trybulski, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, Alejandro Rodríguez-Fernández, Marco Beato, José Afonso
  International Journal of Sports Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Preconception educational interventions for women, present landscape, gaps, and future directions: A scoping review
  Shuxian Liu, Gessica Augustin, Ni Ning, Erika Ota
  International Journal of Nursing Studies.2025; 169: 105134.     CrossRef
• Government policy interventions to reduce veterinary antimicrobial consumption in production animals: a protocol for a systematic review and evidence map
  Kayla Strong, Fiona Emdin, Sam Orubu, Susan Rogers Van Katwyk, Heather Ganshorn, Jeremy Grimshaw, Mathieu J. P. Poirier
  Systematic Reviews.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Guidelines for the Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer from the Korean Society of Head and Neck Surgery
  Jeon Yeob Jang, Geun-Jeon Kim, Sang-Yeon Kim, Min-Su Kim, Dong Kun Lee, Minsu Kwon, Dongbin Ahn, Myung Jin Ban, Young Kang, Ho-Ryun Won, Jae Won Chang, Dong Won Lee, Ki Nam Park, Yeon Soo Kim, Ah Ra Jung, Jungirl Seok, Hye Ran Lee, Sung-Chan Shin, Chang M
  Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology.2025; 18(2): 89.     CrossRef
• Fronto–Cerebellar Diaschisis and Cognitive Dysfunction after Pontine Stroke: A Case Series and Systematic Review
  Kei Shimmyo, Shigeru Obayashi
  Biomedicines.2024; 12(3): 623.     CrossRef
• Fine-needle aspiration cytology for neck lesions in patients with antithrombotic/anticoagulant medications: systematic review and meta-analysis
  Dongbin Ahn, Ji Hye Kwak, Gill Joon Lee, Jin Ho Sohn
  European Radiology.2024; 34(10): 6843.     CrossRef
• What is the role of physical exercise in the era of cancer prehabilitation? A systematic review
  Nicole Del Bianco, Anita Borsati, Linda Toniolo, Christian Ciurnielli, Lorenzo Belluomini, Jessica Insolda, Marco Sposito, Michele Milella, Federico Schena, Sara Pilotto, Alice Avancini
  Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology.2024; 198: 104350.     CrossRef
• Psychiatric adverse events associated with the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the Republic of Korea: a systematic review
  Seungeun Ryoo, Miyoung Choi, Nam-Kyong Choi, Hyoung-Shik Shin, Jun Hee Woo, Byung-Joo Park, Sanghoon Oh
  Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2024; 15(2): 107.     CrossRef
• A Systematic Review on Health Impact of Electronic Cigarettes in South Korea
  Eunsil Cheon, Hana Kim, Naeun Kang, Susan Park, Sung-il Cho, Jieun Hwang
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2024; 15(2): 29.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of artificial intelligence robot interventions on psychological health in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review
  Yujin Park, Sun Ju Chang, Hee Jung Kim, Ha Na Jeong
  Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing.2024; 26(3): 234.     CrossRef
• Nursing care services to address unmet supportive care needs among cancer survivors: a systematic review
  Hyun Jin Song, Hyun-Ju Seo, Eun Jeong Choi, Ji Sung Lee, Yumi Choi
  Journal of Cancer Survivorship.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effects of Swimming Exercise on Early Adolescents’ Physical Conditioning and Physical Health: A Systematic Review
  Francisco A. Ferreira, Catarina C. Santos, António L. Palmeira, Ricardo J. Fernandes, Mário J. Costa
  Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology.2024; 9(3): 158.     CrossRef
• Safety and Efficacy of Bispecific Antibodies in Adults with Large B-Cell Lymphomas: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trial Data
  Elena Bayly-McCredie, Maxine Treisman, Salvatore Fiorenza
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2024; 25(17): 9736.     CrossRef
• Characteristics of fragility hip fracture-related falls in the older adults: A systematic review
  Seung-Kyu Lim, Kyomin Choi, Nam Hun Heo, Younji Kim, Jae-Young Lim
  The Journal of nutrition, health and aging.2024; 28(10): 100357.     CrossRef
• Oral and Gingival Crevicular Fluid Biomarkers for Jawbone Turnover Diseases: A Scoping Review
  Nurfatima Azzahra Fadli, Mariati Abdul Rahman, Saiful Anuar Karsani, Roszalina Ramli
  Diagnostics.2024; 14(19): 2184.     CrossRef
• Characteristics and Effects of Well-dying Program Interventions among Older Adults in Korea: A Systematic Review
  Jin Hui Han, Hee Joo Oh
  Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2024; 38(2): 115.     CrossRef
• Substituting with alternative iodinated contrast medium to prevent recurrent adverse drug reactions associated with its use: a meta-analysis
  Su Jin Lim, Pae Sun Suh, Chong Hyun Suh, Pyeong Hwa Kim, Kye Jin Park, Hyo Jung Park, Choong Wook Lee
  European Radiology.2024; 35(5): 2569.     CrossRef
• Also long overdue: consideration of collider bias in guidelines and tools for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies
  Judith J M Rijnhart, Ava Rabbers, Santina Rizzuto
  International Journal of Epidemiology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Safety and Efficacy of Atogepant for the Preventive Treatment of Migraines in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Abdulrahim Saleh Alrasheed, Taif Mansour Almaqboul, Reem Ali Alshamrani, Noor Mohammad AlMohish, Majed Mohammad Alabdali
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(22): 6713.     CrossRef
• Clinical predictors and noninvasive imaging in Fontan-associated liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Jae Hee Seol, Jinyoung Song, Soo Jin Kim, Hoon Ko, Jae Yoon Na, Min Jung Cho, Hee Joung Choi, Jue Seong Lee, Kyung Jin Oh, Jo Won Jung, Se Yong Jung
  Hepatology Communications.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Comparative evaluation of pit & fissure sealant retention using cotton roll & rubber dam isolation techniques – a systematic review & meta-analysis
  Neha Shukla, Zainab Akram, P. G. Naveen Kumar, Mahesh R. Khairnar, Sachin Kumar Jadhav, Savitha Priyadarsini
  Evidence-Based Dentistry.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Biopsychosocial approach to sports injury: a systematic review and exploration of knowledge structure
  Moonjung Bae
  BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

This study aimed to identify the indices/indicators used for evaluating the “creating supportive environments” mechanism of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, with a focus on built environments, in different settings. A search for literature with no time limit constraint was performed across Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, and Embase databases. Search terms included “Ottawa Charter,” “health promotion,” “supportive environments,” “built environments,” “index,” and “indicator.” we included the studies conducted on developing, identifying, and/or measuring health promotion indices/indicators associated with “built environments” in different settings. The review articles were excluded. Extracted data included the type of instrument used for measuring the index/indicator, the number of items, participants, settings, the purpose of indices/indicators, and a minimum of two associated examples of the indices domains/indicators. The key definitions and summarized information from studies are presented in tables. In total, 281 studies were included in the review, within which 36 indices/indicators associated with “built environment” were identified. The majority of the studies (77%) were performed in developed countries. Based on their application in different settings, the indices/indicators were categorized into seven groups: (1) Healthy Cities (n=5), (2) Healthy Municipalities and Communities (n=18), (3) Healthy Markets (n=3), (4) Healthy Villages (n=1), (5) Healthy Workplaces (n=4), (6) Health-Promoting Schools (n=3), and (7) Healthy Hospitals (n=3). Health promotion specialists, health policymakers, and social health researchers can use this collection of indices/indicators while designing/evaluating interventions to create supportive environments for health in various settings.

Citations

• The Role of Pharmacists in Health Promotion
  Pallav Dave
  Asian Journal of Dental and Health Sciences.2024; 4(2): 32.     CrossRef

Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is a major public health concern with several undesirable health consequences for older adults. In this overview, we aimed to map and gather information from existing literature to provide a better insight into the prevalence of PIP among community dwellers. Electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 2022. The quality of the included systematic reviews (SRs) was assessed using the assessment of multiple systematic reviews checklist. The degree of overlap within the SRs was also evaluated (2% overlap). All SRs on the prevalence of PIP in older individuals in community settings were included, and a narrative approach was used to synthesize data. Nineteen SRs comprising 548 primary studies met the inclusion criteria, and the average quality of the included SRs was moderate. More than half (50.5%) of the primary studies were conducted in Europe, followed by the United States (22.8%), and Asia (18.9%). Thirty different criteria were used in the primary studies to estimate the prevalence of PIP. The most widely used criteria were those presented in Beers (41.8%) and STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions)/START (Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment) (21.8%) criteria. Benzodiazepines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antidepressants were the most frequently reported PIPs. A considerable variation in the prevalence of PIP ranging from 0% to 98% was reported by SRs. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding the extent of PIP in community settings. To identify knowledge-to-action gaps, SR authors should consider the differences in prevalence of PIP according to settings, applied tools, data sources, geographical areas, and specific pathologies. There is also a need for primary and SR studies from low- and middle-income countries regarding the prevalence of PIP.

Background
The factors associated with sleep disorder are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sleep disorder and the factors associated with sleep disorder among Korean adult cancer survivors.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, we collected data on sleep problems as outcome variables, and sociodemographic and clinical information as predictor variables from cancer survivors at two university-affiliated hospitals. Sleep disorder was defined as “a difficulty in sleep initiation or sleep maintenance at least 3 times a week that started after a cancer diagnosis.” Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to evaluate the factors associated with sleep disorder.
Results
The participants were 1,893 Korean cancer survivors (mean age, 58.1 years; females 68.0%). The prevalence of sleep disorder among male and female cancer survivors were 16.5% and 20.3%, respectively. An increase of age by 1-year was associated with a 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01–1.07; P=0.011) times higher risk of sleep disorder in males, while an inverse association was found in females. In female survivors, high fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), high anxiety, menopause, and high EuroQol Visual Analog Scale were associated with 1.45 (95% CI, 1.06–1.98; P=0.020), 1.78 (95% CI, 1.25–2.55; P=0.002), 1.70 (95% CI, 1.08–2.67; P=0.022), and 0.59 (95% CI, 0.43–0.82; P=0.002) times higher risk of sleep disorder, respectively. In male survivors, living with a spouse/or partner was associated with 57% (95% CI, 0.20–0.95; P=0.036) lower risk of sleep disorder. Analyses of cancer sites showed that the factors associated with sleep disorder varied across cancer sites.
Conclusion
One-fifth of adult cancer survivors had sleep disorder. Age, menopausal status, FCR, anxiety, living with a spouse or partner, and quality of life were independently associated with sleep disorder in Korean cancer survivors.

Citations

• Social support, fear of cancer recurrence and sleep quality in breast cancer: A moderated network analysis
  Yingting Jiang, Xinyu Wu, Hongman Li, Ying Xiong, M. Tish Knobf, Zengjie Ye
  European Journal of Oncology Nursing.2025; 74: 102799.     CrossRef
• Subgroups of sleep quality and associated risk factors in patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy: A cross-sectional study based on latent profile analysis
  Liuna Bi, Xian Zhang, Linlin Wang, Yanxiu Cai, Jing Han
  European Journal of Oncology Nursing.2024; 68: 102488.     CrossRef

Background
This study explored the psychosocial needs of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injuries from the perspective of rehabilitation professionals.
Methods
An exploratory qualitative approach was used, and a total of 14 rehabilitation professionals from various backgrounds participated in face-to-face interviews. All interviews were audio recorded, and session notes were added to the existing data and later transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes.
Results
Nine need themes emerged: informational, psychological, personal care, financial, social support, welfare, vocational, telemedicine, and referral.
Conclusion
The findings of this study will aid the design or development of need-based customized psychosocial interventions for family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injuries in India. Multiple stakeholders involved in spinal cord injury management should understand the importance of meeting the needs of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injuries and the timely delivery of customized psychosocial interventions.

Background
Oxidative stress plays an essential role in bone health among postmenopausal women. This study aimed to compare the oxidative stress biomarkers among postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years with normal bone mineral density, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.
Methods
In this observational study, 120 women with normal bone mineral density, 82 with osteopenia, and 86 with osteoporosis were selected based on the densitometry data obtained from the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. The serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured using biochemical methods. A binary logistic regression model adjusted for confounders was used to estimate the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
There were significant differences between the three groups in age, menopausal age, body mass index, and education (P<0.05). According to the binary logistic regression model, higher SOD activity and serum TAC levels were associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.991; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.986 to 0.996; and aOR, 0.373; 95% CI, 0.141 to 0.986, respectively). MDA was a significant risk factor for osteopenia in postmenopausal women (aOR, 1.702; 95% CI, 1.125 to 2.576).
Conclusion
Higher SOD activity and serum TAC levels in the studied postmenopausal women were associated with a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis. Moreover, the risk of osteopenia increased significantly with higher serum MDA levels.

Citations

• Exploring the application of dietary antioxidant index for disease risk assessment: a comprehensive review
  Hossein Pourmontaseri, Sina Bazmi, Matin Sepehrinia, Ayda Mostafavi, Reza Arefnezhad, Reza Homayounfar, Farhad Vahid
  Frontiers in Nutrition.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Effects of cosmos caudatus (Kenikir) antioxidant properties on bone metabolism marker in rat
  Gadis Meinar Sari, Idha Kusumawati, Yoga Akbar Arifandi, Julian Benedict Swannjo
  Current Research in Physiology.2024; 7: 100128.     CrossRef
• Exogenous and endogenous antioxidants in osteoporosis risk: causal associations unveiled by Mendelian Randomization analysis
  Yuancheng Li, Huaqian Qi, Xin Huang, Gang Lu, Huashan Pan
  Frontiers in Physiology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Proteomic Biomarkers Associated with Low Bone Mineral Density: A Systematic Review
  Adriana Becerra-Cervera, Anna D. Argoty-Pantoja, Diana I. Aparicio-Bautista, Priscilla López-Montoya, Berenice Rivera-Paredez, Alberto Hidalgo-Bravo, Rafael Velázquez-Cruz
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2024; 25(14): 7526.     CrossRef

Background
Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) involves the separation of the midline abdominal muscles and linea alba and affects more than half of postpartum women. This study aimed to assess the effect of a split tummy exercise program (STEP) on DRA closure in postpartum mothers.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted from 2008 to 2020 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. Primigravida mothers diagnosed with DRA were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=21) or control (n=20) group. The intervention group underwent a home-based STEP consisting of three phases of nine abdominal exercises. DRA size was assessed at baseline and at 8 weeks postpartum using two-dimensional ultrasound.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 28 years (standard deviation, 3.6), with the majority of Malay ethnicity (87.8%) and working mothers (78%). After 8 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in DRA size of up to 27% (mean difference, 6.17 mm; 95% confidence interval, 3.7–8.7; P<0.001). No significant intergroup DRA changes were observed after 8 weeks of follow-up.
Conclusion
Early postpartum screening for DRA should be advocated to allow early STEP intervention to ensure favorable outcomes. STEP intervention is an effective postnatal training program for managing DRA.

Citations

• Impact of postpartum exercise on pelvic floor disorders and diastasis recti abdominis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Nicole F Beamish, Margie H Davenport, Muhammad Usman Ali, Matthew J Gervais, Talia Noel Sjwed, Gyanjot Bains, Allison Sivak, Rita E Deering, Stephanie-May Ruchat
  British Journal of Sports Medicine.2025; 59(8): 562.     CrossRef
• Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of Non-surgical Treatments with or without Exercise for Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Women: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  Wen-Chieh Wu, Wen-Hong Wu, Ming-Fen Lee, Pei-Yu Wu, Yu-Kang Tu, Hsuan Lin, Chien-Yi Chan, Chun-Yin Huang
  Sports Medicine.2025; 55(4): 937.     CrossRef
• Comparative Efficacy of Abdominal Exercises and Abdominal Binding on Diastasis Recti Abdominis Reduction in Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  Abdullah, Khawaja Abdul Rehman, Bilal Ahmad, Muhammad Khubaib Arshad, Humza Saeed, Mahnoor Asghar Keen, Amna Anwar, Noor ul ain Saleem, Umm E. Salma Shabbar Banatwala, Zara Bilal, Maryam Shahzad, Pakeeza Shakoor, Muhammad Ahsen Niazi
  Physiotherapy Research International.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Recomendaciones médicas desde atención primaria sobre ejercicio físico en el posparto
  L.M. Gallo-Galán, M.A. Gallo-Vallejo, J.L. Gallo-Vallejo
  Medicina de Familia. SEMERGEN.2024; 50(3): 102148.     CrossRef
• Intra‐ and Interimage Reliability of Inter‐Rectus Distance Measurements Determined via Ultrasound Imaging by the Same or Different Testers in Women in the Early Postpartum Period
  Qing Jiang, Ya Gao, Shuyu Xia, Yuefan Gu, Jun Gu, Jianfeng Guo, Guannan Feng, Qifeng Deng, Xuedong Deng
  Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.2024; 43(6): 1037.     CrossRef
• FISIOTERAPIA NA DIÁSTASE DOS MÚSCULOS RETOS ABDOMINAIS NO PÓS-PARTO: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
  Ana Clara Moreira de Jesus, Andresa Santos Souza, Gabrielle Barreto Menezes, Jisielle Oliveira dos Santos, Luiz André Santos Silva, Elisama de Campos Guimarães, Isabela da Silva Vasconcelos Rodrigues, Grace Kelly Melo de Almeida
  Revista Contemporânea.2024; 4(7): e5102.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Health Parameters in Postpartum Diastasis Recti: A Randomized Control Trial of SEMG Biofeedback-Assisted Core Strengthening Exercises with Kinesiotaping vs. Non-Assisted Exercises
  Ujala Afzal, Quratulain Saeed, Muhammad Nabeel Anwar, Sanna Pervaiz, Manahil Shahid, Rimsha Javed, Muhammad Umair Ali, Seung Won Lee
  Healthcare.2024; 12(16): 1567.     CrossRef
• Effect of hypopressive and conventional abdominal exercises on postpartum diastasis recti: A randomized controlled trial
  Mercedes Soto-González, Iria Da Cuña-Carrera, Eva María Lantarón-Caeiro, Augusto Gil Pascoal, Shabnam ShahAli
  PLOS ONE.2024; 19(12): e0314274.     CrossRef

Background
Childbearing is the most important determinant of population fluctuations, and its study is more important than other population phenomena. Owing to the lack of a valid questionnaire based on the extended theory of planned behavior, this mixed-method study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of a questionnaire designed to examine related belief-based factors on the intention to bear children in Iranian society.
Methods
This study was conducted in two phases in Hamadan city, western Iran, in 2021. Phase 1 consisted of an extensive literature review and a qualitative study using a directed content analysis approach to generate an item pool. Psychometrics were measured in phase 2, including content, face, and construct validity. Reliability was assessed based on internal consistency and stability. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS and AMOS ver. 24.0.
Results
Mean content validity ratio and content validity index were 0.7 and 0.85, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis of the 32 items identified an eight-factor solution. These factors jointly accounted for 79.1% of the observed variance in the outcome variables. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit for the data. The internal consistency based on Cronbach’s α was 0.85 (0.71–0.93). In addition, stability was confirmed using the test-retest method and intraclass correlation coefficient (0.74–0.94).
Conclusion
The designed questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating related belief-based factors on the intention and behavior of childbearing among married men and women in Iran.

Citations

• An integrated theory based-educational intervention to change intention to have a child: study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial
  Maryam Moridi, Maryam Damghanian, Sedigheh Keshaverz
  Reproductive Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Does fiscal expenditure contribute to increasing fertility intentions of rural households?
  Zhongyi Gong, Mei Ge
  Finance Research Letters.2024; 63: 105286.     CrossRef

Background
Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels change during body weight reduction. However, the changes that occur during short-term body weight control interventions remain controversial. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the changes in TSH levels according to body fat reduction.
Methods
We performed a 3-month intervention study involving partial meal replacement. Forty-nine participants completed the study. Correlations between changes in TSH levels and other body composition parameters were determined. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their body fat reduction (>1 kg, n=20; <1 kg, n=29). The changes in metabolic parameters, including TSH levels, were compared. For significant values, a multivariate analysis was performed after adjustment to evaluate the relationship between TSH changes and body fat reduction.
Results
The 3-month intervention caused favorable changes in body proportions and metabolic parameters. TSH levels changed significantly only after changes in total body fat, showing a partial correlation. Changes in TSH levels were significantly different between groups (P=0.014). Moreover, the change in TSH levels was significantly different after adjustment (P=0.012).
Conclusion
A body fat reduction, especially >1 kg, can reduce serum TSH concentrations in subjects with metabolic syndrome after short-term body weight intervention.

Background
The association between a history of pregnancy and liver fibrosis remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the association between reproductive factors, including a history of pregnancy and liver fibrosis, in postmenopausal Korean women.
Methods
This study used nationally representative, population-based data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2017. Of 14,624 women with natural menopause, 11,085 with no previous history of any type of cancer, hepatitis, or chronic heavy alcohol consumption were enrolled. We investigated the reproductive factors, including a history of pregnancy, total reproductive years, age at menarche and menopause, and oral contraceptive use. Liver fibrosis was defined as a Fibrosis-4 index score ≥2.67 kg/m².
Results
Of the study participants, 372 (3.3%) had advanced liver fibrosis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that women with a history of more than one pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of liver fibrosis compared to women who had never been pregnant, after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.59). The risk of liver fibrosis did not increase significantly with an increasing number of pregnancies (P for trend=0.135). Other reproductive factors, including total reproductive years, age at menopause and menarche, and oral contraceptive use, were not significantly associated with liver fibrosis.
Conclusion
Postmenopausal women who had experienced one or more pregnancies had a reduced risk of liver fibrosis. Our findings reveal a potential protective role of pregnancy against liver fibrosis.

Background
The International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) is a classification method designed for primary care. Although previous studies have found that ICPC-2 is a useful tool for demonstrating the relationship between patients’ expectations and health providers’ diagnoses, its utility of ICPC-2 has yet to be fully studied in Korea. This study aimed to evaluate the practicality of ICPC-2 in Korean primary care.
Methods
The study was conducted at primary care clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas from October to November 2015. Third-year family medicine residents examined and analyzed the medical records of patients who visited primary care physicians using ICPC-2, and the results were compared with those obtained using the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) (Korean version: Korean Standard Classification of Diseases-7).
Results
A total of 26 primary care physicians from 23 primary care clinics participated in the study. Furthermore, 2,458 ICD-10 codes and 6,091 ICPC-2 codes were recorded from the data of 1,099 patients. The common disease codes were vasomotor and allergic rhinitis (J30), according to ICD-10, and acute upper respiratory infection (R74) in ICPC-2. Comparing disease status by body systems, the proportion of gastrointestinal disease with ICD-10 codes was significantly higher than that with ICPC-2 codes (P<0.001). Furthermore, patients with >4 diagnoses accounted for 36% of the ICD-10 classifications, whereas those with >4 diagnoses accounted for 4% of the ICPC-2 classifications.
Conclusion
Introducing ICPC as a complementary means for diagnosing common diseases could be a practical approach in Korean primary care.

Citations

• Evaluation of Diagnoses According to ICD‐10 and ICPC‐2 in Family Medicine Practice: A Retrospective Study
  Olgun Göktaş, Marta Laranjo
  International Journal of Clinical Practice.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
In addition to its antidiabetic effects, metformin has pleiotropic effects, such as the inhibition of carcinogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between metformin use and pancreatic cancer risk in the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)-National Health Screening Cohort (HEALS).
Methods
Of the individuals in the Korean NHIS-HEALS, 29,271 men and 19,091 women were included in the final analysis after propensity score matching based on age, body mass index, and smoking status. The study population was categorized into three groups: metformin non-users with diabetes mellitus (DM), metformin users with DM, and non-diabetic users. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to examine the association between metformin use and pancreatic cancer.
Results
The median follow-up period was 12.9 years. The estimated pancreatic cancer incidence was highest in metformin users with DM, regardless of sex (P<0.001), and lowest in non-diabetic men and female metformin non-users (P=0.053). The hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for pancreatic cancer incidence in metformin users and non-diabetic individuals were 1.116 (0.648–1.923) and 0.447 (0.259–0.771) in men and 2.769 (1.003–7.642) and 1.451 (0.529–3.984) in women, respectively, after full adjustment.
Conclusion
Women with diabetes using metformin are at a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than women with diabetes not using metformin. Meanwhile, men with DM using metformin have a similar risk of pancreatic cancer as men with DM not using metformin.

Citations

• Metformin: A Dual-Role Player in Cancer Treatment and Prevention: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Imran Rangraze, Adil Farooq Wali, Mohamed El-Tanani, Mohamed Anas Patni, Syed Arman Rabbani, Rasha Babiker, Shakta Mani Satyam, Yahia El-Tanani, Manfredi Rizzo
  Medicina.2025; 61(6): 1021.     CrossRef
• Metformin adverse event profile: a pharmacovigilance study based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from 2004 to 2022
  Yikuan Du, Jinfeng Zhu, Zhuoming Guo, Zhenjie Wang, Yuni Wang, Mianda Hu, Lingzhi Zhang, Yurong Yang, Jinjin Wang, Yixing Huang, Peiying Huang, Mianhai Chen, Bo Chen, Chun Yang
  Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology.2024; 17(2): 189.     CrossRef
• Metformin: A Dual-Role Player in Cancer Treatment and Prevention
  Mariam Ahmed Galal, Mohammed Al-Rimawi, Abdurrahman Hajeer, Huda Dahman, Samhar Alouch, Ahmad Aljada
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2024; 25(7): 4083.     CrossRef
• Anti-Diabetic Therapies and Cancer: From Bench to Bedside
  Dimitris Kounatidis, Natalia G. Vallianou, Irene Karampela, Eleni Rebelos, Marina Kouveletsou, Vasileios Dalopoulos, Petros Koufopoulos, Evanthia Diakoumopoulou, Nikolaos Tentolouris, Maria Dalamaga
  Biomolecules.2024; 14(11): 1479.     CrossRef
• Exploring the Basic Molecular Pathways: Metformin as a Potential Treatment Option for Pancreatic Cancer
  Sepehr Ramezani, Dariush Moslemi, Faezeh Firuzpour, Hamidreza Didar, Seyedamirmohammad Mazloumi, Narjes rezaeiroushan
  Iranian Journal of Blood and Cancer.2024; 16(4): 56.     CrossRef
• Diabetes Mellitus in Pancreatic Cancer: A Distinct Approach to Older Subjects with New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
  Jan Bures, Darina Kohoutova, Jan Skrha, Bohus Bunganic, Ondrej Ngo, Stepan Suchanek, Pavel Skrha, Miroslav Zavoral
  Cancers.2023; 15(14): 3669.     CrossRef