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

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• 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;[Epub]     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
• Fronto–Cerebellar Diaschisis and Cognitive Dysfunction after Pontine Stroke: A Case Series and Systematic Review
  Kei Shimmyo, Shigeru Obayashi
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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  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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• Biopsychosocial approach to sports injury: a systematic review and exploration of knowledge structure
  Moonjung Bae
  BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Period poverty is a global community health dilemma that has long been overlooked. This condition is described as having insufficient access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation facilities. Briefly, period poverty means that millions of women are subjected to injustice and inequity due to menstruation. This review aimed to explore the definition, challenges, and effects of period poverty on the community, especially among women at their productive ages. In addition, suggestions to minimize the impact of period poverty are discussed. A search strategy was applied using the keywords “period poverty,” “period equity,” “period poverty,” and “menstrual hygiene” in Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, MEDLINE, and PubMed electronic databases, journals, and articles on relevant topics. Trained researchers conducted a keyword search from January 2021 to June 2022. Based on the reviewed studies, it has been proven that many countries are still affected by the period stigma and taboo, inadequate exposure to menstrual health and its management, lack of education about menstruation, and shortage of access to menstrual products and facilities. The next step is to reduce and slowly eliminate the period poverty issue by conducting more research to increase clinical evidence and future references. This narrative review could inform policymakers of the magnitude of the burden related to this issue and guide them to develop effective strategies to minimize the impact of poverty, especially during the challenging years of the post-coronavirus disease 2019 era.

Citations

• Period Poverty: How School Nurses Can Support Menstrual Health and Hygiene
  Damaris Pereda, Sasha Mahuna
  NASN School Nurse.2025; 40(1): 38.     CrossRef
• Period poverty and mental health among students attending a US university
  Jonathan Noel, Samantha Strong, Sarah Miller, Kelsey Gately, Samantha Rosenthal
  Journal of American College Health.2025; : 1.     CrossRef
• The economic impact of Long-Acting Contraceptives (LARCs) on public health
  Ana Claudia Marcelino, Paula da Cunha Pereira, Luis Bahamondes
  Clinics.2025; 80: 100598.     CrossRef
• Cycles of Neglect: A Statutory Review of State Policies Regarding Feminine Hygiene Product Provision During Incarceration
  McKenzie Wood, Nicole E. Garrett, Douglas Routh, Michelle Jeffs
  International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A Pilot Study of Menstrual Health Education, Attitudes, and Product Access in Rural Honduras
  Eleanor Stubley, Janice M. Marshall
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(3): 374.     CrossRef
• Menstrual hygiene management among girls and women refugees in Africa: a scoping review
  Alexis Harerimana, Gugu Mchunu, Julian David Pillay
  Conflict and Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual pain and epistemic injustice
  Adriana Joanna Mickiewicz
  Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Period Poverty and Barriers to Menstrual Health Equity in U.S. Menstruating College Students: A Scoping Review
  Lea Sacca, Diana Lobaina, Sara Burgoa, Vama Jhumkhawala, Meera Rao, Goodness Okwaraji, Yasmine Zerrouki, Joshua Sohmer, Michelle Knecht, Maria C. Mejia, Panagiota Kitsantas
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(4): 619.     CrossRef
• Integrating demographic insights into menstrual product choices: a study through the lens of Engel–Kollat–Blackwell Model
  Anushka Mehar, Yamini
  Health Education.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Women's reproductive mental health: currently available evidence and future directions for research, clinical practice and health policy
  Louise M. Howard, Claire A. Wilson, Thomas J. Reilly, Katrina M. Moss, Gita D. Mishra, Ella Coupland‐Smith, Anita Riecher‐Rössler, Soraya Seedat, Shubulade Smith, Julia R. Steinberg, Jenneke van Ditzhuijzen, Sian Oram
  World Psychiatry.2025; 24(2): 196.     CrossRef
• Period poverty in the United States of America: a socio-economic policy analysis
  Binda Godlove Aka
  Journal of Global Health Economics and Policy.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Relationship Between Menstrual Poverty and Depressive Symptoms in Women Aged 15-49 in Balçova District of İzmir
  Tuba Polat, Zeynep Varol, Hatice Şimşek
  Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences.2025; 9(2): 352.     CrossRef
• Validation of the adolescent menstrual poverty questionnaire
  Mary Lukindo, Hannah Cameron, Victoria Price, Mandy Bouchard, Meghan Pike
  Paediatrics & Child Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The necessity of enhancing menstrual health policy in Iran: A letter to editor
  Maryam Gharacheh, Fahimeh Ranjbar
  International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM).2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual Products: Attitudes About Taxation and Safety
  Trupti Dhumal, Pragya Rai, Drishti Shah, Pamela W. Murray, Kimberly M. Kelly
  Journal of Women's Health.2024; 33(4): 491.     CrossRef
• “For men, by men”: Menstrual victimization and the weaponization of period products in carceral settings
  Kathryn Tapp, Abigail Henson
  Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Tranexamic acid for management of heavy vaginal bleeding: barriers to access and myths surrounding its use
  Heather VanderMeulen, Grace H. Tang, Michelle Sholzberg
  Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis.2024; 8(3): 102389.     CrossRef
• “Ritual Purity” Reimagined: Eco-Friendly Menstrual Practices and Emotional Well-being in Muslim Women
  Shahida
  Women's Reproductive Health.2024; 11(4): 767.     CrossRef
• Management of abnormal uterine bleeding on anticoagulation: the patient–clinician perspective
  Bethany T. Samuelson Bannow
  Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.2024; 22(7): 1819.     CrossRef
• A pilot survey of students’ menstrual attitudes, experiences, and needs on an urban university campus
  Abigail Suleman, Shruthi Krishna, Divya Krishnakumar, Kai Nemoto, My Lê Thảo Nguyễn, Supriya D Mehta
  Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Period poverty, reuse needs, and depressive symptoms among refugee menstruators in Jordan’s camps: a cross-sectional study
  Nadia Muhaidat, Joud Al Karmi, Abdulrahman M. Karam, Farah Abushaikha, Mohammad Ali Alshrouf
  BMC Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual poverty scale: reliability and validity study
  Özge Öz Yildirim, Ayla Hendekci, Ilknur Aydın Avci
  Women & Health.2024; 64(6): 526.     CrossRef
• Syndemics in women’s health: poverty, social exclusion, and clustering of thrombotic and hemostasis disorders
  Ellen O’Rourke, Sarah Kelliher, Barry Kevane
  Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis.2024; 8(5): 102481.     CrossRef
• Forbidden Conversations: A Comprehensive Exploration of Taboos in Sexual and Reproductive Health
  Nor Faiza Mohd. Tohit, Mainul Haque
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Perspectives on prior preparation for menstrual experience from women and female health workers in Malawi
  Gertrude Mwalabu, Safari Mbewe, Annie Namathanga, Rodney Masese, Charity Kabondo, Leah Katuya, Pammla Petrucka, Patrick Mapulanga
  Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Behavior and attitudes of female medical students regarding menstrual products
  Teodora Marković, Vuk Marušić, Aleksandra Nikolić, Isidora Vujčić, Milan Bjekić, Sandra Šipetić-Grujičić
  Zdravstvena zastita.2024; 53(3): 32.     CrossRef
• Period poverty is a continuing global challenge
  Lucy Khofi
  Nature Human Behaviour.2024; 8(11): 2070.     CrossRef
• Addressing the commercial determinants of menstrual health: a call to regulate menstrual product manufacturers
  Céline Brassart Olsen
  Health Promotion International.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual Hygiene Management and Reproductive Morbidity among Women Tea Plantation Workers in Wayanad District, Kerala, India
  Puthupparambil S. Alifia, Paul T. Francis, Malathi Mini, Jeby J. Olickal, Kavumpurathu R. Thankappan
  Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth.2024; 17(Suppl 1): S178.     CrossRef
• Ubóstwo menstruacyjne w świetle badań i opracowań naukowych z lat 2013–2023
  Agata Buczak
  Nierówności Społeczne a Wzrost Gospodarczy.2024; (80): 105.     CrossRef

With aging, loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle function increases, resulting in an increased risk of falls, fractures, long-term institutional care, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and even death. Sarcopenia, which is derived from the Greek words “sarx” or flesh+“penia” or loss, is defined as a condition characterized by low muscle mass and low muscle strength and performance. In 2019, the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) published a consensus paper on the diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia. The AWGS 2019 guideline, specifically, presented strategies for case-finding and assessment to help diagnose “possible sarcopenia” in primary care settings. For case finding, the AWGS 2019 guideline proposed an algorithm that recommends calf circumference measurement (cut-off <34 cm in men, <33 cm in women) or the SARC-F (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) questionnaire (cut-off ≥4). If this case finding is confirmed, handgrip strength (cutoff <28 kg in men, <18 kg in women) or the 5-time chair stand test (≥12 seconds) should be performed to diagnose “possible sarcopenia.” If an individual is diagnosed as “possible sarcopenia,” AWGS 2019 recommends that the individual should start lifestyle interventions and related health education for primary healthcare users. Because no medication is available to treat sarcopenia, exercise and nutrition is essential for sarcopenia management. Many guidelines, recommend physical activity, with a focus on progressive resistance (strength) training, as a first-line therapy for the management of sarcopenia. It is essential to educate older adults with sarcopenia on the need to increase protein intake. Many guidelines recommended that older people should consume at least 1.2 g of proteins/kg/d. This minimum threshold can be increased in the presence of catabolic or muscle wasting. Previous studies reported that leucine, a branched-chain amino acid, is essential for protein synthesis in muscle, and a stimulator for skeletal muscle synthesis. A guideline conditionally recommends that diet or nutritional supplements should be combined with exercise intervention for older adults with sarcopenia.

Citations

• Evaluating sarcopenia and nutritional status in outpatients with liver cirrhosis: concordance of diagnostic methods
  Marina Demas Rezende Gischewski, Fernanda Lívia Cavalcante Araujo, Aryana Isabelle De Almeida Neves Siqueira, Alina Joana da Silva Wallraf, João Araújo Barros Neto, Nassib Bezerra Bueno Nassib, Juliana Célia de Farias Santos, Fabiana Andréa Moura
  Nutrición Hospitalaria.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Update on the Complications and Management of Liver Cirrhosis
  Hiba Fadlallah, Diala El Masri, Hisham F. Bahmad, Wassim Abou-Kheir, Jad El Masri
  Medical Sciences.2025; 13(1): 13.     CrossRef
• Diabetes and Sarcopenia: Intersection of Co Morbid Conditions
  Byron J. Hoogwerf
  OBM Geriatrics.2025; 09(01): 1.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dynapenia, Pre-Sarcopenia, and Sarcopenia in Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study
  Do-Youn Lee
  Medicina.2025; 61(4): 575.     CrossRef
• The Prognostic Significance of Handgrip Strength in Cirrhosis: Simplicity Is the Ultimate Sophistication
  Binxin Cui, Ziyi Yang, Chao Sun
  Portal Hypertension & Cirrhosis.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Guidelines for obesity clinic consultations in primary healthcare clinics
  Jee-Hyun Kang, Kyoung-Kon Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 240.     CrossRef
• Guidelines for physical activity counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Yun Jun Yang
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 265.     CrossRef
• Whole Genome Linkage and Association Analyses Identify DLG Associated Protein-1 as a Novel Positional and Biological Candidate Gene for Muscle Strength: The Long Life Family Study
  Adam J Santanasto, Sandeep Acharya, Mary K Wojczynski, Ryan K Cvejkus, Shiow Lin, Michael R Brent, Jason A Anema, Lihua Wang, Bharat Thyagarajan, Kaare Christensen, E Warwick Daw, Joseph M Zmuda, Lewis A Lipsitz
  The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Predictors of hip fracture in 15 European countries: a longitudinal study of 48,533 geriatric adults using SHARE dataset
  M. Azhar Hussain, Rizwan Qaisar, Asima Karim, Firdos Ahmad, Fabio Franzese, Atif Awad, Abeer A. Al-Masri, Mohammed Alsaeed, Shaea A. Alkahtani
  Archives of Osteoporosis.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Open, Active-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Correlation between Whole Body DEXA and BIA Muscle Measurements
  Yong-Chan Ha, Shinjune Kim, Jun-Il Yoo
  Journal of Bone Metabolism.2024; 31(3): 219.     CrossRef
• Doctor and patient perceptions of sarcopenia in community-based primary care clinics: a questionnaire survey
  Jungha Park, Daehyun Lee, Jae Young Jang, Jung-Ha Kim, Jae Uk Baek, Myungkwan Jeong, Sungwouk Kim, Moonbae Kyoung, Miji Kim, Chang Won Won
  European Geriatric Medicine.2024; 15(6): 1827.     CrossRef
• Frequency of clinical signs in patients with Cushing's syndrome and mild autonomous cortisol secretion: overlap is common
  Leah T Braun, Frederick Vogel, Elisabeth Nowak, German Rubinstein, Stephanie Zopp, Katrin Ritzel, Felix Beuschlein, Martin Reincke
  European Journal of Endocrinology.2024; 191(4): 473.     CrossRef
• Efficacy of a combined exercise and nutrition intervention study for outpatients with possible sarcopenia in community-based primary care clinics (ENdSarC): study protocol for a multicenter single-blinded randomized controlled trial
  Woohyuk Ji, Daehyun Lee, Minjin Kim, Nahyun Lim, Jae-Young Lim, Jae Uk Baek, Sungwouk Kim, Choong Hyung Lee, Miji Kim, Chang Won Won
  BMC Geriatrics.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Age-related increase in the excitability of mouse layer V pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex is accompanied by an increased persistent inward current
  Jose A. Viteri, Nikolaus Bueschke, Joseph M. Santin, W. David Arnold
  GeroScience.2024; 47(2): 2199.     CrossRef
• The Effect of Long Chain n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Muscle Strength in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Maha Timraz, Ahmad Binmahfoz, Terry J. Quinn, Emilie Combet, Stuart R. Gray
  Nutrients.2023; 15(16): 3579.     CrossRef

Increased mechanization and technological advances have simplified our lives on the one hand and increased sedentary behaviors on the other hand, paving the way for emerging global health concerns, i.e., sedentarism, which could be the leading cause of all major chronic health problems worldwide. Sedentarism is a habitual behavior of choosing and indulging in low-energy expenditure activities (≤1.5 metabolic equivalents), such as chairtype (sitting, studying, traveling) or screen-type activities (TV, computers, mobile). With technological advancements, there is a significant transition in the lifestyles of people from being active (walking) to being more deskbound (sitting). Prolonged sitting can have unintended consequences for health with sitting time >7 h/d, leading to a 5% increase in all-cause mortality with each additional hour spent sitting (i.e., +7 h/d), while considering physical activity levels. This review will highlight how sedentarism is emerging as a major risk factor for the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases, especially among young adults and adults. Chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer, are the leading causes of death worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need for collective action to mitigate the burgeoning public health crisis posed by sedentarism in the 21st century. This paper intends to set in motion a call for all policymakers and public health professionals placed nationally or internationally to reach a consensus on ending sedentarism and provide viable resolutions for effective management of excessive sedentary behaviors and healthy adoption and maintenance of active lifestyles among individuals of all age groups.

Citations

• The Impact of Avatar Appearance on the Persuasiveness of a Short Video Encouraging Physical Activity: A Randomized Observational Study
  Momoko Tohyama, Ryo Momosaki, Kazuma Tora, Tsuyoshi Okuhara
  Cureus.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Associations of the Social Determinants of Health and Lifestyle Components with Dietary Patterns in a Population of Reproductive Age
  Anca-Elena Crăciun, Adriana Rusu, Cornelia Bala, Dana Mihaela Ciobanu, Cristian-Ioan Crăciun, Adriana Fodor, Gabriela Roman, Camelia Vonica, Georgeta Inceu
  Nutrients.2025; 17(6): 950.     CrossRef
• A Neutral Risk Framework for Active Participation Across the Lifespan: A Call to Action for Using Risk in Movement Contexts as a Tool for Human Flourishing
  Melanie Stuckey, Brandy Tanenbaum, Dean Kriellaars
  Sports Medicine.2025; 55(6): 1353.     CrossRef
• Applying Multi-criteria Decision Analysis Methods to Explore the Key Factors in Using Interactive Intelligent Health Promotion Equipment
  Tsu-Ming Yeh, Hsiao-Yuan Lu, Fan-Yun Pai
  SAGE Open.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Efeitos da musculação na saúde e bem-estar de pessoas sedentárias
  Jardel Nimet, Aline Rosa Marosti, Carmem Patrícia Barbosa
  Arquivos do Mudi.2025; 29(1): e75704.     CrossRef
• Assessment of cardiac outcomes of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review
  Jorge Lopes Cavalcante-Neto, Ricele da Silva Brito, Lucinete Sena de Oliveira Silva, Antonio Roberto Zamunér
  Research in Autism.2025; 125: 202604.     CrossRef
• Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Physical Activity in Italian People with Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
  Erika Pinelli, Raffaele Zinno, Maria Scoppolini Massini, Ilaria Baroncini, Francesca Serafino, Laura Simoncini, Giulio Senesi, Salvatore Pinelli, Laura Bragonzoni
  Applied Sciences.2025; 15(11): 5942.     CrossRef
• Exploring Sedentary and Nutritional Behaviour Patterns in Relation to Overweight and Obesity Among Youth from Different Demographic Backgrounds in Saudi Arabia
  Anwar Al-Nuaim, Ayazullah Safi
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(5): 813.     CrossRef
• Primary Care Physicians’ Important Role: Lifestyle Modification for Chronic Disease Management
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(5): 237.     CrossRef

Background
Primary care physicians perform a comprehensive role by providing continuous, patient-centered, and accessible healthcare and establishing connections with specialized care. However, the association between the supply of primary care physicians and mortality rates in South Korea has not been thoroughly investigated.
Methods
This study utilized data from 229 si-gun-gu in South Korea from 2016 to 2020. The densities of primary care physicians, physicians in functional primary clinics, specialists in primary care facilities, and active physicians per 100,000 people were independent variables. Age-adjusted all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality rates per 100,000 individuals were the dependent variables. Negative binomial regression, negative binomial regression with a pseudo-panel approach, and geographically weighted regression were used to analyze the data.
Results
Our study revealed a significant negative association between the density of primary care physicians and all-cause mortality. An increase in a primary care physician per 100,000 population was significantly linked to a 0.11% reduction in all-cause mortality (incidence rate ratio, 0.9989; 95% confidence interval, 0.9983–0.9995). Similar associations have been observed between mortality rates owing to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract diseases, and traffic accidents.
Conclusion
This study provides evidence that having a higher number of primary care physicians in South Korea is associated with lower mortality rates. Future research should consider better indicators that reflect the quality of primary care to better understand its impact on population health outcomes. These findings emphasize the significance of strengthening primary care in the South Korean healthcare system to improve the overall health and wellbeing.

Citations

• What is the optimal number of physicians for a sustainable healthcare system?
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Reinforcing Primary Care in Korea: Policy Implications, Data Sources, and Research Methods
  Chung-Nyun Kim, Seok-Jun Yoon
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Obesity management in primary care: A joint clinical perspective and expert review from the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) - 2025
  Nicholas Pennings, Catherine Varney, Shaun Hines, Bernadette Riley, Patricia Happel, Samir Patel, Harold Edward Bays
  Obesity Pillars.2025; 14: 100172.     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
• Current Status and Future Directions of Primary Care in the World: Insights from Japan
  Sinyoung Cho, Belong Cho, Seo Eun Hwang
  Korean Journal of Family Practice.2025; 15(1): 22.     CrossRef
• Impact of general practitioners and specialists on mortality: a longitudinal study
  Akin Dayan, Erdinc Unal, Egemen Tural
  BMC Health Services Research.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Supply of Primary Care Physicians: A Key Strategy to Reduce Population Mortality
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(2): 59.     CrossRef
• Primary Care Physicians’ Important Role: Lifestyle Modification for Chronic Disease Management
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(5): 237.     CrossRef

Background
Physical activity is known to prevent several diseases and positively affect mental health. Previous studies have shown that smartphone addiction negatively affects the physical activity of children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between problematic smartphone use and physical activity among adolescents and the related factors using path analysis.
Methods
Using data from the 16th Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey from 2020, scores on the Smartphone Addiction Scale—Short Version for Adolescents, physical activity, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), academic performance, depression, smoking, drinking, and sitting time were assessed. Complex sampling and path analyses were performed.
Results
Of the total 54,948 students, 25.5% were smartphone risk users, including potential and high-risk users. The direct path coefficients of each factor indicated that female sex (-0.14 for male), low SES (-0.062), high academic performance (0.056), low sitting time for studying purposes (-0.033), high sitting time for non-studying purposes (0.071), and depressive mood (0.130) were related to problematic smartphone use (all P<0.001). Each factor affected problematic smartphone use, and subsequently had a negative effect on the amount of physical activity, with a direct path coefficient of -0.115 (P<0.001).
Conclusion
In this study, we confirmed that problematic smartphone use among adolescents was negatively associated with performing an adequate amount of physical activity and that various factors, such as sex, SES, academic performance, and sitting time, directly and indirectly affected this relationship.

Citations

• Global trends in importance of 24-hour movement behaviors to pediatric health: implications for South Korea
  Eun-Young Lee, Reyana Jayawardena, Seiyeong Park, Justin Y Jeon, Yeon-Soo Kim, Mark S. Tremblay
  Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics.2025; 68(1): 16.     CrossRef
• The Association between Problematic Smartphone Use and Mental Health in Austrian Adolescents and Young Adults
  Doris Mayerhofer, Katja Haider, Manuela Amon, Afsaneh Gächter, Teresa O’Rourke, Rachel Dale, Elke Humer, Thomas Probst, Christoph Pieh
  Healthcare.2024; 12(6): 600.     CrossRef
• 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet: Prevalence of Obesity and Abdominal Obesity in Adults, Adolescents, and Children in Korea from 2012 to 2021
  Su-Min Jeong, Jin-Hyung Jung, Ye Seul Yang, Wonsock Kim, In Young Cho, You-Bin Lee, Kye-Yeung Park, Ga Eun Nam, Kyungdo Han
  Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome.2024; 33(1): 27.     CrossRef
• Guidelines for physical activity counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Yun Jun Yang
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 265.     CrossRef
• Collaborative Physical Activity: Innovations in Primary Health Care and Educational Sector
  Fides A. del Castillo
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(3): 178.     CrossRef
• How is parental psychological control associated with adolescent mental health in economically disadvantaged areas? The serial mediating role of psychological reactance and problematic smartphone use
  Qiangqiang Li, Shuwen Wei, Zixiao Liu
  Frontiers in Psychiatry.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Depression, anxiety, and stress in the Chilean Educational System: children and adolescents post-pandemic prevalence and variables
  Jonathan Martínez-Líbano, María-Mercedes Yeomans-Cabrera
  Frontiers in Education.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Does Excessive Smartphone Use Reduce Physical Activity in Adolescents?
  Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(5): 247.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to examine the association between coffee or green tea consumption and ferritin or hemoglobin levels in premenopausal women.
Methods
We used the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012), and a total of 4,322 individuals were surveyed. In women of reproductive age, average ferritin and hemoglobin levels were calculated according to coffee or green tea consumption. Covariates included in the analysis were demographic variables, such as age, body mass index, education, drinking, smoking, history of hypertension, history of diabetes diagnosis, physical activity, total energy intake, and daily iron intake.
Results
In 4,322 participants, the average hemoglobin level was 12.90±0.02 g/dL, and the average level of ferritin was 31.95±0.67 ng/mL. As a result of testing, correlation between ferritin and coffee intake and difference in ferritin levels according to coffee consumption was significant (P<0.05). In this study, a post hoc test indicated that ferritin level significantly differed between one and two cups, two and three cups, and three and one cup groups (overall P<0.001). Additionally, there was a negative correlation between ferritin level and coffee intake; ferritin level decreased by 2.09 ng/mL with a one-cup increase in daily coffee consumption.
Conclusion
In premenopausal women, coffee intake is associated with low serum ferritin levels. Our results indicate that drinking >2 cups of coffee significantly affect ferritin levels in Korean premenopausal women.

Citations

• Accurate determination of aflatoxins in coffee by isotope dilution–ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
  Yared Getachew Lijalem, Hyeonwoo Yu, So Young Woo, Hyang Sook Chun, Kihwan Choi, Byungjoo Kim
  Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.2025; 145: 107836.     CrossRef
• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278.     CrossRef
• Dietary diversity and preferences among pregnant women and its association with anaemia
  Benedicta Twum - Dei, Richmond Aryeetey, Linda Nana Esi Aduku
  Nutrition & Food Science .2024; 54(4): 805.     CrossRef
• Association Between Tea Drinking and Anemia in Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Mekran Division, Balochistan, Pakistan
  Noman Sadiq, Yasmeen Gul, Muhammad M Bilal, Muhammad Afzal, Nasrin Mumtaz, Abdul Wahid
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Does tea intake increase the risk of anemia? Evidence from a large prospective cohort and Mendelian randomization study
  Rui Hang Zhang, Wei Sen Zhang, Chao Qiang Jiang, Feng Zhu, Ya Li Jin, Shiu Lun Au Yeung, Tai Hing Lam, Lin Xu, Jiao Wang
  Food & Function.2024; 15(18): 9552.     CrossRef
• A Comparative Study of the Effect Coffee and Tea on Some Parameters in the Rats Blood
  Sadiq Al-Mansury, Suhad J. Hadi, Hawraa H. Naji, Adnan M. Jassim, Shatha M. Abbas, Nada Khazal K. Hindi
  Medical Journal of Babylon.2024; 21(3): 627.     CrossRef
• Association between Coffee and Green Tea Consumption and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Korea
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(2): 69.     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

Citations

• Evaluation of the Quality of Educational Content of YouTube Videos on Silver Diamine Fluoride
  Prabhadevi C Maganur, Ganesh Jeevanandan, Apathsakayan Renugalakshmi, Varsha Manoharan, Satish Vishwanathaiah, Haider H Alhijji, Yazeed K Al-Shomrani, Almaha Yahya A Koriri, Jubarah Mohammed M Mergami, Fatimah Balqasim M Hakami, Ruba Mohammed A Salem, Ism
  International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry.2025; 17(12): 1399.     CrossRef
• Evaluation of the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on obstetric perineal tears
  F. Tellier, E. Vignozzi, R. Ramanah, N. Mottet, M. Lallemant
  European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.2025; 308: 228.     CrossRef
• Spanish language version of the “Medical Quality Video Evaluation Tool” (MQ-VET): Cross-cultural AI-supported adaptation and validation study
  Alvaro Manuel Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Marta De la Fuente-Costa, Mario Escalera de la Riva, Borja Perez-Dominguez, Sergio Hernandez-Sanchez, Gustavo Paseiro-Ares, Fernando Ramos-Gomez, Jose Casaña-Granell, María Blanco-Diaz
  Science Progress.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278.     CrossRef
• Evaluation of YouTube videos as a source of information on facial paralysis exercises
  Onur Engin, Ayşe Sezgi Kızılırmak Karataş, Betül Taşpınar, Ferruh Taşpınar
  NeuroRehabilitation: An International, Interdisciplinary Journal.2024; 55(4): 531.     CrossRef
• Analysis of the quality and credibility of health-related content on YouTube: cross-sectional study
  M. Mukhamediyarov, B. Nurmashev, D. Bekaryssova
  Central Asian Journal of Medical Hypotheses and Ethics.2024; 5(4): 269.     CrossRef

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
Despite increased clinical and research interest in sarcopenia, even in Asia, not much is known about the association between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms. Sarcopenia and depressive symptoms are associated with several health problems in older adults; therefore, we investigated the association between sarcopenia and depression in Korean older adults.
Methods
The study sample included 1,929 participants aged over 60 years (44.6% men; mean age, 69.7 years) from nationally representative data of the 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey. Possible sarcopenia was defined according to the diagnostic algorithm of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019; however, we measured only hand-grip strength (kg) in this study. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for screening for symptoms of depression. A cross-sectional analysis was used to examine the relationship between possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms.
Results
Possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms were identified in 538 (27.9%) and 97 (5.0%) participants, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and other potential covariates, possible sarcopenia was positively associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.36–3.11; P<0.001).
Conclusion
Possible sarcopenia was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in Korean older adults. Early interventions for possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms in routine clinical practice could help Korean older adults to have healthy aging. Future studies are required to explore any causal relationship between possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms in Korean older adults.

Citations

• Social media-based Health Education plus Exercise Program (SHEEP) to improve muscle function among young-old adults with possible sarcopenia in the community: A feasibility study protocol
  Ya Shi, Emma Stanmore, Lisa McGarrigle, Chris Todd, Marina De Rui
  PLOS ONE.2025; 20(1): e0303481.     CrossRef
• Association between sarcopenia components and depressed mood varies by sex among community-dwelling older adults from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study
  Yong Soon Park, Keunjoong Yoo, Hye Jin Kim, Miji Kim, Chang Won Won
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Bidirectional association between sarcopenia and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Xiangpeng Meng, Ze Wang, Linyu Lyu
  Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.2025; 132: 105787.     CrossRef
• Association between handgrip strength, handgrip strength asymmetry, and anxiety in Korean older adults: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2022
  Sang-Youn Choi, Su-Min Park, Eun-Cheol Park, Marina De Rui
  PLOS ONE.2025; 20(4): e0315256.     CrossRef
• Relationship between dietary protein and amino acid intake and handgrip strength in Korean adults: data from the 2014–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
  Hyunji Ham, Sumin Kim, Kyungho Ha
  Nutrition Journal.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Análisis de la relación entre sarcopenia y síntomas depresivos en adultos mayores: una revisión de alcance
  Miguel Ángel Hernández Real, Uriel Nahum Hernández Puebla
  RESPYN Revista Salud Pública y Nutrición.2024; 23(2): 23.     CrossRef

Background
Since the introduction of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in Korea in 2017, their annual sales have increased. Several studies have investigated the perceptions of HTPs and smoking cessation behaviors. For the first time, In 2019, questions focused on HTP use were introduced in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES). This study aimed to compare smoking cessation behaviors between HTP users and conventional cigarette smokers using KNHANES data.
Methods
Data of 947 current adult smokers from the 8th KNHNES (2019) were analyzed. Current smokers were divided into conventional cigarette (CC)–only, HTP-only, and dual-use groups. The general characteristics of the three groups were investigated. Differences in current intention to quit smoking and past attempts to quit smoking among the three groups were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis by IBM SPSS ver. 25.0.
Results
HTP-only users demonstrated fewer future smoking cessation plans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.398; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.195–0.813; P=0.012) and fewer smoking cessation attempts in the past year (AOR, 0.533; 95% CI, 0.298–0.954; P=0.034) than CC-only smokers. However, there was no significant difference between dual-use (CC+HTP) and CC-only smokers.
Conclusion
While dual-use and CC-only smokers showed similar smoking cessation behaviors, HTP-only users had fewer previous attempts to quit smoking and were less likely to be currently ready to quit smoking. These findings can be explained by a decrease in the need to quit smoking due to the convenience of HTP and the perception that HTPs are less harmful than CC.

Citations

• Association between type of smoking and smoking cessation plans in Korean adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study
  Kitae Park, Dan Bi Kim, Jae Yong Shin, Chung-Mo Nam, Eun-Cheol Park
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2025; 23(February): 1.     CrossRef
• Neue Konsumformen von Nikotin
  Anna Rahofer, Katharina Sternberg, Tobias Rüther, Andrea Rabenstein
  PSYCH up2date.2025; 19(03): 217.     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef
• Three in four smokers want to quit tobacco (reference to reassessing the smoking target in Japan): findings from the JASTIS2021 study
  Masayuki Sugihara, Takahiro Tabuchi
  Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.2024; 29: 28.     CrossRef
• A Scoping Review of Behavioural Studies on Heated Tobacco Products
  Ian M Fearon, Sarah F Cordery, Martin Fitzpatrick, Sarah Weaver, Matthew Stevenson, Erika Grandolfo, Layla Malt, Keith Thompson, Thomas Nahde
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Is Using Heated Tobacco Products Helpful in Smoking Cessation?
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(3): 127.     CrossRef

Citations

• What is the optimal number of physicians for a sustainable healthcare system?
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Reinforcing Primary Care in Korea: Policy Implications, Data Sources, and Research Methods
  Chung-Nyun Kim, Seok-Jun Yoon
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2025;[Epub]     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
• Primary Care Physicians’ Important Role: Lifestyle Modification for Chronic Disease Management
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(5): 237.     CrossRef
• Reducing Population Mortality through Primary Care Physicians
  John Patrick Cruz Toledo
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(5): 301.     CrossRef

Cancer, or malignancy, continues to be one of the most serious health problems in the world, leading to death and disability. Unlike in previous years, where new cases of cancer were predominant in developed nations, the number of cases of cancer and the resultant deaths are increasing in low- and middle-income countries. This is partially attributable to the current trend of adopting a Western lifestyle, substantial urbanization, and the rise in infections, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), which together account for over 30% of cancer cases in underdeveloped and developing nations. The deleterious impact of cancer, as cases multiply worldwide, is multi-dimensional. Cancer exerts serious physical, psychological, and monetary burdens, not only on cancer patients but also on their family members, close friends, health care systems, and society at large. Importantly, over half of all cancer types can be prevented globally by mitigating the risk and causative factors as well as prompt adherence to scientifically recommended prevention measures. This review provides various scientifically based and people-centered strategies that every individual could adopt to reduce their risk of developing cancer in the future. It is recommended that, for these cancer prevention strategies to be effective, there should be a strong political will from the governments of individual countries to enact specific laws and implement policies that will significantly reduce sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating among the general public. Likewise, HPV and HBV vaccines, as well as cancer screenings, should be made available, affordable, and accessible on a timely basis for those who are eligible to take them. Finally, intensified campaigns and numerous informative and educational programs that promote cancer prevention should be initiated globally.

Citations

• Vegan Diet: A Novel Trend in Healthy Living
  Gaithaongamliu Kamei, Prasad Rasane, Jyoti Singh, Sawinder Kaur, Mahendra Gunjal, Jaspreet Kaur, Raghav Gupta, Dipendra Kumar Mahato, Sushma Gurumayum, Sunil Kumar Dwivedi
  Current Nutrition & Food Science.2024; 20(8): 952.     CrossRef
• Rising potentials of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) loaded lipid-based delivery platforms for breast cancer
  Sagnik Nag, Adrija Bhunia, Sourav Mohanto, Mohammed Gulzar Ahmed, Vetriselvan Subramaniyan
  Discover Applied Sciences.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Exploring the Role of Artificial Light and Tanning for Skin Cancer
  Muhammad Majid, Abdul Qayoom, Ali Haider
  Indus Journal of Bioscience Research.2024; 2(2): 1506.     CrossRef
• Exploring the Role of Artificial Light and Tanning for Skin Cancer
  Muhammad Majid, Abdul Qayoom, Ali Haider
  Indus Journal of Bioscience Research.2024; 2(2): 1584.     CrossRef
• Application of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Using Medical Images: A Systematic Review
  Olusola Olabanjo, Ashiribo Wusu, Mauton Asokere, Oseni Afisi, Basheerat Okugbesan, Olufemi Olabanjo, Olusegun Folorunso, Manuel Mazzara
  Analytics.2023; 2(3): 708.     CrossRef

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

Long coronavirus disease (COVID), also known as the post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PASC), is a significant concern since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it still manifests in individuals with persistent symptoms and complications beyond the acute phase of infection. Defining this disease is challenging, as it manifests as a spectrum of symptoms varying in severity among individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19. Long COVID is more prevalent in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and presents in various ways, ranging from pulmonary to extrapulmonary symptoms. This literature review examines the current body of research on long COVID with a focus on its effects on the cardiovascular, hematological, respiratory, renal, and neurological systems with systematically analyzed, peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the PubMed database. There have been several proposed pathophysiological mechanisms by which severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 affects the aforementioned organ systems; however, research on the definite mechanisms is lacking, especially when considering the management of long COVID in the perioperative setting. The impact of post-COVID sequelae necessitates individualized management strategies tailored to each symptomatic profile, particularly in patients with comorbidities. The COVID-19 pandemic affected millions of people and had a profound impact on those who developed PASC, lowering their quality of life and increasing potential surgical risks. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the specific risk factors for long COVID and who is most susceptible to it. Further research is required to fill these gaps and explore potential avenues for preventing PASC.

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 Development and Initial Validation of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Long COVID (MSAS-LC): A Promising Tool for Measuring Long COVID
  Sadie B. Sommer, Mary S. Dietrich, Julie V. Barroso
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(5): 728.     CrossRef
• Regulatory systems and scientific evidence for health functional foods in Korea
  Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2025; 68(5): 311.     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

Medication review is an intervention with the potential to reduce drug-related problems (DRPs) in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the effect of pharmacists’ medication reviews on geriatric patients. This study accessed two online databases, MEDLINE Complete and Scopus, and examined all studies published in English between 2019 and 2023, except for reviews. The studies included (1) participants over 65 years of age and (2) medication reviews conducted by pharmacists. The titles, abstracts, and full texts were reviewed for data extraction to determine whether the studies satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Forty-four of the initial 709 articles were included in this study. The articles included discussions on the incidence rates of DRPs and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) (n=21), hospitalization (n=14), medication adherence (n=9), quality of life (QoL) (n=8), and falls (n=7). Pharmacist medication reviews were associated with a reduced incidence of DRPs and PIMs, and improved adherence to medications. Patients’ overall QoL is also increasing. However, pharmacist medication reviews were not strongly associated with decreased hospitalization or falls. A pharmacist’s medication review may be a feasible intervention for reducing the incidence rates of DRPs and PIMs, regardless of whether it is performed as a sole intervention or supplemented with other interventions. The intervention was also effective in increasing medication adherence and QoL.

Citations

• Quality of prescribing and health-related quality of life in older adults: a narrative review with a special focus on patients with atrial fibrillation and multimorbidity
  Cheima Amrouch, Deirdre A. Lane, Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga, Mirko Petrovic, Delphine De Smedt
  European Geriatric Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Erratum: The Impact of Pharmacist Medication Reviews on Geriatric Patients: A Scoping Review
  Nor Liana Che Yaacob, Mathumalar Loganathan, Nur Azwa Hisham, Habibah Kamaruzzaman, Khairil Anuar Md Isa, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Kwok-Wen Ng
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(4): 235.     CrossRef
• Application of the Statin-Associated Muscle Symptoms-Clinical Index to a Cohort of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Phlebotomy at an Endocrinology Clinic
  Nor Humaira Mohd Tajudin, Mathumalar Loganathan Fahrni, Rohana Abdul Ghani, Mohd Hazriq Awang, Hitesh Chopra, Ali Saleh Alkhoshaiban
  Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics.2024; 15(4): 389.     CrossRef
• Contribución de los Farmacéuticos Comunitarios en la detección y notificación de reacciones adversas en Andalucía
  Miguel Romero Pérez, Manuel Sánchez Polo, José Alberto Ayala Ortiz, Blanca Contreras Aguilar, María José Zarzuelo-Romero
  Ars Pharmaceutica (Internet).2024; 66(1): 25.     CrossRef

Background
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) recently became a leading liver disease that threatens health worldwide. Low muscle strength, obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome are recognized key factors for NAFLD. However, the impact of low muscle strength itself in different metabolic conditions has not been widely studied.
Methods
A cross-sectional analysis was performed of a sample of 5,427 participants from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Relative handgrip strength (rHGS, defined as handgrip strength/body mass index) was used to assess muscle strength. The cut-off values for a low rHGS were 1.405 for men and 0.850 for women. NAFLD was diagnosed if the Hepatic Steatosis Index was >36. Participants were stratified according to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and central obesity for the subgroup analyses.
Results
Complex sample multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between low muscle strength and NAFLD after the adjustment for other confounders (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; P<0.001). In the insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and central obesity subgroups, a significant association between low muscle strength and NAFLD remained (OR, 1.66–4.19 depending on subgroup; all P<0.05), whereas it did not in the no central obesity group.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that low muscle strength is correlated with a risk of NAFLD. This relationship was independent of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome but was dependent on the presence of central obesity.

Citations

• Possible association between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease predictors and hand grip strength
  Suyeon Lee, Jong-Koo Kim, Taesic Lee
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association Between Relative Grip Strength, Insulin Resistance, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study
  DooYong Park, Byungul Lim, On Lee
  Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The impact of appendicular skeletal muscle index and trunk muscle index on stress urinary incontinence risk in female adults: a retrospective study
  Junwei Wang, Cunming Zhang, Aiwei Zhang
  Frontiers in Nutrition.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Joint Association of Relative Grip Strength and Regular Exercise Participation with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study
  Sujung Yoo, Dooyong Park
  The Korean Journal of Sports Medicine.2024; 42(4): 262.     CrossRef

Background
With the growth of the Internet, social media platforms have emerged as major sources of medical information. We assessed the reliability, quality, and accuracy of the most-viewed YouTube videos containing information on the effect of vitamin C on the common cold.
Methods
The YouTube videos were searched on August 1, 2022, using the keywords: (“ascorbic acid” OR “vitamin C” OR “Sodium Ascorbate” OR “L-ascorbic”) AND “common cold”. The 30 most-viewed videos were included in our study. The reliability and quality of the videos were analyzed using modified DISCERN and Global Quality Scales, respectively. When the videos included at least one correct or inaccurate scientific statement about the effect of vitamin C on the common cold, they were classified as accurate or misleading videos, respectively; those without any pertinent information were considered neither accurate nor misleading. If a video contained both accurate and inaccurate statements, it was classified as misleading.
Results
Of the 30 most-viewed videos, 73% were unreliable, and 67% contained misleading information and were of a poor quality. Of these 30 videos, 14 videos were produced and posted by customers who were not specialized in medicine or nutrition. Moreover, these videos were of significantly lower reliability, quality, and accuracy than those produced by nutrition or fitness channels or by medical or nutrition professionals.
Conclusion
The reliability, quality, and accuracy of videos uploaded by non-professionals were low. Therefore, video creators should upload reliable, high-quality videos to ensure the dissemination of accurate medical information.

Citations

• Regulatory systems and scientific evidence for health functional foods in Korea
  Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2025; 68(5): 311.     CrossRef
• Characteristics of the most viewed Hybrid Assistive Limb-related videos on YouTube
  Makoto Nagasawa, Sho Nakamura, Hiroto Narimatsu
  Health Informatics Journal.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278.     CrossRef
• YouTube, Health Information, and Health Literacy
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(6): 301.     CrossRef

Background
Although Indonesia has a considerable proportion of adolescent smokers, nationally representative studies of its determinants remain limited. The 2015 Indonesian Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was conducted with school-age adolescents and provided information about smoking behavior. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, determinants, and correlates of tobacco use among adolescents in Indonesia using the GSHS survey.
Methods
A secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2015 Indonesian GSHS. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the determinants and correlates of tobacco use.
Results
Our analysis showed that 9.1% of school-age adolescents had used tobacco products in the past 30 days. Most were 13–15 years (61.7%) and had attempted to stop smoking (92.4%). After adjusting for covariates, significant risk factors associated with tobacco smoking were older age groups (prevalence odds ratio [POR], 3.01–9.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–23.1), male (POR, 13.7; 95% CI, 8.71–21.5), psychological distress (POR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.05–1.90), smoking exposure (POR, 1.98–2.15; 95% CI, 1.35–3.42), and when both parents smoked (POR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.78–4.94). In addition, tobacco use was associated with other risky behaviors, including sex with multiple partners, using drugs, drinking alcohol, and being involved in physical fights.
Conclusion
Tobacco use is high among Indonesian adolescents. This prevalence highlights the need for a more stringent tobacco control policy and tailored cessation programs for adolescents by considering important modifiable determinants of tobacco use among adolescents, including risky smoking-related behaviors.

Citations

• Associação entre consumo de álcool, tabagismo e atividade física em adolescentes escolares sul-americanos
  José Ywgne, André Oliveira Werneck, Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, Diego Giulliano Destro Christófaro, Fernanda Castro Monteiro, Ingrid Kelly Alves dos Santos Pinheiro, Kabir Prem Sadarangani, Rafael Miranda Tassitano, Danilo Rodrigues Pereira da Silva
  Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde.2025; 29: 1.     CrossRef
• Predictor of smoking cessation among school-going adolescents in Indonesia: a secondary analysis based on the transtheoretical model of behavioral change
  Omid Dadras
  Frontiers in Psychiatry.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef
• Exploring Behavioral and Pharmacological Interventions against Excessive Tobacco Use
  Dalmacito A. Cordero
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(4): 231.     CrossRef

Citations

• The Crucial Role of Political Will in Advancing Primary Health Care
  Dalmacito A. Cordero Jr
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 56.     CrossRef
• Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278.     CrossRef
• Disease prevention measures applicable to primary healthcare clinics
  Jae-Heon Kang
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 226.     CrossRef
• How to Strengthen Primary Care? The Integration of Clinical Practice and Community Health Care
  Erlina Wijayanti
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(3): 176.     CrossRef

Background
There is a shortage of general practitioners in Japan. With the revision of educational guidelines, general practice (GP) education has improved. However, the amount of education on GP in medical schools remains inconsistent. This study examined the relationship between medical students’ amount of GP-related education and their subsequent choice of GP majors.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a teaching hospital in Japan. Participants were residents in the hospital. The exposure comprised compulsory lectures and training time for community-based medicine in medical schools. The outcome included participants choosing GP majors after their initial 2-year junior residency.
Results
Fifty-one participants were included in the final analysis. Of these, 14 majored in GP and 37 in non-GP after their initial 2-year junior residency. Of the participants who took GP lectures for 18 hours or more, 11 chose GP majors, and 18 chose non-GP majors (risk ratio, 2.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88–8.79). Of the participants who underwent training for 12 days or more, 10 chose GP majors, and 16 chose non-GP majors (risk ratio, 2.40; 95% CI, 0.87–6.68).
Conclusion
The results do not support the association between the amount of compulsory undergraduate education for community-based medicine and the subsequent increase in the number of residents choosing GP majors in Japan. Educators would do well to explore different approaches, such as improving the quality of education to increase the number of GP residents. Further research is needed to reach more definitive conclusions.

Citations

• Rethinking community‐based clinical training in Japan: Toward a more effective model for increasing the number of general practice physicians
  Masanobu Okayama
  Journal of General and Family Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Distribution of internal medicine rotations among resident physicians in Japan: a nationwide, multicenter, cross-sectional study
  Kiyoshi Shikino, Miwa Sekine, Yuji Nishizaki, Yu Yamamoto, Taro Shimizu, Sho Fukui, Kazuya Nagasaki, Daiki Yokokawa, Takashi Watari, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Yasuharu Tokuda
  BMC Medical Education.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Strengthening Primary Health Care through Medical Education
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(4): 181.     CrossRef
• Factors associated with regional retention of physicians: a cross-sectional online survey of medical students and graduates in Japan
  Soichi Koike, Kentaro Okazaki, Akiko Tokinobu, Masatoshi Matsumoto, Kazuhiko Kotani, Hitomi Kataoka
  Human Resources for Health.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef

Citations

• Health information quality of online newspaper articles in Korea
  Hangyeol Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 77.     CrossRef
• Coronavirus-related health literacy level of Turkish adults: psychometric properties of the scale
  Pınar Soylar, Fatma Özlem Öztürk, Sibel Sönmez
  Health Promotion International.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Factors influencing health literacy in overweight management among late adolescents in Thailand: A cross-sectional study
  Piyanan Narmkul, Somkiattiyos Woradet, Thongchai Armartpundit, Surachai Maninet, Nopparat Songserm
  Belitung Nursing Journal.2024; 10(5): 563.     CrossRef
• YouTube, Health Information, and Health Literacy
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(6): 301.     CrossRef

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is notable among infectious diseases for its distinctive impact, which has halted millions of livelihoods owing to strict social distancing rules and lockdowns. Consequently, millions of individuals have turned to online sources, particularly social media, to remain informed about the virus. The transition to digital sources has resulted in an abundance of information, including both accurate and misleading or false content being shared and consumed on online platforms, contributing to what is commonly referred to as an “infodemic.” Although these platforms have been valuable tools for healthcare professionals and public health authorities in disseminating crucial public health messages, they have also aided in the spread of misleading and false information. The widespread dissemination of false information has been instrumental in propagating harmful beliefs and behaviors such as vaccine hesitancy, promoting discriminatory attitudes, and endorsing false beliefs about the efficacy of certain therapeutic products for treating COVID-19. False information has undoubtedly become a challenge and burden for governments, health professionals, and the general population. This review has three main objectives: (1) to assess the scope of the “infodemic” issue, including investigating the factors contributing to the spread of false information online; (2) to examine the multifaceted consequences resulting from false information; and (3) to argue that an interdisciplinary, multi-layered approach, encompassing a focus on prevention, deterrence, and education, should be adopted to prevent the conception and dissemination of false information in this modern digital age.

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
• Clustering vaccine hesitancy and social media use of nurses and nursing students: a cross-sectional study
  Dania Comparcini, Valentina Simonetti, Melania Totaro, Letizia Governatori, Francesco Pastore, Antonio Di Lorenzo, Silvio Tafuri, Jeremia Keisala, Kristina Mikkonen, John Unsworth, Marco Tomietto, Giancarlo Cicolini
  Applied Nursing Research.2025; : 151976.     CrossRef
• The Interconnected Nature of Smoking, Depression, and Obesity in Behavioral Medicine
  Joung Sik Son
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(4): 181.     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
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

Manifestations of gender-based violence although many, and sometimes more pronounced in areas of armed conflict, go unnoticed due to multiple factors. Gender-based violence targeted towards women, affect their overall health negatively, particularly the reproductive well-being. Major conflicts arising in the Middle East over the past 10–15 years, ranging from the Arab uprising to the Syrian civil war, have drawn attention world-wide. This study aims to shed light on the importance of recognizing violence against women, its effect on their reproductive health, and the policies that should be implemented to limit its adverse impact. Towards this end, we have highlighted the important role played by all healthcare professionals, epidemiologists, and surveyors working in peace and war areas to recognize such atrocities towards women.

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
• Correction: Gender-Based Violence and Women Reproductive Health in War Affected Area
  Manar Shalak, Favour Ekerete Markson, Manoj Nepal
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(5): 302.     CrossRef

Background
Appropriate nutrition is necessary for maintaining good health in the general population. During primary physician training, it is important to educate residents on the basic concepts of nutrition and methods to manage nutritional aspects according to various disease. However, little is known about the perception of nutritional education among Korean family medicine residents. This study analyzed the recognition of the importance of nutritional education, the amount received, and satisfaction with it as well as self-perceived competency in various nutrition topics among residents.
Methods
Web-based questionnaires were sent via mobile messages to all the residents registered with the Korean Academy of Family Medicine (KAFM). Out of 566 residents, 68 voluntarily participated in the study. The questionnaire consisted of 41 items related to perceptions of nutrition education, self-perceived competency in nutrition topics, and demographic characteristics.
Results
The response rate was 12.01%. Residents rated their satisfaction with nutrition education at 4.78 out of 10, and 83.3% considered it important. However, only 13.24% of the participants felt that it was adequate. The most common training method for nutrition education was lectures at KAFM conferences. Among the 29 nutritional topics, the residents reported highest confidence in subjects related to chronic diseases such as obesity (77.94%), diabetes (75%), cardiovascular disease (67.65%), gastrointestinal disorders (67.65%), and weight loss management (67.65%). Conversely, topics related to women (36.76%), children and adolescents (38.23%), drug-nutrient interactions (39.7%), eating disorders (42.64%), and food labels (42.64%) showed low self-perceived confidence rates.
Conclusion
Korean family medicine residents value nutrition education but believe that more education is necessary and they demonstrate differences in self-perceived competency in various nutrition topics.

Citations

• Regulatory systems and scientific evidence for health functional foods in Korea
  Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2025; 68(5): 311.     CrossRef
• Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278.     CrossRef
• Factores determinantes de la intención de compra de productos cárnicos procesados saludables
  Diego Romero-Sánchez, Edicson Mauricio Rincón Soledad, Mónica Alejandra Arredondo Nontién, Sandra Milena Vásquez Mejía, Dursun Barrios
  Revista CEA.2024; 11(25): e3095.     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