Background
To collect basic data which of conceptions about cold by age, sex, education state, economic state, this survey was carried out in a workers' periodic health examination. Methods: 1,056 workers who are working at the one company were included for this survey from Jun 1 to July 7 2006. We obtained self-reported questionnaire from them. The contents of the questionnaire were the general characteristics of workers, the cause and the management of cold. We analyzed true recognition ratio of conception about cold by age, sex, education state, and economic state. Results: According to sex and economic state, true recognition ratio was not different. According to age, 'Virus', 'Germ', 'Cold weather' were lowest above fifties about the cause of cold. 'Self-limited disease', 'Flu vaccination prevents cold', 'Percussion to chest is helpful to remove sputum', 'Inhaling warm steam is helpful to decrease nasal obstruction', 'Washing hands is helpful to prevent cold', 'Many people crowd in a area are susceptible to cold' were lowest above fifties about the management of cold. According to education state, 'Virus', 'Food' were highest above fifties. Except 'Medicine cures fast', 'Injection therapy cures fast', 'Tonsillectomy prevents cold', the others were highest in the above college education. According to education state by age group, only 'Virus' in the forties and 'Virus, 'Food' in the above fifties were highest. 'Flu vaccination prevents cold' in the twenties, 'Injection therapy cures fast' in the forties, 'Medicine cures fast' and 'Injection therapy cures fast' were lowest in the above college education. Conclusion: Age, education level were significantly related to true recognition ratio of conception about cold. So we had to educate low recognition ratio of conceptions.

Background
After the referral system had been established, a tendency of patients who prefer to consult themselves to a specialist with 'self requested referral' is increasing in university hospital family medicine clinics. This study was conducted to know which factors of patients who for the fi rst time visited university hospital family medicine clinic to require medical request for 'self requested referral' to a specialist infl uence 'self requested referral' tendency. Methods: Among 905 patients, 647 agreed to the questionnaire were included in this study. We divided the patients in two, the 'self requested referral' group and the 'general patients' group that does not. Patients completed a four-item, selfadministered questionnaire. Results: 'Self requested referral' group tended to have no experience in family medicine and tended to be negative about the need for family medicine (P < 0.001) The factors that have effect on 'self requested referral' are age, occupation, education, experience of family medicine, and recognition degree of necessity of family medicine. Patients in 20-39 of age, who were white colored, higher education had higher tendency of 'self requested referral' and patients who had no experience in family medicine and lower degree of recognition about the necessity of family medicine had higher tendency of 'self-referral'. Conclusion: It is necessary to fi nd ways to increase satisfaction of patients who have factors that have effect on their 'self requested referral' tendency such as age, occupation, education, experience of family medicine, and degree of recognition about the necessity of family medicine.

Background
Many patients with "cold hands/feet syndrome" have been taking herbal medicine or medicine to improve blood circulation without proven evidence. Raynaud's disease had been neglected in primary care. This study was conducted to investigate the recognition for Raynaud's disease and "cold hands/feet syndrome" by family doctors. Methods: A questionnaire was posted to 905 family doctors who were in practice from January to July 2003. Results: Among the 274 respondents, 58 (21%) reported that they have seen patients with "sensitive to cold" frequently and 208 (76%) doctors have seen such patients sometimes. Only 8 (3%) doctors answered that they have never seen patients with such symptoms. When such patients see a doctor and complain of "cold hands/feet syndrome", most doctors (60%) prescribed medicine that improved blood circulation (83%) or calcium channel blockers (9%). In case of questions like 'Do you suspect "cold hands/feet syndrome" or "sensitive to cold" contain Raynaud's disease?', 132 (48%) doctors answered 'yes'. And among the 132 doctors, only 15 (11.2%) doctors thought that those patients with "cold hands/feet syndrome" had Raynaud's disease. In addition when the doctors diagnosed the condition as Raynaud's disease, 54% prescribed medicine that improved blood circulation (52%) or calcium channel blockers (40%). Conclusion: Most doctors prescribe medicine that improves blood circulation for cold hands/feet syndrome. Many doctors also prescribe medicine to improve blood circulation for Raynaud's disease frequently. The result of our study suggests that there is a need to train doctors so that recognized and diagnosed Raynaud's disease can be correctly. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007;28:339-345)

Background
: Stomach cancer is the most common cancer in Korea. Lifelong health management program recommends that males over 40 years and women over 50 years should undergo stomach cancer screening by endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal series every two years. The importance of re-screening of stomach cancer in a high risk group is emphasized.

Methods : A telephone questionnaire was done one year after to 123 patients over 40 years old considered as a high risk group with either chronic atropic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, gastric ulcer, gastric adenoma among 804 subjects who had undergone an endoscopic examination from February 2002 to June 2003 at a university hospital health promotion center.

Results : The number of patients who responded were 109. The average recognition rate of high risk group was 53.2%. The rate of recognition of high risk group was lower in good subjective health estimation group and in less educated group, in old age group, and in chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia group. The rate of not receiving re-screening after 1 year was 48 (44.0%). Re-screening rate in patients with intestinal metaplasia (35.3%) and chronic atropic gastritis (39.1%) compared to gastric ulcer (77.8%) and gastric polyp (90.0%), in those not recognizing themselves as high risk group, in low education group, in old age, was lower.

Conclusion : In patients with chronic atropic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, in those not recognizing themselves as high risk group, in old age and in good subjective health state. We need to educate the importance for regular screening of stomach cancer more intensively.

Background
: Numerous diabetes patients do not know the name of hypoglycemic agents that they are taking, even though they have taken them for a long time. The aim of this study was to find out the percentage of diabetes patients who recognize the name of their hypoglycemic agents and to clarify whether such recognition have effect on their glycemic control.

Methods : A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was done from March to May 2004, targeting inpatients and outpatients who had been taking oral hypoglycemic agents for diabetes treatment in 2 hospitals.

Results : 134 patients (89.3%) of 150 completed the questionnaire. Only 20 (14.9%) patients accurately knew the name of at least one of the hypoglycemic agents they were taking. Smoking (P=0.0086), recognition of the name of hypoglycemic agents (P＜0.0001), history of change of prescribed hypoglycemic agents (P=0.0095), diet and exercise (P＜0.0001), explanation of hypoglycemic agents (P=0.0231), and forgetting to take medicine (P＜0.0001) were significantly related to the HbA1c level. Among these factors, history of change of prescribed hypoglycemic agents (P=0.0006), diet and exercise (P=0.0002), and forgetting to take medicine (P＜0.0001) were the independent related factors after adjustment.

Conclusion : The recognition rate of the name of hypoglycemic agents was low. It may be associated with patients' HbA1c, but was not an independent related factor.

Background
: As the average lifespan of human increases, osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures have become major health care problems. Despite recent advances in medical treatment, few studies have assessed the recognition of osteoporosis in general adults. This study examined the recognition of osteoporosis and analysed the relating factors.

Methods : We made a survey in a rural area called Chunjunlee in Chunchon city. The questionnaire contained general characteristics of people, sociocultural factors, questions constructed to know the recognition of osteoporosis and factors that were presumed to influence people's recognition of osteoporosis. DEXA was performed on those who visited our medical office free of charge.

Results : The total number of people who responded to the questionnaire was 204. They were composed of 81 men and 123 women. Among the total, 83% of women and 72.8% of men said that they had heard about osteoporosis. There was no significant recognition score difference between men and women. In the items of recognition, wrong answer rate concerning the association between osteoporosis and musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis and low back pain was above 90%. The significant factors that influenced its recognition were age, education level, menopause state and newspaper/ magazine subscription. All men who were diagnosed with osteoporosis on DEXA initially said that they did not have osteoporosis.

Conclusion : Many people had a conceptual confusion between osteoporosis and other muscular skeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis and low back pain. Physicians played no significant role in improvement of people's recognition of osteoporosis. Generally, men thought that osteoporosis was a problem in women only.

Background
: Osteoporosis has been thought of as a disease of women, but the incidence of male osteoporosis is increasing and is expected to keep rising due to alcohol abuse, smoking and increased life expectancy for men. This study was done to evaluate how many men recognized the significance of osteoporosis and its management.

Methods : There were 138 male subjects who underwent Bone Mineral Density (DEXA) from January 2000 to August 2003 at Sung Nam Central Hospital. We reviewed their BMD results and formed questionnaires which were constructed to evaluate men's recognition and treatment realities of osteoporosis. Telephone interviews and mailing services were utilized. The respondents were 96 (69.6%) and analysis was done.

Results : The average age of the 138 men was 55. Among them, there were 55 (39.9%) and 68 (49.3%) men who had been diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis, respectively. Information on osteoporosis was obtained mainly from mass media like TV and newspaper (57.3% of total answers). The reason for undergoing test for osteoporosis was related to the annual screening tests (40.6% of total answers). Most of these people were likely to ignore the significance of osteoporosis, because only 26 percent answered they should receive proper treatment in case of osteoporosis although they did not have any symptoms at the time of the diagnosis. Among these osteoporotic patients, 76.7 percent did not seek any medical care and the most common reason for refusal to treatment was no existing symptoms for osteoporosis. Among the total, 67.4 percent of the patients said there had been no change of life behavior after the diagnosis.

Conclusion : We found that men had relatively more knowledge of osteoporosis than we expected, but they knew little about the need for treatment and possible severe complications like major fractures that may occur. Also, we found the diagnosis of osteoporosis has little effect on behavioral changes. In conclusion, family physicians should take more interest in the education of patients to increase compliance for its treatment.

Background
: Doctor shopping is common in Korea. Therefore, if patients are not familiar with the name of the antihypertensive drug they are taking, they may end up taking a drug that previously caused them side effects and may have to start on a new antihypertensive drug. This study was to clarify the factors related to patients' recognition of the name of their antihypertensive medications.

Methods : A questionnaire survey was done in June 2002 targeting 607 outpatients who were on antihypertensive medication seeking care at Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University Hospital and a clinic in Gyungju. Out of the 607 patients, 293 patients responded to the questionnaire.

Results : Ninety six of the 293 patients (32.8%) were able to accurately name at least one of the antihypertensive drugs they were taking. Women were more familiar with names of antihypertensive drugs than men (39.4% vs 23.6%, odds ratio [O.R], 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39∼5.22). The recognition of a drug was greater in subjects who had a higher education level (high school or university) compared to those with a lower education level (elementary school or less) by 4.2 fold (O.R, 4.20; CI, 1.64∼10.69). The type of concomitant drug intake was lower in subjects who could name their antihypertensive drugs than for subjects who could not (O.R, 0.78; CI, 0.63∼0.98). The patients who could name their antihypertensive drugs had both a lower mean systolic (133.2±11.6 mmHg: mean±standard deviation [S.D] vs 141.3±15.5 mmHg: mean±S.D) and diastolic blood pressure, compared to the patients who could not (84.5±7.2 mmHg: mean±S.D vs 86.8±9.5 mmHg: mean±S.D) when measured twice consecutively during a recent clinic visit.

Conclusion : The recognition of a medication was associated with patient's sex, education level and the number of concomitant drug intake. The patients, who could name the antihypertensive drugs they were taking, had a lower mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Background
: Recently, the prevalence of obesity has increased due to the development of industries and westernized diet pattern. Also, chronic diseases associated with obesity have increased as well. Although management of obese patients is important in health promotion program, there is no data that support recognition and management of the obesity in primary care. Therefore, surveys concerning such issues were done among internists and family physicians in Seoul.

Methods : In 1997 May, questionnaire was sent by mail to each 887 internists and family physicians working in primary care in Seoul.

Results : A total of 186 replied to the questionnaire consisting of 21% of the total. The proportion of respondents who replied that obesity is a problem for management was 66.3%. Diet control and exercise was recognized as the most effective treatment method 82.1% of respondents recognized that failure to control weight was due to patients themselves. Personal experience in managing obesity patients using informational sources was only 14.5%. The proportion of respondents replied that those whose weight and height were measured for all first-visit patients was 50%, that obese patients received care in was 71%. Behavior modifications, diet control, and exercise were widely recommended, but drug therapy was not. 73.6% of respondents simple explained to control weight to obese patients, but only 17.1% continuously evaluated and managed them.

Conclusion : The degree of recognitions for obesity by primary care physicians in urban area was relatively low, regardless of its importance in health promotion. And, screening for obesity and continuous management for obese patients was inadequate. Efforts to manage obesity patients adequately in primary care is necessary.

Background
: Current research indicates that smoking among young adults tends to persist into later life. Furthermore, numerous studies have proven the harmful effects of female smoking on their offspring. These trends have produced a wide variety of(social, medical and economic) problems. This study is aimed at obtaining basic information to help prevent potential smokers from trying their first cigarette as well as to instruct to stop smoking. This study involves the following:1) investigating general factors affecting the smoking status of college students in addition to the deterents to smoking b) seeking to understand the familial influence on smoking status c) researching how smokers, exsmokers and nonsmokers perceive their familial influence on their smoking status.

Methods : In June 1998, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 800 students of two junior colleges by random sampling in Po'hang. 720 were returned and 642 displayed adequate responses. The questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS and EXCEL software.

Results : Among the total of 642 subjects studied, 220 were males(34.3%) and 422 females(65.7%). Of the male subjects 149(67%) were smokers, 64(21%) were ex-smokers and 25(11.3%) were non-smokers. Of the female subjects 22(5.2%) were smokers, 399(92.9%) were ex-smokers and 11(2.6%) were non-smokers. The number of cigarettes smoked per day was as follows:79 subjects(46.2%) smoked 10-20 cigarettes, 55(33.2%) smoked less than 10 and 37(21.6%) smoked more than a pack of cigarette. When considering the related factors which affect student smoking, it is evident that there is a growing tendency toward smoking among male students when they have close friends who are smokers and who consume alcohol on a weekly basis. About the motives of smoking, there was a significant difference between the following two cases. Those(36.2%) who successfully quit smoking had started to smoke through solicitation by friends, but only 2.7% were successful if they had started to smoke to relieve stress. When it comes to the influence of familial factors on successful versus unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking, the status of family smokers, whether or not smokers made their habit obvious to family members an whether or not the family allowed smoking did not have any noticeable statistical difference between continuation of smoking and smoking cessation. However there was an obvious difference among ex-smokers, non-smokers and smokers when they responded as to whether or not their family had an effect on smoking status and smoking cessation: ex-smokers(38.4%), non-smokers(30.6%) and smokers(17.0%).

Conclusion : In the light of the related factors attributed to the continuation of smoking in this study, it was revealed that there was a higher possibility of current smoking when the subjects were a male and have close friends who smoked and had a higher of average alcohol consumption. This study also indicated that the continued smoking rate was higher among individuals who started smoking because of stress than those who began smoking as a result of peer pressure. There was no significant relationship between smoking status and familial influence on smoking cessation between smokers an ex-smokers, but ex-smokers and non-smokers had more awarness of familial influence than smokers.