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Choe, Yi, Choi, and Shin: Health Knowledge, Health Promoting Behavior and Factors Influencing Health Promoting Behavior of North Korean Defectors in South Korea
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2012; 42(5): 622-631.

Published online: 31 October 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.5.622

Health Knowledge, Health Promoting Behavior and Factors Influencing Health Promoting Behavior of North Korean Defectors in South Korea

Myoung-Ae Choe1, Myungsun Yi1, Jung-An Choi2, Gisoo Shin3

1School of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

2Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

3Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Shin, Gisoo. Chung-Ang University, Red Cross College of Nursing, 8 Gyunggyojang-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-102, Korea. Tel: +82-2-3700-3670, Fax: +82-2-3700-3400, gisoo@cau.ac.kr

Received 21 February 2012       Accepted 18 September 2012

© 2012 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify health knowledge, health promoting behavior and factors influencing health promoting behavior of North Korean defectors in South Korea.

Methods

Participants in this study were 410 North Korean defectors, over 20 years of age residing in Seoul. They were recruited by snowball sampling. Data were collected from April to June, 2010. Health knowledge, health promoting behavior, self-efficacy, perceived barriers to health promoting behavior and social support were measured by structured questionnaires, and perceived physical and mental health status were measured by one item with 10-point numeric rating scale. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression.

Results

Health knowledge, health promoting behavior, and perceived barriers to health promoting behavior were moderate while self-efficacy and social support were high. Factors influencing health promoting behavior of the participants were found to be self-efficacy, social support and perceived barrier to health promoting behavior.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that nursing intervention programs enhancing self-efficacy, social support and reducing perceived barriers to health promoting behavior need to be developed for North Korean defectors in South Korea.

Keywords: Democratic people's republic of Korea, Health knowledge, Health promotion, Health behavior, Self-efficacy

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Sociodemographic Characteristics of Participants (N=410)
jkan-42-622-i001
Table 2
Health Knowledge of Participants (N=410)
jkan-42-622-i002

AIDS=Acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Table 3
Health Promoting Behavior, Perceived Health Status, Self-efficacy, Perceived Barriers to Health Promoting Behavior, and Social Support of Participants (N=410)
jkan-42-622-i003
Table 4
Health Knowledge, Health Promoting Behavior, Perceived Health Status, Self-Efficacy, Perceived Barriers to Health Promoting Behavior, and Social Support by Sociodemographic Characteristics of Participants. (N=410)
jkan-42-622-i004

*p<.001.

Table 5
Factors Influencing Health Promoting Behavior of Participants (N=410)
jkan-42-622-i005

Notes

This study was supported by grants from the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies of Seoul National University in 2010.

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