This study aimed to explore perceptions of the meaning of life among Korean patients living with advanced cancer.

The study employed a mixed-methods design, and 16 participants were included in the analysis. Qualitative data gathered from in-depth interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman's ρ correlation.

Participants experienced both the existence of meaning and the will to find meaning in terms of four categories: “interpersonal relationships based on attachment and cohesion” (three themes — family as the core meaning of one's life, supportive and dependent interconnectedness with significant others, and existential responsibility embedded in familism), “therapeutic relationships based on trust” (one theme — communication and trust between the patient and medical staff), “optimism” (two themes — positivity embodied through past experiences and a positive attitude toward the current situation), and “a sense of purpose with advanced cancer” (two themes — the will to survive and expectations for the near future). The meaning in life questionnaire (MLQ) and the purpose in life scale (PIL) showed a significant positive correlation tendency with the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-spiritual well-being scale (FACIT-Sp). The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) showed significant negative correlation tendency with both the MLQ-presence of meaning (MLQ-PM) and PIL-Initiative (PIL-I) questionnaires.

Finding meaning in life helps advanced cancer patients realize their will to live. It also acts as a coping mechanism that palliates negative experiences in the fight against the disease. In particular, among advanced cancer patients in the Korean culture, the dynamics of relationships with family and medical staff was a key axis that instilled optimism and will to live. These results suggest that considering the meaning of life in advanced cancer patients by reflecting Korean culture in the treatment process improves the quality of care.

The Korea National Health Insurance (K-NHI) has covered medical devices with low cost-effectiveness evidence by what is known as the Selective Benefit (SB) since December of 2013 as a type of conditional coverage. Most medical devices in the SB category are new technology and have higher levels of clinical effectiveness and/or functions than those in the benefit category, but they are characterized as being expensive. We compare the K-NHI medical device coverage system to those in Japan and Taiwan so as to be more informed about how to cover and set prices for new medical devices.

We searched for materials related to medical device coverage or the reimbursement systems of three countries (Korea, Japan, and Taiwan). National health insurance laws, policy reports, and the websites of the Ministries of Health of the respective countries, for instance, were also reviewed.

The NHI systems of Korea, Japan, and Taiwan have several similarities with regard to their medical device benefit lists. They reimburse listed medical devices separately although they cover them basically by including procedures or a diagnosis-related group (DRG) fee. The K-NHI reimburses for medical devices with low cost-effectiveness using the actual market medical price, similar to other medical devices in the benefit category. However, there are no detailed rules regarding how to set prices for these devices. Every listed medical device is covered at the notified price in Japan, but the prices of new medical devices with improved functions can add 1 -100 percent of the price to the notified price. The prices of devices related to new medical procedures are determined by cost-accounting methods. The NHI service in Taiwan compensates for medical devices which are alternates but clinically improved types through a balance billing method.

The NHI systems in Japan and Taiwan set prices with regard to reimbursements for new medical devices separately, specifically for devices which are advanced clinically or functionally but expensive. The K-NHI must consider establishing a pricing or reimbursement system for new medical devices through the discussion with stakeholders for reasonable reimbursements and decreasing the financial burden on the K-NHI.

This study evaluated the impacts of earlier traumatic events on the mental health of older adults, in terms of mental disorders and mental well-being, according to sociodemographic variables, trauma-related characteristics, and personality traits in a nationally representative sample of older Koreans.

A total of 1,621 subjects aged 60 to 74 years from a Korean national epidemiological survey of mental disorders responded face-to-face interviews. The Korean Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to investigate lifetime trauma exposure (LTE) and psychiatric diagnoses. The EuroQol health classification system and life satisfaction scale were used to assess quality of life (QoL), and the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10) to measure personality traits.

Five-hundred and seventy-seven subjects (35.6%) reported a history of LTE (mean age at trauma, 30.8 years old). Current mental disorders were more prevalent in elderly people with LTE, while better current QoL was more frequent in those without LTE. Among older people with LTE, lower extraversion and higher neuroticism increased the risk of current mood or anxiety disorders, whereas higher extraversion increased the probability of experiencing mental well-being after adjusting for sociodemographic and trauma-related variables.

Personality traits, especially extraversion, and neuroticism, may be useful for predicting the mental health outcomes of LTE in older adults. Further longitudinal studies investigating the relationship between traumatic events and mental health outcomes are needed.

The present study was performed to investigate whether breast-feeding is associated with early pubertal development among children 7–9 years old in Korea.

Children were divided into those who did and did not receive breast-feeding for 6 months or longer in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO. Pubertal status was determined by clinical examination using Tanner staging.

Prospective observational study.

We conducted a follow-up study of children aged 7–9 years in 2011 who had taken part in the Ewha Birth & Growth Cohort study.

Fifty (22·8 %) of the total of 219 children were in early puberty, with the proportion being slightly higher for girls (24·1 %) than boys (21·4 %). Children who had entered early puberty were taller, weighed more and had a higher concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1. Moreover, the change in weight Z-score from birth to follow-up was significantly lower in children who were breast-fed than in those who were not (weight Z-score change: 0·32 (sd 1·59) v. 0·77 (sd 1·61), respectively, P=0·04). Comparison of breast-feeding by puberty status indicated a preventive association with early puberty in children who were breast-fed for 6 months or longer (OR=0·37; 95 % CI 0·18, 0·74). This association remained significant after adjustment for relevant covariates.

These results demonstrate a beneficial association between breast-feeding and early pubertal development, especially in those breast-fed for 6 months or longer. The study suggests that interventions would need to start early in life to prevent early pubertal development.