Skip to main content
. 2017 Dec 26;39:e2017059. doi: 10.4178/epih.e2017059

Table 2.

Overview of health-related surveys/databases of youth

Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey Panel Study on Korean Children Korean Youth Panel Survey Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey Student Health Examination Health Examination of Korean Youth Outside of School
Purpose To investigate health-risk behaviors of Korean youth and to monitor their behaviors to help them build healthy habits To provide data about the development of Korean children and to contribute to childcare and education policies for their wellbeing To identify changes in behaviors and perceptions in adolescence, and the causes of these changes by observing the same panels during their growth To investigate comprehensive aspects of physical and psychological changes in children and youth, and the causes of these changes by observing the same panels during their growth To analyze student health, including physical development and disease status, and to develop a credible index of student health To support youths outside of school by monitoring their health status for the prevention and early detection of diseases during their development
Survey period Since 2005 From 2008 to 2027 From 2004 to 2008 for grade 4 of elementary school From 2010 to 2016 Since 2006 Since 2016
Annually Annually From 2003 to 2008 for grade 2 of middle school Annually Annually Once every 3 yr (if the status of a subject remains an out-of-school juvenile)
Annually
Geographic areas Nationwide, 17 cities and provinces Nationwide, 6 zones across the country Nationwide, 12 cities and provinces Nationwide, 16 cities and provinces 17 cities and provinces across the country Nationally, 514 designated detection centers
Population sampled Students in middle and high school Newborn babies in 2008 Fourth-graders in elementary school and their parents First-graders and fourth-graders in elementary school and their parents Students in all grades in elementary, middle, and high schools Out-of-school juveniles who register and sign up for the health examination and screening program
Children in the second grade of middle school and their parents Children in the first grade of middle school and their parents
Sample size range As of 2016,798 schools 65,528 students 2,150 newborn babies across the country As of 2004,2,844 people (elementary school grade4 panel) As of 2010, elementary school grade 1 panel: 2,342 people; elementary school grade 4 panel: 765 schools across the country (2016) 82,883 students (survey and physical development) As of 2016,6,986 non-institutionalized juveniles outside the school system
As of 2003,3,449 people (middle school grade 2 panel) 2,378 people; middle school grade 1 panel: 2,351 people 27,671 students (health check-up, grades 1 and 4 of elementary school, grade 1 of middle and high schools)
Representative Weighted to be representative of the population of Korean youth Stratified multi-stage sampling Weighted to be representative of Korean youth of each panel grade, with a lapse in time from the base grade in the first year Weighted to be representative of Korean children and youth of each panel grade, with a lapse in time from the base grade in the first year Stratified cluster sampling across 17 cities and provinces Not representative
Methods Survey managed by trained teachers Questionnaire Repeatedly investigating the survey for the same panels Repeatedly investigating the survey for the same panels Physical development Self-administered questionnaire before health check-up
Anonymously completion of self-administered questionnaires Computer-assisted personal interview through a home visit For youth: group interview in school, individual interview by following up with each person For youth: group interview in school, individual interview by following up with each person Survey Blood, hepatitis testing, tuberculosis testing, and dental condition
Observation, interview, and testing (in-depth study) For parents: telephone interview For parents: telephone interview Health check-up
Survey contents (topics) Analysis of behaviors regarding health-related status, attitudes, and perceptions in Korean youth Characteristics of children, parents, and family Changes of lifestyle and attitudes toward occupational choice, career planning, deviance and so on, which are developing in youth (longitudinal survey) Individual developments, including physical and emotional changes and development, environment at home, among peers, and in the community observed in childhood and adolescence (longitudinal survey) Current status regarding physical development, including body mass index and degree of obesity Health check-ups suitable for life transitions at a young age
Characteristics of childcare and education services Health behaviors such as diet, physical activity, and safety awareness Current status regarding physical development and basic medical condition
Characteristics of local community and child care policies Health status including eyesight, oral, and skin disease Counseling with a professional if needed

Korean Children and Adolescents Obesity Cohort Study Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study Korea Youth Media Use and Harmful Environment Survey Comprehensive Survey of Korean Youth Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study

Purpose To follow up a pediatric obesity cohort until adolescence and to analyze risk factors for childhood obesity and accompanying metabolic diseases To provide a basis for developing a list of hazardous environmental factors for each stage of growth and a scientific foundation for the relationship between environment-related diseases and harmful environmental factors To investigate the harmful factors affecting Korean youth and to identify the status of harmful exposures that may interrupt their healthy growth To investigate diverse factors related to health, everyday life, and social and cultural experiences of Korean youth To follow the development of multicultural adolescents, to identify factors associated with changes in their behavior and thinking, and to contribute to reducing the gap between multicultural and non-multicultural adolescents
Survey period Since 2005 and 2012 (morbid obesity cohort) Since 2015 (for 22 yr) Since 1999 Since 2011 From 2010 to 2017
Annual follow-up Biennially (even-numbered years) Once every 3 yr Annually
Geographic areas 3 regions (Gwacheon city in Gyeonggi province, Jung-gu in the city of Seoul, and the southwestern area of Gyeonggi province) Through invitations for 5 yr starting in 2015, considering the birth rate in metropolitan cities and provinces across the country Nationwide, all 18 cities and provinces Nationwide, all 18 cities and provinces Nationwide, 16 cities and provinces
Population sampled Follow-up of first-graders in elementary school since 2005 Pregnant women invited from obstetrics/gynecology clinics and public health centers Students in school: elementary grades 4-6 and all grades of middle and high school Samples of caregiver(s) and children aged 9-24 who are living with their caregiver(s) at registered residential address Multicultural fourth grade adolescents in elementary school and their parents (especially mothers)
Non-institutionalized juveniles in crisis
Sample size range 4,580 students, including the morbid obesity cohort (2014) 5,000 pregnant women for the core cohort (for 3 yr) As of 2016,15,646 students (elementary to high school) 1,876 juveniles in crisis (ages, 12-19 yr) As of 2014, based on 2,000 residential units: 3,000 children aged 9-24:2,000 caregivers living with the sample children As of 2011,1,625 households by the sampling unit of schools (first) and all multicultural fourth-grade students and their mothers (second) in the selected schools
65,000 pregnant women for the main cohort (for 4 yr)
Representative Not representative Nationwide network of recruiting offices Weighted to be representative of the population of Korean juveniles Weighted to be representative of the population of Korean youth living with caregiver(s) in the same residential unit Weighted to be representative of the population of multicultural adolescents and parents who live in Korea
Methods Questionnaire Questionnaire Survey managed by a trained investigator Survey managed by a trained interviewer who visits the sample family Survey investigating the same panel repeatedly, managed by a trained investigator
Dietary assessment (3 d) Environmental measurement For students: self-administered questionnaire Separate survey for caregiver and youth (ages 9-12,13-24 yr) Panel questionnaire survey
Health check-up Clinical tests For juveniles in crisis: interview Self-administered questionnaire, if needed Focus group interview
Collection of biological samples Genetic tests
Follow-up of infants
Survey contents (topics) Comparison of health status, including body composition and sexual maturity, between obese and normal children Analysis of exposure of pregnant women to hazardous environmental factors and the effect thereof on infants' health Youth exposure to harmful media and environment that can possibly affect lifestyles and social behaviors (time-serial comparison) Youth’s social/cultural background, health-related life behavior, and emotional status (time-serial comparison) Multicultural variables including language and background, individual and environmental characteristics of multicultural adolescents (longitudinal survey)
Follow-up of children with morbid obesity