• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.42-57
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• 2020

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for various mental disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder) and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in elderly patients. Furthermore, ECT is a useful first-line treatment in emergency and crisis situations such as suicide risk, violent behavior, catatonia, and food refusal, which are more frequent in elderly patients. ECT is also effective in the treatment of the motor symptoms of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Due to the high risk of various physical diseases, the comorbid physical conditions of elderly patients should be individually controlled to optimize ECT treatment. Compared to young adults, in elderly patients the seizure threshold is higher, the seizure duration is shorter, and the anesthetic dose is lower. On the contrary, the response rate in the elderly is both faster and higher. Considering potential cognitive decline and the prevention of further deterioration of cognitive function in elderly patients, in the absence of significant comorbidities, twice weekly sessions and right unilateral electrode placement with a lower seizure threshold and less cognitive effect are preferred to bilateral electrode placement, which has a high risk of adverse cognitive effects. After an acute course of ECT, continuation and maintenance of ECT, combined with prescription of therapeutic drugs, may prevent possible relapse or recurrence of mental disorders. In conclusion, ECT can be used to treat mental disorders in elderly adults, with safety and effectiveness comparable to that in young adults.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.64-73
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• 2020

Suicidality is the most serious complication of mood disorders and psychosis; effective treatment should reduce suicide rates. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development age-standardized suicide rate in Korea was 22.6 in 2018, much higher compared to other countries worldwide. As mental and psychiatric problems are the main reasons for suicide attempts, accounting for 31.6% in 2018, targeting such problems should be the focus of efforts to reduce suicide rates. However, the ability of current pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic interventions to reduce suicide rates is limited due to their delayed effects. Therefore, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been proposed as an alternative treatment. This approach is effective for treating most mental disorders associated with high suicide rates, including severe depression, bipolar disorder, and intractable psychotic disorders; ECT is also effective for Parkinson's disease, which has the highest suicide rate among all disorders in Korea. The acute, long-term, and prophylactic effects of ECT on suicidality have been reported in the literature, and treatment guidelines outside of Korea recommend that ECT be used at an early stage for rapid reduction of suicide rates, as opposed to being applied as a treatment of last resort. However, only ~0.092 of every 10000 members of the Korean general population received ECT in 2018; this is much lower than the average rate worldwide, of 2.2 per 10000. Elimination of obstacles to the use of ECT, early crisis intervention involving administration of ECT for rapid stabilization, and maintenance ECT to prevent recurrence should reduce suicide rates.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.209-217
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• 2019

This is a descriptive research study undertaken to confirm the relationship between depression, fear-avoidance beliefs, catastrophizing, and the quality of life in the elderly with chronic pain, and how psychological factors affect their quality of life. The subjects were 147 seniors aged 65 years or older, who visited a neuropathy clinic in A city from March 4, 2019 to March 18, 2019. Statistical analysis was achieved by applying t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyses using the SPSS/WIN 22.0 software. Considering the demographic characteristics of the elderly, quality of life revealed significant differences with respect to age (F=3.464, p<0.001), the presence of the spouse (F=3.464, p<0.001), health condition (t=4.545, p<0.001), and pain degree (F=14.76, p<0.001). Further analysis revealed that factors affecting quality of life in the elderly with chronic pain are depression (${\beta}=-0.25$, p<0.001), pain degree (${\beta}=0.25$, p<0.001), catastrophizing (${\beta}=-0.28,$p<0.001) and health condition $({\beta}=-0.19$, p<0.001), with a total explanation power of 49%. Hence, researches on the negative psychological factors, such as depression and catastrophizing, are required to improve the quality of life for the elderly. In addition, the development of a systematic nursing arbitration program is necessary to positively recognize active pain control and health conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.416-424
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the numbers of employees occupationally exposed to noise according to their industry and size. Methods: A Delphi panel consisting of 15 occupational health experts estimated the exposure prevalence of noise in workplace. Data on Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance provided from Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute were combined to produce the exposure population. Results: In Korea, 16.0% of employees, 2,539,890 out of 15,838,926, was estimated to exposed to noise occupationally. The rate was 32.7% and 10.3% in manufacturing sector and non-manufacturing sector, respectively. The highest rate, 52.5%, was found in manufacturing industries of wood and of products of wood and cork(except furniture) and of other transport equipment. Sorted by their size of business, the rate was higher as the number of employee was larger in manufacturing sector. Conclusions: Compared to the same rate estimated in the US, 17.2%, the result of this study seems to be in a resonable range.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2013

Incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing in Korea probably due to the westernized life style. Although the technical development of colonoscopy and introduction of screening examination has led to the detection of early colorectal cancer, considerable patients still have clinical symptoms of colorectal obstruction. Most of these patients are old and they have advances stage of cancer or severe co-morbidities. In addition, the emergency operation under poor preparation state of colon can lead to serious mortality or complications. Since the introduction of colorectal stent, there have been a large number of studies for recent 10 years. It seems that the role of colorectal stent in the palliative indication or bridge to surgery has been recognized. A well designed, randomized prospective study with long term data is necessary to support the role of colorectal stent in the malignant colorectal obstruction.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.167-187
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• 2019

Information behavior (IB) research in LIS and Health Information Seeking Behavior (HISB) in Health Medicine are two subject areas of research that have matured in the past few decades. This research aimed to compare these two research areas using a bibliometric approach. To conduct this study two distinct datasets were created using the Scopus database: a) bibliographic records of IB in the LIS domain, and b) bibliographic records of the HISB domain. The bibliometric analysis was performed according to the following criteria: published papers, citations, journal articles, author keywords, unique words in the title, words preceding "information" in the title, words preceding "study" in the title, and author keywords along with index keywords. As a result, the major differences in the two IB research areas were evident in terms of definitions, main focus, and general demographic groups. These varying types of differences suggest that researchers of the two areas should have flexibility when examining issues related to IB by considering the context and the unique distinction between the two fields.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.225-236
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• 2024

This study was conducted to identify research trends on the integrated community care system in Korea and suggest future research directions. The scoping review method was conducted according to the JBI methodological guidelines. A literature search was conducted in 5 databases (RISS, DBpia, NDSL, KISS, NAL), and 34 papers were selected for the final analysis. The analysis was categorized into user and provider aspects related to community care, and the results from the user aspect showed that variables related to service satisfaction and physical health status were used the most and showed positive results. Provider aspect results mainly studied problems and improvements due to service provision, and many studies showed the need to revitalize inter-agency collaboration systems and the lack of manpower to perform services. Based on the results of this study, in the future expansion of the integrated community care system, it will be necessary to not only establish criteria for selecting subjects, but also secure the expertise of service providers, establish a collaboration system between regions and institutions, and prepare measures to resolve service differences.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.164-172
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate levels of health promotion behavior and mental well-being and to analyze the factors affecting mental well-being in nursing students. Methods: A total of 164 nursing students participated in the study. Data were analyzed by frequencies, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS 25.0 software. Results: The mean scores for health promotion behavior and mental well-being were found to be above and below average, respectively. There were significant mean differences in health promotion behavior and mental well-being according to satisfaction with major and perceived physical health status. Health promotion behavior positively correlated with mental well-being. The significant predictors of mental well-being included self-actualization, stress management, and exercise of health promotion behavior. The regression model explained 49.1% of mental well-being. Conclusion: Improving self-actualization capability and stress management skills and developing a habit of regular exercise will increase mental well-being among nursing students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.62-73
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• 2022

This study investigates the working conditions of shift workers according to age group by analyzing the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey's data. A total of 1,323 shift workers were extracted from the dataset. Three age groups (A: 20s-30s, B: 40s-50s, C: 60s and above) were statistically compared in terms of health problems, emotional hazard exposure, work-life imbalance, and satisfaction with working conditions. Elderly shift workers (those in their 60s and above) had significantly more severe health problems and work-life imbalance, greater exposure to emotional hazards, and lower satisfaction with working conditions than young shift workers (those in their 20s-50s). The study's findings reveal the characteristics of working conditions for elderly shift workers and would be useful for improving shift workers' quality of life, as well as safety and productivity in the workplace.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.60-67
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• 2023

This study identified hazard exposures, health problems, and job satisfaction among elderly agricultural workers. A total of 1,340 agricultural workers (1,079 males and 261 females) were extracted from the 6^th Korean Working Conditions Survey data. Three age groups (A: 40s or below, B: 50s, and C: 60s or above) were statistically compared in hazard exposures, health problems, and job satisfaction. Elderly agricultural workers (60s or above) had significantly more exposure to ergonomic hazards, severe health problems, and lower job satisfaction than young agricultural workers. The study findings may help understand the characteristics of hazard exposures, health problems, and job satisfaction of elderly agricultural workers and will be useful for improving these conditions.