• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.219-243
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• 2005

Homeless people have remained one of the most disadvantaged groups in Korea. Therefore this study aims at examining how the homeless evaluate their quality of life and which factors influence their quality of life. The subjects of this study were 185 homeless adults residing on the street, in the shelter, and in substandard housing in Daejeon Metropolitan City. With a view to collecting the data effectively, different approaches have been taken for each type of homelessness in this study. By using the Korean Version of WHOQOL-BREF(brief version of WHO quality of life measure), this study has examined the current circumstance of the homeless and identified the predictors of their quality of life. The results of this study reconfirm low quality of life of homeless people. Also the results of this study indicate that the important factors influencing their quality of life are age, receipt of public assistance, perceived health status, alcohol use, alcohol addiction, housing type, and recognition by others. Predictors of each domain of quality of life differ to some extent. Statistically significant predictors of physical health are receipt of public assistance, perceived health status, and housing type. Psychological health is significantly influenced by age, receipt of public assistance, perceived health status, housing type, and recognition by others. Significant predictors of social relations are alcohol use, housing type, and recognition by others. Environment is significantly influenced by perceived health status, housing type, and recognition by others. On the basis of the findings of this empirical analysis, some measures conducive to the improvement of quality of life of homeless people are suggested. Only a few studies have been conducted to delve into the quality of life of the displaced group in Korea. In such a context, the significance of this study lies in identifying the circumstances of the homeless as a basic work for upgrading their quality of life on the one hand, and in empirically testing the major predictors of each domain of their quality of life on the other.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.33-44
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• 2023

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for shoulder pain in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries and to explore the correlation between shoulder pain and quality of life. Methods : Out of 182 participants initially included, 168 were selected for analysis. The questionnaire had 41 questions, with 15 on the Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) and 26 on the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Results : It was found that participants' scored 50.75 in the WUSPI, whereas they scored higher in mobility and overhead activity. In addition, participants' WHOQOL-BREF scored 70.48, with a mean score of 2.71, which was lower than ordinary adults' WHOQOL-BREF (mean: 3.11) and that of older people suffering from chronic musculoskeletal system pain (total score: 77.92). Conclusion : The participants' WUSPI showed negative correlations with all items, including the total scores on the WHOQOL-BREF. This suggests that the participants' shoulder pain had a negative impact on their quality of life. Therefore, clinical experts, including occupational therapists, should provide manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries with programs aimed at preventing and managing shoulder pain, thereby contributing to improving their quality of life.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.64-69
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• 2015

Objectives: We investigated whether sleep behaviors, severity of insomnia and circadian typology are associated with quality of life among Gyeongsang National University (GNU) medical students. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 46 fourth-year students of GNU Medical School. The hospital anxiety-depression scale, insomnia severity index (ISI), morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) were used. Results: Quality of life in terms of physical health was associated with age, weekday total sleep time (TST), weekend TST, catch up sleep, depression, ISI score, and MEQ score. Quality of life in terms of psychological health was correlated to weekday and weekend TST, anxiety, ISI score and MEQ score. Sex, weekday TST, depression, and ISI score were revealed to influence the social aspect of quality of life, and weekday and weekend TST, and ISI score were associated with quality of life in terms of environment. Multiple regression analysis showed that better sleep quality predicted to a higher quality of life in terms of physical, psychological and environmental health, and eveningness was associated with a better quality of life in terms of physical and psychological health. Conclusion: It is concluded that physical, psychological, and environmental aspects of quality of life were associated with quality of sleep and that physical and psychological aspects of quality of life were related to eveningness in GNU medical students. Therefore, it is equally important to treat emotional problem as well as improve sleep quality.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.286-294
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to confirm the mental health and quality of life by type-D personality of the patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The participants in the study were 111 hospitalized patients with CAD at a hospital in Gyeonggi-do. The type-D personality was assessed by the Type-D Personality Scale (DS14). The mental health was measured with Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90R) while quality of life was assessed with World Health Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). The data analysis revealed that 36.1% of CAD patients were identified as having type-D personality traits. Non type-D personality patients have shown better mental health state than type-D personality patients (p<.001) have. The level of quality of life in the type D personality patients were significantly lower than that of non type-D counterparts (p<.001). It is necessary for type-D personality to be considered, when the nursing intervention programs for improving the mental health and quality of life of the patients with CAD are developed.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2016

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effects of home-based action observation training on upper extremity in brain tumor patient. Methods : Among the single case study design, this experiment used ABA' design. The evaluations were carried out 4 times during pre baseline period(A) and post baseline period(A') respectively. At the intervention period(B), a total of 25 times of action observation training and 10 times of evaluation were administered. Results : Study results indicate that 9-hole peg test, Box and Block Test, Manual Function Test were increased when compared to action observation intervention(B) to pre intervention baseline(A). Conclusion : Based on these results, home-based action observation training may be an effective upper extremity intervention strategy for tumor-induced hemiparetic patient.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the minor stress in daily life related to undergoing hemodialysis and the relationship between minor stresses, coping skills, and subjective quality of life among the patients with end stage renal disease. Methods : Seventy seven patients on hemodialysis were enrolled in this study. Minor stress was assessed with daily stress inventory-Korean version(K-DSI), ways of coping checklist identified the use of the following coping strategies:problem-focused, seek social support, emotion-focused coping and wishful thinking. Socio-demographic data were obtained and World Health Organization-Quality of Life Scale(brief form) was also administered to subjects. Results : Participants mean age was $55.92{\pm}13.71$ years. The mean of the event, impact and impact/event (I/E) ratio scores of K-DSI were $29.06{\pm}21.57$, $88.69{\pm}75.88$ and $2.92{\pm}1.11$, respectively. These scores were much higher than normative data of K-DSI. Among the 5 categories of this inventory, the scores of cognitive stressors were highest. 5 categories of the inventory showed positive relationship with way of coping subscales, which showed coefficient of correlation between 0.259(p<.01) and 0.495(p<.001). However, no significant correlation was found between minor stress subscales and quality of life. Hemodialysis patients in our study used more emotional-focused coping methods, which was considered as passive way of cope than problem-orientated coping methods. Conclusion : The main findings of this study indicated that patients on hemodialysis showed higher level of perceived minor stress than normal population. The patients treated with hemodialysis tend to use passive way of coping primarily. For assessing the stress in patients on hemodialysis, clinician has to consider both level of perceived minor stress and the ways of coping the patients primarily use.

• 재활복지
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.163-178
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• 2016

This study was conducted to compare the effects of general and pathological characteristics of elderly with dementia on their cognitive ability, performance of activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life. Data were collected between July 15 and August 30, 2016 from 136 elderly with dementia who used day care centers. The Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination, Korean version of Modified Barthel Index, and Korean version of the WHO Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version were used for data collection and values obtained were analyzed accordingly. Significant correlations were found between cognitive ability and performance of ADL, between quality of life and cognitive ability, and between cognitive ability and performance of ADL (p<.001). Moreover, quality of life of elderly with dementia was greatly affected by cognitive ability and performance of ADL (p<.01). Therefore, it is believed that more active therapeutic interventions and studies are needed from sociophysical aspect of elderly with dementia. Therefore, it is believed that more active therapeutic interventions and studies are needed from sociophysical aspect of elderly with dementia.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2002

Objectives : Stroke is a chronic condition that may carry significant negative impact on the quality of life in patients. Research, treatment and rehabilitation on stoke, however, have focused on physical aspects, neglecting its psychiatric aspects and quality of life. So, aim of this study is to compare quality of life in stroke patients and healthy controls by using WHO Quality of Life(QOL) Scale that evaluates the domains of physical health, psychological health, social relationship and environment. Additionally, relationship between clinical factors in patients with stroke and their quality of life were explored. Methods : 98 patients in acute stage of stroke and 24 healthy controls were recruited in this study and WHO QOL Scales were completed. Total scores and scores of domains of WHO QOL Scale in two groups were compared. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed to examine the relationship between quality of life and the clinical characteristics in patients with stroke. Results : Total scores and scores of all domains of WHO QOL scale in patients with stroke were decreased compared to those in healthy controls. Clinical characteristics including the depression, anxiety, social support system showed significant correlation with quality of life in general and most of subscales of QOL. And male patients have higher level of quality of life than female patients. But, physical disabilities rated with Barthel's index did not show significant correlation with quality of life. Multiple regression revealed that the severity of depression, anxiety, gender, and level of social support system were factors directly affecting the quality of life in the patients with stroke. Conclusion : Quality of life in patients with stroke was poorer than that of healthy controls. The severity of depression, anxiety, gender, and the level of social support system were related to the quality of life in the patients with stroke.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.11-17
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• 2016

This study is to examine the effect that the degree of alcohol use and the factor of family relationship have on alcohol related problem with elderly people over 65 years old. The study utilized the data from Korea Welfare Panel Study in 2014 published in 2015, which is annually conducted nationwide study. AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) of the World Health Organization scale to assess the drinking problem in the study was used. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Presenting some discussions on the basis of the results of this study is as follows. First, looking at a cross-analysis of gender differences in drinking problems, elderly men and elderly women showed different degrees of alcohol problems. Second, looking at demographic characteristics that influence whether a drinking problem, younger age showed a serious drinking problem. Third, looking at the effect that depression and family relationship have on alcohol problem, depression appeared to have relatively more serious effect than the family relationship. According to the above finding, physical and mental health for healthy aging are important factors of the quality of life so a preventive approach to maintain healthy habits is considered to be essential.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.176-184
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• 2017

Objectives : Middle aged women with depression often experience hot flush symptoms. It is still unclear about the association between depression and hot flush symptoms. Therefore, we investigated hormonal profile, functional somatic symptoms, coping styles and attitude for menopause between depressed women with hot flush and those without hot flush. Methods : This study included 33 depressed patients with hot flush symptoms and 33 depressed patients without hot flush symptoms. Hot flush was confirmed through prospective daily symptom ratings for a week. Subjects' coping styles were assessed by the stress coping checklist. Somatic symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-15(PHQ-15). Sex hormonal levels were assayed by a radioimmunoassay. The Brief World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument(WHOQOL-BREF) was used to evaluate quality of life. Results : In coping style, depressed women with hot flush symptoms used less 'problem-centered coping'($13.15{\pm}3.17$) and 'search for social support'($11.83{\pm}2.84$) than those without hot flush symptoms($15.17{\pm}3.1$, p=0.028 ; $14.25{\pm}3.22$, p=0.009 ; respectively). Depressed women with hot flush symptoms showed more negative attitude toward post-menopause, but its statistical significance was marginally insufficient(p=0.059). We did not find any group differences in sex hormonal levels and somatic complaints assessed by the PHQ-15. The score of social relationship domain of WHOQOL-BREF was significantly lower in subjects with hot flush symptoms($8.62{\pm}2.04$) than subjects without hot flush symptoms($9.71{\pm}1.65$ ; p=0.044). Conclusions : Among middle aged women with depression, the manifestation of hot flush symptoms was associated with coping styles and attitude for menopausal transition. Hot flush symptoms in depressed women negatively influence quality of life, so clinicians actively perform therapeutic approach in case of depressed patients with hot flush symptoms. In case of depressed patients who present hot flushes, cognitive behavior therapy or stress management might be an effective treatment option in company with antidepressants or hormonal treatment. Later, longitudinal study will be needed to evaluate risk factor, cause and effect associated with hot flush and depression.