• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.112-124
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• 2019

This study investigated the effects of perceived ageism on appearance related quality of life through appearance satisfaction among older Korean women. Testing the proposed model showed associations among variables and the mediating effects of appearance satisfaction in the relationship between perceived ageism and appearance related psychological and social quality of life. Structural equation modeling analyses upheld the proposed model for 221 women aged 60 and over. The results revealed that older women's perception of ageism negatively influenced appearance satisfaction that subsequently affected perceived levels of both psychological and social quality of life in a negative direction. The direct effects of perceived ageism on both psychological and social quality of life were not found; however, the indirect effects of perceived ageism on these two variables through appearance satisfaction were found significant and negative. This indicated a fully mediating effect of appearance satisfaction in the relationships. The results of this study highlight that perceptions of ageism and its association with body image should be considered to understand the overall quality of life among older women.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.595-605
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• 2016

Importance of appearance as a means of self-expression and communication is increasing in modern society even for men. And appearance has become an significant factor affecting men's quality of life. The main objectives of this study were to develop an instrument measuring appearance related quality of life(ARQoL), and examine the body factors influencing ARQoL. The ARQoL instrument was developed from in-depth interviews, focus group interviews, and literature review, and were revised through two pre-tests. The final questionnaire was administered through on-line survey with 440 men. Quota sampling was used based on age and body size. The results indicated that high ARQoL group showed significantly higher satisfaction on body factors including face, weight, shape, body proportion, hair, and overall impression than low ARQoL group. There was no significant difference in terms of satisfaction on height between two groups. Factor analysis showed that ARQoL consists of four factors - physical, economic, psychological and social factors. Overall impression was the most important body factor affecting all four factors of ARQoL and has very strong influence especially on economic ARQoL. BMI was also a significant factor affecting physical, economic and social ARQoL except psychological factor of ARQoL. Face had significant influence only on economic and psychological aspects of ARQoL.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.353-361
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of adult the women's satisfaction with their appearance, self-esteem, depression and stress to health related quality of life (HRQOL) across the lifespan. Method: In this study a convenience sample of Korean women aged 20 years and over was used. There were 1152 women and data were collected from November 2007 to February 2008. Results: There was no difference in satisfaction with appearance in all age group. Elderly women reported lowest self esteem and HRQOL and highest depression and stress. There were statistical significances between satisfaction with appearance, self-esteem, depression, stress and HRQOL for all age groups. The most significant predictors of HRQOL in early adulthood women were stress and depression. The most significant predictors of HRQOL in middle adulthood women were stress, disease, depression, self-esteem, and monthly income. The most significant predictors of HRQOL in elderly women were stress, disease, depression, and satisfaction with appearance. Conclusion: The results indicate that HRQOL of Korean women is associated with psychological distress as with stress and depression. When developing programs to enhance health in elderly women, consideration should be given to body image as well as psychological distress and chronic conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.812-825
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• 2015

This study explored various issues related to the quality-of-life for obese Korean men. In-depth interviews were conducted with thirty men over BMI 25 whose age ranged from 20's to 50's. Projective techniques along with semi-structured interviews were used. The results of interviews were analyzed based on grounded theory. "Stress" was the main phenomenon resulting from the causal conditions of obesity and stigma. Stress consisted of social, psychological, physical and environmental factors. Contextual conditions mediating the relationship between causal conditions and main phenomenon were obesity level, pressure, and public appearance. Avoidance, change of personal traits, and insensitivity were the action/reactions to the main phenomenon. Various factors due to obesity disappeared and quality-of-life increased when they succeed in weight reduction; however, factors related to obesity and lowered condition of quality-of-life continued if they experienced a weight gain/loss yo-yo.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2459-2464
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• 2016

Background: Cancer treatments can have long-term physical, psychological, financial, sexual and cognitive effects that may influence the quality of life. These can vary from urban to rural areas, survival period and according to the type of cancer. We here aimed to describe demographics and psychosocial analysis of cancer survivors three to five years post-treatment in rural Australia and also assess relationships with financial stress and quality of life domains. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 65 participants visiting the outpatient oncology clinic were given a self-administered questionnaire. The inclusion criteria included three to five years post-treatment. Three domains were investigated using standardised and validated tools such as the Standard Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors Scale (QLACS) and the Personal and Household Finances (HILDA) survey. Included were demographic parameters, quality of life, treatment information and well-being. Results: There was no evidence of associations between any demographic variable and either financial stress or cancer-specific quality of life domains. Financial stress was however significantly associated with the cancer-specific quality of life domains of appearance-related concerns, family related distress, and distress related to recurrence. Conclusions: This unique study effectively points to psychosocial aspects of cancer survivors in rural regions of Australia. Although the majority of demographic characteristics were not been found to be associated with financial stress, this latter itself is significantly associated with distress related to family and cancer recurrence. This finding may be of assistance in future studies and also considering plans to fulfil unmet needs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7653-7664
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal ranked first among cancers reported in males and ranked second amongst females in Jordan, accounting for 12.7% and 10.5% of cancers in males and females, respectively. Colorectal cancer patients can suffer several consequences after treatment that include pain and fatigue, constipation, stoma complications, sexual problems, appearance and body-image concerns as well as psychological dysfunction. There is no published quantitative data on the health-related quality of life and psychological wellbeing of Jordanian colorectal cancer survivors. Method: This project was a cross-sectional study of colorectal cancer survivors diagnosed in 2009 and 2010. Assessment was performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the colorectal cancer specific module (EORTC QLQ-CR 29) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data on potential predictors of scores were also collected. Results: A total of 241 subjects completed the study with mean age of $56.7{\pm}13.6$. Males represented 52.3% of study participants. A majority of participants reported good to high overall health; the mean Global health score was $79.74{\pm}23.31$ with only 6.64% of study participants scoring less than 33.3%. The striking result in this study was that none of the study participants participated in a psychosocial support group; only 4 of them (1.7%) were even offered such support. The mean scores for HADS, depression score, and anxiety score were $8.25{\pm}9$, $4.35{\pm}4.9$ and $3.9{\pm}4.6$, respectively. However, 77.1% of study participants were within the normal category for the depression score and 81.7% were within this category for anxiety score; 5.4% of participants had severe anxiety and 5.4% of them had severe depression. Discussion: Patients with colorectal cancer in Jordan have a good quality of life and psychological wellbeing scores when compared with patients from western countries. None of the colorectal cancer patients managed at the Ministry of Health received any formal counselling, or participated in psychological or social support programmes. This highlights the urgent need for a psychosocial support programme, psychological screening and consultations for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the Ministry of Health Hospitals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1383-1388
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• 2012

Objectives: Regardless of its negative impact on quality of life, little is known about the importance of alopecia from the patients' perspective. This study aimed to explore the whole experience of chemotherapy-induced alopecia among Korean breast cancer patients including perception, attitudes, preparedness, and changes after alopecia. Methods: Patients expected to experience or had experienced alopecia were recruited at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed in 21 patients. Recurrent issues were identified and placed into thematic categories. Results: All patients think that appearance is important and they pay attention to how they look like. They had negative perceptions about alopecia. Patients were not well prepared for alopecia, and experienced substantial physical, psychological and social distress. Lack of information and limited social support combined with negative images of cancer made it difficult for patients to overcome the trauma and deterred them from usual daily activities resulting in poor quality of life. Conclusions: Patients were not well prepared for alopecia and negative perceptions, lack of preparedness, and limited social support and resources increased alopecia-related distress. Educational programs for preparing patients to cope with alopecia distress and advocate activities to change people's negative perception about alopecia are needed to reduce the burden imposed by alopecia in cancer patients.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2013

PURPOSE. To longitudinally assess the quality of life in maxillectomy patients rehabilitated with obturator prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Thirty-six subjects were enrolled in the span of 16 months, out of which six were dropouts. Subjects (age group 20-60 years) with maxillary defects, irrespective of the cause, planned for definite obturator prosthesis, were recruited. The Hindi version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Head and Neck version 1 of Quality of Life Questionnaire was used before surgical intervention and one month after definitive obturator. Questionnaire includes 35 questions related to the patient's physical health, well being, psychological status, social relation and environmental conditions. The data were processed with statistical package for social science (SPSS). Probability level of P<.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS. The quality of life after rehabilitation with obturator prosthesis was 81.48% (${\pm}13.64$) on average. On item-level, maximum mean scores were obtained for items problem with teeth ($1.87{\pm}0.94$), pain in mouth ($1.80{\pm}0.92$), trouble in eating ($1.70{\pm}0.88$), trouble in talking to other people ($1.60{\pm}1.22$), problems in swallowing solid food ($1.57{\pm}1.22$) and bothering appearance ($1.53{\pm}1.04$); while minimum scores were obtained for the items coughing ($1.17{\pm}0.38$), hoarseness of voice ($1.17{\pm}0.53$), painful throat ($1.13{\pm}0.43$), trouble in having social contacts with friends ($1.10{\pm}0.40$) and trouble having physical contacts with family or friends ($1.10{\pm}0.31$). CONCLUSION. Obturator prosthesis is a highly positive and non-invasive approach to improve the quality of life of patients with maxillectomy defects.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.39
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• pp.26.1-26.10
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• 2017

Background: The impairment of the appearance is a major problem for patients with carcinomas of the oral cavity. These patients want to recover their preoperative facial appearance. Some do not realize that this is not always possible and hence develop a desire for further cosmetic and reconstructive surgery (CRS) which often causes psychological problems. Method: The desire of patients for CRS (N = 410; 26%) has been acquired in this $D{\ddot{O}}SAK$ rehab study including multiple reasons such as medical, functional, aesthetic and psychosocial aspects. They relate to the parameters of diagnosis, treatment and postoperative rehabilitation. Patients without the wish for CRS (N = 1155; 74%) served as control group. For the surgeons, knowledge of the patient's views is relevant in the wish for CRS. Nevertheless, it has hardly been investigated for patients postoperatively to complete resection of oral cancer. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, questionnaires with 147 variables were completed during control appointments. Thirty-eight departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery took part, and 1652 German patients at least 6 months after complete cancer resection answered the questions. Additionally, a physician's questionnaire (N = 1489) was available. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS vers. 22. Results: The patient's assessment of their appearance and scarring are the most important criteria resulting in wishes for CRS. Furthermore, functional limitations such as eating/swallowing, pain of the facial muscles, numb regions in the operating field, dealing with the social environment, return to work, tumour size and location, removal and reconstruction are closely related. Conclusion: The wish for CRS depends on diverse functional psychosocial and psychological parameters. Hence, it has to be issued during conversation to improve rehabilitation. A decision on the medical treatment can be of greater satisfaction if the surgeon knows the patients' needs and is able to compare them with the medical capabilities. The informed consent between doctor and patient in regard to these findings is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.961-974
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• 1997

The ZZimzilbang is a room where many women eagerly go due to the special meaning women give to it related to their health. It is a different type of sauna room which maintains low degree of temperature, consisting of an Ondol room(Korean under-floor heating system, hypocaust) built with mineral stone radiating ultrared rays. Even though many women mention that they utilize it for health, there is no precise evidence of the effects on their health. This ethnographic study sought to define the phenomenon from the perspective of the women who experienced the ZZimzilbang. A convenience sample of 27 women was interviewed during a 15 month period from December 1995 to July 1997 in 12 ZZimzilbangs located in Seoul, Korea. The mean ages of the women 57.3 years ; seventeen women were housekeeper and only eight women had job : twenty women were married and three women among them were widows. The main reasons women patronize the place are : for mitigation and healing of physical signs and symptoms : composure ; safe lodging and boarding : control of outward appearance : control of health ; meeting and fellowship with friends : and custom. The outcomes of the utilization of the place were : mitigation of physical signs and symptoms : psychological tranquility : cosmetic and diet ; good use of spare time : and utilization of services provided there. Most women who visited ZZimzilbang for relief of physical signs and symptoms strongly mentioned a correlation to inadequate Sanhujori, the traditional postpartal and postabortal care for woman. Some of specific kinds of services provided in that place were alternative therapy such as acupuncture, negative cupping, finger-pressure, mugwort steam and various kinds of massage including massage of blood vessels that are influenced by Oriental medicine ; health education of breathing such as abdominal breathing or Danjeon(단전호흡) : and selling of many things including health foods, drugs for osteoporosis, and eutrophics. This study suggests that professional caregivers should further study this phenomenon for the development of adequate care of women with a resulting important in their quality of life.