• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.212-219
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• 2020

Background: Although the original version of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires are found to be acceptable, the cross-culturally adapted versions may not be comparable to their original version. Objects: To examine dimensionality and construct validity of two Korean versions of the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) and EuroQOL-5 dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaires. Methods: A total of 77 cancer survivors undergoing palliative rehabilitation programs from two rehabilitation institutes was recruited from April 16, 2018 to June 26, 2019. The WHOQOL-BREF and the EQ-5D were filled out by the various cancer survivors following a particular session of rehabilitation programs. The scores were analyzed with Winsteps Rasch analysis computer program using the rating scale model. Rasch fit statistics were used to determine the dimensionality and the item difficulty calibrations of WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D. Results: All items except two, negative feeling, need treatment function and pain prevent activity (mean square [MnSq] = 2.42, 1.82 and 2.51, respectively), were found to be acceptable, while two items of the EQ-5D, anxiety/depression and self-care, were misfit (infit MnSq = 1.65 and 0.38, respectively). Item difficulty calibrations of WHOQOL-BREF match person ability measures (i.e., HRQOL) fairly well. However, the person ability distribution showed obvious ceiling effects for EQ-5D. All items of EQ-5D were appeared to be less challenged in comparison with those of WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: Item-level analysis using the Rasch model supports the quality of culturally adapted items used to measure the HRQOL one exception; that is, whether or not to include misfit items as part of the HRQOL measurements. Additionally, cancer survivors undergoing palliative rehabilitation programs appear to have more of a tendency to view the EQ-5D items as being more challenging than the WHOQOL-BREF.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.789-800
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed in Korea for breast cancer survivors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Ninety-nine breast cancer survivors who completed an FFQ twice and three 3-day dietary records (DRs) between 2016-2017 were included. Energy and 14 nutrient intakes were calculated from FFQs and DRs. To determine the validity of the FFQ, energy-adjusted de-attenuated Pearson correlations between two FFQ assessments and the average of the three 3-day DRs were calculated, and to determine reproducibility, energy-adjusted Pearson correlations and degrees of agreement were calculated between the first and second FFQ assessments. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients of validity ranged from 0.29 (protein) to 0.47 (fat) (median value = 0.36) for the FFQ assessment and from 0.20 (riboflavin) to 0.53 (calcium) (median value = 0.37) for the second. Correlation coefficients of reproducibility ranged from 0.22 (sodium) to 0.62 (carbohydrate) (median value = 0.36). Regarding FFQ reproducibilities, percentage classifications of exact agreements for energy-adjusted nutrients ranged from 27.3% (sodium) and 45.5% (fat). A median 76.8% of participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartiles, while a median of 5.6% of participants were classified in extreme quartiles. Bland-Atman plots for the majority of data points of three macronutrients, calcium and vitamins A and C fell within limits of agreement. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the newly developed FFQ for Korean breast cancer survivors has acceptable validity and reproducibility as compared with three 3-day DRs collected over a one-year period.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.129-138
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• 2023

This study aimed to examine factors associated with health-related quality of life among female cancer survivors based on COVID-19 infection experience. A sample of 137 female cancer survivors was recruited from November 2022 to January 2023. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression ways using SPSS 25.0 program. As a result, age (𝛽=.20, p<.05), depressive mood (𝛽=-.29, p<.01) and anxiety (𝛽=-.39, p<.001), and social support (𝛽=.35, p<.001) were associated with health-related quality of life in the group having experience with COVID-19 infection (F=26.932, p<.001). On the contrary, the non-experienced COVID-19 infection group showed age (𝛽=.22, p<.001), anxiety (𝛽=-.54, p<.001), and prevention behaviors for COVID-19 infection (𝛽=.25, p<.001) were significant factors(F=64.937, p<.001). Tailed intervention is needed to improve health-related quality of life in female cancer survivors as a high-risk group for COVID-19, considering associated factors.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2019

Purpose: Cancer patients are at a higher risk of being unemployed or facing difficulty in returning to work (RTW) than individuals without health concerns. The aim of this study is to identify and describe interventions developed specifically to assist cancer patients to RTW after treatment. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted from September to October 2018 in different international databases: PubMed, Medline, and Embase. Studies using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed designs were included if they satisfied the following criteria: (a) described an intervention to assist cancer patients to RTW during or after treatment; (b) conducted on patients aged 18 and over and diagnosed with cancer; (c) written in English; (d) published in peer-reviewed journals. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Counseling with physical activity intervention, behavioral training to reduce fatigue, and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programs were found to be effective. Conclusion: Interventions adopting a multidisciplinary approach were effective for RTW in cancer patients. This literature review emphasizes the need for more tailored interventions based on survivors' needs and characteristics in the RTW field.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.625-635
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• 2004

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of gastric cancer couples in Korea and to generate a substantive theory integrating the experiences of gastric cancer survivors and their spouses as a whole. The specific aims of this study were to explore major problems gastric cancer couples faced and how they resolved these problems, focusing on inter-relational dynamics within the couples and on similarities and differences between the couples. Methods. This was a secondary analysis study using grounded theory techniques. The study used the data of 11 married couples which was collected from in-depth interviews from two primary studies. The unit of analysis was dyads of gastric cancer survivors and their spouses. Results. The basic social psychological process that emerged from the analysis was 'taking charge of their health.' Major categories involved in this process were identified as 1) adjusting to new diets, 2) reinforcing physical strength, 3) seeking information, 4) strengthening Ki, 5) lowering life-expectations, and 6) going their separate ways. These six categories represent major strategies in overcoming critical problems that occurred in day-to-day experiences. In terms of the process, the first five categories characterize the earlier stage of the process of 'taking charge of their health,' while 'going their separate ways' indicates the later stage and also the beginning of their separate ways: 'pursuing spiritual life' for the survivors, and 'preparing for the future' for the spouses. Conclusions. The results of this study will help design family care for the people with gastric cancer by providing in-depth understanding and insight on the lives of gastric cancer couples.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2024

Objective: This study evaluated the health behavior level of urological cancer survivors after surgery. Understand the experience of change and identify the factors that affect it for health. Selection of the best intervention steps and effective intervention adopt a lifestyle. It is intended to contribute to the creation of basic data for development of guidelines. Methods: The study was conducted with patients diagnosed with urological cancer at a hospital in Seoul. Study data were obtained by having 100 patients who agreed to the study self-fill out a questionnaire through interviews, and the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research Score (2018 WCRF/AICR SCORE) was used to estimate the level of health behavior. Results: The study examines health behavior among urolgical cancer survivors based on the 2018 WCRF/AICR SCORE. Higher household income and younger age were associated with better health behavior scores, with those under 60 and earning over 3 million won being more likely to have higher scores. Conclusion: Based on these results, this study requires comprehensive data collection considering the missing variables, suggesting that high household income and young age can positively affect healthy behavior. In addition, we conclude that education for cancer survivors and development of strategies to bridge the health gap for low-income and elderly populations are necessary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7229-7235
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• 2013

Background: To determine whether the Health Partner Program is effective in training long-term cancer survivors to be health coaches. Materials and Methods: We randomly assigned cancer survivors who were selected through a rigorous screening process to either the Health Partner Program or the waiting-list control group. The program consisted of 8 weeks of training in health management, leadership, and coaching. At baseline, 8, and 16 weeks, we measured primary outcomes using the Seven Habit Profile (SHP), the Korean Leadership Coaching Competency Inventory (KCCI), Ed Diner's Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Posttraumatic Growth inventory (PTGI) and secondary outcomes using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) short form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Results: We recruited 70 subjects and randomly assigned 34 to the intervention group. The Sharpen the Saw habit of the SHP increased significantly more in intervention group than in the control group (p=0.049), as did most PTGI factors. The intervention group also showed a significantly greater enhancement of vitality (p=0.015) and mental health (p=0.049) SF-36 scores but no improvement in KCCI, SWLS, HADS, or IES-R scores. The intervention group also showed a greater clinically meaningful improvement in the "Think Win-Win" of SHP (p=0.043) and in the personal strength score (p=0.025) and total score (p=0.015) of the PTGI. Conclusions: Long-term cancer survivors can benefit from the Health Partner Program to become health coaches.

• Korean Journal of Health Psychology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.483-500
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• 2011

Since the introductionof modern therapies, more children with cancer have survived their illness. As a result, an interest in the degree of adjustment achieved by cancer survivors has increased. In this study, quality of life and behavior problemsof child and adolescent cancer survivors were compared with those of healthy controls. Also, the patternsof the discrepancy between parent-report and self-report were compared. Childhood cancer survivors aged 8-18 and their mothers were participated in the study. Parent and self report versions of PedQL were administered to assess the quality of life. K-CBCL and K-YSR were further completed to assess internalizing and externalizing behavior problem. Results suggested that cancer survivors generally showed lower quality of life in physical and social domains and more internalizing behavior problem than healthy control group. However, the results were affected by the domain, age group, and informant. The pattern of discrepancy between parent and self report was similar. All parents reported higher levelsof quality of life and lower levels of behavior problems compared to the self reports of their siblings. In assessing internalizing problem behaviors, cancer survivor group showed greater discrepancy than the healthy control group.The implications, limitations, and directions for future research were also discussed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2002

Purpose: The prognosis of stage IV gastric cancer is very grave. However, some of these patients survive long periods after surgery. This study was undertaken to investigate various clinico-pathological profiles related to the prognosis for these long-term survivors. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty-five patients with stage IV gastric cancer who underwent a gastric resection from 1992 to 1997 at Hanyang University Hospital were evaluated. Thirty-three patients who survived more than 5 years after surgery were designated as long-term survivors (LTS); on the other hand, one hundred twenty-two patients who died within 5 years after surgery were named as short-term survivors (STS). Results: The rate of the patients with T4, preoperative serum level of CA19-9 greater than 37 U/g protein, and peritoneal dissemination was lower for the LTS than in for the STS (P=0.002, P=0.045, and P=0.0000, respectively). Tumors were smaller (7.3 cm vs. 8.9 cm, P=0.030) and metastatic lymph node were fewer (19.7 vs. 28.8, P=0.019) for the LTS than for the STS. Curative surgery ($\76\%\;vs.\;\46\%$, P=0.002) and a subtotal gastrectomy ($\76\%\;vs.\;46\%$, P=0.026) were performed more frequently for the LTS than for the STS. From a univariate survival analysis, depth of invasion, distant metastasis, extent of gastric resection, postoperative chemotherapy, and curability were statistically significant factors. From a multivariate survival analysis, curability, depth of invasion, and extent of gastric resection were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: If feasible, we have to exert our efforts to achieve curative surgery although the tumor is considered to be a stage IV gastric cancer. Thereafter, multi-modality treatments including chemotherapy can be considered to improve the prognosis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2023

Background: In general, measurement qualities of cross-culturally adapted quality of life (QOL) measures are altered in many aspects, although versions of them are well-validated measures. The latent trait and measurement qualities of the QOL measures for cancer-related samples should be considered when developing cross-culturally adapted measures. Objects: To investigate the latent trait of the translated into Korean World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) administered to different cancer survivors who had palliative rehabilitation care service (PRCS). Methods: A cross-sectional study with 139 cancer survivors who had an experience of cancer survivorship with PRCS were conducted with a two-step analytic procedure including exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to confirm the latent trait and Rasch rating scale modeling to investigate the measurement qualities of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure. Results: While the original WHOQOL-BREF measure constitutes a 4-latent trait, the EFA reveals that 24 items constitute six substantial factors. The item loadings are predominantly spread over factors 1 through 4 in a mixed manner of the latent traits, while the loadings of 'physical health' and 'environmental health' latent traits show similarity to what the original measure intended to assess. The latent trait of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure administered to different cancer survivors is likely to reveal more dimensions than the original WHOQOL-BREF measure. Person reliability (i.e., analogous to Cronbach's alpha) and separation are measured with 0.92 and 3.48, respectively. All items except the one item (medical treatment item) fit the Rasch rating model. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the latent trait and the measurement qualities of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure should be taken into consideration when applying versions of it to various populations.