• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.457-466
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• 1997

We developed a new hearing aid telephone which helps the hearing impaired person to improve the listening ability of telephone speech. Recently, the hearing impaired person and the elderly who has hearing loss have been continuously increased and their desire for participating society as a producer has been increased also. So they strong1y want the hearing aid devices which make compensation fortheir handicap. The hearing aid telephone is one of the basic aid devices that helps the hearing impaired to communicate well with other poeple and to acquire easily useful information through the phone. We analyze the hearing ability of the hearing impaired, design the new model of the hearing aid telephone and test the telephone in three fields-electrical, word perception, user test. Our new tolephone has lour band pass filter channels and the center frequencies of these filters are 500, 1000, 2000, 3000Hz which are considered psychoacoustic factors and telephone line characteristics. The hearing impaired can adjust the total gain characteristics of receiving sound to his hearing ability by setting four volumes in the telelphone. This procedure is called fitting which is a very important factor for the hearing impaired to take meaning of speech. The total gain of this telephone is over 20dB from 250Hz to 3200Hz range. From the results of the tests we certify that our new model is better for the hearing impaired to understand the meaning or telephone speech than the old general models. The next step of developing the hearing aid telephone is to study about compressing sidetone and noise, dividing frequency bands, selecting hearing aid pattern and compensating psychoacoustic loudness. we expect that the advanced hearing aid telephone can be developed by the research about speech perception characteristics of the hearing impaired in engineering and clinical side.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.1199-1215
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of job satisfaction among care givers. Finding out the determinants of job satisfaction among care givers, the dependent variables were defined 3 groups with 9 sub-factors, such as personal factors of growth needs and self-efficacy, job factors of job diversity, job autonomy, job importance, role clarity and workload, organizational factors of comradeship, education & training. For the study, data were collected form 479 care givers working in 52 care facilities of Chung Nam Province and analyzed them by regression analysis technique using the SPSS 20.0 statistical package. The results are as followings, job diversity, job importance, comradeship, education & training have positive effects on job satisfaction respectively, workload effects on it negatively, but growth needs, self-efficacy, job autonomy, role clarity no effectiveness on job satisfaction. Based on the results of study, theoretical implications are discussed for care givers to promote the job satisfaction and suggested the directions for further study. Further more, the findings provide the basic sources for care giver human resource management in long term care facilities which are suffering from recruiting of care giver, and it also contribute to successful management of long term care insurance system as a meaningful suggestion.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to examine the factors affecting bodily pain in women in their middle to older age who are caregivers of stroke patients. Methods: This study selected 75 stroke inpatients and 75 female caregivers in their middle to older age from five hospitals in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. Measurements included general characteristics, cognitive function, upper limb function, and activities of daily living of stroke patients, and general characteristics and bodily pain for the caregivers. We used stepwise multiple regression analysis to determine the factors affecting the bodily pain and Pearson's correlation analysis to confirm the correlation. Results: The factors affecting bodily pain in women in their middle to older age caregivers were the activities of daily living(${\beta}=-.489$, p<.001) and caregiver duration(${\beta}=-.309$, p=.003)($R^2=.276$). Correlation analysis showed that the activities of daily living, upper limb function, and cognitive function of stroke patients were significantly correlated (r=.434~.751, p<.001). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the functional level of stroke patients being cared for and the caregiver duration are important variables for reducing bodily pain in women in their middle to older age.

• The Journal of KAIRB
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2023

Purspose: The purpose of this study is to examine the meaning and definition of vulnerable subjects in clinical trials in light of domestic and international regulations and guidelines, to analyze the contents of standard operation procedures (SOPs) among advanced general hospitals in Korea that conduct clinical trials, and to examine deliberation procedures for operation plans. Methods: The study examined how vulnerable research subjects were defined and described in related regulations and the classification of vulnerable research subjects presented in the IRB/HRPP SOPs of 18 clinical trial institutions, including 11 AAHRPP-accreditated general hospitals in Korea, as well as the operation of the IRB deliberation. Results: Among all domestic and international regulations and guidelines, only the The Council for International Organization of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) guidelines explain why vulnerability is related to judgments on the severity of physical, psychological, and social harm, why individuals are vulnerable, and for what reasons. However, the classification of vulnerable subjects by institutions differed from the classification by the International Conference on Harmonization-Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP). A total of the 16 institutions classified children and minors as vulnerable research subjects. 14 institutions classified subjects who cannot consent freely were classified as vulnerable subjects. 15 institutions classified sujects who can be affected by the organizational hierarchy were classified as vulnerable subjects. Subjects in emergency situations were regarded as vulnerable research subjects in 8 of institutions, while people in wards, patients with incurable diseases, and the economically poor including the unemployed were categorized as vulnerable research subjects in 7, 4, and 4 of institutions, respectively. Additionally, some research subjects were not classified as vulnerable by ICH-GCP but were classified as vulnerable by domestic institutions 15 of the institutions classified pregnant women and fetuses as vulnerable, 11 classified the elderly as vulnerable, and 6 classified foreigners as vulnerable. Conclution: The regulations and institutional SOPs classify subjects differently, which may affect subject protection. There is a need to improve IRBs' classifications of vulnerable research subjects. It is also necessary to establish the standards according to the differences in deliberation processes. Further, it is recommended to maintain a consistent review of validity, assessment of risk/benefit, and a review using checklists and spokeperson. The review of IRB is to be carried out in a manner that respects human dignity by taking into account the physical, psychological, and social conditions of the subjects.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2011

Objectives:The present study investigates the status of inpatient psychiatric consultations at a general hospital in order to find factors that contribute to treatment compliance related to psychiatric consultations. Methods:The subjects were 333 patients who were hospitalized at Korea University Medical Center Ansan Hospital from 1 September 2009 to 31 July 2010.The patients were referred for psychiatric consultation during hospitalization. This study investigates demographic data, request department, referral causes, requestor, psychiatric history and diagnosis, andpsychiatric treatment compliance. Treatment compliance was defined as whether or not the patient had accepted psychiatric treatment during hospitalization or outpatient department(OPD) follow-up. This study ascertains the factors that have impact on compliance, by taking binary logistic regression with compliance and other variables. Results:Among the patients that were offered psychiatric treatment during hospitalization(N=310), treatment compliance was 82.9%. Among the patients that were offered OPD treatment(N=111), compliance was 55.8%. Elderly group(>65 years) showed better compliance to treatment during hospitalization than the younger patient group(OR=4.838, p=0.004). Patients with secondary psychiatric disorders showed better OPD follow-up compliance than patients with secondary psychiatric disorders(OR=8.520, p=.008). Conclusion:Elderly patients showed better compliance for psychiatric treatment during hospitalization. However they commonly have disorders such as delirium and mood disorders that have impact on the patient's physical state, hence further active measures should be carried out. Patients referred due to primary psychiatric disorders showed poor OPD compliance. Therefore clinicians have to suggest multidisciplinary interventions that will improve treatment compliance of such patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5421-5426
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• 2012

A monosomal karyotype (MK), defined as ${\geq}2$ autosomal monosomies or a single monosomy in the presence of additional structural abnormalities, was recently identified as an independent prognostic factor conveying an extremely poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the present study, after excluding patients with t(15;17), t(8;21), inv(16) and normal karyotypes, 324 AML patients with cytogenetic abnormalities were the main subject of analysis. The incidences of MK were 13% in patients aged 15 to 60 years and 18% in those between 15 and 88 years old. MK was much more prevalent among elderly patients (p < 0.001) and was significantly associated with the presence of -7, -5, del(5q), abn12p, abn17p, -18 or 18q-, -20 or 20q- and CK (for all p < 0.001 except for abn12p p=0.009), and +8 or +8q was less frequent in MK+ AML(p=0.007). No correlation was noted between monosomal karyotype and FAB subtype (p > 0.05); MK remained significantly associated with worse overall survival among patients with complex karyotype (p=0.032); A single autosomal monosomy contributed an additional negative effect in OS of patients with structural cytogenetic abnormalities (P=0.008). This report presents the prevalence, feature and prognostic impact of MK among a large series of Chinese AML patients from a single center for the first time.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

As we are turnning into the aged society, accidents by falling down are increasing in the aged people's group. In this paper, we design the system with the 3-Axis acceleration sensor which is composed by a single chip. The body activity signal is measured with the signal detector and RF communicator in this proposed system and the and falling by the entering signal pattern analysis with 3-Axis acceleration sensor. For the RF communication, we are using nRF24L01p and 8bits ATmega uC for the processor. The error of energy expenditure estimation between motor driven treadmill and proposed a body activity module was 7.8% respectively. Human activities and falling is monitored according to analyze and judge the critical value of the Signal Vector. as falled down if they don't turn off the alarm after specific period and the aged person's after falling down activities are their position and more.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.405-415
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of frailty with perceived neighborhood walkability and environmental pollution among community-dwelling older adults in rural areas. Methods: The participants were 808 community-dwelling men and women aged 65 years and older in 2 rural towns. Comprehensive information, including demographics, socioeconomic status, grip strength, polypharmacy, perceived neighborhood environment (specifically, walkability and environmental pollution), and frailty, was collected from participants using face-to-face interviews conducted between June and August 2018. Perceived neighborhood walkability was measured using 20 items that were selected and revised from the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, the Neighborhood Walkability Checklist from the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Survey. The Kaigo-Yobo Checklist was used to assess participants' frailty. Results: The overall prevalence of frailty in this community-dwelling population was 35.5%. Sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, grip strength, and polypharmacy were significantly associated with frailty. In the logistic regression analysis, frailty was associated with low perceived neighborhood walkability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.881; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.833 to 0.932; p<0.001) and severe perceived neighborhood environmental pollution (aOR, 1.052; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.087; p=0.003) after adjusting for sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, monthly income, grip strength, and polypharmacy. Conclusions: More studies are warranted to establish causal relationships between walkability and environmental pollution and frailty.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2018

Average life expectancy is getting longer due to medical developments and improvements in living standards. So much so that the elderly have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. Therefore, it is important to prevent, diagnose, and treat the senile disease at an early stage through a bone density test. Bone density is measured by dual energy X-ray absorption (DXA). In this study, while using DXA, in cases when the measurements for both the lumbar and the femur could not be taken simultaneously, the correlation between both measurements were known, and the measurement of one area was used to make a clinical inference for the value of the other. Measurements were taken using Lunar Prodigy Advance (GE) for 43 participant with clinically significant fractures. Statistical calculations were produced and analysed regarding bone density. In case of T-score, lumbar spine produced a statistical result of $-2.112{\pm}1.836$ and femur neck was $-1.716{\pm}1.565$. In case of Z-score lumbar spine produced a statistical result of $-0.151{\pm}1.513$, and femur neck $-0.026{\pm}1.283$. It is indicated that the pearson correlation coefficient of T-score between lumbar spine and femur neck is high at 0.699, and the pearson correlation coefficient of Z-score is considered relatively high at 0.503. The correlation of bone density between lumbar spine and femur neck is shown to be statistically meaningful in T-score's p-value at 0.000 and Z-score's p-value at 0.001. In conclusion, it seems to have clinical usefulness that we can infer the result of one measurement through that of the other part tested, based on the knowledge of the correlation coefficients between lumbar spine and femur neck.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.477-483
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• 2018

Transcranial doppler is a non-invasive method that measures the blood flow velocity and the direction of cerebral blood vessels through the doppler principle. The pulsatility index is an index for measuring the transcranial doppler that reflects the distal vascular resistance and is used as an index for the presence and diffusion of cerebral small vessel diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors affecting the basilar artery pulsatility index in ischemic stroke patients. From January 2014 to May 2015, 422 patients were selected by measuring the transcranial doppler pulsatility index, considering their basilar artery pulsatility index. Univariate analysis was performed using the basilar artery pulsatility index as a dependent variable. Multiple regression analysis was performed considering the factors affecting the pulsatility index as variables. Univariate analysis revealed age, presence of hypertension, presence of diabetes mellitus, presence of hyperlipidemia, and hematocrit (P<0.1) as factors. Multiple regression analysis showed statistically significant results with age (P<0.001), presence of diabetes (P=0.004), and presence of hyperlipidemia (P=0.041). The risk factors affecting the basilar artery pulsatility index of transcranial doppler were age, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Further research will be needed to increase the cerebral pulsatility index as a surrogate marker of the elderly, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.