• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the characteristics of gait in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: The subjects were out-patients suffering from chronic low back pain at the department of physical therapy, B hospital in Seoul. Gait analysis was performed by dividing the subjects into two groups. The study and control group comprised 15 chronic low back pain patients and 14 healthy people, respectively. Gait analysis was performed using a VICON 512 Motion Analysis System to obtain the spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters. Results: First, there was a significant difference in the spatio-temporal parameters between the two groups (p<0.05). Second, the study group showed significant differences in the kinematic parameters during the stance phase (p<0.05). Third, there were significant differences in kinematic parameters in the study group during the swing phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The gait pattern of patients with chronic low back pain is characterized by more rigid patterns. Compared to the control group, there was a decrease in the spatio-temporal parameters and kinematic parameters in patients with chronic low back pain. These findings are expected to play a role as basic data and to form a rehabilitation program for low back pain patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.525-537
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• 2001

The Purpose of the study was to understand the experience of chronic renal failure patients for the qualified individual care for them. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of patients living with chronic renal failure and to identify the meaning and structure of their experience. The subjects were four patients, two females and two males. The age range was from 21 to 54. Data was collected with a few in-depth interviews by the authors until the data was fully saturated. The framework and methodology of this study was based on Parse′s "Human Becoming methodology," an existential phenomenological research methodology. The findings of this study were as follows. Three experience structures of chronic renal failure patients were : 1. Sufferings and conflicts originated in the frustration caused by uncurable disease. 2. Dependence upon God and significant others with complex emotions. 3. Acceptance of sufferings, emerging hope for serving people, and gratitude for living. In conclusion the experience of chronic renal failure patients could be described from the findings (three structures) as "Experiencing the sufferings, conflicts originated in the frustration caused by uncurable disease, dependence upon God and significant others with complex emotion, acceptance of the suffering and hope for serving people, and gratitude for living." The three structures of the lived experience of patients with chronic renal failure, the findings of this study, could be explained by the three concepts of "Theory of Human Becoming," the first structure could be explained with values, the second with revealing-concealing, and the third with transforming.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.22-34
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• 2021

The coronavirus pandemic, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an infectious respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus first identified in patients from Wuhan, China. Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread swiftly around the world, infected more than 25 million people, and caused more than 800,000 deaths in 188 countries. Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to be risk factors for COVID-19, however, their prevalence remains controversial. In fact, studies in China reported lower rates of chronic respiratory conditions in patients with COVID-19 than in the general population, while the trend is reversed in the United States and Europe. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms of a possible interaction between COVID-19 and chronic respiratory diseases remain unknown, some observations can help to elucidate them. Indeed, physiological changes, immune response, or medications used against SARS-CoV-2 may have a greater impact on patients with chronic respiratory conditions already debilitated by chronic inflammation, dyspnea, and the use of immunosuppressant drugs like corticosteroids. In this review, we discuss importance and the impact of COVID-19 on asthma and COPD patients, the possible available treatments, and patient management during the pandemic.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.135-144
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the medical cost for patients with vertigo and to examine associations between chronic vertigo and mental disorder using 2014 Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service-National Patients Sample (HIRA-NPS). Methods: We analyzed sociodemographic characteristics, medical cost and medical care use pattern for vertigo patients. We used hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis to examine odds ratio between chronic vertigo and mental disorder. Results: A total of 46,502 people and 118,504 claims data were identified for vertigo cases. Characteristics of vertigo patients have significant differences on proportion of female patients (68.36%), patients' average age (54.98) and proportion of medical assistance (5.76%) compared with non-vertigo patients. Results revealed that Korean medicine are one of frequent methods among total treatments for vertigo patients. Total days of medical care and total costs are 2.78 days and 111,362 won, respectively, and days for outpatients in Korean medical care (mean: 2.26 days) are more than those (mean: 5.05 days) in Western medical care. There is significant difference relative to sex between acute vertigo and chronic vertigo. The odds ratio between chronic vertigo and mental disorder is estimated as 1.34, that means risk of becoming chronic is 34% higher for vertigo patients with mental disorder. Conclusions: This study assessed socio-demographic characteristics, medical care use and expenses related to vertigo, and estimated associations between chronic vertigo and mental disorder. Findings provide a basis for economic evaluation studies on vertigo patients and development of clinical practice guidelines for vertigo patients with mental disorder.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2012

Purpose: The objectives of this study are to classify chronic subdural hematomas based on brain computerized tomographic scan (CT scan) findings and to determine the mechanism of evolution and treatment methods. Methods: One hundred thirty-nine patients who were diagnosed with a chronic subdural hematoma and who available for follow up assessment 6 months post-surgery were analyzed retrospectively. The presence of trauma and past medical history were reviewed and evaluation criteria based on brain CT scan findings were examined. Results: Initial brain CT scans revealed a chronic subdural hematoma in 106 patients, a subdural hygroma in 24 patients, and an acute subdural hematoma in 9 patients. In all cases where the initial acute subdural hematoma had progressed to a chronic subdural hematoma, final was a hypo-density chronic subdural hematoma. In case where the initial subdural hygroma had progressed to a chronic subdural hematoma, the most cases of hematoma were hyper-density and mixed-density chronic subdural hematoma. In total, 173 surgeries were performed, and they consisted of 97 one burr-hole drainages, 70 two burr-hole drainages and 6 craniotomies. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that rebleeding and osmotic effects are mechanisms for enlarging of a chronic subdural hematoma. In most cases, one burr-hole drainage is a sufficient for treatment. However, in cases of mixed or acute-on-chronic subdural hematomas, other appropriate treatment strategies are required.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 2007

Considering the characteristics of the Korean family which maintain a close connection with their patients from the moment of their falling sick to hospitalization to discharge, the family is the most important environmental factor of the social supporting system, and is the important object of the client as well as activity system. The medical social work intends to meet the practical needs of aged chronic patients, providing them and their family with a professional human service. The end of this study is to find out the hardships of both the aged chronic patients and their family as well as their needs for the social welfare service, and to search out the way of comprehensive social work service. The summary of the analysis of the survey is as follows: 1. The needs of aged chronic patients are divided into those of the solution of the problems of falling ill, social welfare program and discharge. Those needs arc affected by the various factors of the types of hospitals, the patients' age, the kinds of insurance, and the supporting systems, etc. Accordingly, the assessment of the needs of the patients are asked to be done comprehensively in accordance with the kinds of diseases and social environments. 2. The importance of the family to the aged chronic patients is evident. The family plays a decisive role in the patients' hospitalization and discharge, the family being an important supporting system and making it necessary to take an approach to client system. The family has difficulty in getting connection of community resources, in adapting to social life after the patient's discharge, and in paying the treatment. The family suffers the secondary hardships more than the burden of the treatment expenses. 3. For this reason various interventions are needed to reduce the stress caused by supporting and nursing patients. Thus the social welfare service for the aged chronic patients and their family needs the following prepositions: 1. It is the characteristics of the aged chronic patients that they need continuous care and that the strengths of the patients and their family cannot be too much emphasized, and that comprehensive assessment based on the connection 'with the community and the mutual interchange 'with the environment, is much emphasized. 2. The family of the aged chronic patient is a resources system as well as a client one. 3. Another characteristic of the aged chronic patients is that with the resources connection in mind, it needs an active intervention of social workers in the community. With these prepositions considered, the development of practical social work service for the aged chronic patients is thought urgently needed.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.55-71
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• 2009

Background : Traditional Korean medicine(TKM) has gained in popularity among chronic patients in recent years. The use of TKM among patients with chronic diseases is common, with about two thirds of patients using some form of TKM in Korea. Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of TKM and determine what factors affect to use TKM among patients with chronic diseases. The study also aims to provide information on TKM therapies and assist therapy selection among various TKM therapies for patients with chronic diseases. Methods : The design of the study was descriptive cross-sectional, and data were collected using a 21-item questionnaire. This study was conducted with subjects with confirmed diagnosis of chronic diseases, who live in Jeju Province, Korea. Results : Among the participants, past or current TKM use was 66.7%, with a statistically significant difference in gender and level of health status groups(p<0.05), but no difference in age, marital status, education, occupation, and income groups. The most common therapies of TKM used by the patients included acupuncture(51.1%), physiotherapy(16.8%), cupping(13.5%), and herbal medicine(4.8%). The main benefits from TKM perceived by the patients were chronic diseases management and health promotion. In a logistic regression analysis, significant influencing factors related to TKM use were gender, family income level, the extent of recognition of efficacy, heath status, and health security program. Conclusions : In this study the socio-demographic and health status, recognition of TKM efficacy factors associated with TKM use among patients with chronic diseases were similar to those found in the general population. The findings suggest that due to the relatively high use of TKM among patients with chronic diseases in Korea, this topic should be taken into account in the development of a holistic approach for patients with chronic diseases and an efficient chronic disease management system. Additionally proactive and consistent management of TKM is necessary in the health care system in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.793-801
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to identify the relationship between family support, self-efficacy and self-care performance in patients with chronic illness. Methods: The subjects were 100 in-and out-patients who were diagnosed with chronic illness at university hospital in Cheonan. The data analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS WIN 12.0. Results: The level of family support, self-efficacy and self-care performance were high. The family support in patients with chronic illness indicated a significant positive correlation to self-care performance but no significant correlation to self-efficacy. The self-efficacy in patients with chronic illness indicated a significant positive correlation to self-care performance. Family support and self-efficacy account for 24.4% of variance of the self-care performance. The most significant predictor which influenced self-care performance in patients with chronic illness was family support. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that family support and self-efficacy are very important variables in explaining the self-care performance. Therefore, these variables should be considered in nursing intervention development and education.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.333-343
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was designed to construct a structural model for symptom management of life of the patients with chronic fatigue. The hypothetical model was developed based on the literature review and Self-regulating Model. Method: Data were collected by questionnaires from 252 patients with chronic fatigue in the 8 community from December 2002 to April 2003 in Seoul. Data analysis was done with SAS for descriptive statistics and PC-LISREL Program for Covariance structural analysis. Result: The fit of the hypothetical model to the data was moderate, thus it was modified by excluding 4 path and including free parameters and 3 path to it The modified model with path showed a good fitness to the empirical data($x^2$=318.11, p=0.0, GFI=.98, AGFI=.98, NNFI=.95, RMSR=.03, RMSEA=.05). The symptoms of stress, self-efficacy, and present fatigue level were found to have significant direct effect on symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. The ways of coping, perceived stress, and fatigue symptom were found to have indirect effects on symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. Conclusion: The derived model is considered appropriate in explaining and predicting symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. Therefore, it can effectively be used as a reference model for further studies and suggested direction in nursing practice.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 2002

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of in the level of pain, depression, and quality of life by coping strategy in the chronic arthritis patients. Method: These data were collected by means of a self-reported questionnaire from 90 chronic arthritis patients undergoing treatment at a university hospital in Daegu city from June 10, 2000 to July 15, 2000. The instruments of study were coping strategy scale by Jeon(1985), pain scale by Lee and Song(1987), depression scale by Radloff(1977) and quality of life scale by Cho(1987). Data analysis was done by SPSS Win 10.0 program and Pearson correlation, t-test, Cronbach's-${\alpha}$ were used. Result: The results of this study were as follows: 1. The item mean score of pain for chronic arthritis patient was 6.54. The item mean score of depression for chronic arthritis patient was 2.18. The item mean score of quality of life for chronic arthritis patient was 5.69. 2. The chronic arthritis patients with problem-focused coping experienced pain higher than those with emotion-focused coping(t=o.400, p=o.o45). The chronic arthritis patients with emotion-focused coping experienced depression higher than those with problem-focused coping(t=-2.564, p=0.012). The chronic arthritis patients with problem-focused coping experienced quality of life higher than emotion-focused coping(t=-1.682, p=0.046). Conclusion: In conclusion this study showed that any coping strategy can control the arthritis patient's problem. Therfore, The development of a coping strategy to reduce pain and depression and improve the quality of life in the chronic arthritis patient will be needed.