• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2021

Objectives: The workplace is an ideal place for encouraging health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an empowerment program on the health-promoting behaviors of women workers. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted with 80 women workers employed at a food packaging facility in 2020. The subjects were selected using convenience sampling and were classified into intervention and control groups using block randomization. An empowerment program for women workers was conducted across 6 sessions based on an empowerment model. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II, which participants completed both before the program and 8 weeks after the last session. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. Results: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in various health-promoting behaviors before the program. However, the intervention group's scores for nutrition (34.92±1.09 vs. 27.87±4.23), physical activity (24.40±2.94 vs. 17.40±5.03), stress management (26.35±2.60 vs. 23.05±4.27), spiritual growth (34.02±3.00 vs. 30.22±5.40), interpersonal relationships (30.82±2.38 vs. 27.60±4.61), and health responsibility (31.60±2.71 vs. 28.22±4.59) were significantly higher than the control group's 8 weeks after the program had ended. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the total score of health-promoting behaviors for the intervention group compared to the control group (179.00±9.22 vs. 151.42±20.25, p=0.001). Conclusions: An empowerment program for women workers led to significant improvements in the health-promoting behaviors of the participants. Similar programs can ultimately improve women's health in the workplace.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2022

Purpose : Low back pain (LBP) is reported as a risk of experiencing musculoskeletal disorders due to muscle stiffness and hypokinetics. The lumbar spine in an unstable state causes imbalance and lumbar instability. Therefore, This study examined the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise and self-complex exercise program on pain, function, psychosocial level, static balance ability, and transverse abdominal muscle (TrA) thickness and contraction ratio in patients with lumbar instability. Methods : The design of this is a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Twenty-six LBP patients participated in this study. Screening tests were performed and assigned to the experimental group (n=13) and control group (n=13) using a random allocation program. Both groups underwent a lumbar stabilization exercise program. In addition, the experimental group implemented the self-complex exercise program. All interventions were applied three times per week for four weeks. The quadruple visual analog (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI), Korean version of fear-avoidance belief questionnaire (FABQ), static balance ability, TrA thickness, and contraction ratio were compared to evaluate the effect on intervention. Statistical significance was set at 𝛼=.05. Results : Both groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention in QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ, static balance ability, and TrA thickness in contraction (p<.05). In addition, significant differences in K-ODI and FABQ were observed between the experimental group and control group (p<.05). Conclusion : A lumbar stabilization exercise and self-complex exercise program resulted in reduced dysfunctions, psychosocial stability in patients with lumbar instability. Therefore, Lumbar stabilization exercise and self-complex exercise program for patients with lumbar instability are effective method with clinical significance in improving the function and psychosocial stability.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2023

Purpose: Supportive interventions to improve breastfeeding practice are needed in nursing. This study investigated the effects of pectoralis major myofascial release massage (MRM) on breast pain and engorgement among breastfeeding mothers and on breast milk intake and sleep patterns among newborns. Methods: Breastfeeding mothers who had delivered between 37 and 43 weeks and had 7-to 14-day-old newborns were recruited from a postpartum care center in Gunpo, Korea. Participants were randomized to the MRM or control group. The outcome variables were breast pain and breast engorgement among breastfeeding mothers and breast milk intake and sleep time among newborns. The experimental treatment involved applying MRM to separate the pectoralis major muscle and the underlying breast tissue in the chest. After delivery, the first MRM session (MRM I) was provided by a breast specialist nurse, and the second (MRM II) was administered 48 hours after MRM I. Results: Following MRM, breast pain (MRM I: t=-5.38, p<.001; MRM II: t=-10.05, p<.001), breast engorgement (MRM I: right, t=-1.68, p =.100; left, t=-2.13, p=.037 and MRM II: right, t=-4.50, p<.001; left, t=-3.74, p<.001), and newborn breast milk intake (MRM I: t=3.10, p=.003; MRM II: t=3.09, p=.003) differed significantly between the groups. Conclusion: MRM effectively reduced breast engorgement and breast pain in breastfeeding mothers, reducing the need for formula supplementation, and increasing newborns' breast milk intake. Therefore, MRM can be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to alleviate discomfort during breastfeeding and to improve the rate of breastfeeding practice (clinical trial number: KCT0002436).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.366-378
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• 2001

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in measurement methods for blood pressure (Direct measurement, HP automatic indirect measurement, and SE 7000 Korean made indirect measurement), and to evaluate the clinical trial of the Korean made automatic indirect blood pressure measurement. Material & Methods: From June, 1999 to February, 2000, fifty five consecutive patients were randomized into hypertension group (n=20), normotension group (n=20), and hypotension group (n= 15). Measuring blood pressure by indirect methods (HP NIBP M 1008B and SE 7000 NIBP Korean made) was done simultaneously in the same arm with arterial line for direct blood pressure measurement (HP M1006A). The procedures were repeated ten times at intervals of 2 minutes. Statistical analysis was Performed using SPSS (version 8.0 for windows) software package. Values were expressed as means and standard deviation and means were compared using t-test. Statistical significance was considered present with a p value less than 0.05. Results: In the hypertension group and noromotension group, the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect SE 7000 NIBP did not show any differences compared to the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect HP NIBP. In the hypotension group, the disparity in the diastolic pressure between HP direct measurement and indirect SE 7000 NIBP was significantly different compared to the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect HP NIBP (p<0.001), however, disparities in systolic pressure did not showed any differences. Conclusion: Direct blood pressure measurement (HP M1006A) can be replaced with indirect blood pressure measurements (HP NIBP M 1008B & SE 7000 NIBP) in normotension and hypertension patients. Korean made indirect measurement was found to be more accurate compared to HP indirect measurement in hypotension Patients, but more study is needed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2010

Several studies have demonstrated that ginseng-berry extract has several beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilation properties. Ginseng-berry extract has also been shown to have the great potential against skin aging. Its beneficial mechanism against skin aging, however, has not been examined in detail. Also, the effects of ginseng-berry extract on microcirculation and skin cellular responses have not been investigated. Inhibition of skin microcirculation is the primary cause of many adverse biological effects, which is responsible for the skin aging and darkening. We investigated the beneficial effects of ginseng-berry extract on blood circulation, transcutaneous oxygen pressure in vivo model and also on skin microcirculation, cellular response and skin brightening effect in clinical trial. We found that oral administration of ginseng-berry extract markedly increased blood flow rate and transcutaneous $O_2$ pressure, but decreased transcutaneous $CO_2$ pressure. Also, it improved skin tone on cheeks, as is skin brighteness. These results suggest that ginseng-berry extract is a potent candidate for the treatment of skin aging and brightening by improving skin microcirculation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.53-64
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of study was to develop a standard instrument of oriental medical evaluation lung cancer. Methods: For this study, the committee advisor was organized by 10 Korean Medicine professors of the Korean Association of Traditional Oncology. The items and structure of the instrument were quoted from the instrument of pattern identification for lung cancer. We had a consultation with the committee twice and took additional advice from it via E-mail. Results: According to the research, we determined the Korean oriental medical assessment tool for lung cancer comprised of the 6 types of patterns of syndrome differentiation. The advisor committee gave the answers about discrimination between bian-zheng and su-zheng, mean weight of each symptom and sign. The final weight was calculated from the combination of the ratio of bian-zheng and mean weight. Conclusions: The instrument of oriental medical evaluation for lung cancer was developed through experts' discussion. If the validity and the reliability of this instrument are validated through additional clinical trial, the instrument of oriental medical evaluation for lung cancer is expected to be applied to the later research.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.48-52
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• 2014

Purpose: Currently the substantial clinical benefits of single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (SLA) over conventional three-port laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA) are equivocal. The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcomes between SLA and CLA in children with acute appendicitis. Methods: A single blind prospective randomized single center study was performed to compare the surgical outcomes of SLA and CLA. A total of 105 patients were randomized and various parameters were analyzed, 52 patients with SLA and 53 patients with CLA between July 2013 and March 2014. Patients with sonographically confirmed acute appendicitis were randomly assigned to receive either SLA or CLA. The outcome measurements were operating time, wound complication, and intraperitoneal morbidities, postoperative pain score and cosmetic result score. Results: Operating time is significantly longer in SLA ($70.4{\pm}26.7$ minutes vs. $58.0{\pm}23.4$ minutes; p=0.016). There were no significant differences in the postoperative wound complication rate and intraperitoneal morbidities between two groups. There were no significant differences in postoperative resting pain score ($6.6{\pm}2.5$ vs. $6.3{\pm}2.5$; p=0.317) and activity pain score ($6.9{\pm}2.4$ vs. $6.3{\pm}2.5$; p=0.189), and the cosmetic result score ($9.2{\pm}1.1$ vs. $9.1{\pm}1.4$; p=0.853). Conclusion: Although SLA would be a safe and feasible procedure in children, SLA could not demonstrate the clear benefit over CLA.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.283-289
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• 2003

Background and Purpose : Hemiplegic upper extremity is a problem frequently encountered in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke. In Korean traditional medicine, moxibustion has been used clinically in treatment of stroke patients with hemiplegia. So far, its efficacy has not been proven clinically. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the moxibustion in treating hemiplegic upper extremity in stroke patients. Design : Randomized Control Trial. Subjects and Methods : Forty hemiplegic stroke patients admitted to Kyunghee oriental medicine hospital were randomized into the treatment with standard physiotheraphy combined with Moxibustion-group or Control-group with standard physiotherapy alone. It took them 2-5 weeks from the onset to start this study. Moxibustion was applied at LI4(合谷), LI11(曲池), TE3(中渚), TE5(外關) in hemiplegic hand, once a day for 2weeks. The effect of treatment on hemiplegic upper extremity was assessed using Fugl-Myer motor scale, Motricity Index and Modified Barthel Index(drinking/feeding, dressing upper body, grooming) Results : These 2 groups had comparable clinical characteristics; sex, age, plegic side (Rt., Lt.), pretreatment impairment. After two weeks, patients in the moxibustion group perfomed better on Fugl-Myer test and Motricity index test. The differences were significant.(P=0.038, 0.002) But Results on the Modified Barthel Index revealed no effect.(P=0.348) Conclusion : This results suggest that moxibustion is an effective treatment for improvement of motor function of hemiplegic upper extremity.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Objective: A prospective, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients with chronic low back pain to evaluate the efficacy of portable low power laser therapy (LPLT) and the effect when combined with exercise therapy on pain and functions. Method: 60 patients were recruited and 56 patients, excluding 4 dropouts, were randomly allocated to the LPLT group (Group 1: 19 patients), placebo laser therapy with exercise group (Group 2: 18 patients), and LPLT with exercise group (Group 3: 19 patients). Laser therapy and exercise was performed five times a week for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Schober test, lumbar range of motion (ROM) measures (flexion, extension and lateral flexion), Oswestry Disability index (ODI) were measured at baseline, at 4 weeks after intervention, and at 6 weeks after 2 weeks of no intervention. Results: Statistically significant improvements were noted in all group by time interaction with respect to all outcome parameters (p<0.05). All parameters in each group improved not only in the period of treatment (4 weeks), but also in the final evaluation (6 weeks) 2 weeks after the end of treatment. Post-hoc analysis showed statistically significant difference between the LPLT with exercise group and the other groups in all outcome parameters except for the ODI at 4 weeks and at 6 weeks. Conclusion: Portable LPLT is effective treatment in reducing pain and improving lumbar ROM and with exercise is more effective than laser or exercise monotherapy for the chronic low back pain patients.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2021

Soybean extract is known to play an important role in preventing and treating diseases associated with aging, cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. A recent has revealed that soybean extract has a potent effect on hair growth in in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Recently, it has been reported that their fermented extracts exhibit numerous and high efficacy, as compared to general extracts. However, the underlying mechanisms that induce hair growth after using fermented soybean extract are not well understood. The present study aimed to determine the effects of fermented Jeju soybean (FJS) extract on hair growth, with a focus on the underlying mechanisms similar to those of minoxidil. We conducted in vitro and ex vivo investigations and clinical studies. FJS extract enhanced dermal papilla cell proliferation, VEGF levels, and potassium channel opening. Moreover, it promoted human hair follicle elongation. These effects were comprehensively demonstrated in the clinical results, in which FJS extract-containing shampoo improved hair density after 24 weeks of utilization. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that FJS extract promotes hair growth and inhibits hair loss through a mechanism similar to that of minoxidil in hair follicles.