• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.46
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• pp.263-289
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• 2001

Many studies have shown that the parents of developmentally disabled children are adversely affected by the experience of raising a child of this type. However, the range of reactions to parenting a handicapped child is quite varied and is presumably affected by a wide variety of variables. This study examined a number of demographic and psychosocial variables to determine which particular combination could best predict the current level of stress and coping behavior of mothers. Among predictor variables, marital satisfaction and dysfunctional attitude are variables that I am particularly interested in which can mediate parental stress. Five variables are found to be related to the stress of mothers, that is, level of disability, level of needed help, marital satisfaction, type of disability, father's education level. Also variables that affect four different types of stress (which are four factors of QRS-F) are analysed and the results presented. Among these variables, some are pre-determined and some are intervenable. We should make an effort to make changes in those intervenable variables such as marital satisfaction, beliefs and attitude about disability, and level of needed help. In future research we need to search and clarify the beliefs and attitude that help mothers adjust to a life with a disabled child. Also governmental support and policy making to reduce the burden of these mothers should be accompanied as well.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.813-820
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• 2001

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate function evaulation and related factors in the elderly. Methods: Korean version of ADL and IADL were measured for 40 normal in the Elderly in July 15-20. 2000. Their ages were 65 or more in years. 14 items from Modified Barthel Index and 14 items from Modified Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire were used. Results: The frequency of disability was the highest in Heavy homework(85.0%) folliwed by Walking on level 50 yards or moer(5.0%), Up&down stairs for 1 flight(5.0%) in 28 items from Modified Barthel Index and Modified Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire. Conclusions: Results indicated that no smoking and drinking at onset had high Modified Barthel Index. Modified Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire was associated with age.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2020

Background: There is an opinion that improper postures of the head and cervical spine are associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMDs). Objects: The aim of this study was to investigate the proportions among the cervical kyphotic angle, physical symptoms including the pain intensity level of the TMJ, and severity of TMD disability in patients diagnosed with TMD. Methods: Sixty-two subjects participated in the study. The evaluation tools included measurements of the cervical kyphotic angle based on the Ishihara index, pressure pain threshold (PPT) on the TMJ, maximal mouth opening (MMO) without pain, current pain intensity level of the TMJ measured using the Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS), Korean TMD (KTMD) disability index, KTMD Symptom Frequency/Intensity Scales (SFS/SIS), and Korean Headache Impact Test-6. Correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the correlations between the cervical kyphotic angle and parameters related to TMJ symptoms. Results: Variables that were significantly correlated with the cervical kyphotic angle were the PPT around the TMJ (r = 0.259, p < 0.05), current pain intensity level of the TMJ based on the QVAS (r = -0.601, p< 0.01), and usual pain intensity level based on the SIS (r = -0.379, p < 0.01). The level of TMD functional disability was significantly correlated with the degree of headache (r = 0.551, p < 0.01), level of PPT of the TMJ (r = -0.383, p < 0.01), pain-free MMO (r = -0.515, p < 0.01), pain intensity level of the TMJ based on the QVAS (r = 0.393, p < 0.01), TMD symptom frequency (r = 0.739, p < 0.01), usual pain intensity of the TMJ (r = 0.624, p < 0.01), and most severe pain intensity of the TMJ (r = 0.757, p < 0.01). Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between the cervical kyphotic angle and PPT and a negative correlation between the current and usual pain intensity levels of the TMJ. The cervical kyphotic angle was a predictor of the pain level, tenderness threshold, and intensity of pain in the TMJ.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: In total, 45 patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into a conventional stretching group (n=22) and a PNF stretching group (n=23). Both interventions were performed three times per week for 6 weeks. Assessments were made using the visual analog scale, Flexion-Abduction-External Rotation test, modified Thomas test, prone hip extension test, and Oswestry disability index before and after the 6-week intervention period. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group findings before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare the between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at α=0.05, for all variables. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability after the intervention (p<0.05). A significant difference was observed in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients belonging to the PNF stretching group (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that the application of PNF stretching can effectively reduce pain and improve hip range of motion and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.33-51
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• 2007

The disabled population is a vulnerable group, having very complex medical conditions, but little is known about differences in the level of access by type of disability. This study was performed to investigate the differences of health care utilization by the type of disability. The database was constructed from registry of the disabled and health insurance and medical aid claims data submitted to the Korea Health Insurance Cooperation during in the year 2003. The disability classified three groups according to the Disabled Welfare Act; physically disability with external dysfunction, physically disability with organic disease, and mentally disability. There were huge differences in health care utilization by the type of disability. For the inpatient care, those with a mental disability were more likely to utilize health care services in terms of average visit number of medical facilities and visit days per case, but the treatment amount per case was the highest in physically disabled with organic disease. For the outpatient care, those who the physically disabled with organic disease were more likely to utilize health care services in terms of average visit number of medical facilities, treatment amount per case, and the treatment days per case. Also, those who physically disabled with organic disease were more likely to utilize general hospital for both inpatient and outpatient care, and spent more out-of-pocket expenditure. As the number of persons with disabilities rises, the need to consider new approaches to protecting their health grows increasingly. Especially, Korean health care system should be refined to be more responsive to the needs of the type of disability.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.147-173
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• 2003

People with disabilities have been influenced by information technology tremendously. The influence of information technology on people with disabilities varies according to types and degrees of disability. This study analyzed the relationship between information accessibility and types and degrees of disability. Information accessibility is measured PC and internet use and disability classified into 10 types and 3 degrees per given type. The major findings of this study are as follow: (1) there are significant effects of types and degrees of disability on information accessibility; (2) there are differences of information accessibility ranking according to the types of disability between in Korea and USA; and (3) the relationship between degrees of disability and information accessibility is not linear. To accurately assess the level of information accessibility of people with disabilities, disability should be treated as a continuous variable that has values in types and degrees of disability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.127-140
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting on the home treatment stress in the CP (cerebral palsy) children's mothers. Direct interviews were conducted from March 17 with April 4, 2003 with 97 mothers of CP children. The average level of stress from home treatment felt by mothers with CP children was $16.97{\pm}4.04$. Stress-levels were especially high in mothers who were not satisfied with the treatment outcome (p<.05) and whose acceptance of disability was low (p<.01). Stress felt by mothers was low when their health status was high (p<.05). A physical burden was shown to have a significant correlation with the stress of the mothers during the home treatment (p<.01). Mothers with a child of Level 2 disability had lower levels of stress than those with a child of Level 4 or 5 disability (p<.01). The level of stress was higher in mothers who lagged in acquiring technical sufficiency (p<.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that one factor affecting the stress felt by mothers with CP children was the degree of acceptance of the disability (p<.01). Programs that can reduce the stress levels of mothers with CP children through home treatment and secure social systems such as professional help and economic compensation, need to be developed. Active policies should be established and executed for these mothers since stress felt by mothers significantly affects the consistency and effectiveness of treatment provided at home.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.183-196
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the level of subjective health recovery among injured workers. The aim in this study was to find an efficient worker's compensation service for subjective health recovery among injured workers. Methods : From the 1st panel study of worker's compensation insurance, data for 2,000 injured workers was analyzed with SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0. Results : There was a statistically significant difference in the level of self-perceived health recovery depending on socio-demographic characteristics, disability characteristics and medical care services. Factors such as gender, education level, socio-economic level, disability level, claim duration, and treatment duration appropriacy affected the level of self-perceived health recovery. Conclusions : Worker's compensation services should take into consideration the factors that affect the health recovery of injured workers.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of neck patterns in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) for neck movement and the neck disability index (NDI) among adults with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. Subjects in the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise group (PNFG, n = 20) received 20 minutes of PNF neck pattern (flexion-Rt. lateral flexion-Rt. rotation followed by extension-Lt. lateral flexion-Lt. rotation) 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Outcomes were measured using absolute rotation angle (ARA), anterior weight bearing (AWB), range of flexion and extension motions (RFEM), and neck disability index (NDI) methods before and after the 4-week intervention period. Results: There were significant effects for the PNFG, pre- and post-intervention, in ARA, AWB, RFEM, and NDI. There were significant differences in ARA, AWB, RFEM, and NDI compared with CG. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the PNF neck pattern could be beneficial for adults with forward head posture.Purpose: This study investigates how abdominal muscular exercise based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can affect chronic low back pain patients in terms of their pulmonary function, pain, and functional disability indexes. Methods: Fourteen target subjects with chronic low back were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 7) that performed abdominal muscle exercises and the experimental group (n = 7) that performed PNF abdominal muscular exercises. The exercises were performed five times a week for six weeks. To check the change in pulmonary function, the forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) and visible analogue scale (VAS) were measured to check the pain level. The disability level caused by back pain was measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). A paired t-test was applied to compare the differences between the groups before and after the intervention, and an independent t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups. The level of statistical significance was set as ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: Before and after the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant change in FEV1 (p < 0.01), and both the experimental and the control groups showed significant changes in VAS and ODI (p < 0.01). A comparison of the differences between the groups indicated that the experimental group showed more significant changes in FEV1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the study results, PNF abdominal muscular exercise effectively improved pulmonary function, pain, and functional disability indexes in subjects with chronic back pain. The proposed program can be applied to chronic back pain patients as a useful therapy.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.327-358
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• 2013

This study aimed to analyze the trajectories of cognitive function and functional disability, and to identify the impacts of socio-demographic factors on the two variables. Based on the assumption that there are differences according to the progress of cognitive impairment, it focused on examining the differences in trajectories of cognitive function and functional disability between two groups: dementia conversion group and dementia non-conversion group among cognitively normal older adults. This study was conducted based on the data from a 3-wave panel study of a sample of 966 Yeoncheon elderly cohort aged 65 and over between 1997 and 2003. Latent growth curve model and multi-group structural equation modeling were used to examine the hypothesis. Results revealed that dementia conversion group exhibited faster rate of cognitive decline as well as lower initial cognitive level. Difference between two groups was not significant in the initial level of functional disability, yet dementia conversion group showed greater degree of deterioration in the functional disability over time than dementia non-conversion group did. In terms of the influence of socio-demographic factors on cognitive function and functional disability, the cognitive decline was more drastic in the female group, whereas functional decline was more apparent for the male group. The level of education in early life had a strong impact on the cognitive function in later life. Based on these findings, practical implication for high risk groups in cognitive function and functional disability were discussed.