• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.2917-2921
• /
• 2016

Background: To explore factors that influence quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving breast conserving therapy (BCT). Materials and Methods: In this sequential mixed methods study, 118 women from Songklanagarind Hospital were included. We used participants' characteristics, Body Image Scale (BIS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy with the Breast Cancer Subscale (FACT-B) for analysis. The BIS transformed into presence of body image disturbance (BID). Factors that influenced QOL were determined by stepwise multiple linear regression. Forty-one participants were selected for qualitative analysis. Our female researcher performed the semi-structured interviews with questions based on the symbolic interaction theory. Final codes were analysed using thematic analysis along with investigator triangulation methods. Results: Ninety percent had early stage breast cancer with post-completed BCT, for an average of 2.7 years. The median BIS score and FACT-B score were 2 (IQR=10) and 130 (IQR=39). In the regression analysis, an age of more than 50 years and BID were significant factors. As for the value of conserved breasts, two themes emerged: a conserved breast is an essential part of a participant's life and also the representation of her womanhood; the importance of a breast is related to age. Conclusions: Body image influenced QOL in post BCT participants. The conserved breasts also lead to positive and better impact on their body image as an essential part of their life.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.63-75
• /
• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of atopic dermatitis patients based on the personal health records (PHR) according to age and Sasang Constitution, and to find basic data for daily life management using the personal health record. Methods We analyzed the characteristics of atopic dermatitis patients based on PHR (symptoms, emotional state, SCORAD Index, five viscera weakness questionnaire, etc.), and Sasang Constitution collected for 6 weeks in 34 patients (or guardians). Results Each item of the SCORAD Index score in children and adolescents showed that children and adolescents have significantly higher edema than adults. However, repeated measurement of the SCORAD Index showed a significant positive improvement over time regardless of age and constitution. In terms of the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, there was a significant correlation between age and swelling, quality of life and effusion, pruritus (itch) and sleep disturbance in relation to the general characteristics of the subject. In the five visceral weakness scores, adults had significantly higher spleen weakness, liver weakness, kidney weakness scores than in children and adolescents. All results showed a high tendency to have a high lung weakness score, which was more pronounced in children and adolescents. Conclusion This study is meaningful to confirm the correlation between SCORAD Index items related to the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and to identify trends for specific items by ages and Sasang Constitution.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.1356-1365
• /
• 2021

This study examined the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment in a patient with persistent drug-induced parkinsonism after drug discontinuation. The changes in symptoms were assessed using the unified parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), postural instability-gait disturbance (PIGD) score, and the 20 m gait time and steps. After 22 days of hospitalization, the UPDRS, PIGD score, and 20 m gait time and steps showed clinically significant improvement. The improvement persisted after discharge. This study indicated that Korean medical treatment could be an effective alternative therapy for treating persistent drug-induced parkinsonism after drug discontinuation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.1122-1133
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ongyeong-tang (OGT) in the treatment of insomnia in patients afflicted with neurological diseases, according to the medical records of one medical institution. OGT is a herbal prescription that originates from the "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber" and has been used for menopausal symptoms, uterine diseases, skin diseases, insomnia, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms. Methods: Medical records of patients who visited Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, received outpatient or inpatient treatment, and met the inclusion criteria were used in this study. Results: Twenty-four patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Korean version (PSQI-K) score was used to evaluate the outcomes before and after treatment. After an average of 14.42±9.2 days of OGT extract intake, 20 patients (83.3%) experienced improvement. The remaining four (16.7%) had no change in their symptoms, but none demonstrated worsening of symptoms. The total PSQI-K score showed a statistically significant decrease from 13.08±4.54 to 10.42±4.58 (p<0.001). Sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep disturbance, use of sleeping medications, and daytime dysfunction also showed statistically significant improvements. Conclusions: Administration of OGT extract may be a relatively safe and effective therapeutic option for insomnia in patients with neurological diseases.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.44-53
• /
• 2023

Objectives : This study was conducted to reveal the relationship between multiple factors of traditional Korean Medicine diagnosis and consider the further probabilities of treating people with physical and mental problems not defined as diseases, which is called 'Mibyeong' in traditional Korean Medicine. Methods : 40 healthy participants were included in the observational clinical trial. The participants were asked to complete health questionnaires (e.g. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Stress Response Inventory) and they went through a traditional diagnosis process, including four stages of diagnosis (looking, listening/smelling, inquiring, and pulse taking), by a Korean Medicine doctor. Both the Korean Medicine doctor and an artery tonometry device performed the pulse diagnosis. Results : Although all participants were healthy people with no history of disease, more than half of participants had a problem related with severe level of fatigue (n=19), sleep disturbance (n=26) and stress (n=27) status according to the related questionnaires. Participants diagnosed with phlegm syndrome by the Korean Medicine doctor showed significantly greater score in phlegm pattern questionnaires than participants who were not. However, there was little agreement between the doctor's pulse diagnosis and radial artery tonometry results. Conclusions : We conducted a pulse diagnosis and measured health-related information along with the traditional Korean Medicine diagnose procedure, including four stages of diagnosis, and we found a linkage between diagnosis of phlegm and the phlegm pattern questionnaire score. The results suggest that a number of healthy participants, with no disease diagnosed, have Mibyoung symptoms which need further clinical management. Thus, we suggest that Mibyoung management programs based on qualified diagnosis tools and traditional Korean medicine diagnosis procedures be developed, and that future research using various diagnostic tools be carried out on a large population.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2006

For this study, we carried out dementia assessment examination of 74 patients with memory disturbance who have come to Cheongju oriental hospital of Daejeon university from April 2005 to February 2006. This study classified the patients as none-dementia(ND), questionable dementia(QD), and dementia(DA) groups and analyzed the result of examination. As a result, the following conclusion was drawn. 1. Among the 3 groups, there was no significant differences in the sex distribution. But according to age distribution, the age of QD and DA groups showed significant difference from that of ND group. 2. MMSE-K and HDS-K scores showed the significant differences among all groups, and 7 MS result showed the significant difference between ND and the other groups. 3. The DA group significantly got lower scores than ND group in the items of the MMSE-K, Orientation, Registration, Recall, Attention, Copy two pentagons and Comprehension. Especially, significant difference also was shown in the orientation item between QD and DA groups. 4. The scores in the items of 7 MS, Benton temporal orientation, Enhanced cued recall and Clock drawing showed significant difference among all groups. Category fluency score showed significant difference between ND and the other groups. 5. The results of Brain CT and clinical chemistry test didn't show significant difference among all groups.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.457-465
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the degrees of depression and activities of daily living (ADLs), and to identify factors that predict depression in elderly patients. Methods: The sample was149 patients (80% female; mean age 79.1) from three geriatric hospitals located in small cities and who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected by staff nurses involved in direct patient care from October to September 2009. The level of depression was measured on a daily basis for seven days using a 13-item scale. Patients' ADLs was measured using a modified 10-item Bathel ADLs scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0. Results: Mean depression score was $10.05{\pm}4.77$ out of 26 points and about 27% was assessed as depressed with more than 13 points. Multiple regression analysis showed that low educational level, absence of spouse and fewer family visits predict depression. In addition, low ADLs and sleep disturbance predict depression. Conclusion: Nursing care providers need to be concerned about ADLs of older patients and should develop nursing activity programs to increase their in-hospital physical activities. It is also important care for older patients' sleep and encourages family visits to decrease their depression.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2019

Objective : Peripheral neuropathy refers to the symptoms caused by damage to peripheral fibers, inflammation and degeneration. This study reports the effects of moxibustion, electric moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture including GeonChil(Rhus verniciflua stokes, 乾漆)and Whalhyul(活血) pharmacopuncture on patients with peripheral neuropathy induced by anti-cancer drugs and chemotherapy. Method : We administered moxibustion, electric moxibustion, GeonChil and Whalhyul pharmacopuncture to two patients who showed peripheral neuropathy induced by anti-cancer drugs and chemotherapy. The symtoms were evaluated using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy assessment tool (CIPNAT). Results : Following observations were made after treatments. Case 1 : After nine procedures, the score of VAS was decreased. Feeling of cold and numbness were improved, and as rotation movement of ankle was also possible, gait disturbance were improved. Case 2 : After, seven procedures symptoms of both shoulder pain were improved, and the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were eliminated. Conclusion : We found the possibility of symptom improvement after moxibustion, electric moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture treatment on peripheral neuropathy caused by anti-cancer drugs. Clinical studies of pilot study and control settings will need to be carried out later.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 1998

Personality characteristics were studied by means of SCL-90-R test, Behavioral problem and pain site was studied Isleep disturbance, irregular eating habit, decreased physical activity, decreased social activity, increased emotional tension) by examination sheets. This study was conducted to examine the mature and extent of psychological difference between the students who failed the college-entrance examination and freshment and to determine whether psychological distress acts as a precipitate for craniocervical pain. 96students who failed the college-entrance examination (examination-failed student) and 86 freshmen were included in this study. The obtained results were as follows : Mean T-score of SCL-90-R primary scaled and global Indies in examination-failed students were significantly higher than the freshmen group. In comparison with examination-failed student group, the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain was significantly higher than the freshmen group. When the study and control group were compared in behavioral problem the study group had not more sound sleep than the control group. The study group had more irregular eating habit than control group. The study group had the lower physical activity than control group. The study group had poor social activity than control group. There was no significant difference in emotional tension.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of spinal cord stimulation acupuncture therapy for lower limb numbness resulting from lumbar herniated intervertebral disc(HlVD). Methods : From 8th August, 2015 to 30th October, 2015, 1 male patient diagnosed as herniated intervertebral disc at L5/S1(Diffuse bulging disc with smooth ventral thecal sac indentation at L5-S1) was treated with spinal cord stimulation acupuncture and general Korean medicine therapy(acupuncture, herbal injection). Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) were recorded during the treatment. Results : 1. The patient's chief complaints were remarkably improved - Rt. lower limb numbness remained 15% compared before treatment, Rt. lower limb paresthesia and gait disturbance almost disappeared after 25 times of treatment during 3 months. 2. NRS score decreased from 7 to 3, ODI decreased from 16 to 7. Conclusions : This study demonstrates that spinal cord stimulation acupuncture therapy with Korean medicine treatment has notable effect in improving lower limb numbness induced by lumbar HlVD.