• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using EuroQoL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and to identify its related factors among urban-dwelling adults. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from 1,134 subjects aged $20\sim91$, who participated in 'Survey on the health status and demand for health' in two cities of Korea (Dong-gu, Gwangju and Suncheon-si, Jeollanamdo). The HRQOL was measured using the EQ-5D instrument and EQ-5D index scores were calculated by two Korean valuation study model using time trade-off method. Results: The mean EQ-5D index scores for all subjects were $0.865{\pm}0.218$ (model A), and $0.921{\pm}0.170$ (model B). The EQ-5D index score was significantly different according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics (gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, income, and health security system), self-rated health condition, health-related psychological assessments (enough sleep, fatigue rate, stress rate, and degree of satisfaction on the residence). The results of multiple linear regression showed that age, marital status, income, coverage of medical insurance, self-rated health condition, and fatigue rate were significantly related common statistical factors of HRQOL in two Korean valuation study model. Conclusion: Among the adults residing in urban environment, the HRQOL was significantly lower on the subjects with following conditions: higher age, being alone without a spouse as a result of death, divorce or separation, low income, medical aid program, poor self-rated health condition, and chronic fatigue. In order to improve the urban adults' quality of life, healthcare policy and health promotion program must be developed with considerations to factors related to the HRQOL.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1349-1360
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of quality of life (QoL) and its related factors in patients with Korean Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). With data collected by Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2013, general and disease-related variables, pulmonary function test, and EuroQol-5Dimension (EQ-5D) were analyzed. The mean of EQ-5D index was 0.916 in patients with COPD and 0.941 in non-COPD. The EQ-5D index and its sub dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) of COPD patients were significantly lower than that of non-COPD. However, difference in COPD patients' airway limitation was significant only for self-care of EQ-5D (${\chi}^2=9.50$, p=.013). The related factors of QoL in COPD patients were age, gender, level of education, quartile of household income, smoking status, and number of comorbid diseases. Based on the results, it is important to pay close attention to COPD patients' QoL as well as comprehensive interventions which possibly improve their QoL.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2020

Objectives : Acute low back pain syndrome causes pain and poor quality of life. There are various studies of SBV (Sweet bee venom) pharmacopuncture, but few have identified the therapeutic effects for patients unable to walk due to acute back pain. This case series report three cases of acute low back pain syndrome treated with SBV pharmacopuncture combined with Korean Medicine (KM) treatments. Methods : Three acute low back pain syndrome patients with no other acute abnormalities in the imaging were treated by KM treatments including SBV pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine and physical therapy. The improvement of symptoms was evaluated using Numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 dimension index (EQ-5D) and EuroQol-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Results : Patients who were unable to walk due to acute back pain were able to walk. There were significant improvements of NRS, ODI, EQ-5D and EQ-VAS after treatment. The patients experienced an average 90% decrease in low back pain after inpatient KM treatment for about 8 days. NRS decreased by an average of 78.9%, ODI decreased by an average of 49.4%, and EQ-VAS increased by an average of 92.6%. In the case 1, EQ-5D decreased in all categories, but in the case 2, it decreased in all categories except for pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, but in the case 3, it decreased in all categories except anxiety/depression. There was no serious side effect after treatment of SBV pharmacopuncture. Conclusions : KM treatments including SBV pharmacopuncture may be effective for acute low back pain syndrome patients. However, randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to confirm the clinical effects of these interventions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.247-251
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• 2022

This study is to show the clinical effect of Korean medicine integrated treatment for medial collateral ligament tear with bone contusion by traffic accident. The patients were treated using Korean medicine integrated treatment including acupunture, pharmacoacupunture and herbal medication. The effect of treatment was measured by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). After treatment, case 1 improved WOMAC from 94 to 24, EQ-5D from -0.056 to 0.72, and NRS from 10 to 2. Case 2 showed an improvement in symptoms from WOMAC 91 to 14, EQ-5D from 0.077 to 0.862, NRS from 10 to 2.5. In addition, as a result of follow-up about 5 months after each onset, case 1 showed a further improvement with WOMAC 0, EQ-5D 0.95 and case 2 WOMAC 7, EQ-5D 0.913. These results suggest that Korean medicine integrated treatment might be a possible therapeutic option for the medial collateral ligament tear with bone contusion by traffic accident.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to find out how sleep characteristics by Sasang constitution (SC) appear in Vietnamese immigrant women in Korea, and how sleep aberration by SC affected the quality of life. The number of 217 Vietnamese immigrant women joined this study. We surveyed SC with Korea Sasang Constitutional Diagnostic Questionnaire (KS-15) and sleep characteristics with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) questionnaire. We evaluated quality of life(QoL) with Euro Quality of Life-5Dimension(EQ 5D) questionnaire. A Chi-square test and a one-way ANOVA test were conducted according to SC, and T test also used to compare PSQI groups. Significant p was .05. The number(rate) of Taeeumin(TE), Soeumin(SE), and Soyangin(SY) were 40(18.4%), 55(25.3%), and 122(56.2%) respectively. The distribution of obstructive factors of sleep were significantly different according to SC(Too Cold in Sleeping, x =13.378, p=.037, Too Hot in Sleeping x²=12.834, p=.046). The distribution of daytime drowsiness(x²=15.379, p=.018) and falling concentration power (x²=17.533, p=.008) was significantly different according to SC. The sleep status of the subjects showed a significant negative correlation with the EQ 5D Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) (r =-.399, p<.001), and the EQ 5D Index (r=-.211, p=.002). In the EQ VAS, TE showed a difference between the good and bad sleeping groups (t=3.955, p<.001). SE showed a difference between the two groups in the EQ 5D Index (t=2.332, p=.037). SY did not show a difference between the two groups. This study reveals that sleeping is closely related with QoL and distribution of obstructive factors of sleep may be different according to SC. Further study to confirm the constitutional difference in race at Vietnam is needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.234-242
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• 2022

Objectives: This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Health-related Quality of Life Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8) in patients with diabetes. HINT-8 is a newly-developed, generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument. Methods: Three HRQoL instruments-HINT-8, EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), and Short Form Health Survey version 2.0 (SF-36v2)-were provided to 300 patients with diabetes visiting a tertiary hospital for follow-up visits in Korea. The HRQoL scores obtained using the HINT-8 were evaluated for subgroups with known differences based on demographics and diabetes-related characteristics (known-group validity). The mean scores of the instruments were compared between groups segmented by their responses to the HINT-8 (discriminatory ability). Correlation coefficients of the HINT-8 with other instruments were calculated (convergent and divergent validity). The Cohen kappa and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were also evaluated (test-retest reliability). Results: The average HINT-8 indexes were lower among women, older, and less-educated subjects. Subjects who did not list any problems on the HINT-8 had significantly higher HRQoL scores than those who did. The correlation coefficients of the HINT-8 with the EQ-5D-5L index and EuroQoL visual analogue scale were 0.715 (p<0.001) and 0.517 (p<0.001), respectively. The correlation coefficients between the HINT-8 index and the scores of 8 domains of the SF-36v2 ranged from 0.478 (p<0.001) to 0.669 (p<0.001). The Cohen kappa values for the HINT-8 ranged from 0.268 to 0.601, and the ICC of the HINT-8 index was 0.800 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.720 to 0.860). Conclusions: This study showed that the HINT-8 is a valid and reliable HRQoL instrument for patients with diabetes.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.364-370
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine association between oral health status and perceived general health symptom. We analyzed 14,231 subjects who participated in Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007~2009). All individuals were examined by a questionnaire about socioeconomic history, smoking and drinking habit, the frequency of daily tooth brushing, the presence of regular dental visit, and EuroQol-5D. Dental survey was conducted to find the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and community periodontal index. Subjects with perceived problem with mobility had higher DMFT index (odds ratio, 1.18, p<0.001). Subjects with with perceived problem with pain/discomfort had higher DMFT index (odds ratio, 1.16, p<0.001). Self-rating general health symptom was not associated with periodontitis (p>0.05). Perceived general health was associated with DMFT index. It is recommendable that we can use the perceived general health to predict oral health status.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2014

Purpose: The present study was to done ascertain variables related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and their related factors in elders from urban or rural areas. Methods: Data were collected from raw material of the 2009 community health survey. Participants were 2,140 elders. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured using EQ-5D. Data were analyzed with SPSS 13.0. Results: Mean EQ index score for urban elders was $0.78{\pm}0.23$, Mean EQ index score for rural elders was $0.82{\pm}0.16$. Rural elders had significantly higher EQ-5D index value compared to urban elders. The urban elder HRQOL model accounted for 33.6% of the variance due to depression, age, stress perception. The rural elder HRQOL model accounted for 23.5% of the variance due to exercising walking, skipping breakfast, depression in that order. In comparison, depression, skipping breakfast, livelihood, arthritis, stress perception, hours of sleep and age are strongly associated with HRQOL in both groups. Conclusion: Results indicate that significant differences in HRQOL between elders from the two areas and thus, confirm claims that welfare services for elders should be provided with consideration of the different needs of elders in the two areas, and in particular for addressing depression in elders.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to report the effects of complex Korean Medicine treatment for 2 patients who had cervical spine fracture casued by traffic accident. We used acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine to treat patients with cervical spine fracture. We observed the changes of pain by Numeric Rating Scale(NRS), Neck Disability Index(NDI) and EuroQol-5 Dimension Index(EQ-5D Index). After complex Korean Medicine treatment, we found that neck pain was reduced and quality of life were improved by NRS, NDI and EQ-5D Index. Complex Korean Medicine could be effective for patients with cervical spine fracture caused by traffic accident.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.49-61
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• 2013

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to analyze difference in quality of life related to health according to our country's social stratification. Methods. This study had analytical subjects as 7,992 adults(4,557 men, 3,435 women), who are included in a variable by social stratification among 15,691 people in the age group of 20~69 years old as examinees, based on the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results. This study obtained the following results. First, seeing the score of health-related life quality by social stratification, namely, the distribution of EQ-5D index, the new middle class(class II) was the highest(men with 0.966 point, women with 0.955 point). The agricultural self-employed class(class V) was indicated to be the lowest(men with 0.918 point, women with 0.866 point). In general, the more belonging to low social stratification led to having shown the lower aspect in EQ-5D index value. Second, as for the results of the hierarchical regression analysis, the factors of contributing to difference by social stratification in health-related quality of life were chronic disease, job stress, education, and income level in both men and women. The health behavior was grasped to be a factor of contributing only to women. Conclusions. To reduce difference in health-related quality of life according to social stratification in the future, the continuous investment is needed for supporting socially high-quality education and economic stability. The sphere of health will need to be given priority to the prevention of chronic disease and the development in effective management policy for the lower classes.