• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of human rights sensitivity of occupational therapist and to compare the difference of the human rights sensitivity according to their characteristics and to provide basic data for the development of human rights education programs for occupational therapists in the future and to emphasize their role as human rights advocates. Methods : The subjects for this study were occupational therapists who chosen by snowball sampling method. The questionnaire consisted of 5 episodes and 30 questions to measure the level of occupational therapist's human rights sensitivity and 7 questions for identifying general characteristics of subjects. We distributed the questionnaire by on-line. 165 copies were collected and used to final data analysis. Results : The average of occupational therapists' human rights sensitivity was $33.52{\pm}14.96$. According to the subcategories, the average of perception of situation was $20.44{\pm}2.32$, perception of result was $19.85{\pm}2.32$, and the perception of responsibility was $19.14{\pm}2.21$. Among 5 episodes, The highest score was the right to pursue one's happiness of the elderly($12.72{\pm}1.56$), and the lowest score was the right to personal freedom in disabled ($11.04{\pm}2.23$). There were significantly differences of the subjects' age, educational level, organization type, and the level of clinical experiences. Conclusion : Occupational therapists' human rights sensitivity increased with age and the level of clinical experiences. And the human rights sensitivity increased as they were exposed to various human rights related circumstances. The reason of the highest score for situational awareness was that empathy for the client-centered intervention is important. This study confirmed that it is necessary to have human rights education and various educational programs.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.194-201
• /
• 2019

This cohort study aimed to identify the effects of daily PM10 exposure on the hospital admission of patients with respiratory diseases, during the nine-year period (2002-2010), in Seoul, Korea. The research subjects were 13,974 patients who had been hospitalized with respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pneumonia. During the follow-up period, an increase of 10 ug/m3 in PM10 under the threshold of 50 ug/m3 of PM10 led to hospital admission in 1.38% of the age group younger than 15 years, 1.62% in those 65 years or older, 2.87% in patients 75 years or older and in 1.50% of pneumonia patients, 1.51% of COPD patients, and 1.55% of pneumonia and asthma patients. Under the threshold of 80 ug/m3 of PM10, there was a 3.71% increase in new patients admitted in the age group 65 years or older and 4.25% in those at least 75 years old. Our study found that high PM10 was associated with increased risk of admission of respiratory patients, especially in the elderly. People who already have a respiratory disease should refrain from exposure to particulate matter when there is a high concentration of PM10, especially older patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.82 no.2
• /
• pp.118-125
• /
• 2019

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the incidence continues to rise. Although many prognostic factors have been identified, the clinical characteristics and outcomes in Korean lung cancer patients are not well defined. Methods: Of the 23,254 new lung cancer cases registered at the Korea Central Cancer Registry in 2013, total 489 patients from 19 hospitals were abstracted by the Korean Central Cancer Registry. The clinical data retrospectively analyzed, patients were followed up until December 2015. Results: The median age was 69 years (interquartile range, 60-74 years); 65.4% were male and 62.1% were ever-smokers. Cough was the most common initial symptom (33.5%); 13.1% of patients were asymptomatic. While squamous cell carcinoma was the most common subtype in male patients (37.2%), adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological type in all patients (48.7%) and females (76.3%). The majority of patients received treatment (76.5%), which included surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.037), lower body mass index (HR, 0.904), ever-smoker (HR, 2.003), small cell lung cancer (HR, 1.627), and distant metastasis (HR, 3.990) were independent predictors of mortality. Patients without symptoms (HR, 0.387) and without treatment (HR, 0.364) were associated with a favorable outcome in multivariate Cox analysis. Conclusion: Lung cancer in Korea occurs predominantly in elderly patients, with adenocarcinoma being the most frequent subtype. The prognosis was poorer in ever-smokers and older, malnourished, and untreated patients with advanced lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.348-354
• /
• 2023

A tattoo is a cultural form that has been handed down to mankind for a long time. Traditional tattoo customs that have been handed down and developed in the various cultures of mankind have the important value of academic research in various fields such as history, art, society, etc. The Derung people, one of the minorities living in Yunnan Province and nearby areas in the southwest of China, have 'facial tattoo' customs. The traditional culture of the Derung people, which had maintained the form of primitive society until 1949 when the People's Republic of China was established, was passed down through oral tradition, so there are no preserved materials about their tattoo culture, showing the need for research on the culture. Therefore, it was conducted in two ways: a research on modern and contemporary literature and a field trip to Yunnan Province. The exact reason and time of facial tattoo customs are unknown, but the customs disappeared after being banned in 1966 due to the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The symbols and functions of facial tattoos can be largely divided into four categories, including religious worship, coming-of-age ceremonies, aesthetic decorations, and ethnic and social history, through an on-site survey and research by modern and contemporary scholars. And, it is known that women of the Derung People get tattoos from the age of 7 to 8. The design of facial tattoos became more complicated for upper-class women and simpler for lower-class women depending on the area they live. Tattoos are mainly performed by relatives, and mainly bamboo skewers and lixivium extracted from the bottom of the pot are used as the materials. Currently, there are fewer than 25 women of the Derung people with facial tattoos, and most of them are elderly. Therefore, they seem to disappear altogether within a few decades. Therefore, it is urgent to have documentation on the unique facial tattoo culture of the Derung people.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.362-371
• /
• 2023

Background: PM_2.5 pollution has been a persistent problem in South Korea, with concentrations consistently exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The aging of the population in the country further exacerbates the health impacts of PM_2.5 since older adults are more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate how the health impact (premature death) due to long-term exposure to PM_2.5 in South Korea could change in the future according to the trend of change in the country's population structure. Methods: The study employs a relative risk function, which accounts for age-specific relative risks, to assess the changes in premature deaths by age and region at the average annual PM_2.5 concentration for 2022 and at PM_2.5 concentration improvement levels. Premature deaths were estimated using the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM). Results: The findings indicate that the increase in premature deaths resulting from the projected population structure changes up to 2050 would significantly outweigh the health benefits (reduction in premature deaths) compared to 2012. This is primarily attributed to the rising number of premature deaths among the elderly due to population aging. Furthermore, the study suggests that the effectiveness of the current domestic PM_2.5 standard would be halved by 2050 due to the increasing impact of population aging on PM_2.5-related mortality. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of considering trends in population structure when evaluating the health benefits of air pollution reduction measures. By comparing and evaluating the health benefits in reflection of changes in population structure to the predicted PM_2.5 concentration improvements at the provincial level, a more comprehensive assessment of regional air quality management strategies can be achieved.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.69-80
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Suicide ranks among the top causes of death among youth in South Korea. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of suicidal individuals treated at emergency departments between 2011 and 2020. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from January 2011 to December 2020 in the Injury Surveillance Cohort, a prospective registry. Patients' sex, age, mortality, methods of self-harm, and previous suicide attempts were analyzed. The methods of self-harm were categorized into falls, asphyxiation, blunt injuries, penetrating injuries, poisoning, and others. Sub-groups with and without poisoning were compared. Results: The proportion of self-harm/suicide attempts increased from 2.3% (2011) to 5.0% (2020). The mortality rate decreased from 10.8% (2011) to 6.3% (2020). Poisoning was the most common method (61.7%). Mortality rates ranged from 42.0% for asphyxiation to 0.2% for blunt injuries. Individuals in their 20s showed a marked increase in suicide/self-harm attempts, especially in the last three years. A large proportion of decedents in their 70s or older (52.6%) used poisoning as a method of suicide. The percentage of individuals with two or more previous attempts rose from 7.1% (2011) to 19.7% (2020). The death rates by poisoning decreased from 7.7% (2011) to 2.5% (2020). Conclusion: Our findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and suicide prevention policies. Managing and reducing suicide and self-harm in emergency settings will require a focus on poisoning, the 10-29 age group, and the elderly. This paper will be valuable for future policies aiming to reduce the societal burden of suicide and self-harm.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.1265-1272
• /
• 2020

Objective: We investigated the prevalence of pneumonia in novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients using chest radiographs to identify the characteristics of those with initially negative chest radiographs, who were positive for pneumonia on follow-up. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort data of 236 COVID-19 patients were reviewed. Chest radiography was performed on admission, with serial radiographs obtained until discharge. The 'positive conversion group' was defined as patients whose initial chest radiographs were negative but were positive for pneumonia during follow-up. Patients with initially positive chest radiographs were defined as the 'initial pneumonia group.' Patients with negative initial and follow-up chest radiographs were defined as the 'non-pneumonia group.' Clinical and laboratory findings were compared between groups, and predictors of positive conversion were investigated. Results: Among 236 patients, 108 (45.8%) were in the non-pneumonia group, 69 (29.2%) were in the initial pneumonia group, and 59 (25%) were in the positive conversion group. The patients in the 'initial pneumonia group' and 'positive conversion group' were older, had higher C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase levels, and lower absolute lymphocyte counts than those in the 'non-pneumonia group' (all p < 0.001). Among patients with negative initial chest radiographs, age ≥ 45 years (odds ratio [OR]: 3.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.76-8.75, p = 0.001), absolute lymphocyte count < 1500 cells/μL (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.03-4.89, p = 0.041), and CRP > 0.5 mg/dL (OR: 3.91, 95% CI: 1.54-9.91, p = 0.004) were independent predictors for future development of pneumonia. Conclusion: More than a half of COVID-19 patients initially had normal chest radiographs; however, elderly patients (≥ 45 years of age) with abnormal laboratory findings (elevated CRP and low absolute lymphocyte counts) developed pneumonia on follow-up radiographs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.351-359
• /
• 2024

Background: Major pulmonary resection after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (nCCRT) is associated with a substantial risk of postoperative complications. This study investigated postoperative complications and associated risk factors to facilitate the selection of suitable surgical candidates following nCCRT in stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with clinical stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC who underwent surgical resection following nCCRT between 1997 and 2013. Perioperative characteristics and clinical factors associated with morbidity and mortality were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results: A total of 574 patients underwent major lung resection after induction CCRT. Thirty-day and 90-day postoperative mortality occurred in 8 patients (1.4%) and 41 patients (7.1%), respectively. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (n=6, 4.5%) was the primary cause of in-hospital mortality. Morbidity occurred in 199 patients (34.7%). Multivariable analysis identified significant predictors of morbidity, including patient age exceeding 70 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; p=0.04), low body mass index (OR, 2.6; p=0.02), and pneumonectomy (OR, 1.8; p=0.03). Patient age over 70 years (OR, 1.8; p=0.02) and pneumonectomy (OR, 3.26; p<0.01) were independent predictors of mortality in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion: In conclusion, the surgical outcomes following nCCRT are less favorable for individuals aged over 70 years or those undergoing pneumonectomy. Special attention is warranted for these patients due to their heightened risks of respiratory complications. In high-risk patients, such as elderly patients with decreased lung function, alternative treatment options like definitive CCRT should be considered instead of surgical resection.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 2024

We designed this study because it is necessary to take health care from middle age for to healthy old age. The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of middle-aged women on the walking mechanism by applying an exercise program that can achieve the maximum effect through simple exercise regardless of time and place. A total of 20 subjects were selected from middle-aged women aged 45 years or older, with 10 calf-enhancing exercise groups and 10 control groups. As a result of comparing before and after exercise in the calf-enhancing exercise group, the step length left and right, and double support, step time, and speed were improved. As a result of comparing the walking mechanisms of the calf-enhancing exercise group and the non-exercise group after exercise, the step length left and right, and step time left and right were improved. The positive effect of the walking mechanism was shown through the calf-enhancing exercise regardless of time and place. In particular, it is judged that the stride was widened, resulting in an increase in the speed of walking due to the strength of the lower extremities and the shortening of the one-foot support section, resulting in meaningful results. In future studies, it is considered desirable to present measurement data for each life cycle by evaluating all ages, such as adolescents and the elderly, and to provide it as basic data for causing social problems due to lack of normal exercise.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.11-21
• /
• 2024

This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) technology to identify and label key segments of the golf swing. To address the limitations of existing VR devices, we developed a platform to collect kinematic data from various VR devices using the OpenVR SDK (Software Development Kit) and SteamVR, and developed a semi-automated labeling technique to identify and label temporal changes in kinematic behavior through LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory)-based time series data analysis. The experiment consisted of 80 participants, 20 from each of the following age groups: teenage, young-adult, middle-aged, and elderly, collecting data from five swings each to build a total of 400 kinematic datasets. The proposed technique achieved consistently high accuracy (≥0.94) and F1 Score (≥0.95) across all age groups for the seven main phases of the golf swing. This work aims to lay the groundwork for segmenting exercise data and precisely assessing athletic performance on a segment-by-segment basis, thereby providing personalized feedback to individual users during future education and training.