• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.423-432
• /
• 2015

Objectives: In Korea, the percentage of elderly is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and is expected to account for 40% of the population by 2060. This massive demographic change stresses the importance of research on aging as it is necessary to improve the quality of life (QoL) of this population. This study aimed to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the rural elderly and to clarify its association with the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR). Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in S-gun, Chonbuk, a critical agricultural area. The elderly people without abnormal physical functioning composed our study population and the data were collected by personal visits to 336 elderly people aged over 65 years (110 males and 226 females). Subjects were interviewed with questionnaires pertaining to general characteristics and EuroQol (EQ-5D). Nutrient intakes were assessed two days by 24-hours recall method. Subjects were defined as high QOL group if EQ-5D index with Nam's model was above the median. Results: Generally, EQ-5D index was lower in women than in man, and lower in older subjects than in younger subjects. The percentages of people below the median were 42% (low QoL group) and 58% (high QoL group) were found to be the above the median. The high QoL group had higher NAR, especially for vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and folate. All dimensions in the EQ-5D were affected by NAR of some nutrients and especially anxiety/depression dimension was significantly correlated with NAR of 5 nutrients (protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin B1) and EQ-5D scores. Conclusions: HRQol was significantly reduced in elderly with increasing age and this was more pronounced in women than in man. The NAR of some nutrients were associated with the EQ-5D index, especially anxiety/depression dimension, among rural elderly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.467-474
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious public health issue that places a heavy financial, social, and health-related burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is extensively used for monitoring the general population's health conditions and measuring the effectiveness of interventions. Therefore, this study investigated HRQoL and associated factors among patients with type 2 DM at a primary healthcare center in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Klaten District, Central Java, Indonesia, from May 2019 to July 2019. In total, 260 patients with DM registered with National Health Insurance were interviewed. HRQoL was measured with the EuroQol Group's validated Bahasa Indonesia version of the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) with the Indonesian value set. Multivariate regression models were used to identify factors influencing HRQoL. Results: Data from 24 patients were excluded due to incomplete information. Most participants were men (60.6%), were aged above 50 years (91.5%), had less than a senior high school education (75.0%), and were unemployed (85.6%). The most frequent health problems were reported for the pain/discomfort dimension (64.0%) followed by anxiety (28.4%), mobility (17.8%), usual activities (10.6%), and self-care (6.8%). The average EuroQoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) index score was 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 0.88). In the multivariate ordinal regression model, a higher education level (coefficient, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.14) was a significant predictor of the EQ-5D-5L utility score. Conclusions: Patients with diabetes had poorer EQ-5D-5L utility values than the general population. DM patients experienced pain/discomfort and anxiety. There was a substantial positive relationship between education level and HRQoL.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.480-487
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between oral health status and health related quality of life (HRQoL). The study used a nationally representative sample of Koreans (2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) aged 19~64 years (n=3,252). Dependent variable was HRQoL, which was assessed with each component of EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ5D). Independent variable was oral health status (oral pain, chewing problem, speaking problem, and perceived oral health). After adjustment for confounders (socio-demographic factors, oral health behaviors, health behaviors, and physical conditions), the risk of having poor HRQoL was greater in adults with poor oral health status. The odds ratio (OR) of having pain/discomfort were 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22~1.86) for respondents with oral pain, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.33~ 2.22) for respondents with chewing problem, 1.79 (95% CI, 1.22~2.62) for respondents with speaking problem, and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.09~1.70) for respondents with poor perceived oral health. The OR of having anxiety/depression were 1.74 (95% CI, 1.28~2.38) when having a chewing problem, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.12~2.64) when having a speaking problem, and 1.54 (95% CI, 1.14~2.08) when rating his/her oral health poor. Among Korean adults, two of the EQ5D components were associated with oral health status. Future study is needed to examine the detailed causal relations between oral health status and HRQoL longitudinally.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.259-269
• /
• 2020

Background: This study aims to statistically analyze and compare the curative effect and satisfaction level between typical traditional Korean medicine treatment and nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment. Methods: Of the patients who were diagnosed with the cervical or lumbar herniated intervertebral disc at the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine at the Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital from April 14^th to August 25^th, 2019, this study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 31 patients who underwent nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment and traditional Korean medicine (assigned to Group A) and another 31 patients who received typical traditional Korean medicine alone (assigned to Group B). The clinical data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23.0. Results: No statistically significant differences appeared in terms of sociodemographic, condition, and therapeutic characteristics, except whether the patient received Western medicine treatment, before or after a treatment with traditional Korean medicine. Group A exhibited higher variations in numeric rating scale, EuroQol- 5 dimension and EuroQol visual analogue scale scores compared to Group B as determined by independent sample t test and analysis of covariance. In addition, the satisfaction score of Group A was higher than that of Group B The result of cross analysis revealed that desire for continued treatment in Group A was higher than that of Group B. Conclusion: This retrospective observational study showed that the patients with nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment reported a greater reduction in pain, improved quality of life and satisfaction than patients receiving typical traditional Korean medicine.

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

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.247-255
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to compare kinesio tapping with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to single intervention in chronic stroke patients. 29 stroke patients were divided into taping group (n = 10), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group (n = 10), and taping with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group (combined group n = 9). The intervention period was 5 times (30min) per week for 4 weeks. Timed Up & Go (TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used for balance evaluation. Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and 10-meter walk test were used for gait evaluation. The quality of life evaluation was performed using the EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D). There were significant improvements in TUG, BBS, FGA, 10-meter walk test, and EQ-5D in all three groups (p <.05). In the comparison of the intervention effects between the three groups, the combined group showed a significant increase in FGA compared to the other two groups. This study showed that taping with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is more effective for FGA than single methods. However, there was no difference between the three groups except for FGA. Therefore, more subjects and intervention period will be needed in future studies.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.137-146
• /
• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this study is to compare the effects between the KL-Grade and improvement of knee pain treated by Korean Medicine therapy. Methods 114 patients who received inpatient treatment from July 2014 to May 2017 in the Daejeon Jaseng of Korean Medicine Hospital were divided into 5 groups by the KL-Grade. All patients received a combination of treatment including acupunture, pharmacopunture, herbal medication. They were compared and analyzed on the basis of improvement between measuring Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC Index), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D Index) as they were hospitalized and as they were discharged. The statistically significance was evaluated by SPSS 23.0 for windows. Results After treatment, KL-Grade 0 group's Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC Index), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D Index) improvement was $2.02{\pm}1.69$, $7.50{\pm}9.67$ and $0.11{\pm}0.15$ respectively. KL-Grade 1 group's improvement was $2.09{\pm}1.23$, $11.75{\pm}13.99$ and $0.12{\pm}0.13$ respectively. KL-Grade 2 group's improvement was $1.60{\pm}1.07$ and $14.70{\pm}14.19$ respectively. But In this group, EQ-5D Index has decreased by $0.01{\pm}0.10$. KL-Grade 3 group's improvement was $1.88{\pm}1.31$, $7.81{\pm}13.35$ and $0.13{\pm}0.20$ respectively (p<0.034). In the case of KL-Grade 4, the population was not statistically significant (N=2) and therefore excluded from statistical significance. And there was no statistically significance between 4 group's improvement after treatment (p>0.05). Conclusions The above study showed that Korean medicine treatments showed significant therapeutic effects on knee pain and degenerative knee joints, but there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of degenerative arthritis (KL-Grade).

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing stroke in community-dwelling adults. Methods : This study used raw data from the community health survey in 2016. Among the 228,452 subjects who participated in the survey, 225,003 (98.5%) of them were included in the analysis of this study. The sociodemographic characteristics were selected as gender, age, region, income, marital status, and comorbidity was selected as osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction and arthritis. Health-related quality of life was assessed by EuroQol-5 Dimension(EQ-5D) and the subcategory of EQ-5D (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) were included in the analysis. Dependent variables were stroke, and the independent variables were the 16 variables described above. Statistical analysis was performed using binomial logistic regression analysis. Results : In sociodemographic variables, stroke was predicted by men, aging, and lower income levels. In comorbidity variables, stroke was predicted by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and myocardial infarction. In sub-domains of health-related quality of life, stroke was predicted by self-care, usual activities, mobility, anxiety/depression, and pain/discomfort. Conclusion : These finding suggest that it is needed development of a customized health promotion program for the improvement of self-care and activities of daily living in community-dwelling stroke survivors.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2022

Objectives This case study aimed to investigate the effect of acupotomy and fascia chuna therapy on talipes cavus-type plantar fasciitis. Methods We classified the foot arch type using a podoscope and estimated the outcome by evaluating the numeric rating scale, pain disability index, and EuroQol-5-dimension measurement. Results After treatment, heel pain decreased and the quality-of-life score improved. Conclusions This study suggests that treatment with acupotomy and muscle energy techniques based on the foot arch type may be effective for plantar fasciitis. A limitation of this study is the small number of cases. Further clinical studies are required.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.47-63
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral Disc on MRI accompanying or not High-intensive zone(HIZ) by Korean Medical Combination Treatment Methods : 324 patients who received inpatient treatment from January 2017 to September 2017 in the Daejeon-Jaseng of Korean Medicine Hospital were divided into 2 groups by High-intensive zone(HIZ) confirmed with a Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging. All patients received a combination of treatment including acupunture, chuna manual therapy, pharmacopunture, herbal medication. They were compared and analyzed on the basis of improvement between measuring Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ5D Index), physical examination as they were hospitalized and as they were discharged. The statistically significance was evaluated by SPSS 18.0 for windows. Results : After treatment, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ5D Index), physical examination was improved respectively. But there was no statistically significance between 2 group's improvement after treatment. Conclusions : After inpatient treatment by Korean Medical Combination Treatment, Most patient's pain, disability and Health Related Quality of Life was improved significantly. But there was no statistically difference between accompanying or not High-intensive zone(HIZ). So We think that future research of higher quality and correct statistics shall be necessary.