• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5927-5936
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• 2014

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Jordanians. Breast cancer patients suffer from several negative consequences after treatment and these include pain, fatigue, sexual problems, appearance and body image concerns, with psychological dysfunction. This could affect the patient quality of life and psychological well-being. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published quantitative data on the quality of life and psychological well-being of breast cancer patients in Jordan. The objective of this study was to obtain such data and assess predictors with calculated scores. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted among breast cancer patients in Jordan diagnosed in 2009 and 2010, assessment was performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Breast Module (QLQ-BR23) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Clinical, demographic and psychosocial indicators that could predict patient quality of life scores were collected. Results: The number of patients interviewed was 236 (mean age=$50.7{\pm}10.7$ years). The mean Global Health score for the QLQ-C30 was $63.7{\pm}20.2$ SD. Among functional scales, "social functioning" scored the highest ($mean=78.1{\pm}28.6$ SD), whereas "emotional functioning" scored the lowest ($mean=59.0{\pm}SD\;33.5$). For the QLQ-BR23, the worst scores within the functional scales were for "body image" ($mean=52.1{\pm}36.8$ SD) and "future perspective" ($mean=52.9{\pm}38.5$ SD). The worst symptom was "upset by hair loss" ($mean=69.8{\pm}43.0$). The mean HADS scores was $18.{\pm}9.0$ SD. Out of study participants, 53% scored abnormal on the anxiety scale and 45% on the depression scale. Severe depression and severe anxiety were detected among 8% and 14% of study participants, respectively. Statistically significant predictors for individual scores were similar to those reported in published studies, such as the presence of recurrence since baseline, family history of cancer, low educational status, current social problems, extent of the disease, presence of financial difficulties, and employment status. Conclusions and Recommendations: Breast cancer survivors in Jordan have overall good quality of life scores when compared with patients from Western countries. However, their psychological wellbeing is more impaired. There is an urgent need for psychosocial support programs and psychological screening and consultation for breast cancer patients at hospitals of the Ministry of Health in Jordan.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.382-395
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• 2021

Objectives: This study examined the nutritional status according to frailty status in the elderly at home. Methods: The participants were a total of 76 elderly at home living in Seo-gu, Gwangju, Korea. The nutritional status and frailty status were analyzed using the Nutrition Quotient for Elderly (NQ-E) and the Korean version of the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses and Loss of weight Scale (K-FRAIL), respectively. Results: The distribution of frailty status was robust (17.1%), pre-frailty (38.2%) and frailty (44.7%), and its distribution was significantly different in genders, age groups and the number of medications. The mean NQ-E score was 47.0 for total subjects, indicating a low grade. The scores of balance, diversity and dietary behavior factors were within the low grade, while the score of the moderation factor was within the medium-high grade. According to the frailty status, pre-frailty and frailty showed significantly higher scores for sugar-added beverages intake in the moderation constructs than robust. Robust showed significantly higher scores for the exercise hours and perception level for one's health than pre-frailty and frailty. Conclusions: These results suggest that nutrition status is associated with frailty status. Regular nutrition education and visiting nutrition service should be established to improve the balance and diversity of food intake and improve the dietary behavior of the elderly at home.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.2 s.50
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• pp.433-449
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• 1995

The study subjects in this study are 295 workers who work on one electronics industry, and they were composed of 93 VDT and 202 non-VDT workers. This study was carried out to obtain the prevalence of subjective symptoms and to compare psychological symptom scores from SCL-90-R between VDT and non-VDT work groups. And to verify the relationship between VDT work related symptoms and psychological symptoms, the author compared SCL-90-R T scores between symptom complaining and non-complaining groups. The results are summarized as follows : 1. Throughout the prevalence study of VDT work related symptoms according to VDT work state, the author could select the final 10 symptoms by sex;'eye fatigue', 'foggy vision', 'neck discomfort or pain', 'shoulder discomfort and pain', 'light headedness', 'dizziness', 'acne', 'itching sensation on face', 'difficulty in concentration', 'memory disturbance' in males, and 'blurred vision', 'foggy vision', 'neck discomfort or pain', 'shoulder discomfort and pain', 'abdominal distention', 'indigestion', 'acne', 'prickling sensation on face', 'difficulty in concentration', 'memory disturbance' in females. 2. Throughout comparison of psychological symptom scores from SCL-90-R between VDT and non-VDT workers, except 'Interpersonal sensitivity' in female, Mean T score were higher in VDT workers, but not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that the relation between VDT work status and psychological symptoms are not strongly correlated. 3. Because of the nonspecific characteristics of VDT work related symptoms, from the 40 subjective symptoms, the author selected the final 10 symptoms by sex, especially correlated to VDT, and divided the study subjects into symptom complaining and non-complaining groups. The mean SCL-90-R T scores between the two groups were compared. Except for the opthalmologic symptoms in females, the scores were significantly different between the two groups in all symptoms. And this indicates that the VDT work related symptoms strongly correlated with the present individual psychological conditions. 4. Due to understand that which of the 9 psychological symptom dimensions are strongly correlated with the subjective symptoms, the author excuted muliple logistic regression analysis, and the result were as follows; 'depression' and 'somatization', in male, and 'obsessive-compulsive' and 'somatization' in female.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.156-166
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• 1992

The authors studied anxiety, using Zung's self-rating anxiety scale(SAS), in the subjects of 127 male and 38 female patients with anxiety disorder. The authors investigated 165 patients in Yeungnam university hospital from January, 1987 to June, 1991. In order to analyze the data on anxiety scores Pearson's product moment coefficient correlation method and factor analysis were carried out by SPSS/PC+ program. The results were as follows : There was significant difference in the mean averages of total anxiety scores among patients with anxiety, disorder and male and female college freshmen: patients with anxiety disorder scored $42.40{\pm}7.74$, male students scored $32.91{\pm}5.70$, female students scored $34.48{\pm}6.00$. The anxiety scores relating to the items of body aches & pains, fatigue, anxiousness, panic, and urinary frequency were relatively high in patients with anxiety disorder. The anxiety scores on the items of restlessness, apprehension, dyspnea, sweating, and insomnia were relatively low in patients with anxiety disorder. Twenty-nine anxiety disorder group(17.5%) showed significantly high anxiety scores of 50 or over. The inter-rater reliability of Zung's self-rating anxiety scale was 0.71.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.569-588
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• 1992

This study examined the relationship between the experience of stressful life events and somatic symptoms of urban women. Data were collected by interviewing 200 women from June to July 1, 1991. Vsable data work obtained from 162 of the women. Modified version of a stressful life events measurement tool developed p.5. Lee (1984) and the Somatic Discomfort Inventory by Wittenborn were used to measure the variables. Data were processed by an 5.p.5.5. program and analyzed. statistically for percentage, T-test, ANOYA and Pearson Correlation coefficient. Result of the Study are as follows : 1) The group total mean score of stressful life events was 92.66 $\pm$ 10.41. The higher scores in the $\boxDr$Test and school$\boxUl$ of the Extrapersonal factor, in the $\boxDr$Health problems$\boxUl$ of the Intrapersonal factor and $\boxDr$Conflict and differences within the family$\boxUl$ of the Interpersonal factor, factors. which a suggested by Neuman's model. 2) The group total mean score for somatic symptoms was 100.41$\pm$9.74. The higher scores were for the factors of $\boxDr$Fatigue (1.94)$\boxUl$, $\boxDr$Menopause (1.74)$\boxUl$, $\boxDr$Muscular system(1.67)$\boxUl$ and $\boxDr$Sleeping (1.67)$\boxUl$ 3) The mean scores of stressful life events were higher in the 40~60 age group, for middle school graduates(P＜.05), career women and those in nuclear families (P＞.05). 4) The mean scores of somatic symptoms were higher in the 45~60 age group, for middle school graduates, non career women and women with 5 or more children(P＜.05). 5) There was a positive correlation between the scores of stressful life events and somatic symptoms (r＝.585 P＜.05). The higher the level of stressful life events the higher the score of somatic symptoms, the results were consistent with the Extrapersonal, Intrapersonal and Interpersonal stress factors of Neuman's Health Care Systems. This research assessed the stressful life events of women, who play the most important role in the family for illness prevention and health promotion and suggested the importance of programs in the Primary Health Services to build basic coping resources.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.519-528
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between health status and bathing. Method: The population of this study consisted of females, above age 20 in urban areas in order to control the effects of extraneous variables, resident areas, gender, and age. Four hundred and twenty-eight (428) women were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF)-36 Health Survey assessed individual health status. Bathingbehavior and attitudes toward bath have been measured with questionnaires designed by the authors. Result: The most popular bathing type was shower (46.8%). The preferred type of bath was related to health status. A common purpose of the tub-bath was relieving fatigue and hygiene, but the other purposes were different on the subjects health status. Persons with low health status took frequently tub-baths for health. Attitudes toward bath were related to health status. Women with low scores in physical health recognized more physical effects of bath than psychological effects or hygenic effects. Conclusion: Bathing included physical and psychological dimensions and was related to health status.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.136-144
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report on the alleviation of symptoms of a myasthenia gravis (MG) patient after Korean medicine treatment. Methods: A 39 year-old male patient who suffered from MG was examined. The patient was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture. The Myasthenia Gravis Composite (MGC) scale and Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) profile were used to assess the change of MG symptoms after Korean medicine treatment. Results: The MGC and MG-ADL scores indicated significant improvement after 14 days of treatment. In addition, the degrees of fatigue, dyspepsia, vomiting, sweating, and dizziness were decreased. Conclusion: This study may suggest that Korean medicine treatment could be effective in treating the symptoms of MG.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.17-32
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• 1995

The purpose of this study is to promote health for young female workers. It is based on questionnaires collected from 215 female workers in Incheon area. This study includes health condition (fatigue scores), occupational disease, knowledge of abused drugs and the actual condition of drug use. The results are summerized as follows: - $47.4\%$ visited their health center and were treated with diseases like cold and headache $(34.9\%)$, gastroenteric disease $(6.5\%)$, trauma $(7.9\%)$ and chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension $(3.3\%)$ - $44.7\%$ received regular health education and $4.7\%$ among them received education on abused drugs. - $20.5\%$ were suffering from work related diseases such as gastroenteric disease, headache, trauma, repiratory disease, skin problem, arthritis, low back pain, shortsightness and tuberculosis. - Total mean fatigue score as an indication of health status was $9.0\pm5.4$ points out of 30 points. Physical mean score (group I) was $3.92\pm2.2$ points and psychological mean score was $2.5\pm2.3$ points and neurosensory mean score was $2.6\pm2.1$ points out of each 10 points. - They recognized analgesics $(55.0\%)$ and the next are laxatives $(49.8\%)$, inhalants $(40.0\%)$, narcotics $(24.2\%)$, stimulants $(24.0\%)$, antihistamines$(5.9\%)$, diuretics $(3.0\%)$, tranquilizer $(2.4\%)$ and sedatives $(1.4\%)$ - They used analgesics $(37.2\%)$ the most and then laxatives $(6.0\%)$, stimulants$(5.6\%)$, diuretics $(1.9\%)$, antihistamines$(0.5\%)$, And nobody used tranquilizer, sedatives, narcotics and inhalant. - The relationship between career, drug abuse education, health center utilization and and the actual condition of drug using was examined. The longer the career and the more educated with drug abuse, the less drug used. And those who utilized health center rarely used more drugs. - The relationship between career, health center utilization, the score of fatigue and use of analgesics was also examined. Those group who have a longer career above 3 years and the group who have never used health center used more analgesics. And the group of fatigue score above 11.0 points used a little more analgesics than the other group. These results indicate that analgesics are the most frequent used drugs among female workers. Those analgesics such as geborin, penzal, saridon, aspirin, tyrenol should be used properly. These basic data is submitted for the education and consultation which are carried out by industrial nurses for promoting health of industrial workers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7117-7121
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• 2015

Background: The effects of home nursing intervention on the quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy and chemotherapy are unclear. According to the characteristics of nursing home patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we should continuously improve the nursing plan and improve the quality of life of patients at home. Materials and Methods: We selected 180 patients at home with NPC after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (90 patients each). The experimental group featured intervention with an NPC home nursing plan, while the control group was given routine discharge and outpatient review. Nursing intervention for patients was mainly achieved by regular telephone follow-up and home visits. We use the quality of life scale (QOL-C30), anxiety scale (SAS) and depression scale (SDS) to evaluate these patients before intervention, and during follow-up at 1 month and 3 months after the intervention. Results: Overall health and quality of life were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05), Emotional function score was significantly higher after intervention (p<0.05), as were cognitive function and social function scores after 3 months of intervention (p<0.05). Scores of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite and constipation were also significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). Rates of anxiety and depression after 3 months of intervention were 11.1%, 22.2% and 34.4%, 53.3%, the differences being significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: NPC home nursing plan could effectively improve overall quality of life, cognitive function, social function (after 3 months) of patients, but improvement regarding body function is not suggested. Fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite, constipation were clearly improved. We should further pursue a personalized, comprehensive measurements for nursing interventions and try to improve the quality of life of NPC patients at home.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.628-643
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• 1998

To investigate the exposure levels of organic solvents and subjective symptoms of dry-cleaning workers, 77 male and 52 female dry-cleaning workers who had been worked in a small city of Chungnam province, and a large city, Taejon were selected for the study group. Air concentrations of organic solvents in the working environment were analyzed, and subjective symptoms of dry-cleaning workers were surveyed, from July to August 1996. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The concentrations of organic solvents in the working environment were within permissible TLV-TWA limits. 2. For the 13 symptom clusters, the most frequently complained symptom clusters were fatigue as 71.3%, and followed by depression and urinary disturbances as 53.5% and 51.9%. Other symptom clusters complained were below 50%. 3. Positive response rates of subjective symptoms were significantly higher in worker groups such as lived in a large city, female, higher education level, more frequently alcohol drinking, higher concentration of organic solvent in working environment, work in alone. 4. Workers who had used solvent B showed 2.3 point higher scores of subjective symptoms than those of solvent A. Of the subjective symptoms scores, amnesia and nervousness were higher in solvent B user group than solvent B user group. 5. As a result of factor analysis, 3 factors such as depression, urinary disturbance and neurologic disturbance were selected. 6. As a result of the logistic regression analysis, sex, the number of fellow workers, working time, region, job tenure, smoking, alcohol drinking, ventilating system, concentration of organic solvent in working environment and place of residence were selected for the related variables. For the conclusion, even though the concentrations of organic solvents in the working environments of dry-cleaning workers were within permissible limit of TLV-TWA, many dry-cleaning workers complained symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, urinary disturbances and so on. And the factors affecting to the symptoms of dry-cleaning workers were the number of fellow workers, work hours, region, job tenure, smoking and alcohol drinking.