• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.416-426
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• 2019

Objectives: In recent years, transboundary air pollution from mainland East Asia has led to growing concerns about air pollution in Japan. Air pollution is reportedly associated with the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. In this study, we assessed the effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms and the health status of participants with and without chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Participants (n=2753) with and without chronic respiratory diseases who visited healthcare facilities in Japan during February from 2010 to 2015 filled out a self-report questionnaire regarding their symptoms and perceived health status. Participants were followed up during April-May and June-July. Results: Oxidant concentrations were associated with respiratory symptoms, overall health, and quality of life (QoL). Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate matter <$2.5{\mu}m$ levels were associated with physical fitness; SPM was also associated with QoL. Recent experience of an Asian sand dust event had a significant effect on allergic symptoms, change in health, and QoL. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms were more strongly affected by oxidants than by other pollutants. Significant associations of air pollutants were found with a comprehensive range of items related to perceived health status, including overall health and QoL. Although the effects of air pollutants on respiratory symptoms and health status were more apparent among patients with respiratory diseases, the adverse effects of air pollutants were significant even among participants without such conditions.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.569-584
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• 1993

This study was done to verify validity of nursing diagnoses related to difficulty in respiratory function. First, content validity was examined by an expert group considering the etiology and the signs / symptoms of three nursing diagnoses - ineffective airway clearance, ineffective breathing pattern, impaired gas exchange. Second, clinical validity was examined by comparing the frequencies of the etiologies and signs / symptoms of the three nursing diagnoses in clinical case studies with the results of the content validity. This study was a descriptive study. The sample consisted of 23 experts (professors, head nurses and clinical instructors) who had had a variety of experiences using nursing diagnoses in clinical practice, and 102 case reports done by senior student nurses of the college of nursing of Y-university. These reports were part of their clinical practice in the ICU. The instrument used for this study was a checklist for etiologies and signs and symptoms based on the literature, Doenges and Moorhouse (1988), Kim, McFarland, McLane (1991), Lee Won Hee et al. (1987), Kim Cho Ja et at. (1988). The data was collected over four month period from May 1992 to Aug. 1992. Data were analyzed using frequencies done with the SPSS / PC＋ package. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. General Characteristics of the Expert Group A bachelor degree was held by 43.5% and a master or doctoral degree by 56.5% of the expert group. The average age of the expert group was 35.3 years. Their average clinical experience was 9.3 years and their average experience in clinical practice was 5.9 years. The general characteristics of the patients showed that there were more women than men, that the age range was from 1 to over 80. Most of their medical diagnoses were diagnoses related to the respiratory. system, circulation or neurologic system, and 50% or more of them had a ventilator with intubation or a tracheostomy. The number of cases for each nursing diagnoses was : · Ineffective airway clearance, 92 cases. · Ineffective breathing pattern, 18 cases. · Impaired gas exchange, 22 cases. 2. The opinion of the expert group as to the classification of the etiology, and signs and symptoms of the three nursing diagnoses was as follows : · In 31.8% of the cases the classification of etiology was clear. · In 22.7%, the classification of signs and symptoms was clear. · In 17.4%, the classification of nursing interventions was clear. 3. In the expert group 80% or mere agreed to ‘dysp-nea’as a common sign and symptom of the three nursing diagnoses. The distinguishing signs and symptoms of (Ineffective airway clearance) were ‘sputum’, ‘cough’, ‘abnormal respiratory sounds : rales’. The distinguishing sings and symptoms of (Ineffective breathing pattern) were ‘tachypnea’, ‘use of accessory muscle of respiration’, ‘orthopnea’ and for (Impaired gas exchange) it was ‘abnormal arterial blood gas’, 4. The distribution of etiology, and signs and symptoms of the three nursing diagnoses was as follows : · There was a high frequency of ‘increased secretion from the bronchus and trachea’ in both the expert group and the case reports as the etiology of ineffective airway clearance. · For the etiologies for ineffective breathing pat-tern, ‘rain’, ‘anxiety’, ‘fear’, ‘obstructions of the tract, ca and bronchus’ had a high ratio in the ex-pert group and ‘decreased expansion of lung’ in the case reports. · For the etiologies for impaired gas exchanges, ‘altered oxygen -carrying capacity of the blood’ and ‘excess accumulation of interstitial fluid in lung’ had a high ratio in the expert group and ‘altered oxygen supply’ in the case reports. · For signs and symptoms for ineffective airway clearance, ‘dyspnea’, ‘altered amount and character of sputum’ were included by 100% of the expert group. ‘Abnormal respiratory. sound(rate, rhonchi)’ were included by a high ratio of the expert group. · For the signs and symptoms for ineffective breathing pattern. ‘dyspnea’, ‘shortness of breath’ were included by 100% of the expert group. In the case reports, ‘dyspnea’ and ‘tachypnea’ were reported as signs and symptoms. · For the sign and symptoms for impaired gas exchange, ‘hypoxia’ and ‘cyanosis’ had a high ratio in the expert group. In the case report, ‘hypercapnia’, ‘hypoxia’ and ‘inability to remove secretions’ were reported as signs and symptoms. In summary, the similarity of the etiologies and signs and symptoms of the three nursing diagnoses related to difficulty in respiratory function makes it difficult to distinguish among them But the clinical validity of three nursing diagnoses was established through this study, and at last one sign and symp-tom was defined for each diagnosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.1 s.37
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• pp.1-12
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• 1992

To assess the pattern of psychiatric symptoms and to evaluate the relationship between exposure related variables(duration of work and urinary hippuric acid concenturation) and psychiatric symptoms in organic solvent exposed workers, case control study of forty-two solvent exposed workers and ninethy-six non-exposed workers was conducted. The general health questionnaire 28(GHQ28) was administered to evaluate psychiatric symptoms and urinary hippuric acid concenturations was measured to estimate the present status of solvent exposure in exposed group and to estimate normal level in non-exposed group. The mean concenturation of urinary hippuric acid was significantly higher in exposed group (2.953g/creatinine g) than non-exposed group(0.395g/creatinine g) (P<0.01). The total positive rates of symptoms were significantly higher in exposed group(28.2%) than non-exposed group(17.5%)(P<0.05). The positive rates of symptoms for four sub-scales of GHQ28 in exposed group were in the order of somatic symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunction, depression and in the order of social dysfunction, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms in non -exposed group. The positive rates of symptoms for somatic symptoms and anxiety were significantly higher in exposed group than non-exposed group (P<0.05) and the proportion of workers with six or more positive symptoms(dysthymic states) in exposed group were significantly higher than non-exposed group (P<0.01). After the effect of age, sex, level of income, level of education, and duration of work were controlled, the total score of GHQ28 was still significantly different between exposed and non-exposed group(P<0.01). In multipile logistic regression analysis on the dysthymic state, the odds ratio of level of income was statictically significant in both group. The odds ratios of exposure related variables such as duration of work and hippuric acid concenturations were not statistically significant but there was a tendency that exposure related variables had an affect on dysthymic state in exposed group. In future, continuous evaluation of psychiatric symptoms on organic solvent exposed workers and studies to detect the factors that affect on psychiatric symptoms are required.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Purpose: This study investigated an outbreak of mumps affecting students in a high school (S high school) in Seoul, with an evaluation of the diagnostic utility of the mumps polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Methods: S high school students that presented to health care providers with mumps symptoms between April 2013 and July 2013 were surveyed for the monthly distribution of symptom onset and their grade level. Mumps PCR assays were performed using buccal swabs from some of these students. Results: During the survey period, 77 students presented with suspected cases of mumps. The monthly distribution of symptom onset was as follows: one in April, 17 in May, 54 in June, and five in July. With regard to grade level, 26 students were in their first year, 28 were in their second year, and 23 were in their third year. Of the 18 students tested with PCR assays, five had positive results. Samples were collected within 3 days of symptom onset in 15 of the 18 students, and positive PCR results were obtained in five of these 15 students. The PCR results of the remaining three students from whom samples were collected more than 3 days after the onset of symptoms were negative (P=0.24). Conclusions: We evaluated the epidemiological aspects of an outbreak of mumps in a high school. Mumps PCR might be epidemiologically useful if performed within 3 days of the onset of symptoms in suspected cases.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.349-356
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors of the musculoskeletal workload of mid-old-age female caregivers by identifying work postures and subjective symptoms. Method: This study was carried out on a total of 206 subjects 206 mid-old-age caregivers(45~65 years old) from November 2009 to April 2010: 206 mid-old-age caregivers (45~65 years old) at the long-term hospital. A questionnaires survey on general factors and subjective symptoms of subjects was conducted. The risk factors of the musculoskeletal workload evaluation method is based on OWAS, RULA, REBA according to occupation properties. Results: The analysis of the rates of the subjective symptoms showed that 78.6% subjects experience low back pain. The analysis of the work type showed that transfer is the highest rate(36.3%) and position change is the second(18.2%). The analysis of the work postures showed that the thrusted back with twisting position over $20^{\circ}$ is highest rate(37.4%), the bended back forward with twisting position is the second(27.5%). Conclusion: This study suggested that the need of preventive education for caregivers and workload improve. It is hoped that subsequent study on the difference of subjective symptoms between educated caregivers and non educated caregivers will be conducted.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.601-608
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences Quality of Life(QOL) according to menopausal symptoms in middle aged women. Method: The subjects consisted of 578 women( 45-60 years old) residing in urban area by convenience sampling from March 15 to May 30, 2002. The data were collected by structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, menopausal symptoms and QOL scale. the collected data were analyzed by the SPSS 11.0 program that included descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOV A. Result: The averaged age of menopause of subjects was 48.29:1:4.66 years and 74.8% in the subjects complained menopausal symptoms. As for the orders of complained menopausal symptom, it was fatigue, hot flashes, benumbed hands and feet, and irritability. The mean score of the QOL scale was showing above average level of quality of life. Religion was significantly different to the score for activity of QOL, monthly income was different to the score for activity and physical well-being of QOL. Menopausal status was significantly different to the QOL. Conclusion: This study suggests that a replicate study is needed. The results are also useful in developing various programs for health promotion of middle aged women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 2013

Purpose: Sexual function involves a complex interaction of emotions, body image, and intact physical responses. The purpose of this study was to determine the sexual functioning of women who are incontinent and to identify associated factors. Methods: For this descriptive correlation study, data were collected from 147 women with urinary incontinence. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Mean scores were 22.39 (sexual dysfunction ${\leq}26.55$) for sexual function, 13.38 (of 63) for depression, and 55.47 (range of score 17~85) for body image. Urinary symptoms and daily life symptoms averaged 36.04 (range of score 20~100) and 16.03 (range of score 8~40). Sexual function had a positive correlation with body image and negative correlation with daily life symptoms. Sexual satisfaction, daily life symptoms, marital satisfaction, and frequency of sexual intercourse were factors affecting sexual function. Conclusion: Study results indicate that urinary incontinence has a negative impact on various aspects of sexual function. Nurses should be aware of the wider consideration that needs to be made in relation to general and sexual quality of life when caring for clients suffering from urological diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.846-852
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this report is to report the effects of Danggwisaeyeok-tang (當歸四逆湯) on Raynaud phenomenon in a patient. Methods: A 57-year-old male diagnosed in 2016 with Raynaud's phenomenon complained of pain, digital ulceration, and discoloration of his fingers. He underwent acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment, but the symptoms gradually worsened, so we administered herbal medicine, Danggwisaeyeok-tang (當歸四逆湯). Visual observation of the affected part, changes in subjective symptoms, and a verbal numerical rating scale (VNAS) were used to assess the clinical response. Results: After treatment with Danggwisaeyeok-tang, the patient reported improvement in his symptoms of cold sensation, ulceration, and sclerosis of his digits. Furthermore, the patient exhibited no general adverse effects. Conclusions: Danggwisaeyeok-tang (當歸四逆湯) significantly improved the patient's clinical symptoms. This case suggests that Danggwisaeyeok-tang (當歸四逆湯) may represent a good option for the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8345-8349
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• 2016

Background: Although the incidence of colorectal cancer in Malaysia is increasing, awareness of this cancer, including its symptoms, risk factors and screening methods, remains low among Malaysian populations. This survey was conducted with the aim of (i) ascertaining the awareness level regarding colorectal cancer symptoms, risk factors and its screening among the general populations and (ii) assessing the public preference and willingness to pay for colorectal cancer screening. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire was distributed in eight major cities in West Malaysia during the World Health Digestive Day (WDHD) campaign. Two thousand four hundred and eight respondents participated in this survey. Results: Generally, awareness of colorectal cancer was found to be relatively good. Symptoms such as change in bowel habit, blood in the stool, weight loss and abdominal pain were well recognized by 86.6%, 86.9%, 83.4% and 85.6% of the respondents, respectively. However, common risk factors such as positive family history, obesity and old age were acknowledged only by less than 70% of the respondents. Almost 80% of the respondents are willing to take the screening test even without any apparent symptoms. Colonoscopy is the preferred screening method, but only 37.5% were willing to pay from their own pocket to get early colonoscopy. Conclusions: Continous cancer education should be promoted with more involvement from healthcare providers in order to make future colorectal cancer screening programs successful.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 1998

This study was undertaken in order to examine the relationship of hardiness and health-promoting behavior and the effects of hardiness on stress-related physical symptoms. The subjects were 104 female nursing students of one college in Kongju. The instruments used for this study were a survey of general characteristics, hardiness(25 items), health-promoting behavior(44 items), and physical symptoms(35 items), Analysis of data was done by use of mean, Pearson correlation coefficient, stepwise regression and a hierarchical multiple regression with an SAS program. The results of this study are as follows. 1) Significant correlations between health -promoting behavior and subscales of hardiness, that is, control(r=-.35, P<.00l), commitment(r= -.29, P<.0l), and challenge(r= -.23, p<.05) were found. 2) Control was the highest factor predicting health -promoting behavior. 3) Main and buffering effects of hardiness on current physical symptoms were not found.