• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.106-113
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects of Tai Chi on hope, dependency, and perceived health status of elderly women. Methods: The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Forty-seven elderly women were assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=24) and the control group (n=23). Data were collected from June 13 to July 26, 2012 and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 14.0 version program. The intervention was provided 2 times a week for 7 weeks. Results: There were significant differences in reported hope and perceived health status between the two groups. However, the issue of dependency was not significant. Conclusion: Tai chi can be utilized as an effective intervention for hope and perceived health status of elderly women. It will be a good solution to guide successful aging in an aging society.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2004.12a
• /
• pp.81-82
• /
• 2004

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.523-528
• /
• 2005

The commercial interests in functional foods containing probiotics are gaining significance in view of increasing studies on their role in digestive tract. Probiotic dairy foods containing health-promoting bacteria are important segment of functional food market. Various health benefits have been attributed to specific strains of lactic acid bacteria or food containing these probiotic cultures. Probiotic-containing foods are considered to improve general gut health and natural defenses of body, and lower blood cholesterol level. Specific probiotic microbes can alleviate or prevent diverse intestinal diarrhea-inducing disorders, cause prophylaxis of intestinal and urogenital infections, inhibit mutagenicity of intestinal contents, and reduce incidence of intestinal tumors. Recent increasing evidences on health effects of probiotics have triggered consumer interest in this category of functional foods. Rational approach needs to be applied in selection of strains for probiotic preparation to achieve required functionality. Present article focuses on some prominent probiotic candidates and criteria for their inclusion in functional food sector. Various health claims of probiotics on gastrointestinal disorders, anticarcinogenic effects, and anti-cholestrimic effects, and possible mechanistic explanations for their functionality are highlighted.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.398-404
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects of osteoporosis prevention education on Korean breast cancer patients' knowledge and health promoting behavior. Methods: The participants in this study included breast cancer patients who were registered at a self-help group organized by the Breast Cancer Center of a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. The intervention group received 60 minutes' didactic instruction followed by 30 minutes' interactive session, and reinforcement education with leaflets was given three weeks after the group intervention. In order to measure the effects of the intervention, this study used valid and reliable scales on the knowledge of osteoporosis and health promoting behavior for preventing osteoporosis. A post-test was conducted 12 weeks after the intervention. Results: The results showed significant improvement in three of the five factors of osteoporosis knowledge including bone physiology, the characteristics of osteoporosis, and preventive behaviors in the intervention group. Overall health promoting behavior for preventing osteoporosis had significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Osteoporosis preventive education improved breast cancer patients' knowledge of osteoporosis and health promoting behavior for preventing osteoporosis by inducing their voluntary participation in self-care activities.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.59-68
• /
• 2014

The extracts and pure saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) are reported to have a wide range of health benefits. Platycosides (saponins) from the roots of PG are characterized by a structure containing a triterpenoid aglycone and two sugar chains. Saponins are of commercial significance, and their applications are increasing with increasing evidence of their health benefits. The biological effects of saponins include cytotoxic effects against cancer cells, neuroprotective activity, antiviral activity, and cholesterol lowering effects. Saponins with commercial value range from crude plant extracts, which can be used for their foaming properties, to high purity saponins such as platycodin D, which can be used for its health applications (e.g., as a vaccine adjuvant). This review reveals that platycosides have many health benefits and have the potential to be used as a remedy against many of the major health hazards (e.g., cancer, obesity, alzheimer's) faced by populations around the world. Methods of platycoside purification and analysis are also covered in this review.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.88-100
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study was to present the effects of home visiting health service on hypertension and DM clients. Method: The one-group pretest-posttest design was applied to 127 hypertension and 116 DM clients. To evaluate the effects of visiting nursing service, biological indexes and self-care abilities were measured from April to July, 2007. Result: Biological indexes and self-care abilities were improved in the hypertension and DM clients who received visiting nursing service. Especially, blood pressure and fasting blood sugar showed a dramatic decrease. Conclusion: Home visiting health service by public health centers is considered to be an effective nursing service in Gangwon-do. Therefore, case management is demanded not only for hypertension and DM but also for other chronic diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.237-249
• /
• 2011

The Chernobyl accident was a terrible catastrophe for humanity. Scientists are in concurrence about an increase of thyroid cancer incidence among children, but not among adults, because even areas less contaminated by radiation have also reported an increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer. In this case, the rise might be due to a screening effect. There is no convincing evidence that the incidence of leukemia and solid cancer has increased among the exposed populations, but it still remains a controversial issue. Additionally, apparent evidence of decreased fertility and increased hereditary effects have not been observed in the general population. WHO suggested 4,000 people could have died or may die in the future among emergency workers and residents of the most contaminated areas, while Greenpeace insists there will be 93,080 victims around the world. The radiation dose due to Chernobyl was mainly low, so if its health effects are to be found, more long-term and welldesigned research will be needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.2315-2320
• /
• 2016

Background: This study investigated the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted using a convenient sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to the samplings, and the data of 200 cancer patients were collected. Results: The effects of religion on the health of cancer patients achieved an average score of 3.58. The top five effects are presented as follows: (a) Religion provides me with mental support and strength, (b) religion enables me to gain confidence in health recovery, (c) religion motivates me to cope with disease-related stress positively and optimistically, (d) religion helps me reduce anxiety, and (e) religion gives me courage to face uncertainties regarding disease progression. Moreover, among the demographic variables, gender, type of religion, and experience of religious miracles contributed to the significantly different effects of religion on patients. Specifically, the effect of religion on the health of patients who were female and Christian and had miracle experiences was significantly (p< .01) higher than that on other patients. Conclusions: These results are helpful in understanding the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence. The result can serve as a reference for nursing education and clinical nursing practice.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.302-313
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors in quality of life and to construct a model of quality of life in longevity region dwelling elders. Methods: Data were collected from January to July, 2010 through direct interviews and a self-reporting questionnaire survey with 171 subjects who were living at the S County (gun). The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS/WIN 19.0 and AMOS 19.0 programs. Results: Economic status, social support, health behavior and depression were shown to have direct and total effects on quality of life and were statistically significant. Health status had indirect and total effects on quality of life and was statistically significant. And, self-efficacy had direct, indirect and total effects on quality of life and was statistically significant. These variables of the hypothetical model accounted for 41.4% of quality of life. Conclusion: In order to improve quality of life in longevity region dwelling elders, it is necessary to provide economic support and social support services in tandem with social welfare. And, we need to apply interventions strengthening self-efficacy, health behavior, and health status, and decreasing depression.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.623-635
• /
• 2011

Over the past few decades, the proportion of elderly people with depression in Korea has been rapidly increasing. The purpose of this study is to explore relative effects of health and family factors on geriatric depression. The data sources are from Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging(2008). The Analysis sample consists of 4,040 cases. Analysis results show that there is a significant variability in geriatric depression according to sociodemographic characteristics, health characteristics, and family characteristics. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses are employed to assess the causal relationship between health characteristics and geriatric depression. Model II showed that ADL(exp(B)=1.732), having difficulties due to sight deterioration(exp(B)=1.398), having difficulties due to masticatory force deterioration(exp(B)=1.414), having difficulties due to pain(exp(B)=2.435), and subjective health status(exp(B)=2.010) are reported as predictors of geriatric depression. Namely, the probability of having geriatric depression of the above predictors has been 1.7 times, 1.4 times, 1.4 times, 2.4 times. 2.0 times higher than normal figures. Among health characteristics, pain is the most prevalent factor. Model III showed that as for family characteristics, coresiding with children(exp(B)=1.312) and frequency of contacting with children by phones, letters, or emails(exp(B)=1.477) are reported as predictors of geriatric depression. Key findings are that health factors have larger effects than family factors on geriatric depression.