• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.361-368
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to explore dimensions in addition to the 5 dimensions of the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) that could satisfactorily explain variation in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the general population of South Korea. Methods: Domains related to HRQoL were searched through a review of existing HRQoL instruments. Among the 28 potential dimensions, the 5 dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L and 7 additional dimensions (vision, hearing, communication, cognitive function, social relationships, vitality, and sleep) were included. A representative sample of 600 subjects was selected for the survey, which was administered through face-to-face interviews. Subjects were asked to report problems in 12 health dimensions at 5 levels, as well as their self-rated health status using the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) and a 5-point Likert scale. Among subjects who reported no problems for any of the parameters in the EQ-5D-5L, we analyzed the frequencies of problems in the additional dimensions. A linear regression model with the EQ-VAS as the dependent variable was performed to identify additional significant dimensions. Results: Among respondents who reported full health on the EQ-5D-5L (n=365), 32% reported a problem for at least 1 additional dimension, and 14% reported worse than moderate self-rated health. Regression analysis revealed a $R^2$ of 0.228 for the original EQ-5D-5L dimensions, 0.200 for the new dimensions, and 0.263 for the 12 dimensions together. Among the added dimensions, vitality and sleep were significantly associated with EQ-VAS scores. Conclusions: This study identified significant dimensions for assessing self-rated health among members of the general public, in addition to the 5 dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L. These dimensions could be considered for inclusion in a new preference-based instrument or for developing a country-specific HRQoL instrument.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify health problems in the community by providing healthy village projects centered and based on the actual living site and to enhance the empowerment of the community related to health. Methods: The participants were 600 people who lived in one of the 5 villages under the jurisdiction of one Primary Health Care Post (PHCP) in D city. The Community Health Practitioner (CHP) carried out the projects to increase geographical and temporal accessibility by building infrastructures through connecting human and physical resources in the community. The health leaders who were trained through the project consistently managed, and periodically checked the residents' health status. Results: The participants in the projects had significantly lower levels of depression, routine stress, and activity of daily living (ADL) disorders, and higher interpersonal relationships, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to the control group. Conclusions: The healthy village projects centered on the living site led to voluntary participation from the residents, improve HRQoL and enhanced empowerment of community.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.743-753
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of a community-based first and third Intergenerational Exchange Program (IGEP) on older adults' health-related quality of life (HRQoL), loneliness, depression, and walking speed, and on 4~5-year-old preschool children's learning-related social skills. Methods: This study employed a non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design. The experimental group included 42 older adults and 42 children who participated in the IGEP for 8 weeks, and the control group included 39 older adults. The experimental group participated in the IGEP once a week for 8 weeks. It comprised a traditional play program based on the intergroup contact theory. Results: Compared to the control group, there was a significant increase in scores on the HRQoL-Visual analogue scale (VAS) and a decrease in loneliness and depression in older adults in the experimental group (p<.05). Children who participated in the IGEP showed an improvement in their learning-related social skills (p<.001). Conclusion: These results confirm that the IGEP is an effective intervention to improve HRQoL-VAS, loneliness, and depression among older adults and learning-related social skills among preschool children in the community.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.533-544
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• 2016

Objectives: We aimed to examine levels of physical activity, anthropometric features, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Korean breast cancer survivors who reported changes in their diet after diagnosis. Methods: A total of 380 women who had been diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancer and had breast cancer surgery at least six months before the interview were included. Participants provided information on dietary change after diagnosis, post-diagnostic diet, physical activity, anthropometric measures, and HRQoL through face-to-face interview. We assessed HRQoL levels of breast cancer survivors using a validated Korean version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Breast Cancer Module (BR23). We used the logistic regression and generalized linear models to identify the associations of dietary changes in relation with physical activity, anthropometry, and HRQoL. Results: The majority of participants (72.6%) reported that they have changed their diet to a healthier diet after diagnosis. Breast cancer survivors who reported to have change to a healthy diet had higher intakes of vegetables and fruits and lower intakes of red and processed meats, and refined grains than those who did not. Also, survivors with a healthy change in their diet were more likely to engage in physical activity (top vs. bottom tertile: odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.02-3.36) and have lower body mass index (BMI) (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.98 for one $kg/m^2$ increment in BMI) compared to those who did not. We found that a healthy change in diet was associated with higher scores of physical functioning (p=0.02) and lower scores of constipation (p=0.04) and diarrhea (p=0.006) compared to those who did not. Conclusions: Healthy changes in diet after breast cancer diagnosis may be associated with lower levels of BMI, and higher levels of physical activity and HRQoL.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.119-127
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• 2017

This paper convergent examined caregiver burden, depressive symptoms and health related quality of life of 226 caregivers of stroke patients, who had been hospitalized in 7 general hospitals located in Cheongju and Daejeon Metropolitan city. The quality of life was measured using SF-8, which is a short version of HRQoL. According to Multiple regression Analysis, dependence of a patient were important factors in the physical related quality of life. These results suggest that in order to improve the quality of life related to the physical health of the stroke patient's caregiver, the elderly long-term care insurance system and the caregiver system and the ward of the Ministry of Health and Welfare are expanded ward without a caregiver. There is a need to raise expectations for recovery through education and family support groups.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.615-626
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate caregiver burden and health related quality of life (HRQoL) among male spouses who cared for partners with a stroke. Methods: The subjects were spouses of 121 female patients who visited the neurology outpatients department in one tertiary hospital located in Seoul between February and April in 2011. Results: The mean age of the male caregivers was $71.25{\pm}5.51$ years. The mean score of caregiver's burden was moderate ($63.28{\pm}9.85$). The average reported caregiving time was $58.48{\pm}5.51$ min/day with the male spouses spending more time in house-working than with caregiving activities. The reported depression and care giving time, plus the cognitive status and functional dependencies of the spouse were significantly related to male caregiver's burden. The mean scores of 'physical health' and 'mental health' for quality of life for the male caregivers was moderate (47.49 and 47.33 respectively). Overall, caregiver's burden has a negative effect on the HRQoL of male spouses. Conclusion: Caregiver's burden and HRQoL are important problems which are in need of nurses' attention. It is suggested that intervention programs for male spouses be developed with a focus on emotional and social support as well as education about the caregiving role.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was to compare health behaviors, DM management and HRQoL among Diabetic patients according to education experience. Methods: Data were obtained from Community health Survey(CHS) of 2015. The participants were 22,937 diabetic patients who had education experience or not. Data were analyzed on complex sample anaysis using SPSS 24 program. Results: The education experience group showed higher percentages of health behaviors and DM Management and higher HRQoL. The significant negative factors influencing HRQoL were Bed ridden experience, higher subjective stress, depression expereince, age, low education and positive factors were good subjective health status, walking, mod-exercise, drinking, employment, spouse, good subjective happiness. Conclusion: These results show that education experience is a way to help diabetic patients' health behavior, DM management, HRQoL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3017-3021
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• 2013

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important aspect in identifying cancer patients' perceptions of being diagnosed with cancer and the assessment of treatment outcomes. The present study aimedto assess the profile and predicators of HRQoL of Malaysian oncology patients. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study adopting the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was conducted. All cancer patients attending Penang General Hospital between August-November 2011 were approached. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic and disease related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 16.0. Results: Three hundred and ninety three cancer patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 53.9 ($SD{\pm}13$) years. The cohort was dominated by females (n=260, 66.2%). Nearly half (n=190, 48.3%) of the participants were of Malay ethnicity, practicing Islam as their religion (n=194, 494%). Two hundred and ninety six (n=296, 75.3%) had beene diagnosed with cancer within six months to 3 years previously. The most common primary cancer site was breast (n=143, 36.4%). The mean Global Health Status (GHS) score was 60.7 (SD=21.3). Females (mean GHS score of 62.3, p=0.035) with Malay ethnicity (mean GHS score of 63.8, p=0.047), practicing Islam as their religion (mean GHS score of 63.0, p=0.011) had better GHS scores. Patients having medical insurance had good scores (mean 65.6, p-0.021). Marital status was significantly associated with GHS scores (p=0.022). Bone cancer patientshad the lowest mean GHS score of 49.2 (p=0.044). Patients at very advanced stages of cancer featured a low GHS mean score of 52.2 (p<0.001). Conclusions: The present study identified many demographic and disease related factors which may contribute to the HRQoL of cancer patients, pointing to the necessity for improved management of disease symptoms and provision of psychological and financial support.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.501-510
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare urban-rural differences on influencing factors of health related quality of life(HRQoL) of the elderly in senior center. Methods: The subjects were 902 older adults (571 from urban areas, 331 from rural areas). Data were collected using a questionnaire from 20 July to 31 August, 2011. The SPSS/WIN program was used for data analysis. Results: For older adults of urban areas, the influencing factors of HRQoL were depression, age, subjective health, drinking, number of chronic disease, and smoking. On the other hand, the influencing factors of HRQoL of older adults of rural areas were depression, subjective health, number of chronic disease, and educational level. The significant factors of HRQoL were depression, subjective, and number of chronic disease in both urban and rural areas. Conclusion: Public health nurses should consider urban-rural differences when designing HRQoL enhancing program for the elderly in senior center.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.266-278
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of reinforced walking exercise on dyspnea-fatigue symptoms, daily activities, walking ability and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in heart failure patients. Methods: This study used a randomized controlled trial design. The participants (experimental group=16, control group=25) were recruited from a university hospital in Kyeong-nam area. Data were collected from March to September, 2015. The reinforced walking exercise included goal setting and feedback (telephone and text message) provided for 12 weeks. Dyspnea-Fatigue Index, Korean Activity Scale/Index (KASI), six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and HRQoL were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Fisher's exact test, $x^2$ test, and Kolmogrove-Smirnov test. Results: Prior to the intervention there were no differences in the research variables between two groups. The exercise compliance in the experimental group was 100% (walking for 50 minutes per day, 5 times per week). The experimental group had improved dyspnea-fatigue symptoms (t=8.63, p<.001), daily activities (t=-4.92, p<.001), longer 6MWD (t=-5.66, p<.001), and increased HRQoL (t=-9.05, p<.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The reinforced walking exercise could be a cost-effective intervention in heart failure patient, which could enhance patients' outcomes, such as improving dyspnea-fatigue symptoms, daily activities, walking ability, and quality of life.