• Title/Summary/Keyword: Holistic health

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Yemen's Cholera Epidemic Is a One Health Issue

  • Ng, Qin Xiang;Deyn, Michelle Lee Zhi Qing De;Loke, Wayren;Yeo, Wee Song
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.53 no.4
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    • pp.289-292
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    • 2020
  • Yemen has been faced with the worst cholera epidemic of modern times, with more than 1 million suspected cases and 3000 deaths at the time of writing. This problem is largely due to the longstanding civil war between pro-government forces and the Houthi armed movement, which has severely damaged already vulnerable sanitation and healthcare facilities and systems in the country. It is further compounded by a dire lack of basic amenities, chronic malnutrition, and unfavourable weather conditions. Another contributory component may be aerial transfer by cholera-infected chironomid insects. To contain the spread of cholera in Yemen, a nation-wide armistice should be negotiated, and national and local committees must be convened to coordinate efforts on the ground. Community isolation facilities with proper sanitation, reliable disposal systems, and a clean water supply should be set up to isolate and treat sick patients. The continuity of vaccination programmes should be ensured. Public health campaigns to educate local communities about good hygiene practices and nutrition are also necessary. The One Health paradigm emphasizes a multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary understanding and approach to prevent and mitigate the threat of communicable diseases. This paradigm is highly applicable to the ongoing cholera crisis in Yemen, as it demands a holistic and whole-of-society approach at the local, regional, and national levels. The key stakeholders and warring parties in Yemen must work towards a lasting ceasefire during these trying times, especially given the extra burden from the mounting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak worldwide.

Use of Integrative Medicine among primary care patients in Western counties - Its implication for traditional Korean medicine in primary care system - (선진국의 일차의료부문의 통합의료 - 일차보건의료체계에서의 한의학에 주는 함의 -)

  • Han, Dong-Woon
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.1-13
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    • 2012
  • The objective of this study is to discuss the role of integrative medicine (IM) in contemporary health care settings, and how and which factors affect and facilitate the success of IM in terms of the integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional medicine in primary health care (PHC). IM is meant to provide the best possible health care, for both patient and physician. The way of IM use in the developed countries presents various ways that IM can be provided, and it appears that strategies have been successfully developed to facilitate integration. Although few of the barriers to the integration of CAM and conventional medicine have been resolved, concerns over the legitimacy of CAM in health care (e.g., safety, biomedical evidence, and efficacy) are being overcome by the use of evidence-based practice in IM delivery. There are dominant models of IM that have been developed. The model types signify different levels of equity between CAM and conventional medicine in regard to the power, autonomy, and control held by each. However, the factors common to all IM models, whether describing CAM as supplementary or complementary to conventional medicine, is the concept of a health care model that aspires to be client-centred and holistic, with focus on health rather than disease as well as mutual respect among peer practitioners. Finally, this study concluded that the growth and viability of traditional Korean medicine(TKM) depend on evidence-based practices and identifying the successful influences on the integration of TKM and conventional medicine for recognition of its inherent value in PHC. Some recommendations for the integration of TKM and conventional medicine were suggested.

A Personal Perspective and Our Role in Korean Oriental Medicine (한의학(韓醫學)의 전망(展望)과 우리의 역할(役割))

  • Kang Shun-Su
    • Herbal Formula Science
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.1-4
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    • 2002
  • The development of Korean Oriental medicine is based upon the accumulation of experience and knowledge gathered over the centuries. The approaches taken are holistic and empirical. There is a need to understand their actions at molecular levels with more rational, objective and scientific studies. Today it appears that Chronic and age-associated diceases may be multifactorial and hence more complex. A different approach may be required. One claimed usage of Korean Oriental medicine is for the treatment and prevention of chronic and age-associated illnesses. Some of the botanical formulas used for this purpose were discovered thousands of years ago and continue to be used today. There are indications that these formulas may indeed be helpful in the treatment or prevention of chronic diseases. This multi-component medicine could not only be very useful meeting the unmet clinical needs but for defining a more synergistic therapy that supports and maintains the bodies natural curative abilities. The potential usefulness of Korean Oriental medicine embodies the belief of maintaining healthy homeostasis of the body through the proper balance of a mixture of chemical at different organs or tissues. This concept is different from western medicine and implies that multiple compounds may act on multiple mechanisms of action to maintain the balance of the complex web of biology. This is very important in view of sciences current direction to integrate fragmented information to develop future medicines. The western and eastern approaches to human health and disease are complementary to each other. The best approach in developing future medicines is to integrate both approaches.

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A mixture of Salacia oblonga extract and IP-PA1 reduces fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels

  • Nakata, Kazue;Taniguchi, Yoshie;Yoshioka, Noriko;Yoshida, Aya;Inagawa, Hiroyuki;Nakamoto, Takeru;Yoshimura, Hiroshi;Miyake, Shin-Ichiro;Kohchi, Chie;Kuroki, Masahide;Soma, Gen-Ichiro
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.5 no.5
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    • pp.435-442
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    • 2011
  • At present, lifestyle-related diseases are one of the most critical health issues worldwide. It has been reported that lipopolysaccharide derived from a Gram-negative bacteria (IP-PA1) symbiotic with wheat exhibited several advantageous biological effects, such as the reduction of plasma glucose levels in NOD mice and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in WHHL rabbits. In this study, the beneficial effects on plasma glucose and lipids of a tea (SI tea) consisting of IP-PA1 and Salacia (which contains an inhibitor of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase) were investigated in the KK-Ay/TaJcl type 2 diabetic model mice and in human subjects with premetabolic syndrome in a double-blind, randomized study. S1 tea significantly decreased plasma glucose levels in KK-Ay/TaJcl mice. A clinical trial of SI tea was performed with 41 subjects between the ages of 40 and 69, who belonged either to a high plasma glucose group (HG: FPG 100-125 mg/dl) or to a hyperlipidemia group (HL: TG ${\geq}$ 150 mg/dl, or LDL ${\geq}$ 120 mg/dl, or HDL <40 mg/dl). These subjects ingested either Salacia without IP-PA1 (the control) or SI tea. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days after initiating SI tea treatment, and were measured for FPG, HbA1c, TG, LDL, and HDL. These results showed that SI tea reduced FPG and HbA1c more rapidly than the control in the HL group, and also significantly improved LDL and HDL levels in the HG group. Thus, SI tea may be helpful in preventing lifestyle-related diseases.

Influencing Factors on Stress in Caregivers of Stroke Patients Being Admitted in Rehabilitation Centers (재활전문병원에 입원중인 뇌졸중 환자 주 돌봄 제공자의 스트레스 영향요인)

  • Kim, Nam-Hee;Tae, Young-Sook;Choi, Yooun-Sook;Bae, Joo-Hee
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.188-201
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    • 2016
  • The aim of this descriptive correlation research was to identify the factors influencing stress in caregivers of stroke patients in rehabilitation centers. The data were collected from 200 caregivers at three rehabilitation centers in B City from September 1 to 30, 2015. The data were also collected utilizing the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Caregiving Mastery Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Scale, and Burden Interview (BI) Scale. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 18.0 program. The factor with the greatest impact on stress was social support, which accounted for 9.3% of stress, followed by the duration of giving care to the patient, religious status, economic conditions, caregiver's age, resilience, caregiver's health status, patient's conscious status, and patient's age, all of which accounted for 30% of the stress for caregivers. Therefore, it is essential to develop social support programs that can reduce the stress for caregivers of patients in rehabilitation centers and to develop stress intervention programs, taking all the factors affecting stress into consideration.

Aromatherapy of Patients with Chronic Diseases (만성 질환자의 건강문제와 아로마 요법)

  • Kim, Myung-Ja;Park, Hyung-Sook;Song, Hyo-Jeong
    • Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.25-33
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    • 2003
  • In this paper, we checked health problems of outpatients who suffered from cancer, apoplexy, and arthritis. After accessing each patients condition, in order to alleviate their sufferings, we introduced several methods of aroma therapy as a holistic approach to these health problems. Aromatherapy, which can be defined as a nature-friendly complementary / alternative method, has its great merit in its easy way of treatment by the family member of patient or patient himself. Recently, it was scientifically proved that aroma therapy has various curative effects. The easiness of applying aroma therapy is full of suggestions concerned with the future of nursing science. Recently, in the domain of home care nursing, there happened a fundamental change in its structure: a change from the supplier/professional-centered to the consumer/patient-centered one. With this change, home care nursing as a cherished desire of nursing science obtained its legal ground in the established medical programs and, in the same context, patients came to have the chance to receive demanded medical services in their home without going through complicated hospital admission procedures. Considering the future status of home care nursing as a major contributor in the consumer-centered structure of medical health service, aroma therapy as a complementary/alternative method is expected to contribute not only to establishing more effective structure of health service supply but also to resolving chronic health problem of outpatients.

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A Study on Breathing Method of Healing as a Health-Oriented Leisure Activity (건강지향적 여가활동으로서 힐링(Healing)호흡법에 대한 고찰)

  • Kim, Ji-Sun
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.17 no.8
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    • pp.140-146
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    • 2016
  • This study was conducted to examine the meaning and value of the healing mechanism of breathing as a health-oriented leisure activity to ease mental and physical tension and stress to improve quality of life. The results of this study indicated that leisure activities are increasing in diverse fields. Because modern people have a strong interest in the value of a healthy life, there will be more opportunities to enjoy health-oriented leisure activities, and their health-management efforts will be more fruitful. Additionally, if individuals undergo the process of healing and thereby build the right values about life, it will be possible to set the right direction for "holistic healing" that is needed in social relationships. Moreover, healing breathing can be defined as a leisure activity that aims to promote health through physical and mental healing. Overall, use of health-oriented leisure activities such as the breathing method of healing is expected to increase the essential value of human life and facilitate well-rounded socialization.

A Study on Need Assessment in Health Promotion Programs for Developing Nursing Centers - Breast Self Examination- (간호센타 개발을 위한 건강증진 프로그램 요구사정 연구-유방자가검진 프로그램을 중심으로-)

  • Park, In-Hyae;Kang, Hae-Young;Lee, Jeong-Hee;Ryu, Hyun-Sook
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.21-36
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    • 2000
  • The purpose of this study was to assess the needs of breast self examination education (BSEE) programs for developing nursing centers. A first, we reviewed the literature of activity and management-related factors of nursing centers: and, second. we used a questionnaire to discover the degree of knowledge, attitude, and practice on breast cancer, as well as an individual's intention to participate BSEE program. 1. Reviewing the literatures of nursing center activities. Nursing centers which were administered by a professional nurse are an ideal site for faculty and student practices. With the use of nursing models of health. professional nurses in nursing centers diagnose and treat human responses to potential and actual health problems and offer holistic, client-centered health service. In nursing centers professional nursing services include health education, health promotion, and health-related research. A nursing center is comprised of the advisory and exacutive commitee; the advisory commitee serves consultants and links community needs to the nursing center, while the director of the exacutive commitee identifies the potential resources to generate funds, support, and facilitate the activities of staffs in a nursing center. Nursing centers mobilize various financal resources for reimbursement of services from college and insurance companies, collect minimum service fees from the client, and further collect fees for providing programs to community groups, this also includes membership fees, and donations. The services provided by nursing centers focus on services related to primary prevention, health maintenance & health promotion, direct nursing care for acute & chronic diseases, and holistic care for actual and potential health problems. The client satisfaction for the services was high. Students also showed positive reponses for their clinical experiences and independent working conditions. 2. The degree of knowledge, attitudes, and practices for breast cancer. and an individual's intention to participate in the BSEE program. The subjects of this study were 308 females in K-city in the Republic of Korea. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 35.0 years old. Those who already participated in the BSEE were 64.9%, and those who had support and encouragement to practice BSE from significant others were 25.1 %. Clients intent to participate in the BSEE were 37.0%. The mean score of knowledge(2.4 out of 5 points) and practices(1.8 out of 5 points) for breast cancer were quite low, but the mean score of attitudes was relatively positive04.5 out of 20 point) for breast cancer. Those who already had BSEE showed significantly high scores in knowledge(t=6.48, p<0.01), attitudes (t=10.54, p<0.01). and practices(t=57.07, p<0.001) for breast cancer than those who had not participated in the BSEE. In all age groups no intention to participate in the BSEE was higher than who the intention to participate. These findings suggest some strategies should be developed to increase the awareness of breast cancer's early detection.

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Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptom Features and Control Strategies in Hospital Workers (병원근로자의 근골격계질환 증상 특성 및 관리방안)

  • Park, Jung-Keun;Kim, Day-Sung;Seo, Kyung-Beom
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.27 no.3
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    • pp.81-92
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    • 2008
  • Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) problems have been increasingly reported in hospital sector but the problems were not addressed with respect to holistic aspects of the target population in Korea. Often, it is required to understand how MSD symptoms are associated with factors such as personal, work environmental and psychosocial stressors. To examine features of association between sets of MSD symptoms and the factors, a questionnaire survey was conducted in a university hospital. A 140-item questionnaire was developed and used for collecting information including factors (e.g., job/occupation, task/activity, job stress) and MSD symptoms. A total of 1,091 workers (male 23.7% and female 76.3%) were finally determined for data analyses. Prevalence rate for the whole body was 72% and, among body parts, the highest was 48.7% for the shoulder, followed by 34.6%(the low back), 32.7%(the leg/foot), 27.9%(the neck), 26.7%(the wrist) and 12%(the elbow). The symptoms were significantly different by job/occupational variable in each of all body parts except the neck. The symptoms were very significantly different by task/activity variables in each of all body parts while those symptoms were significantly different by psychosocial variables, depending on body part and gender. In the logistic regression analyses performed for MSD symptoms by body part and each of 3 factors, odds ratio values varied, ranging from 0.7 to 3.3. The controls for reducing the symptoms were discussed on the basis of the findings. The results show that the MSD symptoms can remarkably vary by the factors and, in particular, can be highly differential for the task/activity factor. This study suggests that MSD symptom features be examined by using various factors and then a higher differential factor be primarily utilized for controling MSD symptoms in general industry including hospital settings.

Healthy lifestyle interventions for childhood and adolescent cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Kyung-Ah Kang;Suk Jung Han;Jiyoung Chun;Hyun-Yong Kim;Yerin Oh;Heejin Yoon
    • Child Health Nursing Research
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.111-127
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    • 2023
  • Purpose: This study investigated the effects of healthy lifestyle interventions (HLSIs) on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors (CACS). Methods: Major databases were searched for English-language original articles published between January 1, 2000 and May 2, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs were included. Quality was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and a meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Nineteen studies were included. Significant effects on HR-QoL were found for interventions using a multi-modal approach (exercise and education) (d=-0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.84 to -0.07, p=.02), lasting not less than 6 months (d=-0.72; 95% CI=-1.15 to -0.29, p=.0010), and using a group approach (d=-0.46; 95% CI=-0.85 to -0.06, p=.02). Self-efficacy showed significant effects when HLSIs provided health education only (d=-0.55; 95% CI=-0.92 to -0.18; p=.003), lasted for less than 6 months (d=-0.40; 95% CI=-0.69 to -0.11, p=.006), and were conducted individually (d=-0.55; 95% CI=-0.92 to -0.18, p=.003). The physical outcomes (physical activity, fatigue, exercise capacity-VO2, exercise capacity-upper body, body mass index) revealed no statistical significance. Conclusion: Areas of HLSIs for CACS requiring further study were identified, and needs and directions of research for holistic health management were suggested.