• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

Objectives: In Korea, the top 10% of Medical Aid recipients represent nearly 60% of total payment, with the costs for those disabled for over 365 days representing approximately 30% of total payment. The purpose of this study was to compare Medical Aid use of the disabled with non-disabled recipients, and to identify contributing factors to the total payment in the top 2% of recipients identified as Medical Aid overusers. Methods: Subjects (n=2,211) selected were ${\geq}18$-years-of-age and received >1000 days of co-payment-free type I Medical Aid. Case managers (n=200) conducted interviews in December 2006, and collected data from Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. Amounts over the 9 months from January September 2006 were analyzed descriptively and using Chi-square, ANCOVA, and robust multiple linear regression. Results: Disabled individuals (mean age 61.3 years) composed 36.6% of subjects; 44.8% of the disabled were male. On a monthly basis per capita, the disabled group averaged 10.5 outpatient days, total payment of 523,000 Korean Won(￦), inpatient payment of ￦359,000, and outpatient payment of ￦183,000. All values exceeded the monthly average for non-disabled individuals. Contributing factors were identified as male gender (￦82,000), elementary school or lower educational level (￦64,000), residence in a small city (￦82,000), lack of family support (￦61,000), kidney disability (￦673,000), intellectual disability (￦151,000), and multiple disabilities (￦119,000). Conclusions: The identification of contributing factors to Medical Aid use by those defined as disabled supports the adoption of comprehensive alternative policies such as strengthening of education and consultation services, provision of alternative facilities, and promotion of self-care.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2015

Individuals who are vulnerable during disaster - including elderly, people with disabilities, children, pregnant women and etc - have a strong desire to protect themselves when disaster strikes since they are less capable to deal with the impact of disaster. Their experience and effort to keep them safe can be used as a resource to reduce the impacts of disaster not only for them but also for the community as a whole. Therefore, voluntary disaster management program will contribute to our society as a tool to respond effectively to disaster not only to meet the vulnerable's special needs but also to enhance community safety and public interest. This paper suggests a model that able "disaster vulnerable population" to take a leadership role in identifying risk and vulnerability factors, recommending disaster management strategy, and through that, contributing to enhance society's disaster plan. Therefore, this study aimed to surveyed individuals including "disaster vulnerable population" in order to assess the vulnerable's participation in disaster related volunteer work and surveyed associated institutions(volunteer centers, community centers) in order to research currently existing relevant programmes and the participation of "disaster vulnerable population" in such programmes. Also conducted focus group interview to explore voluntary program which will possibly integrate "disaster vulnerable population" into disaster management activities. As a result, three types of voluntary disaster management programs - education, public-relations, and activity - were suggested.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

Background: This study evaluates the usability of the Motion-Tracking Gait Assistive Walker (MTGAW) designed for elderly individuals and those with disabilities, identifying areas for improvement through interviews with physical and occupational therapists. Design: A survey study involves the usability test for MTGAW. Methods: Usability evaluations were conducted with 37 physical therapists and occupational therapists. The process included explanation, product usage, satisfaction surveys, and interviews. A satisfaction survey covering 19 items across safety, maneuverability, usability, and management areas was administered. Individual interviews identified areas for improvement. Results: Overall, high satisfaction was reported across the four areas, but interviews highlighted the need for improvements, such as addressing discomfort due to slow speed and enhancing safety measures to prevent rear-end falls. Adjusting the walker's height and width to suit the user's physique was also suggested. Conclusion: MTGAW enhances walking support and hand movement freedom but needs refinement in speed control, fall prevention, and customization based on the user physique. Future efforts should focus on developing an improved MTGAW, considering recommendations from physical therapy experts, and conducting studies to analyze its clinical effectiveness for commercialization.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.109-124
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• 2024

The aim of this paper is to design and evaluate calf braces that are equipped with Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) modules. These braces are intended to alleviate calf pain in PARA Taekwondo athletes. The paper also seeks to assess the effects of different textile electrode designs. PARA Taekwondo participants are at a heightened risk of injuries and pain due to the nature of this exercise, which is designed for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, there is a significant risk of strain on the lower limb muscles in PARA Taekwondo compared to regular Taekwondo. To address this issue, calf taping methods are commonly used. In this study, we develop calf EMS protective gear and aim to examine the effects of different textile electrode designs inspired by taping methods. We evaluate the differences in the effects of three different textile electrode designs through visual analog scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) measurements. The results show that EMS protective gear has the potential to reduce calf pain among PARA Taekwondo athletes, with electrode designs inspired by kinesiology taping providing the most effective pain relief. This research suggests that these findings may be applicable to other sports disciplines, body areas, and everyday pain relief scenarios.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.45-53
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• 2015

The concept of universal design has become an essential requirement for environmental design, due to the growing population of the aged, and the increasing needs of people with disabilities. This study aims to propose a universal design guideline for apartment housing units that can be adapted to both a general household and a household with elderly or disabled individuals. This design process encompasses literary reviews, and includes the measurements of the dimensions and facilities of currently available apartment housing. The three domestic universal guidelines were reviewed, and a universal design checklist for apartment housing units was developed. Afterward, the individual elements and inclusive factors of universal design, for apartment housing units, were collected and examined according to the each functional space within the home. The results and conclusions are as follows: 1) The factors of universal design are diversified by the division of the functional spaces within the home, such as the private space, the work space and the entertaining space. 2) Due to the lack of space and storage, wheelchairs cannot be used in most currently available apartment types; this problem can be resolved by applying flexibility and optional adaptation. The solutions for the above are additional design factors that will enable more convenient usage and elaborate design.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the association between health condition and leaving the labor market among middle-aged and older adults in South Korea. Methods: Data was obtained from individuals aged 45 years and older participating in the 2006 and 2008 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We used various health measures including chronic diseases, comorbidities, traffic accident injuries, disabilit of instrumental activities of daily living, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health. The odds ratios of job loss, and retirement, versus employment were calculated using multinomial logistic regression by each health measure. Results: In our cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis, health problems related to physical disabilities had the greatest effect on leaving the worksite. A shift in health condition from good to poor in a short period was a predictor of increased risk of unemployment but a persistent pattern of health problems was not associated with unemployment. Women with health problems showed a high probability of retirement, whereas among men, health problems instantly the possibility of both job loss and retirement. Conclusions: Health problems of middle aged and older workers were crucial risk factors for retirement and involuntarily job loss. Especially functional defect and recent health problems strongly and instanty affected employment status.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.192-196
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• 2017

Social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) is a new diagnosis included under communication disorders in the neurodevelopmental disorders section of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. SCD is defined as a primary deficit in the social use of nonverbal and verbal communication. SCD has very much in common with pragmatic language impairment, which is characterized by difficulties in understanding and using language in context and following the social rules of language, despite relative strengths in word knowledge and grammar. SCD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are similar in that they both involve deficits in social communication skills, however individuals with SCD do not demonstrate restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, insistence on sameness, or sensory abnormalities. It is essential to rule out a diagnosis of ASD by verifying the lack of these additional symptoms, current or past. The criteria for SCD are qualitatively different from those of ASD and are not equivalent to those of mild ASD. It is clinically important that SCD should be differentiated from high-functioning ASD (such as Asperger syndrome) and nonverbal learning disabilities. The ultimate goals are the refinement of the conceptualization, development and validation of assessment tools and interventions, and obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the shared and unique etiologic factors for SCD in relation to those of other neurodevelopmental disorders.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.72-75
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• 2015

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common disabilities of childhood, which affects movement and co-ordination. Individuals with cerebral palsy are susceptible to traumatic dental injuries. High occurrence of Class II malocclusion with prominent maxillary incisors appears to increase risk of trauma. However, due to fear of behavior management and lack of cooperation, clinicians have avoided orthodontic treatment in cerebral palsy patients. This case report demonstrates that modified rapid maxillary expansion can be used as a simple and effective method to correct ectopic eruption of maxillary incisor in cerebral palsy patient.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2023

An aging population and changes in dietary habits have increased the incidence of diabetes, resulting in complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DFUs can lead to serious disabilities, substantial reductions in patient quality of life, and high financial costs for society. By understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of DFUs, their occurrence can be prevented and managed more effectively. The pathophysiology of DFUs involves metabolic dysfunction, diabetic immunopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and angiopathy. The processes by which hyperglycemia causes peripheral nerve damage are related to adenosine triphosphate deficiency, the polyol pathway, oxidative stress, protein kinase C activity, and proinflammatory processes. In the context of hyperglycemia, the suppression of endothelial nitric oxide production leads to microcirculation atherosclerosis, heightened inflammation, and abnormal intimal growth. Diabetic neuropathy involves sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathies. The interaction between these neuropathies forms a callus that leads to subcutaneous hemorrhage and skin ulcers. Hyperglycemia causes peripheral vascular changes that result in endothelial cell dysfunction and decreased vasodilator secretion, leading to ischemia. The interplay among these four preceding pathophysiological factors fosters the development and progression of infections in individuals with diabetes. Charcot neuroarthropathy is a chronic and progressive degenerative arthropathy characterized by heightened blood flow, increased calcium dissolution, and repeated minor trauma to insensate joints. Directly and comprehensively addressing the pathogenesis of DFUs could pave the way for the development of innovative treatment approaches with the potential to avoid the most serious complications, including major amputations.

• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.195-208
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• 2017

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the participation in rehabilitation horseback riding program on the sleep, and to provide the basic data by analyzing the sleep of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. This study subjects consisted of 10 individuals with autism spectrum disorders residing in a residential care facility for the people with intellectual disabilities. They participated in the 12 weeks rehabilitation horseback riding program regularly. To investigate the effects of participating this program on sleep, subjects' sleep time, wake-up time, total sleep time and wake-up frequency during sleep were measured. Descriptive statistics and Friedman test were conducted to analyze the change the sleep. As a reulst of anlysis, it was found that the sleep time came earlier, the total sleep time increased, and the wake-up frequency during sleep reduced. Therefore, the rehabilitation horseback riding program participation was shown to have a positive effect on the subjects' sleep. Since the application of this program can act as a positive factor in the sleep of the participations, it is expected to be used as an in-facility program for the residents with autism spectrum disorders.