• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.419-422
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• 2012

Purpose: Malalignment of the lower limbs may increases the difficulty of maintaining equilibrium. The purpose of this study was to study the effects of genu varum and poor posture in the sagittal plane on postural stability. Methods: We had 27 subjects with varus and 27 normal subjects participate in this study. Subjects for whom the distance between the medial epicondyles in the knee joint was more than 3 cm were classified as varus group, and subjects for whom the distance was less than 3 cm were classified as normal group. The measurements of static and dynamic stability were used overall stability index (OSI), anterioposterior stability index (APSI), and mediolateral stability index (MLSI) using a Biodex balance system. Results: When measuring the static stability index, there were significant differences in the mediolateral stability index between the varus and control groups. When measuring the dynamic stability index, there were significant differences in the overall, anteriorposterior, and mediolateral stability index between the varus and control groups. These results demonstrated that genu varum affects mediolateral movement in static stability, and overall, anterioposterior and mediolateral movements in dynamic stability. Conclusion: As genu varum affects static and dynamic stability in young adults, it increases the risk of injuries or falls. Exercise and surgery are required for realigning the genu varum. Future studies about postural stability in young children and elderly people who have a risk of falls due to lower postural control ability, are needed, as well as in young adults.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.171-186
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• 1990

The purpose of this study is to analyze the desirable life emotion and life interchange between lod parents and married children. The focus was particulary laid on the investigation of the life emotion and life interchange between the aged living with their married sons and those living with their married daughters. The major findings of this study can be summarized as follows: 1. More old parents live with their married sons than with their married daughters. Also was found that they live with their eldest married sons or daughters and that they keep a normal relation with their married sons, and an emotional relation with their married daughters. This shows that more old people will live with their married daughters than with their married sons in the future. 2. The facts which affect the realtion between old parents2 2and their marreid children are age, sex, religion, marital status, educational background, health condition. These facts prove that they may improve the life interchange with their married children through such deliberate effects as the life-long marriage life with their spouse, the maintenance of health, and the religious life. 3. The affection relation between old parents and the married children was found to be high and the conflict between them was found to be low. Those who live with their married daughters especially showed a higher rate of love relation, and a lower rate of conflict than those who live with their married sons. The former were of more service interchange to their married children than the latter. Furthermore, the aged people were more satisfied with emotional and kindly daughters than with normal sons. 4. Affection was found to be the most importnat variable in promoting the emotional life interchange, and dependency was found to be a negative variable. Therefore, both the aged and the marreid children should try to show high affection to each other and try not to impose and dependency on the other.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.245-255
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• 2004

Purpose: this study was to evaluate Cognitive Function Test for the Korean population. Digit Forward (DF), Digit Backward (DB) and Trail Making Test-A(TMT-A) and the translated version of the Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B) were used. The study examined the performance of Korean normal adult population whose age ranged from 20 to over 80. It was predicted that performances of the Korean population would be different from that of the United States population due primarily to their differences in language, and education. Method: Normal Korean adults at the Daejeon Metropolitan City and Chungchung Province (N=298) participated in this study. Seven age scores were evaluated; 20~29, 30~39, 40~49, 50~59, 60~69, 70~79, & >80s. The effects of age, gender, and years of education was examined, which yielded significant age and education effects. The scores were further specified accordingly in terms of years of education (0, 1~6, 7~12, 13~16, & >17), and gender. Result: As the age increased cognitive function score decreased. As the years of education increased, cognitive function scores increased. There was no difference in cognitive function scores according to gender. Age and year of education had significant effects on cognitive function and explained 52-58% of variants of each test. Conclusion: The data of the cognitive function tests are expected to be utilized for research purposes such as basic and clinical studies, as well as practical purpose such as cognitive assessment for traumatic brain injury, stroke, and elderly and nursing education for assessment tools.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare sociodemographic characteristics of a normal cognitive group and mild cognitive impairment group, and establish prediction models of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis research using data from "the 4th Korea Longitudinal Study of Ageing" of the Korea Employment Information Service. A total of 6,405 individuals, including 1,329 individuals with MCI and 5,076 individuals with normal cognitive abilities, were part of the study. Based on the panel survey items, the research used 28 variables. The methods of analysis included a χ²-test, logistic regression analysis, decision tree analysis, predicted error rate, and an ROC curve calculated using SPSS 23.0 and SAS 13.2. Results: In the MCI group, the mean age was 71.4 and 65.8% of the participants was women. There were statistically significant differences in gender, age, and education in both groups. Predictors of MCI determined by using a logistic regression analysis were gender, age, education, instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), perceived health status, participation group, cultural activities, and life satisfaction. Decision tree analysis of predictors of MCI identified education, age, life satisfaction, and IADL as predictors. Conclusion: The accuracy of logistic regression model for MCI is slightly higher than that of decision tree model. The implementation of the prediction model for MCI established in this study may be utilized to identify middle-aged and elderly people with risks of MCI. Therefore, this study may contribute to the prevention and reduction of dementia.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 1997

Postural balancing in human is known to be maintained by the complex mechanism coupled with cerebellum, equilibrium organ of ear, proprioception and other various organs. We developed a Computerized Balance Evaluation and Training system(COBET system) to evaluate postural control and to rehabilitate geriatrics and disabled patient. In addition, 55 normal adult were tested to investigate the influencing factors on balancing posture. For the analysis of static postural sway, areas of the moving center of pressure were calculated under 8 different positions of subjects. And subjects were also asked to follow the visual targets on monitor for the evaluation of the dynamic postural sway. In comparison of the first and the second sets of tests, there was test-retest reliability($\textit{p}$< 0.05). The controllability of the static pmtwn sway was decreased as the ages of subjects increase. When the ages of subject are over 60, the controllability was significantly decrease4 The dynamic postural sway was significantly greater in the age groups of 7th and 8th decade than the younger groups. It is concluded that COBET system is a reliable system in the evaluation of postural sway. The COBET system is considered to be a valuable training modality for the disabled patients as well as the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.381-386
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• 2010

This study examined the changes in the walking pattern during level walking under low illumination conditions. Fourteen male subjects ($22.1{\pm}2.21$ years, $174{\pm}3.74\;cm$, $68.86{\pm}10.81\;kg$) with normal vision and no disabilities were enrolled in this study. All experiments were performed on a level walkway with three conditions: normal walking (preferred & low speed) and walking with low illumination. 3D motion capturing system was used for acquisition and analysis of the walking motion data with a sampling frequency of 120Hz. The walking speed, normalized jerk(NJ) at the center of mass(COM), wrist and heel, knee and elbow joint angle, ratio of the knee joint angle to elbow joint angle and the toe clearance on stance phase were used to compare the differences in walking pattern between the two illumination conditions, The results showed that the walking speed and joint angles decreased in low illumination, whereas the NJ and toe minimum clearance increased. In low illumination, most variables were similar to effects of low speed walking, but toe clearance was different from the effects of low speed. These results can be used as primary data for examining the changes in the level walking pattern of young adults under low illumination. Further study will be needed to compare these results in young adults with those in the elderly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2023

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate and analyze the physical health of older Koreans with sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome and identify the related factors. Methods : In this study, the sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome evaluations were applied to 210 elderly people, and the sarcopenia group was 36, the locomotive syndrome group was 164, and the normal group was 10. After group selection, a physical health status survey was conducted. The physical health status was assessed via body composition analysis, physical characteristics survey including measurement of waist and calf circumference, investigation of diseases currently being diagnosed by a doctor, and frailty measurements. The collected data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Chi-square test. Results : There were significant differences between groups in all elements of physical characteristics including body mass index, waist circumference, and calf circumference. Among them, a consistent result was found that the normal group had the largest amount of muscle mass and the sarcopenia group had the least amount of muscle mass in the factors related to muscle mass. However, the factors relating to fat mass and obesity also showed significant differences between the groups, but the results were not consistent. Considering the group differences in current diseases, a significant difference was only detected for osteoporosis among 12 diseases. Moreover, those in the sarcopenia group had the highest rate of osteoporosis. And there was no significant difference between the groups in the total score of the frailty measurement, but there was a significant difference between the groups in the frailty measurement levels. Conclusion : This study on physical health status confirmed that muscle mass-related factors, osteoporosis, and frailty levels were significantly related to sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.306-313
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• 2023

Background: As social problems due to the acceleration of the aging era and the increase in the elderly population are becoming serious, virtual reality (VR)-based healthcare is emerging as an approach for preventing and managing health issues. Objects: This study used validity and reliability analyses to examine the clinical efficacy that is, the clinical value and usability of a novel VR cognitive evaluation system index that we developed. Methods: We developed a VR cognitive evaluation system based on motion recognition analysis evaluation for individuals aged 65 to 85. After conducting the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Exam (K-MMSE) cognitive evaluation, the evaluation score was verified through correlation analysis in the VR cognitive evaluation system. To verify the construct validity of the two groups, the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) grades were categorized into a normal cognitive group (GDS grade 1) and a cognitive impairment group (GDS grades 2 and 3). The data were measured twice to determine the reliability between the two measurements and assess the stability and clinical value of the evaluation system. Results: Our evaluation system had a high correlation of 0.85 with the widely used K-MMSE cognitive evaluation. The system had strong criterion-related validity at the 95% confidence interval. Compared to the average score of GDS grade 1 in the VR cognitive evaluation system, the average score of GDS grades 2 and 3 in the VR cognitive evaluation system was statistically significantly lower while also having strong construct validity at the 95% confidence interval. To measure the reliability of the VR cognitive evaluation system, tests-retests were conducted using the intraclass correlation coefficient (3,1), which equaled 0.923 and was statistically significant. Conclusion: The VR cognitive evaluation system we developed is a valid and reliable clinical tool to distinguish between normal cognitive status and mild cognitive impairment.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.57-82
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• 2012

The purpose of the study is to suggest the measure for the improvement of job satisfaction and level of empowerment of sanatoriums' social workers by analyzing factors of empowerments' effect on the job satisfaction, and investigating level of empowerment and job satisfaction of social workers of sanatoriums for the elderly and the handicapped. The result of investigation and analysis on subjects of 420 social workers of sanatoriums for the elderly and the handicapped in Youngnam area for this is as follows: First, job characteristic that is empowerments' influence factor of sanatoriums' social workers is appeared in order of feedback, and function variety, and in organization characteristic is appeared in order of leadership, reward, and employee development. Second, level of empowerment that is recognized by sanatoriums' social workers is appeared a little higher than normal level and significance is appeared highest, and next are capability, self-determination ability, and influence. Third, features that showed significant difference with significance in general characteristic of sanatoriums' social workers were 'sex', 'marital status', and 'religion', and features that showed significant difference with capability were sex, age, marital status, academic background, and employment history. And features that showed significant difference with self-determination ability were sex, age, marital status, and employment history, and features that showed significant difference with influence were sex, age, employment history and types of facilities. Fourth, the whole average of job satisfaction of sanatoriums' social workers was 3.82 out of 5, which is generally high, features that showed significant difference statistically were age, marital status, academic background, employment history, and types of facilities. Thus, job satisfaction was appeared as high as 'more than age of thirty' in age, 'married' in marital status, 'under graduates of colleges' in academic background, and 'less than three years' in employment history. Fifth, as for factors that had influence on job satisfaction, the indirect effect with empowerment was appeared that had significant effect in organization characteristic, and had few effect in organization features. On these results, practical measures to increase job satisfaction of sanatoriums' social workers are as follows: First, political approach is required to standardize duty system(by various types of facilities and clients' characteristic) of social workers of sanatoriums for elderly and the handicapped, and help to do the role as professionals with giving better treatment and building self-respect by enough reward. Second, to suggest chances to perform the responsibility for the duty of the scenes by the regular supervision, establish regular supervision system of social workers of sanatoriums for the elderly and the handicapped, and the extension of duty to increase the functional varieties. Third, it is required to motivate to have self confidence for the work and to use potential ability with transforming leadership, and to have more chances of education for the self-development. To increase job satisfaction of sanatoriums' social workers who give direct services in sanatoriums for the elderly and the handicapped, more active and positive empowerment's level improvement is in need by improvement of empowerment for them.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to compare dietary behavior and food intake in relation to physical complaints, such as farmer' syndrome(FS) and gastro-intestinal(GI) problem among Korean farmers. The questionnaire was composed of 24 Cornell Medical Index (CMI), 8 farmers' syndrome, and 5 GI problem questions. Food intake data was gathered by the semi-quantitative food frequency method. The subjects(male 226, female 415) who had FS and Gi problem were 12./8% and 8.3%, respectively. The physical complaints were higher in female and the elderly group. In the FS group, lower activity was seen that in normal groups. The lower health status and fatigues were found in the physical complaint groups. Dietary behavior showed low appetite in the physical complaint group, irregular lunch in FS, and irregular breakfast in GI problem group. Changes in dietary behavior were shown in the aspects of lower amount of intake quantity(40.8%), lower consumption in fat(32.8%) and salty(38.8%) foods, and diverse food items(47.8%). Quantity of food consumed was significantly different withing groups with FS. Kinds of food consumed, intake of protein source foods, milk and calcium and total animal foods were lower in the FS group. But milk and calcium source food and all animal food intakes were higher in the GID problem group. The results suggest that dietary behavior and food intake differ within the group of physical complaints.