• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.51-62
• /
• 2019

Objective: To develop and verify the usability of a cognitive rehabilitation system with diverse cognitive functional levels based on tangible objects for the elderly population. Methods: A study was conducted to investigate the system's strengths and weaknesses by upgrading it with responses from two groups of 15 patients and 4 occupational therapists. After undergoing three forms of training - regarding executive function, memory, and concentration for a total of 20-30 min, the participants were asked to answer a structured questionnaire about contents of the three forms of training, hardware including the tablet PC functioning as a CPU and display media and tangible objects, and satisfaction of experiential usage of the system. Results: Both groups responded that the most interesting training area was executive function while the least interesting was concentration. Six participants reported that the size of the screen of the tablet PC was inappropriate, and five responded that the size of the tool was inappropriate. All therapists and 40% of the patients responded that they were satisfied with this system. Conclusion: This system's features include easy manipulation of tangible tools for performing training tasks, easy selection of and training in cognitive areas based on users' needs, and automatic adjustment of difficulty level based on users' performance. The training environment was designed to be similar to the natural environment by using tangible objects in both hands as input devices for the system, and the system was considered as an alternative to the lack of community cognitive rehabilitation specialists.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.64-77
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to objectify the level of case management performance and the factors influencing performance, to improve the case management performance at the Korea Worker's Compensation & Welfare Service (KWCWS) on the basis of the recognition of the objective realities of case management by job coordinators at the KWCWS, to develop a model of case management fit for the KWCWS, and to provide a basis for establishing guidelines for standardized case management. Methods: A total of 156 questionnaires were distributed to job coordinators at the KWCWS's headquarters, six regional headquarters, and 55 branches. One hundred forty-one questionnaires were collected and 126 were analyzed statistically using SPSS 21.0. Factor analysis and reliability analysis were conducted to verify the validity and reliability of the main measurement items in the research model. Frequency analysis was conducted for general characteristics of survey subjects. Frequency analysis or descriptive statistics were conducted to identify the level of independent variables (case manager's individual variables, job variables, institutional and organizational variables). Dependent variables (case management performance) and the degree of correlation were analyzed through correlation analysis between research variables. Multiple regression analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted to examine the effect of independent variables on case management performance. Results: The results of the study showed that the level of overall performance in the five stages of case management was ordinary, with an average level of 3.45 on a 5-point scale. Levels of performance by step were institutional approach and intake (3.69), assessment (3.63), goal setting and intervention planning (3.46), implementation of intervention plan (3.32), and evaluation and termination (3.20), in that order. The explanatory power of case management performance (overall) by case managers with the KWCWS was case manager's institutional and organizational variables, job variables, and individual variables, in that order. At each stage of case management, the explanatory power of a case manager's institutional and organizational variables was found to be the greatest. The model changes at each stage of case management assume similar aspects statistically. In hierarchical regression analysis, it was institutional support that had a significant effect on case management performance (overall), and institutional support had the greatest effect. The results of multiple regression analysis in which all variables are input simultaneously showed that institutional support and expertise as well as self-efficacy had a positive effect. However, case management work experience, expertise (technology), and autonomy were found to have a negative effect during the stage of case management performance. Conclusions: As a result of the study, it was confirmed that raising the case manager's expertise and support from the institution and organization are important factors to improve the level of case management performance. The research also derived practical ways of reinforcement of case manager capacity, institutional and organizational support, operation of rehabilitation-case management teams, and occupational health-related aspects.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.49-63
• /
• 2012

Objective : The purpose of study was to verify the clinical effect of a Korean Computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program(called CoTras) for recovering the visual perception function and ADL in stroke. Methods : A CBCRT was applied to 14 Stoke patients who rehabilitation professional medical treatment hospital. All participant were evaluated with four standardized assessment tolls(Motor-Free Visual Perception Test; MVPT, Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE-K, Assesment of Motor and Process Skills: AMPS) before and after the planned computer based cognitive rehabilitation sessions. Results : A significant effect was confirmed (p<.05) from the CBCRT which visual perception function. By each entry comparative result, visual memory, figure ground, visual close, spatial relation, visual discrimination, were the order of treatment. Neither was found any significant effect in improving process skills from AMPS. Conclusion : These results indicate that CoTras have effects on improving visual perception and ADL performance in stroke patients. Will be able to present with the fundamental data CoTras will be able to contribute to increase visual perception function & ADL performance to the stroke patient who has visual perception dysfunction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.144-152
• /
• 2005

To evaluate the effect of lead biomarkers including bone lead on neurobehavioral test in lead workers, 652 lead workers without any occupational exposure to organic solvent, mercury and arsenic were agreed to participate this study. For the control subjects 102 non-occupationally lead exposed blue collar workers in general manufacturing industries were also joined this study. All study subjects joined this study with written informed consent. The study variables of lead exposure were blood and patella lead. For the general characteristics of study subjects, standardized questionnaire regarding age, sex, past disease history, job duration, body mass index (BMI), drinking and smoking habit were provided. For the past history of neurotoxicity related diseases, all study subjects were interviewed by qualified occupational health physician. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Compared with controls without occupational lead exposure, lead exposed subjects had worse performance on all tests(p<0.05). 2. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for blood lead were negative for 13 of the 14 tests. Blood lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms & root MSD), Trail-Making Test B, Digit Symbol Substitution, Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention, and Purdue pegboard both hand). 3. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for patella lead were negative for 12 of the 14 tests. Patella lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms). Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention. Pursuit Aiming rest (no. of correct & no. of incorrect), Purdue pegboard non-dominant hand and both hand). With above results, blood lead and patella lead were associated with poorer performance of neurobehavioral tests. In addition, patella lead was confirmed to be better predictor of manual dexterity test in neurobehavioral test battery in lead workers

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.63-73
• /
• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of crafts and handwriting on bilateral coordination during task performance. Methods : Randomly selected 30 college students without hand disability were invited for the study, and grouped 3(test group 1 for crafts, test group 2 for handwriting, and control group) with 10 students per group respectively. Then Jebsen-taylor hand function test, Purdue pegboard test, and Minnesota manual dexterity test were employed for evaluating changes before and after the intervention. Results : After training intervention of crafts and handwriting for two test groups, test groups showed better bilateral coordination significantly than the control group. Especially test group 1(crafts) showed a bigger difference at Jebsen-taylor hand function test, and likely test group 2(handwriting) did at Purdue pegboard test. Conclusion : It was found that crafts increase bilateral coordination, while handwriting increase hand dexterity during task performance. That is, crafts and handwriting affect tasks differently. Further studies applying various crafts and handwriting for many age groups will be helpful for identifying the better way of occupational intervention for individuals in lack of bilateral coordination.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.30-34
• /
• 2012

A safety helmet is a personal protective equipment to protect the head from falling and flying objects. A safety helmet has the maximum delivered impact force as shock absorption performance, the lower delivered impact force the better performance, which was not a controlled variety during manufacturing safety helmet. Accordingly there were some difficulties in establishing the standard for improved performance as there was not a clear controllable impact force for improved performance. In this study the shock absorption performance was intended to be found as coefficient of restitution related to impulse. As a research method, a coefficient of restitution during the absorption of shock was calculated using the impulse transferred to pharynx utilizing the safety helmet shock absorption performance testing device based on the theory of momentum and impulse. The estimated impulsive force curve was derived assuming that shock was not absorbed using the measured data. The sample was selected as tested goods of ABS material for safety certification available mainly in the market. As a result of study, the maximum delivered impact force of safety helmet made by a domestic safety certified a company was 735 N, and its coefficient of restitution proved to be 0.64. The smaller coefficient of restitution is, the lower maximum delivered impact force and the higher shock absorption performance. The coefficient of restitution can be used as a performance index of safety helmet.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.22-30
• /
• 2012

Objectives: To challenge the problem of slipperiness, various slipmeters have been developed to assess slip hazard. The performance of in-situ slipmeter is, however, still unclear under the various floor conditions. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of three kinds of slipmeters under real conditions, and to find their dynamic and kinematic characteristics, which were compared with gait test results. Methods: Four common restaurant floor materials were tested under five contaminants. Slipmeters and human gaits were measured by high speed camera and force plate to find and compare their dynamic and kinematic characteristics. Results: The contact pressures and built-up ratio were below those of subjects. The sliding velocity of British Pendulum Tester was above those of subjects, while those of BOT-3000 and English XL were below those of subjects. From the three meters, the English XL showed the highest overall correlation coefficient (r = 0.964) between slip index and $R_a$, while the rest did not show statistical significance with surface roughness parameters ($R_a$, $R_z$). The English XL only showed statistical significance (p < 0.01) between slip index and contaminants. The static coefficient of friction obtained with the BOT-3000 showed good consistency and repeatability (CV < 0.1) as compared to the results for the BPT (CV > 0.2) and English XL (CV < 0.2). Conclusion: It is unclear whether surface roughness can be a reliable and objective indicator of the friction coefficient under real floor conditions, and the viscosity of contaminants can affect the friction coefficient of the same floors. Therefore, to evaluate slipperiness, the performance of the slipmeters needed to improve.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.10 no.12
• /
• pp.3879-3887
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mental practice about functional performance of affected limb to unilateral neglect and ADL(Activities of Daily Living) in person with stroke. A single subject experimental research with ABA design was employed in this study. The experiment formed 18 sessions in total: 5 sessions for baseline, 10 sessions for mental practice treatment, and 3 sessions for the second baseline. Mental practice was composed of performing 3 functional activities(dressing clothes, make-up with materials and arrangement, folding clothes). It took 5 minutes at once and 15 minutes in total daily. The unilateral neglect was measured by reading test, writing test, and Baking Tray Task. ADL was assessed by COPM. The results indicated that unilateral neglect test scores were all reduced, and the score of COPM was clinically significant. Mental practice for performing of functional activities was effective method to reduce unilateral neglect and improve ADL in person with stroke.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.520-530
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training and transcranial direct current stimulation on upper limb function in stroke patients. The study group was divided into 13 experimental groups with occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training and transcranial direct current stimulation, and 13 controls with only occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training. A total of 4 weeks, 50 minutes, 5 times a week conducted, the patients were tested with Canadian Occupational Performance Measure(COPM), Accelerometer, Fugle-Meyer Assessment(FMA), and Motor Activity Log(MAL). As a result of the study, the experimental group and the control group showed significant improvement in both occupation satisfaction and performance, usage of the affected side and the tendon side, recovery of upper limb function, and quality of movement, In particular, the experimental group showed a significant difference in the amount of the affected side than the control group. Therefore, it was found that the combination of occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training and transcranial direct current stimulation had a positive effect on the recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.42-52
• /
• 2018

Background: Maintenance operations on-board ships are highly demanding. Maintenance operations are intensive activities requiring high man-machine interactions in challenging and evolving conditions. The evolving conditions are weather conditions, workplace temperature, ship motion, noise and vibration, and workload and stress. For example, extreme weather condition affects seafarers' performance, increasing the chances of error, and, consequently, can cause injuries or fatalities to personnel. An effective human error probability model is required to better manage maintenance on-board ships. The developed model would assist in developing and maintaining effective risk management protocols. Thus, the objective of this study is to develop a human error probability model considering various internal and external factors affecting seafarers' performance. Methods: The human error probability model is developed using probability theory applied to Bayesian network. The model is tested using the data received through the developed questionnaire survey of >200 experienced seafarers with >5 years of experience. The model developed in this study is used to find out the reliability of human performance on particular maintenance activities. Results: The developed methodology is tested on the maintenance of marine engine's cooling water pump for engine department and anchor windlass for deck department. In the considered case studies, human error probabilities are estimated in various scenarios and the results are compared between the scenarios and the different seafarer categories. The results of the case studies for both departments are also compared. Conclusion: The developed model is effective in assessing human error probabilities. These probabilities would get dynamically updated as and when new information is available on changes in either internal (i.e., training, experience, and fatigue) or external (i.e., environmental and operational conditions such as weather conditions, workplace temperature, ship motion, noise and vibration, and workload and stress) factors.