• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 2001

Background: The categorical scales and visual analogue scales (VAS) are methods used for evaluating variations of postoperative pain intensity. Several studies have introduced the idea that there is a clear correlation between visual scales and categorical scales. However, when VAS is the only pain measure in the study, we do not know what point on the VAS represents a category on the categorical scale and their degree of correlation with satisfaction for postoperative pain. Methods: 252 patients who had undergone elective surgery were studied. A 5-point categorical scale (none, mild, moderate, severe, worst possible pain), a 0-100 mm VAS (no pain to worst possible pain) and patient satisfaction score were checked 24 hours after surgery using a pain questionnaire and VAS tool. Results: The mean VAS score of the 14 patients reporting 'no-pain' was $1.9{\pm}0.9$, $23.9{\pm}1.0$ for the 132 patients reporting 'mild-pain', $47.2{\pm}1.1$ for the 82 patients reporting 'moderate-pain' and $67.5{\pm}2.8$ for the 24 patients reporting 'severe-pain'. Of the patients reporting moderate pain, 85% scored over 45.6 mm on the corresponding VAS, with a mean score 47.2 mm. The mean satisfaction scores were $90.6{\pm}2.7$ for the 'no pain', patients, $75.1{\pm}1.3$ for ‘mild pain', $58.3{\pm}1.5$ for 'moderate pain', and $55.1{\pm}4.0$ for 'severe pain' patients. The categorical scale was significantly correlated with VAS (P < 0.01). The satisfaction score was significantly inversely correlated with VAS (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that if a patient records a VAS score in excess of 45.6 mm they would probably have recorded at least moderate pain on a 5-point categorical scale. The categorical scale can be used properly for postoperative pain measurement with VAS. More research is required for the development of suitable pain descriptor for a categorical scale and pain questionnaire in Korean.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.968-975
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative pain control education on the pain control barrier, postoperative pain and pain control satisfaction in gynecological patients. Method: The study was a quasi-experimental research design. There were 58 subjects who were admitted for gynecological surgery to D University Hospital in B city. Pain control education was provided individually to the experimental group one day before their operation day for 20 minutes with the 'Pain Control Guide Book' in the patient's admission room. The education book was made by researchers based on pain management references and patient interviews. For assessing the pain control barrier, a simplified version of Barriers Questionnaire was used, postoperative pain was assessed on a numeric scale(0-10) and satisfaction of pain control was assessed by one question. Results: The pain control barrier(F=15.828, p<.001) and the post pain score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. In addition, pain control satisfaction of the experimental group(t=3.612, p<.001) was higher than the control group's. Conclusion: With the above results, preoperative pain control education could be an effective nursing intervention for pain control of surgical patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.83-89
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate expert opinions on the questions contained in a questionnaire for diagnosing blood stasis accompanying metabolic disorders. Methods : Two rounds of Delphi survey were conducted online targeting on one hundred Korean medicine doctors. Respondents rated the appropriateness of the 30 questions in diagnosing metabolic disorder on a five-point scale, anchored at '5 = very appropriate', '4 = appropriate', '3 = somewhat appropriate', '2 = inappropriate', and '1 = very inappropriate'. Results : The mean score on 30 questions of first and second Delphi survey was 3.26 points and 3.31 points, respectively. The ranking of the top 10 questions that were rated as appropriate for diagnosing blood stasis accompanying metabolic disorder were 'sublingual varices', 'reddish black tongue', 'reddish black gum', 'reddish black lips', ''dark purple palatal mucosa and venous edema', 'night pain, 'ecchymosis of the tongue', 'piercing pain', 'ecchymosis of the skin' and 'prolonged numbness'. Conclusions : The experts agreed that three of the most typical symptoms of blood stasis and the conditions of capillary vessels in the tongue or the oral cavity were highly associated with metabolic disorder, whereas the questions related to abdominal pain lacked an association with metabolic disorders.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.172-181
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• 2019

This case report relates to a 40-year old male patient diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis who was treated with acupotomy and traditional Korean medicine. He showed a significant improvement in joint range of motion (ROM) in cervical and lumbar vertebrae, and in pain and functional disorder symptoms. The patient received acupotomy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine and physical therapy (November 26, 2018 to December 17, 2018). Joint ROM for cervical and lumbar vertebrae was measured, and the pain level was assessed using a numerical rating scale. The functional disorder and quality of life scales were also assessed using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, and Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire. After applying acupotomy and traditional Korean medicine, the patient exhibited increased joint ROM and reduced pain, also in conjunction with improved responses in functional disorder and quality of life.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.65-72
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• 2016

Objectives : While neck pain is highly prevalent in Korea, studies examining its Korean medical treatment are currently lacking. The aim of this study was to assess current Korean medical treatment practice patterns for neck pain. Methods : A preliminary questionnaire was developed to investigate current practice patterns of neck pain and cervical intervertebral disc displacement (IDD) treatment, and underwent further revision through external review. The final questionnaire was distributed as a web-based survey to 18,289 potential respondents by email. Results : The response rate was 3.34 %. Most participants replied that they received multiple Korean medicine interventions for neck pain treatment consisting of such methods as acupuncture, wet cupping, interferential current therapy and electroacupuncture. A total of 378 respondents acknowledged that diagnostic testing was needed for neck pain treatment. The most commonly used Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD) principal diagnosis code for neck pain was M542, and for cervical IDD was M501. Conclusion : This survey study helps determine current practice patterns of neck pain, and recognizes the need for use of diagnostic devices in neck pain treatment. These results are further anticipated to provide basic data for clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and future studies using Korean National Health Insurance and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service data.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.77-97
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study is to introduce pain measurement tools that are considered suitable for clinical practice and research for Korean Medicine Doctors. Methods : We analysed some widely used and also useful pain measurement tools in terms of their methods and dimensions. Results : Diagrams, scales and questions are usually used to measure pain intensity, temporal pattern, treatment including exacerbating and/or relieving factors, pain location, pain interference, pain quality, pain affect, pain duration, pain beliefs and pain history. Specific pain measurements are also available for specific conditions such as Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Disability Index. Conclusions : Faces Pain Rating Scale, numeric rating scale, visual analogue scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire and Brief Pain Inventory and commonly used pain measurements. Specific measurements should be considered depending on research topics.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate neck posture, range of motion, muscle endurance and self-report of pain and disability in smartphone users. Methods: Seventy-eight university student volunteers, aged between 18 and 30 years (mean age 23.2), were assessed for: a head-neck posture by measuring cranial vertical angle, neck range of motions using cervical range of motion device, and a deep neck flexor endurance using a stabilizer. Finally, subjects were asked about their neck pain and completed disability questionnaires, ie, Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Neck Disability Index, and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Results: Thirty-eight subjects experienced recurrent neck pain with/without upper limb pain (neck pain group) and 40 reported no current neck pain with/without upper limb pain (no neck pain group). Differences were found between groups on pain and disability questionnaires. Subjects with neck pain had significantly higher disability scores than those of no neck pain group. However, there were no differences observed between groups in a head-neck posture, neck range of motions, and deep neck muscle endurance time. The smartphone usage time was negatively correlated with neck pain intensity and disability score whereas it had positive relationship with flexibility and posture. Conclusion: Group differences were observed as lower capacity not only for neck specific daily activities but for general functioning in daily routine when the neck pain and no neck pain groups were compared. Therefore, functioning in daily activities should be investigated as prevention for further developing neck pain in smartphone users.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.87-99
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examines the therapeutic effect of functional adjustment procedure therapy (FAPT), by comparatively analyzing behavioral disorders due to shoulder pain and subjective pain intensity subsequent to therapy, in patients with shoulder pain. METHODS: The intervention was performed on 48 employee patients with shoulder pain, Patients were administered 16 sessions of FAPT for 8 weeks, twice a week for 30 minutes per session. This study applied the neck pain and disability scale (NPDS) as a measurement tool, and used the questionnaire to measure subjective pain intensity to investigate the difference before and after administering FAPT to employee patients with shoulder pain. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was obtained between the mean difference in shoulder pain disorder, before and after FAPT. Assessing gender and age differences in the reduction effect of shoulder pain, showed significant difference in 8 of the 10 factors examined. Finally, examining the difference in the effect of reducing subjective shoulder pain by gender and age, we observed that gender-based disability reduction was significant for all 12 factors examined. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results of this study, validate the therapeutic efficacy of FAPT for patients with shoulder pain. We believe that this data will provide basic information to understand the health conditions and psychological variables of patients with shoulder pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analysis the relationship between hours of smartphone use and neck pain in university students. Methods : A survey of 2,353 university students was conducted in Gyeonggi province and Incheon city using a self report questionnaire from April 1 to 11 2013. The questionnaire of questions regarding the hours of using smartphone, mainly used function in participant's smartphone and neck discomfort degree. Neck disability index(NDI) was used to evaluate degree of pain. The collected data were analyzed with the t-test and Kendall's tau test using the SPSS 21.0 program and R 3.1.0, respectively. Results : 1. Almost all of the survey participants(99.07 %) were smartphone users. 66.97 % of them answered that they use their smartphone daily more than 2 hours and 48.18 % of them answered that they use their smartphone 10 to 30 minutes everytime they use it. 2. The overall distribution of NDI scores was 'no disability(0~4 score, 62.92 %)', 'mild disability(5~14 score, 32.85 %)', 'moderate disability(15~24 score, 1.19 %)'. As a result of t-test, we found that the average NDI score for female students was significantly higher than the average NDI score for male students(p<0.05). 3. The Kendall's tau test revealed that total time spent daily using smartphones has a strong positive correlation with 'pain intensity', 'lifting', 'reading' 'headache', 'concentration', and 'driving'(p<0.05) in NDI. Also, time duration of one time smartphone usage has a strong positive correlation with 'pain intensity', 'lifting', 'reading', 'headache', 'concentration', 'work', and 'recreation'(p<0.05). 4. The Kendall's tau test revealed that total NDI scores have a significantly strong positive correlation with both of total time spent daily using smartphones(p<0.05) and time duration for one time smartphone usage(p<0.05). This results imply that long-time use of smartphone has a strong relationship with neck pain. Conclusions : The results of the study would be a good starting point for future studies to reduce the risks of chronic neck pain caused by smartphone usage.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.94-102
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to review existing assessment tools for patients with low back pain and improve them through combination. A total of 314 patients with low back pain participated. Their condition was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPD), and the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS). Rasch analysis was applied to identify inappropriate items, item difficulties, and the separation index. In this study, the 'sex life' item of the ODQ (10 items) and the 'sleeping' item of the BPFS (12 items) showed misfit statistics, whereas all items of the QBPD (20 items) were appropriate. After combining the ODQ, QBPD and BPFS, Rasch analysis was applied. The 'pain intensity', and the 'sex life' item of the ODQ and the 'throw a ball' item of QBPD showed misfit statistics. These 3 items were retained for further analysis. The remaining 42 combined ODQ-QBPD-BPFS items were arranged according to difficulty. For all subjects, the most difficult item was 'pain intensity', whereas the easiest was 'take food out of the refrigerator'. As the separation index of 42 combined ODQ-QBPD-BPFS was higher than that of the three questionnaires separately, difficulty of items varied with some need for rearrangement. The results of this study confirmed the possibility and need for a new back pain disability assessment tool, and produced one. Further study is needed to refine the questionnaire in consideration of psychosocial and occupational factors.