• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.48-64
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of Qi exercise on the physical discomfort and depress of maternity. Method: A one group pretest-posttest design was used. Data were collected from July, 1, 2005 to September, 30, 2005. A total of 33 mothers participated in 12 weeks of Qi exercise program. In order to evaluate the effects of the Qi exercise program, physical discomfort and depression were measured before and 12 weeks after. The experimental tools for the study were Maternity Physical discomfort Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS). Data were analysed using t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measured ANOVA on the SPSS program. Result: After 12-week Qi exercise program, there were significant differences in physical discomfort (t=3.268, p= .003) and depression(t=4.106, p= .000). Conclusion: It was verified that the Qi exercise program was effect on relieving physical discomfort and depression scare. And it was effective in alleviation delivery experience score. So more in-depth research is needed later on.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.439-447
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study is to design a snow-removing tool using an ergonomic approach. Background: It is necessary to remove snow on the garden of a house or side street to prevent a fall hazard. When a user removes snow using a snow-removing tool, he or she experiences lots of physical discomfort. Therefore it is necessary to design a snow-removing tool to reduce a user's physical discomfort. Method: In this study, a new design for a snow-removing tool was developed considering user needs. The design prototype was compared with an existing tool through electromyography and subjective evaluation. Results: From the comparison evaluation, significant differences between the new design and the existing tool were identified in both muscle fatigue and subjective rating of discomfort. Conclusion: The result showed that the new design is better from the aspect of easing physical discomfort. Application: A new snow-removing tool can be developed using the design so that it can reduce a user's physical discomfort.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2003

Purpose: To examine the difference of physical discomfort and childbirth satisfaction between postpartum women with and without having taken Epidural Analgesia. Method: The subjects were divided into one group of 128 primipara taken Epidural Analgesia and the other of the same 70 women who were not taken it. Data were collected by questionnaires of their own physical discomfort and birth satisfaction at postpartum 1 to 2 days in OBGY hospitals, and data were analyzed using SPSS Program. Result: Women having taken epidural analgesia appealed higher physical discomfort than those without it in the lower limbs exercise discomfort, difficult urination, urinary retention, nausea & vomiting, whereas appeared vice versa in breast pain. Among indicators for childbirth satisfaction, women having taken epidural analgesia preferred the same delivery method later again more than those without it. Conclusion: It is confirmed that the method of epidural analgesia is not an absolute way to control labor pain, rather stir physical discomfort after childbirth and does not fully increase the women's childbirth satisfaction. Therefore, it is proposed that nurses should provide the pregnant women the right knowledge and information, thereby enabling them to select the useful method of childbirth to their own course of childbirth and health-recovering after the delivery.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.362-372
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether job satisfaction in clinical nurses was dependent on work intensity and whether physical discomfort mediated the relationships between these variables. Methods: Structural equation modeling was used with a sample of 253 clinical nurses from four general hospitals. In the model, absolute work intensity, relative work intensity, and flexibility were considered as exogenous variables and physical discomfort as a mediating variable. Data were collected using self-report measures such as the Labor Intensity Questionnaire, the Rating of Perceived Exertion, and the Index of Job Satisfaction. Results: The results of the structural equation modeling found that the higher scores on absolute and relative work intensity were positively associated with physical discomfort but only relative work intensity was significantly related to job satisfaction. Physical discomfort mediated the relationships between absolute work intensity and job satisfaction and between relative work intensity and job satisfaction. Among three kinds of work intensity, only relative work intensity had direct and indirect effects on job satisfaction. Conclusion: The findings suggest that increase in relative work intensity might play an important role in decreasing job satisfaction in clinical nurses and a reasonable reward system considering relative work intensity could be necessary.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2007

In many manufacturing occupations, industrial workers reported foot or lower leg problems such as discomfort, pain or orthopedic deformities. This study investigated the effects of two different working conditions upon assembly worker's perception of discomfort and foot pain associated with various body parts. Twenty-three male volunteers performed work in the factory. Ergonomic intervention has been to modify the flooring in an attempt to alleviate the problems associated with constrained standing and walking work. The worker's standing conditions consisted of standing on a hard floor while wearing shoe insoles. Questions were asked regarding body discomfort and foot pain. Significant differences in body discomfort and foot pain were found when comparing the overall effects of wearing shoe insoles on a hard floor (p<.05). This investigation indicated that shoe insoles reduced body discomfort and foot pain (p<.05).

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2018

Background: Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. Results: The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls. Conclusion: Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.215-227
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Korea's Honam express train's first- and second-class seat discomfort by using pressure measurement, subjective discomfort rating, and physical compatibility. Background: Over the years, the demand for an express train service is continually increasing. A comfortable ride is important to achieving passenger satisfaction. A train seat plays a significant role in fulfilling passenger seating comfort. With this in view, a field survey and pressure measurements were performed on the selected train seat. Method: The pressure ratio at the body-seat interface (thigh and buttock regions) was measured by the pressure mat system. The interface pressure ratio was calculated and compared. The subjective discomfort rating scale was used to evaluate the subjects' overall feeling. The dimensions of train seats were analysed according to the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of the population data from Size Korea. Results: The results highlighted that the interface pressure ratio was greater while participants sat on the second-class seat than the first-class seat in the left- and right-side thigh regions. Also the pressure ratio was greater for the participants in the 1st~25th percentile height groups (149.8~160.8cm). The subjects rated higher discomfort for the second-class seat than the first-class seat. The physical compatibility results showed that the second-class seat's breadth was inadequate for the 95th and 99th percentile male. Conclusion: Overall, interface pressure measurement, subjective discomfort score and physical compatibility results showed that the second-class seat was more uncomfortable for the passengers than the first-class seat. Application: The adopted methodologies could be used to measure the seating comfort of the train seats.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.577-587
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• 1997

Purpose : To collect and interpret basic data involving the discomfort level of platelet donors and to see which nursing interventions would help make plateletpheresis more comfortable. Methods : Using "the Platelet Donor's Discomfort Scale" developed by the researcher herself and reviewed by an expert panel, the severity of discomfort as well as factors contributing to the development of this discomfort were analyzed. This scale contained 59 items and each item was scored by the 4-point Likert manner. Between March 1, 1996 and May 31, 1996, 500 platelet donors(16 years of age and older) were enrolled in this study. The Statistical methods used were factor analysis, t-test, and ANOVA. The results were as follows : 1. The mean of the platelet donor's discomfort scale was 130, range 69-207, possible score ranging from 59-236. 2. The platelet donor's discomfort scale had psychological, environmental, physical, and time-related factors. The time- related factor was the highest positive correlation with the development of the discomfort. 3. In looking at the psychological and environmental factors of the discomfort scores, the 16-20 age group had significantly higher ratings than those of the 26-30 age group. The students' group had higher scores than the soldier's group, and those who used the V-50, MCS -3P, or the PCS Plus machines had higher scores than those who used the COBE Spectra machine(P<.05, respectively), 4. In relation to the physical factor of the discomfort score, the youngest group felt significantly more discomfort, the student's group had a higher score than the soldier's group, and those who used the V-50, MCS-3P, or or the PCS Plus machines had higher scores than those who used the COBE Spectra machine(P<.05, respectively). 5. The time related factor of the discomfort score had the highest scores in every variable, however, statistically significant differences were not found between any of the variables(P>.05). Conclusion : Based on the above results, it can be oserved that the time-related factor was the most important factor influencing discomfort. The age and job of the donor, as well as the type of machine used, were significant variables in predicting the level of discomfort, regardless of psychological, environmental, and physical factors. This data could be used to determine nursing interventions that would relieve some of the discomfort of patients, as well as donors, undergoing plateletpheresis. Furthermore, consideration of the donor's time, introduction of a platelet donor pool system, publicity and education about platelet donation are required.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.172-181
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• 2000

This study was designed to evaluate the degree of the anxiety and discomfort experienced by first-time donors in platelet donation. The subject of this study was 309 first-time platelet donors visiting apheresis unit of St. Mary hospital in Seoul. The data was collected from Questionnaire during period of 28 April to 10 September 1999. The statistical methods used were t-test. ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression. The results were as follows. 1. The most common group were 21-30 years of age and soldier of job. 2. The mean scores of the platelet donor's anxiety was $1.60\pm0.32$. 3. The mean scores of platelet donor's discomfort was $1.72\pm0.44$. 4. The variables influencing anxiety were the physical condition. the level of education and donation experience. 5. The variables influencing discomfort were the job. diet before donation and physical condition. As the result above. the student group of the first time platelet donor experienced highest anxiety. It is important to assess the physical condition and diet before donation for more comfortable platelet donation. Furthermore. the developments of nursing interventions are required to reduce anxiety and discomfort of platelet donors.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of video-audio information provision on physical discomfort, anxiety and nursing satisfaction of the clients for gastroscopy. Methods: The study design was nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The subjects were 50 patients who visited H hospital health examination center for gastroscopy. Video-audio information developed by the authors was used as educational material for the treatment group. The data were collected between September 15 and November 15, 2010. The study instruments were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Physical Discomfort Scale, and the Nursing Satisfaction Scale. Results: The level of anxiety and physical discomfort in the treatment group were not significantly different from that in the comparison group (t=-0.28, p=.781; t=-0.34, p=.741). The level of clients' satisfaction with nursing care in the treatment group was significantly higher than in the comparison group (t=-4.12, p<.001). Conclusion: Use of video-audio information was effective in the increase in satisfaction with care. Therefore, it could be useful in the nursing practice, and be utilized as a way of nursing intervention to improve nursing satisfaction.