• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.135-148
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• 2023

Objectives To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of post-disaster musculoskeletal pain by reviewing relevant clinical studies. Methods A systematic search was conducted across 10 electronic databases to identify relevant clinical studies on acupuncture treatment for post-disaster musculoskeletal pain until May 2023. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized studies tools. Results Six articles were analyzed, including two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two before-after studies, one qualitative research, and one case series. Overall, acupuncture therapy showed some improvement in pain scale among musculoskeletal pain survivors. However, no significant improvement was observed in the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2). Subgroup analysis of participants who completed at least four acupuncture sessions revealed a significant effect on the SFMPQ-2. Additionally, a significant improvement in 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF36P) was observed after 6 months of treatment, but the 2-month treatment period did not show statistically significant effects on SF-36P improvement. The evaluation of the methodological quality of the RCTs identified some concerns of bias. Conclusions The results suggest that acupuncture is effective in alleviating post-disaster musculoskeletal pain. However, considering the limited number of selected studies and the inclusion of subjective evaluation measures, caution should be exercised in interpreting the results. Further large-scale follow-up studies are needed to determine the optimal frequency and duration of acupuncture treatment. Well-designed controlled trials should be conducted to provide more robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for post-disaster musculoskeletal pain.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.398-405
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• 2007

Background: There is little data on the 3 year prognosis and quality of life of patients on long-term (>72 hour) mechanical ventilation in a medical intensive care unit (MICU). Methods: Patients with long-term mechanical ventilation from May 2003 through July 2003 in MICU of Asan Medical Center, Seoul were enrolled in this studay. The survival rates were observed prospectively at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 months, and the quality of life of survivor was measured at 12 months by using Short Form 36 (SF-36). Results: The survival rate at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months was 54.8% (40/73), 39.7% (29/73), 30.1% (22/73), 20.5% (15/73), 18.3% (13/71) and 16.9% (12/71), respectively. There was a similar survival rate regardless of the diseases that required mechanical ventilation. A neoplasm or chronic liver disease had a worse survival rate than chronic lung or kidney disease (p<0.05). Each SF-36 domain except for the Role-emotional was inferior to the general population. Conclusions: The survival rate of patients with mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours is decreases continuously until 12 months but is relatively constant from 12 to 36 months. In these patients quality of life is also decrased.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• no.36
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• pp.151-173
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• 2008

This study examined how socio-demographic and background characteristics, acculturation, and gender role attitudes influence Korean American male adults' beliefs about wife beating. Using a structured self-administered questionnaire, data was collected from 201 Korean American men between the ages of 20 and 64, married for at least two years, currently living with a wife, and residing in Los Angeles County. Of the 201, 196 completed questionnaires were used to analyze the data. The respondents' beliefs about wife beating were measured by the Inventory of Beliefs About Wife Beating(IBWB) Short Form, consisting of 11 items. The multiple regression analyses revealed that age and traditional gender role attitudes were significantly associated with the respondents' beliefs about wife beating, but no significant associations between witnessed parental abuse and acculturation and beliefs about wife beating were found. Implications of the findings for mental health programs and future research are discussed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluated the effect of electroacupuncture on Quality of life of patients with urinary incontinence Methods : Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. Electroacupuncture was performed three times a week for 3 weeks. Acupuncture point for EA group was B32, Electrical stimulation frequency was 2Hz, duration 20 minutes, and intensity was up to pain threshold according to patients. The patients's symptoms were assessed before, after 3 weeks of treatment by QOL item of International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS), Medical Outcomes Study(MOS) 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36). Results : QOL score of IPSS were significantly improved after 3 weeks(p<0.05) compared to the pre-treatment. There were significant changes in Social functioning(SF), role-physical(RP), role emotional(RE), mental health(MH), bodily pain(BP) score of SF-36 after 3 weeks(p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in physical functioning(PF), vitality(VT), general health(GH) score of SF-36. Conclusion : This study suggests that electroacupuncture treatments can be applicable to improve symptoms in patients with urinary incontinence.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.145-152
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Acupuncture and Bee-venom acupuncture for patients with chronic whiplash injury. Methods : Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. Acupuncture(Eo-Hyeol Bang) and Bee-Venom Acupuncture were performed two times a week for 4 weeks. The patients' symptoms were assessed before, after 4 weeks of treatment by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Medical Outcome Study(MOS) 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36) Results : VAS score was significantly improved after 4 weeks(p<0.05) compared to the pre-treatment. There were significant changes in physical functioning(PF), Social functioning(SF), role-physical(RP), role emotional(RE), mental health(MH), bodily pain(BP) score of SF-36 after 4 weeks(p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in vitality(VT), general health(GH) score of SF-36. Conclusion: This study suggests that Acupuncture(Eo-Hyeol Bang) and Bee-Venom Acupuncture can be applicable to improve symptoms in patients with chronic whiplash injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.135-145
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• 2008

Objectives : To investigate therapeutic outcomes of back pain modalities in patients with disc herniation according to the duration by treated with herbal medicine, chuna, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture. Methods : We separated 36 patients with disc herniation into three group according to duration; acute patients within 4 week, subacute patients within 5-12 week, and chronic group within 13-24 week. 36 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with chuna therapy, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture one times a week and took herbal medicine after a meal two times daily. The patients' symptoms were assessed 1 week, 2 week, 4 week, 8 week by Visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI), 36-Item short-form health survey(SF-36). Results : 1. ODI of disability of daily activities showed significantly decreased in acute stage group compared to subacute and chronic stage groups(P<0.05). 2. Physical functioning(PF), bodily pain(BP), social functioning(SF) score of SF-36 showed significantly increased in acute stage group compared to subacute and chronic stage groups(P<0.05). Conclusions : This study suggests that acute stage group compared to subacute and chronic stage groups in patients with lumbar disc herniation is the more effective to improve symptoms treated with herbal medicine, chuna therapy, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between quality of life (QoL) of the caregiver and disease severity with motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Research data were collected in the Rehabilitation Clinic of Daegu University. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and the functional independence measure (FIM) were used for assessment by three occupational therapists, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) were applied to the caregivers. One hundred six caregivers of under 18 years who were diagnosed with CP completed a survey and interview. The caregivers' QoL was evaluated using Medical Outcomes Study SF-36. The children's motor function was scored using GMFM-88 in five dimensions: lying and rolling; sitting; crawling and kneeling; standing and walking, running and jumping and CP's FIM scores. Results: Out of the 8 domains of the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, the "physical functioning", "physical role functioning", "mental health", and "bodily pain" domains were significantly correlated to "total" percentage scores of the GMFM-88 (p<0.05). In addition, the "mental health" domain was correlated to each subdomain of the GMFM-88, which includes, "lying and rolling", and "crawling and kneeling". Similarly, of Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, "physical functioning", "bodily pain", and "mental health" domains were significantly correlated with "transfer" and "locomotion" of FIM scores (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the QoL of the caregivers were well correlated with the motor function of children with CP. It is also important to support not only physical health but also psychological health of caregivers of children with CP, especially those with severe motor function.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2019

Objectives: Obesity is associated with a high mortality risk and impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this article is to examine the impact of weight loss on HRQOL and which questionnaires sensitively reflect weight loss effects on HRQOL. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Research Information Sharing Service, and Korean Studies Information Service System were searched for the studies related to weight loss and HRQOL, published from 2009 to 2018. A total of 28 studies were eligible for inclusion. HRQOL results after weight loss from selected studies were classified and reported according to questionnaires. Results: Twenty-two studies reported statistically significant HRQOL improvements after weight loss and especially, all of studies with weight loss of more than 5% reported HRQOL improvements. HRQOL questionnaires were classified as generic, obesity-related and depression questionnaires. The most commonly used questionnaires were Short-Form health survey 36 (SF-36), Impact of Weight on Quality Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) respectively. SF-36 had a tendency to reflect physical health. IWQOL-Lite score was tended to be changed sensitively according to weight change. Depression questionnaires including BDI reported improvement of depression while mental aspects of SF-36 not changed in same studies. Conclusions: Improvements of HRQOL were noted in studies with weight loss of more than 5%. The main questionnaires for evaluating HRQOL were SF-36, IWQOL-Lite and BDI. It is suggested to use these questionnaires together for evaluating multiple aspects of impact of weight loss on HRQOL.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.55-68
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of Guibi-tang that are used for postpartum depression. Methods: We searched on five databases [Korean studies Information Service (KISS), Oriental medicine advanced searching integrated system (OASIS), The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI)] with keywords for Postpartum depression (English, Korean, and Chinese) and evaluated the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed on the selected studies. Results: 8 potentially relevant articles were retrieved for further evaluation. There was evidence that Guibi-tang compared with Western medicine was significantly higher rate in total effect rate (RR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04, 1.39, p=0.01). Also, the combined therapeutic effects of Guibi-tang and Psychological intervention compared with Psychological intervention were statistically significant in total effect rate (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05, 1.24, p=0.002). And they showed improvement on scores of HAMD (Hamilton depression scale, HAMD) and SF-36 (36-Item short form health survey, SF-36). Conclusion: Guibi-tang appears to be more effective compared to Western medicine in the treatment of postpartum depression. The combination Guibi-tang and Psychological intervention was more effective than psychological intervention alone treated for postpartum depression. However, since unclear risk of bias, the result of this study should be considered carefully. Further clinical trials should be carried out in order to academical clinical progress regarding treatment of Postpartum Depression.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.95-115
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• 2013

Objectives The aim of this review is to provide fundamental data for low back pain scales which can be used in clinical trial. Methods We investigated the latest studies on chronic low back pain via PubMed. And we also investigated domestic studies through "http://oasis.kiom.re.kr". 95 research papers were analyzed. Scales were classified into pain scale, function scale, generic health status scale and psychological scale. Results 1) According to foreign clinical studies, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) were used 18 times as pain scale. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used 20 times as function scale, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) was 17, and Hannover Functional Ability Questionnaire (HFAQ) was used 3 times. 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used 13 times as generic health status scale, Euroqol-5 Dimentions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) was 11, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used 3 times. Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) was used 9 times as psychological scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-R) both were used 3 times. 2) According to domestic clinical studies, VAS was used 37 times as pain scale, NRS was 11, and Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was used 6 times. ODI was used 30 times as function scale, RMDQ was 2 times only. SF-36 was used once as generic health status scale and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was used 3 times as psychological scale. Conclusions We recommend VAS or NRS as a measure to evaluate pain, and ODI as a measure to evaluate functional disability. And we also recommend SF-36 or SF-12 and EQ-5D as a measure to evaluate generic health status. Finally, we recommend FABQ for use in measuring psychological scale.