• 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 Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2017

Pain is subjective, while statistics related to pain research are objective. This review was written to help researchers involved in pain research make statistical decisions. The main issues are related with the level of scales that are often used in pain research, the choice of statistical methods between parametric or nonparametric statistics, and problems which arise from repeated measurements. In the field of pain research, parametric statistics used to be applied in an erroneous way. This is closely related with the scales of data and repeated measurements. The level of scales includes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. The level of scales affects the choice of statistics between parametric or non-parametric methods. In the field of pain research, the most frequently used pain assessment scale is the ordinal scale, which would include the visual analogue scale (VAS). There used to be another view, however, which considered the VAS to be an interval or ratio scale, so that the usage of parametric statistics would be accepted practically in some cases. Repeated measurements of the same subjects always complicates statistics. It means that measurements inevitably have correlations between each other, and would preclude the application of one-way ANOVA in which independence between the measurements is necessary. Repeated measures of ANOVA (RMANOVA), however, would permit the comparison between the correlated measurements as long as the condition of sphericity assumption is satisfied. Conclusively, parametric statistical methods should be used only when the assumptions of parametric statistics, such as normality and sphericity, are established.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.127-135
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treatment with Sacro-Occipital Technique block on musculoskeletal pain caused by traffic accident by analysis of the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Neck Disability Index(NDI), Pain Disability Index(PDI), Oswestry Low back Pain Disability Index(ODI) and Short Form - McGill Pain Qusetionnaire (SF-MPQ). Methods : This study carried out on 18 patients who have received hospital treatment in Daejeon Univ. Dun-San Oriental Hospital. Control group got acupunture-therapy, herbal medication, physical therapy and Experimental group got all the therapies and treatment with Sacro-Occipital Technique block. We measured VAS, NDI, PDI, ODI and SF-MPQ on 1st day and 7 days later. Results : After being treated by our methods, Both group were improved in VAS, NDI, PDI, ODI, and SF-MPQ. Especially, Experimental group was significantly meaningful improved in VAS, PDI, and ODI. Control group was significantly meaningful improved in VAS and SF-MPQ. But, differences between control and experimental group were nonsignificant. Conclusions : The results suggest that treatment with Sacro-Occipital Technique block is not significantly meaningful but gives a positive impact on musculoskeletal pain caused by traffic accident. But further long term study in a large scale is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2000

Background: Pain is often measured using psychophysical scaling techniques. However, all of these methods found their limits, since they were based on the subjective sensations reported by the subjects. It is, therefore, desirable to validate psychophysical pain measures by simultaneously measuring some physiological correlate of nociception. We studied an objective method for measuring pain in human volunteer using R(III) nociceptive flexion reflex. Methods: Four different intensity of electrical stimuli between perception and 1.4 times the R(III) nociceptive flexion threshold were delivered to the sole of the feet in 8 normal volunteers. We measured the flexion reflex activity in the skin over the ipsilateral tibialis anterior muscle and subjects rated each stimulus on a visual analog scale (VAS) Results: Both R(III) nociceptive flexion reflex activity and VAS ratings showed a linear relationship with stimulus intensity and with each other in all volunteers. Conclusions: R(III) nociceptive flexion reflex elicited through electrical stimulation may used as an objective pain measurement, previsionary based on our study paradigm.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect and satisfaction measurement of the Korean medicine treatment on the adolescent dysmenorrhea. Methods: The subjects of this study were 24 volunteers, suffering from dysmenorrhea, who were middle and high school students in Jeonbuk province. They were treated by Korean medicine, those were acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion and herbal medicine, for two months from July to December 2015. The results were investigated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) of overall pain, most severe pain and amount of the analgesic taken for menstrual period. The effects of treatment were assessed three times, those were before treatment, after treatment for 1 month and after treatment for 2 months, for two months. Results: The VAS score on dysmenorrhea was decreased significantly. Also, the VAS score on the disturbance in school activity was decreased significantly. The amount of analgesic taken for menstrual period was decreased, but not significantly. Conclusions: This study suggests that the Korean medicine treatment on the adolescent dysmenorrhea is effective.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2009

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of debridement arthroplasty using the posteromedial approach in elbow joints with pain and bony limitation of motion. Materials and Methods: This study involved 16 elbows in 16 patients with pain and bony limitation of motion, which were treated by debridement arthroplasty using the posteromedial approach from March 2005 to March 2008. The mean follow up period was 27.6 (13~52) months. The clinical outcomes were analyzed using the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) for pain scale, the preoperative and postoperative range of motion and the Mayo Elbow Performance Scores(MEPS). Results: The VAS was decreased significantly from a preoperative mean of 4.5 to a postoperative mean 1.1 (p<0.001). The average arc of motion improved significantly from $61.6 (0~90)^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $109.4 (80-120)^{\circ}$ postoperatively (p<0.001). The MEPS also improved significantly from 59.4 to 85.6 postoperatively (p<0.001). There were no complications, such as hematoma and elbow instability. Conclusion: Debridement arthroplasty using the posteromedial approach is a useful surgical procedure in the elbow joint with pain and bony limitation of motion, where all compartments can be debrided, the ulnar nerve can be manipulated easily and damage to the medial collateral ligament can be minimized.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.199-211
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Gamisoyo-san on severe menopausal disorder patients. Methods : We recruited 2 severe menopausal disorder patients who have been suffering from hot flush and heat sensation. The patients had been administrated Gamisoyo-san. The patients of severe menopausal disorder had been estimated with Kupperman's index(KI), Menopause rating scale(MRS), Beck's depression Inventory(BDI), Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Heart rate variability (HRV). Kupperman's index, Menopause rating scale and Beck's depression inventory for every seven days. We measured VAS everyday. Heart rate variability was estimated twice, before and after treatment. Results : After the treatments, symptoms of menopausal disorder were decreased. Conclusions : This study suggests that Gamisoyo-san is significantly effective on severe menopausal disorder patients with hot flush and heat sensation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.878-887
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this case report was to report the effect of Gamchosasim-tang in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms due to gastric ulcer. Methods: We treated a patient suffering from epigastric pain, sucking sensations in the epigastrium, and nausea using Gamchosasim-tang (甘草瀉心湯) for 35 days. The patient's symptoms were charted and evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS). Results: After treatment, the symptoms related to gastric ulcer were decreased and evaluation using the VAS and GSRS showed improvement in the patient. Conclusion: This study shows that Korean medicine treatment with Gamchosasim-tang may be valuable for relieving gastric ulcer symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Objectives: This case report presents improvement after receiving acupuncture treatment for a chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. Methods: The patient was treated for 6 times with acupuncture. And effects of treatments were measured with the World Health Organization (WHO) oral toxicity scale and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: The clinical symptoms of the stomatitis were improved that WHO oral toxicity scale decreased from grade 4 to grade 0 and Visual Analogue Scale decreased from 7 to 2 after treated with acupuncture. Conclusions: In this study, acupuncture might be effective way to cure the cancer patient suffering from chemotherapy-induced stomatitis.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the effects of foot reflexology on pain and quality of sleep in patients with terminal cancer. Method: Quai-experimental research design was used. The subjects of this study were consisted of 19 for experimental group and 18 for control group. Visualue Scale(VAS) was used as the measurement tool of pain in this study, Verra & Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale(VSH) and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) were used as the measurement tool of perceived quality of sleep. Data were analyzed using statistical methods such as frequency, percent, $x^2$-test, t-test using SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results: The hypothesis 1 that the experimental group with reflexology has less degree of pain than the control group without reflexology was supported (t=5.41, p<.001). The hypothesis 2 that the experimental group with reflexology has higher degree of VSH Scale than the control group without reflexology was supported(t=2.37, p=.02). The hypothesis 3 that the experimental group with reflexology has the difference among the mean of sleep VAS Scale during the 12 measurement periods was not supported(F=1.63, p=.08), and no significant interactions between group and time. Conclusion: It is considered that reflexology is effective for reducing cancer pain and improving quality of sleep in patients with terminal cancer.