• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.880-892
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• 2009

Objectives : This study is about a comparison of controlled and uncontrolled hypertension groups regarding pulse shape and quality of life. We aimed to find out if pulse shape would be able to help with hypertension treatment and care. Methods : We surveyed "controlled and uncontrolled hypertension patients" using SF-36, HTN QoL (measurement scale for the quality of life in hypertensive patients) and 3-D MAC pulse analyzer for pulse shape. Results : The uncontrolled hypertension group tended to have a sink pulse in the left cun. right guan & chi parts compared to the controlled hypertension group. Within the controlled hypertension group, patients who had a float pulse shape in both guan parts had a higher quality of life than patients who had a normal pulse shape. And the patients who had a normal pulse shape in both chi parts had a higher quality of life than patients with a slow or fast pulse shape. Within the uncontrolled hypertension grouP. the patients who had a normal pulse shape in right guan part had a higher quality of life than those with a choppy pulse shape. Nevertheless, these results were limited to only a few quality of life issues and were inconsistent in relation to specific pulse shapes. Conclusion : If we have more samples and better methods for collecting data, we will have better results, allowing us to improve our ability to predict and treat hypertension.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.1551-1557
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• 2006

Since subscribers, who pay the same communication fees, have a strong desire to take similar services with the other users, it is an important issue to provide fairness among those subscribers wherever they are located. Therefore, in this paper we propose a QoS packet scheduler that can provide fairness among wireless LAN terminals and evaluate its performance using computer simulation. The key idea of this scheduler is to reduce the CW value of the wireless LAN terminal that has failed in sending its packets due to channel transmission error in order to offer the wireless MM terminal a higher transmission priority which is the idea of service compensation. We evaluate its performance using NS-2 network simulator, compare its numerical results to those of IEEE 802.11e without this scheme, and conclude that this scheme can reduce throughput difference between similar wireless LAN terminals.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.801-815
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• 2012

Objectives : To obtain necessary fundamental data for the development of oral health improvement programs for senior citizens in the manner of investigating the Status of their oral health. Methods : Data were collected from 346 senior citizens aged 65 years or older who had lived in Seoul and Gyeonggido province, Republic of Korea. This study was conducted for 3 months from April 2011 to June 2011. Excluding those obtained from 34 respondents who gave inadequate responses to given questions, the data from 312 respondents were analyzed. Results : 1. The number of senior citizens who chose 'Sometimes' to as an answer to the question about the self-perception of their own oral conditions such as mastication, swallowing, gingiva hemorrhage, dry mouth, and/or oral malodor was the largest. As an answer to the question about the presence of interpersonal avoidance, 'No' accounted for the largest proportion. The number of respondents choosing gingiva treatment regarding the perception of the necessity for medical interventions was the largest. 2. In regard to the knowledge of oral health care, the percentage of correct answers was the highest for 'I brush my tooth before each meal' ($0.69{\pm}0.156$), while the lowest percentage of correct answers was seen for 'Gingival diseases can be improved by medications' ($0.33{\pm}0.472$). Conclusions : Based upon the above mentioned results, the author conclude that developing relevant national programs and support policies at a national level as well as implementing proactive and systematic home-visiting oral health programs at the levels of local autonomous entities or communities will lead to significant improvements in senior citizens' oral health and QoL (quality of life).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.941-947
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this case study is to report the hydrocele of the canal of Nuck and the effectiveness of Korean medicine in post-surgery improvement of symptoms. Method: A patient who was diagnosed with hydrocele of the Nuck canal and had symptoms after Lichtenstein's operation was treated using Korean medicine, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion, every day. The evaluation was performed using the Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L), the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: After treatment, changes were observed in NRS (from 8 to 2-3) and EQ-VAS (from 60 to 85), whereas there was no difference in EQ-5D-5L (both 6). There was an overall improvement in the domains of WHOQOL-BREF and subjective symptoms. Conclusion: This study suggests that Korean medicine may improve symptoms after surgery of hydrocele of the canal of Nuck and can be evaluated using an overall QoL questionnaire.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2019

Objectives : This study aimed to compare the psychosocial characteristics among patients with functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), adults with functional gastrointestinal symptoms, and normal control group and investigate factors related to quality of life (QoL) of FGID patients. Methods : 65 patients diagnosed with FGID were selected. 79 adults were selected as normal control group based on the Rome III diagnostic criteria, and 88 adults who showed functional gastrointestinal symptoms were selected as "FGID positive group". Demographic factors were investigated. Psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Korean-Beck Depression Inventory-II, Korean-Beck Anxiety Inventory, Korean-Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and WHO Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Brief Form. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare differences among groups. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze correlations between QoL and psychosocial factors in patients with FGID. Results : There were group differences in the education level. Depression (F=29.012, p<0.001), anxiety (F=27.954, p<0.001) and Childhood trauma (F=7.748, p<0.001) were significantly higher in FGID patient group than in both FGID-positive and normal control group. Social support (F=5,123, p<0.001), Resilience (F=9.623, p<0.001) and QoL (F=35.991, p<0.001) were significantly lower in the FGID patient group than in others. QoL of FGID patients showed a positive correlation with resilience (r=0.475, p<0.01), and showed a negative correlation with depression (r=-0.641, p<0.01), anxiety (r=-0.641, p<0.01), and childhood trauma (r=-0.278, p<0.05). Conclusions : FGID patients have distinctive psychosocial factors compared to the both FGID-positive and normal control group. Therefore, the active interventions for psychosocial factors are required in the treatment of patients with FGID.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.364-375
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate burden and the qualify of life in caregivers who are taking care of home-based rare and incurable disease patients. Methods: The subjects of this study were 300 caregivers of rare and incurable disease patients registered at five health centers in Seoul. A survey was conducted by mail and visit in person during the period from the 25th of March to the 12th of May 2005. Collected data were analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient. Result: The mean burden of caregivers was 3.42, and the mean qualify of life of caregivers was 2.71. Burden and QoL showed significant differences according to caregivers' characteristics such as sender, age, relation to the patient, academic qualification, religion, occupation, monthly household income and perceived health condition. Caregivers' burden was in an inverse correlation with their quality of life. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, rare and incurable disease caregivers' burden and their quality of life were in a significant correlation with each other. In order to improve caregivers' quality of life by reducing their burden, we need to reestablish comprehensive policies for rare and incurable disease management including nursing intervention strategies for caregivers.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.129-143
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• 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare a nutritionally balanced soft blend diet (SBD) with a soft fluid diet (SFD) on the health of inpatients who have undergone oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgery, ultimately aiming to enhance care outcomes, improve health-related quality of life (QOL), and increase satisfaction with the hospital. Methods: Thirty-two patients were randomized into two groups: sixteen received SFD and sixteen received SBD. Anthropometric, laboratory evaluations were conducted upon admission and discharge. Patients filled out questionnaires on demographics, diet satisfaction, food intake amount, and health-related QOL on the day of discharge, assessed using the EuroQoL 5 Dimensions 3 Level and EuroQoL Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) instruments. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, χ² tests for group differences, and paired nonparametric t-tests for within-group comparisons. The Mann-Whitney U test evaluated inter-group differences in preoperative weight and body mass index (BMI), postoperative changes, meal satisfaction, intake, health-related QOL, and self-assessed health status. P-values were set at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The SBD group had higher dietary intake (63.2% vs. 51.0%) and greater diet satisfaction (80.6 vs. 48.1, P < 0.0001) compared to SFD group. Health-related QOL, measured by EQ-VAS, was better in SBD group (70.3 vs. 58.8, P < 0.05). Postoperative weight and BMI decreased in SFD group but increased in SBD group (P < 0.01). Changes in laboratory results showed more stability in the SBD group. No postoperative infections were reported in SBD group, whereas SFD group had a 31.25% complication rate. Conclusions: While SFD is often recommended after OMF surgery to protect oral wound healing process, our study reveals that SBD not only enhances physical and psychological outcomes but also, somewhat unexpectedly, supports wound healing and reduces complications. Essentially, SBD promotes physical recovery and enhances health-related QOL than SFD by supporting both somatic and mental healing aspects.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.718-727
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the levels of physical activity and its relationships with depression, health-related quality of life (QoL), sleep disturbance, and physiological indicators in hemodialysis patients. Methods: The participants in this study were 139 patients undergoing hemodialysis in the hospitals in Busan and Yangsan-si. Data were collected using hematologic tests and questionnaires that contained items about individual characteristics, International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ), Center For Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA, and correlation. Results: Mean age of the participants was $59.91{\pm}12.63$ and mean physical activity levels were $1,660.35{\pm}1,654.17$. Patients who performed higher physical activities during their daily activities reported lower levels of depression (F=4.16, p=.018) and higher levels of QOL (PCS: F=5.00, p=.008, MCS: F=8.66, p<.001) than those of the others who did not perform physical activities. Conclusion: This study showed that the levels of physical activity among hemodialysis patients was significantly associated with their depression and QOL. Developing strategies for enhancing physical activity is warranted to improve depression and QOL among hemodialysis patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.91-104
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• 2018

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Acupotomy on the pain reduction and functional improvement of patients with Acute low back pain. Methods We studied 60 patients with Acute low back pain with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 5 or higher in admission and had admitted to Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation of Daejeon University from March 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017. 30 patients had received Acupotomy combined Korean Medicine treatment(such as acupuncture, moxabustion, herbal medicine, etc) and the other 30 had received Korean Medicine treatment only. The analysis was conducted as a retrospective study which analyzes the patient's medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 24 program. We used NRS to evaluate pain reduction, used Range of Motion (ROM) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) to evaluate function improvement, and used EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and EuroQoL-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) to assess quality of life. Finally, a five-point Likert scale was used to assess treatment satisfaction. Results The analysis revealed that patients who were treated with Acupotomy showed statistically significant NRS reduction, improvement of ROM and RMDQ, improvement of EQ-5D and EQ-VAS and satisfaction compared to those who just recevied Korean Medicine treatment. Conclusions In conclusion, we found that the Acupotomy showed a positive effect on pain resolving, functional rehabilitation and quality of life in patients with Acute low back pain.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.41-52
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• 2013

Objectives In pediatrics of Korean Medicine, it is crucial to evaluate the overall symptoms of children, especially in the children who have serious troubles in their life. In the era when diagnosis in Korean Medicine is quite suitable to evaluate multiple allergic diseases, and when growing numbers are in needs, development of an objective measurement scale for diagnosis of allergic disease in Korean Medicine became essential. Therefore, in the study, pediatric Allergic Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PADQLQ) was translated into Korean version with validations on some aspects. Methods In this study, we translated and validated the PADQLQ and established psychometric evidence on its utility in Korean children with similar problems. 71 children, age of 6 ~ 18 with allergic disease has participated. Results The internal consistency reliability of the PADQLQ by Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was 0.94. In three domains (Practical, Physical, Emotional), the Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was 0.77, 0.90 and 0.69. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between PADQLQ total score and VAS was 0.75 (p<0.001). And, Structural validity was evaluated by the ANOVA test. QoL differences of the four groups in the three domains (practical, physical, emotional) were significant. The item discriminative indices were ranged from 0.1651 to 0.8188. Conclusions Korean version PADQLQ is highly reliable and valid for children with allergic diseases. This is significant to assess the relative seriousness of the allergic diseases and to evaluate the efficacy of different treatments in Korean Medicine.