• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.210-220
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• 2017

This study investigated the effect of social support (MOS-SSS), and physical (ADL, IADL) and mental (CES-D, MMSE-K) function on the quality of life (WHOQOL- BREF) among the elderly at care facilities. The survey respondents were 524 elderly aged 65 and older living in 15 care facilities located in D city. Data were collected through a personal interview conducted by interviewers who visited each care facility from November 2015 to January 2016. As a result, the quality of life was significantly lower in the elderly group with lower social support, with dysfunction in ADL and IADL than in the normal range group, with depression and cognitive impairment group than in the normal range group. The quality of life had a significant positive correlation with social support, ADL, IADL and cognitive impairment, but a significant negative correlation with depression. According to the results of covariance structure analysis, physical function had a greater impact on the quality of life than mental function or social support. Lower quality of life was associated with lower physical and mental function and lower social support. Therefore, concrete measures need to be devised to enhance physical function in order to improve the quality of life among the elderly in care facilities.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3544-3551
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• 2012

As Korean society is quickly aging and experiencing longer life-spans, there has been increasing interest in the quality of life of the elderly. Depression has been indicated as an significant factor in the later years of one's life. The purpose of this study is to seek ways to improve the quality of life of the elderly in senior welfare center as it examines the quality of life and the extent of depression in them. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 127 subjects from the senior welfare center from November, 2011 to January, 2012, using Korean versions of WHOQOL-BREF and the Beck Depression Inventory. Among the interviewees were 62 males and 65 females. The study showed that the quality of life measured 85.82(${\pm}16.35$) points out of 130 and the extent of depression measured 9.45(${\pm}8.02$) points. The quality of life showed significant differencies according to education, degree of health, type of health insurance, occupation, and financial independence; while the depression varied according to gender, education, degree of health, type of health insurance, occupation, means of daily living, financial independence and leisure activities. Significant correlation was shown statistically between quality of life and depression. It is recommended that local communities develop programs for the promotion of the aged health and active social participation as well as job creation for the elderly, in order to improve the quality of life.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.317-327
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• 2021

This study is a randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of light therapy on stress, depression, sleep quality and quality of life in middle-aged women. The participants of this study were 56 middle-aged women who worked at the same office. Data collection period was from August 26 to September 13 for the control group and from September 16 to October 4 for the experimental group. Subjective stress, depression, quality of sleep and quality of life in middle-aged women were measured by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Center for Epidemiology studies of scale (CES-D), Verran & Synder-Halpern Sleep scale (VHS) and WHO Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Stress index was measured using a Canopy9 RSA (IEMBIO, Gangwondo, Korea) equipment. The data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation, real number and percentage, χ²-test, t-test, repeated measures ANOVA and ANCOVA using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. The results showed that the experimental group applying light therapy had significantly lower subjective stress (F=6.30, p<.001) and higher quality of life (F=2.80, p=.049) than the control group, There was no difference in objective stress index, depression, and sleep quality. As a result, light therapy is partially effective in subjective stress and quality of life for middle-aged women, and further research is needed on middle-aged women working in work environments with limited light exposure.

• Journal of Society of Occupational Therapy for the Aged and Dementia
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of reminiscence therapy using mind map to improve cognitive function, depression index, quality of life for old woman with dementia. Method : The study were 14 patients who were diagnosed with a woman suspected of dementia. They were randomly assigned to Study group(N=7) and control group(N=7). All patients received only to Study groups. reminiscence therapy using mind map was composed to 10 sessions, 40 minutes per sessions, 2 times a week, for 5 weeks. For result analysis, descriptive statistic, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used. The evaluation tools were Mini-Mental State Examination Korean Version (MMSE-K), Korean Version of Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), Korean Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Result : There was a significant difference in cognitive function, depression index, and quality of life in the within group after intervention, and there was a significant difference in cognitive function in the between group comparison. Conclusion : According to the results of study, an easing effect was confirmed regarding reminiscence therapy using mind map for an old woman with dementia. using reminiscence therapy using mind map when applied to the improvement of cognitive function, depression index, quality of life.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.288-303
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• 2021

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an intractable pain disease with various symptoms. Here, we investigated the disease status, work life, sleep problems, medical insurance, economic status, psychological problems, and quality of life (QOL) of CRPS patients. Methods: CRPS patients from 37 university hospitals in South Korea were surveyed. The survey questionnaire consisted of 24 questions on the following aspects of CRPS patients: sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, activities of daily living (ADL), pain severity, sleep disturbance, level of education, economic status, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions, was used to identify the status of QOL. Results: A total of 251 patients completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 54.2% patients could not perform ADL on their own. Over the previous week, the mean pain score was 7.15 ± 1.78 (out of a total of 10 points); 92.1% of patients had sleep disorders and 80.5% had suicidal ideation, with most patients suffering from psychological problems. The average for each domain of WHOQOL-BREF was as follows: 21.74 ± 14.77 for physical, 25.22 ± 17.66 for psychological, 32.02 ± 22.36 for social relationship, and 30.69 ± 15.83 for environmental (out of a total of 100 points each). Occupation, ADL, sleep time, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation were statistically correlated with multiple domains. Conclusions: Most patients had moderate to severe pain, economic problems, limitations of their ADL, sleep problems, psychological problems, and a low QOL score.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.521-535
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• 2020

Background and objective: This study investigated plant type and color preference and conducted a psychological assessment for gardening activities of firefighters in a high-risk occupational group. Methods: A survey was conducted on 117 firefighters aged 39.01±9.17 in Sunchang in March 2020 to examine their preferences in plant type and color and conduct a psychological assessment of firefighters on gardening activities. Results: For plant experience and awareness, plant-related event showed the highest score, followed by plant preference tendency and plant growing experience. The level of plant gardening activities was higher among older age and higher job position. As a result of examining the quality of life according to the demographic characteristic with WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument), it was found that the quality of life was higher among the 20s-30s than 50s, firefighter position than fire lieutenant or higher, those with higher average monthly income, and the singles group than married (p < .05). The administration group showed lower scores than the fire suppression group working in the field, showing statistical significance. Most firefighters showed high preference for herbal plants among the 12 types of flowering plants, in the order of Rosmarinus officinalis>Lavandula spp.>Mentha piperita, Calendula officinalis. Pelargonium spp. was preferred the least out of the flowering plants, Lycopersicon esculentum was preferred the most out of 12 types of vegetable plants, while Angelica acutiloba was preferred the least statistical significance. For the preference of plant colors, yellow was the most preferred color, followed by white, blue, orange, red, and green, showing statistical significance. For the psychological survey responses of emotion words toward 6 plants colors, it was found that 'bright' was the emotion felt most strongly by the white, yellow, and orange groups, 'calm' and 'comfortable' by the green and blue groups, and 'fancy' by the red group. Conclusion: The effect of agro-healing programs can be increased by using mostly yellow plants when creating indoor healing gardens at the workplaces of fire officials in a high-risk occupational group, and using herbal plants and Lycopersicon esculentum in the gardens for agro-healing activities.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.305-320
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• 2020

Background and objective: The problem that follows the increase of dementia patients is the burden of caregivers caring for dementia patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of horticultural therapy programs improving the quality of life and reducing the depression and burden of caregivers of the elderly with dementia. Methods: In this study, 19 caregivers of the elderly with dementia were selected, and the experiment was conducted by dividing the control group (n=9) and the experimental group (n=10) by random distribution. The experimental group was given eight horticultural therapy programs twice a week for a total of 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the depression(CES-D), quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), and care burden scales. The evaluation results were verified at a 95% significance level using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: In the case of depression, the control group's score tended to increase, and the experimental group's score appeared to decrease, but it was not a statistically significant change. In the quality of life, the control group was not statistically significant, but scores decreased overall. On the other hand, in the experimental group, the general quality of life increased significantly from 11.60 to 14.20 points (p = .02), and the total quality of life increased to a marginally significant level from 61.59 points to 68.85 points (p = .059). In the post-test of the total care burden score, a marginally significant difference was found between the control group (94.44 points) and the experimental group (82.50 points; p = .079). Conclusion: This study confirmed the applicability to reduce the burden of caregiving and improve the deterioration of quality of life of the caregivers. In particular, the results will serve as an opportunity to confirm accessibility in a new way to support the caregiver of dementia patients by demonstrating the applicability of horticultural therapy at a time when problems such as the burden of supporting the caregiver are emerging as social problems.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2007

Background: Previous research has suggested that single doses of a standardised Panax ginseng extract can decrease fasted blood-glucose levels and modulate cognitive performance in healthy young volunteers. The latter has generally been seen in terms of improved secondary memory performance. However, both the cognitive effects of chronic administration of ginseng and the potential modulation of working memory have received comparatively little research attention. Aims: The current double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced cross-over study investigated the effects of 8-weeks administration of Korean ginseng extract (200 mg) on cognitive performance, gluco-regulatory parameters and ratings of subjective mood and 'quality of life'. Methods: 'Eighteen healthy young participants were assessed pre-dose and 3 hours post-dose on the mornings of Day 1, Day 29 and Day 57 of 8 week treatment regimens of both placebo and ginseng. A four-week placebo wash-out separated the treatment phases. Each assessment included the Cognitive Drug Research battery, computerised working memory tasks, and Bond-Lader mood scales. The WHO Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) was completed once per visit. Gluco-regulatory parameters were assessed with assays of blood glucose, insulin and HbA1c. Results: Data from the 16 participants that completed the study showed that there were no significant, acute treatment related differences on Day 1 of treatment, or in gluco-regulatory parameters throughout the study. However, time related performance improvements were evident following chronic administration of ginseng on the '3-Back' and 'Corsi-block' computerised working memory tasks. Ginseng was also associated with an improved score on the 'social relations' subscale of the WHOQOL-100, and a significant shift on the 'calm' factor of the Bond-Lader mood scales (from calm/relaxed towards excited/tense). Conclusion: The results of the current study suggest that Korean ginseng extract can modulate working memory performance and subjective ratings of 'quality of life' and mood. Replication with a larger sample size may further elucidate the actions of this product.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2011

Objectives : Bell's palsy is the most common acute facial paralysis but its causes still unclear. At present, one of the most widely accepted cause is viral infections, and generally socioeconomic factors influence the viral infections. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of incidence of facial palsy with socioeconomic factors. Methods : Seventeen patients with a acute facial palsy, who volunteered and completed all of the assessment measures participated. Using data on 17 participants, we examined the independent contribution of education, income, and occupation to a risk factor of severe facial palsy. Severity of global facial impairment was assessed by the facial disability index (FDI), the house-brackmann facial nerve grading system, WHO quality of life - bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and visual analogue scale (VAS) about discomfort of life. Results : There was no correlation between severity of facial palsy and gender, marriage, education, or occupation. Age greater than 60 years (p<0.05), and low monthly income(p<0.05), poor self-rated health was associated with greater severity of idiopathic facial paralysis. Conclusions : The number of subjects with facial palsy in our study (n-17) was small, and therefore generalization to larger patient populations might be unwarranted. But according to the outcome, we suggest that socioeconomic factors, especially low monthly income influence severity of bell's palsy.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.217-242
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• 2004

This study was carried out to measure job satisfaction and quality of life and to clarify the factors in job satisfaction which influence on quality of life of dental technicians, using developed tools for job satisfaction and WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life. The subjects for this study were 238 people who worked the in the Daegu-Kyungbuk area. The results of this study were as follows； the general characteristics that influenced job satisfaction, were especially education, hobbies, salary level, job career and work hours. The factors that influenced the quality of life, were especially Married status, hobbies, job position, and office hours. All subfactors in job satisfaction were related to each other. Growth-development factor was intensely related with recognition factor. Also, all subfactors in quality of life were in positive relation to each other, especially psychological domain was highly related with social domain. Factors of safety, recognition and accomplishment in job satisfaction intensely affected quality of life. Therefore, It is suggested that social recognition for dental technician should be promoted and it might be needed to adjust office hours and support hobby life.