• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study has been performed to find the relationship between seafarers' cumulative fatigue and stress by evaluating autonomic nervous functions and the results of surveys conducted using questionnaires. Methods : The subjects were seafarers working on various ships (home trade ships) of South Korea, who were healthy adults without any diseases, as confirmed through preliminary surveys were recruited through simple random sampling. A device that measures autonomic nervous functions by analyzing heart rate variability, which is also used often in clinical diagnoses and studies at universities, university hospitals, and general hospitals was used to measure the seafarers' cumulative fatigue and stress. Pearson's correlation analyses were also conducted to test the relationship between cumulative fatigue and stress measured by evaluating autonomic nervous functions and the results of surveys conducted with questionnaires. Results : There was no correlation between mean cumulative fatigue measured for each ship type and seafarers position through autonomic nervous functions evaluation and fatigue severity scale (FSS). There also was no correlation between the mean levels of stress measured for each ship type and seafarers position through autonomic nervous functions evaluation and survey scores of Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS). Conclusion : Therefore, in order to prevent man-made accidents in the sea among seafarers working with irregular port entry/departure schedules and under environments involving continued vibration, noises, and shaking, it is necessary to analyzed cumulative fatigue and stress scientifically and objectively, such as through autonomic nervous functions evaluation rather than through surveys.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.97-108
• /
• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to confirm the efficacy and safety of Gongjin-dan and Ssanghwatang for chronic fatigue. Methods : A total of 90 people, between 19 and 65 years old, will be recruited to participate in a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled a clinical trial. Participants in the Gongjin-dan group will take one pill of Gongjin-dan along with three packs of placebo oral liquid Ssanghwa-tang per day for 4 weeks. Participants in the Ssanghwa-tang group will take three packages of liquid Ssanghwa-tang and one placebo Gongjindan pill per day for 4 weeks. In the placebo group, participants will take one pill of placebo Gongjin-dan and three packs of placebo liquid Ssanghwa-tang per day, for 4 weeks. Outcomes will be measured at the baseline, 4^th week, and 6^th week. The primary outcome is the change in the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Secondary outcomes are the change of Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ), Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), Korean Version of Schedule of Fatigue and Anergy/General Physician (SOFA/GP), Glucose, Lactate, Ammonia, Free Fatty Acid (FAA), d-ROMs&BAP, Selenium, and Cortisol. Results : This trial was approved by the institutional review board of Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital (registry number: PNUKHIRB 2021-10-005). Recruitment opened in November 2021 and is supposed to be completed by December 2022. Conclusions : This trial will provide clinical information to determine the efficacy and safety of Gongjindan and Ssanghwa-tang for chronic fatigue.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.239-248
• /
• 2019

There are no published data on Gyeongokgo (GOK) safety or efficacy despite being commonly use. The Gyeongokgo (GOK) is commonly used in traditional Korean medicine to promote a health qi and blood, but their objective data was not sufficient in clinical field. To investigate the safety and efficacy of GOK with hematologic and serologic testing and the change of the quality of life in healthy individuals. Randomized, subject-assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center pilot study Participants and Interventions 29 healthy volunteer subjects were randomly placed into the GOK group (n = 20) or placebo control group (n = 9) and instructed to take one treatment packet (GOK or placebo) twice daily for 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and underwent hematologic and serologic tests and body composition analysis. The FSS total score (p = 0.093) and SF-36 general health index (p = 0.002) were improved following treatment in the GOK group. Post-treatment thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were increased in the GOK group compared with pre-treatment levels (p = 0.0042). C-reactive protein levels decreased (p = 0.0256) in the GOK group compared with that the placebo group. In time-series tests, GOK did not affect post-prandial serum triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or C-peptide levels. Notably, elevations in serum fasting triglycerides at 2- (p = 0.0333) and 4-hours (p = 0.0414) post-prandial were lower than those in the placebo group. GOK reduced fatigue levels and did not significantly affect laboratory test results performed to measure safety, serum glucose, and lipid profiles. Post-meal triglyceride levels were effectively reduced with treatment.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2020

Objectives : To identify the relationship between somatization, stress, depression, anxiety, and psychological symptoms risk for nurses working in the intensive care unit. Create clinical evidence of psychosomatic medicine research and complement the meaning of somatization. Methods : Seventy of the mental health checkups conducted by the National Mental Health Center among the nurses using tools including Perceived Stress scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Patient Health questionnaire-15, Korean Beck Depression Inventory, Korean Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Symptom Checklist-90-Revision. Results : 12.9% of the patients experienced more than moderate somatization. There was no statistical relationship between somatization and psychological stress perception, but feeling of anxiety and decreased self-confidence were related to the level of somatization. The group with severe somatization experienced more depression and anxiety. The group with high physical fatigue also had no statistical relationship with psychological stress perception, but had an effect on the feeling of tension, stress, or decreased control. Physical fatigue level was increased by experience of depression, not by anxiety. For psychological symptoms the higher the level of somatization, the higher the obsession and hostility was explored. In the linear regression model, stress, depression, and anxiety accounted for 39.3% of somatization and 16.1% of physical fatigue symptoms. Conclusions : We can estimate the decrease in stress cognitive symptoms, accompanying depression and anxiety, compulsion and hostility as characteristics of somatization. The causal relationship between somatization and psychological symptoms cannot be confirmed in this study, but the interrelationships are observed, can be referred to mediation strategies.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.719-726
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This case report presents improvement of fatigue and tingling symptoms in a patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after receiving Korean medical treatment. Methods: The patient was treated for 35days with the herbal medicine Hyangsayangwi-tang-gamibang and acupuncture. The effects of treatments were measured with fatigue severity scale (FSS) and numeric rating scale (NRS). Results: The clinical symptoms of the GBS patient were improved considerably after Korean medicine treatment. Conclusions: The herbal medicine Hyangsayangyi-tang-gaimibang and acupuncture could be effective for treatment of symptoms of fatigue and tingling in patients with GBS, but more studies are needed to confirm the present results.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 2019

Objective: In this case report, we address the case of a 47-year-old man with anemia due to chronic kidney disease. Methods: A patient was treated with Korean medicine including an herbal medication, Shipjeondaebo-tang. We evaluated the improvement of symptoms by biochemical examination of blood, complete blood cell count and total score of Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Results: After 15 days of Korean medicine treatment, there was an increase in hemoglobin states, even after intervention ended, for over 30 days with improvement of the patient's fatigue. Conclusions: This study suggested that Shipjeondaebo-tang might be effective in patient's renal anemia and fatigue recovery.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Infertile women experience various physical, psychological, and relational problems that affect their infertility-related quality of life (QoL). This study investigated infertile women's infertility-related QoL with the goal of identifying how it is influenced by fatigue, depression, and marital intimacy. Methods: A sample of 140 infertile women was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from February to April 2018 using self-report structured questionnaires at three infertility clinics located in Jeonju, Korea. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis in SPSS for Windows version 25.0. The subjects agreed to complete a face-to-face interview, including administration of the Fatigue Severity Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Marital Intimacy Scale, and the Fertility Quality of Life tool. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.6±4.3 years. Infertility-related QoL was negatively correlated with fatigue (r=-.42, p<.001) and depression (r=-.56, p<.001), and positively correlated with marital intimacy (r=.30, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that depression (β=-0.44, p<.001), fatigue (β=-0.27, p<.001), and husband's attitude (β=-0.19, p=.007) had significant effects on the QoL of infertile women, accounting for 40.5% of the variance in infertility-related QoL. Conclusion: The study provides insights into how infertile women's infertility-related QoL was influenced by depression, fatigue, and their husbands' attitudes regarding infertility treatment. To improve infertile women's infertility-related QoL, healthcare providers should consider developing strategies to decrease depression and fatigue in infertile women and to address their husbands' attitudes.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.235-245
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Reported insomnia and decreased sleep quality are common among older adults. The purpose of this study was to identify factors contributing to insomnia and decreased sleep quality among elderly persons living within a community. The data will be verified with Actigraph which is a non-invasive measurement of rest/activity cycles. Methods: 137 participants over 65 years old were recruited from a senior welfare center. Their mean age was $74.07{\pm}5.18years$ old and majority was women (69.3%). The quality and quantity of nighttime sleep were assessed using Varren-synder-Halper Sleep Scale and a sleep log. Depression and fatigue were assessed using Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form and Fatigue Severity Scale, respectively. Pain was assessed using 11-point Numeric rating scale. An actigraph was used to verify the self-reported sleep. Results: Ninety-two participants (67.2%) reported insomnia. Sixty-eight subjects (49.6%) reported good sleep. Of the participants, 56.2% reported depression and 33.6% reported fatigue. In logistic regression, depression was related to insomnia (OR=3.09, p=.003). Sleep quality was related to depression (OR=2.13, p=.045) and fatigue (OR=2.24, p=.044). The data from the Sleep logs correlated with data obtained from the actigraph. Conclusion: Depression significantly influenced insomnia and sleep quality whereas fatigue only influenced sleep quality. Thus, depression and fatigue should be closely monitored among elderly persons with sleep disturbances.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.738-745
• /
• 2021

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of using Nokyonggunbi-tang and other Korean medical treatments for a patient with consumptive disease and chronic fatigue. Methods: A 59-year-old female patient with fatigue, headache, dizziness, and neck pain due to consumptive disease and chronic fatigue was treated with herbal medicine (Nokyonggunbi-tang), together with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, cupping, and chuna manual therapy, for 22 days. The treatment effects on the pain were evaluated using the scores for the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5d) Scale, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Results: Following treatment, the patient showed a decrease in the FSS, NDI, and NRS scores and an improvement in the EQ-5d score. Conclusions: Nokyonggunbi-tang and Korean medical treatment significantly improved fatigue symptoms in a patient with no substrate disease.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.177-185
• /
• 1998

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of farming in greenhouses with respect to subjective fatigue symptoms among farmers and the degree of symptoms. The study compared 176 green-house farmers with 216 open field farmers using a subjective fatigue symptoms rating scale developed by the Industrial Research Institute of Fatigue, Japanese Association for industrial Hygiene. 1. With respect to complaint rates of the subjective fatigue symptoms, the results indicated that greenhouse farmers have, in order of severity, high degrees of low back pain, difficulty in collecting thoughts, and apt to forget. 2. With respect to cumulative scores of fatigue symptoms, the results indicated that both groups of farmers exhibited a lack of attentiveness and a high degree of dullness and sleepiness(category I), body projection of fatigue(category II), and difficulty in concentration(category III). 3. With respect to general characteristics, it was found that the degrees of subjective fatigue symptoms were found to be higher among females, people with lower educational levels, and the elderly, regardless of the group. 4. With respect to work related factors, farmers with more years of experiences were found to have higher degrees of subjective fatigue symptoms, except for open field farmers with less than nine years experience. Both groups of farmers were found to have high degrees of subjective fatigue symptoms when working less than eight hours a day and less than six months a year. 5. With respect to health habits, for people who get less than eight hours of sleep per day exhibited higher fatigue scores than people who get more than eight hours. People who do not smoke and drink also exhibited higher fatigue scores than people who smoke and drink. 6. The results of multiple regression showed that the risk factors related to the subjective fatigue symptoms of farmers in the greenhouse group were ages, levels of education, sex and for the comparison group, were sex. years of farming, and hours of sleep. The R-square were 12.5% in the greenhouse group and 12.1% in the comparison son group. The differences between the greenhouse and open field farmers in the degrees of fatigue symptoms were found not to be statistically significant even if the working conditions of the greenhouse farmers were poor. This may be attributed to non-work related factors, i.e., social, economical, and psychological factors among greenhouse farmers.