• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to report the case mental health of people with disabilities has improved through visit treatment at public health centers. From October 26, 2021 to January 04, 2022, 6 visits were conducted and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Korean version of Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (K-CES-D), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Euro Qol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were used to check changes. After Korean Medicine treatments such as acupuncture, electroacupuncture, electromoxibustion, PHQ-9 decreased from 18 to 8, BDI decreased from 22 to 15, K-CES-D decreased from 42 to 21. And VAS decreased from 85 to 50, EQ-VAS increased from 30 to 50. But There was no change in the MBI. Confirmation of improvement in mental health-related indicators of disabled patients through Korean Medicine treatments.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2021

Background/Objectives: Shoulder function is an important aspect of health related quality of life (QOL). Neck dissection impairment index (NDII) is a simple shoulder-specific questionnaire. This study aimed to evaluate the association between QOL and NDII in patients who underwent neck dissection to validate the Korean version of NDII. Materials & Methods: This study enrolled 74 patients with head and neck cancer who underwent neck dissection from December 2013 to April 2014. Patients completed questionnaires on QOL including the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-item Core QOL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and NDII which was translated into Korean. Validity was evaluated by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between NDII and EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: We compared preoperative, postoperative within a week, 1st and 3rd months NDII scores. The total NDII scores were 14.7, 47.4, 33.7 and 34.3 each. Clinical variables including gender, site of primary tumor, performing revision neck dissection, radiotherapy and flap reconstruction were not significantly associated with NDII. However NDII mean score of patients who underwent unilateral neck dissection over 3 levels is most increased after operation. During all periods NDII scores were significantly associated with functioning score. Although other scores are lower correlation than function scores, global health status scores and symptom scores are also correlation with NDII. Conclusion: NDII was valid instrument and can be used not only in the clinical practice to assess shoulder dysfunction but also in the simple instrument to evaluate global QOL in Korea patients with having neck dissection.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.451-458
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• 2018

This study was conducted to determine the association between quality of sleep (QOL) and the general characteristics, the health-behavioral factors, and the occupational characteristics of firefighting officers. The survey was conducted in October 2016 with a self-administered questionnaire using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) developed by Pittsburgh University, targeting 600 male firefighting officers working at five fire stations in D city. As a result, the QOL of the study subjects measured by the PSQI revealed 13.2% to be good, and 86.8% to be poor. In relation to general characteristics and health habits, the rate of the group who had poor quality sleep was significantly higher in those with a lower subjective health status, in the non-smoking group, and in the low sleep-quality group, compared to the good sleep-quality group. For occupational characteristics, the rate of those with poor quality sleep was significantly higher in groups such as the fire suppression group, the shift work group, the hard physical labor group, the group with a lower sense of satisfaction in their work, and in the group classed as unfit for the job but who were not considering quitting their jobs, compared to their respective counterparts. Multiple regression analysis revealed factors of influence with explanatory powers of 24.4% for subjective health status, alcohol use, subjective quality of sleep, career, job position, and physical labor. The results of this study suggest that the quality of sleep for firefighting officers is significantly related to general characteristics, health-behavioral characteristics, and occupational characteristics.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.490-497
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life (QOL) and its related factors in veterans with physical dysfunction. The survey data was collected from 412 patients with physical dysfunction managed at five veterans' hospitals in Seoul, Pusan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon city. The baseline for the quality of life was measured using the SF-36 (Short-Form 36), activities of daily living was measured using a Modified Barthel Index (MBI), pain level was determined using Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS), and the depression level was assessed using Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale: Short-Form (SGDS-K). The SF-36 scores showed a significant correlation with age (r=-0.132), self-rated current health status (r=-0.545), active daily living (r=0.514), pain level (r=-0.243), and depression level (r=-0.565) (p<0.05). The most influential variables on the QOL were the depression level (B=-.969, p<0.001), QVAS (B=-0.163, p<0.001), and MBI (B=0.140, p<0.001). The results of this study showed that that depression, pain and activities of daily living are significant predictors of the QOL in veterans with a physical dysfunction. Therefore, healthcare providers need to consider these parameters for interventions to improve the QOL in veterans with a physical dysfunction.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2023

Background: In general, measurement qualities of cross-culturally adapted quality of life (QOL) measures are altered in many aspects, although versions of them are well-validated measures. The latent trait and measurement qualities of the QOL measures for cancer-related samples should be considered when developing cross-culturally adapted measures. Objects: To investigate the latent trait of the translated into Korean World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) administered to different cancer survivors who had palliative rehabilitation care service (PRCS). Methods: A cross-sectional study with 139 cancer survivors who had an experience of cancer survivorship with PRCS were conducted with a two-step analytic procedure including exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to confirm the latent trait and Rasch rating scale modeling to investigate the measurement qualities of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure. Results: While the original WHOQOL-BREF measure constitutes a 4-latent trait, the EFA reveals that 24 items constitute six substantial factors. The item loadings are predominantly spread over factors 1 through 4 in a mixed manner of the latent traits, while the loadings of 'physical health' and 'environmental health' latent traits show similarity to what the original measure intended to assess. The latent trait of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure administered to different cancer survivors is likely to reveal more dimensions than the original WHOQOL-BREF measure. Person reliability (i.e., analogous to Cronbach's alpha) and separation are measured with 0.92 and 3.48, respectively. All items except the one item (medical treatment item) fit the Rasch rating model. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the latent trait and the measurement qualities of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure should be taken into consideration when applying versions of it to various populations.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.511-524
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of increased physical activity (PA) regarding health-related quality of life (QOL) and nutrition intake in hemodialysis patients. Methods: The research was quasi-experimental using pre-test and posttest design. The participants were 60 patients, 30 each in the experimental and control group. The program was up to eight weeks long and involved two kinds of aerobic exercises: intradialytic aerobic exercise to be performed thrice a week and walking for up to seven days a week. The 60 patients undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease underwent assessment of International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ), 24-hour diet recall and a 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12; physical component summary score(PCS) and mental component summary score(MCS)) before and after the exercise program. Nutrition intake was assessed using CAN-2.0. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, 𝑥2 test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: In the experimental group, PA post-test scores were also significantly higher than the pre-test scores and the levels of physical component summary score (PCS) in QOL were significantly improved post-test, but the scores on nutrient intake did not improve. The levels of PCS were significant correlations animal protein, manganese, selenium, and Vitamin C. Although there was no group effect, total calorie of nutrition intake was higher than the comparison group. Conclusion: Combined intradialytic exercise and walking was found to be effective on PA, and PCS in QOL. Therefore, the findings of the current study may provide an appropriate guidance for encouraging exercise by hemodialysis patient.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.423-432
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• 2015

Objectives: In Korea, the percentage of elderly is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and is expected to account for 40% of the population by 2060. This massive demographic change stresses the importance of research on aging as it is necessary to improve the quality of life (QoL) of this population. This study aimed to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the rural elderly and to clarify its association with the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR). Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in S-gun, Chonbuk, a critical agricultural area. The elderly people without abnormal physical functioning composed our study population and the data were collected by personal visits to 336 elderly people aged over 65 years (110 males and 226 females). Subjects were interviewed with questionnaires pertaining to general characteristics and EuroQol (EQ-5D). Nutrient intakes were assessed two days by 24-hours recall method. Subjects were defined as high QOL group if EQ-5D index with Nam's model was above the median. Results: Generally, EQ-5D index was lower in women than in man, and lower in older subjects than in younger subjects. The percentages of people below the median were 42% (low QoL group) and 58% (high QoL group) were found to be the above the median. The high QoL group had higher NAR, especially for vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and folate. All dimensions in the EQ-5D were affected by NAR of some nutrients and especially anxiety/depression dimension was significantly correlated with NAR of 5 nutrients (protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin B1) and EQ-5D scores. Conclusions: HRQol was significantly reduced in elderly with increasing age and this was more pronounced in women than in man. The NAR of some nutrients were associated with the EQ-5D index, especially anxiety/depression dimension, among rural elderly.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.190-198
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• 2014

The purpose of study was evaluated associations among risk factors to have influence on HRQOL of community dwelling Elderly People. Total 314 community dwelling elderly persons(age:$75.80{\pm}5.64$[$mean{\pm}SD$]) who had no disease(n=81) and more than two chronic diseases (n=233) were interviewed based on the QOL questionnaires. During two months. The activities of daily living were evaluated using BI and FAI. Neuropsychological status was evaluated using GDS. Health related QOL was evaluated using the SF-36. The results emphasize the importance of preventing and controlling depression, chronic diseases, and low basic activities of daily living in order to reduce their impact on HRQOL among community dwelling elderly people.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2011

Purpose : To assess the relationship between post-stroke shoulder pain, motor function, and pain-related quality of life(QOL) Methods : Volunteer sample of 62 chronic stroke survivors with post-stroke shoulder pain and glenohumeral subluxation. The patients answered the question in shoulder pain with the Brief Pain Inventory question 12 (BP1-12), Pain-related Quality of life(BPI-23). Therapists measured the performance of combined upper-limb movement including the hand-behind-neck(HBN), hand-behind-beck(HBB) maneuver, added passive pain-free shoulder external rotation range of motion, and Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS) score of the elbow flexors. Physical performance assessments were used to measure basic activity daily living(Modified Barthel Index-self care, MBI-S/C), motor function of upper limb(Fugl-Meyer Upper/Lower Extremity, FM-U/E). Results : Stepwise regression analyses indicated that post-stroke shoulder pain is associated with the BPI 23, but not with the FM-U/E, MBI-S/C. Thus, the presence of shoulder pain is more important predicting pain-related QOL than its degree in predicting motor function of upper limb and basic activity daily living. Conclusion : Post-stroke shoulder pain was associated with reduced quality of life related to pain. The pain was not associated with the motor function of upper limb and basic activity daily living. The result imply that management of shoulder pain & anatomical position of shoulder joint after stroke should be emphasized. This provides a further incentive to develop effective rehabilitation prevention and treatment strategies for post-stroke shoulder pain.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.81-85
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• 2016

Globally, the burden of breast cancer (BC) continues to increase. BC related lymphedema (BCRL) is currently non curable and as a life time risk it affects at least 25% of BC patients. Knowing more about BCRL and appropriate control of its modifiable risk factors can improve quality of life (QOL) of the affected patients. In this case control study to detect factors, 400 women with BCRL (as the case group) and 283 patients with BC without lymphedema (as the control group) that were referred to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences affiliated BC clinic center were assessed. The data were analyzed in SPSS. The mean age of the case group was $52.3{\pm}11.0years$ and of the control group was $50.1{\pm}10.9years$. In patients with BCRL, 203(50.7%) had left (Lt) side BC and in non- lymphedema group 151 (53.3%) had Lt side BC. Out of all BCRL patients, 204 (51%) had lymphedema in all parts of their affected upper extremities, 100 (25%) had swelling in the arm and forearm and 23 (5.7%) had edema in both the upper extremity and trunk. Edema, heaviness, concern about changing body image, pain and paresthesia were the most common signs/symptoms among patients with BCRL. In BCRL patients, the difference of circumference between the affected upper limb and non-affected limb was $4.4{\pm}2.5cm$ and the difference in volume displacement was $528.7{\pm}374.4milliliters$. Multiple variable analysis showed that moderate to severe activity (OR; odds ratio =14, 95% CI :2.6-73.3), invasiveness of BC (OR =13.7, 95% CI :7.3-25.6), modified radical mastectomy (OR=4.3, 95% CI :2.3-7.9), BMI =>25 (OR=4.2, 95% CI :2-8.7), radiotherapy (OR=3.9, 95% CI :1.8-8.2), past history of limb damage (OR=1.7, 95% CI :0.9-3.1) and the number of excised lymph nodes (OR=1.06, 95% CI :1.02-1.09) were the significant predictors of lymphedema in women with BC. Modifiable risk factors of BCRL such as non-guided moderate to severe physical activity, high BMI and trauma to the limb should be controlled as early as possible in BC patients to prevent development of BCRL and improve QOL of these patients.