• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.14 no.3 s.62
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• pp.514-527
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• 2006

It can be said that the ultimate goal of advertising is creating consumers' buying intention and buying behavior toward advertised goods. But literature suggests that ads have both intended and unintended consequences, and one of the unintended consequences is that the idealized images of physical attractiveness found in advertising have negative impact on girls' and womens' self-perceptions. Thus, this study, using social comparison theory as a framework, was designed to investigate the influences of the images of models in ads portrayed in TV and fashion magazines on the purchasing intention, self-esteem and body satisfaction of college women. Using an experimental stimulus, a moving picture representing thin and attractive models in the context of advertising fashion goods, two conditions were manipulated and the subjects were placed into one of two groups randomly, the experiment group and the control group. The experiment group only was exposed to the ads portraying highly attractive models. Data were collected from two groups using same questionnaire. The data were analyzed using t-test, two-way ANOVA, and descriptive statistics. The findings were as follows: 1. The thin and attractive image of models in ads on buying intention had significant positive influence on buying intention(p<.05). 2. The thin and attractive image of models in ads had significant negative influences on self-esteem(p<.05). 3. The thin and attractive image of models in ads had significant negative influence on body satisfaction(p<.05). 4. The ideal body internalization had significant negative influences on body satisfaction(p<.05), but interaction effect of model's image and ideal body internalization on body satisfaction was not significant.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of education of hospice for nurses on concern and coping about death and dying. Methods: The subjects of this study were 33 Korean nurses who participated in the education of hospice which consisted of lectures and practices for 5 months. Data were collected using questionnaire of concern and coping about Death and Dying. Data were analyzed with the mean, SDs and Wilcoxen test. Results: The mean score of concern about death and dying was 7.03. The highest items of concern about death and dying were 'thoughts of physical pain and being, 'thoughts of suffocating and choking, 'fear of darkness', The lowest items of concern about death and dying were. 'thoughts of burglars invading my possessions', 'rejection by God', thoughts of no one attending funeral', 'thoughts of no one paying respect or tribute', The mean score of coping about death and dying was 11.37. The highest items of coping about death and dying were 'call family member(s) into room and ask them ti sit close by, reminisce on happy events of the past, tell myself that there is nothing to be afraid of, look at family picture albums'. The lowest items of coping about death and dying were 'stay up stay up late till ready to fall asleep', 'look at family heirlooms', 'phone a prayer line', 'ask for a snack or something to drink'. In concern and coping about death and dying, significant differences were not found between pre and post test. But there was a tendency to decrease concern and increase coping about death and dying after education of hospice. Conclusion: According to these results, it is needed for nurses not only to do research for concern and coping about death and dying but also to develop an education program.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to conduct a summative evaluation of the usability of a general-purpose ventilator to determine whether it can be used for its intended purpose in the intended environment by the intended user and to find possible errors in use. The importance of ventilators has increased due to the accelerated aging of the population and the impact of the pandemic. In addition, patients who require ventilators are often in critical condition, so even a small error in use can be fatal. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the ventilator has sufficient stability and can be used satisfactorily without inconvenience to the user. In this study, we conducted a usability test with 17 respiratory nurses with more than 3 years of experience using the ventilator. We analyzed the task success rate, satisfaction, and opinions of the intended users while going through a total of 17 scenarios. Satisfaction was captured through an ASQ questionnaire and subjective opinions were captured through a detailed opinion questionnaire. The results showed a high level of satisfaction with an average score of 6.3 for the use scenarios. Evaluators expressed satisfaction with the overall visibility and versatility of the features, but noted that improvements were needed for calibration tasks with low task success rates. As the calibration method is different from other equipment, it was suggested that specific explanations of the calibration method and the picture that appears when calibrating are needed, and that if relevant training is provided, the equipment can be used without problems. If the usability evaluation is not limited to securing efficiency and satisfaction from the intended users, but also continuously receives feedback from users to prepare for use in emergency environments such as pandemic situations, it will be very helpful to seize opportunities such as emergency authorization in future situations, and ultimately contribute to patient safety by reducing use errors.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to find the current problems of positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) data on CD for inter-hospital transfer. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 746 consecutive $^{18}F$-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT data CDs from 56 hospitals referred to our department for image interpretation. The formats and contents of PET/CT data CDs were reviewed and the email questionnaire survey about this was performed. Results: PET/CT data CDs from 21 of 56 hospitals(37.5%) included all transaxial CT and PET images with DICOM standard format which were required for authentic interpretation. PET/CT data from the others included only secondary capture images or fusion PET/CT images. According to this survey, the main reason of limited PET/CT data on CD for inter-hospital transfer was that the data volume of PET/CT was too large to upload to the Picture Archiving and Communication System. Conclusion: The majority of hospitals provided limited PET/CT data on CD for inter-hospital transfer, which could be inadequate for accurate interpretation and clinical decision making. It is necessary to standardize the format of PET/CT data on CD for inter-hospital transfer including all transaxial CT and PET images with DICOM standard format.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to identify different cerebral areas of the human brain associated with rural and urban picture stimulation using a 3.0 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and further to investigate the human suitability for rural and urban environments. A total of 27 right-handed participants (mean age: $27.3{\pm}3.7$) underwent fMRI study on a 3.0T MR scanner. The brain activation patterns were induced by visual stimulation with each rural and urban sceneries. The participants were divided into two groups as 26 subjects favorable to rural scenery and 14 subjects unfavorable to urban scenery based on their filled-in questionnaire. The differences of the brain activation in response to two extreme types of pictures by the two sample t-test were characterized as follows: the activation areas observed in rural scenery over urban were the insula, middle frontal gyrus, precuneus, caudate nucleus, superior parietal gyrus, superior occipital gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and globus pallidus. In urban scenery over rural, the inferior frontal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, amygdala, and posterior cingulate gyrus were activated. The fMRI patterns also clearly show that rural scenery elevated positive emotion such as happiness and comfort. On the contrary, urban scenery elevated negative emotion, resulting in activation of the amygdala which is the key region for the feelings of fear, anxiety and unpleasantness. This study evaluated differential cerebral areas of the human brain associated with rural and urban picture stimulation using a 3.0 Tesla fMRI. These findings will be useful as an objective evaluation guide to human suitability for ecological environments that are related to brain activation with joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.215-229
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• 2007

Objectives : Placebo phenomena have been considered as a confounding factor of clinical trial. Expectancy and belief of acupuncture have not been evaluated quantitatively. The present study was performed to analyze the emotional and cognitive factor .of acupuncture and investigate whether the expectancy of acupuncture treatment is associated with the cognition of acupuncture. Methods : The expectancy and the perception of bodily sensation (PBS) of 22 participants were assessed using self-reported questionnaire. The subjects used the self assessment manikin (SAM) to rate each of the standard affective image of the international affective picture system (lAPS) and other acupuncture-related image. Based on the degree of expectancy, the high expectant (HE) and the low expectant (LE) group were classified. The thermal and pressure pain threshold was objectively evaluated using radiant-heat device and algometer. The degree of expected pain of acupuncture and the actual pain of painful stimulation was subjectively evaluated using facial pain scales (FPS). Results : Using SAlVI analysis, we identified the negative correlation between hedonic valence and arousal dimension on acupuncture-related visual cue. The degree of the PBS and general pain threshold did not show any significant difference between the HE and the LE group. The HE group rated the acupuncture images as more pleasant, more arousing, than the LE group. In addition, we also found that the higher expectancy marked the lower FPS of the expected pain of acupuncture, but not of the actual pain of painful stimulation. Conclusions : Our preliminary study identified the psychological dimensions of acupuncture-related visual cue. These findings indicate that the expectancy of acupuncture could affect the cognition of acupuncture.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.435-440
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Malaysia. A diagnosis is very stressful for women, affecting all aspects of their being and quality of life. As such, there is little information on quality of life of women with breast cancer across the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of life in Malay and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study involved 58 Malays and 15 Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer prior to treatment. Quality of life was measured using the Malay version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast-specific module (QLQ-BR23). Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Most of the women were married with at least a secondary education and were in late stages of breast cancer. The Malay women had lower incomes (p=0.046) and more children (p=0.001) when compared to the Chinese women. Generally, both the Malay and Chinese women had good functioning quality-of-life scores [mean score range: 60.3-84.8 (Malays); 65.0-91.1 (Chinese)] and global quality of life [mean score 60.3, SD 22.2 (Malays); mean score 65.0, SD 26.6 (Chinese)]. The Malay women experienced more symptoms such as nausea and vomiting (p=0.002), dyspnoea (p=0.004), constipation (p<0.001) and breast-specific symptoms (p=0.041) when compared to the Chinese. Conclusions: Quality of life was satisfactory in both Malays and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. However, Malay women had a lower quality of life due to high general as well as breast-specific symptoms. This study finding underlined the importance of measuring quality of life in the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, as it will provide a broader picture on how a cancer diagnosis impacts multi-ethnic patients. Once health care professionals understand this, they might then be able to determine how to best support and improve the quality of life of these women during the difficult times of their disease and on-going cancer treatments.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.85-108
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• 2009

The purposes of the study were to develop instructional materials based on Freudenthal's guided reinvention principle for teaching proofs and to investigate how the teaching method based on guided reinvention principle affects on 8th grade students' ability to write proofs and learning attitude toward proofs. Teaching based on guided reinvention principle placed emphasis on providing students opportunities to make a mathematical statement and prove the statement by themselves throughout various activities such as exploring, conjecturing, and testing the conjectures. The study found that students who studied proving with instructional materials developed by guided reinvention principle showed statistically higher mean scores on the posttest than students who studied by a traditional teaching method depending onteacher's explanation. Especially, on the posttest item which requested to prove a whole statement without presenting a picture corresponding to the statement, a big difference among students' responses was found. Many more students in the traditional group did not provide any response on the item. According to the results of the questionnaire regarding students' learning attitudes, the group who studied proving by guided reinvention principle indicated relatively more positive attitudes toward learning proofs than the counterparts.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2021

Objectives: Social function deficit is known as a core feature of schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate differences in empathic tendencies and theory of mind (ToM) skills between healthy controls and young individuals with schizophrenia, and to examine the associations between empathic tendencies, ToM skills and schizotypy, and executive function in schizophrenia. Methods: Thirty patients with schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls were enrolled and assessed using the interpersonal relationship index (IRI; perspective taking, fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress subscales), ToM-Picture Story Task (ToM-PST; sequence and cognitive questionnaire), Wisconsin schizotypy scale (revised physical anhedonia and perceptual aberration), and Stroop tests for empathic tendencies, ToM skills, schizotypy, and executive function. Results: In individuals with schizophrenia, the IRI for perspective taking and ToM-PST score for cognitive function were lower, and the IRI for personal distress was higher than those in healthy controls. The IRIs for perspective taking and fantasy were related to revised physical anhedonia, and that for empathic concern was associated with revised physical anhedonia and perceptual aberration. The ToM-PST score for sequence was associated with the Stroop test score for schizophrenia. Conclusion: These findings indicate deficits in empathic tendencies and ToM skills, which may be independently and primarily associated with schizotypy and executive function in young individuals with schizophrenia.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.251-257
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• 2024

Background Plastic surgery has developed to benefit in a variety of challenging areas formerly handled by other disciplines. Medical students do not have a clear picture of plastic surgery as a career due to lacking scope, clinical practice, and understanding of plastic surgery as a clinical area of expertise, including general practitioners, nursing staff, medical trainees, and the general public, and misconceptions about the extent of reconstructive and plastic surgery. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on Kuwait University Medical students (2nd-7th Years) over a period of 1 month. A questionnaire and a consent form were provided to eligible students. The inclusion criteria were Kuwait University Medical students from 2nd to 7th Years with signed consent form. The response was collected via email sent in coordination with the Vice Dean of Student Affairs in the Faculty of Medicine. Using statistical package for the social sciences, responses were statistically analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test was used to calculate p-values, where p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 244 eligible medical students, 121 males and 123 females, were included in the study, with a mean age of 21 (±2) years. Similarly, 126 (51.6%) were preclinical students (2nd-4th-year students), while 118 (48.4%) were clinical students (5th-7th-year students). About 79.8% of medical students believed that plastic surgery plays an essential role in trauma management, whereas 9.2% did not consider plastic surgery significant for trauma management. This study found that only 15.5% of medical students were interested in enrolling in plastic surgery residency after graduation, while 47.1% of students did not consider plastic surgery residency after graduation. However, 37.4% were uncertain. The two most driving factors in deciding on plastic surgery residency were expected income (61.8%) and lifestyle (14.3%). Conclusion Improving medical students' education quality can enhance their perception and awareness of plastic surgery. Students should be taught the broader scope of plastic surgery. The inclusion of formal training during undergraduation is the essence of time and should be added to or improved during plastic surgery rotations with more emphasis on reconstructive and hand/peripheral nerve surgery. Student-led interest groups can be a useful tool for educating students about their specialty.