• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2011

Objectives : There has been substantial evidence that patients with chest pain have depression and anxiety, and show impaired quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to campare the QoL according to types of chest pain and to examine the impact of depression and anxiety on QoL in patients with chest pain. Methods : Forty-seven patients with chest pain were divided into Cardiac-Typical Chest Pain (CTCP, n=22) and Non-Cardiac-Atypical Chest Pain groups (NCACP, n=25) according to the pain characteristics and cardiovascular disease. Patients were assessed for depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), for anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and QoL was assessed using the Korean version of the SmithKlein Beecham 'Quality of Life' Scale (KvSBQOL). Results : Compared with the CTCP group, the NCACP group reported significantly higher anxiety, and lower QoL. There was no significant difference in QoL between the two groups after adjusting for anxiety. The QoL was associated with depression and trait-anxiety in the CTCP group, and with trait-anxiety in the NCACP group. Conclusion : The findings suggest that there are different effects of depression and anxiety on QoL in individuals with CTCP and NCACP. Understanding about these differences can be important in the treatment of patients with chest pain. A large prospective study is needed to confirm these results.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.209-219
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was two-fold: to investigate the effects of uncertainty and depression on the quality of life (QoL) of elderly people with chronic diseases and to provide basic data on the physical, emotional, and psychological factors affecting their QoL in the field of physical therapy. Methods : A questionnaire covering uncertainty, depression, and QoL was distributed among 320 elderly people. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to examine the correlation between uncertainty (ambiguity, complexity, inconsistency, and unpredictability), depression, and QoL (physical, psychological, social, and living environment domains) of the respondents; furthermore, multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting the QoL of the respondents with a chronic disease. Results : The sub-factors of uncertainty and QoL-"complexity and social domain" (r=-.295, p<.001), "complexity and living environment domain" (r=-.302, p<.001), and "inconsistency and living environment domain" (r=-.360, p<.001)-showed a negative (-) correlation, as did depression and the sub-factors of QoL-"depression and physical domain" (r=-.782, p<.001), "depression and psychological domain" (r=-.876, p<.001), "depression and social domain" (r=-.668, p<.001), and "depression and living environment domain" (r=-.731, p<.001). The factors affecting QoL were complexity (𝛽=-.122, p<.001), inconsistency (𝛽=-.102, p=.002), unpredictability (𝛽=.112, p<.001), and depression (𝛽=-.850, p<.001). The relative influence of the independent variables was in the order of depression, complexity, unpredictability, and inconsistency, and the explanatory power was 77.1 % (F=215.853, p<.001). Conclusion : It is important to help the elderly with chronic diseases reduce the negative impact on their quality of life by helping them gain support from their families and medical professionals and by increasing their understanding through communication so that they can transition from negative emotions to positive emotions of opportunity.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the Path modeling effect among depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), resilience, and social support on the quality of life (QoL) of natural disaster victims. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 1,979 disaster victims' cases by using the 4th Disaster victims panel survey in Korea. Data were collected from october 2018 to december 2018 and analyzed using regression analysis and path way analysis. Results: Perceived health, depression, social support, PTSD, resilience, and QoL showed significant correlations. PTSD was directly affected by depression and QoL was affected by PTSD. Social support was directly affected by depression and resilience was also directly affected by depression. QoL was affected by social support and resilience. Conclusion: This analysis highlighted that the relation between lower depression and QoL was mediated by greater social support and resilience and lower degree of PTSD. These results suggest that community health interventions and education that incorporate social support and resilience may improve the quality of life of natural disaster victims.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examined the quality of life (QoL) and quality of care (QoC) in inpatient hospice settings in Korea before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from three institutions that participated in two prospective cohort studies. The primary outcomes measured were the QoL of patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers (FCs), as well as the QoC as perceived by the FCs. Results: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, both patients and FCs experienced better QoL than before the pandemic, and FCs reported a higher QoC. Conclusion: Health policymakers should consider our findings when planning for future pandemics.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.138-145
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the audiologic results after cochlear implantation (CI) in older patients and the degree of improvement in their quality of life (QoL). Subjects and Methods: Patients over 65 years old who underwent CI at implant center in Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital were included in this study (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). The control group was patient over 65 years old with normal hearing (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). We administered three questionnaires [World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD (WHOQOL-OLD)], and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to evaluate the QoL, CIrelated effects on activities of daily life, and social activities in all the subjects. Moreover, correlations between speech recognition and the QoL scores were evaluated. The duration of implant use and comorbidities were also examined as potential factors affecting QoL. Results: The patients had remarkable improvements (the mean score of postoperative speech perception 75.7%) in speech perception after CI. The scores for the WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire responses were similar in both the study and control groups, except those for a two subdomains (social relations and social participation). The patients with longer-term CI had higher scores than those with short-term CI use. In general, the changes in GDS scores were not significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The treatment of hearing loss with CI conferred significant improvement in patient's QoL (p<0.01). The evaluation of QoL can provide multidimensional insights into a geriatric patient's progress and, therefore, should be considered by audiologists.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.138-145
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the audiologic results after cochlear implantation (CI) in older patients and the degree of improvement in their quality of life (QoL). Subjects and Methods: Patients over 65 years old who underwent CI at implant center in Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital were included in this study (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). The control group was patient over 65 years old with normal hearing (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). We administered three questionnaires [World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD (WHOQOL-OLD)], and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to evaluate the QoL, CIrelated effects on activities of daily life, and social activities in all the subjects. Moreover, correlations between speech recognition and the QoL scores were evaluated. The duration of implant use and comorbidities were also examined as potential factors affecting QoL. Results: The patients had remarkable improvements (the mean score of postoperative speech perception 75.7%) in speech perception after CI. The scores for the WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire responses were similar in both the study and control groups, except those for a two subdomains (social relations and social participation). The patients with longer-term CI had higher scores than those with short-term CI use. In general, the changes in GDS scores were not significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The treatment of hearing loss with CI conferred significant improvement in patient's QoL (p<0.01). The evaluation of QoL can provide multidimensional insights into a geriatric patient's progress and, therefore, should be considered by audiologists.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2024

Purpose: Visual impairment, hearing impairment, and masticatory discomfort each influence quality of life (QoL). However, little is known regarding the impact of their coexistence on QoL. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the influence of the coexistence of visual impairment, hearing impairment, and masticatory discomfort on QoL among middle-aged adults aged 40-64. Methods: This study involved a secondary data analysis utilizing the data from years 1 and 2 of the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. To evaluate the influence of the coexistence of visual impairment, hearing impairment, and masticatory discomfort on QoL, we conducted a complex sample hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: When visual impairment, hearing impairment, and masticatory discomfort coexisted, the QoL was significantly lower than in individuals without any of these conditions. Conclusion: The coexistence of visual impairment, hearing impairment, and masticatory discomfort was negatively correlated with QoL. Therefore, it is important to prepare for old age through appropriate health management during middle age.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.351-359
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• 2021

Objectives: Despite treatment, the pre-traumatic facial appearance of patients with maxillofacial fractures might not be able to be restored, and this difference can affect the person's quality of life (QoL). This study was designed to evaluate changes in QoL of people with maxillofacial fractures. Materials and Methods: The study population was comprised of participants with maxillofacial fracture and age- and sex-matched healthy controls without history of such fracture. QoL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, which was administered to the patients before treatment (Time 1), at 6 weeks post-treatment (Time 2), and at 12 weeks postoperatively (Time 3). The values were compared with those of healthy controls. The QoL was compared between closed reduction group and open reduction and internal fixation group. Results: The QoL scores of people with maxillofacial fracture before treatment were significantly lower (P=0.001) than those of healthy controls in all domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. The QoL scores in the psychological and social domains of patients with maxillofacial fracture at Time 3 were still lower than those of healthy controls (P=0.001). Conclusion: The QoL of patients with maxillofacial fracture was significantly reduced before treatment in all domains and remained reduced in both psychological and social domains weeks after treatment. Therefore, clinicians must be aware of and manage the residual psychosocial issues that can accompany the post-treatment period of maxillofacial injury.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2014

Objectives This study aimed to identify the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial factors of schizophrenia patients registered in a community mental health center. Methods The ninety patients with schizophrenia, diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition-Text Revision, registered in a community mental health center were studied cross-sectionally. Four trained personnels interviewed each subject individually for the assessment of QoL, psychopathology, severity of depressed mood, insight of illness, attitude toward drugs, social function, degree of social supports and conflicts. Results QoL was significantly related to the psychopathology, depressed mood, social conflict, social support; and other aspects of QoL were slightly differently related to depressed mood, social conflict, social support and attitude toward drug by scales. In multiple regression analysis, depressed mood (20.0%) and social conflict (10.3%) were contributed to QoL assessed by Korean version of 4th revision of Schizophrenia Quality of Life. Social support (21.4%), social conflict (20.9%) and depressed mood (3.1%) were contributed to QoL assessed by Korean modification of the Scale to measure Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic treatment. Conclusions These findings demonstrated that QoL of schizophrenia patients in a community is affected by depressed mood, social support and conflict rather than psychotic symptoms, insight and attitude toward drugs. And this result suggests the necessity of approaching not only to the psychotic symptoms but also to the psychosocial characteristics in caring schizophrenia patients in the community.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2014

Background: The ongoing economic crisis in Greece has affected both stress and quality of life (QoL) at all socioeconomic levels, including professionals in the police force. The aim of this study was to examine perceived stress, job satisfaction, QoL, and their relationships in a sample of police officers in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first trimester of 2011 in 23 police stations in the greater Athens area. A total of 201 police officers agreed to participate (response rate 44.6%). The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to assess general health, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) questionnaires were used to assess QoL and perceived stress, respectively. Results: The PSS and GHQ subscales and total scores exhibited strong, positive, and significant correlations coefficients (r): 0.52 for somatic disturbances, 0.56 for stress and insomnia, 0.40 for social dysfunction, and 0.37 for depression, yielding an r equal to 0.57 for the total GHQ score. A higher level of perceived stress was related to a lower likelihood of being satisfied with their job; in this regard, male participants and higher ranked officers reported lower job satisfaction. The PSS and GHQ scores were inversely, consistently, and significantly related to almost all of the QoL aspects, explaining up to 34% of their variability. Parenthood had a positive effect on QoL related to physical health, and women reported lower QoL related to psychological health. Conclusion: Higher levels of stress are related to an increased risk of reporting suboptimal job satisfaction and QoL. The magnitude of these associations varied depending on age, gender, and rank, highlighting the need for stress-management training.