• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.129-133
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• 2017

Objectives Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling psychiatric disorder, and more attention is recently paid on the quality of life (QoL) in OCD patients. The Euro-QoL-5D (EQ-5D) is a widely used self-report to calculate a single score which represents 'health utilities'. The aim of this study was to assess the health-related QoL for patients with OCD using the EQ-5D and to examine the relationship between health-related QoL and symptom severity. Methods Seventy-three patients with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnosis of OCD were recruited from the outpatient clinic in Seoul National University Hospital. Symptom severity was assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), and QoL was assessed with the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Using Korean valuation study, a single score of QoL was calculated. Results Most of the OCD patients were relatively young (< 45 years) with the mean YBOCS total score of 19.33. The mean EQ-5D score was 0.71 and significantly correlated with symptom severity (r = -0.483, p < 0.001). 25% of the EQ-5D score was predicted by the YBOCS total score (b = -0.011, p < 0.001) by regression analysis. Conclusions OCD patients suffer from lower health-related QoL and QoL significantly decreased as symptom severity increased. The results of the EQ-5D would enable further studies on QoL comparison across medical disease and mental disorders.

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

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5415-5420
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate QoL (quality of life) of patients with esophageal cancer in northern Henan province, China, and to accurate evaluate and reflect the relationship between patient characteristics and QoL. In the high risk area of esophageal cancer in the north of Henan province, 735 patients with esophageal cancer were investigated. The Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ) and QoL were analyzed by using the questionnaire of general situation, EPQ, QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OES18. The effects of personal character on the QoL of esophageal carcinoma patients were analyzed by SPSS 11.0 software. The QoL of esophageal cancer patients in Northern Henan region was significantly affected by character. The difference between choleric and type of melancholic temperament types was significant (P<0.01), also in OESEAT, OESTA, OESCO and OESSP (P<0.05). Differences in personal character can thus influence the quality of esophageal cancer patient lives.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2015

Objectives: Quality of life (QoL) studies provide information about the impact of disease, the treatment of symptoms, and outcomes following treatment. The present study aims to evaluate the postoperative QoL of patients treated for oral cancer in a Nigerian government tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective study on consenting patients with oral cancer was undertaken at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. The subjects completed the University of Washington QoL (UW-QoL) questionnaire one day prior to surgery and postoperatively after 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: Sixty-eight patients with oral cancer were recruited. Of these, 38 were males, and 30 were females (male : female, 1.3 : 1). Twenty-four patients (12 males and 12 females) underwent surgery and completed postoperative QoL assessment using the UW-QoL questionnaire. Preoperative QoL mean score was 2.21, while postoperative mean scores after 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months were 3.67, 3.46, 2.82, and 2.61, respectively. Conclusion: An improvement in QoL following surgical treatment for patients with oral cancer was observed. 'Appearance,' 'recreation,' and 'chewing' were identified as the most important determinants of postoperative QoL in patients with oral cancer in our study.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.296-306
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of peripheral neuropathy symptoms, self-care ability, and disturbances to daily life on quality of life (QoL) among gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: The participants included 144 patients with gynecological cancer undergoing anticancer chemotherapy at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea, from December 1, 2021 to January 28, 2022. Convenience sampling was used to recruit patients who had received 4 or more cycles of chemotherapy using a paclitaxel-platinum regimen, and a self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis were performed. Results: Most of the participants had ovarian cancer (70.1%) or endometrial cancer (14.6%), and the most common number of treatment cycles was 6 to 10 (29.2%). The mean QoL (60.83±19.89) was greater than the midpoint. The regression model analyzing the patients' QoL was statistically significant (F=15.38, p<.001) with an explanatory power of 56.7%. Self-care ability (β=.39, p<.001), disturbances to daily life (β=-.38, p<.001), the duration of peripheral neuropathy symptoms (β=2.14, p=.034), and regular exercise (β=-2.12, p=.036) were found to significantly affect QoL. Conclusion: Efforts to improve the self-care ability of gynecological cancer patients who have experienced peripheral neuropathy after receiving chemotherapy and mitigate disturbances to their daily life can improve their QoL. Healthcare professionals should identify peripheral neuropathy symptoms and examine the effects of the symptoms on patients' daily lives. Improving the self-care ability of patients and alleviating their limitations in daily life may improve QoL.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing quality of life (QoL) of low-income older adults (LOAs) with sarcopenia. Methods: A convenience sample of 125 older adults was recruited from Jeonbuk Province, South Korea. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire that included nutritional status, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module. Additionally, grip strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass, were evaluated, along with the short physical performance battery. Results: Sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia were observed in 43.2% and 56.8% of participants, respectively. Using multiple regression analysis, depression (β = - .40, p < .001), nutritional status (β = .24, p = .003), and anxiety (β = - .15, p = .042) were identified as factors affecting the QoL of the older adults in low-income groups with sarcopenia, the explanatory power of these variables was 44%. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used to develop a nursing intervention program and establish policies to improve depression, anxiety, and nutritional status to enhance QoL of LOAs with sarcopenia.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2018

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationships among the lifetime incidence of trauma, internalizing symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) in out-of-school youths (OSYs). Methods: We recruited 50 OSYs in South Korea. Participants completed the following surveys: completed Lifetime Incidence of Traumatic Events for children, Youth Self Report, and The KIDSCREEN-27 QoL measure for children and adolescents. Mediation analysis was conducted to test the research hypotheses. Results: The mean lifetime incidence of traumatic events among OSYs was 3.27 (standard deviation, 2.41). Internalizing symptoms significantly mediated the lifetime incidence of trauma and QoL. OSYs with fewer internalizing symptoms exhibited a better QoL in the domain of psychological well-being, although their lifetime incidence of trauma was higher. Conclusion: The results of current study suggest that assessment and therapeutic intervention with regard to internalizing symptoms are needed to increase the QoL of OSYs.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

Purpose: To investigate the post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and to analyze the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) of survivors of critical illness. Methods: Subjects were 114 outpatients who had been discharged from intensive care units of a university hospital in B city, Korea. From July 30 through September 30, 2015, PICS was assessed using the Korean Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, Korean Instrumental/Activities of Daily Living (K-I/ADL) index, and handwriting transformation, while physical and mental health-related QoL was measured using the SF-12. Results: Of the subjects, 39.5% were screened for mild cognitive disorder and 23.7% experienced handwriting transformation after discharge. Multiple regression analysis revealed that restraint application, current job, time of ${\geq}36$ months after discharge, depression, anxiety, and handwriting transformation accounted for 40.9% of the physical health-related QoL, and depression, anxiety and experience of delirium accounted for 62.4% of the mental health-related QoL. Conclusions: It is necessary to make efforts to reduce restraint application in intensive care units and prevent the occurrence of delirium, with the objective of reducing PICS and improving the QoL of critical illness survivors.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.470-478
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• 2002

Purpose: In this study, symptom experience and quality of life(QoL) in patients with Bronchial asthma(BA) and Bronchiectasis(BRC) were examined to develop nursing strategies. Method: Data collection was done with 61 outpatients with BA and 43 outpatients with BRC in January and February, 2001. Data analyses were performed using SPSS Win 8.0. Result: The mean scores of symptom experience were 11.3 and 10.8 in patients with BA and BRC, respectively. The mean score of QoL was 18.0 in patients with BA and 19.2 in patients with BRC. There were statistically significant differences in the score of the symptom experience according to sex and occupation in patients with BA, and to the religion and occupation in patients with BRC. The mean score of QoL had significant difference according to the income in patients with BA, but had no significant differences in patients with BRC. The score of QoL had significantly correlated with the degree of symptom experience in patients with BA(p=.000) and with BRC(p=.022). Conclusion: The degree of symptom experience negatively correlated with QoL. Therefore, symptoms experienced by patients should be considered in development of nursing strategies for patients with BA and BRC.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.221-232
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• 2011

Purpose: The study sought to provide basic information for North Korean defectors (Sae-Tu-Min) by studying the quality of life(QoL) based on their general characteristics and health problems. Methods: The targeted subjects were 1400 North Korean settlers who were receiving settlement service by Korean National Red Cross after finishing their training at Hanawon in 2005. The data was collected from August to October in 2007. The QoL was assessed by Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Collected data were analyzed by ANOVA and t-test with SPSS win 15.0 program. Result: The majority of the 466 subjects were female(77.9%). The average age was 36.8 years, 52.8% lived alone, and 64.0% were unemployed. The average QoL score of the group was $62.4{\pm}18.4$, which was markedly lower in terms of social, physical and mental health compared to the scores of immigrants to South Korea from other countries. The score was the highest for physical ability and the lowest for general health. Influential socio-demographic factors to QoL were gender, age, education, religion, annual salary, occupation, and life insurance. Employed in the subject group showed higher level of QoL on eight categories than unemployed. Concerning health problems that detracted from QoL, 18.5% of the subjects were aware they suffered from anemia and 8.8% of them recognized they suffered from attention deficits. Conclusion: The health conditions of the North Korean settlers had improved since they settled in South Korea, but their QoL was lower than other immigrants. Various programs to maintain and promote the health of North Korean settlers would be useful.