• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.233-240
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• 2020

Background: Cross-culturally adapted questionnaires may not be comparable to their original version. Objects: To examine concurrent validity of two health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments for the Korean versions of EuroQOL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument. Methods: A total of 139 cancer survivors from two rehabilitation institutes was recruited. All participants were registered for palliative rehabilitation care. Both instruments were concurrently administered by health care providers following the second bout of the rehabilitation cares. Rasch partial credit model and Spearman's correlation analysis were used to investigate: 1) dimensionality, 2) hierarchical item difficulty, and 3) concurrent validity using correlations between two instruments. Results: For the WHOQOL-BREF, all items except negative feeling, pain, dependence of medical aid, were found to be acceptable, while all items of EQ-5D were acceptable. There was an evidence of negative correlations between EQ-5D and 4 domains of WHOQOL-BREF. Two correlations were strong (EQ-5D vs. physical health domain, ρ = -0.610, 95% CI = -0.716 to -0.475) and moderate (EQ-5D vs. psychosocial domain, ρ = -0.402, 95% CI = -0.546 to -0.236). Other two correlations were weak (EQ-5D vs. social relationship and environmental domains, ρ = -0.242, 95% CI = -0.401 to -0.075 and ρ = -0.364, 95% CI = -0.514 to -0.207, respectively). Item difficulty calibrations of the two measurements were ranged from -0.84 to 0.86 for the EQ-5D and -1.07 to 1.06 for the WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: The study provides some supports for the concurrent validity of the two Korean versions of HRQOL instrument, with evidences of weak to strong correlations between the EQ-5D and four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF applied to various cancer survivors. Additionally, the cancer survivors appeared to have more of a tendency to view the EQ-5D items as being slightly more challenging than the WHOQOL-BREF items.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

Purpose Standardized uptake value(SUV) has been widely used as a quantitative metric of uptake in PET/CT for diagnosis of malignant tumors and evaluation of tumor therapy response. However, the SUV depends on various factor including PET/CT scanner specifications and reconstruction parameter. The purpose of this study is to validate a EQ PET to evaluate SUV across different PET/CT systems. Materials and Methods First, NEMA IEC body phantom data were used to calculate the EQ filter for OSEM3D with PSF and TOF reconstruction from three different PET/CT systems in order to obtain EARL compliant recovery coefficients of each spheres. The Biograph true point 40 PET/CT images were reconstructed with a OSEM3D+PSF reconstruction, images of the Biograph mCT 40 and Biograph mCT 64 PET/CT scanners were reconstructed with a OSEM3D+PSF, OSEM3D+TOF, OSEM3D+PSF+TOF. Post reconstructions, the proprietary EQ filter was applied to the reconstruction data. Recovery coefficient can be estimated by ratio of measured to true activity concentration for spheres of different volume and coefficient variability(CV) value of RC for each sphere was compared. For clinical study, we compared SUVmax applying different reconstruction algorithms in FDG PET images of 61 patients with lung cancer using Biograph mCT 40 PET/CT scanner. Results For the phantom studied, the mean values of CV for OSEM3D, OSEM3D+PSF, OSEM3D+TOF and OSEM3D+PSF+TOF reconstructions were 0.05, 0.04, 0.04 and 0.03 respectively for RC. Application of the proprietary EQ filter, the mean values of CV for OSEM3D, OSEM3D+PSF, OSEM3D+TOF and OSEM3D+PSF+TOF reconstructions were 0.04, 0.03, 0.03 and 0.02 respectively for RC. Clinical study, there were no statistical significance of the difference applying EQ PET on SUVmax of 61 patients FDG PET image. (p=1.000) Conclusion This study indicates that CV values of RC in phantom were decreased after applying EQ PET for different PET/CT system and The EQ PET reduced reconstruction dependent variation in SUVs for 61 lung cancer patients, Therefore, EQ PET will be expected to provide accurate quantification when the patient is scanned on different PET/CT system.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.309-315
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the health-related quality of life(EQ-5D) on oral health problems in an effort to provide some information on health promotion programs geared toward the elderly and on the right direction of related policy setting. Raw data from the 7^th National Nutrition Survey were used, and systematic sampling was conducted on elderly subjects over 65 years. EQ-5D and chewing problems increased in the group without exercise ability, in the group with pain discomfort, and in the group with anxiety depression (p<0.05). EQ-5D and speaking problems increased in terms of odds ratio(OR) in the group without exercise ability, in the group with pain discomfort, and more in terms of articulating difficulties in the anxiety depression group (p<0.05). The results of this study show a direct correlation between health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) and the oral health of the elderly. As it's mandatory to promote the oral health of elderly people to improve their EQ-5D To promote rural societies should provide oral health education and institutions for continuous oral health care.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.479-489
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• 2014

Objectives: This study intended to determine significant factors that influence the health-related quality of life ("HRQoL"; EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life (EQ_5D) & EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ_VAS)) of the elderly in Korea. Methods: This study was based on 3,903 subjects aged 65 years or more who participated in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), 2010~2012. The HRQoL was analyzed by various factors (general characteristics, health habits, mental health, chronic diseases, nutrient intakes). SPSS statistics for complex samples (Windows ver. 21.0) was used. Results: The HRQoL was higher in the males, those with higher educational level or higher income level while it was lower in those belong to single households. In particular, the EQ_5D was significantly higher in the group who reported walking practice, moderate physical activity (male), and the group who reported no vigorous physical activity (female). The EQ_VAS was significantly higher in the group who reported walking practice. Both EQ_5D and EQ_VAS were significantly lower in the group with stress, melancholy, suicidal thinking, and osteoarthritis. EQ_5D was significantly lower in the group with < 75% Estimated Energy Requirements (EER) in energy intake, and with < Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) in iron or niacin intake. A stepwise regression analysis revealed that i) higher educational level (male), and good self-rated health status significantly increased the EQ_5D, ii) age, alcohol intake (male), melancholy (female), suicidal thinking, osteoarthritis, and niacin intake deficiency (male) significantly decreased the EQ_5D, iii) higher income level (male) and good self-rated health status significantly increased the EQ_VAS, and iv) age (male), stress, suicidal thinking (female) and osteoarthritis significantly decreased the EQ_VAS. Conclusions: This study suggested that general characteristics, mental health, osteoarthritis, and niacin intake were associated with the HRQoL. Prospective research of long-term control is needed to establish the causal relationship between factors and the HRQoL.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 2013

Environmental quality(EQ) is one of the most important components of the assessment of "Quality of Life(QOL)". Most EQ related research dealt with overall built environmental quality issues as represented by several clusters of factors related to occupants' satisfaction. This paper aims to identify and understand the theoretical background and the occupants' comparative standards of response to conditions of the built environment related to environmental quality(EQ). Therefore, this paper have reviewed the theoretical framework and empirical research for environmental quality in built environment. the concept of environmental quality if elaborated from diverse perspectives. Different ways of interpreting environmental quality have led to a variety of ways to conduct evaluations. A review of the theories and methods used for the analysis of perceived environmental quality provides a strong foundation for new research frameworks and environmental quality in built environment.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.405-417
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• 2004

This study is on the use of mathematics program for School Mathematics Education. According to the ‘technology principle’ by NCTM and teaching-learning methods by the 7th curriculum, we developed mathematics learning activities with mathematics program. This activity is to construct designs with graphs by using mathematics program(GrafEq.). In this study, we practiced these learning activities with pre-service mathematics teachers. The mathematics educational effects of these learning activities in this study are analyzed as follows; active & spontaneous search for mathematical knowledge, the experience of problem solving, affirmative view-point of mathematics, understanding of practical use of mathematics, acquisition an interest & motivation of learning mathematics etc. When students learn graphs of function, the concept of inequality in secondary school mathematics class., mathematics teachers can make a good use of constructing designs by mathematics program(GrafEq.). This will help to practice of teaching-learning methods by the 7th curriculum.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5356-5363
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to validate the Korean Version of the Empathy Quotient-Short form(EQ-Short-K) in a sample of Korean nursing students. A total 528 students(494 female, 34 male) were studied by 2 groups. To provide a validity of the Empathy Quotient-Short form in Korean sample, exploratory factor analysis, reliability test and Pearson correlation coefficient were conducted. In study 1 (N=298), the finding of factor analysis confirmed that 11 of the 22 EQ-Short items were presented as a single-factor structure. The reliability estimate of the EQ-Short-K was high(.88). In terms of criterion validity, the EQ-short-K correlated positively with Interpersonal Reactivity Index(IRI)(r=.279, p<.000). In study 2 (N=230), the finding identified that the EQ-Short-K correlated positively with Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire(ICQ)(r=.351, p<.000). It suggested that the EQ-Short-K had satisfactory internal consistency and validity, thereby the EQ-Short-K can be used as a meaningful measure for empathy among Korean nursing domain.

• 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.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2010

Soil respiration ($R_S$) is a critical component of the annual carbon balance of forests, but few studies thus far have attempted to evaluate empirical regression models in $R_S$. The principal objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between $R_S$ rates and soil temperature (ST) and soil water content (SWC) in soil from a cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest, and to evaluate empirical regression models for the prediction of $R_S$ using ST and SWC. We have been measuring $R_S$, using an open-flow gas-exchange system with an infrared gas analyzer during the snowfree season from 1999 to 2001 at the Takayama Forest, Japan. To evaluate the empirical regression models used for the prediction of $R_S$, we compared a simple exponential regression (flux = $ae^{bt}$Eq. [1]) and two polynomial multiple-regression models (flux = $ae^{bt}{\times}({\theta}{\nu}-c){\times}(d-{\theta}{\nu})^f:$ Eq. [2] and flux = $ae^{bt}{\times}(1-(1-({\theta}{\nu}/c))^2)$: Eq. [3]) that included two variables (ST: t and SWC: ${\theta}{\nu}$) and that utilized hourly data for $R_S$. In general, daily mean $R_S$ rates were positively well-correlated with ST, but no significant correlations were observed with any significant frequency between the ST and $R_S$ rates on periods of a day based on the hourly $R_S$ data. Eq. (2) has many more site-specific parameters than Eq. (3) and resulted in some significant underestimation. The empirical regression, Eq. (3) was best explained by temporal variations, as it provided a more unbiased fit to the data compared to Eq. (2). The Eq. (3) (ST $\times$ SWC function) also increased the predictive ability as compared to Eq. (1) (only ST exponential function), increasing the $R^2$ from 0.71 to 0.78.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was conducted to elicit quality weights for 42 EQ-5D health states with the time trade-off (TTO) method from the general population of South Korea. Methods : We selected the same EQ-5D health states as those in the UK MVH study. The Korean version of EQ-5D questionnaire and TTO method were used for the valuation process. We interviewed 500 people as a representative sample of the general population in Seoul and Gyeonggido. The result was compared with those from UK, Japan, and USA by Spearman's rank correlation and t-test. Results : TTO values for 42 EQ-5D health states and 'unconscious' state were obtained from the general South Korean population. The best one was '11112' state and the worst one was 'unconscious' state. The states worse than death were '33323', '33333', and 'unconscious' states, which had negative TTO values. There was a strong correlation between TTO values of the EQ-5D health states and those of their corresponding states from UK, Japan, and USA (Spearman's correlation coefficient: 0.885, 0.882, and 0.944, respectively, p <0.001). However, absolute TTO values of most EQ-5D health states were significantly different from those of their corresponding states in other foreign studies (UK : 41/42, USA : 32/42, Japan : 15/17). Conclusions : We found that the Korean general population TTO values for EQ-5D health states were different from those of other foreign studies, suggesting that a specific Korean valuation set should be developed and used for economic evaluation studies in South Korea.