• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2005

Objectives:Donepezil is a widely used drug for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD). The aim of the present study was to clarify the efficacy and the characteristics of responders to donepezil. Methods:Patients with probable AD(n=80;75.7 years) and small vessel dementia(SVD)(n=18;77.8 years) who received donepezil were retrospectively analyzed using Alzheimer's registry, and three questions were asked:1) Does donepezil therapy improves cognitive symptoms in patients with dementia? 2) If donepezil improves cognitive symptoms, which items of the K-MMSE are improved? 3) What are the characteristics of responder to donepezil medication? Results:1) After donepezil medication, cognitive function measured by the K-MMSE was significantly improved in both types of dementia(AD and SVD), However, statistical differences were not found between these groups. 2) In a clinical trial of donepezil, the patients performed better than before mediation on K-MMSE items assessing orientation, recall, construction, concentration, calculation. 3) In AD, the K-MMSE score before medication was closely related with response of donepezil. Conclusion:This study suggests that donepezil improves various cognitive functions in both types of dementia, and the responsive group had significantly lower K-MMSE scores than the non-responsive group before medication.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of TENS by physiotherapist versus home based TENS intervention to reduce pain and improve disability in patients with mechanical neck disorder. Methods: The subjects of the study were 30 selected patients who had been diagnosed with subacute or chronic neck disorders without neurological damage, during the period of four weeks, three times a week, and thirty minutes for one session, 15 patients received TENS by physiotherapist. 15 patients received home based TENS intervention. The primary outcome was pain intensity measured in using the Visual Analog Scale(VAS). The second outcome was Neck Disability Index to patient's disability. Results: The change in the pain perception degree were statistically significant in both group(p<0.05). TENS by physiotherapist group showed significantly improvement in disability, but, Home based TENS intervention group is not. TENS by physiotherapist group showed significantly greater improvement in pain intensity and patient's disability than the home based TENS intervention group. Conclusion: This study shows that received TENS by physiotherapist was effective in reducing pain, improving disability for mechanical neck disorder patient, physiotherapist' knowledge need to improve patient's pain and disability.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2011

Purpose: Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) is an effective method for controlling post surgical pain. However, it is associated with adverse drug reactions such as nausea and vomiting. In this, study we tested the effects of Nei-Guan (P6) acupressure on PCEA-associated nausea, vomiting, and pain in geriatric patients after total knee replacement arthroplasty (TKRA). Methods: Ninety-nine patients who had TKRA for the first time were randomly assigned to either, experiment group (n=50) or control groups (n=49). All patients received PCEA immediately after surgery, but acupressure on Nei-Guan (P6) point was applied to experiment group only. Ten minutes of finger acupressure on Nei-Guan (P6) acupressure point was applied twice with 15 minute-interval in the experiment group. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, and retching as well as pain intensity were assessed at 12 and 24 hours after surgery. Nausea, and vomiting were assessed by Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR) questionnaire. Pain intensity was measured with frequency of analgesics. Results: Vomiting both was significantly different between two groups at 12 hours (t=-2.18, p=0.03) and 24 hours (t=-2.64, p=0.01) after surgery. Total scores of nausea, vomiting and retching in experimental group was significantly lower than control group 24hours after surgery (t=-2.18, p=0.03). However, pain was not different between two groups. Conclusion: Nei-Guan (P6) acupressure may be considered as an effective nursing intervention to decrease PCEA-associated nausea and vomiting in older patients after TKRA.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.185-196
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was undertaken by the department of Korean neuropsychiatry, to evaluate the effects of M&L psychotherapy and Korean Medical Treatments on hospitalized North Korean defectors.Methods: We treated two patients with indigenous Korean medical therapies (acupuncture and herb-medicine) and M&L psychotherapy. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini-mental state examination Korean Version (MMSE-K), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the patients.Results: Following observations were made after treatments. Case 1: the patient had significant improvement in Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Case 2: similar improvements were observed. Here, the patient had undergone Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini-mental state examination Korean Version (MMSE-K), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In addition, noticeable improvement was observed in other accompanying symptoms.Conclusions: These results suggest that M&L Psychotherapy and Korean medical treatments might be effective for treating the psychiatric and physical symptoms of hospitalized North Korean Defectors.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

Clinical measures that Quantify falling risk factors are needed for the accurate evaluation of patients and to plan an intervention strategy. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest and interrater reliability of the dynamic gait index (DGI) for persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 22 idiopathic PD patients were recruited from rehabilitation hospital, Korea in this study. The DGI was assessed in two sessions that were, three days apart. We also measured Berg balance test (BBT) and geriatric depression scale (GDS) for concurrent validity with DGI. Intrarater and interrater reliability (.96 and .98 respectively) for DGI were high. indicating good agreement. The DGI was showed a good positive correlation with the BBS (r=.852). but not GDS (r=-.462). Intrarater and interrater reliability of DGI were high in people with PD. The DGI could be a reliable measure to evaluate functional postural control during gait activities in the PD population, and the ability of DGI to detect real change is acceptable in research and clinical settings.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.99-104
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• 2008

As a part of improving early response system for senior emergency patients in rural areas in preparation for accelerated transition of Korea into aged society, this study seeks to make effective use of town broadcasting equipments and improve conventional educational ways for the first aid for senior people to boost up availability of private rescue personnel, so that it can contribute to improving capacity to early response to potential occurrence of emergency situations. In addition, this study focuses on profiling current activities of 119 geriatric Emergency Medical Services available in Korea, and also exploring possible ways to improve emergency services for senior safety which can play useful roles of social safeguard in imminent aged society as well as efficient ways to build up infrastructure for senior safety on the basis of opening up senior safety center.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2011

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Modified Barthel Index(MBI), Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE) and Fugl-Meyer motor function Assessment(FMA) in persons with strokes. Methods: We recruited 77 stroke patients from the Seoul Bukbu Geriatric Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Balance was measured by BBS. Activity of Daily Living was assessed using MBI. Cognitive function was examined using MMSE. Motor Recovery was measured using FMA. Data was analyzed using Pearson' correlation. Resurts: There were a statistically significant correlation between BBS and MBI, BBS and MMES, BBS and FMA upper extremity, BBS and FMA lower extremity. There were a statistically significant correlation between MBI and MMSE, MBI and FMA upper extremity, MBI and FMA lower extremity. There were a statistically significant correlated between FMA upper extremity and FMA lower extremity. Conclusions: This study will help rehabilitation program for stroke patients and will be the reference data for selection of therapy and evaluation method.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2014

This study has been implemented to explore the method to improve job satisfaction and service quality of its staff by figuring out the effect of job satisfaction of geriatric hospital staff on service quality. For this reason, we conducted a questionnaire survey on April 2 to May 22, 2013 to target 300 people ten geriatric hospital workers in Busan Metropolitan City area, was utilized to study the final total of 276 parts. Firstly, It was found that work satisfaction, wage satisfaction and colleague satisfaction have an effect on job satisfaction, and Secondly, satisfaction and fellow satisfaction of business, were analyzed to affect, but had no effect conservative satisfaction Thirdly, for the effect of job satisfaction on the service quality, it was found that job satisfaction has an effect on service quality. Therefore, it can be concluded that service quality for patients can be improved only if job satisfaction of staff is improved, and by reducing stress caused by overwork of staff and boosting their morale through reasonable wage and compensation.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2012

This study aims to examine the outdoor environment of a geriatric hospital and explore its stress-relief impact upon those who utilize it. Post Occupancy Evaluation is employed to assess the effectiveness of a healthcare setting. This study is based on survey questionnaire including the users' perception of outdoor environment, their perceived restorativeness, and quality of life. A total of one hundred and sixty individuals including patients, families and visitors, and healthcare staffs. As a result, it turns out that the therapeutic outdoor environment and its users' health outcomes, such as reststroativeness and quality of life are significantly correlated. In conclusion, the finding of this research seems to demonstrate the potential that the therapeutic outdoor environment has for the improvement of its users' health by enhancing.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.287-295
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• 2018

Eating-swallowing disorder (dysphagia) is a very important functional problem for the elderly, and it has a significant impact on the quality of their life. Because the eating and swallowing processes are affected by oral tissues including teeth, tongue, and oral muscles, it is natural that the dentist as a specialist in oro-facial region, intervenes in the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. Nevertheless, Korean dentists still lack interest and understanding of dysphagia. In aged society, it is necessary that the dentists understand the functional disorders as well as oral diseases. The purpose of this study is to introduce the evaluation and treatment methods of eating and swallowing functional disorders in order to cope with eating-swallowing disordered patients who are frequently encountered in aged society.