• Journal of Computing Science and Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.180-199
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• 2008

Technology has had a tremendous impact on our daily lives. Recently, technology and its impact on aging has become an expanding field of inquiry. A major reason for this interest is that the use of technology can help older people who experience deteriorating health to live independently. In this paper we give a brief review of the in-home monitoring technologies for the elderly. In the pilot study, we analyze the possibility of employing the data generated by a continuous, unobtrusive nursing home monitoring system for predicting elevated(abnormal)pulse pressure(PP) in elderly(PP=systolic blood pressure-diastolic blood pressure). Our sensor data capture external information(behavioral) about the resident that is subsequently reflected in the predicted PP. By continuously predicting the possibility of elevated pulse pressure we may alert the nursing staff when some predefined threshold is exceeded. This approach may provide additional blood pressure monitoring for the elderly persons susceptible to blood pressure variations during the time between two nursing visits. We conducted a retrospective pilot study on two residents of the TigerPlace aging in place facility with age over 70, that had blood pressure measured between 100 and 300 times during a period of two years. The pilot study suggested that abnormal pulse pressure can be reasonably well estimated (an area under ROC curve of about 0.75) using apartment bed and motion sensors.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.785-794
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Self-monitoring of blood pressure (SMBP) is a reliable method used to assess BP accurately. However, patients do not often know how to respond to the measured BP value. We developed a mobile application-based feed-back algorithm (SMBP-App) for tailored recommendations. In this study, we aim to evaluate whether SMBP-App is superior to SMBP alone in terms of BP reduction and drug adherence improvement in patients with hypertension. Methods: Self-Monitoring of blood pressure and Feed-back using APP in Treatment of UnconTrolled Hypertension (SMART-BP) is a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter trial to evaluate the efficacy of SMBP-App compared with SMBP alone. Patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension will be randomly assigned to the SMBP-App (90 patients) and SMBP alone (90 patients) groups. In the SMBP group, the patients will perform home BP measurement and receive the standard care, whereas in the SMBP-App group, the patients will receive additional recommendations from the application in response to the obtained BP value. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at 12 and 24 weeks after randomization. The primary endpoint of the study is the mean home systolic BP. The secondary endpoints include the drug adherence, the home diastolic BP, home and office BP. Conclusions: SMART-BP is a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter trial to evaluate the efficacy of SMBP-App. If we can confirm its efficacy, SMBP-App may be scaled-up to improve the treatment of hypertension.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.93-104
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• 2024

Backgrounds and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the applicability and precision of a ring-type cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement device, CART-I Plus, compared to conventional 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Methods: Forty patients were recruited, and 33 participants were included in the final analysis. Each participant wore both CART-I Plus and ABPM devices on the same arm for approximately 24 hours. BP estimation from CART-I Plus, derived from photoplethysmography (PPG) signals, were compared with the corresponding ABPM measurements. Results: The CART-I Plus recorded systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values of 131.4±14.1/81.1±12.0, 132.7±13.9/81.9±11.9, and 128.7±14.6/79.3±12.2 mmHg for 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime periods respectively, compared to ABPM values of 129.7±11.7/84.4±11.2, 131.9±11.6/86.3±11.1, and 124.5±13.6/80.0±12.2 mmHg. Mean differences in SBP/DBP between the two devices were 1.74±6.69/-3.24±6.51 mmHg, 0.75±7.44/-4.41±7.42 mmHg, and 4.15±6.15/-0.67±5.23 mmHg for 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime periods respectively. Strong correlations were also observed between the devices, with r=0.725 and r=0.750 for transitions in SBP and DBP from daytime to nighttime, respectively (both p<0.001). Conclusions: The CART-I Plus device, with its unique ring-type design, shows promising accuracy in BP estimation and offers a potential avenue for continuous BP monitoring in clinical practice.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2008

To test if the developed ubiquitous health care devices working well and vital information could be collected and monitored systematically through internet and to test if the devices and services could be used further. Kyungwon University, KT Co., Gil Medical Center, LIG Nex1 Co., and Sujeong Health Center conducted an ubiquitous health care demonstration project in Sujeong-Gu, Sungnam, Korea from Mar. 5 to May 16. We developed and applied several medical devices to monitor health of the elderly in their houses through internet. The devices were sphygmomanometer, glucometer, body fat scale, Health Pad, and activity sensor. We distributed the devices to 20 recipients of home care and 7 diabetes patients. After received the devices and were explained how to use them, they used the devices in their houses. The vital signs of the residents were monitored through internet. A nurse monitored and consulted their vital signs in the monitoring center in Kyungwon University during the demonstration period. The consultant called them and consulted on their blood pressure, blood sugar level, and body fat after a few seconds they used the devices as well as provision of recommended contents such as diets and activities through Health Pad. To investigate cognition and satisfaction of the participants for the devices, we surveyed the participants at the end of the demonstration period. For the change in blood pressure, blood sugar level, and activities, we conducted statistical test. After the demonstration period. cognition and satisfaction for the devices and change in blood pressure, blood sugar level, and activities were evaluated. Most of the participants were acknowledged how to use the device and satisfied with the use of the devices. The internet monitoring and services are considered to be promising because most of the participants were satisfied especially because somebody was monitoring their health status. However some weaknesses such as short battery life of the activity sensor, lack of connection of consultations with hospitals, and low understanding on usage of some of the devices need to be complemented.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2007

연구목적: 고혈압환자의 효과적인 자가관리 간호중재를 개발하는데 필요한 기초자료로 혈압자가측정(self-monitoring of blood pressure)에 대한 특성, 장점, 범위 및 제한점을 파악한다. 연구방법: 1996년부터 2005년까지 PubMed에 수록된 고혈압환자의 자가관리 방법중 혈압자가측정방법이 포함된 외국의 연구를 중심으로 체계적인 고찰을 실시하였다. 전체 69개 자가관리방법을 적용한 논문 중에서 혈압자가측정이나 가정에서의 혈압측정(home monitoring)에 대한 45개 논문을 선정하여 분석하였다. 연구결과 전반적으로 혈압자가측정 방법은 고혈압환자의 혈압조절을 향상시키는 효과가 유의한 것으로 나타났다. 환자가 혈압을 자가측정한 방법에서 평균 혈압, 수축기 혈압, 맥압이 유의하게 감소한 것으로 보고되었다. 장기적 프로그램에서 혈압조절율이 향상되거나, 이완기혈압의 감소효과도 보고되었다. 혈압자가측정의 기준치는 연구마다 일치하지는 않았지만 135/85mmHg 수준이 정상혈압의 상한수준으로 제시되었다. 일부 연구에서는 가정 내 혈압측정이 24시간혈압측정을 대체하는 방법으로 추천되었다. 보다 정확한 혈압자가측정을 위해서 신뢰성 있는 혈압측정기구의 사용과 정확한 측정방법이 환자들에게 교육될 필요가 있다. 결론: 혈압자가측정은 고혈압환자의 혈압조절에 유용한 방법으로 고찰되었다. 또한 고혈압의 진단, 혈압치료와 고혈압 약물복용 행위를 향상시키는 교육적 효과도 긍정적으로 나타났다. 따라서 고혈압환자를 위한 효과적인 자기조절프로그램에 혈압자가측정법을 포함하는 것이 추천되며, 추후 한국에서 시도된 관련 연구에 관한 문헌고찰의 비교연구가 필요하다.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.141-142
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• 2008

According as USN's application field is magnified, various results are appearing. Efforts to apply this results in life are progressing. In car field, is used in control that level of significance is less. In home network, is used in a household electric appli-ance control and electric lamp control, security etc.. In factory, is used in process control, and is used in various application because is involved with RFID leader recently. In this paper, patient's status monitoring, USN use wish to. Because USN can utilize existent network, it is system that can transmit various data as that change passed information.Wish to send information that get in health-care board. Information that can get in health-care board is blood pressure, blood sugar, stroke, SPO2, ECG, the activity amount, position. Also, wish to forecast use possibility to involved various service, silver industry with database.

• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2013

This paper proposes a system that utilizes USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Network), Bluetooth and smart phone to improve the function of senior houses. In typical approach, a system in a senior house either directly accesses the status of elderly people by its sensor or is alerted by elderly people who trigger an emergency bell, derive a decision and take an appropriate action. In addition, it is possible for a designated social worker to check the status of senior patients through monitoring system connected by UTP(Unshielded Uwisted Pair) cables, but the responsible person has to be present to monitor patients' status. However, the new system, suggested in this paper, embed Bluetooth function in a blood pressure gauge, thus the smart phone receives patients' health information such as blood pressure through Bluebooth, if any abnormal event occurs. Consequently, the smart phone sends SMS(Short Message Service) to a responsible social worker or a designated hospital. When this program in the paper becomes a reality, an unmanned system that is able to determine suitable actions for certain events will be established, even if a social worker were absence.

• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.283-291
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• 2018

Objectives: To identify the current status of smartphone usage and to describe the needs for smartphone-based cardiac telerehabilitation of cardiac patients. Methods: In 2016, a questionnaire survey was conducted in a supervised ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in a university affiliated hospital with the participation of heart failure or heart transplantation patients who were smartphone users. The questionnaire included questions regarding smartphone usage, demands for smartphone-based disease education, and home health monitoring systems. Results were described and analyzed according to principal diagnosis. Results: Ninety-six patients (66% male; mean age, $5{\pm}11$ years), including 56 heart failure and 40 heart transplantation patients, completed the survey (completion rate, 95%). The median daily smartphone usage time was 120 minutes (interquartile range, 60-300), and the most frequently used smartphone function was text messaging (61.5%). Of the patients, 26% stated that they searched for health-related information using their smartphones more than 1 time per week. The major source of health-related information was Internet browsing (50.0%), and the least sought source was the hospital's website (3.1%). Patients with heart failure expressed significantly higher needs for disease education on treatment plan, home health monitoring of blood pressure, and body weight (${\chi}^2=5.79$, 6.27, 4.50, p < 0.05). Heart transplantation patients expressed a significant need for home health monitoring of body temperature (${\chi}^2=5.25$, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Heart failure and heart transplantation patients show high usage of and interest in mobile health technology. A smartphone-based cardiac telerehabilitation program should be developed based on high demand areas and modified to suit to each principal diagnosis.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.436-438
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• 2007

As the sensors and communication technology get advance, the remote health diagnosis for patients and senior persons at home are possible now without visiting doctors in hospitals. A low-power ubiquitous health check device was developed adapting Real-Time Embedded Linux is developed. This ubiquitous device is consisted of three sensors. The wrist type health checking terminal acquires periodically the health data by using a blood pressure sensor, a pulse sensor and a body temperature sensor. It transmits the health data to the access point located at the home center through the ZigBee wireless communication modem. This health data collector or access point device sends the data again to the main server operated in a hospital or health care organization. The health server control continuously the input data and sends an alarm signal to the assigned. doctor and responsible persons using cellular SMS when any dangerous events occur. This wrist type health check device has an embedded linux OS using Intel PAX255 MPU. The developed U-Health system is applicable for checking patients health in remote at home. And their family or related persons in remote site can check the patients health status at any time. They can be assured by receiving SMS record and alarm of emergency case which is transmitted from the health server.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Recently the number of the elderly who live alone are increasing more and more as the average life span is prolonged. The elderly are probably in danger at home without being helped due to external aggressions or sudden health problems. Accordingly, more and more interests are taken in medical welfare for the healthy life of the seniors. In this paper, we have developed a mobility and vitality signal monitoring system based on ZigBee-PSTN gateway for the elderly. This combination of ZigBee wireless sensor network and PSTN can be easily established even in the poor internet infrastructure as is usually common for the elderly, with the advantage of providing non-constrained monitoring feature. The research result can be extended to the future tele-medicine system.