• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.250-261
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• 2001

Alternative therapy for rheumatoid arthritis has become worldwide phenomenon this decade without scientific validation. This study was undertaken to explore the prevalence, patterns of use, and perceived efficacy of alternative therapies by patients attending a rheumatology clinic. We conducted a crossectional survey of 142 RA patients with structured questionnaire at outpatient rheumatic clinic from July to August in 2001. Results of this study were summarized as follows : 1. 85.9% of subjects were woman. Mean age was 49.97years, duration of rheumatoid arthritis was 5.6years. Mean pain score was 5.29cm. 2. 74.6% of subjects perceived rheumatoid arthritis as a controllable disease. 31% of patients combined medical treatments with alternative therapies. 58.5% of patients perceived that combining medical treatments with alternative therapies is the most effective strategy in controlling disease. 3. 77.5% had used more than one alternative therapy since the diagnosis was made. The major reason of discontinuation of use was no effect for the treatment of their disease. 4. 34.5% were currently using an alternative therapies and 50.9% were going to use alternative therapies in future. 5. 42.7% reported that alternative therapies was effective and only 3.6% reported side effects. 6. The perceived effect score was 3.14cm in general expecially the physiological score 2.91cm, psychological score 4.16cm. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a high use of alternative therapies by rheumatoid arthritis patients. And the perceived effect score of physiological aspect was not higher than one of psychological aspect. Therefore it should be considered in education program for the use of alternative therapies.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-17
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• 2008

The measurement and management of patient satisfaction has become one of the key issues in the last two decades. Hospitals must thoroughly understand the needs of their customers and design products and health services that meet and exceed their expectations. The importance-performance analysis(IPA) is a widely used analytical technique that yields strategies for managing customer satisfaction in a variety of applications. IP A is a two-dimensional grid based on customer-perceived importance of quality attributes and attribute performance. Depending on the interplay of these two dimensions, four strategies can be derived. The aim of this study is to develop the management strategies for improving patient satisfaction in university hospitals using the I-P analysis. The attributes on inpatient service quality in 4 university hospitals was investigated using the Martilla and James(l977)' s a mean adjusted I-P grid where the axes of the grid cross at the average rating point of all items. The patient satisfaction questionnaires were completed by 600 hospital inpatients. The main statistical methods are path analysis and IPA with SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 4.0 statistical softwares. The two attributes, physician and medical service, administrative staff kindness attributes position in first quadrant(Keep Up the Good domain). The nurse and nursing service attributes position in second quadrant(Possible Overkill domain). The two attributes, convenience of check-in service, facilities and physical environment position in third quadrant(Low Priority domain). Finally the quality of inpatient service(food etc.) attributes position in fourth quadrant(Concentrate Here domain). These findings show various implications on the development of strategies in university hospitals in the future. It was determined that quality of inpatient service(food etc.) need to concentrate more on investments. These investments include a taste, price, proper provision of food service and quick response of pain management. A low priority was given to investment in streamlining the check-in process of inpatient and hospital facilities and physical environment in the long run.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.151-164
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of timing of surgery on outcomes of spine operated patients for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. The research design was cohort study and based on the data of claims for the medical expenses of health insurance. 21,475 cases who had primary spine surgery between January 1, and December 31, 2003, observed to conservative treatment period in the past two years from preoperative primary diagnosis to timing of primary surgery. According to one and five year follow up monitoring, the probability of occurrence of reoperation was not statistically significant with preoperative duration of symptom. Also one year follow up, the probability of occurrence of complication, was not statistically significant with preoperative duration of symptom. But five year follow up, groups who had one to two month preoperative duration of symptom decreased complication rate than less than a month(95%CI:0.594-0.927). Thus, from the onset of symptoms of back pain before primary surgery with enough and adequate time observation is required. Also, medical consumers or providers to choose surgery in determining prudence is required.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2003

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the self- efficacy, group cohesion and family support on adherence of aquatic exercise in arthritis patients. Method : The Subjects were 30 patients with arthritis who had participated in the 6-week aquatic exercise programs of Korean Rheumatology Health Professionals Society. All subjects were interviewed from November to December, 2001(1st) and Feburary, 2002(2nd) using a structured questionnaire which was composed of 42 items. SPSS Win 10.0 was used for data analysis. Results : Ten out of thirty were adherer who were keeping aquatic exercise for three months since they completed 6-week aquatic exercise program. The major reasons of adherence were affectional reasons and general condition improvement on the first month. The reasons of 3-month adherence were improvement of arthritis symptoms, affectional improvement, expectations, general condition improvement and group activity. The major reasons of drop out were environment factors and physical factors. The environmental reason were time shortage, economic problem and long distance. And the physical factor were cold, pain and other health problem. The scores of self-efficacy were decreased from 528.00 to 476.00 within 3 months after compeleting aquatic exercise program and that was statistically significant(p=.029). But there were no statistically differences in group cohesion and family support. There was a significant positive correlation between exercise adherence and self-efficacy. Factors influencing the exercise adherence was self-efficacy which accounted for 23% of the variance in the exercise adherence. Conclusion : In conclusion, self-efficacy is a significant variable in the exercise adherence and changes within 3 month after completing aquatic exercise program. The results of this study suggested that the strategy for maintaining self-efficacy should be developed.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.37-49
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• 2010

Objective : Qigong has been reported as an effective for post-mastectomy women. It consists of a series of postures combined with slow, smooth, graceful movements, and is considered a low intensity exercise. In this study, a specialist of Qigong developed a Qigong program for post-mastectomy women in a community. The object of this research is to evaluate the effect of Qigong on a subjective symptom scale, on the grade of discomfort and pain in everyday life, BMI, fat(%), muscular strength, shoulder joint movement, in post-mastectomy women. Methods : The study used a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. The experimental group received a Qigong 3 times a week for 12 weeks from September 7th to December 28th in 2009. The subjects were 40 patients are divided into 25 persons in experimental groups and 15 persons in contrastive group. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test. A P-value less than .05 was considered significant by 2-tailed test. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS win(ver 12.0). Results : The results were as follows : The score in the subjective symptom(p=.040), and score of anxiety (p=.024), fat(%)(p=.007) were significantly decreased after Qigong program. The values for shoulder flexibility (left : p=.010, right : p=.008), and Muscular strength(grip power)(left : p=.021, right : p=.029) significantly increased after Qigong program. And Flexion(left ; p=.029), Extension(left : p=.001, right : p=.038), Adduction(left ; p=.001, right ; p<0.001) were also significantly increased after Qigong Conclusions : The Qigong is an effective health promotion program for post-mastectomy women.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.383-393
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• 2019

Objectives: The proportion of those working beyond 53 hours a week in 2018 has reached 16.8% of the total number of workers in the Republic of Korea (Statistics Korea, 2018). Although there are many studies that have dealt with the correlation of long working hours and increasing risk of work-related health problems, studies dealing with the factors impacting work-related health problems of workers according to their working hours are few. This study aims to ascertain factors impacting work-related health problems of workers based on their working hours through thorough research on their work environment. Methods: Necessary factors for this study were extracted from 'the 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey to analyze details on normal characteristics and work environments used for the study analysis, work hours, and health problems related to work. Results: The results are as follows: First, men showed a greater probability of exposure to work-related health problems than did women, especially in the 50s age group, which showed the highest potential for health problems from work among age groups. Second, service providers and sales professionals showed a higher probability of work-related health problems. Third, for the work environment, health problems at work related to vibration, noise, chemical and poison exposure, exhaustion, pain, standing position, and repeated motion showed a higher probability if the work hours are long. Conclusions: This study suggests that the minimization of overtime labor would prevent work-related health problems and diseases, improve the well-being of workers, and decrease the negative impact on workers in the subject area.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.140-151
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• 2014

Objectives: Cold hypersensitivity has been regarded to be associated with digestive function. This study is aims to evaluate the correlation between digestive function and coldness of hands. Methods: We made a research of 80 women who is in ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ University. The patients were subjected to thermometer, and those with thermal difference between upper arm and palm were diagnosed with cold hypersensitivity. The patients were divided into two group by cold hypersensitivity group (n=20), and non-cold hypersensitivity group (n=19), and 39 women are mesured by Nepean dyspepsia index-Korean version (NDI-K) to evaluate the severity of functional dyspepsia. Results: There was no difference between two groups on age, height, weight. In functional dyspepsia symptom score, 6 symptoms (Pain in upper abdomen, Burning in upper abdomen, Cramps in upper abdomen, Pressure in upper abdomen, Vomiting, Bad breath) out of 15 were significantly increased in cold hypersensitivity group compared with non-cold hypersensitivity group. And in quality of life score, 3 domains (Tension/sleep, Interference with daily activities, Knowledge/control) out of 5, and total quality of life score were significantly decreased in cold hypersensitivity group compared with non-cold hypersensitivity group. Conclusions: This study shows the correlation between cold hypersensitivity and digestive function.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.365-373
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting the quality of life of elderly who live alone according to gender. The participants in this study were 959 elderly living alone from a total of 22,948 individuals studied in the 2013-2015 Korean national health and nutrition examination survey. IBM SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze the data. There were significant differences between the two groups in age, level of education, and amount of calorie intake. Economic status, presence of arthritis, presence of restrict activity, subjective health status had an influence on quality of life in men with an explanatory power of 50.5% (p < .001). Presence of back pain, subjective health status, suicidal ideation had an influence on quality of life in women with an explanatory power of 41.4% (p < .001). Therefore, in order to improve the quality of life of elderly living alone, it is necessary to provide appropriate intervention depending on gender.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

This study is a descriptive research study for examining the general characteristics and health-related characteristics of the elderly in a local community, investigating factors for the fear of fall and identifying the relationship between the fear of fall, attitude to fall and fall efficacy. The subject of this study was 140 senior citizens who are using a community center in D city. The collected data was analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. The result of the study showed there was a significant difference in the fear of fall according to gender, person living together, subjective health condition, pain and unsafe gait. There was a significant negative correlation between the fear of fall and fall fear and fall efficacy. However, fall fear and fall efficacy were positive correlated. This study aims to provide necessary preliminary data for developing fall prevention program that can improve the fear of fall, attitude to fall and fall efficay based on the results of this study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.25-34
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• 2021

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture after rotator cuff surgery. Methods Key words such as rotator cuff surgery and acupuncture were searched in 10 databases (Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, Ovid-AMED, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], KoreaMed, KMBASE), and only suitable randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. Results 6 RCTs were finally selected, and acupuncture showed positive results for pain relief and functional recovery after rotator cuff surgery. However, the analyzed 6 RCTs showed a high overall risk of bias. Conclusions In the future, RCTs with a higher level of evidence on the effect of acupuncture after rotator cuff surgery need to be continuously conducted.