• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.314-325
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pet dog-assisted activities on self-esteem, depression and cognitive function of elderly people Method: The experimental group(pet dog-assisted group) consisted of 22 people over 65 years old out of about 90 elderly people registered with a home for the aged and the control group(non-pet dog assisted group) consisted of 22 people over 65 years old out of about 90 elderly people registered with another home for the aged in Daegu. Both groups had similar general characteristics, state of health, conduct on health and self-esteem, depression and cognitive abilities. Nineteen people who participated in the program at least 10 times out of 12, were chosen for the final analysis from the experimental group. For the control group, 20 people who responded to all three tests, which had been conducted before, 1 week after, and four week after the experiment, were analyzed. Result: Mean(${\pm}SD$) differences between before and 1 week after the experiment for self-esteem, depression, and cognitive function were 5.84(${\pm}3.06$), -3.26(${\pm}1.76$), 1.47(${\pm}1.26$), respectively. Those between before the experiment and 4 weeks after the experiment was 5.68(${\pm}3.64$), -3.94(${\pm}2.32$), 1.63(${\pm}0.96$), respectively. Those for control group between before and after the experiment were -0.40(${\pm}1.27$), 0.00(${\pm}0.92$), 0.15(${\pm}0.93$), respectively. Those for control group between before and 4 weeks after the experiment were -0.45(${\pm}2.24$), 0.25(${\pm}1.68$), 0.15(${\pm}0.93$), respectively. All the differences between experiment and control group in mean differences between before and 1 week after experiment, between before and 4 weeks after experiment were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the pet-assisted activities can be useful solution for elderly people who have psychological and emotional problems caused by retrogression of physical, mental and social ability.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.263-277
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• 1998

Conventional high-dose antipsychotics tend to result in more side effects, negative symptoms and dysphoria, and at the same time lower the cognitive function which is already impaired in most schizophrenics. Florid psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive impairment greatly impede psychosocial performance and eventual reintegration into society. The reduction of symptom and the improvement of cognitive funtions and social skills are therefore central to the psychiatric rehabilitation process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose-reduction effects of antipsychotics on chronic schizophrenics prescribed conventional high-dose antipsychotics more than 1,500mg equivalent of chlorpromazine. Fifty-one chronic schizophrenics who maintained high-dose antipsychotics for more than three months were randomly assigned to two groups : 20 patients comprised the dose-maintaining group and 31 patients made the dose-reduction group. Over a sixteen weekperiod Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), Extrapyramidal Symptom(EPS), Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation(NOSIE-30), Continuous Performance Test(CPT), Quality of Life(QOL), and haloperidol/reduced haloperidol blood levels were determined at the base line and after 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 weeks to evaluate the dose reduction effects of high-dose antipsychotics. The results were as follows : 1) Dose-reduction is highly effective in reducing positive and negative symptoms, and general psychopathology. Effects were most prominent at 8, 12, 16 weeks. Among the dose reduction group, positive symptoms in positive symptom group and negative symptoms in negative symptom group were more reduced. 2 Extrapyramidal symptoms showed no significant difference between two groups. But the EPS was reduced time after time within two groups. 3) Hit rates of Continuous Performance Test, which indicate attentional capacity, increased significantly after dose reduction. 4) Haloperidol and reduced haloperidol blood levels decreased until the 4th week, after which they were constant. 5) Total scores of Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation were unchanged between the two groups. But among the indices, social interest and personal neatness were improved in the dose-reduction group and retardation was aggrevated in the dose-maintaining group. 6) Total quality of life scores were unchanged between two groups. But in the dose maintaining group, satisfaction scores of attention, autonomy, and interpersonal relationship decreased progressively. These findings suggest that the dose reduction of antipsychotics for chronic schizophrenics on programs of high-dose antipsychotics were effective. Dose reduction should therefore be implemanted to spread the rehabilitation and improve quality of life for chronic schizophrenics.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.57
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• pp.159-182
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• 2017

With using the 4th and 5th wave of KLoSA(Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging), this study analyzed the effect of the factors of Rowe and Kahn's successful aging model on the life satisfaction of older adults. The target population of this study was 1,385 who is older than 65. As data analysis, hierarchical multiple regression was used. The variables such as demographics, avoiding diseases and disability, high cognitive and physical function and engagement with life, relationship with adult children were entered hierarchically for the regression analysis. Since there are differences of longevity by gender, the difference of factors of successful aging were compared by marital status. In this study (besides Rowe and Kahn's successful aging model such as avoiding disease and disability, high cognitive and physical function, and engagement with life), the relationships with adult children were analyzed additionally. Findings show that married older adults were older and reside with their adult children twice more than those who do not have a spouse. According to research results, regular exercise and memory skills were important factors of affecting life satisfaction. Among the categories of active engagement, meeting with friends, relatives and neighbors were significant. Contact with their adult children by mail or phone were the most important factors affecting the older adults' life satisfaction. The three parts of successful aging were various depending on the operationalization of variables.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.993-1011
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors associated with the incidence and the transition of disability among Korean older adults. Samples consist of 1,454(42.7%) men and 2,032(58.3%) women aged 65 and over who participated in the 1st and 2nd wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging: KLOSA. To estimate the level of disability, ADL and IADL disability indexes are used. As the results, major risk factors for ADL/IADL disability incidence include injury, vision problem, cognitive function, depression, health behavior, socioeconomic characteristics and age. Among the normal older adults, the odds ratio of having dementia symptoms at 2nd wave(2008) are 2.0 times greater for the older adults who have less cognitive function than those who don't have at 1st wave(2006). Among the older adults with chronic diseases, the odds ratio of having disability at 2nd wave are 1.8 times greater for the older persons who have depression than those who don't have at 1st wave. Secondly, concerning the predictors affecting the disability transition among the disabled older adults at 1st wave, the likelihood of remaining at the same level or deteriorating the level of IADL disability, as compared with improving the level, is associated with having less instrumental support or being older. These results indicate that it is necessary to prefer multilevel intervention in order not only to prevent the incidence of disability, but also to prolong the deterioration of disability in the older adults.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.94-112
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) between patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) and patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to compare personal characteristic factors relating to the quality of life in patients with ESRD. Method: This study used a descriptive research design. The sample was recruited using purposive sampling that included 76 ESRD patients receiving either HD or CAPD at a dialysis clinic in Phraphutthabat Hospital, Saraburi Province, Thailand. Data was collected using the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Chronic Kidney Disease ($KDQOL-SF^{TM}$) version 1.3. Independent t-test and ANOVA procedures were used to analyze study data. Results: The results revealed that the HD patients had a moderate level of QOL. The highest scoring dimension of QOL was the encouragement of staff at the dialysis unit and patient satisfaction with the treatment (${\bar{X}}=100$, SD=.00), followed by social support (${\bar{X}}=89.29$, SD =16.88) and cognitive function (${\bar{X}}=88.57$, SD=11.82). On the other hand, the lowest scoring QOL dimension was physical problems (${\bar{X}}=50$, SD=51.89), and pain (${\bar{X}}=50$, SD=39.03), followed by work status (${\bar{X}}=53.57$, SD=45.84) and burden from kidney disease (${\bar{X}}=58.48$, SD=31.07). The CAPD patients also had a moderate QOL. The highest scoring QOL dimension was the encouragement of staff in the renal unit and patient satisfaction with the treatment (${\bar{X}}=100$, SD=.00), followed by social support (${\bar{X}}=95.61$, SD=14.20) and cognitive function (${\bar{X}}=88.83$, SD=13.52). The worst scoring QOL dimensions were work status (${\bar{X}}=44.44$, SD=42.72), general health (${\bar{X}}=53.61$, SD=39.05), and pain (${\bar{X}}=62.70$, SD=41.14). The difference overall and in each dimension of QOL in ESRD patients who were treated with HD and CAPD was not statistically significantly different. The QOL was not significantly different among patients with different personal characteristics except for income and duration of treatment; in those cases, the difference in QOL was statistically significant (p=.05). Conclusion: The overall QOL and life expectancy of patients with ESRD treated with HD and CAPD are not affected by gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, or type of health coverage. QOL was not significantly different, except for patients with different incomes and duration of renal replacement therapy, whose QOL was significantly different. The QOL of patients receiving dialysis should be studied to develop a QOL program for patients with chronic kidney disease who receive dialysis.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.41-53
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• 2022

Objective : The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the vocational rehabilitation evaluation tool for the mentally disabled. Methods : For literature search, the Pubmed database was used, and for the analysis, the development year, evaluation method, number of items, scale, and evaluation items were analyzed. In the analysis method, each evaluation item was divided into four categories: function, internal factor, environment, and mental symptom, and the evaluation elements of each evaluation tool were identified. Results : When searching Pubmed through search terms, 161 documents were retrieved. According to the selection method, Griffiths Work Behavior Scale (GWBS), Occupational Functioning Scale (OFS), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), Work Ability Index (WAI), Work Behavior Inventory (WBI), Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) were screened. The evaluation items of all evaluation tools included job-related functional evaluation. According to the purpose of each evaluation tool, internal factors, environment, and mental symptoms were measured. Conclusion : Occupational skills are skills in which various functions such as physical, cognitive, social skills, and coping skills act in a complex way. Therefore, it is necessary to include the four factors analyzed in this study: function, internal factors, environment, and psychiatric symptoms.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Cancer stigma (CS), a self-inflicted sense of hopelessness, has been identified as a major factor affecting cancer patients' outcomes. However, few studies have investigated the CS-related outcomes in hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) cancer. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate effects of CS on quality of life (QoL) of HBP cancer. Methods: From 2017 to 2018, 73 patients who underwent curative surgery for HBP tumor at a single intuitive were enrolled prospectively. The QoL was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL score, and CS was evaluated in three categories, "impossibility of recovery," "cancer stereotypes," and "social discrimination." the stigma was defined by higher scores of attitudes compared with the median value. Results: The stigma group showed a lower QoL (-17.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -26.75 to 8.60, p < 0.001) than the no stigma group. Similarly, most function and symptoms of the stigma group showed worse results than the no stigma group. The difference in function scores between the two groups according to CS was highest in cognitive function (-21.20, 95% CI: -30.36 to 12.04, p < 0.001). Fatigue showed the largest difference between the two groups at 22.84 (95% CI: 12.88-32.07, p < 0.001) and was the most severe symptom in stigma group. Conclusions: CS was an important negative factor affecting the QoL, function, and symptoms of HBP cancer patients. Therefore, appropriate management of CS is crucial for improved postoperative QoL.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.104-116
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• 2021

In order to reduce the social and economic costs due to the increase in dementia patients, which is a representative senile disease in an aging society, it will be important to prevent dementia and to detect and treat early in high-risk groups. This study reported the results of treatment for the elderly with high risk of dementia and depression who received Korean medicine (KM) treatment in 9 KM clinics. Medical charts were surveyed on 116 patients with high risk of dementia and depression who received KM treatment at 9 KM clinics in Gangseo-gu from September 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The majority of the patients were female(76.72%), the average age was 71.66±7.18 years old, and the average education level was 8.96±3.91 years. The average treatment period was 61.47±10.30 days, the average number of treatments was 15.38±1.06 times, and both acupuncture and herbal medicine were administered. After receiving KM treatment, cognitive assessment scores such as MMSE-DS and MoCA-K, depression-related GDSSF-K score, dementia knowledge, attitude, and preventive behavior, blood debilitation scale, and GQOL-D score were improved compared to before. There was no specific adverse reaction except that one patient with elevated AST and ALT levels was observed. This study showed improvement in cognitive function, depression, dementia-related scale, and quality of life in high-risk groups for dementia and depression over 60 years old who received KM treatment. More systematic and large-scale planned clinical studies will be needed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.462-470
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• 2015

This study examined for which socio-economic difference effects on brain function and Problem behavior syndrome in children. About a children with no disorders, diseases or cognitive dysfunction-30 were from LIC children and another 30, from MC ones, the study was conducted by measuring and analyzing the data using brain function analysis and K-CBCL from January to April, 2013. The results of the study are as follows. First, it was found that the ratio of LIC's theta(${\Theta}$) and SMR waves and that of delta(${\delta}$), high beta(${\beta}h$), alpha(${\alpha}$) and low beta(${\beta}l$) waves showed significantly higher values than MC children. Second, concerning the symptoms of child behavioral problems, LIC showed significantly higher values than MC children in symptoms of the body, depression and anxiety, social immaturity, thinking problems, attention problems, aggression, internalization, externalization, overall behavioral problems, and emotional instability. MC children showed significantly higher values than LIC chidren in symptoms of social, academic-performance, total social skills. In conclusion, the significant difference of the brain functions and the symptoms of child behavioral problems between LIC and MC children showed that the socio-ecnomic difference has an influence on the same functions and symptoms above.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.977-996
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• 2019

The current study aimed to examine the gender differences in trajectories of nine successful aging indicators (chronic disease, depression, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, mini mental state examination, social activity, personal contact, health satisfaction, and general life satisfaction) with age, controlling the effect of education. The data were from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, which had been conducted biennially from 2006 to 2016. The sample included 822 men and 1,236 women who responded to all of the panel surveys and were 65 years old or above in 2006. Multilevel modeling analyses showed that older men had fewer chronic diseases; lower levels of depression; higher levels of activities of daily living, cognitive function, and social activity; and better perceived health satisfaction and general life satisfaction at age 65 years compared to women. However, both men and women showed increase in the number of chronic diseases and depression level, and decrease in physical, cognitive, and social functions with age. In addition, perceived health and life satisfaction also decreased after the age of 65. The trajectories of most of the indicators were non-linear, and markedly increased or decreased around mid-70s. Study limitations and implications were further discussed.