• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.8-15
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• 2008

Purpose: Yangsaeng is a traditional health care regimen that incorporates specific principles and methods to promote health and prevent illness, with the aim of improving the health and longevity of life. The present study assessed Yangsaeng and quality of life (QOL-BREF) in Korea. Methods: Data from 346 adults and elderly Koreans was collected by using a self-reported questionnaire. Analysis of the data included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, t-test, ANOVA and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$. Results: Statistically significant differences in QOL-BREF were evident according to the age, job, religion, education level, economic status and positive thinking. Statistically significant differences were evident in Yangsaeng according to religion, education, economic status and positive thinking. Total QOL-BREF positively related to total Yangsaeng. Morality Yangsaeng, exercise Yangsaeng and sleep Yangsaeng were positively related to all QOL-BREF sub-domains. Conclusions: The Yangsaeng oriental health care regimen can improve QOL, and should be recommended as a means of health promotion and QOL in the Korean culture.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate diet-related Quality of Life (QOL) and to analyze the relationship among diet-related QOL, dietary regimen practice, health-related QOL, and gastrointestinal symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Subjects were recruited from an artificial kidney center in Seoul. The self-report questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic characteristics, diet-related QOL, compliance with dietary regimen practice, health-related QOL, and gastrointestinal symptoms was distributed. Diet-related QOL includes a 'Quality of Life and Related to Dietary Change Questionnaire', 'Satisfaction Survey', and 'Dietary Impact Survey'. According to their responses, participants had experienced the greatest difficulty with 'Dietary Impact'. In particular, the mean score for general health was low. Association of dietary regimen practice showed a positive association with 'Cost' and 'Self-care' score. In addition, diet-related QOL showed positive correlation with health-related QOL, particularly in 'taste'. Scores for 'Taste', 'Convenience', and 'Dietary Impact' were lower for subjects with constipation compared to those of subjects without constipation. Scores for 'Taste' and 'Dietary Impact' were lower in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome compared to those of subjects without the syndrome (p < 0.05). Diet-related QOL showed a positive association with health-related QOL (p < 0.05), whereas it showed a negative association with constipation (p < 0.01). In conclusion, hemodialysis patients in Korea suffer from burden of dietary regimen practice and most scores for diet-related QOL and health-related QOL from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were low. Therefore, appropriate nutrition education considering gastrointestinal symptoms is necessary for improvement of patients' QOL during dietary regimen practice.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.379-388
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the degree of depression, perceived health status, chronic disease and quality of life(QOL) among rural elderly and to determine the factors related to their QOL. Method: The design of this study was a correlational study. The subjects were 423 elderly consisted of 157(37.1%) men and 266(62.9%) women dwelling in a rural area of N City. Data were collected from May to December, 2003 using a structured questionnaire. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors related to the QOL. Result: It was found that the mean score of QOL was in total with 2.15 out of 5.00 and women elderly's score was significantly lower than men(t=2.20, p=.028). Perceived health status showed statistically significant positive relationship with QOL(r=.608, p<.05), while depression(r=-.751, p<.01) and chronic illness(r=-.336, p<.01) showed statistically significant negative relationship. Depression was found to have the highest correlation with QOL among the subjects. Depression score explained QOL at the most, accounting for 36.8% of the variability, followed by perceived health(8.2%) and the number of chronic illness(.7%). Other factors related to the QOL were economic status and absence of spouse. Conclusion: In order to increase the QOL of rural elderly, it is necessary to decrease the depression, to increase their perceived health status and to decrease the number of chronic illness. We suggest the implementation of a program not only to promote physical health status and self-care ability but to take care of mental health for the rural elderly.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.136-144
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• 2011

Assessment of quality of life (QOL) is a new method to investigate the effectiveness of dietary regimen. Particularly, diet-related QOL is the most appropriate method to estimate social and psychological problems originated from dietary regimen practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diet-related QOL and the correlation between diet-related QOL and health-related QOL, and dietary regimen practice in online diabetes self-help patients who practice the dietary regimen. Sixty one subjects who intended to practice dietary regimen were recruited from online diabetes self-help community, and instructed to fill-up the self report questionnaires. Contents of questionnaire were comprised of general characteristics, clinical characteristics, dietary compliance, and dietary regimen practice. As a result, the mean score of the 'Dietary impact' among the diet-related QOL sub-scales was the lowest suggesting most of the subjects suffer from burden of dietary regimen practice. The "Dietary impact" was correlated with "Taste", "Convenience" and "Cost" (p < 0.05). "Self-care" and "Satisfaction" were positively associated with well-controlled blood glucose and dietary regimen compliance, but negatively associated with "Dietary impact". Diet-related QOL was significantly correlated with the Health-related QOL, particularly the mental and social component (p < 0.05). Diet-related QOL was negatively associated with BMI, and self monitoring blood glucose was negatively correlated with "Self-care" (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Diet-related QOL might be appropriate to evaluate the effects of dietary regimen or nutrition education. The need for dietary education of cognitive-behavioral strategies and problem-solving ability is required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of Quality of Life (QOL) among workers in public health corporations. Methods: Data were composed of 213 office workers in three public enterprise in Seoul. Data were collected from February 11 to March 20, 2007. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS Win 12.0 program. Results: The mean QOL of the study participants was 82.60. The QOLs of the workers were significantly different according to perceived health status of workers and working hours per week. The QOL of the workers was negatively related to working hours, job stress, and depression, and positively related to the health status, self-esteem, and health promotion lifestyle (HPLS). Significant predictors of QOL were HPLS ${\beta}=.420$), depression (${\beta}=-.291$), self-esteem (${\beta}=.261$), and hours of work per week (${\beta}=-.114$), which explained 63% in the variance of QOL. Conclusion: These results suggest that strategies to enhance HPLS could improve the level of QOL. Further investigations of the direct relationship between QOL and health promotion program is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the quality of life (QOL) and to identify the factors influencing QOL in gynecological cancer patients. Methods: The subjects of this study were 242 people who were receiving medical therapy or follow-up after surgery from one general hospital in Daegu. Data were collected from August 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011. A questionnaire including questions on QOL, distress score, distress problem, depression, anxiety, insomnia, perceived health status and body image were completed by the subjects. Results: The mean score of QOL was $70.68{\pm}13.40$. Religion, job, presence of spouse, level of education, household income, financial compensation, disease stage and recurrence were the significant factors related to QOL. Distress score, distress problem, depression, anxiety, insomnia, perceived health status and body image were also significant factors influencing QOL. Sixty eight percent of the variance in subjective overall QOL can be explained by body image, distress problem, distress score, anxiety, level of education and perceived health status (Cum $R^2$=0.689, F=76.316, $p$ <.001). Body image was the most important factor related to QOL. Conclusion: An integrative care program which includes general, disease-related and psychosocial characteristics of patients is essential to improve QOL in gynecological cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to test structural equation modeling of health-related quality of life (QOL) of men with obstructive sleep apnea in order to identify parameters affecting QOL and provide guidelines for interventions and strategies to improve QOL in these patients. Methods: Model construction was based on 'The conceptual model of patient outcome in health-related QOL' by Wilson and Cleary, using the variables; age, physiological factors, social support, cognitive appraisal, symptoms and QOL. Participants were 201 adult male patients recruited at a tertiary university hospital in Seoul. Data were collected via questionnaires, polysomnography, and clinical records. Results: Age and symptoms directly influenced QOL. Social support and cognitive appraisal about sleep did not have a direct influence on QOL, but indirectly affected it via symptoms. QOL was lower in patients who were younger and had more severe symptoms. Symptoms were more severe for patients with lower social support and more dysfunctional cognitive appraisal. When social support was lower, cognitive appraisal was more dysfunctional. Conclusion: These results suggest it is necessary to not only manage symptoms, but also apply interventions to increase social support and cognitive appraisal about sleep in order to increase QOL in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.781-787
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a computerized touch-screen version of the asthma-specific quality-of-life (cA-QOL) questionnaire against the conventional paper-and-pencil version (pA-QOL) for equivalence, time for completion, user preference, and ease of use. Methods: A total of 261 patients were recruited. A randomized cross-over design was used. Patients in group A completed the cA-QOL first while waiting to see a physician, and completed the pAQOL version after seeing the physician. Patients allocated in group B completed these questionnaires in the reverse order. The patients were asked questions about user preference and ease of use of the cA-QOL. The time taken to complete both versions of the questionnaire was measured. Results: Weighted kappa coefficients of all items showed almost perfect agreement. The time required to complete the pA-QOL is faster than the time for cA-QOL. The patients who preferred the cA-QOL were 37.5%, while those who preferred the pA-QOL were 29.9%. Most patients reported that the cA-QOL was "easy" or "very easy" to complete. Conclusion: The cA-QOL is the computerized equivalent of the pA-QOL. The findings herein demonstrate that the cA-QOL can be helpful to nurses in busy practices for assessing, collecting, and evaluating their patients' health related quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2010

Purpose: In numerous studies, MBSR programs have been shown to reduce stress and improve health-related QOL. Although MBSR programs have been shown to be beneficial, its effects have not been well-determined among Korean populations in clinical nursing practice. The purpose of this review was to describe the effects of MBSR on stress and health-related QOL so that the potential benefits of this intervention may be evaluated for wider application in Korea. Methods: Articles published in peer-reviewed journals in the English or Korean language up to 2009 were reviewed; 14 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review and there were no Korean papers. Results: MBSR groups were found to have significantly reduced stress outcomes relative to non-MBSR groups in 6 of 11 studies. In regards to health-related QOL, participants of the MBSR programs had increased scores after MBSR intervention relative to control groups in 5 of 7 studies. Conclusion: MBSR programs was effective in decreasing stress and increased the health-related QOL in the majority of studies reviewed. MBSR merits study in Korean patients to determine whether similar salutary patient outcomes may be obtained.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1145-1153
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to discover kidney transplant and hemodialysis patients' quality of life(QOL) and provide basic data to improve their QOL. Method: One hundred two hemodialysis patients and 106 kidney transplant patients were given a self-administered questionnaire from Mar. 6 to Mar 31, 2006. The instrument consisted of demographic variables, therapeutic-related characteristics and QOL. Collected data was processed using the SPSS 12.0 statistical program for real numbers, percentages, ANCOVA, t-test, ANOVA, Stepwise multiple regression and the Scheffe test. Results: Kidney transplantpatients' QOL was higher than hemodialysis patients. The demographic variables which showed a significant difference in overall QOL were religion, children and monthly income for kidney transplantpatients and educational background for hemodialysis patients. The therapeutic-related variable which showed a significant difference in overall QOL was the patients' perceived health condition for both groups. The influencing factor on overall QOL for both groups was the health condition perceived by themselves. The total variance of the variable for QOL was 42% for kidney transplant patients and 19% for hemodialysis patients. Conclusion: This study revealed that kidney transplant patients have a higher QOL and how patients perceive their health is the strongest influencing factor for QOL. However, there is a large difference between the demand and supply of kidney donors. To solve this problem the standards for donation should be reviewed and revised.