• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.328-334
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to validate the effectiveness of a recently proposed difficulty index for removal of impacted mandibular third molars based on extraction time and suggest a modified difficulty index including the presence of pathologic conditions associated with third molars. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 65 male patients younger than 25 years with third molars. Extraction time was calculated from start of the incision to the last suture. The difficulty scores for third molars were based on spatial relationship (1-5 points), depth (1-4 points), and ramus relationship (1-3 points) using cone-beam computed tomography. The difficulty index was defined as follows: I (3-4 points), II (5-7 points), III (8-10 points), and IV (11-12 points). The modified difficulty score was calculated by adding one point to the difficulty score if the third molar was associated with a pathologic condition. Two modified difficulty indices, based on the presence of pathologic conditions, were as follows: the half-level up difficulty index (HDI) and the one-level up difficulty index (ODI) from the recently proposed difficulty index. Results: The correlations between extraction time and difficulty index and or modified difficulty indices were significant (P<0.001). The correlation coefficient between extraction time and difficulty index was 0.584. The correlation coefficients between extraction time and HDI and ODI were 0.728 and 0.764, respectively. Conclusion: Extraction time of impacted third molars exhibited a moderate correlation with difficulty index and was strongly correlated with the modified indices. Considering the clinical implications, the difficulty index of surgical extraction should take into consideration the pathologic conditions associated with third molars.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.309-315
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the existing classification and difficulty index of impacted mandibular third molars in clinical situations and propose a more practical classification system. Materials and Methods: This study included 204 impacted mandibular third molars in 154 patients; panoramic x-ray images were obtained before tooth extraction. Factors including age, sex, and pattern of impaction were investigated. All impacted third molars were classified and scored for spatial relationship (1-5 points), depth (1-4 points), and ramus relationship (1-3 points). All variables were measured twice by the same observer at a minimum interval of one month. Finally, the difficulty index was defined based on the total points scored as slightly difficult (3-4 points), moderately difficult (5-7 points), very difficult (8-10 points), and extremely difficult (11-12 points). Results: The strength of agreement of the total points scored and difficulty index were 0.855 and 0.746, respectively. Most cases were classified as moderately difficult (73.0%). Although only 13 out of 204 cases (6.4%) were classified as extremely difficult, patients classified as extremely difficult were the oldest (P<0.05). Conclusion: For difficulty classification, the authors propose one more difficult category beyond the existing three-step difficulty index: the clinician should consider the patient's age in the difficulty index evaluation.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify the psychometric properties of the vocational ability scale used in the 8th Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled in Korea by using the Rasch model. The sample data was collected from 398 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Item fitness, item difficulty, the appropriateness of the rating scale, and the separation index of the vocational ability scale were evaluated. All 15 items show an appropriate fitness level. The analysis of item difficulty indicate that modifications are required. Specifically, the need for the addition of less difficult question items is identified. The use of a 5-point rating scale is shown to decrease the test difficulty in terms of clarity and readability when appropriate and a 4-point modification is also determined as appropriate. With respect to the outcomes of the analysis, the person separation reliability value and separation index are high, and the reliability of the items is also high.

• IE interfaces
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2004

The increased use of computers has introduced a variety kind of human-computer interfaces. Mouse is one of the useful interface tools to place the cursor on the desired position on the monitor. This paper suggested a foot controlled isotonic mouse which was similar to the ordinary hand-controlled mouse except that positioning was controlled by the right foot and the clicking was performed by the left foot. Experimental results showed that both the index of difficulty(IOD) and the display-control gain(DC gain) varied the total movement time in a target acquisition task on the monitor. The present authors also drew the optimal display-control gain of the foot-controlled isotonic mouse over the index of difficulty of 1.0 to 3.0. The optimal display-control gain, i. e., 0.256, could be used when designing a foot-controlled isotonic mouse.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.35 no.1 s.108
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• pp.60-68
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• 2005

The evaluation of malocclusion has to be done quantitatively and qualitatively. This will be lead toward an analysis of malocclusion severity as well as treatment difficulty. The method of proper evaluation of malocclusion severity and treatment difficulty is necessary to assess treatment effect and efficiency for the orthodontists and to establish fundamentals for planning and executing the health-related policies in private and public institutions. The purposes of this study as the first part of the objective and quantitative analysis of malocclusion were 1) to measure treatment difficulty based on the opinions of several orthodontists. and 2) to investigate the relationships between objective malocclusion severity and subjective treatment difficulty 100 pairs of dental casts that had various types and severity of malocclusion were selected from the orthodontic departments of Kyurghee University and Samsung Medical Center The objective malocclusion severity was measured with the PAR (Peer Assessment Rating) index and the subjective treatment difficulty was evaluated by 8 experienced orthodontists. The relationships between objective malocclusion severity and subjective treatment difficulty were statistically evaluated. There were significant relationships between objective malocclusion severity and subjective treatment difficulty especially in the measurements of the upper anterior alignment, the buccal occlusion. the overjet, the overbite and the midline discrepancy en the malocclusion components. The results of this study can provide the background knowledge to develop a new occlusal index. which contains both the malocclusion severity and treatment difficulty for Korean orthodontists.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.20-28
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• 2017

Background: Rasch analysis has the advantage of placing both the items and the person along a single ratio scale and calibrates person ability and item difficulty onto an interval scale by logits. Therefore, Rasch analysis has been recommended as a better method for evaluating functional outcome questionnaires than traditional analyses. Objects: The aim of current study was to investigate item fit, item difficulty, rating scale, and separation index of the Korean version of the Fullerton Advanced Balance (KFAB) scale using Rasch analysis. Methods: In total, 93 patients with stroke (male=58, female=35) participated in this study. To investigate the item fit, difficulty, rating scale, and separation index of the KFAB scale, Rasch analysis was completed by the Winsteps software program. Results: In this study, all items of the KFAB scale were included in the Rasch model. The most difficult item was 'standing with feet together and eyes closed', and the easiest item was 'two-footed jump'. The rating scale was a 4-point scale instead of the original 5-point scale. Person and item separation indices showed high values that can identify a person with a wide range of balance ability. Conclusion: The KFAB scale appears to be a reliable and valid tool to assess balance function in patients with stroke. Furthermore, the scale was found to discriminate among stroke patients of varying balance abilities.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.02b
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• pp.136-139
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• 2008

다양한 기능들이 휴대폰에 집약되고 있음에 따라, 사용자가 메뉴를 간편하게 선택할 수 있도록 도와주는 pointing Device의 역할은 매우 중요해지고 있다. 본 연구는 휴대폰에 내장된 pointing device 중 광센서와 pointing stick에 대한 사용성 평가를 통한 사용자의 조작 효율 및 조작 만족도 향상 요인 도출을 목적으로 하고 있다. 이를 위하여 본 연구에서는 각각의 입력장치가 적용된 휴대폰을 이용하여 객관적 평가와 주관적 평가를 수행하였다. 객관적 평가에서는 Fitts' law를 바탕으로 한 throughput 개념을 이용하여 커서 이동 및 선택 성능을 평가하였다. 또한 주관적 병가에서는 체크리스트를 이용하여 사용자의 수용도(user acceptance)를 평가하였다. 연구 결과, 광센서는 이동 방향에 따라 수행도 차이가 큰 것으로 나타났으며, pointing stick가 광센서에 비해 사용자의 수용도가 높게 나타났다. 본 연구 결과는 추후 실제 휴대폰의 pointing Device 설계 및 적용 시에 유용하게 활용될 수 있을 것이라 예상된다.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2019

For 159 administrative areas, SPI(Standardized Precipitation Index), ARDI(Agricultural Reservoir Drought Index) and ARDIs(Agricultural Reservoir Drought Index Simulated) were developed and applied to analyze the characteristics of agricultural drought index and agricultural droughts. In order to identify hydrometeorological characteristics of agricultural droughts, SPI, ARDI and ARDIs were calculated nationwide, and the applicability was compared and examined. SPI and ARDI showed significant differences in time and depth of drought in both spatial and temporal. ARDI and ARDIs showed similar tendency of change, and ARDIs were considered to be more representative of agricultural drought characteristics. The results of this study suggest that agricultural drought is a problem to be solved in the medium and long term rather than short term due to various forms of development, complexity of development, and difficulty in forecasting. Therefore, it is concluded that a preliminary and systematic approach is needed in consideration of meteorological, hydrological and hydrometeorological characteristics rather than a fragmentary approach, and that an agricultural drought index is needed to quantitatively evaluate agricultural drought.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.167-181
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• 2018

Purpose: We developed and tested the effects of a coping skill training program for caregivers in feeding difficulty among older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The subjects comprised 34 caregivers (experimental group: 17, control group: 17) and 40 older adults with dementia (experimental group: 20, control group: 20). The developed program was delivered in 4-hour sessions over 6 weeks (including 2 weeks of lectures and lab practice on feeding difficulty coping skills, and 4 weeks of field practice). Data were collected before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the program (January 3 to April 6, 2016). The data were analyzed using t-test and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS/WIN 20.0. Results: Compared to their counterparts in the control group, caregivers in the experimental group showed a significantly greater improvement in feeding knowledge and feeding behavior, while older adults with dementia showed greater improvements in feeding difficulty and Body Mass Index. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that this coping skill training program for caregivers in feeding difficulty is an effective intervention for older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2012

This study developed a test entitled Clinical Critical Thinking Skills (CCTS) by using item response theory (IRT) and examined its validity. In the development stage, data obtained from a convenience sample of 627 undergraduate nursing students were analyzed using a discrimination and difficulty index with the TestAn 1.0 program. In the evaluation stage, data from a convenience sample of 284 nursing and non-nursing students were analyzed using a discrimination and difficulty index with the BILOG-MG program. Criterion validity was verified by the group comparison method. Five items received low discrimination index scores according to the IRT results. In terms of the criterion validity, CCTS scores differed according to major (t=2.21, p=0.028), location of high school (F=4.35, p=0.014), clinical experience (t=5.66, p=0.004), and grade point average (F=7.17, p< 0.001). The CCTS can be used to measure critical thinking skills in the clinical setting.