• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.345-356
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physical therapy combined with a virtual reality (VR) game on pain, quality of life (QOL), engagement, and knee function in post-knee-surgery patients. Methods: Twenty-four patients who had undergone knee surgery four weeks or more before the study were recruited. Two withdrew from the study during the four-week experimental period, and a total of 22 patients were included in the final analysis. Routine physical therapy consisting of electrostimulation (10 min.) and therapeutic massage (10 min.) was the base intervention for all groups. The experimental group (n = 10) was additionally exposed to a VR game intervention, while the control group (n = 12) underwent an intervention involving similar motions as the experimental intervention but with no VR. The intervention for the experimental group used the game Rig Fit Adventure on Nintendo switch. Both groups underwent their respective interventions 3 times a week (35 min. per session) for 4 weeks. Pain was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS), and QOL was assessed using the EuroQol five-dimensional five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Engagement was assessed using the Korea flow state scale (K-FSS). Finally, knee movement and function were assessed based on knee flexion and extension, range of motion (ROM), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Results: After the four-week physical therapy, both groups showed significant reductions in pain (on the NRS), increased knee ROM (flexion), better WOMAC scores, and increased EQ-5D-5L scores (p < 0.05), with the experimental group showing significantly better improvements in EQ-5D-5L and K-FSS scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that a VR-game-integrated intervention is effective for improving pain, QOL, engagement, and knee function in post-knee surgery patients and that VR-game-integrated interventions could be therapeutic alternatives for patients bedridden for prolonged periods with little motivation for rehabilitation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1046-1051
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• 2023

Cigarette smoking is one of the major causes of preventable diseases, disability, and death in Korea and worldwide. It has been clearly linked to the most common causes of death among the elderly and contributes to morbidity and disability associated with many chronic illnesses that are common in this age group. The health benefits of smoking cessation for the elderly have been clearly demonstrated. However, few studies have analyzed the relationship between health and smoking by considering the following many factors, especially among disabled people. In this study, we discuss the impacts of many factors on smoking among disabled people. Adults with disabilities are more likely to smoke than their peers. Public health agencies and practitioners should consider what reasonable adjustments may need to be made to policies and interventions to ensure that they are effective for adults with disabilities.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.107-120
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• 2024

This study aimed to identify factors associated with metabolic abnormalities in non-obese and obese postmenopausal women based on biopsychosocial model. Secondary data analysis was conducted using data from 5,335 postmenopausal women who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2021). According to logistic analysis with applying a complex simple analysis in SPSS 26.0, biomedical (increased age; a family history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases) and biosocial factors (low educational level) were associated with 1-2 metabolic abnormalities and metabolic syndrome, regardless of adiposity. Additionally, low familial socioeconomic status and prolonged sedentary behaviors were the biosocial and psychosocial factors associated with metabolic syndrome regardless of adiposity. Finally, insufficient physical activity was associated with metabolic syndrome in obese postmenopausal women. Based on these results, tailored strategies should be developed considering the significant factors associated with metabolic abnormalities and adiposity in postmenopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.974-982
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• 2023

Objective: Recent studies have highlighted the active and potential role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis and aneurysm progression, respectively. This study explored the link between PVAT attenuation and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression using computed tomography angiography (CTA). Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed patients with AAA who underwent CTA at baseline and follow-up between March 2015 and July 2022. The following parameters were obtained: maximum diameter and total volume of the AAA, presence or absence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT), maximum diameter and volume of the ILT, and PVAT attenuation of the aortic aneurysm at baseline CTA. PVAT attenuation was divided into high (> -73.4 Hounsfield units [HU]) and low (≤ -73.4 HU). Patients who had or did not have AAA progression during the follow-up, defined as an increase in the aneurysm volume > 10 mL from baseline, were identified. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the association between PVAT attenuation and AAA progression. Results: Our study included 167 participants (148 males; median age: 70.0 years; interquartile range: 63.0-76.0 years), of which 145 (86.8%) were diagnosed with AAA accompanied by ILT. Over a median period of 11.3 months (range: 6.0-85.0 months), AAA progression was observed in 67 patients (40.1%). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that high baseline PVAT attenuation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-4.32; P = 0.017) was independently associated with AAA progression. This association was demonstrated within the patients of AAA with ILT subcohort, where a high baseline PVAT attenuation (aHR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.08-4.60; P = 0.030) was consistently independently associated with AAA progression. Conclusion: Elevated PVAT attenuation is independently associated with AAA progression, including patients of AAA with ILT, suggesting the potential of PVAT attenuation as a predictive imaging marker for AAA expansion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, appearance satisfaction, and peer relationships between male and female middle school students, and to compare the effects of these variables on self-esteem in students of different genders. Methods: Data were collected in August and September of 2023 and analyzed using SPSS 24.0. Data were collected from 289 male and 240 female students through a survey, and descriptive statistics, x2 test, t-test, Scheffé test, and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results: Female students showed significantly higher scores for sociocultural attitudes toward appearance (3.06±0.77 vs. 2.82±0.74), significantly lower scores for appearance satisfaction (2.55±0.46 vs. 2.71±0.40), and significantly higher scores for peer relationships (3.46±0.69 vs. 3.00±0.78) than male students. Additionally, self-esteem was significantly lower in female students (2.84±0.59) than in male students (2.95±0.51). As a result of adjusting for weekly allowance, subjective academic achievement, family economic status, stress, and experience of sadness or despair, which were significant in the univariate analysis, self-esteem increased as appearance satisfaction (p for all <.001) and peer relationships increased in both male (p=.009) and female (p<.001) students. In addition, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance did not have a significant impact on self-esteem in both male and female students. Among general characteristics, weekly allowance, subjective academic achievement, and stress were found to have a significant effect on self-esteem in both genders. Relationships with parents had a significant effect on self-esteem only in male students, and experience of sadness or despair had a significant effect only in female students. Conclusion: In order to improve self-esteem in both boys and girls, appearance satisfaction and peer relationships should be improved. As boys with poor relationships with their parents and girls with high levels of sadness or despair are particularly likely to have low self-esteem, they are to be considered as a high-risk group.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2024

Background & Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between subjective health perception and health behaviors among adolescents, utilizing raw data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2021) while distinguishing between genders. Methods: The study employed data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2020), recruiting students from 1st to 3rd grades in middle and high schools nationwide. Through population stratification, sample distribution, and sampling stages, a final sample of 1,065 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years was selected. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) at a significance level of .05. Results: Regarding the general characteristics of the subjects, no statistically significant differences were observed among male students based on school, family structure, and income. However, among female students, a significant difference in subjective health perception was noted, with higher perception among high school students compared to middle school students (p=.001). Significant differences in health behaviors were identified based on family structure for male adolescents, where those living with both parents exhibited more health-promoting behaviors than single-parent adolescents (p=.011). However, no significant difference was observed among female adolescents. In terms of health behaviors related to gender, regular exercise was found to significantly impact subjective health perception in male adolescents (p=.013), while breakfast habits were identified as significant influencers for female adolescents (p<.001). Conclusions: This study revealed gender differences in subjective health perception and health behaviors among adolescents. Based on these findings, there is a perceived need for the development of health promotion programs tailored to the unique needs of male and female adolescents.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.783-790
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of arthritis self-management education on changes in arthritis-related knowledge levels and arthritis-specific self-efficacy among elderly individuals at a senior center. This study was conducted with one group pre-test and post-test design. The participants included 48 elderly individuals who utilized four senior centers, and they received arthritis self-management education for three weeks. Data analysis used a paired t-test to compare the effects before and after education. The results of the study showed that arthritis self-management education significantly increased arthritis-related knowledge (t=9.17, p<0.001) and arthritis-specific self-efficacy (t=3.96, p<0.001). There were significant differences in knowledge and self-efficacy levels by age group, with the results varying among participants aged 85 and above. These findings suggest that a three-week education program is appropriate for improving arthritis-related knowledge and self-efficacy among the elderly, and that education should be tailored to different age groups.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.519-531
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to analyze the aspects and characteristics of educational innovation planned and implemented at the university site targeting universities in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, and to explore their limitations and tasks. For this purpose, we analyzed the contents of innovation strategy programs among the plans of 17 universities in the national innovation support projects in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam area. First, the university innovation strategy was divided into input, process, infrastructure, and other factors, and among them, the process factor was divided into education, research, and industry-university cooperation to examine the aspects and characteristics of innovation. As a result of the study, the aspects of university innovation at universities in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam were analyzed in the areas of education, research, and industry-academia cooperation. Characteristics of innovation were emphasis on convergence education, competency development, smart system foundation, introduction of innovative teaching and learning techniques, consumer-centeredness, and regional linkage. The limitations and tasks of university innovation revealed through the research are as follows. First, a specialized university innovation business structure should be prepared in consideration of the context of local universities. Second, established strategies with high innovativeness must be implemented and sustained, and consensus among members is required for this. Third, the innovation of universities should not mean the centralization of academics, and the role and efforts of universities as a research institutions should be improved. Fourth, it should not be overlooked that more important than the visible innovation strategy of university innovation is the education innovation that occurs directly to students as a result of the education effect.

• Journal of Advanced Technology Convergence
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.57-70
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• 2024

This study is a correlational research to identify the factors influencing the infertility-related quality of life of infertile women. The participants included 131 infertile women who visited the department of obstetrics and gynecology of a general hospital in C city for infertility treatment. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire between May 11 and July 31, 2020. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Schéffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and simultaneous multiple regression using SPSS 18.0 program. The degree of infertility-related quality of life was 3.73±0.65. Infertility-related quality of life had a significant correlation with marital intimacy (r=.37, p<.001), spousal support (r=.38, p<.001), social support (r=.43, p<.001), infertility stress (r=-.74, p<.001) and depression(r=-.54, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that infertility stress (β=-.58, p<.001), depression (β=-.28, p<.001), and social support (β=.16, p=.011) had significant effects on the infertility-related quality of life in infertile women, These variables explained 64.0% of the infertility-related quality of life in infertile women. The main variables affecting infertility-related quality of life were found to be infertility stress, depression, and social support. Therefore, to improve the infertility-related quality of life of infertile women, hospitals should develop an intervention program that can reduce fertility stress and depression and improve social support. Studies should also be conducted to confirm these effects. Depression

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.348-358
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• 2012

This study aims to prepare the basic data of the teeth color by measuring analyze mode using the color of the maxillary anterior teeth (maxillary central incisor, lateral incisor, canine) of the college students in their twenties as the dental colorimeter. The maxillary anterior teeth of the subjects of study as 467 students (male 89, female 378) were measured from 14 November to 2 December, 2011, so the color of total 1,401 teeth was examined, and oral health and eating habit attributes were researched. The survey results were as follows. 1. The color of maxillary anterior teeth was changed from maxillary central incisor to maxillary canine, brightness ($L^*$) was decreased $76.79{\pm}4.86$ to $69.72{\pm}4.62$, red chroma ($a^*$) was increased $2.02{\pm}2.00$ to $4.10{\pm}2.60$, yellow chroma ($b^*$) was increased $15.51{\pm}3.42$ to $20.10{\pm}3.46$. 2. Brightness ($L^*$) was different according to sex (p< 0.001), major (p<0.001), grade (p<0.001), smoking (p<0.001), oral health education (p<0.01), daily brushing frequency (p<0.001), brushing method (p<0.05), oral hygiene devices (p<0.001), and red chroma ($a^*$) to major (p<0.001), daily brushing frequency (p<0.05), brushing time after meals (p<0.01), oral hygiene devices (p<0.01), and yellow chroma ($b^*$) to brushing time after meals (p<0.01), subjective tooth color (p<0.001). 3. Brightness ($L^*$) of eating habit attributes was different according to coke, candy ($R^2=0.053$, p<0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the color of maxillary anterior teeth has differences in brightness ($L^*$), red chroma ($a^*$), yellow chroma ($b^*$) from each tooth, also these showed various tendency according to the oral health and eating habit attributes.