Haeng-Mi Son

[Quality of life and illness intrusiveness by type-D personality in the patients with coronary artery disease].

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of the type-D personality on quality of life and illness intrusiveness. METHODS This study was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaire from 200 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Variables were measured with the Type-D Scale-14 (DS14), Korean Health Related Quality of Life Scale (KoQoLS), and the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (ILRS). RESULTS Of the patients, 38% were classified as type-D personality. Among the 10 subcategories of quality of life, the highest mean score was bodily pain (5.84+/-.85) and the lowest was role limitation (1.52+/-.20). Among 13 item of illness intrusiveness, the highest mean score was health (3.78+/-.73) and the lowest was family relationships (2.14+/-.58). There were significant differences in all the subcategories of quality of life between type-D and non type-D except for subcategories of bodily pain and role limitation. However, there were no significant differences in illness intrusiveness between type-D and non type-D. CONCLUSION Type-D is an important factor in quality of life in patients with CAD, but no correlations between type-D and illness intrusiveness were found. These results can be used as basic data for developing cardiac rehabilitation programs to improve quality of life in type-D patients.

Factors Affecting Depression of Korean Female University Students

Purpose: This purpose of study was to examine the degree of the depression and to identify the affecting factors on the depression of Korean female university students. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. Data were collected from 448 female university students. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire including general characteristics, depression, well-being, stress, self-efficacy, social support, coping, self-esteem, and temperament. Results: The mean of Beck`s Depression Inventory was 11.07. The affecting factors on the depression of female university students were stress, well-being, self-esteem, health status and major. The proportion of variance explained by these affecting factors was 50.0%. Conclusion: Depression among female university students were associated with various factors. Considering these factors, intervention programs should be developed to reduce depression of female university students.

A qualitative study of the experiences of patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing moxibustion

Objective To explore and understand how patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) experience moxibustion. Method This qualitative research was conducted as part of a larger clinical trial of the effectiveness of moxibustion for the treatment of knee OA by qualitative content analysis. Sixteen patients with mild knee OA who participated in a 12-week moxibustion treatment as part of the trial were interviewed using open-ended questions. Results The participants recognised knee OA as a normal ageing process that caused physical and emotional discomfort in daily life. Regardless of any adverse effects of moxibustion, most of the participants were interested in continuous moxibustion treatment as a long-term management strategy and for general health. Conclusions This study suggests that moxibustion can be helpful in managing symptoms related to knee OA. Patients’ attitudes towards moxibustion can affect the treatment result and those who prefer it want to continue the treatment for a long time because they understand that knee OA is a chronic condition which needs continuous care. However, practitioners need to pay more attention to those who are very enthusiastic because they tend to endure treatment-related adverse events in their desire for better effects.

Leg Length Inequality, Habitual Posture, and Pain in Women's College Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the leg length Inequality, habitual posture, and pain in women`s college students. Methods: The subjects were 281 students, in 8 women`s college in Korea. The tapelines were used for measuring leg length Inequality and questionnaires were used for measuring habitual posture, and pain. The data were collected between August and October 2010 and analyzed using SPSSWIN 11.5. length Inequality(

Experiences with, perceptions of and attitudes towards traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in patients with chronic fatigue: a qualitative, one-on-one, in-depth interview study

Objectives To explore perceptions and experiences of patients with chronic fatigue with traditional Korean medicine (TKM) and their motivation for choosing TKM. Design Qualitative, one-on-one, in-depth interview study. Setting Primary TKM hospitals in Seoul, Incheon and Daejeon, South Korea. Results 15 patients with chronic fatigue were interviewed in this study. Patients with chronic fatigue experienced physical and psychological symptoms that resulted in severe difficulties associated with routine daily activities. The motivations for choosing TKM were primarily dissatisfaction with conventional medicine and previous positive experiences with TKM. While undergoing TKM treatment, patients found that TKM practitioners considered fatigue to be a treatable illness; also, patients felt comfortable with the doctor–patient relationship in TKM. Conclusions Healthcare providers need to be concerned about the symptoms of chronic fatigue to a degree that is in line with the patients own perceptions. Korean patients with chronic fatigue choose TKM as an alternative to fulfil their long-term needs that were unmet by conventional medicine, and they are greatly positively influenced by TKM. TKM may present a possible therapy to alleviate symptoms of diseases that conventional medicine does not address and is an approach that has a considerable effect on Korean patients.

A multi-center, randomized controlled clinical trial, cost-effectiveness and qualitative research of electroacupuncture with usual care for patients with non-acute pain after back surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAlthough pain after back surgery is known to be difficult to control, various treatment options are available to patients and physicians. A protocol for a confirmatory randomized controlled trial (RCT) on pain and function after back surgery was designed based on the results of a pilot trial. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) with usual care (UC) versus UC alone on pain control and functional improvement after back surgery.Methods/designThis study is a multi-center, randomized, assessor-blinded trial with an active control conducted in conjunction with a cost-effectiveness analysis and qualitative research. Participants with non-acute low back pain with or without leg pain after back surgery who have a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain intensity score ≥ 50 mm will be randomly assigned to either the EA with UC group (n = 54) or the UC group (n = 54). Following randomization, participants in both groups will receive the same UC treatment twice a week for a four-week treatment period. Participants assigned to the EA with UC group will additionally receive EA twice a week for the same four-week period. The primary outcome measure will be assessed using a VAS pain intensity score for low back pain. The secondary outcomes will include the Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQol 5-Dimension score, and drug intake. The primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at one, four, and eight weeks post randomization.DiscussionThe results of this study will provide evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of EA in managing postoperative pain following back surgery. In addition, the qualitative research results will help improve the quality of integrative medical interventions.Trial registrationClinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea, KCT0001939. Registered on 8 June 2016.