Jong-Im Kim

Effects of regular exercise on pain, fatigue, and disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major health problem in Korea. To explore the effects of regular exercise on pain, fatigue, and disability, a descriptive study was conducted in 435 Korean patients with RA. Exercisers were defined as those who are currently exercising more than 3 times a week, for at least 20 minutes, and for more than 6-consecutive months after being diagnosed with RA. The primary finding was that exercisers had significantly less fatigue and disability compared with nonexercisers. Results suggest that regular exercise has advantages for patients with RA to decrease fatigue and disability.

Managing cardiovascular risks with Tai Chi in people with coronary artery disease

AIM The paper is a report of the study to determine the effects of the cardiovascular risk management programme with Tai Chi on cardiovascular risks, health behaviours and quality of life in individuals with coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND Many eligible patients with coronary artery disease do not participate in programmes for cardiovascular risk management, mainly because of lack of motivation, high cost or limited accessibility. Tai Chi has been introduced by health professionals to promote cardiovascular functioning and quality of life. METHODS A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was used. Eighty-five people with a mean age of 66 years completed pretest and 6-month follow-up measures in the following three groups: Tai Chi with education (n = 33), Tai Chi only (n = 19) and control (n = 33). Analysis of covariance was used to compare outcome variables with pretest variables as covariates to adjust for baseline differences. The data were collected in 2005-2006. RESULTS In the Tai-Chi-with-education group there were statistically significant reductions in modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (F = 3.49, P = 0.035) and improvements in health behaviours (F = 6.12, P = 0.003), mental scores (F = 3.96, P = 0.023), and in the role-emotional (F = 7.30, P = 0.001) and vitality (F = 3.81, P = 0.026) dimensions of quality of life. CONCLUSION Tai Chi was safely implemented as an alternative form of exercise in a cardiovascular risk management programme. Whether the beneficial effects of Tai Chi in cardiovascular risk management are comparable with those induced by other types of aerobic exercise requires further investigation.

A Validation Study of EQ-5D in the Patients with Osteoarthritis

Purpose: We aimed to test the validity of the EQ-5D (Euro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension), a brief and simple instrument, in measuring health related quality of life in the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: 183 participants attending the education programs for osteoarthritis patients at the Health Centers located in Seoul and Gyunggi province area during the periods of June to December in 2009 were interviewed with the EQ-5D and KWOMAC (Korean version of Western Ontario and McMaster Scale). The data were analysed with Spearman correlation coefficents and t-test by using of SPSS/WIN 12.0 version. Results: There was a negative correlation between knee pain, stiffness and difficulty in usual activity of sub category items of KWOMAC and EQ-5Dindex, while there was no correlation between these categories and EQ-VAS. Moreover, as a result of comparing the score of physical function measured by KWOMAC according to the severity degree of the EQ-5Dindex, the group of advanced stage having moderate and severe symptoms reported significantly higher scores of physical function than those of groups having no health problems. Conclusion: The EQ-5D is an acceptable and valid instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis.Purpose: We aimed to test the validity of the EQ-5D (Euro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension), a brief and simple instrument, in measuring health related quality of life in the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: 183 participants attending the education programs for osteoarthritis patients at the Health Centers located in Seoul and Gyunggi province area during the periods of June to December in 2009 were interviewed with the EQ-5D and KWOMAC (Korean version of Western Ontario and McMaster Scale). The data were analysed with Spearman correlation coefficents and t-test by using of SPSS/WIN 12.0 version. Results: There was a negative correlation between knee pain, stiffness and difficulty in usual activity of sub category items of KWOMAC and EQ-5Dindex, while there was no correlation between these categories and EQ-VAS. Moreover, as a result of comparing the score of physical function measured by KWOMAC according to the severity degree of the EQ-5Dindex, the group of advanced stage having moderate and severe symptoms reported significantly higher scores of physical function than those of groups having no health problems. Conclusion: The EQ-5D is an acceptable and valid instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis.

Factors Associated with Mammography Adherence among Married Chinese Women in Yanbian, China

BACKGROUND Despite the efficacy of regular mammograms, the incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer have been increasing in China. Insufficient studies on the factors affecting mammography adherence in Chinese married women have been conducted. The purpose of the present study was to explore the factors associated with adherence to guidelines for regular mammography among Chinese married women. MATERIALS AND METHODS The participants were recruited conveniently and included Chinese and Korean Chinese women who were married, living at Yanbian City in China. Demographic information, status regarding eight risk factors of breast cancer, health responsibility, and perceived benefits/barriers of mammography were obtained. Descriptive analyses, t-test, and multivariate analysis were performed. Hierarchical logistic regression was conducted to explore the factors associated with regular mammography adherence in Chinese and Korean Chinese subgroups. RESULTS About 24% of the sample population was adherent in going for regular mammography. The adherent group was significantly more educated, had more children, and had a lower proportion experiencing early menarche and a greater menopausal proportion than the non-adherent group. The final model using logistic regression analysis showed that being Chinese [OR=2.199 (1.224-3.951)], having no or one child [OR=4.879 (1.835-12.976)], early menarche [OR=3.515 (1.057-11.694)], being menopausal [OR=3.120 (0.965-10.088)], aged 40-49 [OR=2.374 (1.099-5.124)], having low education [OR=0.400 (0.211-0.765)], and perceiving greater benefits in doing mammography [OR=1.080 (1.014-1.151)] were significantly associated with mammography adherence, after controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS Sociocultural sensitive intervention for minorities should be emphasized when improving the adherence of regular mammography. Intervention tailored for women with lower education should be delivered and the benefits of mammography should be propagated to women in rural areas of China.

Activities of Daily Living, Health Related Quality of Life According to the Experience of Falls among the Aged in Community

Purpose: This study was to identify the experience of falls and activities of daily living, health-related quality of life among the aged in community. Method: Subjects of this study were used by the raw data is based on the Community Health Survey in 2008. The subjects consisted of 73 persons who have experienced falls and of randomized 73 persons who inexperienced falls among 3755 the aged over the age of 65, living in Chungnam Province. The data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0 for windows. Result: Most of accidents and poisonings were caused by slide/falls, and took place at home. Especially women experienced falls at home. Lower extremities were the most injured area. There was a statistical difference in activities of daily living, health-related quality of life in two groups: inexperienced group and experienced group. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the falls were related to activities of daily living and health-related quality of life. So it is necessary to give information about falls in the aged and further study.

The Effect of the Tai Chi Exercise Program on the Physical Function, Self-Esteem and Social Behavior of Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the Tai chi exercise program on the physical function, self-esteem and social behavior in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: This study utilized a nonequivalent control group with pretest-posttest design. The 45 subjects were recruited from a mental health care facility in D city and randomly assigned either to the experimental group (n

The Analysis on Published Research in the Journal of Muscle and Joint Health

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the published research in the Journal of Muscle and Joint Health and to suggest the future perspectives. Methods: In this study, we reviewed the contents of 195 articles published in this journal from the first issue of the year 1994 to 2007. Results: The majority of subjects were adult, mostly with arthritis. The position of the authors was mostly professor (73.3%). Most of studies did not clearly describe about ethical consideration. The data collection was mostly conducted in the hospital (53.8%) or community (36.9%), with the questionnaire (62.6%). The types of research design were correlational study (36.4%), experimental study (31.8%), survey (18.5%), and qualitative research (4.6%). Physical variables included pain, fatigue, activities of daily living, joint flexibility, muscle strength, etc., psychosocial variables were measured by self-efficacy, depression, quality of life, etc., and cognitive variables by knowledge, education, etc. The most utilized nursing intervention for experimental study were exercise, self-help, and education. Conclusion: Further research is needed to extend the target population research design from multidisciplinary perspectives.

Comparative Study of the Effects of Stretching Exercise and Aquatic Exercise Program

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of stretching exercise and aquatic exercise program on flexibility, pain and quality of life (QoL) in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: Fifty elderly women were assigned either to the stretching exercise (SEG, n

A psychometric evaluation of the Korean version of the evidence-based practice questionnaire for nurses

Abstract Background: Measurement of evidence-based practice (EBP) competence is a challenge in the health care setting. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ). Methods/Design: Data were collected from Korean clinical nurses (N = 801) who worked in acute care settings. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to assess its construct validity. Concurrent validity and internal consistence were also assessed. Results: Findings identified that EFA revealed a three-factor solution with 64.4% of total variance explained. The factor loadings ranged from 0.431 to 0.900 for the 24 items. The instrument showed good reliability and concurrent validity with the Critical Thinking Disposition scale. CFA revealed that the Korean version of the EBPQ was acceptable. Conclusion: The Korean version of the EBPQ is a valid and reliable evaluation measure of EBP competencies of nurses in South Korea.

The Relationships among Network Centrality, Psychological Well-being, and Intention to Exercise Maintenance in Participants of an Aquatic Exercise Program

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships among network centrality, psychological well-being (PWBS), and intention to exercise maintenance in participants of an aquatic exercise program. Methods: Using a single-experimental design, 17 osteoarthritis patients participated in an aquatic exercise program. The questionnaire to connect the network of members was used to peer nomination by Moreno (1953). Data were analyzed with the UCINET using centrality (degree, closeness, betweenness) and SPSS using descriptive statistics, wilcoxon signed ranked test, and spearman’s rho. Results: Closeness centrality, PWBS, and intention to exercise maintenance were significantly different between 4 weeks and 8 weeks. At 4 weeks, PWBS was positively correlated with closeness centrality. Intention to exercise maintenance was positively correlated with degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality. At 8 weeks, PWBS was positively correlated with closeness centrality. Intention to exercise maintenance was positively correlated with closeness centrality. Conclusion: The aquatic exercise program can be effective in increasing closeness centrality, psychological well-being, and intention to exercise maintenance. This was the first study attempted to analyze construction of member relationships in osteoarthritis patients participating an exercise program by using social network analysis.