Keum-Soon Kim

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.

Effects of Tai-Chi Exercise and Self-help Management Program Applying Laughter Therapy in Patients with Osteoarthritis

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effects of Tai-Chi exercise and self-help management program applying laughter therapy in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: This quasi-experimental study recruited a sample of 61 patients with osteoarthritis (experimental group: 30, control group: 31) through the community healthcare centers located in Seoul and Kyung Gi area. The primary outcome measures included symptoms of osteoarthritis, basic physical performance, fatigue, and depression assessed before and after the study. The data were analyzed using SPSSWIN V. 12.0. Results: At the end of the six-week intervention, left shoulder flexibility (t

Trends of Doctoral Dissertations of One College of Nursing in Korea

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the trend of nursing research by analyzing the doctoral dissertations in one college of nursing in Korea. Method: The areas of research, the methodological characteristics, and theories used in the research were explored in all doctoral dissertations (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.