ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat, and blood pressure are important indicators of a person's health. In this experimental study, we evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated personalized health care system, Health Improvement and Management System (HIMS)-everyday, which instantly provides subjects with biofeedback on their measured body weight, BMI, body fat and blood pressure using a database that stores subjects-customized information. METHODS: The subjects of this study used the system once or twice a week for 8 weeks. We analyzed the changes in their body weight, BMI, body fat, and blood pressure according to their respective usage of the system, and analyzed the changes in their perceived health status and health promoting behavior accordingly. RESULTS: Subjects' body weight, BMI, and blood pressure decreased significantly with respect to their individual usage of the system. Subjects who used the system more frequently showed significant improvement in their body weight, BMI, and body fat. However, subjects' perceived health status and health promoting behavior did not improve significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the biofeedback-based personalized health care system was effective in controlling middle-aged and elderly women' body weight, BMI, body fat, and blood pressure.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Adipose Tissue , Biofeedback, Psychology , Blood Pressure , Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Delivery of Health Care , Health Behavior , Information Systems , Women's HealthABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Body weight is an important indicator of a person's health status. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the body weight management system, HIMS (Health Improvement and Management System)-Diet, which instantly provides users with feedback on their measured weight using the database that stores the user.customized information. METHODS: The participants of this experimental study used the system two or three times a week for 10 weeks. We analyzed the changes in their body weight and body mass index (BMI) according to their respective usage of the system. RESULTS: Participants' body weight and BMI decreased with respect to their individual usage of the system. Participants that used the system frequently for a longer time period improved significantly in their body weight and BMI. CONCLUSION: The experimental study showed that the body weight management system, HIMS-Diet, was effective in controlling people's body weight.
Subject(s)
Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Body Weight ChangesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: People can accomplish their objectives of exercise only when they exercise in moderation, meaning according to the personalized exercise prescriptions that are adjusted to their health status and fitness level. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the personalized exercise prescriptions generated from HIMS(Health Improvement and Management System). METHODS: Subjects of experimental study exercised in their daily life according to their exercise prescriptions generated from HIMS for 10 weeks. We compared and analyzed the difference of their physical and psycho-social health status between before and after 10 weeks of exercise. RESULTS: Subjects' heart rate and blood pressure was improved meaningfully after 10 weeks of exercise. Subjects' body fat and agility was improved meaningfully after 5 weeks of exercise. Subjects' psycho-social health was improved meaningfully after 5 and 10 weeks of exercise. CONCLUSION: The experimental study showed that the personalized exercise prescriptions generated from HIMS were effective to improve and maintain the health and wellness.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adipose Tissue , Blood Pressure , Heart Rate , PrescriptionsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This research was conducted to explore the experience of middle-aged women parting with their children and to develop a grounded theory. METHOD: The participants were 11 women in their 50's who had experienced parting with their children due to schooling, military service and marriage. The grounded theory methodology based on symbolic interactionism was used. RESULTS: 106 concepts, 30 subcategories and 14 categories were derived from the analysis through processes of open coding, axial coding and selective coding. The central phenomenon was 'happy but sad' and the core category was a process of 'independence that is sorrowful yet delightful'. Four types were identified; the independent-type; submissive -type; family-reliant-type ; and fragile-type; based on the attachment to the child, state of mind, satisfaction of the situation, family support system and self-achievement. CONCLUSION: This research identified that the modern Korean middle-aged women who are considered to be the 'sandwich generation' since they have experienced a turbulent history and the change from a confucian parent-child lifestyle to a couple-oriented one, moved away from an attitude dependent on children in parting with them and started preparing for an independent late life. Based on the results, the verification research is advised on the variables that affect the experience of parting with children.
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Clinical Coding , Life Style , Marriage , Military PersonnelABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the relation among social support, drinking and smoking and to identify factors affecting high school students' smoking and drinking behaviors. METHODS: Data were collected from 361 high school students (182 students in 2 preparatory schools and 179 students in 2 vocational high schools) who were selected through convenient sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 for Windows. RESULTS: Factors affecting smoking behavior were drinking(OR=15.86. p<0.01), school type(R=11.82, p<0.01), school record(OR=46.62. p<0.001), pocket money (OR= 10.91. p<0.01) and brother's smoking (OR=9.09. p<0.05). Factors affecting drinking behavior were smoking(OR=8.32. p<0.01), school type(OR=2.53. p<0.01), school record(OR=2.35. p<0.01), pocket money(OR=2.01. p<0.05), father's educational background(OR=2.126. p<0.05), mother's drinking(OR= 1.83. p<0.05) and relationship with teacher (OR=2.44. p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The behaviors of drinking and smoking in high school students were highly correlated with each other. School record, school type, pocket money and family member's behaviors influenced student's behaviors. Further study is required to estimate the effect of drinking and smoking intervention programs according to student's characteristics such as school record, school type, pocket money management, and family members' influence.