Efficacy and Safety of Caregiver-Mediated Exercise in Post-stroke Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of our 4-week caregiver-mediated exercise (CME) in improving trunk control capacity, gait, and balance and in decreasing concerns about post-stroke falls when there is an increase in its efficacy. METHODS: Acute or subacute stroke survivors were assigned to either the trial group (n=35) or the control group (n=37). Changes in Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) scores at 4 weeks from baseline served as primary outcome measures. Correlations of primary outcome measures with changes in Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) scores at 4 weeks from baseline in the trial group served as secondary outcome measures. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) served as safety outcome measures. RESULTS: There were significant differences in changes in MBI, FAC, BBS, TIS-T, TIS-D, TIS-C, and FES-I scores at 4 weeks from baseline between the two groups (all p < 0.0001). There were no significant (p=0.0755) differences in changes in TIS-S scores at 4 weeks from baseline between the two groups. MBI, FAC, BBS, and TIS scores showed significantly inverse correlations with FES-I scores in patients receiving CME. There were no TEAEs in our series. CONCLUSION: CME was effective and safe in improving the degree of independence, ambulation status, dynamic and static balance, trunk function, and concerns about post-stroke falls in stroke survivors.

Development of Nutrition Education Contents for Pregnant Women Based on Effective Communication Strategies / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to develop communication strategies for effective nutrition education targeting pregnant women and to create nutrition education contents. METHODS: The format and the contents of online resources on nutrition information for pregnant women provided by reliable institutions were analyzed. Possible solutions to overcome barriers of nutrition education as well as communication strategies for effective nutrition education were identified by a brainstorming process. Based on the communication strategies, contents for nutrition education were created. Understandability, level of interest, applicability to daily life, harmony of text and illustration, and overall satisfaction of the contents were evaluated by dietitians and pregnant women. RESULTS: The four communication strategies were developed; (1) to focus on a few important messages, (2) to provide evidence-based information, (3) to create illustrations or infographics with a minimum amount of text, and (4) to provide tips on how to improve the current diet options. Based on these strategies, the contents were focused on three important nutrients for pregnant women, folate, iron, and calcium. The percentages of the recommended nutrient intakes of the three nutrients on selected menu and its improved version by adding a dish or changing a dish into another dish were calculated and provided. Finally, the contents were delivered as illustrations with a minimum amount of text. Overall, dietitians and pregnant women were satisfied with the contents. CONCLUSIONS: The contents developed in this study can be used in a pamphlet or a pregnancy diary, or can be shared in social networking services. Further contents on other nutrients and various menu are expected to be developed using these communication strategies.

Development of Education Materials as a Card News Format for Nutrition Management of Pregnant and Lactating Women / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to develop a series of education materials as a card news format to provide nutrition information for pregnant and lactating women. METHODS: The materials were developed in seven steps. As a first step, the needs of pregnant and lactating women were assessed by reviewing scientific papers and existing education materials, and by interviewing a focus group. The second step was to construct main categories and the topics of information. In step 3, a draft of the contents in each topic was developed based on the scientific evidence. In step 4, a draft of card news was created by editors and designers by editing the text and embedding images in the card news. In step 5, the text, images and sequences were reviewed to improve readability by the members of the project team and nutrition experts. In step 6, parts of the text or images or the sequences of the card news were revised based on the reviews. In step 7, the card news were finalized and released online to the public. RESULTS: A series of 26 card news for pregnant and lactating women were developed. The series covered five categories such as nutrition management, healthy food choices, food safety, favorites to avoid, nutrition management in special conditions for pregnant and lactating women. The satisfaction of 7 topics of the card news was evaluated by 140 pregnant women, and more than 70% of the women were satisfied with the materials. CONCLUSIONS: The card news format materials developed in this study are innovative nutrition education tools, and can be downloaded on the homepage of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Those materials can be easily shared in social media by nutrition educators or by pregnant and lactating women to use.

Necessity to Develop a Tool to Evaluate Activity of Daily Living for Electric Powered Indoor/Outdoor Chair Users

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in activity of daily living before and after provision of electric-powered indoor/outdoor chair (EPIOC), discuss problems of current activities of daily living (ADL) evaluating tools for EPIOC users, and provide preliminary data to develop ADL evaluation tool for EPIOC user. METHODS: A total of 70 users who were prescribed EPIOC and had been using for more than 1 year were recruited in this study. Before and after provision of EPIOC, MBI and FIM scores were measured and a questionnaire consisting of six categories (general socioeconomic states, currently using state, whether EPIOC was helpful for social participation and occupational chances, psychiatric influences, self-reported degrees of independency, and barriers of using EPIOC) was used. RESULTS: No difference in MBI scores before and after provision of EPIOC was observed. However, the wheelchair ambulation category showed a significant difference. While motor FIM was not significantly different from MBI, FIM score were significantly (p<0.05) higher than MBI. For questions regarding social participation frequency, helpfulness of EPIOC on confidence, refreshing patients' emotions and self-reported degrees of independence, all of them showed positive responses. Especially, EPIOC users' self-reported degree of independency showed favorable results. There was discrepancy in MBI or FIM measured by physicians. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that there was a gap between the existing ADL evaluation tool and the ADL level that EPIOC users were actually feeling. Thus, it is necessary to develop an evaluation tool specifically for EPIOC.

The Effect of Isoflavone Supplementation on Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of isoflavone supplementation on hormone levels, lipid profiles and total antioxidant status in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: Total 11 women with polycystic ovary syndrome were supplemented daily with 150mg of isoflavone for 6 months. Blood samples were collected 0, 3, and 6 months after supplement of isoflavone for analysis of LH, FSH, E2, testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG levels, serum lipid profiles, and total antioxidant status (TAS). RESULTS: After 6 months isoflavone supplementation, the hormone levels did not change significantly. Serum lipid profiles did not show any significant change in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoprotein(a), and free fatty acid levels. However, there was significant increase in HDLcholesterol (p<0.05) for 3 months. Total antioxidant status was increased significantly after isoflavone supplementation for 6 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Isoflavone supplementation showed positive effects on the HDL-cholesterol and total antioxidant status. it is implicated that isoflavone supplementation will may have a effect on cardiovascular disease in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The center for epidemiologic studies-depression scale: its use in Korea / 신경정신의학

No abstract available.