Concept Formation ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; methods

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the long-term effect of concept formation training on the performance of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: The subjects were 22 schizophrenic patients, who performed poorly on WCST(completing less than 4 categories). The subjects were divided into two groups. The training group(N=11) underwent 3 days of concept formation training after baseline WCST and had post-training test 1 week later. The concept formation training is a stepwise training designed to teach the sorting principles of WCST, using cards different from WCST. Control group(N=11) did not undergo concept formation training and repeated test 1 week after baseline test. Both groups were retested for the 3rd time after almost a year(61.4+/-7.6 weeks later in training group; 35.2+/-12.0 weeks later in control group) RESULTS: The training group made significant improvements in total number correct, total number of errors, perseverative responses, perseverative errors, conceptual level responses, number of categories completed, and trials to complete first category after training. However, only the perseverative response and perseverative errors improved in the follow-up test. In control group, there were no significant differences among 3 testings. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that schizophrenic patients with poor performance in WCST may be able to improve their performance by stepwise concept formation training not only in short-term but also in long-term performance.
Concept Formation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Wisconsin*

In order to evaluate whether Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) could be used to detect the vulnerability markers of schizophrenia, three groups such as offsprings of schizophrenic patients(n=28), offsprings of alcoholic patients(n=18), and offsprings of psychiatrically normal persons(n=41) were examined for their concept formation and abstract thinking by means of WCST.The results were as follows; 1) No significant differences were noted in all variables of the WCST such as number of totol administered trials, total correct response %,total error response $,perseverative response %,perseverative error response %,nonperseverative error response %,conceptual level response %,number of completed category,number of trials to complete 1st category,number of failure to maintain a set,and learning to learn among three groups. 2) There was no difference in the number of cases with extreme low WCST total correct % of lower 10% of the normal controls among three groups. These results suggest that Wcst could be an ineffective instrument for using to detect the vulnerability markers of schizophrenia.
Alcoholics ; Concept Formation ; Humans ; Learning ; Schizophrenia ; Thinking ; Wisconsin*

PURPOSE: Concept maps have been studied and used in diverse ways in scientific fields. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness and limitations of using concept maps during problem-based learning (PBL) in Year 3 medical students. METHODS: After each PBL module, we gathered concept maps from each pair of students and questionnaires about the usefulness and limitations of concept maps, and analyzed them. RESULTS: There were two types of concept maps, with some modifications. The students felt that concept maps provided overall understanding, analysis, and reorganization of problem cases. But, they also criticized shortage of disciplines related to drawing skills and rationales for each type of map. A strong need for expert maps and feedback for students resulted. CONCLUSION: For optimal use of concept maps, we recommend that the committee implements a plan to teach drawing skills, explains rationales for each type of map, and gives feedback to students.
Concept Formation ; Humans ; Problem-Based Learning ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Concept analysis is an essential part of theory development in nursing. Thus, many strategies or methods of concept analysis have been suggested in nursing literature. However, in Korea, only limited strategies were utilized, without much consideration on a wide range of strategies in choosing a method that coincides with the characteristics of each concept to analyze. The purpose of this article was to propose various strategies for concept analysis. METHOD: A literature review method was used. RESULT: Ten methods of concept analysis were identified in the literature, and they were evaluated for advantages and limitations. In addition to the method by Walker and Avant and a hybrid model, more advanced strategies, such as triangulation method, critical analysis and the feminist approach were introduced and described in detail. The examples used in each concept analysis method were presented in table to provide the extent of utilization of each method. CONCLUSION: This article provides a wide range of strategies in identifying, clarifying, or elaborating a concept. It might help in choosing a method that best fits the concept to analyze, thus enhancing quality of concept analysis research.
*Concept Formation ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Humans ; *Nursing Theory ; Research Design

Words denoting abstract concepts constitute nearly half of human lexicon and serve as building blocks of the human culture. Since the advent of non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, great progress has been made in revealing the neurobiological foundation of concrete object and action concepts, yet it remains unclear how abstract concepts are stored and processed in the brain. Here we review recent development in this field, focusing on both theoretical perspectives and neuroimaging findings. We found that abstract concepts can be represented via linguistic and experiential information; the neural correlates of abstract concepts are partly in line with such a theoretical framework. Future studies are warranted to uncover the cognitive and neural mechanisms of language and experience in abstract word representation, which will help to deepen our understanding of general computational principles of the human conceptual system and to promote the development of the brain-like artificial intelligence.
Brain ; physiology ; Cognition ; Concept Formation ; Humans ; Language ; Semantics

The idea of acupoint in Internal Classic was investigated in this article. And it is held that obvious morphological features, including sunk surfaces, joint caves, gaps between muscles, collate-rals, pulses, blocked tendons and tenderness at the surface of the body can be found at where acupoints locate. The morphological characters of acupoint conform to its original meanings. To locate acupoints by their morphological features provides evidence basis for point locating in clinic, which is considered to be favourable for clinical practice. Since locations of acupoints gradually fixed in later ages, which take proportional measurement as the main method, acupoint locating is also gradually divorced from their early concepts and practice.
Acupuncture Points ; China ; Concept Formation ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop and validate Detailed Clinical Models (DCMs) for nursing assessments and interventions. METHODS: First, we identified the nursing assessment and nursing intervention entities. Second, we identified the attributes and the attribute values in order to describe the entities in more detail. The data type and optionality of the attributes were then defined. Third, the entities, attributes and value sets in the DCMs were mapped to the International Classification for Nursing Practice Version 2 concepts. Finally, the DCMs were validated by domain experts and applied to case reports. RESULTS: In total 481 DCMs, 429 DCMs for nursing assessments and 52 DCMs for nursing interventions, were developed and validated. The DCMs developed in this study were found to be sufficiently comprehensive in representing the clinical concepts of nursing assessments and interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The DCMs developed in this study can be used in electronic nursing records. These DCMs can be used to ensure the semantic interoperability of the nursing information documented in electronic nursing records.
Concept Formation ; Dietary Sucrose ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Nursing Assessment ; Nursing Process ; Nursing Records ; Semantics

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) reference terminology model for nursing to describe the terminological value domain content regarding the entities and attributes of the detailed clinical models (DCMs) used for nursing assessments. METHODS: The first author mapped 52 DCM entities and 45 DCM attributes used for perinatal care nursing assessments to semantic domains and their qualifiers to the ISO model. The mapping results of the entity and attribute concepts were classified into four categories: mapped to a semantic domain qualifier, mapped to a semantic domain, mapped to a broader semantic domain concept, and not mapped. The DCM mapping results were classified into three categories: fully mapped, partially mapped, and not mapped. The second author verified the mapping. RESULTS: All of the entities and 53.3% of the attribute concepts of the DCMs were mapped to semantic domains or semantic domain qualifiers of the ISO model, 37.8% of the attributes were mapped to the broader semantic domain concept, and 8.9% of the attributes were not mapped. At the model level, 48.1% of the DCMs were fully mapped to semantic domains or semantic domain qualifiers of the ISO model, and 51.9% of the DCMs were partially mapped. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate that the ISO reference terminology model for nursing is applicable in representing the DCM structure for perinatal care nursing assessment. However, more qualifiers of the Judgment semantic domain are required in order to clearly and fully represent all of the entities and attributes of the DCMs used for nursing assessment.
Concept Formation ; Judgment ; Medical Records Systems, Computerized ; Nursing Assessment ; Perinatal Care ; Semantics

OBJECTIVES: During the past two decades, food deprivation and hunger have been recognized to be not just the concerns of only underdeveloped or developing countries, but as problems for many affluent Western nations as well. Many countries have made numerous efforts to define and measure the extent of these problems. Based on these efforts, the theory and practice of food security studies has significantly evolved during the last decades. Thus, this study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the concept and measurement of food security. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this review, we introduce the definition and background of food security, we describe the impact of food insecurity on nutrition and health, we provide its measurements and operational instruments and we discuss its applications and implications. Some practical information for the use of the food security index in South Korea is also presented. CONCLUSIONS: Food security is an essential element in achieving a good nutritional and health status and it has an influence to reduce poverty. The information about the current understanding of food security can help scientists, policy makers and program practitioners conduct research and maintain outreach programs that address the issues of poverty and the promotion of food security.
Concept Formation ; Food Supply/*economics ; Humans ; Hunger ; Poverty ; Questionnaires ; Socioeconomic Factors