This study was attempted to explore meaning in life and it's relationship to problematic life events, health status and depression among older people. 198samples of elderly were over the age 60 (mean age=70.06) conveniently selected in Seoul, Korea. The data were collected through questionaires by interview with subjects from April, 1, 1999 to May 30, 1999. The research instuments were the main framework in the experiment. They involved meaning fulfillment and problematic life events which were developed by Burbank (1988) and short form geriatric depression scale(Sheikh & Yesavage, 1986). The data were analysed by SAS Program. The results are followed; 1. 172 lists were given out and had objects that would bring meaning to one's life. They were categrized as wishing for offsprings' prosperity, their relation with their grand-children, marriage of their offspring, health of family members, strong family ties, caring for the family, relation with husband, health for self, religious activity, helping others, individual hobbies, needs for growth such as writing, In the end, 50% of total list dealt with in the relationship with their family members. 2. The mean fulfillment of the subjects was 38.31(SD=13.58) with a range of 12-60. The degree fulfillment varied according to the subjects' characteristics such as age group(F=4.44, 0P=.0008), education status (F=6.44, P=.0001), economic status (F=10.27, P=.0001), marrital status (F=9.12, P=.0002) and religious background (F=3.68, P=.006). 3. According to the pearson correlation, analysis significant variables were found between meaning fulfillment and health(r=.47,P=.0001), depression and the number of problematic life events for a life time (r=.147, P=.04), the stress score of problamatic life events for the past one year and the stress score of problematic life events for a life time was r=.43, P=.002, meaning fulfillment and the stress score of problamatic life events r=-.26, P=.04, depression and meaning fulfillment r=-.70, P=.0001 and depression and health r=-.521, P=.0001. 4. According to multiful regression analysis, depression was found as a most predictable variable for health(F=12.51, P=.001).
Aged* ; Depression ; Education ; Hobbies ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage ; Seoul ; Spouses ; Writing

This study was attempted to explore meaning in life and it's relationship to problematic life events, health status and depression among older people. 198samples of elderly were over the age 60 (mean age=70.06) conveniently selected in Seoul, Korea. The data were collected through questionaires by interview with subjects from April, 1, 1999 to May 30, 1999. The research instuments were the main framework in the experiment. They involved meaning fulfillment and problematic life events which were developed by Burbank (1988) and short form geriatric depression scale(Sheikh & Yesavage, 1986). The data were analysed by SAS Program. The results are followed; 1. 172 lists were given out and had objects that would bring meaning to one's life. They were categrized as wishing for offsprings' prosperity, their relation with their grand-children, marriage of their offspring, health of family members, strong family ties, caring for the family, relation with husband, health for self, religious activity, helping others, individual hobbies, needs for growth such as writing, In the end, 50% of total list dealt with in the relationship with their family members. 2. The mean fulfillment of the subjects was 38.31(SD=13.58) with a range of 12-60. The degree fulfillment varied according to the subjects' characteristics such as age group(F=4.44, 0P=.0008), education status (F=6.44, P=.0001), economic status (F=10.27, P=.0001), marrital status (F=9.12, P=.0002) and religious background (F=3.68, P=.006). 3. According to the pearson correlation, analysis significant variables were found between meaning fulfillment and health(r=.47,P=.0001), depression and the number of problematic life events for a life time (r=.147, P=.04), the stress score of problamatic life events for the past one year and the stress score of problematic life events for a life time was r=.43, P=.002, meaning fulfillment and the stress score of problamatic life events r=-.26, P=.04, depression and meaning fulfillment r=-.70, P=.0001 and depression and health r=-.521, P=.0001. 4. According to multiful regression analysis, depression was found as a most predictable variable for health(F=12.51, P=.001).
Aged* ; Depression ; Education ; Hobbies ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage ; Seoul ; Spouses ; Writing

BACKGROUND: Lamotrigne (LTG) is a newly developed antiepileptic drug which has shown to'be effective for medically intractable partial seizures. LTG was recently introduced to Korea but its clinical efficacy has not been investigated yet. METHODS: We assigned 34 medically intractable localization related epileptic patients taking maximally tolerable dose of carbarmazepine(CBZ). The study protocol consisted of 12 weeks of baseline phase, 4 weeks of phase I (drug -adjustment phase) and 8 weeks o f phase II (maintenance of LTG 200mg/day) After phase II, eligible patients entered into long-term therapy. Two patients dropped out during phase II for adverse event (AE) in one, and AE and poor seizure control in the other. RESULTS: Intention to treat analysis of the seizure outcome after 12 weeks of LTG add-on therapy showed mean seizure frequency reduction of 23.6% (p=O.006). More than 50% seizure frequency reduction was seen in 9 of 34 patients (26.4%), which was comparable to the results of previous clinical trials. On the other hand, the incidence of AE were quite high, which was developed in 27 patients. Dizziness with or without blurred vision and/or diplopia were the most common AE and occurred in 64.7%, which improved promptly by either reduction of CBZ or LTG doses. Twenty-two patients entered into long-term therapy and 18 patients showed either maintenance or more. LTG add-on therapy did not show any significant alterations of baseline Lab. Tests. DISCUSSION: LTG was an effective and safe new antiepileptic drug. However, about two-third of our patients developed A. E. similar to CBZtoxicity, which should be carefully considerd for treating patients taking maximally tolerable CBZ therapy. The proportion of patients taking LTG 300mg/day or more was very low in this study, which suggested the racial difference of tolerability to LTG.
Carbamazepine* ; Diplopia ; Dizziness ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Korea ; Seizures

OBJECTIVES: Our school introduced a new curriculum based on faculty-directed, intensive, small-group teaching of clinical skills in the third-year medical students. To examine its effects, we compared the mean scores on an OSCE between the third- and fourth-year medical students. METHODS: Third- and fourth-year students did rotations at the same five OSCE stations. They then completed a brief self-reporting questionnaire survey to examine the degree of satisfaction with new curriculum in the third-year students and clinical practice in the fourth-year students, as well as their perception of confidence and preparedness. We analyzed the OSCE data obtained from 158 students, 133 of whom also completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean OSCE scores on the breast examination and wet smear stations were significantly higher in the third-year group (P < 0.001). But mean OSCE scores of motor-sensory examination and lumbar puncture were significantly higher in the fourth-year group (P < 0.05). The mean OSCE scores had no significant correlation with satisfaction. In addition, the self-ratings of confidence had a high degree of correlation with satisfaction with new curriculum (r = 0.673) and clinical practice (r = 0.692). Furthermore, there was a moderate degree of correlation between satisfaction and preparedness in both groups (r = 0.403 and 0.449). CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant difference in the effect on the degree of clinical performance and confidence between an intensive-small group teaching and a 1-year clinical practice. If combined, intensive small group teaching and clinical practice would be useful to improve the degree of ability and confidence in medical students.
Breast ; Clinical Competence ; Curriculum ; Humans ; Spinal Puncture ; Students, Medical