OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Korean translation of Gambling Symptom Rating Scale (KG-SAS). METHODS: Using self-report sampling, we eventually included 231 subjects and analysed 70 subjects. These subjects were tested for KG-SAS and the Korean version of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). RESULTS: In the reliability test, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .913 which provided the evidence for the internal consistency. Content validity was assessed with factor analysis and two factors were extracted. Compared with the original scale, both scales embody the same theoretical conceptualization. To assess the validity of the KG-SAS, correlation coefficient was calculated between the KG-SAS and the Korean version of BIS. We got the result that there was a correlation between the KG-SAS and the Korean version of BIS (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study support that the KG-SAS is a reliable and valid scale for evaluating pathological gambling symptom assessment. Based on the results, this study suggests that KG-SAS would be a promising measurement to treat and study pathological gambling.
Gambling* ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Symptom Assessment* ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: Recent evidence suggests that cough hypersensitivity may be a common feature of chronic cough in adults. However, the clinical relevance remains unclear. This study evaluated the cough-related symptom profile and the clinical relevance and impact of cough hypersensitivity in adults with chronic cough. METHODS: This cross-sectional multi-center study compared cough-related laryngeal sensations and cough triggers in patients with unexplained chronic cough following investigations and in unselected patients newly referred for chronic cough. A structured questionnaire was used to assess abnormal laryngeal sensations and cough triggers. Patients with unexplained cough were also evaluated using the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and a cough visual analogue scale (VAS), and these scores were assessed for correlations with the number of triggers and laryngeal sensations. RESULTS: This study recruited 478 patients, including 62 with unexplained chronic cough and 416 with chronic cough. Most participants reported abnormal laryngeal sensations and cough triggers. Laryngeal sensations (4.4 ± 1.5 vs. 3.9 ± 1.9; P = 0.049) and cough triggers (6.9 ± 2.6 vs. 5.0 ± 2.8; P < 0.001) were more frequent in patients with unexplained chronic cough than in those with chronic cough. The number of triggers and laryngeal sensations score significantly correlated with LCQ (r = −0.51, P < 0.001) and cough VAS score (r = 0.53, P < 0.001) in patients with unexplained chronic cough. CONCLUSIONS: Cough hypersensitivity may be a common feature in adult patients with chronic cough, especially those with unexplained chronic cough. Cough-related health status and cough severity were inversely associated with the number of triggers and laryngeal sensations, suggesting potential relevance of assessing cough hypersensitivity in chronic cough patients.
Adult ; Cough ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Sensation ; Symptom Assessment

OBJECTIVES: Cross-hatching incisions have been considered mandatory for correcting cartilaginous septal deviation. We evaluated the clinical outcome of septoplasty without cross-hatching incisions to determine the necessity for making septal cartilage incisions. METHODS: The reconstructed septal components during septoplasty were categorized into four anatomical areas: vomer, maxillary crest, perpendicular plate of ethmoid (PPE) and septal cartilage (the area for cross-hatching incisions). During septoplasty, we attempted to complete the surgery only by removing or fracturing the bony part of the septum without cross-hatching incisions on the cartilage. Only in the cases that the deviation was not immediately corrected, the cross-hatching incisions were made onto the cartilage at the end of the procedure. We analyzed the frequency of manipulating the septal components. The changes of symptoms were evaluated using a modified nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale and a visual analog scale (VAS) preoperatively, 1 and 3 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Seventy five percents of the deviated septums were immediately corrected only by removing or fracturing of the bony septal components. In decreasing order of frequency, the sepal components for correcting septal deviation were the vomer (59%), maxillary crest (49%), septal cartilage (cross-hatching only: 25%) and PPE (15%). The modified NOSE scale and the VAS demonstrated significant improvement of the nasal symptoms postoperatively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of septal deviations could be corrected by manipulating only the bony septum. The results of this procedure were not different from conventional septoplasty with cross-hatching incisions. Our data suggest cross-hatching incisions during septoplasty might have been overemphasized and that the main cause for cartilaginous deviation may be the extrinsic forces that are generated by the neighboring bony structures.
Cartilage ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum ; Nose ; Symptom Assessment ; Vomer

OBJECTIVES: Cross-hatching incisions have been considered mandatory for correcting cartilaginous septal deviation. We evaluated the clinical outcome of septoplasty without cross-hatching incisions to determine the necessity for making septal cartilage incisions. METHODS: The reconstructed septal components during septoplasty were categorized into four anatomical areas: vomer, maxillary crest, perpendicular plate of ethmoid (PPE) and septal cartilage (the area for cross-hatching incisions). During septoplasty, we attempted to complete the surgery only by removing or fracturing the bony part of the septum without cross-hatching incisions on the cartilage. Only in the cases that the deviation was not immediately corrected, the cross-hatching incisions were made onto the cartilage at the end of the procedure. We analyzed the frequency of manipulating the septal components. The changes of symptoms were evaluated using a modified nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale and a visual analog scale (VAS) preoperatively, 1 and 3 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Seventy five percents of the deviated septums were immediately corrected only by removing or fracturing of the bony septal components. In decreasing order of frequency, the sepal components for correcting septal deviation were the vomer (59%), maxillary crest (49%), septal cartilage (cross-hatching only: 25%) and PPE (15%). The modified NOSE scale and the VAS demonstrated significant improvement of the nasal symptoms postoperatively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of septal deviations could be corrected by manipulating only the bony septum. The results of this procedure were not different from conventional septoplasty with cross-hatching incisions. Our data suggest cross-hatching incisions during septoplasty might have been overemphasized and that the main cause for cartilaginous deviation may be the extrinsic forces that are generated by the neighboring bony structures.
Cartilage ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum ; Nose ; Symptom Assessment ; Vomer

The Psychopathology of schizophrenia is composed of many heterogeneous symptom complex, and multifaceted approaches have been done on this subject. It is so simplified a method that the complex symptoms of schizophrenia are classified into only positive and negative symptoms. Preceded studies of other researchers said cognitive deficit of the schizophrenics played important roles in the symptom formation. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the relationship between the symptoms of schizophrenia and the memory function and low level of cognitive function. In this study, 30 subacute and chronic schizophrenic patients were included. PANSS(Positive and Negative Symptom Scale) was applied to evaluate the clinical symptoms in each subject. The memory function and low level cognitive function were evaluated using WMS-R(Wechsler Memory Scale-revised version) and Decision-reaction timer. The results showed negative correlations between cognitive factor of PANSS(5 factor model) and delayed recall of WMS-R. These results suggest the possibility that symptom evaluation using PANSS can be a preliminary estimation of cognitive function in schizophrenia.
Humans ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests* ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia* ; Symptom Assessment

Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Self Report ; Symptom Assessment

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the symptoms and care needs of home-based cancer patients in Korea and to add to the scarce literature on this topic. METHODS: Data were collected from patients who subscribed to home-based cancer care services in Jinju. Assessments were performed by nurses at the local public health center. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System with a numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to identify symptoms, and a four-point Likert scale was used to assess psychological, social, and spiritual needs. RESULTS: Cross-sectional data were collected in October 2013. A total of 209 patients participated and their median age was 65 years (range, 17~89 years). Most patients were diagnosed in the early stage of cancer (n=188); only 19 patients were diagnosed in the advanced stage. More than half the patients lived alone (n=115, 55.0%) and took care of themselves (n=128, 61.2%). Anorexia and fatigue were the most common symptoms (median NRS, 5 and 4, respectively). Patients needed economic support the most, whereas spiritual care was least needed (n=138 [67.3%] vs. n=128 [62.1%], respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients who signed up for home-based cancer care services in Jinju are struggling with a financial issue and physical symptoms. A customized approach is needed to improve the quality of the home-based care services.
Anorexia ; Fatigue ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Korea ; Needs Assessment ; Public Health ; Symptom Assessment

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Itopride is a newly developed prokinetic agent enhancing gastric motility through both antidopaminergic and anti-acetylcholinesterase actions. The importance of esophageal motor dysfunction in the pathogenesis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) makes it interesting to examine the effect of itopride on esophageal acid exposure. METHODS: The effect of itopride on esophageal 24-hour acid reflux variables was studied in 26 patients with GERD symptoms, pre-entry total acid exposure time (pH<4) of more than 5% and mild esophagitis (Savary-Miller grade I, II) by endoscopy. Ambulatory 24-hour pH monitoring and symptom assessment were performed after treatment with itopride 50 mg or 100 mg t.i.d for 4 weeks by a randomization allocation schedule with an open label. RESULTS: In both itopride groups, total symptom scores were decreased after treatment significantly. Itopride 300 mg was significantly more effective than 150 mg in decreasing the total time and total percent time of intraesophageal pH below 4, and DeMeester score. Consequently, no serious adverse effects were reported after administration in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Itopride 100 mg t.i.d is effective to decrease pathologic reflux in patients with GERD. Therefore, it has a therapeutic potential for this diseases.
Appointments and Schedules ; Endoscopy ; Esophagitis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Random Allocation ; Symptom Assessment

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify the relationships among symptom bother, physical and mental stress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. METHODS: The participants were 106 women who were diagnosed with OAB (urgency, urge urinary incontinence, frequency, and/or nocturia) at P university hospital. Data were collected from Dec 23, 2011 to Aug 31, 2012. RESULTS: The mean score for symptom bother was 43.1 points, for physical stress, 12.8 which was slightly higher than mental stress (11.8), and for HRQoL, 63.9. For symptom type, there were statistically significant differences in the symptom bother (F=8.67, p<.001) and HRQL (F=3.32, p= .023). The Symptom bother of OAB was positively correlated with physical stress (r=.23, p= .014) and mental stress (r=.33, p<.001) and negatively correlated with the subscales of HRQoL; coping (r=-.66, p<.001), concern (r=-.71, p<.001), sleep (r=-.59, p<.001), and social interaction (r=-.58, p<.001). CONCLUSION: From the results, bother symptom was associated with physical, mental stress and HRQoL. These results suggest that nursing intervention programs for OAB should be developed not only to relieve the symptoms but also to reduce stress and improve the quality of life.
Female ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Symptom Assessment ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urinary Incontinence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several specific foods are known to precipitate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and GERD patients are usually advised to avoid such foods. However, foods consumed daily are quite variable according to regions, cultures, etc. This study was done to elucidate the food items which induce typical GERD symptoms in Korean patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six Korean patients with weekly typical GERD symptoms were asked to mark all food items that induced typical GERD symptoms from a list containing 152 typical foods consumed daily in Korea. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy followed by 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring. The definition of “GERD” was if either of the 2 studies revealed evidence of GERD, and “possible GERD” if both studies were negative. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six cases (51 GERD and 75 possible GERD) were enrolled. In 19 (37.3%) of 51 GERD cases and in 17 (22.7%) of 75 possible GERD cases, foods inducing typical GERD symptoms were identified. In the GERD group (n = 19), frequent symptom-inducers were hot spicy stews, rice cakes, ramen noodles, fried foods, and topokki. In the possible GERD group (n = 17), frequent symptom-inducers were hot spicy stews, fried foods, doughnuts, breads, ramen noodles, coffee, pizza, topokki, rice cakes, champon noodles, and hotdogs. CONCLUSIONS: In one-third of GERD patients, foods inducing typical symptoms were identified. Hot spicy stews, rice cakes, ramen noodles, fried foods, and topokki were the foods frequently inducing typical symptoms in Korea. The list of foods frequently inducing typical GERD symptoms needs to be modified based on their own local experiences.
Bread ; Coffee ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Symptom Assessment