Subjective Physical Condition Research Articles

Impacts of human factors on evacuation performance in university gymnasiums

Evacuation in university gymnasiums is a critical issue for campus safety. Human factors play an important role in the evacuation process. In order to explore the human factors that influence evacuation performance in university gymnasiums, this study conducted a questionnaire survey to 1287 participants. The data from the questionnaire survey were analysed by factor analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and T-test. The results showed that there were four human factors that affected evacuation performance in university gymnasiums: crowdedness, familiarity, attention and subjective physical condition. Among which familiarity and subjective physical condition had positive effects, while crowdedness and attention had negative impacts. Gender differences in participants’ evacuation performance were observed as well. The findings will help researchers to understand the evacuation in university gymnasiums comprehensively, and provide instructions for the prevention of evacuation accidents.

Classificação da intensidade dos jogos Kinect Sports® em universitários através das variáveis hemodinâmicas e da percepção subjetiva de esforço

This study analyzed the intensity of Kinect Sports® games in college students through hemodynamic variables and perceived exertion. An experimental study, with 34 young students (21.5 ± 1.9 years) who underwent three consecutive games sessions, divided into boxing, bowling, baseball, and tennis games; sand, golf, athletics, and ski flights; table tennis, football, darts, and American football. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded every two minutes of each game. One-way ANOVA for repeated measurements was used to verify differences in HR, BP, and RPE at each time of the game and the effect size (p <0.05). There were significant differences in HR (p <0.01, η2p <0.284) in boxing, athletics and baseball games; in PAS (p <0.01, η2p <0.203) in athletics and baseball, as well as in RPE (p <0.01, η2p <0.309) in boxing, athletics, skiing, sand volleyball, tennis, football and table tennis. As for the classification of the games by intensity, through the percentage of proximity of the Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax), only the Boxing game presented with strong intensity (70 to 89% of the HRmax), 50% as moderate intensity (55 to 69% FCmax), and 42% of games at light intensity (35 to 54% of FCmax). It is concluded that a classification table that identifies the intensity of Kinect Sports® games in university students allows selecting games that are geared to the subject's physical condition, making the practice of this activity an alternative for the individual to move from rest to an active state generating beneficial impacts to health.

Preferences for a good death: a cross-sectional survey in advanced cancer patients

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe preferences for a good death among Chinese patients with advanced cancer and then to explore factors contributing to their preferences including patient...

The Influence Of Oral Contraceptives On Subjective Physical Condition And Athletic Performance In Japanese Female Athletes.

The Influence Of Oral Contraceptives On Subjective Physical Condition And Athletic Performance In Japanese Female Athletes.

The Association of Dietary life, Nutrition and Mental Health in Korean Adolescents

본 연구는 국민건강영양조사 제4기(3차년도) 자료를 활용하여 청소년기에 해당하는 학생들 1128명을 대상으로 사회인구학적 특성, 식습관, 영양섭취상태, 스트레스 등 정신건강 요인 등의 데이타를 이용하여 남녀 청소년의 식생활 및 영양, 정신건강 등의 차이가 있는지를 알아보기 위해 분석한 결과는 다음과 같다.BR 조사대상자는 남학생이 51.3%, 여학생이 48.7%였다. 식생활조사에서는 남녀 모두 아침결식률이 높았고, 간식빈도 남녀간의 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으며, 외식의 빈도는 여학생이 높게 나타났다. 남녀 모두 에너지 섭취량이 낮았고 단백질은 남녀 모두 권장량보다 많이 섭취하였다. 칼슘은 남자, 여자 각각 권장량의 50%내외, 40%정도로 모두 칼슘 섭취가 가장 낮게 나타났다. 나트륨의 섭취는 남자, 여자 각각 목표섭취량의 3배, 2배 이상 섭취하였다. 남자는 그 외 영양소 섭취는 권장량의 90~140% 수준이었으나, 여자는 비타민 A, 리보플라빈, 비타민 C, 니아신, 철분 등이 권장량의 70~90%수준으로 남자보다 여자의 영양섭취상태가 낮게 나타났다. 청소년의 스트레스인지 정도, 우울증상, 자살생각정도는 남녀 청소년 간에 유의적이지 않았지만 여자가 더 높게 나타났다. 청소년의 스트레스 인지에 영향을 미치는 변인에는 나트륨 섭취량, 비타민A 섭취량, 비타민C 섭취량이 있으며, 자살생각에는 주관적 건강상태, 음주경험, 주관적 체형인식이 유의적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 청소년의 식생활, 영양이나 건강행태가 정신건강에 매우 중요한 변수로 작용하였다는 점이다.

일개 치위생과 대학생의 인터넷 중독과 건강 관련성

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between internet addiction and health in dental hygiene students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 216 dental hygiene students in Daegu from June 9 to 13, 2014. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA using SAS 9.2 program. The instruments included Korean internet addiction scale(K scale) and Korean version of the general health questionnaire. General characteristics consisted of grade, religion, residential types, economic condition, place of internet use, duration, purpose, and time of use. Physical characteristics consisted of subjective physical condition, smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise above twice per week, musculoskeletal disease, and location of physical symptoms. Psychiatric scale and 6 questions of physical characteristics were consulted by the statistician of preventive medicine department. Results: Internet users over 4 hours manifested the poor mental health, while those who uses internet under 2 hours showed good mental health(F = 1.41, p < 0.01). The students having good physical condition showed better mental health than those with poor physical condition(t = -2.81, p < 0.01). The students exercising at least twice a week showed better mental health than those who do not exercise(t = -3.10, p < 0.01). Those who having musculoskeletal symptoms showed higher index of internet addiction score than those who do not(t = 4.21, p < 0.01). Those who have no musculoskeletal symptoms tended to have better mental health than those who have musculoskeletal symptoms(t = 2.28, p < 0.05). The variables correlated to mental health were internet addiction, subjective physical condition, and exercise at least twice a week. The severity level of internet addiction leads to poor mental health(r = 0.26, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Internet addiction is closely related to mental health. So the students must know the danger of internet addiction. Proper health education is necessary for the prevention of addiction symptoms.

Effects of Workplace Physical Exercise Intervention on the Physical Perceived and Measured Physical Functioning among Office Workers - A Cluster Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Design

Purpose: The main aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a workplace exercise intervention on physical functioning. Dose of the exercise and other physical activity outside the intervention were controlled for. The other aims were to determine the physical strain of training and determine training force as a percentage of work time (OPA), leisure time (LTPA) and time spent on all activities (AT). Methods: The study was a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRT) with each department as the unit of randomization (n=36, n=19, n=15, n=25). The cross-over design consisted of one 15-week intervention period of resistance training (30% 1RM) and training guidance, and another period of the same length with no training or guidance. The subjects (n=90) were office workers [mean age 45.7 (SD 8.5) years]. Percentage body fat was measured using bioelectrical impedance, spinal flexibility with goniometer and a cervical measurement system, muscular strength with a 5RM test and a hand grip test. Subjective physical condition was assessed by questionnaire and physical activity by questionnaire and diary. The statistical analysis was based on linear mixed models. Results: The active component of the intervention, light resistance training, significantly increased both subjective physical condition (p=0.015) and upper extremity extension strength (p= 0.001). Intervention had no effect on percentage body fat, spinal flexibility, hand grip strength or lower extremity strength. The estimated increase in subjective physical condition during the 15-week period was 4 units (95% CI 1-7) or 6% and in upper extremity extension strength 1.3 kg (95% CI 0.5- 2.1) or 4%. Relative physical strain, measured as percentage of maximal oxygen consumption, was 33.7%. Training force was 1.12 metabolic equivalent hours per week, representing 2.0% OPA, 5.9% of LTPA and 1.2% of AT. Conclusion: Light resistance training during the working day had a positive effect on the office workers` subjective physical condition and strength of upper extremities. Controlling for training dose and other physical activity outside the intervention and confounding factors provides for a better specificity and understanding of the dose-response and effectiveness of exercise intervention on physical functioning among office workers.

Study of the Physical Condition of Middle-aged Office and Field Workers Aged 50 and Older.

[Purpose] We investigated the physical condition of middle-aged workers in Korea by job category (office job vs. production job). [Subjects] In total, 3,650 middle-aged workers (production job, n = 2,615; office job, n = 1,035) ≥50 years of age from eight geographical areas were evaluated from 2007 to 2008. [Methods] The subjects’ subjective physical condition, exercise status, smoking status, and drinking status were investigated, and precise physical measurements, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, reflexes, and reactions were measured. [Results] Subjectively, the physical condition and exercise status of those with office jobs were superior to those of production job workers. Office workers exhibited a higher rate of drinking than production workers, and also had better cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, reflexes, and reactions. However, production workers were more flexible than office workers. [Conclusion] Middle-aged production job workers in Korea have poorer overall physical condition than middle-aged office job workers. The physical condition of middle-aged and elderly workers must be managed through various health management programs to secure a productive aging society.

Prediction of blood glucose level of type 1 diabetics using response surface methodology and data mining

In order to improve the accuracy of predicting blood glucose levels, it is necessary to obtain details about the lifestyle and to optimize the input variables dependent on diabetics. In this study, using four subjects who are type 1 diabetics, the fasting blood glucose level (FBG), metabolic rate, food intake, and physical condition are recorded for more than 5 months as a preliminary study. Then, using data mining, an estimation model of FBG is obtained, and subsequently, the trend in fluctuations in the next morning's glucose level is predicted. The subject's physical condition is self-assessed on a scale from positive (1) to negative (5), and the values are set as the physical condition variable. By adding the physical condition variable to the input variables for the data mining, the accuracy of the FBG prediction is improved. In order to determine more appropriate input variables from the biological information reflecting on the subject's glucose metabolism, response surface methodology (RSM) is employed. As a result, using the variables exhibiting positive correlations with the FBG in the RSM, the accuracy of the FBG prediction improved. Conditions could be found such that the accuracy of the predicting trends in fluctuations in blood glucose level reached around 80%. The prediction method of the trend in fluctuations in the next morning's glucose levels might be useful to improve the quality of life of type 1 diabetics through insulin treatment, and to prevent hypoglycemia.

Stoma Care Problems after Stoma Surgery in Northern Finland

Stoma-related complications and problems in stoma care are common after gastrointestinal surgery requiring the construction of a stoma. The frequency and types of such complications and problems were evaluated in a patient cohort operated on in Oulu University Hospital. A detailed questionnaire concerning clinical problems and stoma care was mailed to 163 stoma patients operated on during the years from 1995 to 2001 in Oulu University Hospital. One hundred and nineteen patients (70 percent) answered the questions adequately. The clinical variables concerning stoma complications and the patients' symptoms, problems with stoma care and adaptation to the situation were recorded. Special attention was paid to the patients' general wellbeing and social problems. Thirty-five patients (30%) had stoma complications, most commonly parastomal hernias (18 cases). Patients with an ileostomy had more difficulties with stoma handling more often than the patients with a colostomy. Seventy-eight patients (66%) were well adapted to their stoma, including 49 (72%) of the patients with a colostomy and 25 (56%) of the patients with an ileostomy. Of the 41 non-adapted patients, 12 did not accept their altered body image, ten had problems in social life and nine had difficulties because of faecal leakage. The quality of life analysis of 114 patients showed that their physical condition was better than before the operation in 55 cases (48%), unchanged in 16 (14%) and worse in 43 (38%). General mental health was better than before the operation in 52 cases (46%), unchanged in 23 (20%) and worse in 39 (34%) patients. Social functioning had improved after stoma surgery in 38 cases (34%), remained unchanged in 27 (24%) and deteriorated in 46 (42%) patients after stoma surgery. Patients with a colostomy reported worse subjective physical condition, mental health and social functioning than the patients with an ileostomy. Two-thirds of the patients had adapted to their stoma. The patients with an ileostomy had difficulties in stoma handling and the patients with a colostomy reported their physical, mental and social wellbeing to be affected.

Ten-year follow-up of a bicondylar unlinked knee endoprosthesis with particular reference to mid-term results.

This analysis, submitted retrospectively, evaluates 603 PCA-type or Duracon-type knee endoprostheses implanted in 527 patients over a 10-year period. In addition, the X-rays available in a group of 138 patients (100 women and 38 men) from the entire patient population were analysed. All of these 138 patients were invited to come in for a follow-up examination. The invitation was accepted by 80 patients. As well as radiological and physical examination, these patients were asked about their subjective physical condition in a semi-open questionnaire. The data obtained by the questionnaire is discussed in the Results section. The average age of the 397 women, of whom 61 were operated on in both knees, and 130 men, of whom 15 were operated on in both knees, was 68 years at the time of the operation. The 76 bilateral patients had the knee endoprostheses implanted within a mean interval of 17 months. The most frequent indications for surgery were primary and secondary gonarthrosis, followed by rheumatoid arthritis. The evaluation of the X-rays from the above population of 138 patients revealed no radiological signs of loosening. No correlation between the time after implantation and the formation of radiolucent margins could be established. Those knee endoprostheses which were implanted with a varus deviation of more than 10 degrees did not yield a poorer result than those implanted perpendicular. In comparison with the cemented implants, the cementless implants produced slightly better results.

CHANGES IN NOCTURNAL CATECHOLAMINE EXCRETION AND AEROBIC CAPACITY OF JAPANESE KENDO FENCERS DURING WINTER TRAINING 944

Kendo fencing is one of the popular Budo in Japan. Kendo fencers usually carry out a high intensity training camp in the cold winter. The camp is thought to be effective both in the cultivation of the mind and the improvement of physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in nocturnal urinary catecholamines excretion and aerobic capacity during the camp accomplished in college kendo fencers. Training in the camp was performed for 2 hours from 5:00 to 7:00 am., and the camp was continued for 10 days in January. We studied the physical condition of 5 female college kendo fencers. They were instructed to record their physical condition, such as fatigue, muscle soreness, etc. with 7-point rating scale numbered from 1(very bad) to 7 (very good) every day throughout the camp. We measured nocturnal urinary catecholamines excretion on the first and the final days of the camp, and evaluated their aerobic capacity (VO2max) before and 3 days after the camp using multistage fitness test. Measurement of resting blood creatine kinase (CK) activity before a training was performed on the first, the middle, and the final days of the camp. Subjective physical condition was significantly decreased on the 2nd day (mean±SD; 3.5±1.4, p<0.01) from the initial level before the camp(4.7±1.7), and thereafter did not return until the final day. Compared with the first day of the camp, resting blood CK activity was significantly increased on the middle day (131.3±43.0%, p<0.05), and was remained at higher level on the final day (126.4±124.4%, n.s.). Nocturnal urinary catecholamines excretion were decreased on the final day(Δadrenaline; 0.632±4.979μg/min. n.s., Δnoradrenaline; 14.5±45.3 μg/min, n.s., Δdopamine; 0.220±0.344μg/min, n.s.) compared with the first day. and aerobic capacity was also declined 3 days after the camp (2.8±6.9%, n.s.). In addition, there were significant correlations between changes in nocturnal urinary catecholamines excretion and aerobic capacity (vs adrenaline; r=-0.940, p<0.05, vs noradrenaline; r=-0.910, p<0.05). Change in basal sympathetic activity during the high intensity training camp might cause changes in aerobic capacity and subjective condition during the traditional high intensity training camp of Japanese kendo fencing.