Quality of Life in Low Income Korean Aged

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the quality of life and its predictors in low income Korean aged. METHODS: This was a predictive correlational study. An accessible sample from the population of people who were 65 and over and were supported by the basic livelihood security system was 1,040. Quota sampling with strata of state division in the nation was chosen. Quality of life and its predictors in the subjects were measured. RESULTS: The mean quality of life in the subjects was 47.0+/-10.7. Predictors of this study significantly explained 54.3% of the total variance of quality of life. Depression was the most significant predictor of quality of life. Health problems, district, social support, leisure activity, and health behavior had effects on quality of life. CONCLUSION: This finding indicates that quality of life in lower income Korean aged is different from other populations by economic status. Demographics, health status and social status were predictors of quality of life in the aged with a small income.

Health Status, Depression and Social Support of Elderly Beneficiaries of the National Basic Livelihood Security System / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was: 1) To investigate health status(health behavior, health problem and cognition), depression and social support of elderly beneficiaries of the National Basic Livelihood Security System. 2) To identify the relationships among health status, depression and social support. METHODS: This descriptive study used a cross-sectional design. The study sample was a total of 883 elderly recipients supported from the National Basic Livelihood Security System. Quotas for sampling were designed and conducted nationwide throughout Korea. RESULTS: The mean age was 76.2 and the 79.6% of the sample were female. The scores for the health behavior, health problem, ADL, and cognition were 23.9, 4.4, 39.6 and 24.9, respectively. Additionally, the depression score was 19.8 and the social support score was 63.2. Gender, age, education, religion, marital status and monthly income were found as important variables in increasing health status and in decreasing depression among the elderly. Furthermore, depression showed a positive correlation with health problems, but showed negative correlations with health behavior, ADL, and cognition. The upper 25% of social support recipients suffered less depression than the lower 25% of the recipients. Subjects with more social supports had higher ADL scores and less health problem. CONCLUSION: These findings provide significant practical implications for nursing intervention, including social support for the elderly receiving assistance from the National Basic Livelihood Security System.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Korean Social Support Questionnaire

PURPOSE: Research related to social support in Korea has been hampered by paucity of measurement tools reflecting Korean culture. The aim of the study was to develop Korean social support questionnaire (KSSQ) based on the Korean social support pyramid and to test psychometric properties of the KSSQ. METHODS: The questionnaire was administered to 701 subjects and 658 college students. Psychometric analyses included factor analyses, expert validity, criterion-related validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: A principal components analysis support for construct validity, eliciting a three factor solution accounting for 65.46% of variance in scores. Concurrent and discriminant validity supported criterion-related validity. Internal consistency of reliability was support with Cronbach's alpha of .97-.98 for the entire scale. Test-retest reliability was .76. CONCLUSION: This initial testing of KSSQ to measure Korean social support demonstrates evidence of reliability and validity. Assessment of known-group validity and norm establishment of KSSQ are suggested to provide further sound psychometric properties and practical measurement tools.

Analysis of Test Items for National Qualifying Examination in Fundamentals of Nursing / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore changes in the test items in the preparation book for the national qualifying examination. Test items which developed in the year 2000 and 2004 through nationwide faculty workshop in Fundamentals of Nursing were examined. METHOD: Test items for the national qualifying examination for 2000 and 2004 in Fundamentals of Nursing were analyzed using frequencies and percent. RESULTS: The test items for the national qualifying examination for 2004 in Fundamentals of Nursing showed an increase in the number of test item over the year 2000. According to McGuire's taxonomy, domains of the test items in 2000 were recall(65.1%), interpretation (22.0%), and problem solving(12.9%) in that order. In 2004 items for the recall domain(74.7%) increased 9.6% above the level of 2000, and interpretation and problem solving domains showed a slight decrease. With regard to type of test items, the proportion of A type in 2004 was the same with 37.6% as 2000, and that of K type(61.5%) increased by 0.7% over the year 2000(60.8%). CONCLUSION: The test items for the national qualifying examination of 2000 and 2004 were not different except for the increase in the number of test items.

A Case of Hypernatremia due to Esophageal Foreign Body

Hypertonic or hypernatremic dehydration, which is uncommon in pediatric patients beyond infancy, has a distinct pathophysiology that differentiates the clinical presentation and management from other forms of dehydration. Severe hypernatremia may precipitate central nervous system injury, seizures, intracerebral bleeding, retardation, and even death. Causes of hypernatremia include inadequate water intake, salt overload, extrarenal water loss, defective osmoregulation, and water loss with simultaneous gain of solute. We experienced a case of hypernatremia due to esophageal foreign body. These authors reported a case with review of literatures.

Primary Malignant Hemangiopericytoma of the Lung: A case report

Primary pulmonary hemangiopericytoma is a rare, potentially malignant tumor and assumes more malignant course than that originated in the soft tissue. It can be asymtomatic until attaining a large size within the lung. We report a case of malignant hemangiopericytoma of the lung in a 29 year old man. It represented as a sharply demarcated, huge homogeneous opaque mass in the right upper lobe. The cytologic and histologic features were that of malignant hemangiopericytoma.