Stigma in Parents of a Child with Mental Illness / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to explore the meaning of stigma in parents of a child with mental illness. METHODS: The participants were 6 mothers who had children with mental illness. Data were gathered using in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi method. RESULTS: The significant results from analysis of the interviews can be grouped into 10 concept descriptions, 5 theme clusters. The essential theme clusters for the experiences of parents were 'Guilt as a parent towards an disabled child', 'Humiliation from loss of self-esteem', 'Loneliness from prejudice and discrimination', 'Frustration due to endless treatment', and 'Desire of normal happiness'. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study offer profound information on stigma experience of parents of children with mental illness and provide basic raw material for developing nursing intervention strategies for these parents.

Joys and Sorrows in Mothers of Children with Mucopolysaccharidosis

PURPOSE: This study was done to explore the meaning of joys and sorrows in mothers of children with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). METHODS: The participants were 9 mothers who each had a child with MPS. Data were gathered using in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi method. RESULTS: The significant results from analyzing the interviews can be grouped into 12 concept descriptions, and 5 theme clusters. The essential theme clusters for the experience of the mothers were 'hopelessness about this rare disease', 'guilt because of the disease being hereditary', 'endless courses of treatment', 'wounds in the relationship', and 'relative composure of mind'. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study offer profound information on joys and sorrows experienced by mothers of children with MPS and provide basic data for developing nursing intervention strategies for the mothers of children with rare diseases.

A Comparative Study on Self Efficacy, Social Support, and Quality of Life between Middle-Aged Korean and Chinese Women / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore and compare the self efficacy, social support, and quality of life between middle-aged Korean and Chinese women. METHODS: The sample included 430 (Korean: 220, Chinese: 210) middle-aged women. Study instruments were the Self Efficacy Scale developed by Shere et al (1982), the Social Support Scale modified and based on Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) developed by Cohen and Hoberman (1983), and The Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) developed by Ware and Book (1981). Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 16 version. RESULTS: Korean women reported more self efficacy and better quality of life than the Chinese women. The quality of life scores between middle-aged Korean and Chinese women showed a statistical significant difference. Self efficacy and quality of life scores reported by middle-aged Korean and Chinese women were below the reported standards of the instruments. In contrast to the other scores, Chinese women reported more social support than Korean women. CONCLUSION: The findings add to the body of literature about Chinese and Korean middle aged women. Additional research is needed to explain the differences among the two groups but the findings can inform the practicing nurse who works with these populations.

Lived Experience of IVF-ET Program / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to identify what experience meant for the wives that attempted IVF-ET(In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer) program due to the spouse's infertility and provide fundamental materials to improve nursing interventions. METHOD: Giorgi's phenomenological method was employed, the subjects were five wives who had ever attempted IVF-ET program due to the infertility of their spouses. In-depth interview and observation method were utilized to gather information from April to December 2003. RESULT: The significant results from analyzing the interviews can be grouped into 34 themes, 8 categories. The essential themes for the experiences of the wives were 'shocked by the unbelievable reality', 'can't give up the connection to the blood', 'Lack of social education on pregnancy, and childbirth', 'self-pity', 'feelings of both families', 'Being afraid of the unexpected result', 'physical and mental agony', 'Positively coping with the reality. CONCLUSION: The results show that infertility is not a mere personal matter, and infertile people, their families and society should team up with in tackling it. The physical, psychological and social problems triggered by infertility could be ironed out by making both personal and collaborative approaches to that.

Activities of Daily Living and Nursing Needs of the Elderly in Nursing Home

PURPOSE: The study was a survey study to identify the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and nursing needs of the elderly in the nursing home and derive the fundamental data for offering the better quality of nursing service to them. METHODS: The subjects were the 111 elderly aged over sixty five living in the nursing home located in Seoul. Measures were the nursing needs scale and ADL scale. The data were analyzed by SAS 11.0. RESULTS: First, with regard to the nursing needs, the general need was scored average 3.0, and the emotional d social need was 3.7, and the physical need was 3.1, and the informational need was 2.7. Second, the ADL was scored at the average of 2.7, bathing 1.9, eating 3.1. Third, In correlation between the nursing needs by area, the informational nursing needs showed the sheer correlation with the physical nursing needs, emotional.social nursing needs. The physical nursing needs showed the sheer correlation with the informational.social nursing needs, and the inverse correlation with the ADL. CONCLUSION: It is necessary that it should improve the service to meet the emotional and social nursing needs and develop the extensive nursing programs satisfying their desires based on the general traits of the elderly.

A Comparative Study of the Factors Influencing Burden of Primary Family Caregivers according to the Degree of Serious Illness of Elderly Patients Admitted in an Intensive Care Unit / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to compare and examine the factors influencing burden of primary family caregivers according to the severity of illness of elderly patients admitted in an intensive care unit. METHODS: Subjects were the families of elderly patients in intensive care units of K, S and Y hospitals in Seoul. Data were collected from March to October 2007. Subjects were 108 persons over age 65. Data were analyzed by SAS statistics. RESULTS: First, groups 5 and 3 showed higher burden than that of group 4. Second, high correlation was found between stress and burden, stress and anxiety, and burden and anxiety. Third, factors influencing family burden were found to be stress for group 5, stress, anxiety, and monthly income for group 4, and stress and patient age for group 3. CONCLUSION: Specific nursing interventions to decrease the stress of primary family caregivers of serious ill elderly patients in an intensive care unit are needed. Additionally, more effective and systematic activation of a long-term medical insurance system for seriously ill seniors is considered necessary to mediate the burden of primary family caregivers.

Factors Influencing Depression of the Elderly

PURPOSE: This study was to examine factors related to depression of the elderly, and using them, to lay the ground for the development of nursing intervention. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study. The subjects were 581 elders aged over 65 from senior centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SAS. RESULTS: The predictors of depression in the elderly were quality of life, moral, life satisfaction, self-esteem, loneliness, nonformal support, and perceived health state. Among them, quality of life was the most significant predictor in the elderly. These factors explained 72.2% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the need to develop nursing strategies for decreasing depression in the elderly. To decrease the depression of the elderly, the above-mentioned major influencing factors should be considered.

Comparative Study on the Sleep Patterns, Satisfaction of Sleep, and Sleep Enhancement Behaviors between Hospitalized and Non-hospitalized Elderly

PURPOSE: This study was to compare and analyze sleep patterns, satisfaction of sleep, and sleep enhancement behaviors between hospitalized and non-hospitalized elderly. METHODS: Subjects were 201 older adults, who were hospitalized patients or living in U-city, Gyung-gi province. Data was collected from June 10 to August 25, 2007, and was analyzed by the SAS program. RESULTS: 1) Non-hospitalized elderly had better sleep patterns than hospitalized elderly patients. 2) There was a strong positive correlation between sleep patterns and satisfaction of sleep in both groups. 3) In hospitalized elderly, there were significant differences in sleep patterns and satisfaction of sleep by month. 4) In non-hospitalized elderly, there was a significant difference in sleep patterns by presence or absence of spouses. There was a significant difference in satisfaction of sleep by those living with others. There were significant differences in sleep enhancement behaviors by age, religion, length of time, and sponsors. CONCLUSION: To relieve sleep disturbances of elderly, comprehension of sleep of the aged by nursing care givers should be obtained. Also, improving environments and elder's selfesteem with religious consideration and preparation of financial conditions are needed to promote the sleep of hospitalized and non-hospitalized elderly.

Experience of 'Well-being' of Female College Students / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the meaning of the experience of 'well-being' of female college students in Korea and provide fundamental materials to improve nursing interventions. METHODS: The participants were six female students who gave consent to participate in this study. This study was conducted between August 2006 and November 2006. Each interview took one to three hours. The contents of the interviews were recorded and dictated afterwards. In addition, the interviews were carried out such a way that the gathered information was sufficiently saturated. The data was analyzed with the phenomenological analytic method suggested by Giorgi (1985). RESULTS: As a result of analysis, the following have been identified.: proper dietary treatment, proper physical treatment, harmonized psychological treatment, environmental- friendly treatment, and hypersensitivity to the mass media. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of this study offers profound information on the 'well-being' of female college students in Korea and provides fundamental materials to improve the quality of nursing interventions.

A Study on the Health Status, Burnout, and Burden of Primary Family Caregivers of the Elderly In-Patients

PURPOSE: This study was to explore the level of health status, burnout, and burden of primary family caregivers of the elderly inpatients, and to identify the relations among the factors. METHOD: The subjects were a total of 232 primary family caregivers of elderly in-patients at K and E Medical Center, and were surveyed from March 1 to April 10, 2007. Measures were a health status measuring tool based on CMI developed by Brodman et al. (1945), the burnout measuring tool developed by Pines et al. (1981), and the burden measuring tool revised by Jung, Soo-Jin (1998). Data were analyzed by SPSS-WIN 12.0. RESULTS: Firstly, the mean of health status was 1.69, which means that they were mostly healthy, and the mean of burnout was 2.66, which means that they were a little burned out. The mean of burden was 2.71, which means that they were a little burdened. Second, there were high correlations between health status and burnout, between health status and burden, and between burnout and burden. Third, there were significant difference in health status and burnout according to sex and relationship, and in burden according to sex, education level and relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses need to consider the characteristics, health status, burnout, and burden of primary family caregivers.

A Comparative Study on Health Status, Depression, and Quality of Life between the Elderly Living with Family and the Elderly Living Alone / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was a descriptive survey research to compare and to examine the levels of health status, depression, and quality of life between the elderly living with family and the elderly living alone, the relations among the factors. METHODS: Subjects were the 441 elderly over 65 years old(243 elderly living with family; 198 elderly living alone) in Seoul and Gyung-gi province. Data were collected from January to March, 2007. Collected data were analyzed through SAS/PC 11.0 version. RESULTS: First, the health status and quality of life in the elderly living with family were higher than them in the elderly living alone. Also depression in the elderly living with family was lower than that in the elderly living alone. Second, in all elderly there was positive correlation between health status and depression. There were negative correlations between health status and quality of life, and between depression and quality of life. Third, the economic environments in all elderly did effect to the health status, depression, and quality of life. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it's requested a special attention of the current job level or interpersonal relationship of older people.

Factors Related to the Quality of Life of the Elderly / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the factors related to quality of life in elderly. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study. The subjects were 356 elderly over 65 years old. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with a SAS statistics. RESULTS: The predictors of quality of life in elderly were depression, life satisfaction, self esteem, economic state, family support, perceived health state, and age. These factors explained 71.9% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the need to develop nursing strategy to improve quality of life in elderly. To improve the quality of life in elderly, the above major influencing factors should be considered.

Factors Related to the Quality of Life of the Elderly / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the factors related to quality of life in elderly. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study. The subjects were 356 elderly over 65 years old. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with a SAS statistics. RESULTS: The predictors of quality of life in elderly were depression, life satisfaction, self esteem, economic state, family support, perceived health state, and age. These factors explained 71.9% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the need to develop nursing strategy to improve quality of life in elderly. To improve the quality of life in elderly, the above major influencing factors should be considered.

A Study of Care Burden, Burnout, and Quality of Life among Family Caregivers for the Elderly / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was a survey to provide basic data about nursing interventions for improving the quality of life among family caregivers for the elderly by examining their care burden, burnout, and quality of life, and by confirming the correlation between each of them. METHOD: The subjects were 215 people in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province who understood the purpose of this study and participated voluntarily from April 1 to June 4, 2007. Data was analyzed by the SAS program. RESULT: 1. Concerning primary caregivers of the elderly, it was found that their care burden was slightly high, burnout was high and quality of life was good on the whole. 2. When it comes to the correlation among care burden, burnout, and quality of life among family caregivers, it was found that burnout increases in proportion to care burden, quality of life decreases as care burden increases, and bigger burnout leads to a lower quality of life. CONCLUSION: The quality of life among primary caregivers should be improved by reducing their care burden and burnout. Thereby, a priority might be considered for admission to nearby, comfortable nursing homes or failing that, home visiting services, rather than family support in the home.

Experiences of Nurse Turnover / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to search for nursing intervention strategies centering around the meaning structure of the nurse's turnover experience by applying phenomenological methods. METHODS: The participants were 6 nurses in small and medium sized hospitals who had experienced at least 1 turnover. Data were collected used MP3 records. The data analysis was done by Giorgi (1985) method. RESULTS: The results were divided into the following categories: 1) Careless decision: wrong decisions, imprudent desire, insufficient patience, unclear future, 2) Inappropriate working environment: irregular working hours, high workload, poor working environment, insufficient understanding of related divisions, lack of opinion collection, low salary, 3) Interpersonal relations problems: discord with colleagues, difficulty in relationships with others, difficulty in daily lives, 4) Lack of specialization: feeling of inertia, lack of role identification, lack of self identification, 5) Inappropriate coping: regret with clinical challenges, difficulty with a new environment, repentance, expectation, relative humility, 6) New self-dignity: expectation, new challenge, relaxing lives, decisions based on future-oriented confidence. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study will offer profound information on the nurse's turnover experience and provide basic raw materials for improving the quality of nursing performance and contribute to the development of hospital organization.

A Study on Middle-Aged People's Preparation for Old Age Life and Their Perception of Long-term Care Facilities

PURPOSE: The study was to get basic data on the well-being of middle-aged people concerning their preparation for their upcoming old age and their quality of life. METHODS: The subjects were 440 people aged between 40 and 59 living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. RESULTS: First, physical preparation for old age was affected by religion, children, health, monthly income, and economical status, and these factors were shown statistically significant. Emotional preparation and spiritual preparation were also related to the above-mentioned factors. Secondly, in the subjects' mental picture, a nursing home was a place for the aged without anyone who is going to take care of them and without abilities to care of themselves. Preference for nursing home was based on two factors, i.e., nursing and treatment care, and the cost was about one million won per month. Also they wanted that the government should pay a certain amount for private users. CONCLUSION: Therefore, people should lead a life of good health-related habits along with economical preparation for their old age.

A Study of Nurses' Knowledge Level and Assessment Experience of Delirium / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the knowledge level and assessment experience of nurses in regards to delirium, and to utilize the study results as baseline data for planning delirium education programs for nurses. METHODS: Subjects were 465 nurses who were working in a general hospital. A 'delirium related knowledge and assessment experience' questionnaire was used to collect data. RESULTS: Knowledge levels regarding delirium averaged 70 out of 100, and at each domain, they scored 87 for etiology of delirium, 62 for symptoms, and 69 for nursing management. The knowledge level of delirium was significantly different according to educational level (F=3.851, p=.022), past education related to geriatrics(t=2.471, p=.014), and awareness of need for in-service education on geriatric nursing(F=2.663, p=.032). About 85% of nurses had past experience of dealing with delirious patients and only 7.7% of nurses used delirious state assessment tools. CONCLUSION: According to the above results, it is necessary, not only to provide delirium related educational programs for nurses, but also to emphasize the usefulness of applying the assessment tool.

A Study on the Relationship among Family Support, Morale, and Quality of Life in the Elderly / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the correlations among family support, morale, and quality of life in the elderly. METHODS: Descriptive correlational study design was used. The subjects were 131 elderly people 65 and older who have lived in Seoul and other three cities. The data were analyzed with mean, SD, t-test, ANOVA, and pearson's correlation by using the SPSS 11.0 program. RESULTS: First, the mean of family support was 3.71, morale 3.25, and quality of life 3.02 respectively. Second, the correlation between quality of life and family support was statistically significant(r=.264, p=.00), the correlation between quality of life and morale was also statistically significant(r=.484, p=.00), and the correlation between family support and morale was also statistically significant(r=.430, p=.00). CONCLUSION: Family support for the elderly in the study was confirmed as the primary important concept which can positively maintain and promote the quality of their life. Also, the correlation between morale and family support was verified as significant. Further study is needed to develop a nursing intervention program for morale improvement with a network of family support with their children, ultimately for quality of life among the elderly.

Effects of Muscle Electric Stimulation on Chronic Knee Pain, Activities of Daily Living, and Living Satisfaction for Korean Elderly Women / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to examine effects of muscle electric stimulation on chronic knee pain, activities of daily living, and living satisfaction for Korean elderly women. METHODS: The design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest study. Subjects were 60 (experimental: 30, control: 30) elderly women 65 years old or above with good orientation and communication. The experimental treatment was electric stimulation on both thigh quadriceps muscles for 15 minutes per time, 3 times per week, for a total of 12 weeks. Measures were the S-F McGill Pain Questionnaire and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale for chronic knee pain, activities measurement of daily living for activities of daily living, and living satisfaction measurement for living satisfaction. Data was analyzed through the SPSS Win 12.0. RESULTS: Chronic knee pain by S-F MPQ (t=43.563, p=.000) and chronic knee pain by AIMS (t=31.364, p=.000) were significantly decreased in the experimental group, and the activities of daily living (t=124.353, p=.000) and living satisfaction (t=71.268, p=.000) were significantly increased in the experimental group for Korean elderly women. CONCLUSION: Muscle electrical stimulation decreased chronic knee pain, and increased the activities of daily living and living satisfaction for Korean elderly women. Further studies for muscle electric stimulation need to be done.

Development of a Scale to Measure Korean Ego-integrity in Older Adults / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: Ego-integrity in older adults is the central concept related to quality of life in later life. Therefore, for effective interventions to enhance the quality of later life, a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults is necessary. This study was carried out to develop a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults. METHODS: This study utilized cronbach's alpha in analyzing the reliability of the collected data and expert group, and factor analysis and item analysis to analyze validity. RESULTS: Seventeen items were selected from a total of 21 items. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was .88 for the 17 items of ego-integrity in the older adults scale. Three factors evolved by factor analysis, which explained 50.71% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: The scale for measuring ego-integrity in Korean older adults in this study was evaluated as a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity.