Effects of Illness Perception and Health Beliefs on the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients in the Yanbian Area of China

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the effects of illness perception and health beliefs on the quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected using questionnaires administered to 200 patients admitted for chemotherapy after a partial or total mastectomy at a university hospital in Yanji City. The data were analyzed using t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The QOL of the breast cancer patients was significantly correlated with health beliefs and a subfactor of illness perception. The significant factors influencing QOL were understanding illness and feeling threatened, accounting for 31.7% of the variance in QOL. CONCLUSION: Illness perception of breast cancer patients had a negative influence on QOL, whereas health beliefs affected it positively. An implication of this study's findings is that interventions to reduce negative illness perception can improve the QOL among breast cancer patients.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Nurses on Personal Protective Equipment: Response to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to protect healthcare workers from pandemic outbreaks. This study was designed to identify nurses' knowledge, attitude and perceptions on PPE. METHODS: Data were collected from 154 nurses working at a tertiary general hospital, where positively diagnosed and suspected patients were accepted and admitted during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus outbreak in 2015. The PPE tool consists of 20 items for knowledge, and 5 each for attitudes and perceptions. RESULTS: Overall, knowledge for PPE was higher thanmoderate (76.95/100), but there was a lack for items related to powered air purifying respirator (PAPR). For attitudes, willingness to work in pandemic outbreaks was the most positive (4.04/5.00). Goggles and PAPR were perceived as themost uncomfortable barriers to work. There was no correlation between knowledge, attitude and perceptions, despite a strong positive correlation between attitude and perceptions. PPE training was identified as a factor to improve knowledge and attitudes on PPE. CONCLUSION: To respond to pandemic influenza, nurses need to expand their knowledge on PPE up to Level C, and be updated through regular training. Study findings suggest that repetitive studies targeting nurses and other healthcare workers at various hospital settings are necessary.

Academic Achievement, Self-directed Learning, and Critical Thinking Disposition According to Learning Styles of Nursing Students / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This descriptive study was done to identify the academic achievement, self-directed learning (SDL), and critical thinking disposition (CTD) of nursing students according to their learning styles. METHOD: The participants were 240 nursing students. Data were collected using structured questionnaires which included Kolb's Learning Style Inventory, Academic Achievement in Fundamental Nursing and Health Assessment, Self Directed Learning Readiness Scale, and California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. Data were analyzed using chi2 test, ANOVA, Pearson' correlation coefficients, and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: One third of respondents were shown to be Convergers in their learning style (33.3%). The Academic Achievement of students who were Convergers was significantly higher than those who were Divergers or Accommodators (F=5.95, p=.001). The SDL and CTD of students who were Convergers were significantly higher than Divergers and Assimilators (F=9.67, p<.001 and F=8.42, p<.001). No significant correlations were found between Academic Achievement and SDL or CTD, but a statistically significant positive correlation was found between SDL and CTD (r=.68, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that learning style influences academic achievement, SDL and CTD.

Trends in Research Studies Published in Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing: 2009-2011 / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the trends in research studies published in Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing from 2009 to 2011. METHODS: A total of 156 studies published between 2009 and 2011 were reviewed using analysis criteria developed by the researchers. RESULTS: Quantitative studies accounted for 90.4% and qualitative studies, 8.3%. The research designs for the quantitative studies were experimental, 28.0% and survey, 63.8%. IRB approval was received for only 25.6% of the studies and 61.0% of studies presented participant criteria. Questionnaires were used for data collection in 90.8% of studies. Individual or group education was the most frequent intervention in the experimental studies. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that more randomized controlled trials with a low risk of bias are needed to support greater evidence-based nursing practice. Considering the low rate of ethical consideration, it is important that stricter application of research methods needs to be encouraged to improve the quality of Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.

Content and Educational Needs for Fundamental Nursing Practice / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify content of Fundamental Nursing Practice (FNP) and the educational needs for nursing practice items in schools of nursing. METHODS: Participants were 81 professors who were teaching FNP and 166 clinical nurses. The research questionnaire included 148 practice items, which were selected by content analysis of 7 FNP textbooks. Data were collected from May 20 to July 27, 2011 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test with SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: The research findings showed that : 1) the seven items included in the education content of all schools of nursing were putting on sterile gloves, checking radial pulse, checking blood pressure in the arm, Foley catheterization, injection preparation with ampule, intramuscular injection in the buttocks, and mixing intravenous fluid. Fifty items were included in the content in more than 80% of the schools. 2) Educational domains needing emphasis were medication, infection control, health assessment, oxygenation, urinary elimination, activity/positioning, and nutrition. There were significant differences in reported educational needs between professors and clinical nurses for 62.8% of practice items. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that standardization of FNP education contents using the findings of this study should lead to improvement in quality of FNP education.

Health Literacy and Health Status of Korean-Chinese Elderly People Living in Yanbian, China

PURPOSE: This descriptive study was done to identify the relationship between health literacy and health status and to provide basic data for developing nursing interventions for Korean-Chinese elders living in Yanbian, China. METHODS: For data collection, intentional sampling of 300 elders was used. The questionnaire was composed of 5 items based on "Ministry of Health, the People's Republic of China (2008)" to measure health literacy, 33 health status items from the "Korean Health Status Measure for Elderly People" developed by Shin (2002), revised for use in China, and 9 general characteristics. Data were analyzed using SPSS Win 13.0 program. RESULTS: Total level of health literacy was relatively high (68.7%). Elders had high scores for taking medicines according to doctor's instruction, but lower ones for full comprehension through communication with doctors. Health status was high for emotional, physical, and social function in that order. There were significant differences between general characteristics and health status for gender, age, marital status, education, family, smoking, and alcohol consumption in that order. Results of multiple regression analysis for factors influencing health status showed that self-report health level was the most influential, followed by health literacy, age, gender. CONCLUSION: Health literacy is the main factor affecting health promotion among minority elders indicating a need to develop health promotion programs for elders who have low health literacy.