A Study on the Perceiced Family Support and the Self-Esteem of the Aged / 성인간호학회지

This study was designed to provide basic data for planning nursing interventions. This was done to help them adapt effectively by examining correlations between the perceived family support and the self-esteem of the aged. The subjects for this study were the 103 aged who lived in one city located in Chonbuk. The data was collected during the period from February 20 to March 13, 1999 through an interview with a structured questionnaire. The instruments used for this study are as follows: The family support instrument was the Family Support Scale developed by Kang Hyeon-Sook(1985), used with reference to the preceding research and partially amended by the author of this study. The self-esteem instrument was the Rosenberg Scale of Self-Esteem that was translated and proof-read by Jon Byong-Je(1974) and partially amended by the author of this study. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, the Scheff test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficients, and Stepwise Multiple Regression using the SPSS program. The results of this study are as follows: Hypothesis 1: "The higher perceived family support, the higher the self-esteem of the aged" was supported(r=.405, p<.01). Hypothesis 2: "The degree of perceived family support of the aged will differ depending on the demographic characteristics of the aged" was partially supported-religion (F=5.428, p=.000), monthly pocket money(F=2.517, p=.035), level of pocket money(F=7.016, p=.001). Hypothesis 3: "The degree of perceived self-esteem of the aged will differ depending on the demographic characteristics of the aged" was partially supported-sex(F=6.302, p=.014), religion (F=5.697, p=.019), health perception(F=5.154, p=.007). Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis indicated that the five variables-the perceived family support, sex, obligation to support one's family, health perception, and religion-were significantly predictive of the self-esteem of the aged. These five variables explained 42.3% of the variance in self-esteem. In conclusion, this study revealed that the perceived family support is an important factor related to the self-esteem of the aged. Therefore, when nurses plan the nursing of the aged they must include their family in order to increase the self-esteem.

A Study on the Perceived Burden and the Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Hemodialysis Patients / 성인간호학회지

This study was designed to identify the relationship between the perceived burden that is felt by family caregivers of hemodialysis patients and the quality of life of these caregivers. The subjects for this study were 102 family caregivers of patients who received hemodialysis regularly in the hemodialysis units of 4 hospitals located in Chonbuk. The data was collected during the period from February 17 to March 28, 1997 through interviews and by distributing a structured questionnaire to family caregivers through hemodialysis patients, and by mail service. The instruments used for this study are as follows : The burden instrument was the Burden Questionnaire developed by Lee Sook-Ja by referring to the Burden Scale developed by Novak & Guest(1989) and Zarit et al.(1980). The quality of life instrument was the Andrews' Scale that was treanslated and proof-read by Jeong Chu-Ja and partially amended by the author of this study. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, the Scheff test, Pearson's correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression using the SAS PC+ program. The results of this study are as follow : 1. Hypothesis 1 : "The higher the perceived burden, the lower the quality of life of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients" was supported(r=-0.463, p=.000). 2. Hypothesis 2 : "The burden of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients will differ depending on the demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients and family caregivers" was partially supported-age of family caregiver(F=3.04, p=.020), educational level of family caregiver(F=3.81, p=.012), marital status of family caregiver(F=5.82, p=.004), relationship with hemodialysis patient(F=2.74, p=.016), sex of hemodialysis patient(F=6.79, p=.010). 3. Hypothesis 3 : "The quality of life family caregivers of hemodialysis patients will differ depending on the demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients and family caregivers" was partially supported-age of family caregiver(F=2.82, p=.029), educational level of family caregiver(F=4.64, p=.004), marital status of family caregiver(F=6.62, p=.002), monthly total income of family(F=5.61, p=.001), age of hemodialysis patient (F=3.42, p=.011), occupation change of hemodialysis patient(F=3.54, p=.032). 4. Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis indicated that the six variables-the perceived burden of family caregiver, monthly total income of family, religion of family caregiver, occupation of family caregiver, marital status of hemodialysis patient, education level of family caregiver-were significantly predictive of the quality of life of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. The six variables explained 41.7% of the variance in quality of life. In conclusion, this study revealed that the perceived burden is an important factor related to the quality of life of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Therefore, nurses must recognize family caregivers as well as hemodialysis patients as important care receivers and incorporate an intervening plan that reduces the burden and promotes the quality of life, taking into account the demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients and their family caregivers.