Development and application of a couple-centered antenatal education program in Korea

Purpose@#This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program’s feasibility. @*Methods@#With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women’s hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. @*Results@#The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.11 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. @*Conclusion@#A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples’ relationships.

Development and application of a couple-centered antenatal education program in Korea

Purpose@#This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program’s feasibility. @*Methods@#With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women’s hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. @*Results@#The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.11 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. @*Conclusion@#A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples’ relationships.

Adaptation in pregnant women: a descriptive phenomenological study using Giorgi’s approach

Purpose@#This study aimed to explore the lived experience and meaning of pregnant women’s adaptation. @*Methods@#Ten pregnant women living in Daejeon and Sejong agreed to participate in this study. The data were collected through telephone in-depth interviews regarding ‘pregnant women’s adaptation. The qualitative data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method of descriptive phenomenology. @*Results@#Five core situation components were extracted from the raw data, along with 12 themes and 33 focal meanings. The five core situations were 1) the situation when the woman first recognized the pregnancy, 2) the situation of change related with pregnancy, 3) the situation related to the upcoming birth, 4) postpartum-related situations, and 5) the situation related to parenting. The 12 themes were as follows: “anxiety, pressure, and embarrassment due to pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to physical changes,” “efforts to adapt to the psychological difficulties of pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to the financial burden and role changes caused by pregnancy,” “connecting with the fetus,” “adapting to a new marital relationship centering on the baby,” “the frustration of childbirth,” “fear of childbirth,” “postpartum care, need help with lactation planning,” “parenting beyond one’s imagination,” “dad’s willingness to participate in parenting,” and “career disconnect and consideration of workplace needs.” @*Conclusion@#We conclude that pregnant women experience adaptation in physical, psychological, relational, and social aspects. The thematic clusters identified in the results might be used to develop a nursing intervention to promote adaptation to pregnancy among pregnant women.

Adaptation in pregnant women: a descriptive phenomenological study using Giorgi’s approach

Purpose@#This study aimed to explore the lived experience and meaning of pregnant women’s adaptation. @*Methods@#Ten pregnant women living in Daejeon and Sejong agreed to participate in this study. The data were collected through telephone in-depth interviews regarding ‘pregnant women’s adaptation. The qualitative data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method of descriptive phenomenology. @*Results@#Five core situation components were extracted from the raw data, along with 12 themes and 33 focal meanings. The five core situations were 1) the situation when the woman first recognized the pregnancy, 2) the situation of change related with pregnancy, 3) the situation related to the upcoming birth, 4) postpartum-related situations, and 5) the situation related to parenting. The 12 themes were as follows: “anxiety, pressure, and embarrassment due to pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to physical changes,” “efforts to adapt to the psychological difficulties of pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to the financial burden and role changes caused by pregnancy,” “connecting with the fetus,” “adapting to a new marital relationship centering on the baby,” “the frustration of childbirth,” “fear of childbirth,” “postpartum care, need help with lactation planning,” “parenting beyond one’s imagination,” “dad’s willingness to participate in parenting,” and “career disconnect and consideration of workplace needs.” @*Conclusion@#We conclude that pregnant women experience adaptation in physical, psychological, relational, and social aspects. The thematic clusters identified in the results might be used to develop a nursing intervention to promote adaptation to pregnancy among pregnant women.

Pregnant Women's Antenatal Depression and Influencing Factors / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of antenatal depression in pregnant women and its influencing factors. METHODS: With a cross-sectional survey design, a total of 396 pregnant women were recruited from a local obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Measurements included antenatal depression, perceived stress, predictors of depression during pregnancy, and demographic and obstetric characteristics. RESULTS: Mean antenatal depression score was 8.20 (standard deviation=4.95) out of 30, falling into its normal range. However, the prevalence of antenatal depression was 35.9% when cut-point of 9/10 was used. The prevalence of antenatal depression among women in the first trimester was 31.4%. It was slightly increased to 34.9% in the second trimester but significantly increased to 40.5% in the third trimester. In multiple logistic regression analysis, experiencing prenatal anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 4.16), having no job (OR, 2.90), lower self-esteem (OR, 1.62), and higher perceived stress (OR, 1.32) were significant factors influencing antenatal depression. CONCLUSION: Negative feeling such as feeling anxious, lower self-esteem, and higher perceived stress during pregnancy are key factors affecting antenatal depression. Thus, antenatal nursing intervention focusing on pregnant women's feeling upon their job status is necessary to improve their antenatal psychological well-being.

Validation Study of the Korean Version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Students for Measuring Empathy in Undergraduate Nursing Students / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to validate the Korean version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Students (K-JSE-HPS) in undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: With a survey design, a total of 293 junior and senior nursing students were recruited and data were collected using a self-administered study questionnaire to measure their levels of empathy use the K-JSE-HPS. Using SPSS/WIN 22.0 and AMOS 22.0, data analysis was conducted with confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, and reliability. RESULTS: For construct validity, confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable model fit (Goodness of Fit Index was 0.88) along with confirming convergent and discriminant validity (construct reliability was 0.70). For criterion validity, the scale was significantly related with the Interpersonal Reaction Index. For reliability, Cronbach's α coefficient for the scale was 0.87 and for the subscales were 0.84, 0.78, and 0.69, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings show satisfactory construct and criterion validity and reliability of the Korean version of the JSE-HPS for measuring empathy in undergraduate nursing students.

Impact of Menopausal Status, Metabolic Syndrome and its Risk Factors on Impaired Quality of Life above Middle-aged Women

PURPOSE: This study explored influencing factors on quality of life (QoL) above middle-aged women in relation to demographic factors, health-related factors, menopausal status, metabolic syndrome (MS) and its risk factors. METHODS: This study was secondary data analysis from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013~2015 that utilized a complex, multi-stage probability sample design. Study sample of 2,310 was inclusive of (28.8%) of women who were over 40. To evaluate the factors that would influence an impaired quality of life, χ² test, GLM, and logistic regression analysis were done. RESULTS: Level of quality of life was lower in women with late post-menopause(over 10 years since menopause) than women with pre-menopause. Factors influencing impaired QoL were as follows: graduated middle school and elementary school or less (OR=2.43, 4.42, respectively, p<.05), no job (OR=1.92, p<.001), stress (OR=1.92, p=.001), depression (OR=1.93, p=.001), insufficient sleep (OR=1.64, p=.003), late post-menopause (OR=2.61, p=.044) and over 85cm of waist circumference (OR=1.76, p=.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that late post-menopause may be an independent factor influencing an impaired QoL. To promote post-menopausal womens' health, a nursing strategy is required to teach women how to manage levels of stress, depression, insufficient sleep, and abdominal obesity through health education, nutritional counselling, and physical activity program.

Effect of Cognitive Function, Social Activity Participation and Social Support on Quality of Life of Community-Dwelling Elderly

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the effect of cognitive function, social activity participation and social support on quality of life (QoL) of community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: The data on 194 elderly were selected from the nationwide community cohort named Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia. All subjects were assessed QoL-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD), Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, exercise habit, Mini-Mental State Examination, social activities, The Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN V. 21.0 program. RESULTS: The mean of QoL among community-dwelling elderly was 35.49 (24–46) for QoL measured by QoL-AD. The variables of professional, residence status, physical health, exercise, cognitive function, social activity participation and social support explained 29.3% of variance in QoL of community-dwelling elderly. Among these factors, the significant predictors of QoL were social support (β=0.322, p<0.001), cognitive function (β=0.152, p=0.021), and religion activity (β=0.152, p=0.025). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the focus of intervention program should be on cognitive function and social activity participation to improve QoL for elderly. Improving cognitive function and social activity will lead to the network of social support, consequently to increase QoL for elderly living in the community.