Development of a Coping Scale for Infertility-Women (CSI-W)

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to develop a Coping Scale for Infertility-Women (CSI-W). @*Methods@#The initial items were based on an extensive literature review and in-depth interviews with seven infertile women. Forty-three items were derived from a pilot survey. Data were collected from 216 women who had experienced intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) more than once. The data were analyzed to verify the reliability and validity of the scale. @*Results@#Seven factors containing 28 items (four factors containing 17 items for active coping and three factors containing 11 items for passive coping) were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis to verify the construct validity. The four factors of active coping were confrontation, self-control, seeking social support (spouse), and seeking social support (colleagues and experts). The three factors of passive coping were distancing, escape, and avoidance. These items were verified through convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity testing. The internal consistency reliability was acceptable (active coping: Cronbach’s a = .78; passive coping: Cronbach’s a = .81). @*Conclusion@#As its validity and reliability have been verified through various methods, the CSI-W can contribute to assessing the coping strategies of infertile women.

Influencing Factors on Maternal Role Adjustment among the Primipara Women in the First Year after Childbirth

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influencing factors on maternal role adjustment among the primiparous women in the first year after childbirth. METHODS: The study subjects were 210 healthy primiparous women who have delivered at one of four women's health hospitals and revisited the out-patient department for the routine check-up and baby's vaccination during the first year after childbirth. Data were collected by a self-report questionnaire which consisted of general characteristics, maternal role adjustment, spousal rearing support, childcare stress, and postpartum depression. Collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS Win 18.0 program with descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression. RESULTS: The maternal role adjustment was significantly correlated with spousal rearing support (r=.649, p<.001), childcare stress (r=-.596, p<.001), postpartum depression (r=-.569, p<.001), and subjective health condition (r=.204, p=.003). The multiple regression analysis showed that the maternal role adjustment were significantly affected by spousal rearing support (t=6.542, p<.001). childcare stress (t=-3.268, p=.001), and postpartum depression (t=-2.238, p=.018). CONCLUSION: From these results, it is concluded that the nursing intervention for enhancing spousal support in childcare and decreasing the childcare stress and depression should be developed for improving maternal role adjustment in the first time mother, especially within one year after childbirth.

Effects of a Coaching Program on Comprehensive Lifestyle Modification for Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using a Coaching Program on Comprehensive Lifestyle Modification with pregnant women who have gestational diabetes. METHODS: The research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental study. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes were recruited from D women's hospital located in Gyeonggi Province from April to October, 2013. Participants in this study were 34 for the control group and 34 for the experimental group. The experimental group participated in the Coaching Program on Comprehensive Lifestyle Modification. The program consisted of education, small group coaching and telephone coaching over 4weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in self-care behavior, and decreases in depression, fasting blood sugar and HbA1C in the experimental group compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups for knowledge of gestational diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: The Coaching Program on Comprehensive Lifestyle Modification used in this study was found to be effective in improving self-care behavior and reducing depression, fasting blood sugar and HbA1C, and is recommended for use in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for pregnant women with gestational diabetes.