Construct Validity of the Life Transition Scale for Parents of Children with Autism

PURPOSE: The study was done to identify the construct validity and reliability of the life transition scale (LTS) for parents who have children with autism. METHODS: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmative factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to identify the most adequate measurement model for structural validity. Convergent validity and discriminant validity were also conducted for structural validity. Data were collected from 208 parents through self-reported questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS/WIN 15.0 and AMOS 20.0 version. RESULTS: A four factor-structure was validated (chi2=541.23, p<.001, GFI=.82, RMSEA=.07, IFI=.89, CFI=.89, PNFI=.73, Q (chi2/df)=2.20) at the 3rd order of EFA and CFA, and factors were named as denying, wandering, despairing, and accepting. Both convergent and determinant validity for LTS were 100%. Cronbach's alphas for the reliability of each structure were .77-.90 and .83 for total structure. CONCLUSION: The four structures, 24-item instrument showed satisfactory reliability and validity. LTS has the potential to be appropriate for assessing the transition process of life for parents who have children with autism and provides basic directions for differentiated support and care at each stage.

Ethical Attitudes, Perceptions of DNR and Advance Directives of General Population / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify differences in awareness and ethical attitudes associated with Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) and decision about advance directives among the general populations. METHODS: Participants were 193 ordinary people from 2 provinces and data were collected from December 23, 2013 to January 30, 2014. Structured questionnaires included awareness measuring tool and ethical attitudes measuring tool. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis using descriptive statistics, t-test, and chi2-test with SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: Most of the participants responded that they agreed on the necessity of DNR and needed to do it by guidelines, while 47.2% responded that patients and their families should make a decision about the DNR. After the decision about DNR, they also agreed that efforts should be made to give the best treatment even if a DNR decision had been made by the patient. In general, there was a significant difference in advance directives for CPR depending on gender and living with family or not. CONCLUSION: For a professional and systematic approach to the problem, DNR guidelines sufficient to elicit social consensus are needed.

Effect of Integrated Personalized Health Care System on Middle-Aged and Elderly Women's Health / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: Body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat, and blood pressure are important indicators of a person's health. In this experimental study, we evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated personalized health care system, Health Improvement and Management System (HIMS)-everyday, which instantly provides subjects with biofeedback on their measured body weight, BMI, body fat and blood pressure using a database that stores subjects-customized information. METHODS: The subjects of this study used the system once or twice a week for 8 weeks. We analyzed the changes in their body weight, BMI, body fat, and blood pressure according to their respective usage of the system, and analyzed the changes in their perceived health status and health promoting behavior accordingly. RESULTS: Subjects' body weight, BMI, and blood pressure decreased significantly with respect to their individual usage of the system. Subjects who used the system more frequently showed significant improvement in their body weight, BMI, and body fat. However, subjects' perceived health status and health promoting behavior did not improve significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the biofeedback-based personalized health care system was effective in controlling middle-aged and elderly women' body weight, BMI, body fat, and blood pressure.

Development of a Scale to Measure Life Transition Process in Parents of Children with Autism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to develop a scale to measure the life transition process of parents of children with autism, against the backdrop of a lack of research on this topic. METHODS: Seventy preliminary items were drawn from previous qualitative research, and content validity was tested by three professors as well as three parents of children with autism. A questionnaire survey was also done between August 2011 and February 2012. Data were collected from 207 parents of children with autism and analyzed using descriptive statistics, item analysis, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson correlation coefficients, and factor analysis with the SPSS Win 15.0 program. RESULTS: Twenty-nine items were selected to constitute the appropriate measuring scale and categorized into 5 factors explaining 63.2% of the total variance. The 5 factors were named; stages of denial (5 items), wandering (6 items), devotion (7 items), frustration (3 items), and finally acceptance (8 items). Cronbach's alpha for the 29 items was .80. CONCLUSION: The results of this study not only suggest assessment criteria for the life transition process of parents who have children with autism but also provide basic directions for program development to provide differentiated support and care at each stage.

Life Transition of Mothers of Children with Autism

PURPOSE: While there are a number of studies on children with disabilities, there have been few studies on mothers of children with autism. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of life transition of mothers who have children with autism. METHODS: From June 2007 to May 2009, the researcher interviewed 15 mothers of children with autism living in Seoul City, Gyeonggi or Chonbuk Provinces, and then analyzed the data gathered using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. RESULTS: "Living together holding a string of fate" was a core category showing along the continuum of life. The basic social process of life transition encompassed 5 stages: stages of denying, wandering, devoting, mind controlling, and finally accepting. These five stages proceeded in phases, though returned back to the wandering stage occasionally. CONCLUSION: This study has opened the door to understanding how mothers of children with autism experienced life transition. The findings suggest that differentiated support and care at each stage should be given and there is the need to develop transition assessment tools for mothers of children with autism.