Usefulness of Estimated Height Loss for Detection of Osteoporosis in Women

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the threshold value of estimated height loss at which the risk of osteoporosis increases and to verify its discriminative ability in the detection of osteoporosis. METHODS: It was conducted based on epidemiological descriptive methods on 732 Korean women at a public healthcare center in Seoul between July and November 2010. ANOVA, Pearson correlation, logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were used for data analysis. RESULTS: There was an age-related correlation between bone mineral density (lumbar spine: F=37.88, p<.001; femur: F=54.27, p<.001) and estimated height loss (F=27.68, p<.001). Estimated height loss increased significantly with decreasing bone mineral density (lumbar spine: r=-.23, p<.001; femur: r=-.34, p<.001). The odds ratio for the point at which the estimated height loss affects the occurrence of osteoporosis was found to increase at a cut-off value of 2 cm and the area under ROC curve was .71 and .82 in lumbar spine and femur, respectively. CONCLUSION: The optimal cut-off value of the estimated height loss for detection of osteoporosis was 2 cm. Height loss is therefore a useful indicator for the self-assessment and prognosis of osteoporosis.

A Study of Subclinical Thyroid Function Disorder and the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Women / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This paper has attempted to investigate the association between the subclinical thyroid function disorder caused by natural change in thyroid hormones or thyroid remedies and the incidence of CHD. METHODS: Data was analyzed of 7,675 women who had undergone health examinations in a hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January 2007 and December 2008. The covariation of the coronary risk factors such as age, BMI, HbA1C, systolic blood pressure, LDL:HDL-cholesterol ratio, CRP, smoking and exercise were analyzed by using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A significant increase in serum TSH was observed with higher age (F=26.91, p=.00). In terms of age, the risk of CHD started to gradually increase since the 40s and sharply since the 60s (chi-square=113.29, p=.00). The serum TSH was the most significant parameter influencing CHD (B=.12, p=.00). The risk of coronary artery disease was 3.12 times higher in the subclinical hypothyroidism group (OR=3.12) while no significant difference was observed in the subclinical hyperthyroidism group. CONCLUSION: Subclinical hypothyroidism may be an independent risk factors for CHD. A nurse nursing patients with thyroid disorder should be well informed of their state of subclinical thyroid function disorder and make efforts to extend their health expectancy.

The Nursing Needs of Post-Surgical Colon Cancer Patients at Discharge / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was a descriptive survey of nursing needs for post surgical colon cancer patients at discharge. METHOD: A survey was done utilizing questionnaires about the nursing needs a target sample of 61 patients who had colon cancer surgery during April May 2006 in a general hospital in Seoul. RESULTS: Levels for treatment & prognosis were the highest in all domain, high in order of psychological support & stability, complications & discomfort, diet, daily life style, recovery & health promotion, and support system. Patient factors affecting nursing needs were age, job, duration of colon cancer and handling of stoma. CONCLUSION: Using discharge education for colon cancer patients based on the results of this study, nurses should focus on the domains of treatment & prognosis, psychological support & stability and complication & discomfort, and should tailor teaching content to be specified for age, job, duration of colon cancer, and handling of stoma.

Relationship with Physical Suffering, Emotional State, and Nursing Needs of Pregnant Women in Preterm Labor / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relationship between physical suffering, emotional state, and nursing needs of pregnant women in preterm labor and the difference depending on general characteristics. METHODS: The participants in this descriptive survey, selected by convenience sampling, were 126 pregnant women who were hospitalized after being diagnosed with preterm labor at 3 university hospitals. RESULTS: The level of personal hygiene was assessed in physical suffering, level of fear was assessed by the emotional state, and level of perterm labor was assessed by the nursing cares. In the analysis, physical suffering, emotional state, and nursing needs in the subjects all showed a significantly positive correlation. Differences in physical suffering, emotional state, and nursing needs depending on general characteristics were as follows: age, job, family type, economic condition, smoking, drinking admission days, previous delivery type, and artificial insemination. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, the nurse should focus on the domain of personal hygiene, and teaching contents specific for abdominal breathing exercises for relieving the women's fear and anxiety should be added.

Assessment of the Optimum LDL : HDL-cholesterol(LDL : HDL-C) Ratio for Predicting CHD / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to determine the optimum low-density lipoprotein : high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL : HDL-C) ratio for predicting coronary heart disease(CHD) in Korean people. METHODS: It was analyzed this data of 5,431 adults who had undergone health examinations in a hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January 2006 and December 2007. The covariation of the coronary risk factors such as age, HbA1C, systolic blood pressure(SBP), and waist-to-stature ratio(WSR) were analyzed by using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The LDL : HDL-C ratio in the male and female groups was mostly distributed between 1.5 and 4.0. The LDL : HDL-C ratio was the most significant cholesterol-related parameter influencing CHD(male: B = .306, p = .054, female : B = .940, p = .010), followed by LDL-C and total cholesterol. It was observed a sharp increase in the odds ratios for LDL : HDL-C ratios of 2.25 - 2.50(male) and 2.00 - 2.25(female). A significant difference was observed in both male(2.25 : chi-square = 2.494, p = .072) and female(2.00 : chi-square = 413.742, p = .000) groups. CONCLUSION: The risk level of CHD was set to 2.25 for males and 2.00 for females. Therefore, the optimum LDL : HDL-C ratio for Koreans should be far lower than that for the people in western countries.

Sexual Condition and Attitude for Sexual Counselling in Women with a Hysterectomy / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between pre and post operative sexual condition, differences in sexual attitude through post operational periods, and the relationship between sexual attitude and satisfaction. METHOD: Data was collected with questionares from 119 women registered in the gynecology department of a general hospital in Seoul who had undergone a hysterectomy. RESULT: There was a significant difference between the condition of pre and post operation coital frequency, sexual satisfaction, and spouse's attitude toward the extraction of the partner's uterus. There was a significant difference between their views of the operation. Twelve months after the operation sexual attitude of sexual aspects changed, but not in physical and psychological aspects. There was a significant difference between sexual attitude and satisfaction on sexual, psychological aspects, but not physical aspects. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a preliminary sexual condition be identified before surgery, scheduling the operation after helping a spouse gain a positive attitude about the hysterectomy, and couples in their 50's and older get counselling. Increased sexual satisfaction will develop with a belief in positive changes of sexual aspects, but a rapid change should not be expected.

An Analysis of Articles about Women's Health / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to classify the research domains and subjects based on existing health problems, sex/gender specific crucial health differences and common risks across the life span. METHOD: Three hundred and seventy seven articles were examined that were published in 3 nursing journals from 1999 to 2004. RESULTS: Research subjects were classified into middle-aged women (23%), nurses (20%), pregnant women (17%), school girls (14%), ill women (8%), working women (4%), elderly women (4%), mothers (3%), married women (3%), and unmarried women (2%) in sequence. The total number of keywords were 820 and the mean was 2.17 per article. Research domains were health behaviors (27%), childbirth (20%), socio-cultural and economic activities (8%), illness (6%), the reproductive system (5%), and demographics (5%) in the order of frequency. Research concepts shown were universal health behaviors (8.4%), mental health (7.2%), labor and delivery (6.2%), parent roles (5.5%), breast- feeding (4.6%), violence (4.5%), climacterics (4.3%), postpartum care (4.0%), weight control behaviors (3.8%), and a healthy life (3.5%) in frequency. CONCLUSION: Based on the research results, research concepts should be chosen closely related with the existing health problems, sex/gender specific differences and common risks across the life span. Especially these matters should be taken into consideration for study: education about the risks of artificial abortion, giving information for decision making on cesarean birth, low birth rates, infection during pregnancy, and the increasing rate of divorce.

Adjustment after a Hysterectomy / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between sexual changes and adjustment and identified the factors which affect adjustment after a hysterectomy. METHOD: The subjects were 89 women under 50 years of age registered at gynecology departments of general hospitals in Seoul. RESULT: 60.7% of the women restarted coitus during six weeks to three months post operation. They felt a decrease in vaginal secretions (68%), and abdominal and pelvic pain (59.8%), but2/3 of them didn't change the frequency of coitus and level of orgasm. With respect to the adaptability of the sexual life, there was a significant difference in the time to restart coitus, lack of vaginal secretions, abdominal and pelvic pain, change of frequency of coitus, experience of orgasm, importance of sex and avoidance of coitus, according to job, income, and health condition. CONCLUSION: It is appropriate to restart coitus six weeks to three months after surgery and preliminary information should be given to patients after surgery as abdominal and pelvic pain could be relieved after twelve months. Also, sexual adjustment can be improved if they can recognize the changes after surgery from sexual life before surgery.

A Study of Subjectivity in the Perception Gender Roles of Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study is to define the structural patterns of gender roles of women as perceived by co-eds. METHOD: Q-methodology was used on 174 statements collected through interviews with women aged between 20 and 50. 38 Q-samples were selected from 330 Q-population. The Q-samples were administered to 29 co-eds. RESULT: Analysis of Q-type obtained by QUANAL program revealed three types of subjectivity in the perception of gender roles. Type 1, role is characterized by the tendency to play down the female gender role and think that women's body is an essential factor in forming the female gender role. Type 2, rejects motherhood image obedience and chastity dictated by male chauvinism. Type 3, shows a tendency to believe that female gender cannot be separated from maternity and that women's basic role is housekeeping. The three types were common in believing in self-development and equal rights through economical independence.

Study on the Relationships between Gender role Identity and Sexual Intercourse Experience / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This investigation was carried out to understand how various gender role identity in adolescence affect sexual intercourse. In addition, it was done to support and encourage gender role identity which can protect themselves from physical, psychological, social sexuality. METHOD: From 2003 7.1 to 7.19, questionnaire made by Lee BS(2002) was distributed to 1172 girl high school students in Seoul. Its reliability was as high as 0.80 and it was analysed by SPSS. RESULT: In the 3 kinds of gender role identity, girls who had sexual relations showed higher feminity and masculinity and did not show any difference in social desirability. in the 4 kinds of gender role identity, girls with sexual experience showed higher frequency in oder of androgyny and undifferentiated. In 8kinds, bisexuality was higher and girls with experience showed undifferentiated of low social desirability. There were no difference between the gender role identity and the age of the first sexual experience. The factors that affected gender role identity were school, grade, economic standard and whether they have a girlfriend or boyfriend. CONCLUSION: Programs that focus on problem solving of sexual education for androgyny of sexually high experienced and undifferentiated of low social desirability, should be provided.

Family Support, Intention of Pregnancy and Antenatal Self-Care of Pregnant Women / 여성건강간호학회지

OBJECTIVES: A Pregnancy becomes a developmental challenge and a life-turning point for both the woman herself and her family. The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation amomg the family support, intention of pregnancy and the antenatal self-care of pregnant women. METHOD: The data were collected from 129 pregnant women by a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, using the SPSS program. RESULT: The findings of the study are as fellows : Statistically significant variables related to family support were age, religion, educational level, occupation, relationship with husband, relationship with mother. Statistically significant variables related to intention of pregnancy were religion, abortion history. Statistically significant variables related to antenatal self-care were age, religion, occupation, abortion history, relationship with mother, the term of marriage. There was a significant correlation between family support and intention of pregnancy, family support and antenatal self-care, intention of pregnancy and antenatal self-care. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is proposed that family support is an appropriate nursing intervention to improve the antenatal self-care and intention of pregnancy in pregnant women.

A Study of Symptom of Health and Fatigue-regulation Behavior in Middle-aged Women / 여성건강간호학회지

The purpose of this study were to identify a relationship between symptom of health and fatigue-regulation behavior in middle-aged women. The subjects were 241 women living in Seoul and near the city, ranging in ages of 30-59(mean=42.1 years) being interviewed during the month of Oct. to Dec., 2000. The following questionnaires were utilized in this study: a self reported symptom of health and a fatigue-regulation behavior scale originated from Kwon(1997). The analysis for the data was done by SAS program, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. The results of this study were as follows 1. Total mean scores of health status were shown 29.1, physical symptom 17.9 and psychological symptom 11.2. According to symptom of body system were higher in muscular-skeletal sympom 5.5, neurologic symptom 3.5, and digestive symptom 2.7. 2. The mean scores of symptom of health were significantly different in duraion of marriage, status of menstruation, perceived fatigue, perceived cause of fatigue, perceived help of family, hours of sleep. Physical symptom was significantly different in years of educational, status of menstruation, perceived fatigue, perceived cause of fatigue, perceived help of family, hours of sleep. Psychological symptom was significantly different in parity, whether or not having past illness, perceived fatigue. 3. The neurologic symptom was significantly different in years of education, status of menstruation, perceived fatigue, time to rest The respiratory symptom was significantly different in years of education, status of menstruation and hours of physical exercise. The muscular-skeletal symptom was significantly different duration of marriage, status of menstruation, BMI. perceived fatigue, perceived cause of fatigue, perceived help of family. The cardiovascular symptom was significantly different in whether or not having religion, number of children, duration of marriage, number of pregnancy & abortion, parity, status of menstruation, BMI. The digestive symptom was significantly different in whether or not having religion and the number of children. The urologic symptom was significantly different in whether or not having job, type of family, status of menstruation, BMI, perceived fatigue, perceived cause of fatigue, perceived help of family. The score of fatigue was significantly different in number of pregnancy. 4. There were significantly positive relationships in the area of symptom on health, especially fatigue was significantly positive relationships in score of symptom of health, physical symptom and psychological symptom. 5. They choose fatigue-regulation behavior physical rest, method of diversion, management of stress, enough sleep, and psychological rest in order. In the near future, it is required that further studies investigate socio-environmental factors related to symptoms of health and develop programs motivating fatigue-regulation behaviors actively.