Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Resuscitation Self-efficacy Scale for Nurses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate psychometric properties of the instrument, Resuscitation Self-Efficacy Scale for nurses. METHODS: This was a methodological study for instrument development and psychometric testing. The initial item pool derived from literature review and experts resulted in 30 items linked to resuscitation self-efficacy. A convenience sample of 509 Korean nurses from eleven academic teaching hospitals participated in a survey to examine psychometric properties of the scale. To examine construct validity, exploratory factor analysis and known-group comparison were used. Cronbach's coefficient alpha was used to determine the scale's internal consistency reliability. RESULTS: The final scale included 17 items with four-component structure termed 'Recognition', 'Debriefing and recording', 'Responding and rescuing', and 'Reporting'. These four factors accounted for 57.5% of the variance. Each subscale and the total scale demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency: .82; .88; .87; .83; and .91 respectively. Experienced nurses reported significantly higher self-efficacy mean scores in both total and subscales compared to new graduate nurses. CONCLUSION: The Resuscitation Self-Efficacy Scale for nurses yields reliable and valid results in appraising the level of resuscitation self-efficacy for Korean nurses. Further study is needed to test and refine the scale.

Quality of Life of Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Literature Review / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review studies that have examined the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review was conducted that used the databases PubMED, Proquest, CINAHL, and Sciencedirect. Articles were included that were published in English between 2005 and 2010 the key words use were urinary incontinence, women, and quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were identified, and the prevalence of urinary incontinence varied depending on the definition of incontinence used and the age of the population studied. The Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QoL), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-short form (IIQ-7), and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were the most commonly used instruments. Demographic, medical, physical, psychological, health, and intervention factors were reported as influencing factors on the quality of life of women with incontinence. Age, severity of urinary incontinence, type of urinary incontinence, number of urinary incontinence episodes, body weight, stress, and help-seeking behavior were statistically significant variables influencing quality of life. CONCLUSION: Future studies are needed to identify factors related to quality of life among women with incontinence and to use validated instruments according to specific subjects.

Effects of Problem-Based Learning Combined with Simulation on the Basic Nursing Competency of Nursing Students / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify the effects of problem based learning (PBL) combined with simulation on the basic nursing competency of nursing students. METHOD: A pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent control group was used to examine the effects of problem based learning combined with simulation for 9 weeks in a group of 283 nursing students. The PBL group of 141 students participated in PBL classes with simulation, 4 hours a week for 9 weeks compared to control group of 142 students who received the usual fundamental nursing class. RESULTS: The group that had PBL with simulation showed significant increases in problem solving and self-directed learning competency, although there were no significant changes in communication competency as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that PBL with simulation for nursing students may increase problem solving and self-directed learning competency and suggest that utilizing this teaching-learning method may be beneficial as an effective nursing education strategy.

Change in the Sensation of the Arms, the Range of Motion in the Shoulders and Depression in Breast Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association among change in the sensation of the arms, the range of motion in the shoulders and depression in breast cancer patients. METHOD: This is a descriptive study on correlation. The participants were 132 patients who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had mastectomy at a university hospital, and had participated in a breast cancer self-help group. The degree of depression was assessed by SCL-90-R scores. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS 12.0 for Windows. RESULTS: The participants complained of 'heaviness' as the most frequent and serious symptom of change in the sensation of the arms. 'Completely zip up the dress with a back-fastening zipper' was the most difficult motion of the shoulders. Participants who were in a worse stage of disease were in a worse condition in shoulder functions, and on a higher degree of depression. The degree of change in sensation and shoulder functions showed a positive correlation with each other, and both of them showed a negative correlation with the degree of depression. CONCLUSION: Sensation and motion change in the arms and the shoulders were common phenomena that affected depression in patients who had mastectomy. Nurses should consider not only depression but also discomfort of the arms and the shoulders for patients with mastectomy.

Effects of Skin Rehabilitation Massage Therapy on Pruritus, Skin Status, and Depression in Burn Survivors / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: Hypertrophic scarring and depression are the principal problems of burn rehabilitation. This study was done to verify the effects of skin rehabilitation massage therapy (SRMT) on pruritus, skin status, and depression for Korean burn survivors. METHODS: A pretest-posttest design using a nonequivalent control group was applied to examine the effects of SRMT for 3 months in a group of 18 burn survivors. The major dependent variables-including pruritus, objective and subjective scar status, and depression-were measured at the beginning and at the end of the therapy to examine the effects of SRMT. RESULTS: Burn survivors receiving SRMT showed reduced pruritus, improved skin status, and depression. The remaining scar also showed improvement in skin pigmentation, pliability, vascularity, and height (compared to the surrounding skin) as measured on the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that SRMT for burn survivors may improve their scars both objectively and subjectively, and also reduce pruritus and depression.

Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Symptom Experience in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: Over a Six-month Follow-up Period / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between psychosocial factors and symptom experience of patients with cardiovascular disease over a 6-month follow-up period. METHOD: Baseline data for each of the 138 patients were collected. Eighteen patients were dropped for a final total of 120 patients in the present study. To monitor patients' symptom experience after discharge, each patient was interviewed by telephone, and interviewed directly with a questionnaire at each clinic visit. RESULTS: Mean scores for hostility, anger, anxiety, and depression were 51.63, 22.87, 48.95, and 41.21, respectively. Mean scores for the level of symptom experience at discharge, 3 months and 6 months after discharge were 32.83, 24.79, and 26.70, respectively. There were significant differences in the level of hostility by gender, BMI, job, and monthly income. Also the differences in the level of anxiety and depression were statistically significant according to gender and existence of spouse. In the regression analysis, depression was identified as the significant factor associated with symptom experience at discharge, 3 months, and 6 months after discharge. CONCLUSION: This study presented baseline data to elucidate whether psychosocial factors were associated with the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Accordingly, it suggests that nurses need to take into consideration psychosocial factor as well as physiological factor in symptom management for patients with cardiovascular disease.

The Relationship of Individual Characteristics, Perceived Health Status, Body Image, and Health Promoting Behavior in Hospital Nurses / 성인간호학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study were to: (1) describe the individual characteristics, perceived health status, body image, and health promoting behaviors of staff nurses working in a metropolitan hospital and (2) determine the relationship of perceived health status, body image, and health promoting behaviors. METHODS: Data were collected from 311 staff nurses working at one of university affiliated hospitals using a self-administered questionnaire for perceived health status(SF 36 V2), body image(BAQ), and health promoting behaviors (HPLP-II) and using the report of year 2002 employee physical check-up results for health related characteristics. RESULTS: Most of nurses were within the normal range of BMI, total cholesterol, and liver enzymes but 42.2% had systolic BP above 120mmHg and 37.3% hemoglobin below 12g/dL. Although 96.4% of BMI score indicated 'underweight' or 'normal', 'feeling fat' showed the highest. Among health promoting behaviors the most frequently reported one was spiritual growth and the least one was engagement in physical activity. In the correlational analysis, health promoting behaviors had the positive relationships with perceived health status, vitality, mental health, attractiveness, strength and fitness (p=.000 - .004). CONCLUSION: These findings provide information that is relevant in designing interventions to enhance health promoting behaviors among nurses working in a hospital.

Modeling Adherence to Therapeutic Regimens in Patients with Hypertension / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify and test a model of the psychosocial variables that influence adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension. METHOD: A convenience sample of 219 patients with hypertension who were enrolled in an outpatient clinic of a cardiovascular center in Korea participated in the study. They completed self-administered questionnaires anonymously. The questionnaire was based on the Social Action Theory model and a literature review. The explanatory model was constructed and tested using structural equation modeling in order to examine the effects within the model. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that perceived self-efficacy was the strongest factor influencing patient adherence in this sample. Adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension was influenced by self-efficacy, patient-provider relationship, social support, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension was most strongly influenced by self-efficacy. These findings suggest that nursing interventions to promote patient adherence should focus on the promotion of self-efficacy including improvement in patient-provider relationship and social support, and reduction in depression.

Development of a Critical Pathway for the Patients following Lumbar Laminectomy / 성인간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to develop a critical pathway for the patients following lumbar laminectomy. Development of this critical pathway was the fundamental phase to implement case management, which is a new health care delivery system. For this study, a preliminary critical pathway was developed first through a literature review and analysis of the medical records and seven critical pathways being used currently in Korea and the USA. In order to identify the health care services provided for the patients, who had lumbar laminectomiess and to draw up the conceptual framework, 30 medical records were analyzed from January, 1997 to December, 1997 at the Spinal Center in the Yonsei University Medical Center. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The vertical axis of the critical pathway included the following 7 items: test, assessment, treatment, activity, medication, diet, teaching and discharge planning; and the horizontal axis included the time frame from the pre-operative day to the third post-operative day. 2. Analysis of the 30 medical records indicated that the average length of stay was 13.7 days, including 4.8 days from admission to operation, and 8.9 days from operation to discharge. 3. According to the validity study using seven experts, 54 items, among the total of 86 items, reached over 86% agreement, while 32 items showed less than 86%. These 32 items were reviewed for deletion or modification before inclusion. A final critical pathway then was developed. On the basis of this research, it is anticipated that this critical pathway can be uesd in clinical situations to provide care for the patients following lumbar laminectomy in the most effective and efficient manner.