Differences in physical function, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life by disease severity in community-dwelling patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Purpose@#This study investigated the differences in physical function, self-efficacy (SE), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) categorized by disease severity in community-dwelling patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study included 182 patients with COPD selected from the pulmonology outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. Disease severity was measured using forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Physical function, SE, and HRQoL were measured with the six-minute walking distance, pulmonary rehabilitation self-efficacy (PRAISE), and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Disease duration, FEV1, and 12-month history of exacerbations were obtained from medical records. Patients were categorized by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) category. Data were analyzed using the two-sample t-test, χ2 test, and one-way ANOVA. @*Results@#Most of the participants were male and nonsmokers. The disease duration was 10.76 ± 10.03 years, the mean FEV1% was 62.13 ± 22.80, and 70.3% of the participants were in GOLD category 2 (moderate) or milder. Half of the participants reported modified Medical Research Council scores ≥ 2. Patients in GOLD categories 1 and 3 (mild and severe) exhibited significantly higher PRAISE scores than those in the other groups (F = 8.23, p < .001). The total SGRQ scores were highest in GOLD 4 (very severe), indicating the lowest HRQoL. Significant differences were identified among GOLD 1, GOLD 2 and 3, and GOLD 4 (F = 9.92, p < .001). @*Conclusion@#We identified potentially useful variables to comprehensively assess disease severity and tailor management strategies, including airflow limitation, and to determine the consequences of COPD from patients’ perspectives.

Experience of Peer Support Work among People with Mental Illness in the Community:A Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose@#This study discovered a substantive theory of the experience and process of peer support work among people with mental illness. @*Methods@#The participants were members of community-based mental health facilities and had been working as peer supporters for more than six months. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with twelve participants and analyzed using Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory approach. @*Results@#The core category was “becoming a healer going with patients in the journey of recovery,” and the core phenomenon was “identity confusion as a peer supporter.” The causal conditions were “starting peer support work without certainty” and “standing at the boundary between the therapist and patient.” The intervening conditions were “willingness to become a successful peer supporter,” “feeling a sense of homogeneity with the patient,” “accepting the mental illness,” and “support from people around.” The action and interaction strategies were “letting go of greed,” “being open about oneself,” “developing professional skills,” “maintaining wellness in the body and mind,” and “being with the patient.” The consequences were “becoming a useful person,” “changing attitude toward life,” “expansion of the sense of self-existence,” “recovering from mental illness,” and “discovering a role as peer supporter.” Finally, the substantive theory of “becoming a healer going with patients in the journey of recovery” was derived. @*Conclusion@#This study provides a holistic understanding of peer support work and the implications of interventions to help people with mental illness in a person-centered recovery process.

Job Retention Process among Working People with Mental Illness: A Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose@#The study was conducted to explore the experiences of job retention among working people with mental illness. @*Methods@#The participants were members with mental illness at the S Community Mental Health Center in Gyeonggi Province and who had been working for more than six months. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 participants between June 27 and August 20, 2018. The data were analyzed through Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory method. @*Results@#The core category was struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. The core phenomenon was the desire to be a productive person, and the causal condition was the willingness to change for a purposeful life. The action and interaction strategies included maintaining regular living patterns, maintaining medication, developing one’s tips for self-management, and self-approval. The intervening conditions were difficulties in forming social relationships, presence of symptoms, social resources, and acceptance of one’s mental illness. The consequences were restoration of family relationships, healthy pleasure through work, social inclusion, development of self-worth, and transition to an independent person. @*Conclusion@#Working people with mental illness are struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. This study suggests that a holistic understanding of the job retention experience among people with mental illness is required. The findings will provide the basis for developing interventions that can improve job retention among working people with mental illness.

Job Retention Process among Working People with Mental Illness: A Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose@#The study was conducted to explore the experiences of job retention among working people with mental illness. @*Methods@#The participants were members with mental illness at the S Community Mental Health Center in Gyeonggi Province and who had been working for more than six months. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 participants between June 27 and August 20, 2018. The data were analyzed through Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory method. @*Results@#The core category was struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. The core phenomenon was the desire to be a productive person, and the causal condition was the willingness to change for a purposeful life. The action and interaction strategies included maintaining regular living patterns, maintaining medication, developing one’s tips for self-management, and self-approval. The intervening conditions were difficulties in forming social relationships, presence of symptoms, social resources, and acceptance of one’s mental illness. The consequences were restoration of family relationships, healthy pleasure through work, social inclusion, development of self-worth, and transition to an independent person. @*Conclusion@#Working people with mental illness are struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. This study suggests that a holistic understanding of the job retention experience among people with mental illness is required. The findings will provide the basis for developing interventions that can improve job retention among working people with mental illness.

Development of Psychiatric Inpatient Classification System based on Nursing Care Needs / 정신간호학회지

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Psychiatric Inpatient Classification System (PICS) based on nursing care needs of psychiatric inpatients. @*Methods@#The preliminary items of the PICS based on the Korean Patients Classification System-1 (KPCS-1) were revised through literature review and interviews with psychiatric nurses. Content validity was assessed by 11 psychiatric nursing experts. In a convenience sample of 154 psychiatric inpatients, nurses reported nursing activities performed for their patients using the PICS. Criterion validity of the PICS was evaluated by testing correlation between the PICS and the Subjective Patient Classification (SPC). To identify groups of patients, the cluster analysis was performed with the PICS as a cluster variable, and cluster analysis was used. @*Results@#The final PICS comprised 12 nursing areas, 61 nursing activities, and 104 items. Significant correlation between the PICS and the SPC showed criterion validity of the PICS. @*Conclusion@#Results suggest a patient classification system based on psychiatric nursing needs. This will improve the quality of psychiatric nursing by providing substantial data on an appropriate ratio of psychiatric nursing staffing.

School Life Experience of Male Nursing Students Reinstated at School after Military Service / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore and describe the school life experience of male nursing students reinstated at school after military service. METHODS: The participants in the current study were 20 male nursing students from three universities. The data were collected in focus group interviews, and an inductive content analysis was performed on the data obtained from six focus groups. RESULTS: The content relating to the school experience of the participants was categorized into four themes: making a new start, facing challenges, trying to find one's place, and confusion about one's professional identity. CONCLUSION: Nursing education in Korea needs to be reconsidered, as it adheres to a gender-stereotyped identity. This study provides implications for improving the content and quality of nursing education.

An Exploration of Essentials of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the essentials of psychiatric and mental health nursing by identifying the care experience of the psychiatric nurses. METHODS: Eleven psychiatric nurses were recruited across five geographical areas in the Korea. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from two focus groups, which were analyzed with an inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Participants constructed two categories including ‘nursing tasks for the client’ and ‘nursing tasks for the organization’. Subcategories of nursing tasks for the client are ‘staying alert on crisis prevention’, ‘leading them to be real with eager and persistent will’, ‘nursing beyond role boundaries’, ‘tuning the needs of clients' family’, ‘taking journey with clients' personal life history’, and ‘doing invisible but recognizable nursing’. Subcategories of nursing tasks for the organization are ‘working as a responsible team member’, ‘integrating team competencies at the center of team’, and ‘balancing protection and control’. CONCLUSION: Psychiatric nurses played professional and holistic care roles for the clients, and managerial roles for the organizations. This study provides essential data for defining psychiatric nursing and estimating the appropriate ratio of psychiatric nursing staffing.

Effects of Simulated Interdisciplinary Communication Training for Nursing Students on Self-confidence in Communication, Communication Behavior and Technical Skill Performance / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: Ineffective communication between healthcare professionals leads to medical errors and puts patients at risk of harm. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of interdisciplinary communication training in simulated settings on self-confidence in communication, observed communication behavior, and technical skill performances of nursing students. METHODS: A repeated measures design with one group was conducted. Data was collected from 92 nursing students through a self-administered questionnaire and an observed behavior checklist. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, a paired t-test, the Wilcoxon signed rank test, the Friedmann test, a Repeated Measures ANOVA, and the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Self-confidence in communication, observed Identification-Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation-Read Back communication behavior, and technical skill performances of nursing students were significantly improved. In observed communication behavior, the performance of Assessment and Read Back communication significantly improved. However, communication of Background, Assessment, and Recommendation did not improve to a satisfactory level. Observed communication behavior was not correlated with the overall technical skill performance. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that interdisciplinary communication training in simulated settings was effective in improving nursing students' confidence and communication skills with physicians. Longitudinal studies with larger samples are recommended in order to verify the effects of interdisciplinary communication training on clinical outcomes as well as communication competence.

Sex Differences of the Relationships between Cardiovascular Risk Markers and Psychosocial Factors in Community-Residing Adults

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to explore sex differences in the risk markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and psychosocial factors and the relationships among these variables for the community-residing adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 114 participants consisting of 65 men aged 42.85 years old and 49 women aged 46.86 years old. Participants were selected by a convenient sampling of at community cultural centers and churches. They completed a structured questionnaire including demographic characteristics, physiologic risk markers of CVD; lifestyle factors; and depression, social support, and stress. RESULTS: The male participants showed significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures than their counterparts. Significantly higher percent of women were currently non-smokers, and practiced moderate alcohol intake, physical activity, and low fat diet. Among women, the higher the scores of depression and stress were and the lower that of the social support was, the higher blood pressure, waist circumference and BMI were. Among men, those who were less depressed and with higher scores of social support had more physical activity. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest further studies to explore sex differences of CVD risk markers and psychosocial factors, and their relationships in a larger sample, and to find the mechanism underlying these differences with a prospective design.

Development and Preliminary Testing of the Nursing Competency Scale in Simulation for Nursing Students / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a Nursing Competency Scale in Simulation (NCSS) for nursing students. METHODS: A preliminary version of the NCSS of 14 items was derived from the literature. A panel of seven experts reviewed the preliminary version for content validation and developed 15 items scale. A convenient sample of 195 nursing students completed the survey and two evaluators measured the performances of nine teams in a simulation scenario with NCSS. The data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, independent t-test and Cronbach's alpha. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used in order to estimate the degree of inter-rater reliability. RESULTS: An exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that two factor structures of the NCSS explained 51.1% of the total variance. Two factors were named psychosocial skills and cognitive and psychomotor skills. The mean scores of NCSS between third and 4th grade were significantly different providing support for its known-group validity. Cronbach's alpha was .90 and ranged from .79 to .88. The overall ICC for inter-rater agreement was 0.89 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.98). CONCLUSION: This scale shows preliminary evidence for validity and reliability. It could be a useful instrument for measuring learning outcome in simulation for nursing students' clinical competency.

Characteristics of Suicide Attempters Visiting Emergency Department / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of suicide attempters visiting emergency department in a general hospital located at local city. METHODS: To investigate the characteristics of suicide attempters, the medical records of 201 suicide attempters were reviewed with a structured analytic sheet. Data were analyzed using χ² test, two sample t-test, and oneway ANOVA. RESULTS: Among total of 201 suicide attempters, 114 (56.7%) lived in rural areas. 114 (56.7%) were men and most of them (71, 35.3%) lived in rural areas. 155 (77.5%) was the first trier and the most frequently used method was taking pesticides. There were gender and regional differences in the suicide-related characteristics of suicide attempters. CONCLUSION: The results provide empirical evidences to design and implement strategies at both macro and micro levels to prevent suicide.

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate validity and reliability of the Korean version of the expanded nursing stress scale (ENSS). METHODS: Forward-backward translation of ENSS from English to Korean was conducted. The translated instrument was pilot-tested and administrated to 285 nurses who worked in five general hospitals in Korea. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability. Validity was evaluated through construct validity with confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity. RESULTS: The Korean version of ENSS showed a reliable internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha .95 and composite reliability .99. Model fit indexes for 46 items were validated by confirmatory factor analysis(goodness of fit index .82, Tucker-Lewis index .92, root mean square error of approximation .04), indicating suitable construct validity. Factor loading of the 48 items (.47~.88) and average variance extracted out of nine factors (.52~.71.) indicated satisfactory convergent validity. Some values of square of the correlation coefficient between factors (.12~.89) were higher than average variance extracted values of each factor (.52~.71) so that it partly satisfied discriminant validity. CONCLUSION: Findings show that the Korean version ENSS has good reliability and suitable validity; therefore, can be used to assess and identify Korean nurses' job stress.

Effectiveness of a Stroke Risk Self-Management Intervention for Adults with Prehypertension

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based intervention for prehypertensive adults, to enhance stroke risk awareness and to adopt a preventive lifestyle for primary stroke prevention. METHODS: This was a single-blinded, repeated measures quasi-experimental study with 47 participants (23 in the experimental group and 24 in the control group) recruited through convenience sampling from two urban areas. The stroke risk self-management intervention consisted of three weekly, 2-hour, face-to-face sessions and two booster telephone sessions, utilizing strategies to enhance motivation for behavioral changes based on the Self-Determination Theory. All participants completed a pretest, a 1- month and a 3-month post test of stroke risk awareness and preventive lifestyle including blood pressure self-monitoring, healthy diet, and regular physical activity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, two sample t test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Friedman test with PASW Statistics 18.0. RESULTS: After the intervention, significant improvements were found in the experimental group for stroke risk awareness, blood pressure self-monitoring and regular physical activity, and were sustained over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results indicate that the stroke risk self-management intervention is feasible and associated with improvement in self-management of stroke risk factors for primary stroke prevention among a prehypertensive population.

Nurses' Prejudice toward Foreigners: Focus Group Interviews / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore and describe nurses' prejudice toward foreigners. METHODS: The participants in the current study were 16 nurses who had worked in university hospitals. Data were collected using focus group interviews and an inductive content analysis was conducted with three focus groups. RESULTS: The contents with regard to prejudice toward foreigners were categorized into three themes: prejudice formation, triggers of prejudice and prejudiced behaviors. The participants' prejudice toward foreigners as instigated by appearances, attitudes, or the national economic statuses of foreigners were added to the prejudice which had been formed previously. Prejudiced behaviors included discriminative attitudes, devotion withdrawal, defensive behavior, or derision. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that nurses may have positive or negative prejudices toward certain foreigners, which can affect their nursing practice. These findings also warrant the development of programs designed to increase awareness of and reduce nurses' prejudice toward foreigners.

Analysis of Qualitative Research in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends in qualitative research articles that from 2004 to 2013 in the Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and to raise issues for the evolution of qualitative research. METHODS: Descriptive statistics and qualitative evaluation were used in analysis of fifty qualitative studies. The focus was on research methodology and techniques to establish validity of the study. RESULTS: Most frequently used methodological orientation was phenomenology (48.0%) and the analytic method was Colaizzi's. Nearly two-thirds of studies focused on general population or psychiatric patients dwelling in community settings. There were no comments on validity in fifteen studies, and in the rest of studies, the description about the techniques to enhance the validity of study were not elaborated. CONCLUSION: Although qualitative studies in health care environment have increased recently, the proportion of qualitative studies compared with quantitative studies was relatively low in the Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. In order to make qualitative studies useful to nursing research, practice, administration and education, authors employing qualitative research methods should exert efforts to enhance validity of studies.

The Lived Experience of Stigma among Mentally Ill Persons

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective experiences of stigma among mentally ill persons. METHODS: Phenomenological methodology was used for the study. Participants were twelve people with mental illness enrolled at the S community mental health center in GyeongGi-Do. Data were collected via in-depth interviews from August 30 to October 1, 2010 and analyzed using Colaizzi's framework. RESULTS: Four themes and sixteen formulated meanings were identified for the stigma experiences of participants with mental illness. The four themes were 'Incapable of struggling against unfair treatment', 'Living as an outsider', 'Being constrained by oneself', 'Being in suspense over disclosure of oneself'. CONCLUSION: The results from this study underscore the need for an educational and awareness programs to reduce public stigma among the general population and self-stigma among people with mental illness. In addition, efforts are also needed to prioritize mental illness stigma as a major public health issue at the government and community level.

Factors Predicting Depressive Symptoms in Employed Women: Comparison between Single and Married Employed Women in Korea / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare factors predicting depressive symptoms in single and married employed women. METHODS: A comparative study using a cross-sectional survey design was used. The participants were 373 single and 355 married women. Measurements used for this study were demographic and work-related characteristics, physical conditions, self-efficacy, stressful life events, and depression. The SAS 9.1 program was used for descriptive statistics, chi2 test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and stepwise- multiple regression. RESULTS: Single employed women (SEW) had higher scores for stressful life events than married employed women (MEW), but there was no difference in depression between the groups. In examining the factors predicting depression, stressful life events and self-efficacy explained a portion of the variance in depression for both groups. Family monthly income and working hours were significant variables for SEW, while satisfaction with marriage and role as wife was significant for MEW. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mental health of MEW is not worse than it is for SEW, and they do not suffer from multi-role strain. Although different variables explained depression for these women, family-related factors are especially important to MEW.

Mediating Effect of Self-efficacy in the Relationship between Irrational Belief and Mental Health of Korean Soldiers / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the association among irrational belief, mental health, and self-efficacy, and explored the mediation of self-efficacy in the relationship between irrational belief and mental health of Korean soldiers. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was employed. The participants were 118 soldiers who signed consent forms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Irrational beliefs were positively correlated with mental health problems, and self-efficacy was negatively correlated with irrational beliefs and mental health problems. Self-efficacy acted as a mediator in the relationship between irrational beliefs and mental health problems. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that effective interventions to reduce mental health problems of soldiers should apply strategies to change irrational belief and increase self efficacy. These results also provide more empirical support to the hypothesis that self-efficacy serves as a mediator in a mental health.

A Study on Community Health Practitioners' Knowledge of, Use Patterns of, and Attitudes toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM)

No abstract available.

A Study on Community Health Practitioners' Knowledge of, Use Patterns of, and Attitudes toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM)

No abstract available.