Reproductive Health Promotion Behavior of Infertility Women and Normal Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: To compare reproductive health promoting behaviors (RHPBs) of infertile women with those of normal women and identify effects of RHPB on infertility. METHODS: A total of 148 females (73 infertile women and 75 normal women) were enrolled in this study. Measurements included their general characteristics and RHPB using self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, χ2 test, ANCOVA, and hierarchical logistic regression using SPSS. RESULTS: There were significant difference in incomes, number of family, number of term deliveries, and number of abortions according to infertility diagnosis. Mean duration of infertility was 32.16 months. Only 12.32% women had known cause of infertility. The most common cause of infertility was unknown. Mean RHPB score was 3.98 for infertile women and 4.41 for normal women. In logistic regression, total RHPB (odds ratio [OR], 0.21) and safe sex of RHPB (OR, 0.66) were significant factors influencing infertility. Infertile women's total RHPB and subcategories of RHPB (safe sex behavior and sexual transmitted disease [STD] prevention) were lower than those of normal women. CONCLUSION: For infertility women, RHPB-related intervention programs are needed, especially information about safe sex behavior and STD prevention.

Effects of Relational Bonds and Professional Authority in the Organizational Commitment of Intensive Care Unit Nurses / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to define the effects of relational bonds and professional authority in organizational commitment of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to 200 ICU nurses working in 3 tertiary hospitals. The survey content included the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ), Relational Bond Questionnaire (RBQ) and Schutzenhofer Professional Nurse Autonomy Scale (SPNA). RESULTS: The score for OCQ was 2.59, for RBQ, 3.23, and for SPNA, 2.93. Organizational commitment was related to relational bonds (β=0.45; p<.001; SE=0.08). These factors accounted for 21.6% of the variability in organizational commitment. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that ICU nurses' organizational commitment could be improved through increasing relational bonds and retaining experienced nurses which suggests a need to develop work systems designed to increase and maintain high relational bonds in ICU nurses.

Nursing Students' Attitude toward Death and Perception on Hospice Care / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine nursing students' attitude toward death and perception on hospice care. METHODS: The survey was performed with 277 nursing students in three universities in Daegu and Busan. The data was collected by questionnaires and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Regarding the attitude on death, 93.9% of the subjects had ever thought about death. They worried about separation and sadness with family (39.7%). About half (48.7%) of the subjects considered death as a final process of the life. With regard to the perception of hospice, 93% of the subjects heard about hospice through books or nursing courses (83.8%). The best hospice management institution was considered the one run by religious groups or non-profit organizations with government support (33.9%). Ideal model of hospice setting in Korea was hospital or institution specialized with hospice care (47.7%). The barriers the subjects thought to effective hospice care in Korea was the lack of the public consensus on the need for hospice program (37.9%). The average perceptions about the purpose of hospice care was 4.38, whereas, the average of the need of hospice care was 4.06. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study provides the basis for expanding nursing practice and education related to hospice care.