A Structural Equation Model of Health-Related Quality of Life among Older Women Following Bilateral Total Knee Replacement

Purpose@#This study aimed to develop and test a structural equation model of health-related quality of life among older women following bilateral total knee replacement based on a literature review and Wilson and Cleary’s model of health-related quality of life. @*Methods@#One hundred ninety three women who were diagnosed with osteoarthritis, were older than 65 years, and were between 13 weeks and 12 months of having a bilateral total knee replacement were recruited from an outpatient clinic. Data were collected from July 2017 to April 2018 using a structured questionnaire and medical records. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 22.0, AMOS 22.0, and Smart PLS 3.2.4. @*Results@#The fitness of the hypothetical model was good, with coefficients of determination (R2 ) ranging between .28 and .75 and predictive relevance (Q2 ) between .26 and .73. The standardized root mean square residual of the model fit indices for the hypothetical model was .04; which explained 64.2% of physical and 62.5% of mental health-related quality of life. Self-efficacy, symptom status, functional status, and general health perceptions had a significant direct effect on physical health-related quality of life, while social support, symptom status, and general health perceptions had a significant direct effect on participants’ mental-health-related quality of life. @*Conclusion@#To improve the physical and mental quality of life of older women who receive bilateral knee replacement, nursing-based intervention strategies that reduce symptoms, improve functional status, and increase health perceptions, self-efficacy, and social support are needed. The most important factor is the symptom status.

Factors Influencing Organizational Commitment of Nurses in Korean Red Cross Blood Center: Focusing on Positive Psychological Capital, Communication Ability, and Social Support

Purpose@#The purpose of this study is to identifying factors influencing organizational commitment of nurses in Korean Red Cross Blood Center (KRCBC). @*Methods@#A cross sectional survey was conducted for 224 nurses who worked for more than three months in KRCBC. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from August 28 to September 20, 2018. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis with SPSS (ver. 23.0). @*Results@#The mean score of organizational commitment was 3.37±0.52 on a scale of 5 points, the mean of positive psychological capital was 3.51±0.51, communication ability score was 3.60±0.48, and social support score was 3.68±0.57. The factors influencing organizational commitment of nurses in KRCBC were social support (β=.41, p<.001), job satisfaction (β= .27, p<.001), and total length of employment in KRCBC (β=.19, p=.016). The model explained 36.1% of the organizational commitment of the nurses. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to develop an organizational commitment program for strengthening social support and job satisfaction to improve organizational commitment of nurses in KRCBC. Such a program is eventually expected to improve the quality of nursing care of nurses with a short career in KRCBC.

Factors Influencing on the Happiness in Community-dwelling Older Adults in Korea / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors on the happiness of community-dwelling older adults in Korea. METHODS: A convenience sample of older adults (N=191) who did not enrolled in any specific exercise programs participated in this cross-sectional correlational study. The data were collected from July to August, 2017. Participants were asked to respond to fill questionnaires including depression, physical activity, and happiness. Physical activity was classified according to physical activity scores(inactivity, minimally activity, health enhancing physical activity). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, χ² test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS (ver. 24.0). RESULTS: The influencing factors on happiness were depression (β=−.64, p < .001), physical activities (minimally activity=1; β=−.15, p=.014), and religion (have=1; β=.10, p=.029). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the determinant variables accounted for 58% of the variation in the happiness (F=53.37, p < .001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that depression, physical activity and subjective health status influence the happiness of older adults who did not involved in any exercise program. Effective healthcare programs for managing depression and increasing the level of physical activity could increase the level of happiness among older adults.

The Relations among Attitude, Competency, and Appropriateness of Work on Student Suicide in Health Teachers / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relations among appropriateness of work, competency on student suicide and attitude toward suicide in health teachers. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive one. The subjects were 193 health teachers. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure the variables of this study. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression with SAS 9.3 software were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: The attitude score toward suicide ranged from 1.47 to −1.03. The average score of appropriateness of work and competency related to student suicide were 2.34 and 2.81 respectively. Associated factors with competency related to student suicide among health teacher were appropriateness of work related to student suicide, two items of attitude toward suicide(suicide is an acceptable means to end an incurable illness and people who commit suicide are usually mentally ill), education level, education experience on suicide prevention and management, and the adjusted R2 of the regression model was 34.3%. CONCLUSION: Health teachers were not tolerable to student suicide. However, they evaluated themselves as low in the appropriateness and competency to the work on student suicide, especially in screening and counselling of high risk groups. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to develop education programs about counseling and intervention on student suicide for health teachers.

Factors Influencing Quality of Life of Alcoholics Anonymous Members in Korea

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine quality of life (QOL) related factors in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members based on PRECEDE Model. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted with participants (N =203) from AA meeting in 11 alcohol counsel centers all over South Korea. Data were collected using a specially designed questionnaire based on the PRECEDE model and including QOL, epidemiological factors (including depression and perceived health status), behavioral factors (continuous abstinence and physical health status and practice), predisposing factors (abstinence self-efficacy and self-esteem), reinforcing factors (social capital and family functioning), and enabling factors. Data were analyzed using t-test, one way ANOVA, Tukey HSD test and hierarchical multiple regression analysis with SPSS (ver. 21.0). RESULTS: Of the educational diagnostic variables, self-esteem (β=.23), family functioning (β=.12), abstinence self-efficacy (β=.12) and social capital (β=.11) were strong influential factors in AA members' QOL. In addition, epidemiological diagnostic variables such as depression (β= - .44) and perceived health status (β=.35) were the main factors in QOL. Also, physical health status and practice (β=.106), one of behavioral diagnostic variables was a beneficial factor in QOL. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed the determinant variables accounted for 44.0% of the variation in QOL (F=25.76, p <.001). CONCLUSION: The finding of the study can be used as a framework for planning interventions in order to promote the quality of life of AA members. It is necessary to develop nursing intervention strategies for strengthening educational and epidemiological diagnostic variables in order to improve AA members' QOL.

Effects of a Fall Prevention Program on Falls in Frail Elders Living at Home in Rural Communities

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of a fall prevention program on falls, physical function, psychological function, and home environmental safety in frail elders living at home in rural communities. METHODS: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pre posttest design. The study was conducted from July to November, 2012 with 30 participants in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Participants were registered at the public health center of E County. The prevention program on falls consisted of laughter therapy, exercise, foot care and education. The program was provided once a week for 8 weeks and each session lasted 80 minutes. RESULTS: The risk score for falls and depression in the experimental group decreased significantly compared with scores for the control group. Compliance with prevention behavior related to falls, knowledge score on falls, safety scores of home environment, physical balance, muscle strength of lower extremities, and self-efficacy for fall prevention significantly increased in the experimental group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the prevention program on falls is effective for the prevention of falls in frail elders living at home.

A Study to Assess the Need of Customized Visiting Health Care Services for Children according to Socioeconomic Status in a Province

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to survey children's health status and need of customized visiting health care services in one province. METHODS: The participants in this study were 237 caregivers of infants and preschoolers. Data were collected at the participant's home or public health center. RESULTS: Many of the children did not receive developmental screening tests or dental examinations. In the beneficiary group, the prenatal checkup rate and children's vaccination rate were lower, and caregivers had more health problems than the other groups. On the assessment of home safety, unsafe conditions were more frequently found in the beneficiary group. The caregivers in the beneficiary group showed lower child rearing confidence than the other groups, and wanted customized visiting health care services most in the areas of developmental screening, regular health check-up and counseling, nutritional supplementation, and oral health care. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that it is necessary for children and parents in poverty to be provided with professional home visiting interventions for the promotion of child health and prevention of developmental problems and diseases. These findings can be used for developing future customized visiting health care service programs for infants and children in this community area.

The Effects of a Depression Intervention and Suicide Prevention Program in Adolescents with High Risk of Suicide

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of a depression intervention and suicide prevention program in adolescents with high risk of suicide. METHODS: This research was designed as a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest study. The participants were adolescents with high risk of suicide in mental health screening examination. A total of 40 adolescents (experimental group=21, control group=19) were sampled from C-gun, Chungbuk Province. The experimental group participated in the depression intervention and suicide prevention program for eight sessions while the control group did not participate in the program. Data were collected with a self-reporting structured questionnaire from November to December, 2008. SPSS/Win 12.0 was used for data analyses including chi-square test, t-test, and paired t-test. RESULTS: After this program, there was no statistically significant difference in depression (t=1.498, p=.142) between the two groups, but depression decreased in the experimental group. There was a statistically significant difference in suicide ideation (t=2.058, p=.047). CONCLUSION: To decrease depression and suicide ideation in adolescents with high risk of suicide, it is necessary to offer this program in a more intensive course and for a longer period. Also, family consultation programs and individual case treatment and consultation programs should be offered.

Factors Influencing Health Risk Behaviors in Early Adolescents

PURPOSE: This study was to identify variables influencing health risk behaviors in adolescents on the basis of the PRECEDE model. METHODS: Data were collected from 434 middle school students in Chungbuk Province for two weeks in July 2008. The instrument for this study was a self-reported questionnaire. The SPSS/WIN 12.0 program was used for data analysis, which included t-test, one way ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Adolescents' level of health risk behaviors (47.32 +/- 7.98) was below medium. Physical inactivity (6.73 +/- 2.23) and Internet addictive behavior (6.36 +/- 2.11) were major health risk behaviors. The perceived level of school health education (30.74 +/- 9.84) was low. Family function and general self efficacy explained 14.3% of variance in health risk behaviors. Family function was a major predictor of health risk behaviors (R2 = .108, p = .000). However, the perceived level of school health education was not a significant predictor of health risk behaviors. CONCLUSION: For the prevention of health risk behaviors in adolescents, it is necessary that the family and the school collaborate with each other in educational strategies in order to strengthen influential factors such as family function and general self-efficacy.

Factors Influencing Suicide Ideation among Adolescents

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify variables influencing suicide ideation among adolescents. METHODS: Data were collected from 235 middle school students in Chungbuk Province from April to September 2007. We used the Korean versions of Reynold's Suicide Ideation Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory and Conners-Wells' Adolescent Scale, Beck's Hopelessness Scale and Internet Addiction Scale-K for measuring the research variables. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 23.0% were classified into the risk group of suicide ideation. Overall, the score of the suicide ideation scale was 14.25 (+/-16.38). The score of the suicide ideation scale in female adolescents (17.45+/-19.04) was significantly higher than that in male ones (11.17+/-12.65). Depression was a major predictor of suicide ideation. ADHD, gender, internet addiction, and hopelessness were the other significant predictors of suicide ideation. CONCLUSION: A strategy for school mental health education should be provided in order to prevent suicide ideation. The function of school health and Mental Health Center should be reinforced in terms of organization and staff personnel.