A Web-based Health Promotion Program for Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

PURPOSE: The population of metabolic syndrome is increasing in Korea. The prevalence is related to lifestyle, such as lack of physical activity and irregular diet. Most patients with metabolic syndrome know that lifestyle intervention is important to managing the condition. However, they do not always follow the intervention for various reasons, including lack of knowledge on how to change their lifestyle and lack of accessibility to that knowledge. The purpose of this study was to test the web-based health promotion program we developed. METHODS: Fifty-six adult workers from eight areas of business were recruited. They all had a confirmed metabolic syndrome diagnosis after being registered at a university hospital for annual health checkups. Twenty-nine workers were assigned to the experimental group, and the others were assigned to the control group. The web-based program was applied to the experimental group as an intervention for 8 weeks.Waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressure were measured before and after the program. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and t test. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in waist circumference and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (t = -4.43, p < .001; t = 2.22, p = .031, respectively). Of the 29 participants, 13 (44.83%) in the intervention group had less than two indices for metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a web-based program is useful for patients with metabolic syndrome to improve physiologic parameters related to metabolic syndrome. The web-based program may be easily applicable to community as well as clinical setting.

Incontinence Pad Usage in Medical Welfare Facilities in Korea / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: The prevalence of urinary incontinence and the usage of incontinence pads by elderly residents in Korean medical welfare facilities were investigated. METHODS: From a total of 1,832 facilities, 33 medical welfare facilities in the capital area were randomly selected; all nursing homes were excluded. All data were collected by questionnaires to investigate the residents' age and sex, the presence or absence of urinary incontinence, incontinence pad usage per month, and management methods for urinary incontinence. Surveys were also conducted from January 2010 to August 2010. RESULTS: A total number of residents in medical welfare facilities were 2,783, and all of them were selected for this study. Approximately, 65.3% of residents (1,816 individuals) had incontinence. The mean usage was 75 incontinence pads per month. Only 15.6% of residents received proper management for urinary incontinence, while the remaining 84.4% of residents did not have any experience in evaluating or managing their urinary symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of urinary incontinence in medical welfare facilities in Korea was about 65.3%. However, the management of urinary incontinence was insufficient. Urologists should make further efforts for the proper management of urinary incontinence in elders in these facilities.

Comparison of the Effects of Meridian Massage and Hand Massage on the Affected Upper Extremity of Stroke Patients / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: In this study, the effects of meridian massage and hand massage on the affected upper extremity of patients with a stroke were identified. METHOD: A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. Participants were 84 (Experimental. 1: 28, Experimental. 2: 28, Control.: 28) patients with a stroke who were hospitalized in K oriental medical center. Experimental treatment for patients in experimental group 1 was the meridian massage for 10 minutes daily for 2 weeks, and for those in experimental group 2, hand massage for 2 minutes, 30 seconds each, daily for 2 weeks. Outcome variables were upper extremity function (grip power, shoulder pain, edema, ROM), ADL, and depression. Data were analyzed using SPSS PC+ version. RESULTS: The score for upper extremity functions and ADL were significantly higher in experimental group 1 who had meridian massage than for experimental group 2 or the control group. Experimental group 1 showed less depression than experimental 2 or the control group. CONCLUSION: Meridian massage can be an effective nursing intervention to improve upper extremity function and ADL, and to decrease depression in patients stroke who have had a stroke.