The Effects of Music Therapy on Pain, Depression and Anxiety in Terminal Cancer Patients / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on pain, depression, and anxiety in terminally ill patients. METHODS: Twenty patients in the experimental group were provided with music via headphones for 30- 40 min at a time as they requested for 2 weeks, whereas no music was provided for the nineteen patients in the control group. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The research instruments included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Depression & Anxiety Inventory Scale. Data were analyzed using chi-square-test, t-test, and Fisher's exact test, using SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in the scores of pain at present (t=-2.54, p<.05), depression (t=-2.187, p<.05) and anxiety (Z=-2.114, p<.05) in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Music therapy is considered non-invasive and inexpensive intervention and can be easily applied to alleviate pain, depression and anxiety for terminally ill patients.

Comparative consistency between obesity determination standards using Body Mass Index and Ideal body weight

BACKGROUND: Ideal Body Weight(IBW) is commonly used to determine obesity levels because of its usefulness as target weight. This study was attempted to evaluate the comparative consistency between standards of determining obesity levels using the BMI and IBW. And the authors here provide a definition of IBW and attempt to suggest a new classification of obesity by IBW. METHODS: The test subjects for the research were 24,816 patients who received treatment at the SNUH Health Promotion Center between May 1, 1996 and December 31, 1999. The comparative consistency between standards of determining obesity levels using the BMI and IBW were analyzed calculating the kappa value. RESULTS: The IBW from the Broca method produced a kappa value of 0.668(p<0.001), while the calculation method for IBW recommended by the Japan Obesity Institute produced a kappa value of 0.664(p<0.001). On the other hand, an IBW calculated as 21(kg/m2)X[height(m)]2 (kg) produced the highest value of consistency at a kappa value of 0.911(p<0.001). After calculating IBW as 21(kg/m2)X[height(m)]2 (kg) and comparing the kappa values while adjusting the boundary zone standards, it was found that defining underweight as below 88% of IBW and obesity as above 145% produced the highest value of concurrence at a kappa value of 0.935(p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The validity and confidence with respect to the definition of IBW and the determination method for obesity as proposed by the authors may be confirmed through the methods high level of consistency [kappa value=0.935(p<0.001)] with determination methods using the BMI.

A Study on the Effect of Supportive Nursing Care to Anxiety Reduction of the Patient Immediately Before Surgery in the Operating Room / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of supportive nursing care on surgical patients in the operating room. METHOD: This study was nonequivalent control group none-synchronized design. The data were collected during the period of July 26 through October 8, 1999 at K hospital in Kwangju. The subjects for the study were selected from those patients who were admitted to K hospital for abdominal surgery. Forty-eight adult subjects were selected and evenly divided into two groups: 24 for the experimental group and the other 24 for the control group, respectively. The tool used for measuring state and trait anxiety was the one originally worked out by Spilberger(1976), and translated by Kim Jung-Taek and Shin Dong-Kyun(1978) for suitable application for Koreans. Data were analyzed by x2-test, t-test, Chronbach's alpha coefficient using SAS/PC+. RESULT: Results were as follows: 1. The degree of State anxiety was found to be lower in the experimental group who received supportive nursing care in the operating room immediately before an operation than the control group who did not."(p.05). CONCLUSION: Results of the above study reveals that the supportive nursing care in the operating room is effective in alleviating the anxiety of patients. I suggest that it is highly desirable to apply supportive nursing care for those patients who are waiting for immediate surgery.