Perception of precocious puberty among school-aged children in South Korea with the experience of treatment for precocious puberty: a Q methodological approach

Purpose@#This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of precocious puberty and elucidate the distinct characteristics of each type of perception related to precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone treatment for the condition. @*Methods@#This study applied the Q methodology to identify and classify the perceptions of precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone treatment for the condition. The analysis involved 34 questions from the Q sample and data from 35 individuals in the P sample, using the PC-QUANL Program for analysis. @*Results@#The perceptions of precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone precocious puberty treatment were classified into the following four types: "shyness - passive self-management," "resentment - suppression," "anxiety - fear," and "adaptation - acceptance." @*Conclusion@#This study investigated the experiences and perceptions of children who have undergone treatment for precocious puberty. Through the identification of four types of perceptions, we can see that there is a need to develop an intervention program for nursing that is tailored to the specific type of precocious puberty.

A Positive Image of Nurses as Perceived by New Nurses: Applying Q-Methodology / 한국직업건강간호학회지

Purpose@#This study verified the characteristics and types of perceptions and attitudes toward a positive image of nurses, as perceived by new nurses, by applying Q-methodology. @*Methods@#Participants were 37 new nurses serving at tertiary hospitals accommodating over 300 beds. Data were collected from April 1~30, 2021. @*Results@#A positive image of nurses was categorized into four types: professional leadership, skilled empathy, experienced responsiveness, and cooperative sincerity. It is believed that this study will help establish a professional view of nurses by verifying the positive image of new nurses, who are likely to lead the future. @*Conclusion@#Furthermore, by reducing the turnover of new nurses and increasing their job satisfaction, it would be possible to secure professional nursing personnel and the public's perception of good nurses, thereby contributing to the enhanced social status of nurses.

A Concept Analysis of Compliance in Kidney Transplant Recipient Including Compliance with Immunosuppressive Medication

Purpose@#Compliance in kidney transplant recipients is critical for a positive prognosis. Especially compliance with medications after kidney transplantation is a major health care issue with implications for graft rejection and graft loss. But the definition of compliance in transplantation varies among centers. The purpose of this study was to clarify the concept of compliance in kidney transplant recipients. @*Methods@#A literature search was conducted using RISS, MEDLINE, CINAHL. The concept analysis was guided by the methodology posited by Walker and Avant. @*Results@#In this study, we found the attributes of the concept: ‘compliance with immunosuppressive medication’, ‘compliance with follow-up’, ‘compliance with early detection of graft rejection and complication’, and ‘compliance with prevention of complication’. The antecedents of ‘compliance in kidney transplant recipients’ included ‘having a kidney transplant surgery’ and ‘normal function of transplanted kidney’. The consequences of ‘compliance in kidney transplant recipients’ included ‘affecting the function of the transplanted kidney’ and ‘affecting the health of kidney transplant recipients. @*Conclusion@#This study may contribute to the development of tools for measuring compliance in kidney transplant recipients, as well as benefit nursing interventions research to increase compliance in kidney transplant recipients.

Perceptions of the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Middle-aged Male Taxi Drivers: Focus Group Interviews / 한국직업건강간호학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to comprehensively examine middle-aged male taxi drivers' perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease. @*Methods@#A qualitative method was used, with focus group interviews. The participants were middle-aged male taxi drivers who had been driving for more than ten years and for more than six hours daily. @*Results@#The data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Middle-aged male taxi drivers' perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease were categorized into three main themes:　 “individual perceptions of cardiovascular disease”, “possibility of behaviors for cardiovascular disease” and “motivations of behaviors for cardiovascular disease”. Six sub-themes were extracted as follows: “perception of vulnerability”, “perception of seriousness”, “perception of profitability”, “perception of disability”, “self-awareness” and “advancing toward health care”. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to invigorate support systems through measures including education, counseling, and web-based programs to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged male taxi drivers.

The effects of empathy and self concept on problem solving: Focusing on the mediating effect of communication of nursing students / 한국간호교육학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to identify the effect of nursing students' empathy and self-esteem on problem-solving ability through the mediated effect of communication skills. @*Methods@#Data were collected from 179 nursing students between 1 October and 30 October, 2018 from three universities in Gyeonggi-Do. Data on subjects’ general characteristics, empathy, self-esteem, communication skills, and problem solving ability were collected using a structured self-reporting questionnaire. @*Results@#Of the total subjects, 89.9% were female. The subjects' empathy was 3.40±0.36, self-esteem was 3.16±0.56, communication skills was 3.65±0.48, and problem-solving ability was 3.52±0.42. Communication skills showed a partial mediating effect on the relationship between empathy and problem solving ability. Communication skills also showed a partial mediating effect on the relationship between self-esteem and problem solving ability. @*Conclusion@#These findings indicate that it will be more effective to develop strategies that can improve empathy, self-esteem, and communication skills together when developing programs that improve problem-solving ability.

The effects of empathy and self concept on problem solving: Focusing on the mediating effect of communication of nursing students / 한국간호교육학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to identify the effect of nursing students' empathy and self-esteem on problem-solving ability through the mediated effect of communication skills. @*Methods@#Data were collected from 179 nursing students between 1 October and 30 October, 2018 from three universities in Gyeonggi-Do. Data on subjects’ general characteristics, empathy, self-esteem, communication skills, and problem solving ability were collected using a structured self-reporting questionnaire. @*Results@#Of the total subjects, 89.9% were female. The subjects' empathy was 3.40±0.36, self-esteem was 3.16±0.56, communication skills was 3.65±0.48, and problem-solving ability was 3.52±0.42. Communication skills showed a partial mediating effect on the relationship between empathy and problem solving ability. Communication skills also showed a partial mediating effect on the relationship between self-esteem and problem solving ability. @*Conclusion@#These findings indicate that it will be more effective to develop strategies that can improve empathy, self-esteem, and communication skills together when developing programs that improve problem-solving ability.

Types of Parenting of Fathers during Early Childhood: A Q Methodological Approach

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine types of parenting among fathers. The characteristics of parenting each type in early childhood were identified by systematically analyzing and classifying father's perceptions of parenting using the Q-methodology, which places importance on the perspective of the performer. METHODS: The Q-method, which is effective for measuring individual subjectivity was used. The subjects in this study were 50 fathers with young children (2~36 months). RESULTS: Four parenting types were identified analyzing the subjective perceptions of fathers with young children about parenting. One type was centered on character development. Another was centered on social development. A third was centered on physical health and development. The fourth was centered on building values. CONCLUSION: Parenting education programs should be developed based on type-specific characteristics and further research should investigate the effects of father's parenting type.

Model Structure for Mother-Child Relationship for Korean Infants and Toddlers and Their Mothers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to set up a hypothetical model to explain causal relationships among influential variables in the mother-child relationship for Korean infants and toddlers and their mothers. The research was based on Barnard's (1978) mother-child relations model, and goodness-of-fit was examined. METHODS: The participants were 207 mothers with infants or toddlers. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS programs. RESULTS: Regarding the influence of the variables on the mother-child relationship between infants and toddlers and their mothers, social support had a 75% explanation of mother-child relationships, and attachment had a 58% explanation of social support. Attachment had both direct and indirect effects on the mother-child relationships, and social support had direct and total effects on the mother-child relationships. Among child-related variables, child temperament had a moderating effect on the mother-child relationships. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the model has utility in developing effective nursing intervention methods to boost mother-child relationships between infants and toddlers and their mothers.

Disease Prevalence, Parent's Educational Needs, and Disease Management according to Severity of Respiratory Infections in Early Childhood

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate disease prevalence, parent's educational needs, and disease management according to severity of respiratory infections in early childhood. METHODS: Participants for this study were 173 mothers whose child was admitted to I university hospital in Seoul and whose child was an infant or toddler. Data were collected from December, 17, 2014 to February, 15, 2015 using self-report structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using IBM/SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the severity of respiratory infection according to neonatal admission due to dyspnea, feeding type, atopic dermatitis in the infant or allergic disease in father and siblings. Parent's educational needs for the severe respiratory infection group were higher than for the non-severe group. Parent's disease management for the severe respiratory infection group was lower than the non-severe group. CONCLUSION: As important care factors in neonatal admissions include dyspnea, cow milk feeding, eczema, family history of allergies, parent's educational needs and disease management, they should be considered when caring for young children with respiratory infections and their parents.

Content Analysis of Parenting Awareness of Fathers with Young Children

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of fathers about early childhood parenting. METHODS: Selected fathers of children in early childhood were interviewed, and an open-ended questionnaire was utilized to identify the fathers' awareness of the meaning of parenting, priority for parenting, opinions on paternal roles as a child raiser, parenting difficulties, and what education they wanted to receive as fathers. After their statements were collected, a content analysis was done. RESULTS: Results of the content analysis showed there were 45 significant statements, which were classified into 17 categories. The fathers saw the meaning of parenting as being in five different domains: social, cognitive, emotional, physical and environmental. As for paternal roles, they thought that a fathers should serve as emotional supporters. The parenting difficulties that they faced were attributed to time constraints. CONCLUSION: For fathers, development of parent education programs that deal with early childhood parenting knowledge, communication methods and how to play with children according to their developmental stages are required, and qualitative research should be implemented to keep track of the process of changes in parenting characteristics.

Content Analysis of Parenting Awareness of Fathers with Young Children

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of fathers about early childhood parenting. METHODS: Selected fathers of children in early childhood were interviewed, and an open-ended questionnaire was utilized to identify the fathers' awareness of the meaning of parenting, priority for parenting, opinions on paternal roles as a child raiser, parenting difficulties, and what education they wanted to receive as fathers. After their statements were collected, a content analysis was done. RESULTS: Results of the content analysis showed there were 45 significant statements, which were classified into 17 categories. The fathers saw the meaning of parenting as being in five different domains: social, cognitive, emotional, physical and environmental. As for paternal roles, they thought that a fathers should serve as emotional supporters. The parenting difficulties that they faced were attributed to time constraints. CONCLUSION: For fathers, development of parent education programs that deal with early childhood parenting knowledge, communication methods and how to play with children according to their developmental stages are required, and qualitative research should be implemented to keep track of the process of changes in parenting characteristics.

Development of a Measurement Instrument for Parenting Behavior of Primary Caregivers in Early Childhood

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure the parenting behavior of primary caregivers of children in early childhood. METHODS: An instrument was developed according to Devellis's instrument development process. The participants in this study who completed the main survey were 370 mothers and grandmothers. The survey was conducted from June 1 to July 30, 2014, and collected data were analyzed using item analysis, half-split reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity. RESULTS: The factor structure of the instrument showed the cumulative variance as 55.7% in the factor analysis. As a result of a confirmatory factor analysis, a four-factor structure was found to be appropriate, and the construct validity and convergent validity of the instrument were thereby confirmed. The finalized parenting behavior instrument consisted of 26 items and four independent factors: affectionate, laissez-faire, educational and impulsive. A five-point Likert scale was employed, and a higher score in a particular factor showed that most of the behaviors belonged to the factor. CONCLUSION: The instrument developed in this study was found to be reliable and valid, and can be used to develop parent-child relationship building.

Content Analysis of Child Rearings of Mothers in Infant and Child Preschool

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the parenting of mothers with infants and preschoolers in an effort to determine types of parenting. METHODS: The 32 participating mothers were interviewed and from the content of the interviews, their parenting was analyzed. Statements were categorized and analyzed according to the selected procedure. RESULTS: The parenting of mothers was classified into positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement, including 55 significant statements and 14 categories. Positive reinforcement was categorized as frequent skin contact, giving pleasure, spending a lot of time with children, improving children's self-esteem, being sensitive to children's needs, realistic discipline, developing independence, listening to children, and understanding and respecting children's feelings. Negative reinforcement was categorized as overprotection, inconsistent attitude, negligence, negative educational behavior, and emphasis on obedience. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that systematic education should be provided for mothers to increase their ability to provide good parenting. It is expected that the findings of this study would be useful in the development of efficient educational programs.

Integrative Review of Nursing Intervention Studies on Mother-Infant Interactions

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the components and content of nursing intervention studies on mother-infant interactions and to present strategies for future studies. METHODS: Four electronic databases in the Korean language were searched to identify studies done between January 1998 and December 2011. The search yielded 145 articles. From these articles, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Mother-infant interactions in these studies were found to include verbal and non-verbal communication basic for optimal growth and development of the child. Six kinds of interventions for mother-infant interactions were identified as follows: sensory stimulation, education program, whole body massage, kangaroo care, visiting support, and music therapy. CONCLUSION: Further studies with well designed clinical trials need to be done in the area of child nursing to provide evidence based data for the development of strategies to promote positive mother-infant interactions.

Types of Child Rearing Behavior of Parents during Early Childhood: Q-Methodological Approach

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the awareness of child rearing among parents of children in early childhood and to provide fundamental data for parent education programs according to child rearing type. METHODS: Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item was used. Forty Q items which were derived from a literature review and interviews with nurturing mothers were classified into a normal distribution using a 9-point scale. Collected data were analyzed using the QUANAL PC Program. RESULTS: Four types of parents' child rearing were identified. Type I was named 'affection-respect type', type II, 'concern-rule compliant type', type III, 'solicitude-model type', and type IV, 'geniality-encouragement type'. CONCLUSION: For proper growth and development during early childhood, parents should have rational information and awareness of their child rearing type. Results of this study can be used as essential data to develop child rearing education programs according to parents' child rearing attitude.

Screening of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Mutation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using a PCR-Based Enzymatic Digestion Method

PURPOSE: We applied a simplified method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based enzymatic digestion for the detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 74 samples of adenocarcinoma of the lung with EGFR exons 19 and 21 that had been previously sequenced. We designed PCR primers and chose a DNA restriction enzyme. Seventy four additional lung cancer samples were tested as a test set. For test sets, the PCR-based method was performed first, followed by validation of the result by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: In the first sample group, we found 15 (20.3%) mutations in exon 19, and 9 (12.2%) mutations in exon 21 using the sequencing method. By using the PCR-based method, we were able to identify all of the mutated samples detected by the sequencing method. The PCR-based method also detected mutations in exon 19 in three additional samples and in exon 21 in one additional sample. In the second sample group, by performing the PCR-based method, we found 10 (13.5%) and 7 (9.5%) mutations in exons 19 and 21, respectively. Additional mutations in exon 19 were identified in 2 samples by the sequencing method. However, the sequencing method failed to identify a mutation in exon 21 in one sample. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of the PCR-based enzymatic digestion method seems to be comparable to that of the traditional sequencing method for detecting EGFR mutations. Our method can be widely used as a screening test to select patients who may benefit from EGFR targeted therapy.

Degree of Parenting Stress and Fatigue Perceived by Primary Caregivers of Young Children

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for nursing interventions to assist primary caregivers of young children by determining the degree stress and fatigue that caregivers were under due to parenting young children. METHODS: Participants were primary caregivers (181 mothers and 160 grandmothers) of young children. RESULTS: 1) Mean score for degree of parenting stress was 2.61 (+/-.69) and for fatigue, 1.97 (+/-.54). 2) There was a significant difference in degree of parenting stress according to primary caregivers' age, employment status, income, whether the children were wanted babies, health status of the children and caregivers, personality of the children, and benefits from, and satisfaction with costs of childcare. Likewise, there was a significant difference in degree of fatigue according to relationship of primary caregivers to the children, primary caregivers' age, religion, income, whether the children were wanted babies, health status of the children and caregivers, personality of the children, and benefits from, and satisfaction with costs of childcare. 3) Stress and fatigue perceived by the primary caregivers were significantly correlated (r=.554 p<.001). CONCLUSION: To alleviate more effectively primary caregivers' parenting stress and fatigue, early nursing intervention and educational programs need to be developed.

Detection of Serum Free DNA Hypermethylation in Surgically Resected Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

PURPOSE : Aberrant DNA methylation patterns have been commonly associated with human cancers. We have investigated the frequency of DNA hypermethylation in promoter regions from adenocarcinomas of the lung and then attempted to detect the same epigenetic changes from patient serum samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS : We collected tissues from 72 cases of lung adenocarcinomas. The cancer and normal lung tissues were tested for DNA hypermethylation using methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The genes investigated were DAPK, RARbetaP2 and p16. We selected 12 patients where promoter hypermethylation was present for all three genes and four patients where hypermethylation was not seen for any of the three genes. Serum-free DNA was extracted and was tested for promoter hypermethylation. The status of serum-free DNA methylation was analyzed; the hypermethylation status was compared to clinical variables and cancer outcomes. RESULTS : DNA hypermethylation was observed in 32% of samples for DAPK, 63% of samples for RARbetaP2 and 83% of samples for p16 from the cancer tissues. Among the 12 matched serum samples where the primary tumor showed hypermethylation in all three gene promoter regions, we were able to detect five incidences of serum DNA hypermethylation in four patients. The four patients had TNM stage II or higher disease. None of the patients with stage I disease showed serum-free DNA hypermethylation. CONCLUSION : Aberrant promoter hypermethylation was frequently observed in surgically resected adenocarcinoma of the lung. Concurrent serum-free DNA hypermethylation was detected in 34% of patients where the primary tumor showed hypermethylation in all three gene promoter regions. The findings suggest that the serum-free DNA methylation status might be used as a potential target for the diagnosis of lung cancer. However, the low sensitivity should be improved for use in a clinical application

Clinicopathologic Analysis and Prognosis of Endodermal Sinus Tumor of the Ovary / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and pathological characteristics of endodermal sinus tumor (EST) of the ovary. METHODS: Seventeen patients who were treated with EST of the ovary between September 1991 and February 2005 were reviewed retrospectively for clinicopathologic characteristics, treatments, and outcomes. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 22.0 years (range 7-43). Nine patients (52.9%) were stage I, 3 (17.6%) stage II, 4 (23.5%) stage III, and 1 (5.9%) stage IV. Twelve of 17 patients underwent conservative surgery including unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, unilateral oophorectomy and others were underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. All patients received adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Eleven patients received BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) combination chemotherapy and the others received VAC (vincristine, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide). One patient had recurred, and 3 patients had died of the disease. The mean overall survival is 153.6 months. Patients with stage I and II had a more favorable prognosis than those with stage III and IV disease (p<0.05). Patients received BEP combination chemotherapy showed significantly better prognosis than patients received VAC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Less advanced stage and BEP combination chemotherapy showed significantly better prognosis.

Effects of Pioglitazone on Insulin Sensitivity, Ovarian Function and Intraovarian Stromal Blood Flow in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the effects of pioglitazone, an insulin sensitizing agent, on insulin resistance, ovarian function and intraovarian stromal blood flow in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with PCOS, aged 18~34 years, were recruited. Criteria for diagnosis of PCOS were as defined in 2003 Rotterdam consensus. They were treated for 6 months with pioglitazone at a dose of 30 mg/day orally. The hormonal blood profile, fasting serum glucose levels, a glycemic response to 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and an ovarian stromal artery (OSA) blood flow were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: Eighteen (60.0%) of 30 patients treated with pioglitazone demonstrated a spontaneous ovulation After pioglitazone treatment, fasting insulin concentrations, serum glucose levels after 75 g OGTT significantly decreased (p=0.001, p=0.04, respectively), and fasting glucose to insulin (G/I) ratio significantly increased (p<0.001). The pioglitazone treatment induced a significant reduction in serum LH, testosterone (T) and free T levels (p<0.001, p=0.02, p=0.002, respectively). The resistance index (RI) values of OSA significantly increased after treatment (p<0.001). In analyzing pioglitazone-treated patients according to their body mass index (BMI), nonobese group as well as obese group showed a significant improvement in fasting G/I ratio (p<0.01). The pioglitazone treatment induced a significant reduction in serum LH and free T levels in nonobese group (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively) as well as obese group (p=0.001, p<0.05, respectively). The RI values of OSA significantly increased in both nonobese and obese groups after pioglitazone treatment (p<0.001, p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone could ameliorate the glycoinsulinemic metabolism, and this beneficial effects of this drug could improve the endocrine-reproductive condition associated with the decrease of ovarian stromal artery blood flow, in both nonobese and obese patients with PCOS.