The Effects of Hand Moxibustion and Hand Press Pellet on Blood Pressure, Blood Lipids and Blood Cell Components in Aged Women with Essential Hypertension

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hand moxa and hand press pellet on blood pressure, blood lipids and blood cell components in elderly women. METHODS: This study was conducted as a quasi-experiment with none equivalent control group pre-post test design. The participants were elders who had essential hypertension. There were 18 members in the experimental group and 20 members in the control group. The experimental group received hand moxibustion and hand press pellet 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The results were analyzed using 2 test, t-test, Fisher's exact test and repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in blood pressure in the experimental group compared to the control group. No significant difference was observed in total triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol between the two groups. Differences in hemoglobin and hematocrit were not significant either. However, there were significant increases in RBC in the experimental group after the intervention. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that combined hand therapy contributes to the decrease of blood pressure among the elderly with hypertension. Therefore combined hand therapy is recommended as a complementary nursing intervention strategy for the elderly with essential hypertension.

A Study on Health Behaviors, Health Status and Anxiety about Aging for the Elderly: Focused on the Elderly in Senior Center

PURPOSE: This study is conducted to survey and examine the relationships among anxiety about aging, perceived health status and health promoting behaviors in the elderly, and to provide basic data for health promoting interventions that would improve their successful aging. METHODS: Data in this study was collected from 333 elderly participants living in Busan. Descriptive statistics, t-test or ANOVA with Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were as follows. 1) The mean score of anxiety about aging was 2.67 +/- 0.30, perceived health status 2.46 +/- 0.37, and health promoting behavior 2.77 +/- 0.21. 2) There was a positive correlation between health promoting behavior and perceived health status (r = 267, p = .000). There was a negative correlation between anxiety about aging and health promoting behavior (r = -.163, p = .003). 3) Health-promoting behavior was significantly associated with perceived health and anxiety about aging, which explained 20.9% of variance in health-promoting behavior. CONCLUSION: In order to promote perceived health status and to decrease anxiety about aging in the elderly, it is necessary to develop supporting interventions to decrease anxiety about aging.

Diagnosis-related Characteristics of Microvascular Complications among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to investigate the diagnosis-related characteristics of the microvascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to identify the relationship ship between regular check-up and detection of complications of diabetes. METHODS: The study subjects were 63 patients with diabetic microvascular complications. The data were collected with self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The main motive to identify retinopathy was through 'visiting hospital after having symptoms (58.9%)', and not through regular checkup. The most common symptom of retinopathy was dim dye (84.3%) and the mean duration after diabetes mellitus diagnosis was 6.8 years. The main motive to identify renal complications was through 'visiting hospital after having symptoms and checking for other complications (28.0%)'. The most common symptom of renal complications was edema of face and hands (72.0%) and the mean duration following diabetes mellitus diagnosis was 8.4 years. The main motive to identify neuropathy was through 'visiting hospital after having symptoms (34.8%)', and not regular checkup. The most common symptom of neuropathy was tingling sensation of feet (100.0%) and the mean duration following diabetes mellitus diagnosis was 7.4 years. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, we suggest that diabetes complications check-up should be performed simultaneously to make the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and that the health care providers could provide them with more opportunities to have such check-ups with standardized complications care guidelines.

The Development of Educational CD-Program for Obesity Prevention and Management for Primary School Students / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The study is designed to develop an educational CD-Program for prevention and control of obesity among primary school students. METHOD: The study is conducted from June 15, 2000 to April 15, 2002. Based on the course of program development suggested by Dick and Cray (1990), the study followed the planning, development, education and evaluation of a program. RESULT: The developed CD-Program consists 2 parts each for lower and higher grades of primary school students. The introduction part of the first trial for lower grade students uses quiz to encourage their motivations, the body proceeds with motion pictures and animations to trigger their interests. The introduction part of the second trial for the lower grades consists of remembering the exhibition lecture. The first trial for higher grades of primary school students builds on the contents of the low grades. Its body part, how to determine obesity and calculate ones own obesity, puts ones own weight and height in by the mouse. For the second trial of the higher grades, the body consists of life-style, diet, and regiments. CONCLUSION: The merits of this CD-Program are that to be possible an interaction between teachers and students.