[The Influence of Subjective Health Status, Post-Traumatic Growth, and Social Support on Successful Aging in Middle-Aged Women].

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate factors influencing successful aging in middle-aged women. METHODS: A convenience sample of 103 middle-aged women was selected from the community. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, two-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson correlations, Spearman correlations and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 22.0 program. RESULTS: Results of regression analysis showed that significant factors influencing successful aging were post-traumatic growth and social support. This regression model explained 48% of the variance in successful aging. CONCLUSION: Findings show that the concept 'post-traumatic growth' is an important factor influencing successful aging in middle-aged women. In addition, social support from friends/co-workers had greater influence on successful aging than social support from family. Thus, we need to consider the positive impact of post-traumatic growth and increase the chances of social participation in a successful aging program for middle-aged women.

[Influence of Uncertainty and Uncertainty Appraisal on Self-management in Hemodialysis Patients].

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the relation of uncertainty, uncertainty appraisal, and self-management in patients undergoing hemodialysis, and to identify factors influencing self-management. METHODS: A convenience sample of 92 patients receiving hemodialysis was selected. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and medical records. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlations and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The participants showed a moderate level of uncertainty with the highest score being for ambiguity among the four uncertainty subdomains. Scores for uncertainty danger or opportunity appraisals were under the mid points. The participants were found to perform a high level of self-management such as diet control, management of arteriovenous fistula, exercise, medication, physical management, measurements of body weight and blood pressure, and social activity. The self-management of participants undergoing hemodialysis showed a significant relationship with uncertainty and uncertainty appraisal. The significant factors influencing self-management were uncertainty, uncertainty opportunity appraisal, hemodialysis duration, and having a spouse. These variables explained 32.8% of the variance in self-management. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that intervention programs to reduce the level of uncertainty and to increase the level of uncertainty opportunity appraisal among patients would improve the self-management of hemodialysis patients.

[A path analysis on factors influencing second primary cancer screening practices in stomach, colon, and breast cancer survivors].

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the factors influencing second primary cancer (SPC) screening practice by examining the relationships of physical symptoms, knowledge and attitudes regarding SPC screening, perceived risk, primary cancer type, and demographic factors of cancer survivors. METHODS: Participants were 308 survivors of stomach, colon, or breast cancer recruited from 2 university hospitals in Korea. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 18.0. RESULTS: The proportion of participants taking all cancer screenings according to national guidelines was 40%. They had moderate knowledge and a relatively positive attitude regarding SPC screening and high cancer risk perception. The participants had taken fewer SPC screenings after than before cancer diagnosis. The factors influencing cancer risk perception were age, physical symptoms, knowledge regarding SPC and primary cancer type (stomach). The factors influencing SPC screening practice were age, gender, economic status, knowledge regarding SPC screening, and primary cancer types (colon). CONCLUSION: It is important for clinical professionals to recognize that survivors of cancer are susceptible to another cancer. Education on SPC screening for these survivors should focus on communicating with and encouraging them to have regular cancer screenings.

[Evaluation of an education program for patients with asthma who use inhalers].

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of an education program for patients with asthma who use inhalers. METHODS: The research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental study. Participants in this study were 36 patients for the control group, and 43 patients for the experimental group. The experimental group participated in the education program. The control group received the usual care. Data were collected before and 1 month and 2 months after the program finished and were analyzed using the SPSS 12.0 program. RESULTS: The experimental group had significantly higher scores of knowledge of inhalers, and inhalation technique compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found between two groups for PEFR, asthma instability, and satisfaction with inhalers. CONCLUSION: According to the results, the education program was effective in improving knowledge of inhalers, and inhalation technique. Therefore, it is recommended that this education program be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for patients with asthma on inhalers.

Phthalates exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-age children.

BACKGROUND: Very few studies have examined the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and phthalate exposure in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of phthalates on symptoms of ADHD in school-age children. METHODS: A cross-sectional examination of urine phthalate concentrations was performed, and scores on measures of ADHD symptoms and neuropsychological dysfunction with regard to attention and impulsivity were obtained from 261 Korean children, age 8-11 years. RESULTS: Mono-2-ethylheyl phthalate (MEHP) and mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexylphthalate (MEOP) for metabolites of Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MNBP) for metabolites of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were measured in urine samples. The mean concentrations of MEHP, MEOP, and MNBP were 34.0 microg/dL (SD = 36.3; range: 2.1-386.7), 23.4 microg/dL (SD = 23.0; range: .75-244.8), and 46.7 microg/L (SD = 21.4; range: 13.2-159.3), respectively. After adjustment for covariates, teacher-rated ADHD scores were significantly associated with DEHP metabolites but not with DBP metabolites. We also found significant relationships between the urine concentrations of metabolites for DBP and the number of omission and commission errors in continuous performance tests (CPT) after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSION: The present study showed a strong positive association between phthalate metabolites in urine and symptoms of ADHD among school-age children.

Smoking behavior and patient education practices of oncology nurses in six countries.

Worldwide, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death, resulting in approximately 5 million deaths annually. Nurses are keenly positioned to work toward reducing tobacco-related illness and deaths. Therefore, guided by the health belief model, the purpose of this study was to explore the smoking behavior, beliefs, smoking cessation education practices, and existing smoking policies at the institutions of a sample of practicing oncology nurses in Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States. A 27-item structured survey, designed for this study in English and translated and reverse translated by the Asian countries, was distributed to a convenience sample of nurses attending oncology meetings in each country. Totally 759 surveys were completed and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Principle findings indicate that 4.5% of these nurses currently smoke, although 23.3% reported smoking previously. While many nurses (74%) reported frequently assessing the smoking status of patients, only 50% reported discussing cessation with their patients that smoke. Although the majority (80%) reported feeling comfortable with asking their patients about smoking, only 23% felt it was the nurse's role. The findings indicate that while internationally oncology nurses recognize the importance of smoking cessation, significant room for improvement exists in translating this into practice.

[Trajectory of fatigue, quality of life and physical symptoms in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this longitudinal prospective study was to assess changes in fatigue and quality of life for a 6-week course of radiotherapy. METHOD: A descriptive and longitudinal design was used to this study. Twenty-three subjects receiving radiotherapy from a radiotherapy clinic of a general hospital completed the questionnaires. Fatigue was measured using Lee's scale(1999) and quality of life using Yang's scale(2002) weekly for 6 weeks. RESULT: Fatigue significantly increased(F=6.043, p=.000), and quality of life significantly decreased(F=3.938, p=.003) and physical symptoms also significantly increased(F=2.432, p=.039) during a 6-week radiotherapy. Multiple regression analysis revealed that fatigue at the first week and physical symptoms at the 6th week were the significant affecting variables(60.1% of the variance) on fatigue. And 63.2% of the variance in quality of life was explained by quality of life and fatigue at the first week and body weight change for 6 weeks radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, the fatigue and quality of life at the beginning time of radiotherapy have a lasting impact throughout the course of treatment. It suggests that nurses provide patients with information about the occurrence of fatigue during radiotherapy and the practical methods of intervening physical symptoms.

Relationship between fatigue and nutritional status in patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between fatigue and nutritional status in patients undergoing radiotherapy. DESIGN: A correlational and crossectional study design was used. METHOD: One-hundred-fifty-one subjects with cancer receiving radiotherapy were recruited from a university hospital in Chonan, Korea. Fatigue was measured using Piper's Fatigue Scale (PFS). The parameters for nutritional status included body weight, body mass index, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte counts. Cancer stage was controlled in analyzing the differences in fatigue, body weight and body mass index. RESULTS: The patients who experienced most fatigue were in their fifties, employed, had head and neck cancer, received radiotherapy on the head and neck, and had concomitant chemotherapy. Disease-related characteristics such as cancer type, and treatment type were frequently related to poorer nutritional status. Patients who showed poorer nutritional status, such as those with lower body weight, lower body mass index and lower hemoglobin levels were more fatigued than those who did not exhibit such characteristics. Lymphocyte counts did not correlate with fatigue. CONCLUSION: The findings can be used by nurses who are taking care of patients undergoing radiotherapy. Considering the relationship between fatigue and nutritional status, nurses can identify the risk group most vulnerable to fatigue and malnourishment in order to provide appropriate interventions for them.