The increasing survival rate of colorectal cancer demands various nursing interventions and continuous care for patients to adapt to their psychosocial daily lives. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with psychosocial adjustment in colorectal cancer survivors.

A cross-sectional descriptive study with face-to-face interviews was conducted of 156 colorectal cancer survivors after surgery visiting an outpatient cancer clinic at a tertiary hospital in S city, Korea. Posttraumatic growth, health-promoting behavior, length of treatment, difficulty in activities of daily living, and having a stoma were entered into the linear regression model.

The strongest factor influencing the level of psychosocial adjustment was health-promoting behavior (β=.33, p<.001), followed by difficulty in activities of daily living (β=-.24, p=.001), posttraumatic growth (β=.20, p=.004), and having a stoma (β=-.19, p=.004).

Nursing interventions for psychosocial adjustment in colorectal cancer survivors need to include the contents for posttraumatic growth, as well as health-promoting behavior, and activities of daily living.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing psychosocial well-being in family caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

A descriptive correlational design was used. The transactional model of stress and coping was used to investigate the psychosocial well-being of 137 family caregivers of patients with ALS. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires from January to November 2016. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the SPSS WIN 21.0 program.

The regression model had an adjusted R² of .49, which indicated that meaning-focused coping, social support, ALS patient-family caregiver relationship (especially a spousal relationship), and tracheostomy were significant predictors of caregivers’ psychosocial well-being.

Meaning-focused coping and social support significantly influenced caregivers’ psychosocial well-being. Therefore, interventions to improve caregivers’ psychosocial well-being must focus on increasing meaning-focused coping and social support resources.

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale of free nursing home adjustment for the elderly in Korea.

The developmental processes were construction of a conceptual framework, development of preliminary items, verification of content validity, twice data gathering, verification of construct validity, and reliability of final items. The first 53 preliminary items were obtained through review of literatures about nursing home adjustment and in depth interviews with 5 staffs of nursing home. These items were reviewed by five specialists for content validity and 39 items were chosen. The first data was collected from 107 elderly residing in 3 nursing homes and the second survey was from 147 residents who were living in five nursing homes. Finally this data was analyzed for construct validity and reliability.

There were 23 final items which were sorted into 5 factors. The factors were identified as ‘Relocation distress symptom’(8items), ‘Making friends’(4items), ‘Acceptance of new residence’ (6items), ‘Difficulty in group life’(3items), and ‘Having self-worth’(2items). The cumulative percent of variance was 53.466%. The reliability of the scale, Cronbach's alpha was .837.

The result of this study could be used for measuring nursing home adjustment of the elderly. However, for further validity and reliability, repeated researches are needed.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Korea. The specific aim was to identify major problems that people with CHB face and strategies that they are dealing with.

A grounded theory method was utilized. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from 12 CHB patients from one of the major hospitals in Korea.

After constant comparative analysis, a core category emerged as “illness management with self-reliance and will.” Seven major strategies that were identified in dealing with the illness were maintaining receptive and positive attitudes; restraining excessive work and greed; searching for information; controlling illness information; adhering to practices for not spreading the viral disease; abstaining from alcohol and smoking and maintaining healthy eating habits; nd using alternative therapies. The outcomes that result from employing these strategies were identified as burden, depression and helplessness, stress for maintaining compliance, and dispirited interpersonal relationships.

The results of this study suggest that most people with CHB in Korea have problems in psychosocial area. Thus health professionals need to provide not only informational support but also emotional one to improve quality of life of the people with CHB.

This correlation study was undertaken to examine the relationships between daily life stress, self-efficacy and university student life adjustment and to analyze the self-efficacy affecting that university student life adjustment.

265 university students were recruited from several participating required undergraduate classes. They were surveyed as the subject of this study. Data collection was conducted through the use of questionnaires.

The university life adjustment level showed a maximum score of 9 with the mean score 5.22. A negative correlation was found between daily life stress and university life adjustment. Also, there was positively correlation between self-efficacy and university life adjustment. Self-efficacy and daily life stress accounted for 23% of the variance in university student life adjustment.

According to the results, self-efficacy is a useful concept in helping overall university life adjustment. Therefore, university student consultation office or nurse should consider the program based on selfefficacy in order to help university students to better adapt to university life.

The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial adjustment process in adolescents with epilepsy in the context of Korean society and culture.

A grounded theory method was used for data collection and analysis. Participants for this study were 9 adolescents who regularly visited an epilepsy clinic in a university hospital. The data was collected through in-depth interviews during the period from November, 2002 to June, 2003. Data collection and analysis were performed simultaneously.

Twenty-three categories emerged including ‘ suffering’, ‘ psychological stigma’, and ‘ social isolation from one's peers’. Categories were divided into paradigms which consisted of conditions, actions/ interactions, and consequences. ‘ Reconstructing life’ was the core category in this study. The theoretical scheme was described by organizing categories around the core category.

This study provides a framework for the development of individualized nursing interventions to care for adolescents with epilepsy.

The purpose of this study was to develop a program promoting adjustment to hospital life and determining its effectiveness for school aged children.

The sample group consisted of 76 hospitalized children in 2 University Hospitals located in Busan. The experimental group was given the program on admission and feedback was obtained on the 3rd day and again 24 hours later. Data was analyzed using t-test and ANOVA in the SPSS program package.

There were significant differences, in information(t=4.235, p=0.000) and coping effort criteria (t=2.922, p=0.005) between the experimental and control groups. There was a non-significant difference in attitude criteria between the two groups(t=1.009, p=0.316).

It was found that the adjustment promoting program for hospital life for school aged children was effective, but not enough to promote self-esteem. The program, based on a learning theory, was improved and shown to be an effective and strong method to promote adjustment of school-aged children.

The purpose of this study was to explore adjustment pattern of illness process of people with hemophilia in Korea.

23 people with hemophilia had participated for this study. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Strauss & Corbin's grounded theory method.

“would be free from” was emerged as a core category and it reflects that all participants wanted to be free from the constraints of the disease. The adjustment process was categorized into two stage, the ‘ unstable stage’ and the ‘ stable stage’. In the process of “would be free from” four different patterns were identified: hopelessness type; appreciation type; challenge type; and transcendence type. These types were identified based on the degree of pursuing normal life and managing the disease, and social support. The most frequently occurring type was hopelessness type but the participants of this type suffered the most. The transcendence type was the most ideal type, but it occurred the least.

The results of this study indicate that people with hemophilia in Korea still suffer from the disease and they need supports. The results would be useful for health care professionals in establishing education and counseling program for the people with hemophilia.

To explore how young adults in their 20s adjust to hemophilia.

Grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis. A purposeful sample of 15 young adults with hemophilia participated during the period of 2000-2001. The data were collected by semi-structured individual interviews, focus group interviews, and participant observations. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Constant comparative analysis was employed to analyze the data.

“Living like a normal person” emerged as the basic social-psychological process. Two dimensions of the self were identified: normal self and abnormal self. “Living like a normal person” means conscious effort to focus on normal self rather than abnormal self. Five subcategories were identified : 1) pretending as if he is not hemophiliac; 2) relieving the burden; 3) maintaining best physical conditions; 4) becoming independent; and 5) reconciliating with their mothers.

The results of this study indicate that young adults with hemophilia strive for living a life as a normal person. But there is a question whether it is good for their ultimate quality of life. The results indicate that our society needs to be more tolerant to differences that hemophiliacs have.

The purpose of this study is to examine the difference of direct nursing activity and patient outcomes as mortality rate, complication rate, readmission rate and length of stay related to graded fee of nursing management for inpatient.

The subjects of this study were 44 general hospitals with more than 500 beds. Data totaled to 86,044 claims provided to inpatients in Jan. 2001 requested by an electronic data interchange from a Health Insurance Review Agency. The data was analyzed by SPSS win(ver.10.0) and statistical methods used were frequency, one-way ANOVA, χ²-Test and regression.

Synthetic judgment through performance index and 95% confidence interval, direct nursing activity showed to provided adequate quality of nursing care on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th nursing degree. Also, patient outcomes showed difference by graded fee of nursing management for inpatient. Mortality rate of 2nd was the lowest with P.I. 67.9, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 4th in order. In case of complication rate, 2nd, 3rd and 4th were lower than other nursing degree. Readmission rate of 4th and 5th was the lowest. Length of stay of 2nd was the shortest with P.I. 88.3, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 4th, 6th in order.

The findings from this study showed that, the higher nurse-to-patient ratio, the greater amount of direct nursing care activity for the patient. Also, the more direct nursing activities influenced a lower mortality rate, complication rate and readmission rate, shorter length of stay.

The aim of this study was to verify psychosocial issues faced by psychiatric and community mental health nurse practitioners (PCMHNP) working in community mental health centers, and to identify the adaptation processes used to resolve the issues.

Data were collected through in-depth interviews between December 2013 and August 2014. Participants were 11 PCMHNP working in community mental health centers. Analysis was done using the grounded theory methodology. The first question was "How did you start working at a community mental health center; what were the difficulties you faced during your employment and how did you resolve them?"

The core category was 'regulating within relationships.' The adaptation process was categorized into three sequential stages: 'nesting,' 'hanging around the nest,' and 'settling into the nest.' Various action/interaction strategies were employed in these stages. The adaptation results from using these strategies were 'psychiatric nursing within life' and 'a long way to go.'

The results of this study are significant as they aid in understanding the psychosocial adaptation processes of PCMHNP working in community mental health centers, and indicate areas to be addressed in the future in order for PCMHNP to fulfill their professional role in the local community.

The purpose of this study was to identify whether the couple perceived breast cancer as a traumatic event, to evaluate the association among posttraumatic growth, dyadic adjustment, and quality of life and to explore the predictors affecting quality of life of the couple.

A cross-sectional comparative survey design was utilized. Participants were 57 couples recruited from a national cancer center in Korea. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, McNemar test and independent t-test. On the basis of variables found to be significantly associated with quality of life, multiple regression was used to examine the simultaneous influence of multiple predictors.

Breast cancers survivors and spouses perceived breast cancer as a traumatic event (43.9% and 24.6%, respectively). The global quality of life was explained by perception as trauma (β=-19.79) and posttraumatic growth (β=0.46) in survivors, and perception as trauma (β=-18.81) and dyadic adjustment (β=0.53) in spouses.

Results suggest that future research should use qualitative methods to evaluate why contemplating reasons for cancer contributed to posttraumatic growth, examine other potential predictors of quality of life such as dyadic adjustment and intimacy, and identify links between posttraumatic growth and other psychological outcomes such as distress and well-being, using prospective analyses.

This study was conducted to examine the late effects, social adjustment, and quality of life in adolescents who had been completely treated for childhood leukemia and their parents.

Participants consisted of 41 pairs of adolescent survivors (13-18 years) and their parents. Parents checked for their child's physical late effects. The Korean Version of Post-Traumatic Symptoms for psychological late effects, social functioning questionnaire for social adjustment and the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales for quality of life were completed by adolescents and parents. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Twenty out of 41 adolescents had one or more physical late effects. Adolescents showed more serious psychological late effect than parents. Five children and seven parents had above cut-off scores and they were considered the high risk group for posttraumatic symptoms. Parent-reported scores were significantly higher than child-reported scores in terms of social adjustment and emotional functioning of quality of life. Low school functioning in adolescents was associated with physical late effects.

The results indicate that long-term and systematic management for childhood leukemia survivors affect positive social adjustment and can further improve quality of life.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the empowerment intervention on the levels of self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and adjustment to nursing home life of the Korean nursing home residents.

Participants (n=47) whose period of stay was less than one year were purposefully selected from 3 nursing homes in Korea. The experimental group (n=21) attended 10 weekly hour-long empowerment sessions. The empowerment program comprised two components; group education and group discussion. The control group (n=26) received a two-hour education about health management.

Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly higher mean scores of self-esteem (t=5.51, p<.001), interpersonal relationships (t=2.73, p=.009) and adjustment to nursing home life (t=2.10, p=.041).

Findings of this study suggest that empowerment interventions may be effective in enhancing nursing home residents' self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and adjustment to nursing home life. Future research is needed to determine if such an empowerment program could be used with newly institutionalized elders to speed as well as enhance their adjustment to nursing home life.

This study was done to propose a structural model to explain and predict psychosocial adjustment in patients with early breast cancer and to test the model. The model was based on the Stress-Coping Model of Lazarus and Folkman (1984).

Data were collected from February 18 to March 18, 2009. For data analysis, 198 data sets were analyzed using SPSS/WIN12 and AMOS 7.0 version.

Social support, uncertainty, symptom experience, and coping had statistically significant direct, indirect and total effects on psychosocial adjustment, and optimism had significant indirect and total effects on psychosocial adjustment. These variables explained 57% of total variance of the psychosocial adjustment in patients with early breast cancer.

The results of the study indicate a need to enhance psychosocial adjustment of patients with early breast cancer by providing detailed structured information and various symptom alleviation programs to reduce perceived stresses such as uncertainty and symptom experience. They also suggest the need to establish support systems through participation of medical personnel and families in such programs, and to apply interventions strengthening coping methods to give the patients positive and optimistic beliefs.

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience process of adolescents with hematologic malignancies. The question for the study was "What is the experience of adolescents with hematologic malignancies like?".

The grounded theory methodology was used for this study. The data were collected through in-depth interview from 10 adolescents with hematologic malignancies. Data collection was done from January to June 2007. Theoretical sampling was used until the data reached saturation.

As a result of the analysis, "Reconstructing self-image from deviated and suspended life" was identified as the core category. And 11 subcategories were identified and they were integrated to the core category. 'Establishment of expanded and matured self' was identified as the consequence.

The results of the study provide a frame for effective individualized nursing intervention strategies in helping adjustment of the adolescents with hematologic malignancies.

To describe psychosocial adjustment of low-income Koreans who have cancer.

Data were collected during 2008 using individual in-depth interviews with 18 Korean people with cancer. The income status of the participants was low, 11 were recipients of the National Basic Livelihood Protection program. Mean age was 58.3 yr and 11 were female. Five participants had stomach cancer, five, colorectal cancer, and four, breast cancer. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology.

The core category emerged as 'bearing up alone with double suffering'. 'Poverty and cancer: A double suffering' emerged as a causal condition. The adjustment process consisted of three stages: 'forming a treatment will to live' ,'practicing for the cure',and 'restructuring self and repaying favors'. Each stage indicated action-interaction strategies which were employed to bear up alone with double suffering during the illness process. Self-reflection, parental responsibility, and support from the public sector played important roles in overcoming the double suffering. Two types of consequences were identified: Transcended life and strained life suppressed by poverty and cancer.

The results provide insights into the psychosocial adjustment process for low income Korean with cancer and can be used in developing and implementing efficient home-care services for these people.

To develop outcome indicators of urinary incontinence to measure quality of care in long term care hospitals in Korea.

The draft indicators of urinary incontinence were developed from a literature review and clinical expert panel. A survey of medical records of 280 patients in 20 hospitals was conducted to test inter-rater reliability. Statistical analysis was done to test risk adjustment criteria, variation between hospitals, and stability of indicators, using assessment data from 77,918 patients in 623 hospitals.

The inter-rater reliability of items was high (Kappa range: 0.66-0.92). Severe cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15, confidence interval [CI]: 3.03-3.26) and total mobility activities of daily living (ADLs) dependency (OR: 4.85, CI: 4.72-4.98) increased the prevalence of urinary incontinence, thus they proved to be significant criteria to stratify high and low risk groups. The prevalence for low risk showed more substantial variation than the high risk group. The indicators were stable over one month.

This study demonstrated the feasibility of outcome indicators of urinary incontinence. Improving the reliability of the patient assessment tool and refining the indicators through validation study is a must for future study.

The purpose of this study was to identify the causal relationship of familial factors (parental acceptance, autonomy, and family satisfaction), social support (teacher’s support and friend’s support), school achievement, self-concept, and school adjustment. Based on preceding research, this study established a path model of school adjustment and its related variables.

Two thousand six hundred and twenty nine middle school students participated in this study. Data were collected by a visit-survey with an organized questionnaire and was analyzed by the SPSS and AMOS programs.

Self-concept showed a significantly direct influence to school adjustment while both family satisfaction and school achievement directly and indirectly influenced school adjustment. Parental acceptance, autonomy, and social support indirectly influenced school adjustment.

These results imply that first, family satisfaction and self-concept are essential to solve the problems of school adjustment. Especially friend’s support, teacher’s support and school achievement should help improve the self-concept and school adjustment. Second, a variety of programs are available for schools to employ in an effort to provide interventions for students who demonstrate school maladjustment. Finally, it is necessary for family, school and society members to comprehensively cooperate to improve school adjustment.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the types of life adjustment of widowed elderly women in Korea.

The research design was a Q-Methodological Approach. Thirty selected Q-statements from 32 subjects were classified into a shape of normal distribution using a 7 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using a QUANL PC program.

Three types of life adjustment were identified. Type I is the independent type: overcome the reality. Type II is the abandonment type: deny the reality. Type III is the accommodation type: accept the reality.

The results of the study indicate that different approaches to the quality of life for widowed elderly women in Korea are recommended based on the three types of life adjustment.

The purpose of this study was to understand the adjustment process of middle-aged people in Korea with hemiplegia after a stroke.

For this study, the grounded theory method was utilized.

After constant comparative analysis, the core category emerged as ‘rebuilding the body which was ruined’. In addition, the causal conditions were ‘restriction of physical function’, and ‘loss of roles’. The adjustment process consisted of the ‘facing reality phase’, ‘overcoming depression phase’, ‘overcoming physical limits phase’ and ‘reestablishing roles phase’. The main strategies in the facing reality phase were ‘holding on to a glimmer of hope’, ‘getting away from the harsh reality’ and ‘facing up to the reality’. The main strategies in the overcoming depression phase were ‘soothing oneself’, ‘Self-introspection’ and ‘restoring self-esteem’. In addition, the main strategies in the self-initiative overcoming physical limits phase was ‘discovering personal strategies and striving to recover’. The main strategies in the reestablishing roles phase were ‘reestablishing a parents’ role’, ‘reestablishing a spouse's role’ and ‘reestablishing social roles’.

In conclusion, even though many middle aged stroke patients remained in the depression phase, most of them who overcame depression strived to conquer physical limits on their own initiative.

This research has been conducted in order to understand the major factors that affect self-esteem of adolescents.

Data was collected by questionnaires from 1155 students at middle and high school in Seoul and Kyungkido, Korea. The Instrument tools utilized in this study were self-esteem, body-image, problematic behavior, depression, school adjustment, social support tool and thoroughly modified to verify validity and reliability. The collected data have been analyzed using SPSS 11.0 program. The variable of family harmony and counseling partner was treated as a dummy variable. Seven outliers which were bigger than 3 in absolute value were found, so after taking them off, Multiple Regression was used for further analysis.

The major factors that affect self-esteem of adolescents were depression, social support, body-image, problematic behavior, school adjustment, and family harmony, which explained 54.7% of self-esteem.

It has been confirmed that the regression equation model of this research may serve as a self-esteem prediction factors in adolescents.