The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of EPMLM(educational program of manual lymph massage) on the arm functioning and QOL(quality of life) in breast cancer patients with lymphedema.

Subjects in the experimental group(n=20) participated in EPMLM for 6 weeks from June to July, 2005. The EPMLM consisted of training of lymph massage for 2 weeks and encourage and support of self-care using lymph massage for 4 weeks. The arm functioning assessed at pre-treatment, 2weeks, and 6weeks using Arm functioning questionnaire. The QOL assessed at pre-treatment and 6 weeks using SF-36. The outcome data of experimental group was compared with control group(n=20). The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS 10.0 statistical program.

The arm functioning of experimental group was increased from 2 weeks after(W=.224, p=.011) and statistically differenced with control group at 2 weeks(Z=-2.241, p=.024) and 6 weeks(Z=-2.453, p=.013). Physical function of QOL domain increased in experimental group(Z=-1.162, p=.050), also statistically differenced with control group(Z=-2.182, p= .030) at 6weeks.

The results suggest that the educational program of manual lymph massage can improve arm functioning and physical function of QOL domain in breast cancer patients with lymphedema.

This study was done to compare edema and pain after completing a nurse's daily shift and to examine the effects of self leg massage which was usually used for reducing nurses' lower extremity edema and pain after their shift.

The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Study subjects were 81 nurses who took a self leg massage program created by the researcher. Self leg massage was done 15 times during 3 weeks. Data were collected from September 21 to October 31, 2007. The level of lower extremity edema was measured by ankle and calf circumference by a tapeline in cm and the pain score was measured by using a subjective numbering rating scale. Data were analyzed with the SPSS 12.0 program using statistics of repeated measures ANOVA.

There was a statistically significant difference in pain according to the department. There was a statistically significant difference in lower extremity edema and pain in nurses after their shift and self leg massage.

Self leg massage was effective for relieving nurses' lower extremity edema and pain. Therefore, it is proposed that standardized self leg massage should be applied as a method for nurses' lower extremity edema and pain.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the emotional state and related factors in patients with lymphedema.

The subjects of this study consisted of 95 patients with lymphedema at 8 hospitals in Busan and Seoul. Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire between March 2001 to December 2001. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS Win 12.0.

The mean score of the emotional state of the subjects was 3.06; of their physical symptoms, 1.84; of their Activities of Daily Living(ADLs), 2.30; and of their social activities, 3.67. The emotional states of lymphedema patients correlated with their physical symptoms, their ADLs, and their social activities. The Factor influencing the emotional state of the subjects was social activities.

These results suggest that a negative emotional state is very common in patients with lymphedema, to which appropriate attention should be given. Rehabilitation programs must be implemented to improve lymphedema patients' emotional state, physical symptoms, ADLs, and social activities.