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 study was aimed to develop a computerized reminder system and evaluate it's effect in terms of percent age change of screening, and satisfaction.

It was conducted through 6 phases : Analyzing the job and defining the basic input data, developing the information system, collecting and inputting data, testing the system, working with the system, and evaluating it's effect. Participants were 787 people (female 30-69 years, and males 40-49 years) in 2 dong of Suyoung gu, Busan, who haven't had cancer screening for the stomach, breast, or cervix since Dec. 2000. There were three experimental groups: a letter; calling and calling after the letter reminder, and a non-equivalent control group. To determine whether services were obtained, a telephone survey was done after two months of follow-up.

A cancer screening information system with five DB modules was develped. Overall compliance with screening was not statistically significantly changedbefore and after applying computerized reminders for all three screening sites. Only 16% were satisfied with the reminder.

This data didn't show that a reminder effort was effective of screening. However, because the evaluation interval was too short to find a difference in screening rate, we recommend additional longer prospective follow up studies.

The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) among nurses.

Data were collected by in-depth interviews with 8 nurses in 8 different hospitals. Conventional qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Eight major themes emerged from the analysis: DNR decision-making bypassing the patient, inefficiency in the decision-making process of DNR, negative connotation of DNR, predominance of verbal DNR over written DNR, doubts and confusion about DNR, least amount of intervention in the decision for DNR change of focus in the care of the patient after a DNR order, and care burden of patients with DNR. Decision-making of DNR occurred between physicians and family members, not the patients themselves. Often high medical expenses were involved in choosing DNR, thus if choosing DNR it was implied the family members and health professionals as well did not try their best to help the patient. Verbal DNR permission was more popular in clinical settings. Most nurses felt guilty and depressed about the dying/death of patients with DNR.

Clearer guidelines on DNR, which reflect a family-oriented culture, need to be established to reduce confusion and to promote involvement in the decision-making process of DNR among nurses.