With the occurrence of cancer, most cancer patients experience various emotional changes such as anxiety, depression, and emotional shock. Especially in our country, cancer has been recognized as an incurable disease resulting in death. The number of cancer patients increases daily. But as the survival rate of cancer patients is also increasing, there is a need to find the better methods of nursing care for cancer patients. The purposes of this paper are as follows : 1) To understand family support and hope and quality of life for the cancer patient both during hospitalization and at home. 2) To determine the relationship between family support, hope and quality of life. To examine the problems, we used a questionnaire and obtained data form the records of 45 home care and 94 hospitalized(in 3 university hospitals) Patients in Taegu area from the period of June 15 to August 15, 1996. SPSS /PC was used for the data analysis and the statistical methods used were the T-test and ANOVA. The results of this paper are as follow : 1 ) In the aspect of family support, there is no difference between hospitalized and home care cancer patients(t=1.63, P>0.01 ). 2) In the aspect of hope, hospitalized cancer patients have a higher score than home care cancer patients (t=3.08, P>0.01 ) 3) In the aspect of quality of life, hospitalized cancer patients have a higher score than home care patients(t=2.96, P<.01). 4) There is a correlation between quality of life and hope with a correlation coefficient r=0.5199 and P=0.000. In addition. the correlation coefficient between quality of life and family support is 4179 with P =0.000. 5) The family support of the cancer patient is influenced by sex(F=9.1863, P<0.01), education(F=4.3641, P<0.01) and the level of life (F=5.5002, P<0.01 ). 6) The hope of cancer patients is influenced by the number of hospitalizations (F=3.6413, P<.05), education(F=B.01 13, P<.01 ) and the level of life (F=5.0649, P <.01 ). 7) The quality of life of cancer patients is influenced by the number of hospitalization( F=5.1167, P<0.05), education( F=3.1590, P<0.01 ) and the level of life (F=5.6942, P<1.01 ).
This descriptive study was designed to identify the factors associated with weight control behaviors among 273 high school girls with normal body weight. The objectives of the study were i) to evaluate subjective obesity and satisfaction with the body shape, ii) to describe the weight control behaviors and the motivation, iii) to reveal the relationships between the weight control behaviors and BMI (Body Mass Index), iv) to investigate the relationships between the weight control behaviors and subjective obesity and satisfaction with the body shape, and v) to investigate the relationships between the weight control behaviors and family support. The results showed that 62.6% of the adolescent girls with normal weight perceived that they were fatty and 9.9% thought they were obese. Seventy-five percent of them were not satisfied with their body shape. Eighty percent of the participants reported the main motivation of weight control was to have an attractive appearance. In this study, self-reported weight control methods included dieting (64.8%, skipping or reducing meals), exercise (36.6%), and special dieting (20.1%) such as eating an increased amount of juice or vegetables. It was shown that the subjects who were not satisfied with their body shape and perceived themselves as fatty or obese were active in exercise, diet, and other special diets. Subjects who were on diets and special diets had a higher level of BMI than who were not on diet and special diet. Subjects who exercise had a lower level of BMI than who did not exercised. Family support was significantly related to exercise behavior. The research suggested that there is a increasing responsibility for school nurse to instruct on the body shape and weight control behaviors through health education and consultation. Also, the results suggested that it is important to develop proper diet and exercise methods for adolescents girls to maintain their weight and health.
This is a descriptive study on quality of life(QOL) and related factors of ostomates to provide a basic data for development of nursing interventions. The subjects were 110 ostomates who were members of the Daegu or Daejon branches of the Korean Ostomy Association. Data collection was performed between March 1st and April 6th, 1998. Measurements of QOL, self-care, family support, self-esteem, and hope were used as the study tools. Data were analyzed with the SAS program by using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression. The results are as follows : 1) The score on the QOL scale ranged from 97 to 226 with a mean of 164.53(+/-28.29). 2) The score of QOL on the general and ostomate-related characteristic showed significant differences according to monthly income, monthly participation in ostomate meetings, combined treatments after operation, types of evacuation management, problems of ostomy, help in caring for the ostomy, length of time since ostomate surgery, and presence or absence of readmission after discharge. 3) There were significant positive correlations between quality in life and other factors ; self-esteem(r=0.7107, P<0.001), hope(r=0.6584, P<0.001) family support(r=0.6191, P<0.001), perception of health condition(r=0.6017, P<0.001), and self-care(r=0.2286, P<0.05). 4) The variables that affected the quality of life of the subjects were self-esteem, level of family support, perception of health condition, monthly participation in ostomate meetings, combined treatments after operation, monthly income, level of hope, and age in that order. The variance of quality of life was R2=77.20 percent by calculating the sum of those variables. In conclusion, it is necessary for nursing intervention to promote self-esteem, family support, and hope in the care of ostomates in order to improve QOL.
This study was designed to identify the relationship between perceived pain, family support and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the theoretical understanding of the relationship of these three variables and eventually to more effective adaptation of patients to their situation. The subjects for this study were the 68 patients who had been diagnosed with ankylsing spondylitis and registered as out-patients in the Rheumatism Center of one university hospital in Seoul. The data were collected during the period from October 10, 1997 to December 20, 1997. Pain was measured using the perceived pain scale(VAS: Visual Analog Scale)developed by Calin(1993), family support using the scale developed by Kang Hyun Suk(1985) and Quality of Life using the scale developed by Ro Yoo Ja(1988). The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Frequencies, Pearson correlation, using the SPSS program. The results of this can be summarized as followings. 1. The mean perceived pain score was 5.13 with a range of 2 to 10. 2. The mean perceived family support score was 41.08+/-5.34 with a range of 20 to 50. 3. The mean perceived quality of life score was 134.07+/-19.82 with a range of 83 to 176. 4. Significant statistical difference was found between family support and quality of life(r=.331, p<0.001). A significant negative statistical difference was found between the family support and quality of life and pain(r=-.250, p<0.05, r=-.460, p<0.001). 5. General characteristics related to pain were exercise(t=4.72, p<0.0006). 6. General characteristics related to family support were age(F=2.65, p<0.0246), educational level(F=2.84, p<0.0282) and exercise(t=3.24, p<0.0452). 7. General characteristics related to quality of life were educational level(F=3.03, p<0.0392) and exercise(t=3.12, p<0.0465). It was found that the higher the level perceived pain, the lower the degree of perceived family support and the quality of life. It was also fund that the higher the degree of perceived family support the higher the degree of perceived quality of life. Accordingly, the conclusions from this study are that reduction of pain is achieved through the family support. Therefore, it is proposed that family support is an appropriate nursing intervention to improve the quality of life of patients with anklosing spondylitis.
The study was done to identify the relationship of treatment side effects, family support, and quality of life in patients with cancer, and factors influencing quality of life.
A convenience sample of 106 patients who were receiving cancer treatment at W hospital were interviewed using the Side Effects scale by Hur, Family Support scale by Kang, and QOL scale by Ro.
Results indicate that women experienced more severe side effects than men. There was a negative relationship between side effects and quality of life, and a positive relationship between family support and quality of life. The most bothersome side effects were changes in taste and appetite, followed by general weakness and fatigue. Side effects such as loss of hair, nausea, dizziness, numbness, pins and needles in fingers and toes, and dry mouth were also experienced. General weakness and family support were analysed as to whether they were factors influencing quality of life.
The results revealed that relieving general weakness should be given high priority in nursing interventions for patients undergoing cancer treatment. In addition, nursing programs should be developed that can reinforce family support.