The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of foot reflexology on fatigue and insomnia in patients suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

This study was a quasi-experimental study of pre-test and post-test design in a non-equivalent control group. The subjects of this study consisted of both the experimental group of twenty-nine and the control group of thirty coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients. Data was collected from December 10, 2002 to February 15, 2003. Foot reflexology was performed for 60 minutes twice a week through five weeks in the experimental group, but none in the control group. To evaluate the effects of foot reflexology, the scores of fatigue and insomnia were measured before and after the experiment in both groups. Fatigue was evaluated by Fatigue Symptoms Inventory. Insomnia was measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS). Data of this experiment was analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, unpaired t-test and Repeated Measures ANOVA with the SAS Program.

The scores of fatigue and insomnia decreased in the experimental group but not in the control group. There was a significant difference of fatigue and insomnia between the two groups.

It is suggested that foot reflexology might have beneficial effects on reducing fatigue and insomnia in patients suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and can be recommended as a nursing intervention program for patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the lavender fragrance on sleep and depression in women college students.

Forty-two women college students who complained of insomnia were studied during a four-week protocol(control treatment week, 60% lavender fragrance treatment week, washout week, 100% lavender fragrance treatment week). All subjects were in the department of nursing in “K” college and the study was a single blind repeated measurements experiment. For the duration of the study, weekly evaluations of sleep, patterns of sleep disturbance, severity of insomnia scale, self satisfaction with sleep, and severity of depression were performed.

Among sleep variables, length of time taken to fall asleep, severity of insomnia, and self satisfaction with sleep were improved for the 60%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) and 100%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) week while the severity of depression was improved only for the 100%(p=.002)week.

According to the study results, it can be concluded that the lavender fragrance had a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in women college students. Repeated studies are needed to confirm effective proportions of lavender oil and carrier oil for insomnia and depression.

This study was to examine the effects of auricular acupuncture on insomnia in Korean elderly.

The study design was a triangulation study. Subjects were 40 elderly who were 65 years and over in Seoul, and 10 subjects for a qualitive study who were saturated with interviews and observation. The first auricular acupuncture was applied for three days, and this was applied to subjects on a 5 times series. The quantative data was analyzed by SPSS PC+ and the qualitive data was analyzed by driving of core meaning and abstract concepts using a semi-structural interview and observation.

1. The experimental group had higher significant sleep scores than that of the control group (t=32.739, p=.001). 2. The experimental group had higher significant self- satisfaction scores on sleep than that of the control group (t=30.049, p=.001). 3. In the qualitive study, insomnia characteristics before application of auricular acupressure therapy were confirmed by physical dysfunction, recall of past, and psychological dysfunction. Insomnia characteristics after application of auricular acupressure therapy were confirmed by recovery of physical dysfunction, improving recall of past, and recovery of psychological dysfunction.

Auricular acupuncture was effective on insomnia in Korean elderly.