No abstract available.

The ZZimzilbang is a room where many women eagerly go due to the special meaning women give to it related to their health. It is a different type of sauna room which maintains low degree of temperature, consisting of an Ondol room(Korean under-floor heating system, hypocaust) built with mineral stone radiating ultrared rays. Even though many women mention that they utilize if for health, there is no precise evidence of the effects of their health. This ethnographic study sought to define the phenomenon from the perspective of the women who experienced the ZZimzilbang. A convenience sample of 27 women was interviewed during a 15 month period from December 1995 to July 1997 in 12 ZZimzilbangs located in Seoul, Korea. The mean ages of the women 57.3 years ; seventeen women were housekeeper and only eight women had job ; twenty women were married and three women among them were widows. The main reasons women patronize the place are : for mitigation and healing of physical signs and symptoms ; composure ; safe lodging and boarding ; control of outward appearance ; control of health ; meeting and fellowship with friends ; and custom. The outcomes of the utilization of the place were : mitigation of physical signs and symptoms ; psychological tranquility ; cosmetic and diet ; good use of spare time ; and utilization of services provided there. Most women who visited ZZimzilbang for relief of physical signs and symptoms strongly mentioned a correlation to inadequate Sanhujori, the traditional postpartal and postabortal care for woman. Some of specific kinds of services provided in that place were alternative therapy such as acupuncture, negative cupping, finger-pressure, mugwort steam and various kinds of massage including massage of blood vessels that are influenced by Oriental medicine ; health education of breathing such as abdominal breathing or Danjeon ; selling of many things including health foods, drugs for osteoporosis, and eutrophics This study suggests that professional caregivers should further study this phenomenon for the development of adequate care of women with a resulting important in their quality of life.

No abstract available.

This project was conducted using a survey method and through interviewing with four persons aged 60 years and over. An interview with an open-ended questionnaire was also used for elderly persons, families, oriental medicine doctor and nurses. topic-related literature review was also done. In total, 382 statements were derived. For content validity, nursing professionals were involved in this study. From that 48 items are developed. The subjects were 340 elderly persons over 60 years old. Data were collected during February and March 1997 and analyzed using the SPSS package The result are as follows. 1. Items with low Cronbach Coefficient alpha which means low correlation with total items were removed. 2. Factor analysis was done in order to confirm construct validity and eight factors were obtained from the results. The first factor, 'positive cognition of the aging process', the second factor, 'relationship network' the third factor, 'maintenance of physical functioning, the fourth factor', 'maintenance of peaceful mind' the fifth factor, 'keeping up with daily tasks' the sixth factor, 'continuous adequate body movement' the seventh factor, 'involvement of religion in the elderly person's life and the eight factor', 'appropriate resting'. Cronbach Coefficient alpha for the 33 items was .9127 Based on the result, the following is suggested 1. It is anticipated that the fundamental health of elderly person could be promoted by assessing healthy behaviors of elderly person with this assessment tool. 2. Further studies could be derived from this research. 3. Validity of this assessment tool should be further tested with and a larger sample of elderly person including in-patient elderly persons as well as nursing home residents.

The purpose of this study was to identify the producing process for Korean nursing knowledge as applied by Foucault's discourse analytic method. By Foucault's discourse analytic method, the problem is not what is knowledge but sort of knowledge is made up through specific level of practice. A Korean body of nursing knowledge had been discussed since 1980. At the end of 19th century, missionaries transplanted western nursing knowledge and method to Korea. Western nursing knowledge and methods have been developed continuously with both merits and demerits to Korean society. Recently our world has be come a global community via advances in transportation and correspondence. Although each person is different in skin color and shape, there is a clear line between Oriental people and Western people. Nursing science is only one in our world, but western humanistic nursing practice based on western world view and human life has limits. It is natural that the Koreans as Oriental people have a systemic nursing science to reveal the specific experiential and concrete body of nursing knowledge rooted in the Korean world view and human life. Nursing science is to understand human being, to promote health, to promote health, to restore health, to alleviate suffering and to search for principles needed throughout all of human life. In Korea, now is the quickening period to shape a Korean body of nursing knowledge because of shortage of nursing language in matters of intellectual recognition, and unfamiliar practical nursing field where there is no familiarity in the system of nursing research methodology. In reviewing articles from the Journal of the Nurses' Academic Society on Korean body of nursing knowledge, it was found that there are two common features. The first, human body and mind are inseparable that is one unit in this world and health is keeping a harmonious relationship between human body and mind. The second, Korean nursing practice is based on human nature and family ties. Accordingly discourse analysis had a good future prospect to produce a Korean body of nursing knowledge for analytic research on body and mind monism and family centered care based on human nature and family ties.

The universe had its order of yang and yin ; all creation are continuously generated, grow and die, which is the results of the harmonious operation by yang and yin. Among all creation, the human is one of the samjae(three bases of the world, which are heaven, earth, and man) and he is from the combined sukhi(a superior khi) of yang and yin. And human life itself is basically a condensed jonghyul(life blood) and at the same time it is only a transient joining of sadae(the four elements of earth, air, fire and water). Yang and yin, the two axes of the world, therefore, are the most crucial and fundamental concept to explain the generation and extinction of all creation, to understand people in time and space, to find out the reality of human life as an organism, and at last, to observe the state of human health. If so, what is the most essential idea in yang and yin? It is taegeuk(chungkhi) or tao(of one yang and one yin). If the property of heaven and earth is kongon, taegeuk is a khi and tao a principle. And it can be sid that a human body is merely a union of hyung and khi, that human life is an essence of sambo, jeongkhishin, that human health is a harmonized coordination of yang and yin because it is from the combined sukhi of yang and yin because it is from the combined sukhi of yang and yin. Hyung, a vessel for smbo, jeongkhishin, is at the bottom and shin is on the top ; the personality and the disposition of individuals differ according to their working. Thus, on the basis of the above discussion, the following can be offered as some suggestions for Korean Nursing Theory. Though human beings are part of Nature, they are the most eminent microcosm among all creation. So, as a subject for nursing, a person should be understood with khijok kyoryu rather than with logical thinking, then mutual trust between the patient and the nurse can be established. The health of a person on the harmony of yang and yin. To be healthy, a person should consider harmonization with Nature(including his surroundings) as well as a balanced human relationships in society. Moreover, it is crucial for each person to obtain hoshim as a method of mind control rather than to only treat the symptoms of disease.

PURPOSE: This paper examined gender differences in a rate, type, relevant variables of delinquent behavior, and a gender differences regarding the relative influence of family,personality, academic achievement, sexual abuse and alcohol drug abuse on delinquent behavior among Korean adolescents. METHOD: Data were collected by self-report questionnaires. Subjects consisted of 2,100 adolescents (male 1,396, female 704) in Korea, using proportional stratified random sampling method. Statistical methods were Chi-square, t-test and path analysis. RESULT: Male adolescents had higher rate of delinquent behavior, and more all types of delinquent behavior (antisocial, aggressive, and psychopathic) than female. Male adolescents showed more dysfunctional family dynamic environments, higher antisocial personality and sociability than female adolescents. Female adolescents had higher depressive tendencies than male. The most powerful contributing variables on male delinquent behavior were age, antisocial personality, parent-child relationship, isolation feelings, and sexual abuse in this order named. Drug abuse, isolation feelings, antisocial personality and parent-child relationship tended to be contributing variables for female delinquent behaviors in this order named. CONCLUSION: This investigation will provides a foundation for theory that addresses the complexities of both gender-specific and gender influences on delinquent behavior and development of preventive strategies for female delinquency.

This cross-sectional survey was carried out to assess the decisional balance of Korean women toward mammography screening. A sample of 1, 903 naturally postmenopausal women was selected from the community-based social groups in town or city hall auxiliaries in seven metropolitan areas and six provinces in Korea. The classification of women according to the stage of adoption of mammography was 54.9% in pre-contemplation, 31.9% in contemplation, 7.8% in action, and 5.5% in maintenance. The mean differences of pros, cons, and the decisional balance by the stage of mammography adoption were statistically significant. There were significant mean differences between the stages of adoption according to a woman's experience with and intention for mammography and the pros score, the cons score, and the decisional balance score. Results provide the empirical evidence for the Transtheoretical model. An association between stages of mammography adoption and decisional balance exists.

Recovery in substance abuse has been simplistically measured; a more comprehensive understanding of recovery outcomes is needed. This study therefore explored recovery outcomes of Korean adolescents with substance abuse by qualitative research. The recovery was found to occur in several domains; they included reconciliation with the self, hope for the future, reconciliation with family, self-liberation, socialization, conventional norm pursuit, and a struggle for realistic independence. An understanding of the recovery process and recovery outcomes may provide guidance for clinical interventions with substance abuse adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on balance, gait and leg strength in elderly women who are forced to remain at home. Fifteen elderly women of an experimental group between the ages 65 and 75 years who have normal vision and passed the hearing and Romberg test, participated in the 12 weeks' dance movement training. Fourteen subjects of a control group were selected. Korean traditional dance movement training was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the authors. It took approximately 50 minutes to perform the dance movement program. The subjects of the experimental group practiced dance training for 3 times a week during 12 weeks. During the 50 minutes workout, the subjects practiced 15 minutes of a warm-up dance, 25 minutes of a conditioning dance, and 10 minutes of a cool-down dance. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The balance, gait and leg strength were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Scores of sternal nudge, one leg standing balance and reaching up among 13 items have significantly increased after the dance movement training. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the korean traditional dance movement training. Scores of experimental group in step height, path deviation and turning while walking among 9 items have increased significantly following 12 weeks of dance movement training. The leg strength of experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The balance, gait and leg strength have significantly correlated in the experimental group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve balance, gait and leg strength in home bound elderly women.

The purpose of this study was to identify the level of Symptoms of Stress, Stress Reaction, Health Promoting Behavior, and Quality of Life in Korean Immigrant Middle Aged Women. The subjects of this study were 33 middle aged women who live in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. Data collection was performed at the U.W from Oct. 1998 to May. 1999. Data collection time was one hour and data was collected through 4 types of questionnaires : SOS, Health Promoting Behaviors, Quality of Life and Demographic data form, and the Physiologic Stress Profile was collected by J&J I-410 biofeedback equipment. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and the pearson correlation coefficient using the SAS program. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The level of physiological stress reaction and stress symptoms showed high level and quality of life showed low in general. 2. The Stress Reaction and Symptoms of Stress showed significant negative correlation with health promoting behavior, quality of life in the middle aged women. 3. The health promoting behavior showed significant positive correlation with quality of life in the middle aged women. In conclusion, the physiological stress reaction, symptoms of stress, and health promoting behavior were major influencing factor to quality of life in Korean Immigrant Women. From the results of the study, the following recommendations are presented as follow: 1. It is suggested that the study for developing the health promotion program focused on stress self-regulation for Korean immigrant women. 2. It is suggested that the comparative study for Korean immigrant women and Women in Korea. 3. It is necessary to broaden the scope of nursing practice for middle aged healthy women, so nurses can include a health promotion program focused on stress self-regulating as part of nursing care.

This study purports to review traditional health concepts of Korea by age, and to compare them to health concepts defined in western societies. Furthermore the study offers these results as the basis of construction for Korean nursing theory. Literature for the review were traditional health books published in Korea. These books are Euibangyoochui, Hyangyakjibsungbang, Dongeuibogam, Eiyangpyun, Dongeuisoosebowon, & Hwangjaenaekyung. In addition, articles that studied traditional literature or Korean medical history were reviewed when no publication of a primary source was available. In ancient Korean society, health was viewed as a 'good relationship or harmony with a supernatural subject', 'harmony of earth, water, fire, and air', and a 'long life with no illness'. The treatment aspect of medicine was emphasized in the middle-aged society. The health concepts in the pre-modern society included such concepts as 'jeongkhibojeon', 'adjustment to the nature', 'harmony between yang and yin', 'strengthening of jeongkhishin', 'circulation of owoonyookchi', 'kyungjok mind-body state' and 'jeongshimjeonghang'. Major health concepts in western literature were 'adaptation', 'role performance', 'actualization of human potential', 'adaptation and actualization of potential', and 'comfort'. Traditional health concepts of Korea focus on principles. They deliver abstract meanings, which make their measures uneasy. They believe in holism and unity with nature and especially emphasize the mental aspect. On the other hand, health concepts of western societies focus on phenomena. Their meanings are somewhat concrete, which make their measurements relatively easy. They see a person adapts positively to the environment as an independent being from the environment. These concepts have biopsychosocial aspects with no partial emphasis in the mental aspects. These traditional concepts of health were classified into two main perspectives. One is the unity of heaven & man, and the other is the unity of mind and body. The former perspective is based on the main concept of Chi. The latter has the main concept of ruling of the mind. The two main concepts discussed above need further examination for development of a nursing theory for Korean society. The application of circulation of Chi needs balance and harmony, and the application of ruling of mind needs temperance.

The purpose of this study was to develop an explanatory model to predict factors related to continuous participation in the Pap smear screening among Korean women. A hypothetical model was constructed on the basis of Health Belief Model and extensive review of literature on the Pap smear screening. Exogeneous variables included in this model were knowledge, perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, negative and positive emotional responses and professional support from physicians and nurses. Endogeneous variables were threat to cervical cancer, perceived benefit of the Pap smear screening, perceived barrier, and the final outcome variable was continuous participation in the Pap smear screening. The hypothetical model was tested with an empirical study. The data was collected from 623 married women whose age range was 24 - 83 using a self-reported survey questionnaire which was developed by the researcher. It's Cronbach's alpha score ranged from .6478 to .9118. Data was collected at different locations in Seoul; a university hospital, a local health center, and apartment complexes. Data analysis was done using SPSS 7.5 WIN Program for descriptive statistics and LISREL 8.12a WIN Program for covariance structural analysis. In conclusion, threat, perceived benefit, perceived barrier, positive emotion and professional support had a significant direct effect on continuous participation in the Pap smear screening among Korean women. The
results
of this study also showed that perceived barrier had the most significant direct effect on continuous participation in the Pap smear screening while negative emotional response had the most significant direct effect on perceived barrier. It can be suggested that decreasing perceived barrier by reducing negative emotional responses may be the most effective strategies for increasing continuous participation in the Pap smear screening among married Korean women.

Nursing is a discipline that helps to understand human being, to mitigate pains in life by promoting and recovering health, and to study the basic principles in sustaining and preserving life. To understand man and thus to nurse, it is essential to take the way of life of the specific person, his/her ideas, and natural environment into consideration. This means, the temperament, geography, environment and society peculiar to Korea have formed its own culture distinguished from those of other people. Thoughts and philosophy develop as a products of the specific culture and society. Therefore, accurate understanding of the concepts of nursing in the traditional thoughts and philosophy is indispensible to define Korean nursing. Modern Korean nursing at first rooted in the westernized nursing and western nursing intervention has been applied ever since its introduction in the late 19th century under the paradigm of western natural science. However, Koreans in the past made use of alternative therapy which put its emphasis on the organic and holistic view of life as well as a means for traditional medicine and nursing. This alternative therapy has been largely ignored since the introduction of western medical science, and was considered something used only by the aged or the uneducated. Moreover, Health concerned practices and customary traditional therapy have been discarded in the clinical medicine as "unscientific" or "unsystematic". As described above, it is true that Korean nursing has developed in the quantitative aspect only adhering to western nursing intervention. Now it is the time to stop to hold ourself and to look back our past. To find and develop the originality of Korean nursing to cope with the globalization, it is necessary to rediscover nursing (alternative) therapy in Korean culture ignored so far. For this purpose, this study examines the oriental philosophy to explore alternative nursing theory now under development. Also it aims to present ways to apply alternative therapy to nursing education, research and clinical practices and ultimately to show the desirable direction of the nursing to go in the future. Yangsaeng theory of Taoism and Yin-yang, Oh-hang(five elements) and khi theory in Dongeuibogam which gave enormous influences on Korean medical culture and treatment together with Sahsang(four temperaments) emphasized in Dongeuisusebowon will be examined as conceptual framework. Concepts of nursing are categorized into views on each the universe, the human being and nursing. Views on human being is classified into subcategories of body, life, health, and disease. Also it emphasizes the necessity of including alternative therapy in nursing intervention. Views on the universe is classified into yin-yang, khi, and temperament. Nursing will be available anywhere and easily accessible with this new nursing intervention. Trying to give a new thoughts to all those traditional concepts and alternative therapy, this article suggests the necessity of developing original Korean nursing theory and nursing intervention.

Researchers have rarely explored menopausal experience in the context of the totality of women's lives, subsequently making the picture of menopause incomplete, discrete and fragmented. Respecting the totality of women's lives, this study addressed how a vulnerable group of women-low income Korean immigrant women-experience menopause within a context of multiple transitions. This is a cross- sectional study using methodological triangulation. A sample of 119 first-generation Korean immigrant women aged 40 to 60 years, who were in low-income jobs, was recruited using convenience sampling methods. From the total sample, 21 peri- or post- menopausal women were recruited for in-depth interviews following the collection of the survey data. Questionnaires, short interviews, and in- depth interviews were used to collect data. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Thematic analysis was used to interpret interview data. The findings indicate that menopause was given the lowest priority amidst women's multiple and demanding roles within a gendered multiple transitional (immigration, work and menopause) context. The lack of language clarity to describe women's experience, cultural background, inadequate knowledge, and lack of social supports made menopause hidden, invisible, and inaudible. Conclusions and implications for nursing practice are guided by the goal of understanding women's experiences and meanings of menopause and supporting women through reflecting these experiences into their health care.

The Profile of Mood States (POMS) is the most widely used self-report instrument for the measurement of affect or mood in clinical and nonclinical populations. This paper reports on the translation and testing of a Korean version of the POMS. The translation involved three steps: translation, checking agreement, and panel discussions to arrive at consensus. Then, the Korean version of the POMS was tested with a sample of 47 healthy Koreans who lived in the U.S.: they completed the instrument in the morning, at the beginning of work and in the evening, at the end of work. Internal consistencies for the total scale and subscales were high(alphas= .93 and .94). Face and content validity and the cultural relevance of the Korean version of the POMS were tested through review by five bilingual Korean nursing scholars who were familiar with Korean version of the POMS was then compared with Haeok Fatigue Behavior Check-list and demonstrating significant concurrent validity (r= .87, p<.001). Construct validity was established by demonstrating significant differences between the scores on the scores on the Fatigue and Vigor subscales (p< .001) at the beginning work and at the end of work.

Although healthy lifestyle have been proved as an effective way of improving higher well-beings for individuals, researches on health -promoting behaviors of minority elderly with a specific ethnic heritage have been sparsely tried. This study was designed to explore health-promoting lifestyle patterns of Korean immigrant elderly living in Seattle. USA and its relationships with two associated elderly were recruited from two senior centers and interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from October 1998 to January 1999, and analyzed using SPSS program through which t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation Coefficients were tested. As the results, the mean HPLP score of the Korean immigrant elderly was 2.54 (SD =.36), showing significant differences by education (F=3.61, P=.016), economic status (F=3.01, P=.034), and current health status (F=3.69, P=.008). In self-esteem, two socioecomic variables showed statistical association with self-esteem; martial status (t= 2.47, P=.015) and living situation (F= 4.03, P= .021). The HPLP subscales that showed higher mean scores were nutrition (M=3.01, SD= .52) and interpersonal support (M= 2.65, SD= .47) while lower mean scores were detected in the domain of excercise (M= 1.92, SD= .74) and stress management (M= 2.26, SD= .47). Perceived health status revealed significant positive correlation with health-promoting lifestyle patterns (r= .19, P=.043) and self-esteem (r= .19, P= .043) and self-esteem (r= .32, P= .001) in the present study. It is concluded that engagement in health-promoting lifestyle patterns should be actively encouraged to enhance personal health of Korean immigrant elderly. Developing health promotion programs focused on exercise and stress management is also imperatively suggested not only for better health practices of Korean immigrant elderly population but also for enhancing their level of well-beings and life satisfaction.

This study was conducted to identify the attributes constituting Korean social support and to validate the results of the previous study 'Search for the meaning of social support in Korean Society.' The informants were 41 Korean middle-aged women in three cities : Seoul, Dagjun and Daeku. The data were collected through indepth interviews using the interview guide from Jun. 1994 to Jun. 1995. The interview guide was developed in the simulated situations of 'Stroke attack' which expected to be in need of social support. The women were asked to answer what they felt and the appropriated terms representing the situations. Data analysis were conducted by content analysis. consequently, the Koran social support pyramid was modified as follows ; Support is the apex of the pyramid. The four sides of the pyramid are made up of 'Jung'(Bound by ties of affection, regard or shared common experience, Connectedness), Do-oom(both emotional and material help), Mi-dum(Faith or belief in) and Sa-Rang(Love). The base of the pyramid is 'yun'(the basic network of relationships in Korean culture) that connote the meaning of Eunhae(Benevolence), Euimu(duty, responsibility) and Dori(obligation).

The purpose of this study is to describe the health care status of Korean Immigrants in New Zealand. The sample consisted of 155 Koreans who were randomly selected from the Korean Immigrants telephone book in Auckland, N.Z. They had health problems that required health management both physically(50.3%) and psychologically(70.3%). During the previous year, the average rate of medical contact with a general practitioner was 1+/-1.29 times. Korean immigrants who had health problems first attempted to resolve the problem through self medication rather than utilize health care services. They would only visit a general practitioner if they had severe subjective symptoms or no relief from self medication. Even if they think they need to visit the health care service, 41.9% of the subjects did not go back for follow-up care. Generally, the person who demonstrated positive health care behaviors was male, a college level graduate or higher, lived in N.Z. longer than 2 years, had a high score on health status by self assessment, and he placed few demands on health care services. Barriers to a healthy lifestyle are communication difficulties in expressing subjective symptoms, understanding the physician's treatment and medication plans, difficulty in accessing the appointment system, ant the high cost of service.

This study was done to describe health behavior and determine affecting factors in Korean adults, based on the Health Behavior Assessment tool. The subjects were sample of 298 adults from five cities. The instrument for this study were Health Behavior Assessment tool(30 items, 4scale). Frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, cluster analysis with SPSS program were used to analyze the data. The results of the study are as follows; 1) The average item score for health behavior was 2.56, the highest score on the subscale was limitation of liking(M=3.16), followed by stress management(M=2.98), nutrition(M=2.82), energy conservation(M=2.67). 2) A significant difference between age, sex, perception of health, and health behavior were found. 3) Pattern of health behavior among Korean adults focused on stress management in order to obtain emotional stability, and balance and harmony in dietary life, and energy conservation. Patterns of health behavior in Korean adults is unique in each individual. Therefore nursing intervention skill for health promotion have to be developed based on the health behavior in each individual.

This study has been designed to develop a health behavior scale. Data were collected through a survey over a period of two period. Subjects who participated in the study were 298 Korean adults. The author used a convenience sampling method. The analysis of the data was done with SPSS PC for descriptive statistics and factor analysis. Initially 34 items were generated from the interview data of twenty one adults and from literature review and survey. This preliminary scale was analyzed for a reliability and validity. The results are as follow: 1. Crombach Coefficient alpha for the 30 items was .7909. 2. Factor analysis was done in order to confirm construct validity and nine factor were extracted from the results. These contributed 54.4% of the variance in the total score. 3. Nine factor label were 'exercise' stress management' 'energy conservation' 'limit in liking' 'selection of food' 'ingestion of natural food' ' health examination' 'relaxation' and 'nutrition'. The author suggest that this scale could be adequately applied in assessing the health behavior of Korean adults. The results of using this scale in a study can contribute to designing an appropriate health promotion strategy.

The phrases such as elders' powerless soliloquy or stammering and their positions unadjusted to the real world are, so far, one of negative views on elder's reminiscences. In other words, it means that elders can get psychological consolation from the getting themselves absorbed in their past. The starting point of this study is, however, that elders' reminiscence are their own mode of the existence. This dissertation is studied through Van Manen's phenomenological research method. The aim of this study is to examine the nature of Korean elders' reminiscing content in everyday life of elders. The research participants consist of the ten elders who are community elders, hospitalized elders and nursing home residents. The period of the research is about a year from Jan., 1996 to Feb., 1997. The results of this study are as follows : The natures of elders' reminiscences are the regretting on their life, mitigating the regrets, the confirmation of the powers and the confirmation of their life's mark. The regretting on their life is the starting point of elders's reminiscences. elders have tried to examine their life through reflection on their life that they did not live good life as son and daughter for parents and as parents for children and that they have foolishly lived, on dream that they did not come true, on their learning that they did not unsatisfied. But elders mitigate the regrets. They have felt their limitations of power in the conflict of human relation, the economic matter and the difficult predicament, and have finally accepted their life as it is by congesting from their tenacity. It is dynamically found that both the regretting on their life and mitigating of the regret. And they pursuit the powers. It means the pursuit of the vital powers, the vigorous powers and the competency. Elders have pursued their vitality, vigor and competency through their reminiscences and have wanted to be recognized by others as a powerful being. These have dynamic and compounded aspects. The confirmation of their life's mark refer to through their own situation of health, condition, children, neighbourhood and doing their duty as a human. Elders have confirmed the present value of their being through the reflecting the present, past self, other men around themselves, children, neighborhood and the doing their human duty as a good men. Therefore the results of this study can offer new view on the elders' reminiscences that we have to understand the as a process as what they are, escaping from the simple logic that elders' reminiscence have a positive or a negative effects. Also, this study which have examined the natures of Korean elders' reminiscences can cast a new light on elders' nursing proper for Korean culture.

Since the introduction of Western concept of nursing to Korea in late 1880s, Korean nursing practice has evolved into Korean culture. The purpose of this study was to explore and identify similarities and differences in hospital nursing practice between Korea and the United States using the grounded theory method. The data were gathered from 15 Korean nurses working in U.S. hospitals using semi-structured, in-depth interview method. Major similarities in nursing practice between Korea and U.S. existed in the 7 domains the Benner indicated in 1984. The nursing administration system was also similar in both countries. On the other hand, differences existed in how nurses execute these domains of nursing practice. These are the roles of nurses, nurse aides and family members, and the interpersonal relationships, and problem presentation and problem-solving strategies. American family members rarely participated in the patient's bedside nursing care, while Korean family members actively participated. American nurse aide participated in direct patient care, while Korean nurse aides did not. Also Korean nurses were participated more in administering and managing the patient's diagnostic and treatment modalities, while American nurses focused on the needs and demands of the patient. In terms of interpersonal relationships, American patients were more self-centered and demanding than Korean. American nurses focused more on the right of individuals while Korean nurses were more oriented to harmony with the coworkers. With inferiors and superiors, American members were more egalitarian, while Koreans tended to be hierarchical. In ways of suggesting problems, American nurses tended to pick out the problems more frequently than Korean nurses did. As to ways to solve the problems, American nurses relied heavily on explicit verbal explanations, while Korean nurses relied more on bodily action and behaviors. The results of this comparative study contribute to nursing by adding knowledge on the theory of culture care by describing the similarities and differences in nursing practice between Korea and the United States.

Community-based centres were surveyed to determine the frequency of and risk factors for falls among elderly Koreans. We examined fall-related risk factors, including physiological and physical health, psychosocial functions, self-reported physical capacity and activity, vision, and the use of medication, among 351 elderly people aged 65 years or older, with ambulatory. Forty-two per cent of elderly Korean subjects reported at least one episode of falling in the previous 12 months, 38% of whom had consequences that required either the attention of a physician or hospitalization.

Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of falling were a restricted activity during the previous five years (adjusted OR 1.3), use of alternative therapy (adjusted OR 2.7), low knee flexor and extensor-muscle strength (adjusted OR 1.21 and 1.20), and poor balance with closed eyes (adjusted OR 8.32).

We conclude that falls among older persons living in the community are common in Korea and that indicator of bad health and frailty or variables directly related to neuromuscular impairment are significant predictors of the risk of falling.