This study was performed to develop a self-efficacy theory-based exercise program for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to test the program’s efficacy in ameliorating knee pain and restoring function as measured by lower extremity muscle strength, 3 meter walking time, Korean Western Ontario McMaster Index (WOMAC), exercise self-efficacy, and length of hospital stay for TKA patients.

This quasi-experimental study incorporating a non-equivalent control group and pretest-posttest non-synchronized design non-synchronous design was applied to assess self-efficacy reinforcement strategies based on self-efficacy theory. The exercise program consisted of the following steps: TKA, education to prevent postoperative complications, and muscle strength exercises. Respective exercise and control groups included 29 and 27 participants. The experimental group received eight sessions of the program from three weeks before TKA to four weeks after TKA. Collected data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U test, and ranked ANCOVA and t-tests using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.

Experimental group showed significant improvement in lower extremity muscle strength (F = 8.63, p = .005), 3 meter walking time (z = - 5.02, p < .001), WOMAC index (z = - 2.22, p = .027), self-efficacy for exercise (z = - 3.29, p = .001), and length of hospital stay (t = - 2.11, p = .040) compared to the control group. No significant differences in knee pain and range of motion were observed.

These findings indicate that a self-efficacy theory-based exercise program can be an effective exercise strategy that patients undergoing TKA can easily follow at home without assistance. It is thus recommended as an exercise intervention for TKA patients.

This study was aimed at identifying the types of perceptions of ethical issues among perioperative nurses.

Q-methodology focusing on individual subjectivity was used with data collected in November 2016. Thirty-four Q-statements were selected and scored by the 35 participants on a 9-point scale with normal distribution. Participants were perioperative nurses working in advanced general hospitals and general hospitals. The data were analyzed using the PC-QUANL program.

A total of 35 perioperative nurses were classified into 4 factors based on the following viewpoints: self-centered (type 1), onlooking and avoiding (type 2), patient-centered (type 3), and problem-centered (type 4). The 4 factors accounted for 57.84% of the total variance. Individual contributions of factors 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 41.80%, 7.18%, 5.20%, and 3.66%, respectively.

The major contribution of this study is the clarification of perioperative nurses’ subjective perceptions of ethical issues. These findings can be used in formulating effective strategies for nursing educators, professional nurses, and nursing administrators to improve ethical decision-making abilities and to perform ethical nursing care by the appropriate management of ethical issues in everyday nursing practice.

This study was to explore the experiences of perioperative patients with cancer. The purpose of this inquiry was to describe the essence of such experiences, and to understand them from the patients'point of view.

Participants in this study were 9 cancer patients with ages ranging from 31 to 70 years old, living in B city, who experienced cancer operations. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews and an observation method done from October to December in 2003. In analysing data, Colaizzi's(1978) phenomenological research method was adopted.

Five categories emerged from ten theme clusters. The five categories were: ‘ shock’, ‘ expectations & wishes’, ‘ despair’, ‘ feelings of burden’, ‘ continual pain’.

The results of this study showthat oncology nurses need to pay more attention to the psychosocial aspect of nursing to empathize and support the cancer patients who suffer and its treatment, and operations.