This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status of liver transplantation (LT) recipients and explore certain factors that influence nutritional status, including dietary patterns and physical activities.

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The subjects included 211 LT recipients at a medical center outpatient clinic located in Seoul, Korea. The nutritional status, dietary patterns, and physical activities of each subject were measured using the body mass index (BMI), Mini Dietary Assessment (MDA), and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

The percentages of living and deceased donor LTs were 81.0% and 19.0%, respectively. The mean BMIs pre- and post-LT were 23.88 and 23.16 kg/m², respectively, and the average MDA score was 36.55. More than 60.0% of the subjects had a moderate or high level of physical activity. In multivariate analysis, a higher BMI before LT (β=.72, p<.001), a lower Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (β=-.18, p<.001), and being male (β=-.10, p=.024) contributed to better nutritional status post-LT. Patients within six months of LT were less engaged in muscle exercises than those post six months of LT (p=.020).

LT recipients in Korea have good nutritional status and a good level of physical activity. To improve recipients’ post-LT nutritional status, the pre-LT nutritional status should be considered, particularly in those with a higher MELD score. In addition, physical activity including muscle-strengthening exercises should be encouraged from an earlier stage.

This study was to determine the effects of abdominal breathing training using biofeedback on stress, immune response, and quality of life.

The study design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental design. Twenty-five breast cancer patients who had completed adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. The experimental group(n=12) was provided with abdominal breathing training using biofeedback once a week for 4 weeks. State anxiety, cancer physical symptoms, serum cortisol, T cell subsets(T3, T4, T8), NK cell and quality of life were measured both before and after the intervention.

Though state anxiety, cancer physical symptoms, and serum cortisol were reduced after 4 weeks of abdominal breathing training using biofeedback, there was no statistical significance. It showed, however, improvement in quality of life (p=.02), and T3(p=.04).

Abdominal breathing training using biofeedback improves quality of life in breast cancer patients after a mastectomy. However, the mechanism of this beneficial effect and stress response requires further investigation with special consideration in subject selection and frequency of measurement. Nurses should consider this strategy as a standard nursing intervention for people living with cancer.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) can cause severe malnutrition. However, relationships between CINV levels, nonpharmacological coping methods, and nutritional status of female cancer patients have rarely been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze their relationships in gynecologic cancer patients.

Participants receiving a highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy were recruited. The level of CINV was assessed using a numeric rating scale. Coping methods were determined using multiple-choice self-report questionnaires and categorized into seven types for statistical analysis. Nutritional status was evaluated using biochemical and anthropometric parameters.

Among all the 485 patients, 200 eligible inpatients were included. Despite the administration of prophylactic antiemetics, 157 patients (78.5%) still experienced CINV, and several used nonmedically recommended coping methods, such as just enduring the symptom or rejecting food intake. A total of 181 patients (90.5%) had nutritional disorders. Although the level of CINV was indirectly related to the occurrence of nutritional disorders, patients who rejected food (b=1.57, p=.023) and did not use physical measures (b= -1.23, p=.041) as coping methods were under the high risk of nutritional disorders.

Korean gynecologic cancer patients had high levels of CINV and were at high risk of nutritional disorders, which may be related to the use of nonscientific coping methods, possibly due to cultural backgrounds and lack of proper nutritional program. Therefore, developing a culturally appropriate educational program for the cancer patients with CINV is urgently needed.

In this study an examination was done of the effect of self-efficacy promoting vestibular rehabilitation (S-VR) on dizziness, exercise selfefficacy, adherence to vestibular rehabilitation (VR), subjective and objective vestibular function, vestibular compensation and the recurrence of dizziness in patients with vestibular hypofunction.

This was a randomized controlled study. Data were collected 3 times at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after beginning the intervention. Outcome measures were level of dizziness, exercise self-efficacy, and level of adherence to VR. Subjective and objective vestibular function, vestibular compensation and the recurrence of dizziness were also obtained. Data were analyzed using Windows SPSS 21.0 program.

After 4 weeks of S-VR, there was no difference between the groups for dizziness, subjective and objective vestibular functions. However, exercise self-efficacy and adherence to VR were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. After 8 weeks of S-VR, dizziness (p =.018) exercise self-efficacy (p <.001), adherence to VR (p <.001), total-dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) (p =.012), vision analysis ratio (p =.046) in the experimental group differ significantly from that of the control group. The number of patients with recurring dizziness were higher in the control group than in the experimental group (p <.001).

The results indicate that continuous 8 weeks of S-VR is effective in reducing dizziness, and improving exercise self-efficacy, subjective vestibular function and adherence to VR. Objective vestibular function and vestibular compensation were also improved in the experimental group at the end of 8 weeks of S-VR.

To investigate changes in Quality of life (QOL) and related factors in patients with thyroid cancer undergoing Radioactive Iodine remnant ablation (RAI).

Data were collected longitudinally 3 times for 6 months (2 weeks post-surgery, post RAI, 3 months post RAI) in a hospital located in Seoul. Questionnaires were used to measure levels of physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, and QOL. Ninety-eight patients with thyroid cancer who had RAI were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS (18.0).

Findings for the three data collection times respectfully were: mean scores for physical symptoms, 0.53, 1.21 and 0.62, patients with depression, 47%, 36.7% and 37.7%, patients with anxiety, 18.4 %, 19.4% and 20.4%, mean scores for QOL, 7.06, 7.01 and 7.28. QOL score was highest 3 months post RAI (p=.031). In the stepwise multiple regression analysis, depression and fatigue were predicting factors for low QOL at all data collection times. Dysponia was a predicting factor for low QOL post RAI and 3 months post RAI.

To increase QOL, it is necessary to provide information in advance regarding physical & psychological symptoms and to develop nursing intervention programs to decrease depression and fatigue.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an individualized nutritional education programs on nutrient intake and nutritional status of patients with colorectal cancer who are undergoing palliative chemotherapy.

Forty patients with colorectal cancer (19 experimental and 21 control patients) were recruited from a chemotherapy ward at S University Hospital in Seoul, Korea. The experimental group received two individualized nutritional counseling sessions and two telephone counseling sessions over 6 weeks. The control group received nutritional counseling after completion of data collection. Nutritional education included general guidelines for food intake while receiving chemotherapy, dietary guidelines for patients with colorectal cancer, daily meal schedules to overcome cancer, and dietary guideline for each chemotherapy side effect. Data were analyzed using χ²-test and t-test with the SPSS program 17.0.

Two group comparison revealed that the experimental group had significantly improved calorie (p=.038) and total protein intake (p=.001), and serum albumin percentage change (p=.040). Body weight did not increase but remained the same as the baseline in both groups.

Study results indicate that this individualized nutritional education programs are effective in enhancing nutrient intake and nutritional status of patients with colorectal cancer who are undergoing palliative chemotherapy.

This study was designed to test structural equation modeling of the quality of life of pre-dialysis patients, in order to provide guidelines for the development of interventions and strategies to improve the quality of life of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Participants were patients who visited the nephrology outpatient department of a tertiary hospital located in Seoul. Data on demographic factors, social support, nutritional status, physical factors and biobehavioral factors and quality of life were collected between March 4 and March 31, 2011.

In the final analysis 208 patients were included. Of the patients 42% were in a malnourished state. Anxious or depressed patients accounted for 62.0%, 72.6%, respectively. Model fit indices for the hypothetical model were in good agreement with the recommended levels (GFI= .94 and CFI= .99). Quality of life in pre-dialysis patients with CKD was significantly affected by demographic factors, social support, nutritional status, physical factors and biobehavioral factors. Biobehavioral factors had the strongest and most direct influence on quality of life of patients with CKD.

In order to improve the quality of life in pre-dialysis patients with CKD, comprehensive interventions are necessary to assess and manage biobehavioral factors, physical factors and nutritional status.

This study was designed to adapt a surgical wound care algorithm that is used to provide evidence-based surgical wound care in a critical care unit.

This study used, the 'ADAPTE process', an international clinical practice guideline development method. The -'Bonnie Sue wound care algorithm' - was used as a draft for the new algorithm. A content validity index (CVI) targeting 135 critical care nurses was conducted. A 5-point Likert scale was applied to the CVI test using a statistical criterion of .75.

A surgical wound care algorithm comprised 9 components: wound assessment, infection control, necrotic tissue management, wound classification by exudates and depths, dressing selection, consideration of systemic factors, wound expected outcome, reevaluate non-healing wounds, and special treatment for non-healing wounds. All of the CVI tests were ≥.75. Compared to existing wound care guidelines, the new wound care algorithm provides precise wound assessment, reliabilities of wound care, expands applicability of wound care to critically ill patients, and provides evidence and strength of recommendations.

The new surgical wound care algorithm will contribute to the advancement of evidence-based nursing care, and its use is expected as a nursing intervention in critical care.

To investigate the effects of oral care education on knowledge, attitudes & behavior of caregivers in oral care and oral hygiene for residents in nursing homes.

In this quasi-experimental study, the intervention group (n=27) of residents received oral care from intervention group caregivers (n=28) who had received 6 weeks of oral care education. The control group (n=27) of residents received usual oral care from control group caregivers (n=26). Data on knowledge, attitude, and behavioral change in oral health care by the caregivers and plaque index & halitosis of the residents were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 16.0.

1) Scores on caregivers’ knowledge (p<.001) and behavior (p<.001) for oral care were higher in the intervention group 6 and 12 weeks. The caregivers’ attitude (p<.001) score for oral care was higher in the intervention group 12 weeks. 2) The plaque index (p=.004) and halitosis (p=.002) of the nursing home residents were lower in the intervention group than the control group at 6 and 12 weeks.

Oral care education programs for caregivers are effective in improving the oral hygiene of elderly residents in nursing homes through enhancement of caregiv-ers’ knowledge, attitude, and behavioral change.

This study was designed to test structural equation modeling of the quality of life of stroke survivors in order to provide guidelines for development of interventions and strategies to improve their quality of life.

The participants in the study were patients who visited the neurology outpatient department of a tertiary hospital in Seoul between June 25 and October 15, 2009. Data collection was carried out through one-on-one interviews. Demographic factors, functional independence, social support, nutritional status, post-stroke biobehavioral changes and quality of life were investigated.

The final analysis included 215 patients. Fitness of the hypothetical model was appropriate (χ²=111.5, p=.000, GFI=.926, AGFI=.880, RMSA=.068, NFI=.911, CFI=.953). Functional dependency, social support and post-stroke biobehavioral changes were found to be significant explaining variance in quality of life. Post-stroke biobehavioral changes had the strongest direct influence on quality of life. Nutritional status had an indirect effect on the quality of life.

To improve the quality of life of stroke survivors, comprehensive interventions are necessary to manage post-stroke biobehavioral changes, and strengthening social support networks that can contribute to enhancing the quality of life of stroke survivors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Quality of Life (QOL) and related factors in the patients with dizziness.

The data were collected between March and June 2008 for 200 individuals who agreed to participate in the study. Uncertainty (Uncertainty in illness scale), anxiety, depression (Hospital anxiety & depression scale) and Vestibular disability activities of daily living (Vestibular disability-activities of daily living [ADL] scale) as well as QOL (Dizziness Handicap Inventory) were measured.

The mean QOL score was 37.5 (±23.0). Monthly income, etiology of, frequency of, and total duration of dizziness were the significant factors related to QOL in these patients. Having had a fall, anxiety, depression, uncertainty and vestibular disability in daily living were also significant factors influencing QOL. In multiple regression analysis, anxiety, vestibular disability-ADL, falls, total duration of symptoms, uncertainty, and etiology of dizziness explained 41% of variance of QOL.

The level of QOL in our patients was moderate as compared to those in previous studies. Anxiety and vestibular disability were the most important factors predicting low QOL. Use of nursing intervention programs designed to relieve these factors should also result in improving the QOL in the patients with dizziness.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the stages of change in smoking cessation after a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft(CABG) and to identify the related factors.

The subjects (n=157) were patients who underwent a CABG in a university hospital from March 1998 to October 2005 and were smokers before the CABG. Data was collected viachart review and a telephone interview, and analyzed with descriptive statistics, χ² test, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis procedure by the SPSS/PC win 12.0 program.

The subjects smoked for an average of 34 years (21 cigarettes per day) before surgery. Eleven percent of the subjects were in pre-contemplation, 6.4% in contemplation, 13.5% in preparation, 4.5% in action, and 64.5% in the maintenance stage. Nicotine dependence and selfefficacy were different among the groups with different stages of change in smoking cessation. Nicotine dependence was the lowest (p=0.00) and self-efficacy was the highest (p=0.00) in the maintenance stage. The number of subjects in pre-contemplation and contemplation significantly increased 6 years after surgery(p=0.05).

To implement effective smoking cessation interventions for CABG patients, the intervention should be developed to accommodate individual readiness for smoking cessation, especially so for those who had a CABG more than 6 years previously.