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.
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The purpose of this study is to understand home care needs for parturient women and neonates up to the postpartum period. MEHTODS: The design of this study is a cross-sectional survey study. The subjects of this study are 88 postpartum mothers who delivered a first baby during the period from December 1996 to July 1997. Data collection was done with a structured questionnaire by mailing. Data were collected at the point of six months after delivery. A structured questionnaire composed of items related to home care needs. Data analysis was done with descriptive statistics. The study results are as follows: 1) The highest need was personal hygiene(93.2%) for the parturient women, and the peak period was the two week period after delivery. 2) The most frequent maternal needs regarding neonates were cord care(72.4%) during the first week, elimination(67.9%) during the first two weeks, baby crying(88.3%) and sleeping pattern(71.5%) at one month after delivery, and baby temperament(30.4%) at sixth months after delivery. 3)The mothers requested home care methods such as written material for self health care(35%) and counseling(34%) and direct home visits(5%) for neonate care. CONCLUSION: The most important period for home health care needs was one week after delivery, and the health care needs for neonate temperament, behavior and sleeping pattern rose rapidly at the period of 6 months after delivery. Therefore it could be concluded that the postpartum home care should be done by those, written material should be enhanced for parturient women care, and counseling enhanced for neonate care.
The study was conducted to identify predictors of mammography screening for rural Korean women according to ‘Stage of Change’ from the Transtheoretical Model which, along with the Health Belief Model, formed the theoretical basis for this study.
A cross-sectional descriptive design was utilized. Through convenience sampling 432 women were selected from 2 rural areas. Data were collected by survey. Health beliefs constructs were measured with Champion's HBM Scale-Korea version. Mammography participation was measured using the Stage of Mammography Adoption Scale developed by Rakowski, et al. (1992).
The most frequent stage of mammography adoption was ‘contemplation’ (40.5%). Predictors of stage of mammography adoption included ‘mammogram recommended by health professional’ (beta=0.59, t=16.12, p=.000), ‘perceived benefits’ (beta=0.09, t=2.21, p=.050), ‘perceived susceptibility’ (beta=0.09, t=1.98, p=.050), and ‘perceived barriers’ (beta= 0.07, t= -2.05, p=.041). ‘Mammogram recommended by health professional’ demonstrated the greatest association with having a mammogram.
Health professionals play key roles in improving mammography participation and should recognize the importance of their role in cancer prevention and be more actively involved in education and counseling on prevention of breast cancer.
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The purpose of this study was to identify experiences of nurses who served as preceptors in clinical education for senior student nurses in a college of medicine in Wonju city.
Data was collected from 20 preceptors instructing senior student nurses in 2001 using a self-completion questionnaire. To analyze data, content analysis was done using an analysis scheme developed by the investigators.
The analysis scheme consisted of 7 categories and 25 subcategories. 135 significant statements were analyzed and categorized. Preceptors indicated that they were role models, socialization facilitators and educators while instructing students in the clinical practicum. In performing the preceptors' role, preceptors reported that their most important change was self-enhancement,and positive experience was a constructive work atmosphere. The most important factor facilitating the preceptors' role performance was support from head nurses, and the most discouraging factor was work loads.
This study suggests that interventions for encouragement and socialization of preceptors should be developed to promote clinical education for senior student nurses.
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This study was done to examine the difference in cancer screening with mammography and Papanicolaou smear according to Body Mass Index (BMI).
The participants in this study were 5,912 women ages 40 to 69 yr, selected from the Korean Genomic Regional Cohort in Kangwon province. Mammography and Papanicolaou smear were assessed by questionnaire and body weight (kg) and height (m) measured to calculate BMI.
The distribution of BMI was as follows: low weight (1.5%), normal weight (31.1%), over weight (24.6%), mildly obese (36.4%) and severely obese (6.3%). After adjusting for age, education and monthly income, compared with normal weight women, overweight women (odds ratio [OR]=1.283, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.089-1.513) and mildly obese women (OR=1.214, 95% CI=1.048-1.406) were less likely to have had mammography. In contrast to mammography, cancer screening with Papanicolaou smear was not significantly different by BMI.
Obese women in rural areas are less likely to screen for breast cancer by using mammography than non obese women. To ensure regular screening for breast cancer, health care providers need to give scrupulous care to obese women and remove barriers originated from obesity. Also, educational and clinical implications are considered to increase the Papanicolaou smear rate.
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