The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of EPMLM(educational program of manual lymph massage) on the arm functioning and QOL(quality of life) in breast cancer patients with lymphedema.
Subjects in the experimental group(n=20) participated in EPMLM for 6 weeks from June to July, 2005. The EPMLM consisted of training of lymph massage for 2 weeks and encourage and support of self-care using lymph massage for 4 weeks. The arm functioning assessed at pre-treatment, 2weeks, and 6weeks using Arm functioning questionnaire. The QOL assessed at pre-treatment and 6 weeks using SF-36. The outcome data of experimental group was compared with control group(n=20). The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS 10.0 statistical program.
The arm functioning of experimental group was increased from 2 weeks after(W=.224, p=.011) and statistically differenced with control group at 2 weeks(Z=-2.241, p=.024) and 6 weeks(Z=-2.453, p=.013). Physical function of QOL domain increased in experimental group(Z=-1.162, p=.050), also statistically differenced with control group(Z=-2.182, p= .030) at 6weeks.
The results suggest that the educational program of manual lymph massage can improve arm functioning and physical function of QOL domain in breast cancer patients with lymphedema.
The purpose of this study was to identify nurses' image and its related factors to make nurses' image among academic and vocational high school teachers in Korea.
Study samples were composed of 470 teachers who were from 12 high schools in G and J city located in southwestern part of Korea. Data were collected from August 26 to October 4, 2002. The internal consistency of the total scale was Cronbach's α= .940.
In order to make nurses' image, 76.4% of respondents were influenced by the experience of their hospitalization in visiting hospitals. The mean score of nurses' image in general was 3.19±0.55; in four subcategories, 3.46±0.60 for professional image, 3.28±0.69 for traditional image, 2.93±0.70 for social image, and 2.91±0.64 for vision of nursing career. The mean score of nurses' image in general was more positive significantly in the 50's age group (F=6.43, p= .002) and in male groups (t=2.92, p= .002).
On the basis of these findings, nursing professionals need to improve their working conditions, aspiration in job, and autonomy of nurses in their practice fields, monitor the mass media and other publishing materials continuously, and share the appropriate information on nursing profession to the school teachers and the public.