This study was designed to construct a structural model for symptom management of life of the patients with chronic fatigue. The hypothetical model was developed based on the literature review and Self-regulating Model.

Data were collected by questionnaires from 252 patients with chronic fatigue in the 8 community from December 2002 to April 2003 in Seoul. Data analysis was done with SAS for descriptive statistics and PC-LISREL Program for Covariance structural analysis.

The fit of the hypothetical model to the data was moderate, thus it was modified by excluding 4 path and including free parameters and 3 path to it. The modified model with path showed a good fitness to the empirical data(χ²=318.11, p=0.0, GFI= .98, AGFI= .98, NNFI= .95, RMSR= .03, RMSEA= .05). The symptoms of stress, self-efficacy, and present fatigue level were found to have significant direct effect on symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. The ways of coping, perceived stress, and fatigue symptom were found to have indirect effects on symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue.

The derived model is considered appropriate in explaining and predicting symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. Therefore, it can effectively be used as a reference model for further studies and suggested direction in nursing practice.

An effective rehabilitation program had been developed for psychiatric patients' self management of medication and symptoms in Korea. The rehabilitation program was designed to allow the patients to understand their illness, cope with their medical regimen, and prevent a relapse by recognizing any of the symptoms when they recur.

The developed program utilizes the self efficacy method reported by Bandura, it includes manuals and videotapes focusing on real life situations, small group discussions, and telephone coaching. This study investigated the effects of this program with respect to various predictable variables in psychiatric rehabilitation. Thirty eight patients were selected for this study, 18 in the experimental program and 20 as controls.

The results showed that the subjects who attended this educational program reported significantly more improvement in attitude toward medication compliance (p=0.033), and significantly less relapse warning symptom scores (p=0.000) than the controls.

This program may be a useful psychoeducational resource for professionals in the field of clinical practice in psychiatry.

This study was conducted to develop and to determine the effects of an integrated symptom management program for prevention of recurrent cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Subjects consisted of 58 CAD patients (experimental group: 30, control group: 28). The experimental group participated in an integrated symptom management program for 6 months which was composed of tailored education, stress management, exercise, diet, deep breathing, music therapy, periodical telephone monitoring and a daily log. The control group received the usual care.

The experimental group significantly decreased symptom experiences and the level of LDL compared to the control group. The experimental group significantly increased self care activity and quality of life compared to the control group. Although no significant difference was found in cardiac recurrence, the experimental group had fewer recurrences.

These results suggest that an integrated symptom management program for prevention of recurrent cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention can improve symptom aggravation, recurrent rate, self care activity and quality of life. Nursing interventions are needed to maintain and further enhance the quality of life of these patients and the interventions should be implemented in the overall transition period.

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing symptom self management (SSM) in the patient with a chronic mental disorder.

Data was collected by questionnaires from 204 chronic mental disorders in an outpatient clinic in a General Hospital and Public Mental Health Centers in Seoul and Kyunggi Province. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.

The score of SSM showed a significantly positive correlation with the score of the level of self efficacy (SE) (r=.33, p=.00), social support (SS) (r=.27, p=.00), self care agency (SCA) (r=.36, p=.00) and daily living ability (DLA) (r=.34, p=.00). The score of DLA showed a significantly positive correlation with the score of level of SE (r=.46, p=.00), SS (r=.51, p=.00), and SCA (r=.52, p=.00). The most powerful predictor of SSM was SCA (14%). A combination of SCA, DLA, and SS account for 20 % of the variance in SSM.

This study suggests that SCA, DLA, and SS are significant influencing factors on SSM in patients with chronic mental disorders.