This descriptive-correlational studdy was condduetedd to recognize the relational between the perceived social support and stress in pregnant women. The subject were comprised of 154 patients who were at 24 weeks over, and data were collected by way of questionnairs at K-university hospital in Seoul during 23 days (November 21, 1986 to December 18, 1986). The result of this study may be summerized as follows, 1) The degrees of the support from situation perceived by pregnant women were: the minimal 20 points, the maximal 61 points and the mean 40.42 points. 2) The degrees of stress perceived by pregnant women were: the minimal 32 points, the maximal 109 poilits and the mean 65.49 points. 3) The results of hypotheses were; the first hypothesis was not supported that the higher the degree of social support from situation perceived by pregnant women, the lower that of stress(r=-0.01129, p=0.8895) the second was supported that the higher the degree of support perceived indirectly by pregnant women, the lower that of stress(r=-0.23832, p=0.0029). the third was supported that the higher the degree of support perceived directly by pregnant women, the lower that of stress.(r=-0.36019, p=0.0001) 4) The fourth shows that in the relationships between the characteristics of socio-popualtion and obstetrics and the degree of social support, there was significant difference; i) the support from situation differs in learning (t=-2.178, p<. 05), and satisfaction of marriage (F=5.06, p<.01) ii) the support perceived indirectly differs in learning (t=-3.065, p<. 01), month of pregnant(F= 2.78, p<.05), satisfaction of marriage (F=20.08, P<. 001) and forms of family (t=2.11, p<.05) iii) the support perceived directly differs in satisfaction of marriage (F=21.00, p<. 001) and forms of family (t=2.11, p<.05) 5) the fifth shows that in the relationship between the characteristics of sociopopulation and obstetrics and stress, the degree of satisfaction of marriage only shows the significant statistical difference(F= 6.40, p<.01) 6) The sixth shows that the factor affecting the stress of pregnant women was the support perceived directly and its explanatory power was 12,9%.
The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of 12-week low-intensity exercise program on muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and cognitive characteristics related to the performance of activity of daily living(ADL). A total of 16 patients who were admitted to the medical unit of a general hospital in ChoongChung province were recruited eight for the exercise group and eight for the comparison group. Four levels of low-intensity exercise from 'ROM on bed' to 'exercise while walking' were then applied to the exercise group according to their physical condition. During hospitalization, patients in the exercise group performed each level of the prescribed exercise with the researchers until they felt. comfortable doing it independently. The researchers also visited the patients' homes after discharge to make sure they could perform the exercise with Theraband in their living environment. The exercise group was contacted by phone once a week to assess the frequency and intensity in which they performed the exercise as well as their physical condition. The subjects in the comparison group participated in measurements for the study without performing the exercise and were contacted by phone after discharge, in a matched time frame with the exercise group, to assess physical condition. Muscle strength, flexibility, balance, cognitive characteristics, and performance of ADL for the two groups were compared at the pretest and the posttest after the low-intensity exercise program by utilizing SPSSWIN and the results are as follows : 1) At the posttest, measurments of muscle strengths showed that the strength of the dorsal flexor in the exercise group was significantly higher than in the comparison group. 2) Objective balance for the exercise group was significantly better than for the comparison group as measured by 'standing on one foot' and Tinetti gait and balance control. 3) The exercise group showed significantly higher task self-efficacy than the comparison group. 4) Perceived exertion for ADL for the exercise group was significantly lower than for the comparison group. 5) Improvement of performance of ADL without assistance was significantly for the exercise group than the comparison group. The findings suggest that a low-intensity exercise program would be useful for the elderly who show decline in their physical functioning due to hospitalization by partly improving physical strength, task self-efficacy, and performance of ADL. Directions for further research on issues of motivating people to exercise as well as of standardizing various types of exercise were discussed.
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the appraising frame and the accreditation system of universities in both Korea and the United Sates, as well as developing a standard plan to appraise 4 year nursing education institutions in Korea. Research design of this study was descriptive comparative research. The results of the research can be divided into six fields, educational purposes, educational courses, students, faculty, facility equipments and administration finance in Korea. Then the results were further categorized into seven fields : mission and governance, faculty, students, curriculum and instruction, resources, educational effectiveness and integrity. Thus Korean appraising frames were suggested to have eight fields of standard. The fields are philosophy and purposes of educational institution, educational courses and instruction, students, faculty, facility equipments, adminstration finance, educational effectiveness and integrity.
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This study was conducted by analyzing all 33 articles based on the LISREL, published
from January 1991 to March 1999 in Korea. The analyses consisted of the publication date of articles, principal dependent variables,
subjects of the research, adequacy of sampling, adequacy of research purposes and
results
, accordance between theoretical model and hypothetical model, fit measures,
theoretical base of model modification, and adequacy of conclusion.
The results were as follows :
The thesis of 33 articles in total were outnumbered as 25 (75.8%) to 8 (24.2%)
research articles. As for a sex classification of the subjects, 45.5% of the research
were conducted around a female group of subjects, while 54.5% were done for both
sex, The range of the sample size was 105 to 803, and the average was 259
subjects. A single theoretical variable was measured for each measurement variable, any
difference between variables was hardly found in 8 articles (24.2%), and 19 articles
(57.6%) did not consider any measurement error.
To analyze if the representative has been considered while collecting the data, most
data were collected by a convenient sampling. Seven articles (21.2%) were seen with
a sign of a representative. Questionnaires were used in a majority (31 articles) of the
data collecting process. Only 2 articles (6.1%) were measured with a physiologic
index simultaneously. 14 articles (42.2%) were centered on theory development, 10 articles on theory
synthesis, and 9 articles on theory test. The research purposes and results were
consistent in 25 articles (75.5%) and 8 articles (24.2%) were inconsistent. The quality
of life and health promotion behavior were the concepts most frequently studied as a
dependent variable, and 7 articles centered on them. In applied theories a health
promotion model was used on 4 articles (12.1%), while role theory and stress-coping
models were in 3 articles respectively. The articles were analyzed to see if the hypothetical model was elaborated and
tested by the theoretical model. Twenty-five articles proved to be rationale for the
inconsistencies. Also, 56.5% proposed hypotheses were supported among the subject
articles, and 30 articles (90.0%) suggested a revised model. Path coefficient (17
articles) and theoretical adequacy (17 articles) were the standards mostly used.
In conclusion, the principal factors were obtained from the research are to be
considered as the principes of LISREL application.
First, a model has to be established on a theoretical base rather than empirical results
dependent on the data. The results are also required to be globally interpreted. Secondly,
at least 200 samples are necessary to satisfy the need. Third, more than 3 measurement
variables are to be adjusted to a single theoretical variable; the measurement errors
must be suggested as well. Finally, normal distribution characteristics of the data and
the estimation method need to be reported.
Based on the research result, the follows are suggested;
Systematic criteria on the LISREL application and procedure need to be developed
Agreement form is required to report the results of research using the LISREL
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The purpose of this study was to construct model of sexual adjustment in people with spinal cord injury and to determine factors that relate to sexual adjustment using methodological triangulation. A total of 134 persons who were registered members of spinal cord injury organization and admitted rehabilitation unit in the hospital were included in the study. Participants answered questionnaire concerning importance of life events, sexual concern, sexual adjustment. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured indepth interviews from 10 individuals with spinal cord injury who were previously included in the quantitative study. Constant compatative method was used to analyze the data. The results were as follows: 1) With respect to eleven other areas of life, sex life ranked the sixth and economic status ranked the highest in terms of importance. However social life ranked the lowest among the 11areas. 2) Among seven topics related to sexuality were methods and techniques to achieve sexual satisfaction, and helping a partner cope emotionally with limitation on sexual dysfunction was the second greastest. 3) The mean score for sexual adjustment was 19.47 which can be considered. 4) A process on how individuals with spinal cord injury adjust to their changed sexual life immerged from the qualitative data. It includs 4 stages: 'stage of loss' 'stage of endeavoring' 'stage of effort' and 'stage of adjustment'. Categories showing context for the action/interaction strategies were 'steadiness' and 'rediscovery as a sexual being'. There were three factors which may stimulate the adjustment process while the others may interrupt it. Those factors included personal matters, family matters and social matters. The individuals may follow each stage step by step but may go back to the previous step depending on the outcomes of their adjustment. 5) There were three factors which may stimulate the adjustment process while the others may interrupt it. Those factors included personal matters, family matters and social matters.
Stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability. Because muscle weakness is one of the most prominent consequences of stroke, it was considered important to determine whether exercise if order to improve muscle strength and range of motion could have an effect in limiting the learned disuse of the affected side. The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of an 8 week rehabilitation program on physical and cognitive ability in stroke patients. A total of 18 patients who were admitted to the oriental medicine unit of a K medical center in Seoul were recruited : Ten for the experimental group and eight for the control group. The rehabilitation program consisted of three level's of active and passive exercises for prevention of muscle contracture and at range of motion. Muscle strength, flexibility of the upper and lower extremity, perceived balance, functional independence, depression, and quality of life for the two groups were compared at the pretest and 4 and 8 weeks after the rehabilitation program. The results are as follows: 1) When measuring muscle strengths of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion, hip flexion and knee extensor, ankle dorsi-flexor and muscle strength of knee flexor. Muscle strength of knee flexor for the experimental group was significantly higher than the comparison group at the 4 weeks. 2) Muscle strength and flexibility of the ankle dorsi-flexor for the experimental group was significantly better than for the control group at 8 weeks. 3) Functional independence, perceived balance, and Tinetti balance for the experimental group as measured at 4 and 8 weeks were better than for the control group. Also, there were changes over time in physical balance and functional ability, but there was no significant differences between the groups. 4) The experimental group showed a higher quality of life and lower depression than the control group at 8 weeks. 5) Muscle strength and flexibility of ankle dorsi-flexor were significantly changer over time and an interaction between group and time. The findings suggested that the rehabilitation program would improve the physical and psychological status of the stroke patients. Thus, the gains in actual or perceived ability to perform physical activities was marked.
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The study was conducted to confirm the construct of individual perception and preference for work characteristics as personal factors influencing Korean nurses' job satisfaction. The subjects of the study were 231 nurses who are currently working in intensive care units and have been for a minimum of 6 months. The study used the Staff Perception and Preference Scale(Song et al., 1997) to measure the individual's perception and preference on the technical, practice, and management components of the ideal work environment. The Korean version of the Staff Perception and Preference Scale consists of 16 items on perception and 13 on preference with each item related on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 4 (a great deal). Psychometric testing revealed that the preference and perception scale is internally consistent with Chronbach's alphas of .83 for perception scale and .80 for preference scale. The subscales of the perception and preference scale also showed acceptable reliability for the early stage of the development of the instruments with Chronbach alphas of .62-.76 and .69-.83 respectively. Criterion0related validity of the scale was tested by examining correlations with individual growth need that is conceptually close to individual preference, but not to individual perception. Individual growth need was significantly related to individual preference(r=.63, p<.05), but the correlation with the perception scale was not significant. A separate factor analysis for the each of perception and preference scales was performed with a three-factor loading solution based on a previous study. The results on the staff perception scale confirmed with varimax rotation that the items were cleanly and strongly loaded on technique, practice and management components, which together explained 50.7% of the variance. The factor analysis on the staff preference scale also yielded a three factor solution that explained 56.7% of the variance, but items on technique and management components were loaded together. This phenomena may due to the current nursing delivery system in Korea where nurses never experience either shared governance nor case management, and as a results they may not be able to consider management roles as their potential extended roles. Therefore, more efforts should be given to enhance nurses' autonomy and decision making in the technique, practice and management components of their work environment. Meanwhile, there is a need for continuously confirming and developing tools for individual perception and preferences to effectively enhance job satisfaction among Korea nurses through innovative work environments.
Breast self-examination is the most effective and easiest way for women to increase the responsible consciousness about their health. The purpose of this study was to test the variables impacted to promote breast self-examination practice. The research design used in this study was a nonequivalent control group of a non-synchronized design. The sample that was assembled consisted of 124 women. A purposive sample consisted of 124 omen. Each subject was given to assessed on the following the demographic data relate to the breast self-examination, knowledge of self-examination, accuracy, in performing self-examination, self-efficacy about breast cancer and breast self-examination, and the number of subjects who found a mass. The result of this study may be summarized as follows : 1. To examine the theoretical model fit to the data, chi square test statistics and goodness of fit index were identified(x2=2.30, df=2, GFI=0.99, AGFI=0.94 RMSR=0.02, NFI=0.99, NNFI=0.99, Critical Number=439). 2. The direct effects of education of breast self- examination were knowledge, self-efficacy, accuracy, number finding a mass. But the indirect effect of education in breast self-examination was frequency of breast self-examination. 3. Knowledge, as direct paths to the breast self-examination practices, was removed in the theoretical model. The parsimonious best fit model included self-efficacy, accuracy, the number finding mass, frequency of breast self-examination practices. 4. The final model produced a chi-square=5.58(p=0.35) with df=5, and GFI=0.99 AGFI=0.94, NFI=0.03, NFI=0.99, NNFI=0.99, CN=339 indicating very a good fit. Based on the result of this study, education of breast self-examination is very effective for increasing the competency of the breast self-examination through the knowledge and self-efficacy. Resources to promote self-examination may be helpful to increase the frequency of self-examination because self-efficacy is a direct effort on it. These findings suggest the need t develop nursing strategy to promote the self- efficacy of breast self-examination.
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The purposes of this study were to determine the factors that influence job satisfaction for ICU nurses and to analyze group differences in job satisfaction based on the nurses' preference and perception of the work environment with an enhanced professional role. A total of 231 nurses who had been working in Intensive Care Units at least for 6 months at selected university hospitals participated in the study while head nurses or those with administrative positions were excluded. The study participants had an average of 33 months of clinical experience with an age range of 23 to 40 years. The data were analyzed by utilizing SPSSWIN and the results are as follows. 1) Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that work characteristics defined by Job characteristics theory and nurses' preference/ perception of ideal work environment together explained 33% of variance in job satisfaction. Skill variety, task identity and autonomy as well as individual perception of work environment were significant variables for explaining job satisfaction. Job satisfaction was not significantly related to age, marital status, education, and clinical experience. 2) The groups classified by nurses' preference and perception of work environment were significantly different in their job satisfaction. Nurses with high preference and high perception showed significantly higher general and specific job satisfaction than other nurses. The nurses who showed high preference but perceived their work environment as not reflecting ideal job characteristics reported the lowest job satisfaction among the groups. In conclusion, the role of individual preference and perception of the work environment in explaining the relationship between the redesign of work environment and job satisfaction was supported by the study. The preferences of nurses to the innovative work characteristics should be considered in the process of enhancing job characteristics to lead job satisfaction and low turn over and ultimately to improve quality of care.
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PURPOSE: This study was to determine the current trend of nursing research as exploring both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and to provide the explicit direction to improve the quality of published papers. METHODS: Total of 366 articles published between 2004 and 2006 was reviewed using the criteria of analysis. RESULTS: There was more number of quantitative studies than qualitative studies. More studies were conducted with subjects who had health problems, and studies that targeted women and elderly population have been significantly increased. In quantitative methodology, utilization of experimental and quasi-experimental designs has been increased, however descriptive study was dominant as yet. In qualitative methodology, studies using grounded theory and phenomenology were frequently published. It was noted that theoretical framework and rational for sample size were rarely presented in quantitative study. Philosophical position and the process of preparation for study, which guided the research, were not clearly described in qualitative study. CONCLUSION: The findings of this review suggest that published studies have been improved and diversified, however, detailed and clear evaluation tool that assesses study process and method should be developed as a way to further improve the quality of published papers.
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This study was to identify predictors of quality of life in breast cancer patients. Physical and pscyhological factors like stress, mood, and fatigue with sociodemographic factors like education, income, job and stage of disease were used to predict quality of life.
One hundred eleven patients with breast cancer participated in this study? The functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast(FACT-B) was used to assess quality of life.
The mean age of the patients was 46.7 years. The FACT-B mean score was 89.89 (SD:17.31) Education, income, job and stage of disease were significantly associated with QOL. In a regression analysis, mood, income, and fatigue were significant predictors for QOL: where as, stress was not significant. Among the subscales of QOL, physical well-being, functional well-being, emotional well-being, and the breast cancer subscale were included as predictors of QOL
Physical and psychological factors were strong predictors of QOL. These results demonstrate the need for interventions to improve QOL in breast cancer survivors.
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This study was conducted to examine the changing patterns of knowledge related to disease, medication adherence, and self-management and to determine if outcomes were more favorable in the experimental group than in the comparison group through 6 months after providing a web-based self-management intervention.
A non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used and 65 patients with gout, 34 in experimental group and 31 in comparison group, were selected from the rheumatic clinics of two university hospitals. Data were collected four times, at baseline, at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the intervention.
According to the study results, the changing patterns of knowledge and self-management were more positive in the experimental group than in the control group, whereas difference in the changing pattern of medication adherence between two groups was not significant.
The results indicate that the web-based self-management program has significant effect on improving knowledge and self-management for middle aged male patients with gout. However, in order to enhance medication adherence, the web-based intervention might not be sufficient and other strategies need to be added.
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This study was performed to identify current characteristics of the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing and to explore a way to elevate it to an international level and to critique the overall review process so as to delineate the advanced, objective paper appraisal in this journal.
Data was collected using self administered questionnaires to 75 journal reviewers belonging to the Korean academy of nursing and its division academy of nursing from August 15th to September 30th, 2006.
The majority of reviewers pointed out a lack of discrimination between the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing and other journals. Among the main answers of reviewers, Creativeness(52.3%) and excellence of nursing(38%) will be critical factors to develop in order to elevate to an the journal to an international level. In specific evaluation areas, reviewers preferred a subjective critique method(60%), and the condition of the decision making process regarding paper acceptance as a combination of checklist and subjective evaluation(84%). Subjective evaluation opinions with major categories will occur in the next revised evaluation format. 76% of reviewers agreed with the current objective evaluation form.
The journal review process should be evaluated on a regular basis to elevate the journal level and a mutual agreement of the journal's scope, range, and purpose will be necessary. As a recommendation, an attempt at various approaches in journal reviews and reviewer training should be made.
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