Bong-Sook Yih; Myungsun Yi

doi:10.4040/jkan.2009.39.2.237

Articles

Page Path: HOME > J Korean Acad Nurs > Volume 39(2); 2009 > Article

Original Article
The Life Stories of Elderly Korean Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Narrative Study Approach: Bong-Sook Yih, Myungsun Yi; Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009;39(2):237-248.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.2.237
Published online: April 28, 2009

¹Full-time Instructor, Department of Nursing, Songgok College, Chuncheon, Korea.

²Professor, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Yih, Bong-Sook. Department of Nursing, Songgok College, 1 Changchon-ri, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon 200-911, Korea. Tel: 82-33-260-3690, Fax: 82-33-261-4599, yihdoh03@snu.ac.kr

• Received: October 21, 2008 • Accepted: March 11, 2009

13 Views
0 Download
3 Scopus

prev next

Full Article

Download PDF

Abstract
REFERENCES

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of urinary incontinence (UI) for elderly Korean women using a narrative approach.
Methods
The data were collected using individual in-depth interviews with 15 community-dwelling elderly women who had UI for at least 1 yr. The narratives of the life stories of these women were analyzed from the actor's perspective, motivation and purpose of actions, and action toward goal achievement. Also the narratives on UI were analyzed according to cognition, behavior, and evaluation of UI.
Results
Three major types of the life stories emerged from the analysis. First, the conquest narrative type reflects active characteristics of narrators within the circumstances of the sociocultural context. Second, the patience narrative is characterized as having flexibility between self determination for goal achievement and the boundary of the sociocultural context. Lastly, the compliance narrative reflected characteristics of narrators who easily adapt their way of life to circumstances. In terms of UI, the narrators in all three types lacked awareness of UI as an illness condition. Three different reasons are specifically identified according to the narrative types.
Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that the concept and the illness behaviors related to UI in elderly Korean women with UI were closely related to the way of women's lives within the sociocultural and historical context.
Keywords: Urinary incontinence; Narration; Elderly; Women

REFERENCES

1. Bradway C. Women's narratives of long-term urinary incontinence. Urology Nursing. 2005;25:337–344.
2. Burke K. Kenneth B. Introduction: The five key terms of dramatism. In: A grammar of movies. 1945;New York, NY, Prentice-Hall. 1–2.Article
3. Chang SO, Patricia MB. Meaning in life among the elderly. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2000;30:259–271.Article PDF
4. Cho MO, Kim YK, Kim YH, Yang JH, Yoo YJ, Tae YS. Folk illness of chronic disease among the elderly women. Women's Health. 2003;3:188–211.
5. Han DE. The trends of intrinsic motivation and its perspectives. Studies in Social Psychology. 1984;2:54–93.
6. Hunt S. Promoting continence in the nursing home. 1993;Victoria (VIC), Continence Foundation of Australia.
7. Kang EJ, Han GH. Korean women's life trajectories and later lives. Journal of Korean Family Relations. 2002;7:99–126.
8. Kang YJ. Resilience in the Korean elderly women: A qualitative approach. Journal of Korean Family Welfare. 2004;14:50–83.
9. Kim JI. Prevalence of urinary incontinence and other urologic symptoms in a community residing elderly people. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2002;32:28–39.Article PDF
10. Kim JS, Lee EH. Treatment seeking behaviors and quality of life among community dwelling older women with urinary incontinence. Journal of Korea Gerontologic Society. 2003;23:33–47.
11. Kleinman A. Patient and healers in the text of culture. 1980;CA, California University Press.
12. Lee JI. Narrative style and marital life: The life stories of Korean women. 2004;Seoul, Seoul National University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
13. Oh HS, Kim MK. Factors affecting the severity of urinary incontinence and the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2005;35:469–477.Article PubMed PDF
14. Park KN. Lives of elderly women living alone through their life histories. Studies of Feminism. 2002;149–194.
15. Park OH, Kwon IS, Kang YS. A study on urinary incontinence of elderly women in a community. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing. 2001;7:536–546.Article PDF
16. Recoeur P. Time and narrative. 1984;Chicago, IL, University of Chicago Press.
17. Roe B, May C. Incontinence and sexuality: Findings froma qualitative perspective. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 1999;30:573–579.Article PubMed
18. Shaw C, Tansey R, Jackson C, Hyde C, Allan R. Barriers to help seeking in people with urinary symptoms. Family Practice. 2001;18:48–52.Article PubMed
19. Srauss A, Corbin J. Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. 1998;Thousand Oaks, Sage Publication.
20. Yong HC, Hwang KY. Process of consciousness and counseling psychological paradigm - Transpersonal psychological review. Korean Journal of East West Science. 2004;7:27–42.

Table 1

Narrative Analysis of Life Stories

+++ (Strong)=An exemplar of the theme; ++ (Medium)=Coexistence of an exemplar and a counterexample of the theme; + (Weak)=not a specified example of the theme.

Table 2

Narrative Types of Life Stories

NF=Narrator-focused; OF=Others-focused; SI=Self-improvement; CB=Communion-based; SD=Self-determination; A=Adaptability.

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Cite

CITE: export Copy Download Format; Close

Download Citation

Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.

Format:

RIS — For EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and most other reference management software
BibTeX — For JabRef, BibDesk, and other BibTeX-specific software

Include:

Citation for the content below
Citation and abstract for the content below

The Life Stories of Elderly Korean Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Narrative Study Approach

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009;39(2):237-248. Published online April 28, 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.2.237

XML Download

We recommend

The Life Stories of Elderly Korean Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Narrative Study Approach

Table 1

Narrative Analysis of Life Stories

+++ (Strong)=An exemplar of the theme; ++ (Medium)=Coexistence of an exemplar and a counterexample of the theme; + (Weak)=not a specified example of the theme.

Table 2

Narrative Types of Life Stories

NF=Narrator-focused; OF=Others-focused; SI=Self-improvement; CB=Communion-based; SD=Self-determination; A=Adaptability.

Table 1 Narrative Analysis of Life Stories

+++ (Strong)=An exemplar of the theme; ++ (Medium)=Coexistence of an exemplar and a counterexample of the theme; + (Weak)=not a specified example of the theme.

Table 2 Narrative Types of Life Stories

NF=Narrator-focused; OF=Others-focused; SI=Self-improvement; CB=Communion-based; SD=Self-determination; A=Adaptability.