PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify effects of self-esteem and health status on adaptation of elderly residents in facilities. METHODS: The sample consisted of 151 elderly residents. The data collected from January to April 2010 were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. Using instruments were self-esteem scale (SES) (Rosenberg, 1965), Korean health status measure for the elderly (KoHSME) (Shin et al, 2002), and nursing home adaptation scale (Lee, 2007). RESULTS: The mean scores of self-esteem (2.90+/-0.71), health status (2.15+/-0.53) and adaptation (2.98+/-0.44) of elderly residents in facilities were above the average. Self-esteem was significantly varied according to religion, economic status and living expenses. Health status was significantly different according to age, disease and motivation of getting into the facilities. Adaptation was significantly different according to religion, satisfaction of facilities and decision maker of getting into the facilities. Significant correlations were found between self-esteem, health status and adaptation. Self-esteem and health status were influencing factors of adaptation (22.6%). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that perceived self-esteem and health status may be requirements for promoting adaptation of elderly residents in facilities. These results could be utilized in the development of supportive programs for elderly adaptation.
Aged ; Humans ; Motivation ; Nursing Homes

PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify meaningful themes related to the recognition of lifestyle risk factors and barriers in seeking treatment following an acute event of first-time acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: A methodological mixed method of thematic content analysis and a quantitative analysis was used. The sample consisted of 120 male patients < 65 years of age who agreed to be in the study were interviewed using a semi-structured during 2008-2009. Data were analyzed according to the procedure of thematic content analysis and the meaningful themes were coded into SPSS data for quantitative analysis. RESULTS: Pre-hospital delay greater than three hours reported by 58.3% (n=70) of the sample and similarly 63.3% had no recognition about their symptoms as cardiac in origin. The mean number of risk factors was 3.9+/-1.8 out of 11 when lifestyle and psychosocial factors were included. From the interview data among the 70 patients delayed greater than three hours, thirty-five themes categorized into 12 main themes influenced the delayed decision which was identified according to personal-cognitive, socio-cultural, and contextual factors. CONCLUSION: Health care providers should consider these themes in designing individual interventions to make lifestyle changes and to facilitate more prompt decisions to seek care.
Health Personnel ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify the effect of auriculotherapy on low abdominal pain and dysmenorrhea in school-aged girls. METHODS: This design was a pre and post-test with nonequivalent groups. The subjects were 71 girls who were middle school students with dysmenorrheal (35 students for the treatment group and 36 students for the comparison group). The subjects of the treatment group received auriculotherapy once a week for 10 weeks. The comparison group received instruction on auriculotherapy and was requested waiting for the order. RESULTS: The treatment group reported significantly less low abdominal pain than the comparison group. However, there were not statistical differences in reported dysmenorrhea. In future analysis, 60.0% of the treatment group reported more physical comfort, and 45.7% reported more emotional cool down. CONCLUSION: The finding indicate that auriculotherapy could be effective in decreasing low abdominal pain during menstrual periods. Therefore, auriculotherapy could be an effective nursing intervention for low abdominal pain occurring during mensuration. However, further studies need to be done to support auriculotherapy as effective.
Abdominal Pain ; Auriculotherapy ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to examine the relationships among the sense of control, social support, depression and nursing home adjustment, and to identify the influencing factors of nursing home adjustment in nursing home residents. METHODS: The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from May to June of 2010 using structured questionnaires from 212 elderly residents without dementia from 15 nursing homes. RESULTS: The levels of nursing home adjustment depended on the self-rated health, the voluntary institutionalization, and the length of stay. The nursing home adjustment was significantly correlated with a sense of control, social support and depression. The five most influential factors affecting adjustment were self-rated health, placement decision maker, the length of stay, a sense of control and depression, which explained about 51.5% of the variances. CONCLUSION: The findings reflect the importance of voluntary institutionalization, a sense of control, avoiding depressive mood and social support which facilitate residents' adjustment. These results can provide guidance for nursing interventions to facilitate nursing home adjustment.
Aged ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Institutionalization ; Length of Stay ; Nursing Homes ; Social Control, Formal ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the state of unmarried cohabitation and to compare the differences of loneliness and family function among university students with cohabitation experience and those with no experience in Korea. METHODS: A convenience sample of 213 university students was recruited from three universities located in G city and the Chonnam area of Korea. Data collection methods included: (a) a demographic questionnaire, (b) a questionnaire related to cohabitation, (c) UCLA scale: 20 items on a 4-point scale (c) Family APGAR questionnaire: 5 items on a 3-point scale. SPSS/WIN 17.0 was used for descriptive analysis, chi2 test, t-test, and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: In this study, 21.1% of the subjects had experiences of unmarried cohabitation. The cohabitation experience was related to gender, age, and monthly income. There was significant differences in family function between the two groups. Loneliness scores were significantly correlated with family function scores in the non-cohabitation group. CONCLUSION: To improve sex life of the university students, healthcare providers including school nurses may consider family function.
Data Collection ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea ; Loneliness ; Single Person ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study has aimed to examine the relationship among self-esteem, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and depression reported by hospitalized elderly patients with chronic diseases. METHODS: A descriptive correlation study by means of a self-report questionnaire or face-to-face interview was used to collect data from 119 elderly patients who were hospitalized in a General Hospital from January 5 to February 25, 2010. Their levels of depression was measured using Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale, self esteem using Jeon's, and activities of daily living using K-ADL. RESULTS: 80.7% of the subjects experienced depression. Depression correlates with self-esteem (r=-.67) and ADL (r=.45). The influencing factors on depression were self-esteem, ADL, subjective health status, and family support satisfaction (R2=.57), while self esteem in itself explained 45% of variance in depression. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate the importance of early detection of depression, which starts from the admission of patients and the continuing evaluation/management in daily life after discharge to ensure their well-being and quality of life. The development of program empowering self esteem, ADL and subjective health status with adequate family support during hospitalization and in daily life is indispensible.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Dietary Sucrose ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Self Concept ; Statistics as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences of patients with a severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). METHODS: The data were collected through in-depth interviews of six patients suffering from severe COPD. The interviewed data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. The Giorgi method of phenomenology was used for analyzing data. RESULTS: Eight themes forming the, units of meaning, were: Repeated and Unpredictable Suffering of Dyspnea, Confidence Loss/Exhaustion Life due to non-efficient breathing, Gradually Deprived Liberty, Absolute Being to Sustaining my life, Source of Burden but Significant Person I am in the Family, Endless Tug-of-War-Capability/Endeavor to Breath, Longing for my Life, and Dead-end of breathing. CONCLUSION: The study results provide an in-depth understanding of life experiences of patients suffering from severe COPD. The findings will be useful to nurses caring for this population.
Dyspnea ; Freedom ; Humans ; Ice ; Life Change Events ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiration ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the health status and reported resilience according to acculturation type among Chinese students in Korea. METHODS: The subjects were 386 Chinese students studying in three universities in Chungnam province. The data were collected by standardized questionnaires and SPSS/WIN 15.0 program was used to analyze the data with descriptive statistics, Chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA. RESULTS: Subjects reported the following Acculturation type: integration (26.7%), assimilation (28.5%), separation (32.4%), and marginalization (12.4%). The reported resilience was significantly different according to economic status. The health status was significantly different according to religion and economic status. Acculturation type was significantly different according to age, educational level, length of stay, type of residency and economic status working style. The health status and resilience were significantly different according to acculturation type. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that integration of acculturation type is most useful to health status and resilience among Chinese students in Korea. Future studies need to examine acculturation type as coping strategy for foreign students' adaptation.
Acculturation ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship among life style, body composition and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in community dwelling Korean adults. METHODS: Data were collected from 140 adults who participated in a health check-up program at community health departments in D city, Choong-chung providence. Subjects' life style was assessed with a structured interview survey. Body composition analyses were performed by the bioimpedence method and BMD was measured by peripheral dual energy X-ray absorptionmetry. RESULTS: Among the subjects, 39.3% showed normal BMD values, 50.7% were osteopenic and 10% were assessed as osteoporotic. BMD was significantly different by gender, age, education, economic status and BMI. Subjects who had three or more meals/day had higher BMD then who had less than three meals (t=-2.273, p=.026). BMD was not influenced by regular exercise, alcohol consumption, or smoking. In terms of body composition, there was a significant relationship between fat free mass and BMD (r=.172, p=.043). CONCLUSION: Implementing an osteoporosis prevention program would be warrented considering the significant proportion of osteopenic or osteoporotic subjects. Regular eating habit with three meals for adequate nutrition need to be emphasized to prevent further bone loss in this population. Among the body composition, fat free mass seem to be the mostly predicting factor for BMD.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Composition ; Bone Density ; Eating ; Humans ; Life Style ; Meals ; Osteoporosis ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the reported factors influencing fatigue of middle aged women. METHODS: Two hundred seven middle aged women between 40 and 59 years of age were recruited from five areas in Korea from March 1, 2010, to April 20, 2010. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires. Data analysis was done using SPSS/WIN 15.0 program for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The average score of fatigue was 2.34+/-0.40. There were significant differences in reported fatigue according to economic status and health status. The reported fatigue was significantly correlated with somatic attribution, psychological attribution, normalizing attribution, depression, marital adjustment, stress, and social support. The major factors that affect fatigue in middle aged women were stress, depression, and normalizing attribution, which explained 32.3% of fatigue. CONCLUSION: The findings can reduce the fatigue by controlling stress and depression. Additionally, this study can understand the attribution of fatigue in middle aged women. More studies are needed to identify other variables that influence on the fatigue of middle aged women.
Depression ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Statistics as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires