PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the direction for development of the Korean Journal of Adult Nursing toward becoming an international journal through analysing the accepted and rejected papers during the last three years (2007-2009). METHODS: Two hundred and ten accepted papers were analyzed focusing on research methodology and key words using descriptive statistics. In addition, rejected papers were reviewed to analyze their study designs and key words. RESULTS: The proportion of quantitative research was 86.4% while the proportion of qualitative research was 9.5%. The majority of the qualitative research design was survey (71.8%). Sixty percent of the research had verbal consent and 32.7% had written consent from the participants. The prevailing data collection settings were hospitals (52.1%), and community (22.7%). The most frequently used research domain was health. It was noted that theoretical framework was rarely presented. The paper rejection rate was 31.5% and among the rejected paper, 75.3% was survey. CONCLUSION: The results of this analysis suggest that published studies have been improved and diversified compared with the papers published before the year 2007. However, translation research, clinical trials by nurses, and more detailed evaluation process for ethics in research need to be facilitated.
Adult ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Nursing Research ; Qualitative Research ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Research Design

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identity factors affecting patient adherence and to develop an explanatory model for patient adherence in patients with spinal cord injury. 8 variables that were based on the previous research and a review of literature were used to construct hypothetical model. Social support, economic status, perceived barrier, patient provider relationship and rehabilitation related knowledge were the exogenous variables, depression, self-efficacy and patient adherence were the endogenous variables. METHODS: Data form 117 patients with SCI were analysed to test the hypothetical model, using SAS and LISREL 8.53 program. RESULTS: The overall fitness of the model was good (GFI=.991, AGFI=.915, NNFI=1.299, NFI=.953, p=.632) Depression, powerlessness, economic status were the strong factors influencing patient adherence. Powerlessness was significant factors for self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: To improve of patient adherence should focus on nursing intervention for depression, powerlessness and economic status.
Depression ; Humans ; Patient Compliance ; Phenothiazines ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries

PURPOSE: This paper has attempted to investigate the association between the subclinical thyroid function disorder caused by natural change in thyroid hormones or thyroid remedies and the incidence of CHD. METHODS: Data was analyzed of 7,675 women who had undergone health examinations in a hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January 2007 and December 2008. The covariation of the coronary risk factors such as age, BMI, HbA1C, systolic blood pressure, LDL:HDL-cholesterol ratio, CRP, smoking and exercise were analyzed by using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A significant increase in serum TSH was observed with higher age (F=26.91, p=.00). In terms of age, the risk of CHD started to gradually increase since the 40s and sharply since the 60s (chi-square=113.29, p=.00). The serum TSH was the most significant parameter influencing CHD (B=.12, p=.00). The risk of coronary artery disease was 3.12 times higher in the subclinical hypothyroidism group (OR=3.12) while no significant difference was observed in the subclinical hyperthyroidism group. CONCLUSION: Subclinical hypothyroidism may be an independent risk factors for CHD. A nurse nursing patients with thyroid disorder should be well informed of their state of subclinical thyroid function disorder and make efforts to extend their health expectancy.
Blood Pressure ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a Web-based learning program on cardiopulmonary emergency care for clinical nurses and to evaluate learners' responses. METHODS: Based on the assessment of learning needs of clinical nurses, a total of three self-directed learning modules were developed according to the procedure of the ADDIE (assessment, design, development, implementation, & evaluation) model. RESULTS: Each learning module included the emergency treatments and drugs used in the real patients' situations with cardiopulmonary crisis, which had been adopted from the emergency department of a C University hospital located in G-city. Real video clips for endotracheal intubation and ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) were developed with the help of the staff of the department of emergency medicine using a human simulator, SimMan(R). The program published on the Web was evaluated by 20 clinical nurses who are working in the emergency department and wards of a C-University hospital. About 80% of the respondents were satisfied with the program contents, design, and learning strategy. CONCLUSION: Web-based learning programs on cardiopulmonary emergency care are needed for clinical nurses as educational material for staff education to increase their knowledge for making immediate clinical decisions and in giving skilled care in emergency situations.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education, Nursing ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Treatment ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Learning

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of resilience and related factors in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in Korea. METHODS: Data were obtained from 148 patients using the Resilience Scale (RS), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and Spielberger's Anxiety Inventory (AI). RESULTS: The mean scores of the RS, BDI, and AI were 127.7+/-21.6, 12.9+/-9.3, and 41.9+/-11.1, respectively. The RS score was strongly correlated with the BDI score (r=-.531, p<.001) and the AI (r=-.572, p<.001). The resilience was significantly revealed by household income (F=4.002, p=.009) and presence of a hobby (t=-3.300, p=.001). In addition, resilience was significantly correlated with age of disease onset (r=.164, p=.046), years of living with PD (r=-.262, p=.001), and the length of treatment with levodopa (r=-.283, p<.001). From the stepwise multiple regression analysis, the most important factors related to the RS score were the AI score, household income, and length of treatment with levodopa. CONCLUSION: Understanding these factors is essential for developing effective interventions to improve resilience in patients with PD.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Family Characteristics ; Hobbies ; Humans ; Korea ; Levodopa ; Parkinson Disease

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the mental health and self-care activities according to perceived stress level in type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: The descriptive survey design was conducted using a convenient sample. One hundred and fifty-two diabetic participants with metabolic syndrome were recruited in a university hospital. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Students' t-test, and ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: The high, moderate, and low stress groups according to perceived stress score consisted of 30.9%, 38.2%, and 30.9%, respectively. Differences of mental health and total self-care activities among the three groups were statistically significant. Depression (F=46.73, p<.001), trait anger (F=5.75, p<.01), and anger expression-in (F=4.60, p<.01) of participants in the high stress group were higher than other groups, whereas the total of self-care activities (F=2.85, p<.05) and exercise (F=3.49, p<.05) were lower than other groups. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome with a high stress level were low in self-care activities along with elevated depression and anger.
Anger ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Self Care ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of depression, stress, and self-efficacy on the addiction to cell phone use among university students. METHODS: Data were collected through questionnaires from 563 students and analyzed by applying descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 16.0. RESULTS: The proportion of depressed subjects was 52.6%. The addictive group scored higher than the non-addictive group in depression rate and stress, but scored lower in self-efficacy. Out of the subjects, 32.9% were found to be addictive users, 31.3% at potential risk, and 1.6% at high risk. Significant variables influencing addictive users were stress, self-efficacy, and the user's general characteristics including monthly spending money, sex, the hours of daily use, and the main method of use. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that such variables should be carefully considered in interventions for university students addicted to cell phone use.
Cellular Phone ; Depression ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is difference in the effects of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea by research design. METHODS: Findings from the two different research designs (Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest [NCG] design vs. two-group crossover design) were compared in regard to the effect of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea. The subjects of the NCG design and the crossover design were a total of 58 female nursing students. The treatments (aroma essential oil inhalation and carrier oil inhalation) were given using a necklace. The data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test, and Shapiro-Wilk test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. The effect size for the two research designs was calculated. RESULTS: In both research designs, the level of dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain after the aroma treatment were not significantly different from those after the placebo treatment. The effect size of the NCG design was higher than that of the crossover design. CONCLUSION: Aroma inhalation may not be effective in managing dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain. In order to further clarify the efficiency of research design and the effect of aromatherapy on discomfort during menstruation, replication studies are necessary. Future studies need to examine the effects of different research design on non-interval variables.
Aromatherapy ; Cross-Over Studies ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Menstruation ; Research Design ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe psychosocial difficulties experienced by cancer patients. METHODS: Three focus group interviews were conducted to collect the data from 19 outpatients with cancer undergoing treatments during 2009. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis of grounded theory. RESULTS: As a result of constant comparative analysis, 'psychosocial distress' was identified as a core category, and seven subcategories were identified. 'Plunged into negative emotions' and 'damaged self-identity' were identified as major categories in the individual dimension. 'Difficulty in dealing with diagnosis' and 'hasty expectations and concerns' were identified in the dimension of family. 'Inefficient communication' and 'lack of necessary information' were identified in the dimension of health care setting. 'Lonely journey into a strange territory' was identified in the dimension of society. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that cancer patients experience a wide range of psychosocial problems. Thus, in assessing and relieving psychosocial distress of cancer patients, it is necessary to focus not only on the level of the individual but also on the levels of family, health care setting, and society in general is necessary.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Delivery of Health Care ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify levels of anxiety, stress hormone, lymphocytes, and neutrophils of the nursing students before an examination and to examine effects of social support on those variables related to taking examinations. METHODS: Thirty eight healthy nursing students participated. They completed the questionnaire including state anxiety, test anxiety (VAS scale) and social support two weeks before the exam and again just before the exam. Simultaneously, a venous sample for ACTH, cortisol, lymphocytes & neutrophils count was drawn by a trained nurse. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, student t-test, and Pearson's correlation with SPSS/WIN 14.0 were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Test anxiety scores and cortisol level on the exam day showed a significant increment compared with those on the non-exam day. The participants with higher levels of total social support scores showed significantly lower state anxiety on the exam day than those with lower levels of total social support scores. CONCLUSION: These data indicate a possible alteration in cortisol responsiveness to academic stress in nursing students. Social support would play an important role in modulation of academic stress.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Anxiety ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires