PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of aerobic exercise using a flex band on the improvement of physical functions & body image in breast cancer women undergoing radiation therapy after a mastectomy. METHOD: Women with breast cancer(n = 26) were assigned to an experimental group(EG, n = 15) and control group(CG, n = 11). The E.G. participated in an aerobic exercise program with a 60% to 80% intensity of maximal heart rate for 25 minutes during the main exercise, 3 times per week, for 6 weeks. The EG did not exercise regularly for 3 months before participating in this program. The CG received no exercise treatment during the research period. Data were analyzed using the chi-square-test and Mann-Whitney U test by the SPSS version 11.0 program at a 5% significant level. RESULTS: Group analysis revealed that the EGwomen had significantly more improved cardiopulmonary functions, ROM of the affected shoulder joint, and body image compared to the CG. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise using a flex band may be an effective rehabilitative measure for mastectomy women with respect to cardio-pulmonary functions, ROM, & body image. Further studies are recommended to study early rehabilitation programs within 10 days post-operatively.
Adult ; *Body Image ; Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy/*rehabilitation/surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; *Mastectomy ; Middle Aged ; *Muscle Stretching Exercises/instrumentation ; Oximetry ; Program Evaluation ; *Range of Motion, Articular

PURPOSE: This study was to test the reliability and validity of a Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire-Revised (DRSEQ-R) in Korean college students. METHODS: The DRSEQ-R was designed to assess an individual's belief in their ability to refuse drinking alcohol by Oei et al. (2005) and consisted of three factors (social pressure, opportunity, and emotional relief). A methodological study design with an exploratory factor analysis for validity and correlation coefficients for reliability was used. DRSEQ-R was translated into Korean and a translation equivalency was obtained. DRSEQ-R was tested with a sample of 201 college students in Korea. The subjects consisted of 106 males and 95 females. Principal component factor analysis was used for construct validity and Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate for internal consistency of the instrument. RESULTS: The factor analysis showed three factors explaining 66.3% of total variance and the corresponding factors were emotional relief (48.01%), drinking contextual opportunity (11.18%), and social pressure (7.14%). The internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha=.937). All three factors of DRSEQ-R negatively correlated with alcohol dependency and a heavy drinker showed a lower DRSEQ-R than a moderate drinker. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, DRSEQ-R is a reliable and valid instrument to measure for drinking refusal self-efficacy in Korean college students.
Alcohol Drinking/*prevention & control ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; *Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Self Efficacy ; Social Behavior ; Students/*psychology ; Translating ; Universities ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the practice level of 14 health behaviors between male (N=139) and female (N=175) elderly and to identify the barriers to each health behavior of elderly people in Korea. METHODS: Data were collected from 314 elderly people (65 yr and older) living in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas. Descriptive statistics, chi-square-test and ordinal logistic regression were used in data analysis using the SPSS Win 15 version. RESULTS: 1) The performances were different in some health behaviors between male and female elderly people. Male elderly showed better performances in balanced diet, regular exercise, and more than 30 min of exercise, while female elderly showed better performances in restriction of fat and cholesterol, restriction on alcohol, and smoking. There were no differences in stress management and health prevention behaviors between the two groups. 2) The common significant barriers in health behaviors of the elderly in Korea were the lack of habit and physical discomfort. However, the lack of perceived benefit was a significant barrier in male elderly. Lack of time and lack of family support were significant barriers in female elderly people in Korea. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that tailored strategies should be developed considering the gender difference to reduce the main barriers of each health behavior in order to improve the health status of elderly people.
Activities of Daily Living ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Female ; Frail Elderly/*psychology ; *Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Health Status ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and N-K cell activity (NKCA) in Korean breast and rectal cancer patients just after diagnosis. METHODS: With 35 subjects enrolled between November 2002 and May 2003, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis was used to estimate BFP. FACS Analysis was used to measure N-K cell activity. The relationships between BFP and NKCA were identified by using curve estimation, simple regression, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The mean BFPs of the subjects and all the sub-groups were higher than acceptable BFPs. Both the mean NKCAs of male and female subjects were lower than that of healthy women. NKCA was explained by BFP with a 14.9% variance in the total subjects (p<.05). There were significant negative relationships between BFP and NKCA after controlling age, type of cancer, and stage of cancer while no significant relationship was found after controlling for gender. The relationships between BFP and NKCA in the sub-groups of female, breast cancer, and stage I, and II were significant. The relationships between male, rectal cancer, and the stage III, and VI sub-groups were not identified, but they revealed a mild to moderate steep in curve estimation. CONCLUSION: Weight reduction could prevent the risk and advancement of breast and rectal cancer in Koreans.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Fat Distribution ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis/psychology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural/*immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/psychology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the essential structure of the postmortem- examination experiences of nurse career coroners (forensic investigators), to have a profound understanding of their experiences, and ultimately to lay the foundation for nurses' entry into the field of forensic nursing. METHODS: The subjects in this study were six coroners. After an in-depth interview from January to June 2007, the collected data were analyzed by Colaizzi as qualitative research. RESULTS: Four categories emerged from seven theme clusters. The four categories were: attracted by being dubbed a stabilized public official, a sense of achievement due to having clarified false death, self-confidence after distinguishing the victim and the wrongdoer, eternal developmental potential is seen. CONCLUSION: It is expected that this study will provide useful information for nurses who are interested in becoming coroners. It will be helpful for career nurses to extend their nursing science into emerging fields like coroners and select a follow-up career.
Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Coroners and Medical Examiners/*psychology ; Family Relations ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Job Satisfaction ; Nurses/*psychology ; Qualitative Research ; Social Perception

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of asystemic follow-up care program on health promotion and risk reduction in 64 high-risk infants(HRI) including premature infants and their mothers. METHOD: The intervention consisted of systemic NICU education, tele-counseling and 3 home visits in 6 months. The subjects were divided into either the intervention group or the control group receiving the conventional education without the tele-counseling and home visiting. Infant health promotion was measured using physical assessment, types of health problems, reflexes, OPD visiting history, DDST, immunization, feeding assessment, Infant death rate, etc. Maternal self-esteem, postpartum depression and family function were measured using the maternal self-report inventory(MRI), EPDS, and family apgar score(Fapgar), retrospectively. RESULT: All premature infants in the intervention group were in the normal range of growth and development, and the regular vaccination schedule. The health problems in the intervention group were addressed early so not to develop into adverse effects. The follow-up program for 6 months showed beneficial effects on MRI, EPDS, and Fapgar. CONCLUSION: A systemic follow-up health care program is beneficial on health promotion and risk reduction in 64 HRI including premature infants and their mothers.
Adult ; Community Health Nursing ; *Continuity of Patient Care ; Female ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; Infant Care ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Mothers/education ; *Postnatal Care ; Pregnancy ; Risk Reduction Behavior

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to substantiate the application process of activity-based costing on the current cost of hospital home care (HHC) service. The study materials were documents, 120 client charts, health insurance demand bills, salary of 215 HHC nurses, operating expense, 6 HHC agencies, and 31 HHC nurses. METHOD: The research was carried out by analyzing the HHC activities and then collecting labor and operating expenses. For resource drivers, HHC activity performance time and workload were studied. For activity drivers, the number of HHC activity performances and the activity number of visits were studied. RESULT: The HHC activities were classified into 70 activities. In resource, the labor cost was 245wonper minute, operating cost was 9,570won per visit and traffic expense was an average of 12,750won. In resource drivers, education and training had the longest time of 67 minutes. Average length of performance for activities was 13.7 minutes. The workload was applied as a relative value. The average cost of HHC was 62,741won and the cost ranged from 55,560won to 74,016won. CONCLUSION: The fixed base rate for a visit in the current HHC medical fee should be increased. Exclusion from the current fee structure or flexible operation of traveling expenses should be reviewed.
Costs and Cost Analysis ; Fees and Charges ; Home Care Services, Hospital-Based/*economics ; Korea ; Task Performance and Analysis

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to provide basic information about the effects of aerobic exercise on physiological change in middle-aged obese women according to differences of beta3-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms. METHOD: Twenty-nine middle aged obese women with over 30%BMI were divided into three groups according to beta3-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism[Variable Group(VG):9, Normal Group(NG):10, Control Group(CG):10]. The VG and NG groups performed walking at 50% exercise intensity for 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for 12 weeks. The data was analyzed using the SPSS program. RESULT: The level of leptin, insulin and % body fat in the VG and NG groups was significantly lower than those of the CG after 12 weeks. In addition, the level of HDL-C in the VG and NG was significantly higher than that of the CG after 12 weeks. However, TC, TG and body weight between groups didn't appear significant at the end of 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercise didn't cause differences in persons with differing beta3-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms, but aerobic exercise affected the physiological change in middle-aged obese women. The findings suggest that aerobic exercise is a desirable nursing intervention for obesity control in middle-aged obese women.
Adult ; *Body Composition ; *Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin/*blood ; Leptin/*blood ; Lipids/*blood ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/blood/*physiopathology ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3/*genetics

The purpose of this study was to develop a job stress scale for hospital-based home care nurses in Korea. The process was construction of the conceptual framework, development of the preliminary items, verification of the content validity, item analysis and test of the reliability. The preliminary items were based on literature review and in-depth interviews with home care nurses. As a result, eight categories and sixty items were selected. These were reviewed by seven specialists for content validity and finally fifty one items were chosen. Data was collected from 180 home care nurses who were engaged in 87 hospitals from August to September 2003. The result of item analysis one was excepted. The final item count was 50. Categories were as follows: overload work(8 items), lack of specialized knowledge and technique(5 items), ethical dilemma(4 items), role conflict(5 items), interpersonal relationships(6 items), visiting home environment(9 items), driving conditions(4 items) and lack of administrative support(9 items), The reliability of the scale by Cronbach's alpha was .948 and the domain's reliability ranged from .649 to .841. The result of this study could be used to measure the job stress of home care nurses. However, for further validity and reliability, repeated studies will be necessary.
Adult ; Female ; *Home Care Services, Hospital-Based ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nurses/*psychology ; *Nursing Services ; Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological/diagnosis/*etiology

PURPOSE: A dance exercise program was performed to investigate the effects of exercise on exercise intention and exercise-related affect as these are important determinants of exercise behavior. METHOD: The subjects were overweight (23or=25) postmenopausal women (n=14), who participated in an exercise program from May, 2003 through November, 2003 at one public health center located in Kyong-gi Province. Data was analyzed with an SAS PC program. RESULT: Exercise intention was significantly increased after the exercise program (t=-2.24, P=0.04). Exercise-related affect was also increased, but there was no statistically significant change (t=1.81, P=0.09). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that exercise participation can increase the level of future exercise behavior by increasing exercise intention and exercise-related affect.
*Affect ; *Dancing ; *Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Intention ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause/*psychology