PURPOSE: This study was done to assess the effects of a self-help intervention on clinical, lifestyle and psycho-social outcomes in patients with Type II diabetes. METHODS: Eligible adults with Type II diabetes were randomly assigned to either the intervention group receiving the diabetes self-help or the control group receiving usual care. Of the 36 patients who completed the study, 15 were in the intervention group and 21 were in the control group. The self-help group consisted of six weekly sessions covering aspects of diabetes self-care and using continuing education, discussion, and structured social activities. Outcomes included changes in glycemic control, knowledge, self-management behaviors, diabetes-related self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life. Analysis of covariance was used to compare outcomes between the groups, adjusting for baseline measures. RESULTS: After the six week intervention, significant improvements from the baseline were observed in the measurements of self-management behaviors, diabetes-related self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life for the intervention group. CONCLUSION: The findings provide preliminary evidence that a diabetes self-help group intervention can benefit diabetes patients in self-management behaviors, diabetes-related self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life. However, larger longitudinal studies are needed to determine the most efficacious self-management methods to sustain long-term glycemic control and psychological well-being.
Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Education, Continuing ; Humans ; Life Style ; Program Evaluation ; Quality of Life ; Self Care ; Self-Help Groups

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine factors that influence quality of sleep and depression in psychiatric patients. METHODS: This research study was a descriptive survey and participants were patients hospitalized with psychiatric disorders. Measures were depression and quality of sleep scales. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression. RESULTS: Variables significantly influencing participants' quality of sleep were depression, level of pain and taking antidepressants. These variables explained 26% of the variance in quality of sleep. Variables significantly influencing participants' depression were quality of sleep and level of pain. These variables explained 27.0% of the variance in depression. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a strong relationship between quality of sleep and depression. More research is needed to better assess quality of sleep and level of depression in these patients. It is important for nurses to recognize the importance of assessing depression and developing and researching nursing intervention programs for inpatients with mental disorders.
Antidepressive Agents ; Depression* ; Hospitals, Psychiatric* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mental Disorders ; Nursing ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis infection in people living within 5 km of the Youngsan River basin, to develop an educational program to prevent the infection, and to examine the effects of the educational program. METHODS: This study employed a one group pretest-posttest design, the subjects were 384. This study was conducted from November 20, 2008 to June 16, 2009. The results were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: Of the residents, 5.7% were infected with Clonorchis sinensis and the knowledge level about the prevention of Clonorchis sinensis was improved significantly from 9.75+/-5.12 points before the education to 15.05+/-2.43 points after the education. One of the important effects was that the willingness to eat raw fresh-water fish was reduced after the education. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, a continuous research needs to be conducted on how education and knowledge level-up change people's living attitudes for the prevention of Clonorchis sinensis infection and the reduction of the infection rate in the future.
Clonorchis sinensis* ; Education ; Intention ; Korea* ; Prevalence* ; Rivers*

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to clarify effects of a clonorchiasis prevention education program for clonorchiasis prevention lecturers. METHODS: The research adopted a single group pretest-posttest design to see effects of the educational program to prevent Clonorchis sinensis infection. The subjects of this study were 74 clonorchiasis prevention lecturers from primary health care facilities. The pretest was conducted before the clonorchiasis prevention education program and the post test was done after the 2-day program in August, 2011. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA were conducted to analyze the data. RESULTS: The confidence level in Clonorchiasis management activities was improved significantly from 4.1+/-0.53 points before the education to 4.4+/-0.46 points after the education (t=-5.117, p<.001). The knowledge level about prevention of Clonorchis sinensis was improved significantly from 16.1+/-2.72 points before the education to 18.3+/-1.14 points after the education (t=-6.629, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the education program was effective in improving the confidence and knowledge levels in Clonorchiasis management activities for the clonorchiasis prevention lecturers. Based on the results of this study, continuous research on how the increased knowledge and confidence levels of Clonorchis sinensis prevention affect the prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis infection.
Clonorchiasis* ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Education* ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; Program Evaluation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting the quality of life among community-dwelling older women with urinary incontinence (UI). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 475 women aged 60 or over who were recruited from 10 primary health care facilities in rural Korea. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic, health-related, and UI-related characteristics. The quality of life was assessed using Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL). SPSS/WIN 23.0 program was used to analyze descriptive statistics, χ2 test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s Correlation, and hierarchical regression. RESULTS: Of 475 subjects, 180 (37.9%) had urinary incontinence. The mean scores of I-QOL of women with and without UI were 76.87 and 94.77, respectively. The results of hierarchical regression analysis show that the Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis total score was the greatest influencing factor, followed by age and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form total score. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that factors related to UI symptoms are more likely to have impact on the quality of life in women with UI. It suggests that early detection or management of UI is important in improving the quality of life of women with UI.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Primary Health Care ; Quality of Life ; Urinary Incontinence

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting the urinary incontinence (UI) prevalence and the quality of life among elderly adult women who are subject to home visiting healthcare services. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 women aged 60 or over who were registered for home health care services at one health center in Gangwon-do. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of UI severity, UI type, and the quality of life. The UI severity was assessed using International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), the quality of life using Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL), and type of UI using Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID). The data were analyzed by using x2 test, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s Correlation, binary logistic, and multiple lineal regression. Results: The prevalence of UI is 51.7%. The mean score of ICIQ-SF was 9.70±4.04 for women with UI and 0.04±0.51 for women without UI (t=-33.67, c<.001). As the frequency of day time urination (OR=1.34), the subjective health status (OR=1.45), and the educational status (OR=0.90) were higher, the risk of UI prevalence was the higher. The factors affecting I-QOL were ICIQ-SF score, mixed UI, subjective health status, and nighttime urination (adjusted R2 =.61). Conclusion The results of this study showed that UI severity, mixed UI, subjective health status, and day time urination affected the quality of life. It suggests that the assessment for the severity and type of UI be needed to prevent UI or improve the quality of life of UI vulnerable elderly adult women.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in Health Locus of Control (HLOC), depression, wellbeing, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP) between middle aged Korean and Korean-American women. METHODS: Data from 80 Korean-American women living in Los Angeles, USA and 82 Korean women living in W-city, Korea, were collected using a self administered questionnaire including items on HLOC, HPLP, a Wellbeing Index and Major Depression Inventory. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the middle aged Koreans and Korean-Americans on mean age, education, religion, and current health insurance. Significant differences were found on HLOC (F=2.504, p=.033) and Wellbeing (F=2.451, p=.036). The results also showed significant differences on HPLP (total HPLP, F=4.655, p=.001; physical activity, F=2.967, p=.014; nutrition, F=4.250, p=.001; spiritual growth, F=4.398, p=.001; interpersonal relations, F=2.648, p=.025; and stress management, F=5.201, p<.001) using ANCOVA. However, there were no significant differences on depression, or health responsibility in HPLP between the groups. CONCLUSION: Understanding middle aged women's health adjustments based on their culture will enhance the ability of health professionals to provide culturally congruent care and enable middle aged women to develop healthy lifestyles.
Depression ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Internal-External Control ; Interpersonal Relations ; Korea ; Life Style ; Los Angeles ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the workshop on the nurses' knowledge about urinary incontinence (UI) self-management, attitudes toward UI, and self-efficacy to plan and implement a UI self-help group program for their clients. METHODS: A one-group pretest and posttest design was used to examine changes in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy following a one-day training workshop. Twenty-seven community health nurses completed a questionnaire before and after the workshop. Before participating in the workshop, the participants were required to take a UI online continuing education program developed by the researchers. During the workshop, the participants took four sessions which consisted of an introduction of a self-help group program, demonstration of a 5-week UI self-management program contents, pelvic floor muscle training and biofeedback practice, and group discussions to plan the implementation in their workplaces. RESULTS: A significant improvement in knowledge of and attitudes toward UI were found (t=3.53, p=.002; t=2.83, p=.009, respectively) after the workshop. Participants also demonstrated improvement in their self-efficacy to plan and operate a UI self-help group program (Z=-2.64, p=.008). CONCLUSION: The one-day workshop for community health nurses is a feasible strategy to increase their abilities and confidence in operating a UI self-help group program.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Education* ; Education, Continuing ; Nurses, Community Health* ; Pelvic Floor ; Program Evaluation ; Self Care* ; Self-Help Groups ; Urinary Incontinence*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Tai-Chi exercise program on subjective health and physiological function index. METHODS: This study was designed as non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest research. Eighteen women in each group completed the posttest with an attendance rate of 78.3 % after 12 weeks. The Tai Chi exercise program was provided two times a week over three months for the experimental group, but no program for the control group. A questionnaire was used for subjective health index, which consisted of Korean-WOMAC Index for joint stiffness, K-HAQ for physical disability, EQ-5D for quality of life and perceived health status, and CES-D for depression. To measure the effect on the physiological function index, femoral muscle strength, shoulder joint and back flexibility were measured. RESULTS: All variables except left anterior femoral muscle strength had significant homogeneity between the two groups. There were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in joint stiffness (t=-2.165, p=.03), physical disability (t=-2.231, p=.038), EQ-5D index (t=3.783, p=.001), perceived health status (t=-2.349, p=.025) and femoral posterior muscle strength (t=2.487, p=.038). CONCLUSION: The Tai-Chi exercise program was beneficial for women with arthritis in rural communities.
Arthritis* ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Muscle Strength ; Pliability ; Quality of Life ; Rural Population ; Shoulder Joint ; Tai Ji* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Toileting Behavior Scale (KTBS) to assess women's toileting behavior related to urinary elimination. METHODS: The original English version, the Toileting Behavior: Women's Elimination Behaviors scale, was translated into Korean with forward and backward translation. Examinations of internal consistency reliability, construct validity using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, item convergent validity, and discriminant validity were conducted with SPSS/WIN 23.0 and AMOS/WIN 23.0 software. Concurrent validity was examined with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form. RESULTS: Cronbach α for the overall scale was 0.78, and the 5 subscales ranged from 0.79 to 0.94. The exploratory factor analysis revealed 5 factors for the 17-item scale. Confirmatory factor analysis supported good convergent and discriminant values (λ=0.49–0.96, critical ratio=4.51–15.68>1.97, P<0.05, construct reliability=0.72–0.97). The concurrent validity was supported by correlation with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (r=0.146, P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The KTBS (17 items) is an appropriate tool to measure older Korean women's toileting behavior with good validity and reliability.
Female ; Humans ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Urinary Incontinence