PURPOSE: This study was done to compare the effects of abdominal aroma massage and meridian massage on constipation and stress in college women with functional constipation. METHODS: The participants were 38 college women, 18 were in the aroma group and 20 in the meridian group. The aroma massage was given using aroma oil which was a mixture of lemon, lavender, rosemary, and cyprus. The meridian massage was given at 9 accupoints which influence intestinal functions. The treatment was given 5 days a week for 4 weeks. A constipation severity score, weekly defecation frequency, and a stress response score were measured before and every week of 4 weeks of the experiment. RESULTS: While there was no significant difference between two groups, there was a significant difference within the groups in the constipation severity (aroma group: 1st week, meridian group: except 4th week), defecation frequency (aroma group: 3rd week, meridian group: 2nd and 3rd week), and stress (aroma group: all weeks, meridian group: except 4th week) after different duration of experiment. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, both abdominal massages relieved constipation and stress. Resorting to either types of massage will contribute to the reduction of use of stool softeners, suppositories, or enemas.
Abdomen ; *Acupressure ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; *Aromatherapy ; Constipation/nursing/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; *Massage ; Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological/nursing/*therapy ; Students/*psychology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was implemented to investigate the level of awareness of osteoporosis among urban women. METHODS: A survey was conducted with a sample size of 434 adult females who resided in metropolises in Korea such as Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Pusan, Gyeongsangnam-do, Kangwon-do, Jeju-do and Jeollanam-do. Osteoporosis Awareness Scale was consisted of five areas with total number of 31 questions. The questionnaire's scale was 1 to 4 point, 4 point being the highest understanding level. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics method. RESULTS: The average awareness level of subjects was 2.38 and significant different depending on participants' age, education level, previous encounter with any information about osteoporosis, preventive behavior of osteoporosis, bone mineral density test, fracture history, diet control experience, and regular exercise. In osteoporosis awareness level by five areas, preventive behaviors 2.76 resulted in the highest score and characteristics of osteoporosis 2.51, bone physiology 2.46, improving bone health 2.38, and risk factors 1.80 followed respectively. CONCLUSION: We should implement bone health programs from a various perspective in order to raise women's osteoporosis awareness. In addition, We need follow-up studies on whether or not the increase on awareness level actually would result in changing in their behavior.
Adult ; Bone Density ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors ; Sample Size

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop an instrument measuring awareness of osteoporosis. METHODS: The process included construction of a conceptual framework, generation of 86 preliminary items, verification of content validity, selection of secondary items, verification of construct validity and extraction of final items. The 86 items were reviewed for content validity by two groups of experts and were tested to evaluate inter item correlation coefficient by two groups of adult women. From June to August 2007, data were collected from 383 adult women who lived in Seoul and provinces in Korea. Data were analyzed by performing item analysis, Varimax factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: There were 31 items in the final instrument categorized into 5 factors. The factors were labeled as "preventive behaviors (10 items)", "risk factors (5 items)", "characteristics of osteoporosis (6 items)", "improving bone health (5 items)", and "bone physiology (5 items)". Cumulative percent of variance was 60.92% and eigen values ranged from 1.20 to 12.44. Cronbach's alpha was .948 and ranged from .804 to .917. CONCLUSION: Validity and reliability of the scale are confirmed in this study showing its utility for measuring awareness of osteoporosis for women. Utilization of the scale will also contribute to designing an appropriate prevention program for osteoporosis.
Adult ; Attitude to Health ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis/*prevention & control/psychology ; Program Development ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: This study determined the level of stress and type of coping style of spouses with high-risk pregnant women. METHODS: Subjects were 102 spouses with high-risk pregnant women at 6 hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi province from January to August, 2009. The tools for this study were stress scale and coping scale. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The average score of subjects stress was 2.18 and coping score was 2.46 point out of 4.00. The highest score of stress categories was 2.44 point in emotional problems and the lowest score was 1.72 in communication and support resources. The stress level was significant differences according to length of marriage, number of hospital visits, satisfaction with marriage relationship, hospitalization days and gestational age respectively. Spouses tended to use an active coping style (2.60) rather than a passive coping style (2.31). There were significant differences according to mother's age and gestational age in active coping and educational level in passive coping. CONCLUSION: Considering the level of stress coping style and characteristics of high-risk pregnant women's spouses, a nursing intervention should be provided to help them alleviate stress and to encourage active coping.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Marriage ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Pregnant Women ; Spouses ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study determined the level of stress and type of coping style of spouses with high-risk pregnant women. METHODS: Subjects were 102 spouses with high-risk pregnant women at 6 hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi province from January to August, 2009. The tools for this study were stress scale and coping scale. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The average score of subjects stress was 2.18 and coping score was 2.46 point out of 4.00. The highest score of stress categories was 2.44 point in emotional problems and the lowest score was 1.72 in communication and support resources. The stress level was significant differences according to length of marriage, number of hospital visits, satisfaction with marriage relationship, hospitalization days and gestational age respectively. Spouses tended to use an active coping style (2.60) rather than a passive coping style (2.31). There were significant differences according to mother's age and gestational age in active coping and educational level in passive coping. CONCLUSION: Considering the level of stress coping style and characteristics of high-risk pregnant women's spouses, a nursing intervention should be provided to help them alleviate stress and to encourage active coping.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Marriage ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Pregnant Women ; Spouses ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study was done to determine the level of awareness and self-efficacy and their relationships to osteoporosis among young women. METHODS: The participants were 309 young women living in Seoul. The data were collected using questionnaires from July to September 2009. The Osteoporosis Awareness Scale consists of five areas with a total of 31 questions and the Self-efficacy Scale consists of 18 questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test and Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The average level for osteoporosis awareness was 2.22, of a possible 4.00 and significant difference were related to participants' previous encounter with any information about osteoporosis, behavior to prevent osteoporosis, experience of weight control, and frequency of vegetable and calcium-rich foods intake. The average level of self-efficacy for osteoporosis was 2.81, of a possible 4.00 and significant difference related to participants' educational level, occupation, behavior to prevent osteoporosis, smoking, method of weight control, regular exercise, and frequency of vegetable and calcium-rich foods intake. There were significant positive correlations among awareness and self-efficacy about osteoporosis CONCLUSION: This study suggests that health care professionals need to provide effective interventions for young women to enhance their osteoporosis awareness and self-efficacy for preventing osteoporosis.
Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Humans ; Occupations ; Osteoporosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vegetables