The purpose of this study was to develope and test the structural model for depression in middle-aged women. A hypothetical model was constructed on the basis of previous studies and a review of literatures. The conceptual framework was built around eight constructs. Exogenous variables included in this model were volunteer activity, health status & economic status. Endogenous variables were meaning of life, self-esteem, perceived life stress & depression. Empirical data for testing the hypothetical model was collected using a self-report questionnaire from 216 middle-aged women in Pusan City. The Data was collected from May to June, 1999. Reliability of the seven instruments tested with Cronbach's alpha was ranged from .86-.94. For the data analysis, SPSS 7.5 WIN Program and LISREL 8.12 WIN Program were used for descriptive statistics and covariance structural analysis. The results of covariance structure analysis were as follows: 1. The hypothetical model showed a good fit with the empirical data. [chi2/df =2.87(p=.72), GFI=1.00, AGFI=.98, RMSR=.025, NFI=.99, standardized residuals (-1.44~1.44) ]. 2. To heighten for the parsimony and fitness of the model, a modified model was constructed by deleting according to the criteria of statistical significance and meaning. 3. The modified model also showed a good fit with the data. [chi2 =5.26(01=7,p=.63), GFI=.99, AGFl=.97, RMSR=.025, NFI=.99, standardized reslduals (-1.50~1.45) ] Results of the testing of the hypothesis were as follows : 1. Self-esteem(beta42=-.48, t=-5.64) had a negative and perceived life stress(beta43 =.20, t=3.21)had a positive direct effect on depression. Meaning of life had a negative direct(beta41=-.17, t=-2.19) and a negative indirect effect through self- esteem on depression. Volunteer activity had a negative indirect effect through meaning of life, meaning of life and self-esteem on depression. Health status had a negative direct and a negative indirect effect through meaning of life, meaning of life and self-esteem on depression. Economic status had a negative indirect effect through perceived life stress on depression. Self-esteem was the most significant variable. 2. Volunteer activity(gamma11=.43, t=6.78) and health status(gamma12=.35, t=4.88) had positive direct effect on meaning of life. 3. Meaning of life(beta21=.50, t=6.53) had a positive direct effect on self-esteem. Volunteer activity had a positive indirect effect through meaning of life on self-esteem. Health status had a positive direct(gamma22=.18, t=2.23) and a indirect effect through meaning of life on self-esteem. Meaning of life was the most significant variable.
Busan ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Models, Structural* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Statistics as Topic ; Stress, Psychological ; Volunteers

The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing the meaning of life for middle-aged women. The subjects for the study were 190 middle- aged women who live in Busan. Data were collected from May 25 to June 20, 1999. The instruments for this study were as follows : the meaning of life scale developed by Jung D. R(1978) ; the self-esteem scale developed by Ro, E. Y, Kwon, J. H.(1997) ; the volunteer activity scale developed by Park G. J.(1999), the marital satisfaction scale developed by Choi G. Y.(1999) ; and the health status scale developed by Kim S. Y. (1991). SPSS PC+ was utilized for data analysis. Data were analysed according to frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Sheffe's test and Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. The reliability of the tools was tested by Cronbach's aloha : and it showed reliability scores of 0.88(for the meaning of life tool), 0.81(for the self-esteem tool), 0.94(for the marital satisfaction tool) and 0.78(for the health status tool). The results were as follows: 1)The scores showed that middle-aged women had a moderate level of meaning of life, with a mean of 30.31 and standard deviation of 6.24 (with values ranging from 12.00 to 48.00). The scores showed that middle-aged women had a moderate levels of self-esteem, with a mean of 28.92 and standard deviation of 4.67 (with values ranging from 10.00 to 40.00). The scores showed that middle-aged women had a very low level of volunteer activity, with a mean of 0.87 and standard deviation of 0.93(with values ranging from 0.00 to 1.00). The scores showed that middle-aged women had a moderate level of satisfaction in their marriages, with a mean of 31.99 and standard deviation of 7.84(with values ranging from 12.00 to 48.00). The scores showed that middle-aged women had a moderate level of health status, with a mean of 6.63 and standard deviation of 1.57(with values ranging from 3.00 to 9.00). 2)There was a statistically significant difference of the meaning of life of middle-aged women according to their religion(F= 8.930, p= .000), christian (31.94+/-5.96) had more meaning th life than buddhists (28.40+/-6.23). 3)There was a statistically significant correlations between the subject's self-esteem and the her meaning of life(r=o.477, p=0.000), the subject's level of volunteer activity and meaning of life(r= .428, p= .000), her level of marital satisfaction and meaning of life(r= .417, p= .000), and her level of health status and meaning of life(r= .261, p= .000) among these middle-aged women. 4)Self-esteem was the highest factor influencing the level of meaning of life in middle-aged women. 40.0% of the total variance of levels of meaning of life by was dependent on self-esteem, volunteer activity, marital satisfaction and health status. In conclusion, the higher the self-esteem and levels of volunteer activity, marital satisfaction, and health status of middle-aged women, the higher the meaning of life for them. Therefore, it is necessary to elevate levels of the self-esteem and volunteer activity, marital satisfac -tion and health status in order to help middle -aged women have more meaning of life.
Busan ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Marriage ; Self Concept ; Statistics as Topic ; Volunteers

The early postpartum period is crucial toward in recovery form childbirth and attainment of the maternal role. Maternal role attainment is a complex social and cognitive process of stimulus-response accomplished by learning. Helping for maternal role attainment is one of nursing goals in the early postpartum period. Based on King's conceptual framework for nursing, this study was planned as descriptive correlation study to determine the significant differences of the degree of nursery room nurses' role performance according to several variables of personal, interpersonal, and working system of nurses in nursery room, The purpose of this study was to contribute to the planning of nursing care to help maternal role attainment of the early postpartum period of mothers and to the development of relevant nursing theory, The data were collected from R3b. 3 to 28 by questionnaires with 273 nurses in nursery room. The instruments for this study were consisted of four parts: 21 questions for roll performance of nurse ; 37 questions for personal system of nurse including 31 questions for role perception of nurse ; 65 questions for interpersonal system including 63 questions for job stress of nurse ; 18 questions for working system of nurse. The toes to measure role performance and role perception, and job stress of nurse were tested for internal reliability. Cronbach's Alphas were 0.9612, 0.9058, and 0.9649. The data were analysed by using in S.A.S. computerized program and included percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Duncan multiple range test. The conclusions obtained from this study are summarized as follows : 1. The mean score of the items of role performance was 2.12(SD=0.55) in Likert's 4 points scale. 2. The degree of role performance was significantly different according to role perception(p=0.0001), age(p=0.006), educational background(p=0.002), and certificate of midwife(p=0.03) among variables of personal system of subjects. 3. The degree of role performance was significantly different according to job stress(p=0.0001) and numbers of children(p=0.006) among variables of interpersonal system of subjects. 4. The degree of role performance was significantly different according to having opportunities for baby(p=0.03), the degree of flexibility to bring baby to mother's room(p=0.046), the scope of visitor for baby(p=0.016), the degree of flexibility of visiting for baby(p=0.049), the degree of participation of nurse in establishing visiting rules(p=0.017), existence and/or nonexistence of rules for breast feeding(p=0.010), existence and/or nonexistence of education for breast feeding(p=0.009), existence and/or nonexistence of breast feeding room(p=0.013), concret methods for breast feeding(p=0.003), working place(p=0.0001), and career(p=0.019) among variables of personal system of subjects.
Breast ; Breast Feeding ; Education ; Humans ; Learning ; Mothers* ; Nurseries* ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Theory ; Parturition ; Pliability ; Postpartum Period* ; Statistics as Topic ; Toes ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the relationship between belief, knowledge, and practice about oral health care of middle-aged women, and to prepare baseline data for developing a dental health education and promotion program. METHOD: For the survey, 120 individuals(middle-aged women) were chosen by convenience sampling and agreed to participate in the study. Their belief, knowledge, and practice about oral health care were measured. For descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used with SPSS Win 14.0. RESULT: The level of belief and practice about oral health care was middle for the subjects. However, the level of knowledge about oral health care was relatively high. The level of practice about oral health care related to characteristics of subjects showed significant differences according to level of education and oral health status. There was no significant correlation between the level of practice and the belief about oral health care. The practice about oral health care showed a significant positive correlation with knowledge. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a need for the development of oral health care programs that is effective in improving belief, knowledge, and practice about oral health care reported by middle-aged women.
Female ; Health Education, Dental ; Humans ; Oral Health

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of frozen gauze with normal saline on thirst and the oral health of patients with nasal surgery. METHODS: A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design was used. Participants (n=52) received either gauze frozen with normal saline (n=26), or wet gauze (n=26). The subjective thirst level and oral health of the participants were assessed before the intervention, 30 minutes after the first intervention, 30 minutes after the second intervention, and 30 minutes after the third intervention. RESULTS: After oral hygiene was provided twice, the thirst level was improved in patients receiving the gauze frozen with normal saline. After oral hygiene was provided a third time, the thirst level was improved in patients receiving the gauze frozen with normal saline. CONCLUSION: Gauze frozen with normal saline can be effective for oral hygiene in reducing the thirst level and improving the oral health in nasal surgery patients.
Humans ; Nasal Surgical Procedures* ; Oral Health* ; Oral Hygiene ; Thirst*

The purpose of this study was to identify the need for sex education in middle school students. Research subjects were 194 students who attended at 1 seminary in B city. The period of data collection was from July to August, 2001. Research instrument was composed of 61 structured items : 17 items related to demographics and sex, 44 items related to the need of sex education. Data were collected through the self-report method by the researcher and one trained assistant. The instrument developed by the researchers was employed to measure the need of sex education and it's Cronbach's alpha = 0.9349 in this research. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage factor analysis and t-test using SPSS WIN Program. The findings of this study are summarized as follows: 1. The highest score among characteristics of sex was 'less interest about sex(42.6%)', 39.0% of subjects got information about sex from friends or elders. 52.3% of subjects consulted friends or elders about sex problems. The number of sex education lessons was 1-2 times in school during last semester(61.0%). Education by the school nurse was 35.9% to students. 43.1% of subjects announced moderate satisfaction on sex education. 2. The mean score of the need for sex education was 2.88+/-0.47(lowest value 1, highest 4). The most wanted sex education factor was 'chastity and sexual responsibility(3.33+/-0.67)' and followed by 'family and marriage(3.26+/-0.62)' and 'considerations of sex(3.07+/-0.69)'. Meanwhile, the lowest wanted sex education factor is 'physiological characteristics of male (2.47+/-0. 72)', followed by 'sexual behavior (2.49+/-0.75)'. The most wanted sex education item was 'the meaning of family(3.54+/-0.75)' and followed by 'the cautions to prevention from sexual abuse (3.49+/-0.78)' and sexual activity and responsibility(3.43+/-0.77)'. Meanwhile, the lowest wanted sex education item is 'masturbation(2.16+/-0.97)', followed by 'circumcision(2.32+/-0.97)'. 3. There is no significant difference between boys and girls in mean score about the need for sex education(t=- .715, p= .476). Sex education factor that girl-students wanted was 'physiological caracteristics of female'. Sex education factor that boy-students wanted was 'family and marriage'. Sex education items that girl-students wanted were 'cautions during menstruation', 'the relation of ovulation and pregnancy', 'caution to prevention from sexual abuse' and 'sexual behavior and responsibility'. Sex education items that boy-students wanted were 'the meaning of family', 'the importance of marriage', 'male's sex organs', 'a wet dream', 'the method to resolve sexual curiosity', 'sexual intercourse' and 'the connection with the other sex'. In conclusion, the mean score of the need for sex education is medium. The route to attain knowledge about sex and sexual problem is through consulting friends and elders. Therefore, it is necessary to give sex education that is suitable to the subject's needs and methods. Also, it is necessary to give differently strong point about sex education between female and male students.
Data Collection ; Demography ; Education ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Friends ; Humans ; Male ; Ovulation ; Research Subjects ; Sex Education* ; Sex Offenses ; Sexual Behavior

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the body-image and quality of life in breast cancer patients with mastectomy. METHODS: Data were obtained by self-reported questionaries from 110 patients undergone mastectomy from August 1 to 31, 2007. And data were analyzed using SPSS/PC WIN 12.0 program and frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient were used. The results of the study were as follows; 1) Mean of Body image of the subjects was 52.54+/-6.67 (range of scale; 17 to 85). Mean of quality of life was 118.01+/-34.37 (range of scale; 0 to 10). 2) There was no significant difference with the score of body image by demographic and disease-related characteristics of subjects. 3) There was significant difference with the score of quality of life by the work type and economic status of subjects. 4) Relationship between body image and quality of life showed moderately strong positive correlation (r=0.408, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Mean of body image and of quality of life in mastectomy patients were moderate. Relationship between body image and quality of life showed moderately strong positive correlation. Therefore, for improving the quality of life, it is needed to improve body image in breast cancer patients with mastectomy.
Body Image ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effective factors of organizational commitment among hospital nurses. Method: The subjects were 250 registered nurses working in 3 hospitals in Busan. Data were obtained by self-reported questionnaires from the 10th of June to 30th of June, 2009. Data were analyzed by frequency and percentage, t-test, ANOVA and Sheffe's test and stepwise multiple regression. Result: Mean of job satisfaction was 60.56+/-9.25 (range of scale: 20-100), internal marketing was 69.49 (range of scale: 25-125), job stress obtained 100.60+/-17.93 (range of scale: 45-180), and organizational commitment got 47.78+/-6.84 (range of scale: 15-75). The extent of the organizational commitment had differences according to the age (F=3.300, p=.039), educational level (F=3.21, p=.042), religion (F=3.30, p=.021), position (F=5.837, p=.003), and career length (F=2.642, p=.035). The influencing factors in organizational commitment of hospital nurses were job satisfaction, internal marketing, and age. R2=.503. The job satisfaction has the highest significant predictor of organizational commitment. CONCLUSION: The influencing factors on organizational commitment were job satisfaction, internal marketing and age. Thus it is needed to improve the job satisfaction and internal marketing of hospitals' nurses and to provide care and support to younger nurses.
Job Satisfaction ; Marketing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to develop a valid and reliable self-care performance scale for stomach cancer patients with gastrectomies. METHODS: The initial items for the self-care performance scale were derived by a literature review and in-depth interviews with stomach cancer patients with gastrectomies and a conceptual framework based on Orem's theory was used. The identified items were evaluated for content validity by experts. The main survey with refined items was performed with a sample of 232 patients. The data were analyzed using item analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis. RESULTS: A 22 item instrument with 7 factors was developed and the total variance explained was 66.9%. The factors were 'manage dietary restriction', 'avoid hazards', 'rest and elimination', 'manage social support and stress', 'regulation diet', 'meal portion control' and 'seek information and follow-up care'. The internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha was .86 and reliability of the subscale ranged from .65 to .82. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the self-care performance scale is a reliable and valid instrument to measure self-care performance for patients with stomach cancer after gastrectomy.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Self Care* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of self-efficacy promotion programs on self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. METHODS: This study was conducted from November 1, 2009 to December 10, 2010. A total of 39 breast cancer patients, who received radiotherapy in a University hospital located in city B, participated in the study and were divided into two groups (experimental group 17 and control group 22). The data were analyzed with the chi2-test and ANCOVA using the SPSS/Win 17.0 program. RESULTS: Self-efficacy promotion programs aimed at self-management were effective in enhancing concrete self-efficacy but not effective in promoting general self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and quality of life among breast cancer patients who have received radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Organizing a support group for the breast cancer patients seems to be highly necessary to help themselves obtain higher level of specific self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and quality of life in general. It will also be beneficial for the breast cancer patients to understand their unique situations and improve their health problems for themselves.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Self Care ; Self Efficacy ; Self-Help Groups