PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effects of foot reflexology on blood pressure, serum lipids level and life satisfaction in essential hypertension patients. METHOD: The research design used was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Foot Reflexology was used as the experimental treatment from June 23rd, 2003 until August 31st, 2003. Thirty-four subjects were assigned to an experimental group(18) and control group(16). Foot Reflexology was administered twice a week for 6 weeks and self foot Reflexology was administered twice a week for 4 weeks on the experimental group. RESULT: There was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure but no significant decrease indiastolic pressure in the experimental group compared to the control group. The total cholesterol level in the experimental group compared to the control group was not significantly decreased after foot reflexology. However, the triglyceride level in theexperimental group compared to the control group was significantly decreased after foot reflexology. On the other hand, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein levels in the experimental group compared to the control group was not significantly decreased after foot reflexology. Life satisfaction in the experimental group compared to the control group was significantly improved after foot reflexology. CONCLUSION: The results proved that foot reflexology was an effective nursing intervention to decrease systolic pressure, and triglyceride but not for the blood cholesterol and to improve life satisfaction. Therefore, blood cholesterol should be further evaluated in a larger group of subjects and for a longer period. Further research is regarded as necessary to evaluate and to compareeffects of self-foot reflexology and foot reflexology.
Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/physiopathology/*therapy ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; *Massage ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of 12 weeks of Tai Chi exercise on physical function, stress and depression in middle aged women with osteoarthritis. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Forty two participants were assigned to either the experimental group (21) or control group (21). Frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviations, chi-square-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and repeated measured ANOVA with SPSS 12.0/PC program were used to analyzed the collected data. RESULTS: For physical function the physical fitness of the experimental group improved significantly more than the control group: Leg strength, balance, flexibility and grip strength. Difficulty of performing activity had a tendency of decrease. Stress showed a tendency of as time passed but the decrease was not significant. Depression decreased and the change was significant. CONCLUSION: The Tai Chi exercise was effective in improving physical function and reducing the stress and depression of middle aged women with osteoarthritis. Therefore the Tai Chi exercise could be used as a nursing intervention for osteoarthritis in middle aged women.
Depression ; Female ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; Physical Fitness ; Pliability ; Research Design ; Tai Ji

The purpose of this study is to identify the needs which are perceived by one of the familiy members who have head injury parients by traffic accidents in the intensive care units. Subjects were 70 families members of head injury patients admitted to 2 general hospitals NICU located Pusan city, 1 general hospital NICU located Ulsan city from December 1. 1998 to February 28. 1999. For this study, 70 family members were interviewed with aid of a Likert scale which was developed by researcher for this study. For development of the survey instrument, literature review and open questionnaire technique with family members and the nurses working in NICU. The 50needs-items were classified into 7 groups according to the homogeneity of the items with the support of literature review. For the content validity, the instrument was reviewed by 1 nursing professor and the internal reliability of this instrument was Cronbach alpha=0.94 which is highly accepted. Data was analyzed by a SPSS computer program. Data analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, standard variance and t-test or ANOVA. The results were as followings; 1. The general characteristics of head injury patients shows that the male was 74.3%, the female was 25.7% and age distribution shows that the fifty-fifty nine years was 30%, the highest. Of religion the buddhism was the most. The diagnosis distribution shows that epidural hematoma was 32.9% and subdural hematoma was 24.3%. The mentalility distribution shows that semicoma was 31.4% and stupor was 31.4%. Hemiplegia was 42.9%. 2. The general charaterisrics of the family needs of head injury patients shows that thirty-thirty nine years was 31.4%, the highest. sex distribution shows that the male was 20%, the female was 80%. Of religion the buddism was the most. 3. The family needs of head injury patients was 3.03+/-0.42, needs for the information of a patient's condition was 3.65+/-0.48, the highest. And needs for the information of care and treatment was 3.48+/-0.48, needs to be supplied with comfortable facilities for family was 3.04+/-0.66, needs to be participate in a patient's care was 2.90+/-0.55, needs to be informed about the available resources was 2.83+/-0.59, needs to be supported emotionally for family was 2.79+/-0.55, needs for religious assistance was 2.51+/-0.85. 4. Examining the family needs of head injury patients according to patient's characteristics, mentality, plegia degree and operation were shown be variables to make an effect on the needs for the head injury patients family. At all, according to severity of head injury, the family needs of head injury patients was high. 5. Examining the family needs of head injury patients according to their general characteristics, we could know that religion, job, income were shown to be variables to make an effect on the family needs. Through the examination it can be seen that the characteristics of head injury patients and the family needs of head injury patients. In conclusion, the family needs of head injury patients was almost same the family needs of ICU patients. Therefore we must involve the family's care of head injury patients and we must provide exact and repeated explanation, education and support the family of head injury patients. As this study was resulted in selecting the families admitted to NICU of some general hospital, we couldn't stretch the result in our favor. Therefore, continuous studies are suggested.
Accidents, Traffic ; Age Distribution ; Buddhism ; Busan ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Female ; Head* ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hemiplegia ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Nursing ; Paralysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sex Distribution ; Statistics as Topic ; Stupor ; Ulsan

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and verify the effectiveness of the home-based exercise program for prevention of sarcopenia in hemiplegic disorder patients. Methods: The participants consisted of 26 experimental group and 26 control group with hemiplegic disorders. The home-based exercise program to prevent sarcopenia was conducted twice a week and for six weeks from 11 January 2021 to 19 April 2021, measuring muscle mass, muscular strength, daily life movements, balance, dynamic posture control ability and quality of life. Results: The results showed the effectiveness of the home-based exercise program for hemiplegic patients.There were statistically significant differences between the control group and experimental group in patients’ muscle mass (F=8.26, p=.006), muscle strength (F=7.99,p=.007) and quality of life (F=12.19, p=.001). But, there were not statistically significant in patients’ daily life movements (F=0.33, p=.565), balance (F=0.04, p=.841) and dynamic posture control ability (F=3.48, p=.068). Conclusion In conclusion, the home-based exercise program was effective in improving muscle mass, muscle strength and quality of life in hemiplegic patients. Therefore, it is expected that the home-based exercise program developed in this study will be applied as an intervention for prevention of sarcopenia in hemiplegic patients and will be effective.

Purpose: : In this study, we aimed to identify the factors affecting nurses’ competency in delirium care in an intensive care unit at a tertiary general hospital. Methods: : The participants were 149 nurses in the intensive care unit. Collected data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANOVA, Sheffé test, Pearson correlations coefficients, and multiple regressions using the SPSS 28.0 program. Results: : The factors that significantly influenced the participants’ competency in delirium care were delirium nursing confidence (β=.44, p ＜.001) and intensive care unit clinical career (β=.25, p =.002). These factors explained 32.5% of the total variance outcomes regarding the competency in delirium care (F=12.87, p ＜.001). Conclusion : The study results indicated that the higher the confidence in delirium care and the more extensive intensive care unit experience, the higher the competency in delirium care. Moreover, these results suggested that various policy strategies should be implemented to enable intensive care unit nurses to work for a long time and to develop educational programs to increase confidence in delirium care.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the practice of medical waste management of nurses in tertiary general hospitals after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: The participants were 154 nurses working in two tertiary general hospitals. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using an Independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, Scheffé ́ test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS/WIN 27.0 program. Results: Factors significantly influencing the subject's practice of medical waste management include medical waste education(β=.18, p=.013), recognition of infection control organizational culture (β=.26, p=.007), and attitudes toward medical waste management (β=.23, p=.011). The explanatory power of these variables for medical waste management practice was 29.0% (F=7.34, p<.001). Conclusion To improve the practice of medical waste management, a strategy to provide positive attitudes toward medical waste management should be needed when developing medical waste management training programs, and various measures are necessary to make the organizational culture positive for the implementation of infection control guidelines at the organizational level.

Purpose: : This study aims to explore nursing activities after the decision to discontinue life-sustaining treatment, awareness of a good death, and perception of life-sustaining treatment decisions among nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) at tertiary general hospitals. Methods: : Participants were 173 nurses working in two tertiary general hospitals. The data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using an independent t-test, paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé’s test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: : Participants were 173 nurses working in two tertiary hospitals. The nursing activity increase was the greatest in the spiritual domain, and the physical domain was where the activities decreased the most. There were significant associations between Awareness of good death (Clinical) and Perception of life-sustaining treatment decision(r=.26, p＜.001), Awareness of good death (Closure) and Perception of life-sustaining treatment decision(r=.36, p＜.001), and Awareness of good death (Personal control) and Perception of life-sustaining treatment decision(r=.49, p＜.001). Conclusion : Based on the results, systematic education programs and job training are required to improve the awareness regarding good death and perception of life-sustaining treatment decision for nurses in ICUs where discontinuing lifesustaining treatment decisions are made.

Purpose: : In this study, we aimed to identify the factors affecting nurses’ competency in delirium care in an intensive care unit at a tertiary general hospital. Methods: : The participants were 149 nurses in the intensive care unit. Collected data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANOVA, Sheffé test, Pearson correlations coefficients, and multiple regressions using the SPSS 28.0 program. Results: : The factors that significantly influenced the participants’ competency in delirium care were delirium nursing confidence (β=.44, p ＜.001) and intensive care unit clinical career (β=.25, p =.002). These factors explained 32.5% of the total variance outcomes regarding the competency in delirium care (F=12.87, p ＜.001). Conclusion : The study results indicated that the higher the confidence in delirium care and the more extensive intensive care unit experience, the higher the competency in delirium care. Moreover, these results suggested that various policy strategies should be implemented to enable intensive care unit nurses to work for a long time and to develop educational programs to increase confidence in delirium care.

Purpose: : In this study, we aimed to identify the factors affecting nurses’ competency in delirium care in an intensive care unit at a tertiary general hospital. Methods: : The participants were 149 nurses in the intensive care unit. Collected data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANOVA, Sheffé test, Pearson correlations coefficients, and multiple regressions using the SPSS 28.0 program. Results: : The factors that significantly influenced the participants’ competency in delirium care were delirium nursing confidence (β=.44, p ＜.001) and intensive care unit clinical career (β=.25, p =.002). These factors explained 32.5% of the total variance outcomes regarding the competency in delirium care (F=12.87, p ＜.001). Conclusion : The study results indicated that the higher the confidence in delirium care and the more extensive intensive care unit experience, the higher the competency in delirium care. Moreover, these results suggested that various policy strategies should be implemented to enable intensive care unit nurses to work for a long time and to develop educational programs to increase confidence in delirium care.