Purpose: This study aimed to develop a Core Competency Scale for clinical nursing student educators. Methods: In this study, we constructed a conceptual framework, selected initial items, verified the content validity, conducted two rounds of Delphi expert consultation, selected secondary and tertiary items, and extracted the final items. The study included 242 clinical educators for nursing students. Item analysis, factor analysis, criterion validity, and internal consistency were used for the data analyses. Results: For the final scale, 35 items were selected and 5 factors were categorized, which together explain 61.7% of the total variance. The factors were education and evaluation, research and cooperation, ethical/legal principles, presenting leadership, and clinical practice. The scores for the scale significantly correlated with the teaching efficacy scale for clinical nursing instructors. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the 35 items was .96. Conclusion The findings of this study demonstrated that the core competency scale has good validity and reliability. This scale can be used to assess the competency of clinical educators for nursing students; hence, it will help in evaluating the relationship between the skills of clinical educators for nursing students and the self-efficacy of those students.

Purpose: This study was to identify the impact of symptom clusters on the quality of life in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Data were collected from 154 lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at two tertiary hospitals located in Daegu and Seoul, Korea. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, multiple regression analysis. Results: The most frequently reported symptoms included ‘can’t enjoy life,’ ‘not satisfied with quality of life right now,’ ‘short of breath,’ and ‘fatigue.’ The symptoms that inconveniences patients the most are ‘can’t enjoy life,’ ‘difficulty breathing’, and ‘not satisfied with quality of life right now.’ The quality of life score was 82.58 (0~132). Factor analysis showed that four distinct symptom clusters were identified: fatigueconcern-dissatisfaction of life cluster, dyspnea-weight loss cluster, nausea-anorexia cluster, and treatment side effect cluster. The finding supported the existence of the symptom cluster and Karnofsky Performance Status affected the quality of life of lung cancer patients. The fatigue-concern-dissatisfaction of life cluster showed 56% of explanatory power. Conclusion Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to manage the characteristics of each lung cancer patient’s symptoms cluster and to develop a strategy that can improve the quality of life.

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program aims to maximize the recovery of patients by minimizing pre- and postoperative complications and stress. The program recommends providing preoperative carbohydrate (CHO) supplements and starting an early postoperative diet to reduce the fasting duration. Based on these recommendations, we implemented preoperative CHO supplementation and initiated an early postoperative diet in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection. We observed 3 patients as follows: a non-ERAS case, preoperative ERAS case, and pre- and postoperative ERAS case. The preoperative well-being and compliance of patients improved after implementation of the ERAS program. Moreover, the length of hospital stay was reduced. Therefore, we consider that the ERAS program may be helpful for the recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection.
Colorectal Surgery ; Compliance ; Diet* ; Fasting ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications

PURPOSE: This is the methodological study to develop the cognitive function scale for breast cancer patients. METHODS: Study was consisted with 1st and 2nd items developing and testify for reliability and validity of them. 94 breast cancer patients in 2 university hospitals and 1 general hospitals responded to a questionnaire that assessed cognitive function scale. Collected data were analysed using the program SPSS/PC Win 21.0. Structural validity was determined factor analysis and convergent validity. This method yielded Cronbach's α value as an internal consistency for the reliability. RESULTS: Factor analysis resulted in six factors and 24 items accounted for 76.31% of the variance. Cronbach's α of scale developed was high as a .95. CONCLUSION: The developed cognitive function scale in breast cancer patients scale has reliability and validity as linear analogue scale witch quantitatively measure the subjectivity. Over these results, providing the way on an assessment in cognitive function in effect for breast cancer patients, it is supposed to contribute the development of nursing knowledge about the cognitive function in breast cancer patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cognition* ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Methods ; Nursing ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hospice unit practice education on spiritual well-being, attitude to death, and hospice awareness of nursing students. METHODS: This study used a one group pre-posttest research design. The participants were 29 nursing students attending D university located in Y City. All students participated in 2 weeks of hospice unit practice education. The hospice unit practice education program consisted of 90 hours. Data collection was performed from March 2 to April 30, 2015. 2 weeks. The data were analyzed using frequency, and paired t-tests, with the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: The results of this study were as followings; the score of existential well-being, attitude to death, necessary of pain and symptom control were significantly increased after hospice unit practice education. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, hospice unit practice education is effective for improving spiritual well-being, attitude to death, and hospice awareness of nursing students. These results provide basic data to develop future nursing practice curriculum.
Attitude to Death* ; Curriculum ; Data Collection ; Education* ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test hypothetical model of quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer survivors and to test the mediating effects of cognitive dysfunction. METHODS: This study was conducted from December 1st, 2013 to February 28th, 2014. 164 breast cancer survivors were recruited from A, D, and Y city in Korea. The instruments used in this study were climacteric symptoms, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and the QOL scales. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and pathway. RESULTS: Cognitive dysfunction was directly affected by climacteric symptoms and fatigue. QOL was directly affected by fatigue, However climacteric symptoms and cognitive dysfunction did not effect on QOL directly. Impact of climacteric symptoms on QOL, mediating effect of cognitive dysfunction was not confirmed. In addition, effect of fatigue on the QOL, the mediating effect of cognitive dysfunction was not. CONCLUSIONS: Effects of climacteric symptoms on QOL was not mediated by cognitive dysfunction, Furthermore effects of fatigue on QOL was not mediated by cognitive dysfunction.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Climacteric* ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Korea ; Negotiating* ; Quality of Life* ; Survivors* ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Aortic banding and debanding models have provided useful information on the development and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In this animal study, we aimed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) deformation related to the development and regression of LVH. METHODS: Minimally invasive ascending aorta banding was performed in rats (10 Sprague Dawley rats, 7 weeks). Ten rats underwent a sham operation. Thirty-five days later, the band was removed. Echocardiographic and histopathologic analysis was assessed at pre-banding, 35 days of banding and 14 days of debanding. RESULTS: Banding of the ascending aorta created an expected increase in the aortic velocity and gradient, which normalized with the debanding procedure. Pressure overload resulted in a robust hypertrophic response as assessed by gross and microscopic histology, transthoracic echocardiography [heart weight/tibia length (g/m); 21.0 +/- 0.8 vs. 33.2 +/- 2.0 vs. 26.6 +/- 2.8, p < 0.001]. The circumferential (CS) and radial strains were not different between the groups. However, there were significant differences in the degree of fibrosis according to the banding status (fibrosis; 0.10 +/- 0.20% vs. 5.26 +/- 3.12% vs. 4.03 +/- 3.93%, p = 0.003), and global CS showed a significant correlation with the degree of myocardial fibrosis in this animal model (r = 0.688, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: In this animal study, simulating a severe LV pressure overload state, a significant increase in the LV mass index did not result in a significant reduction in the LV mechanical parameters. The degree of LV fibrosis, which developed with pressure overload, was significantly related to the magnitude of left ventricular mechanics.
Animals ; Aorta* ; Echocardiography ; Fibrosis ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Mechanics* ; Models, Animal* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting sexual function in breast cancer women after receiving cancer treatment. METHODS: The participants were 152 patients treated at medical center. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 'October 4th to December 30th', 2011. The instruments used in this study were sexual function, pain, fatigue, body image, depression, anxiety, stress and spousal support. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: The mean score of sexual function was 14.37. The lowest score among sexual function was arousal. The scores of sexual function was significantly different by age, menopause, tumor stage. There were significant correlations between sexual function, pain, body image, fatigue and depression. In multiple regression analysis, factors affecting sexual function were identified as age, tumor stage, pain, body image and fatigue that explained 62.5% of the variance. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a more effective sexual function improvement program for breast cancer women after receiving cancer treatment.
Anxiety ; Arousal ; Body Image ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Sexuality

PURPOSE: This study was to compare climacteric symptoms and cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors (n=51) and healthy women (n=51). METHODS: This study was conducted from January 4th, 2012 to February 16th, 2012. We individually matched healthy women to breast cancer survivors based on age and education, and assessed a questionnaire regarding climacteric symptoms and cognitive impairment. Data were analyzed by using chi2, t-test, and Pearson correlation with the SPSS/Win 12.0 program. RESULTS: The average score for the climacteric symptoms (19.71) was significantly different (t=-2.78, p=.006) to the average for the breast cancer survivors (15.53). The average cognitive impairment score for the breast cancer survivors (86.37) was significantly different (t=-2.45, p=.016) to the average score for the healthy women (67.92). The climacteric symptoms score showed a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: These results support that adjuvant chemotherapy and anti-hormone therapy are associated with climacteric symptoms and adverse cognitive effects in breast cancer survivors.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Climacteric ; Female ; Humans ; Survivors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and the quality of life and to identify the impact of pain, sleep disturbance and fatigue on the quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: Data were collected from June to July, 2010. Participants were recruited from Y university hospital in Seoul. Research instruments included numeric rating scale for pain, Functional Assessment Chronic Illness Therapy-Functional Well-Being (FACIT-FWB): General Factor 5 (GF5) for sleep disturbance, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) for quality of life, and FACT-Fatigue for fatigue. RESULTS: The quality of life for cancer patients had a significant relationship with pain, sleep disturbance, and fatigue. The significant factors influencing quality of life were pain, sleep disturbance, and fatigue that explained 52.6% of the variance. CONCLUSION: Patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing chemotherapy experienced pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance which led to a negative effect on quality of life. The results suggest that intervention program to improve quality of life could reduce pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance of pancreatic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Chronic Disease ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Wake Disorders