Cancer has been the leading cause of death in this country and produces high levels of stress not only in the patients themselves but also in their families. Caregiving during serious illness is a new experience for many family caregivers and social support and coping strategies have been found to reduce unfavorable health outcomes to stressful events such as cancer. The purpose of this investigation was to identify the relationship of caregiving stress, coping methods, social support, and health in caregivers of patients with cancer according to the phases of cancer illness. The subjects were 92 primary cargivers of cancer patients based on their phases of illness that consisted of 1st (initial) stage, 2nd (metastatic or recurring) stage, 3rd (terminal) stage recruited from two general hospitals in Seoul and Choongnam. The mean age of subjects was 39.1 years and 64.1% of subjects were female and 72.8% were married. The relationships to the patient were children(50%) or spouses (45.7%). According as the phase of illness progressed, caregiver's stress rose higher and their health got worse but coping methods and social support did not show a significant change. In the 1st stage the major predictors for the health of caregivers were family network support(R2=0.261, p=0.003) and the stress of the caregivers (R2=0.168, P=0.007). In the 2nd stage the most important predictor for the health of the caregivers was the stress of the caregivers (R2=0.483, P=0.000). Also in the 3rd stage the main predictor for health was the stress of the caregivers (R2=0.381, p=0.006). A better understanding of the stress process in family caregivers is needed so that nurses can provide family-centered care, taking into account caregiver, as well as patient, well-being.
Caregivers* ; Cause of Death ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Life Change Events ; Seoul ; Spouses

No abstract available.
Child* ; Colon* ; Humans

1) This rare case of unilateral bifid ureter can not be found in the literature. 2) It has been located in the left mid ureter and O shaped in its form nominated O shaped bifid ureter by author 3) It is diagnosed on the basis of the IVP and R.G.P..
Ureter* ; Urography*

Fatigue is the subjective sense which people experience and use commonly in their lives. Although factors regards with fatigue have been explored in specific population, minimal study has been devoted to exploring associated variables generally healthy women. This descriptive study examined the relationship of demographic factors and depressions to subjective fatigue among women in the community who have no critical health problems. From June 15 to July 15, 1996, a convenience sample of 255 adult women completed the questionnaire which was developed by the author on the basis of Yoshitake's(1978) and Zung(1965), respectively. Pearson's correlation, t-test, ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test were used to analyze the data with SPSS/PC+ 5.0 for Windows. The results were as follows ; 1) Average fatigue score of the subjects was 12.57(+/-7.15)(range 0~30). Fatigue scores by area were neuroperceptive fatigue(4.81+/-2.90), physical fatigue(3.99+/-2.46) and mental fatigue(3.71+/-2.91) in order. Subjects with the fatigue scores more than 20 were forty four, 17.2 percent of total subjects. 2) Average depression score was 46.1(+/-6.96)(range 16~64), which was not so high. 3) Statistically significant relationship was noted between fatigue and depression scores(r=-.6747, p<.001) that means the more depressive, the more be fatigued. Correlations with respective fatigue area and depression were mental fatigue(r=-.6833, p<.001), neuroperceptive fatigue(r=-.5293, p<.001) and physical fatigue(r=-.5189, p<.001) in order. 4) Presence of disease revealed as the statistically significant variable affecting fatigue scores(t=-4.31, p<.001). Other variables such as age, marriage and job, however, had no statistically significant effect on the fatigue scores. Fatigue can meaningfully undermine quality of life in women who are accustomed to leading active lives. Fatigue is disabling, and a serious symptom to those who suffer from it. It is important for health providers as well as the women to recognize that there exits the relationship between fatigue and depression. Further investigation is necessary to facilitate adequate resolution of the clients' problem from fatigue leading to diminishment of the significance.
Adult ; Demography ; Depression ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Humans ; Marriage ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was designed to identify the relationship between the perceived burden that is felt by family caregivers of hemodialysis patients and the quality of life of these caregivers. The subjects for this study were 102 family caregivers of patients who received hemodialysis regularly in the hemodialysis units of 4 hospitals located in Chonbuk. The data was collected during the period from February 17 to March 28, 1997 through interviews and by distributing a structured questionnaire to family caregivers through hemodialysis patients, and by mail service. The instruments used for this study are as follows : The burden instrument was the Burden Questionnaire developed by Lee Sook-Ja by referring to the Burden Scale developed by Novak & Guest(1989) and Zarit et al.(1980). The quality of life instrument was the Andrews' Scale that was treanslated and proof-read by Jeong Chu-Ja and partially amended by the author of this study. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, the Scheff test, Pearson's correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression using the SAS PC+ program. The results of this study are as follow : 1. Hypothesis 1 : "The higher the perceived burden, the lower the quality of life of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients" was supported(r=-0.463, p=.000). 2. Hypothesis 2 : "The burden of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients will differ depending on the demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients and family caregivers" was partially supported-age of family caregiver(F=3.04, p=.020), educational level of family caregiver(F=3.81, p=.012), marital status of family caregiver(F=5.82, p=.004), relationship with hemodialysis patient(F=2.74, p=.016), sex of hemodialysis patient(F=6.79, p=.010). 3. Hypothesis 3 : "The quality of life family caregivers of hemodialysis patients will differ depending on the demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients and family caregivers" was partially supported-age of family caregiver(F=2.82, p=.029), educational level of family caregiver(F=4.64, p=.004), marital status of family caregiver(F=6.62, p=.002), monthly total income of family(F=5.61, p=.001), age of hemodialysis patient (F=3.42, p=.011), occupation change of hemodialysis patient(F=3.54, p=.032). 4. Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis indicated that the six variables-the perceived burden of family caregiver, monthly total income of family, religion of family caregiver, occupation of family caregiver, marital status of hemodialysis patient, education level of family caregiver-were significantly predictive of the quality of life of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. The six variables explained 41.7% of the variance in quality of life. In conclusion, this study revealed that the perceived burden is an important factor related to the quality of life of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Therefore, nurses must recognize family caregivers as well as hemodialysis patients as important care receivers and incorporate an intervening plan that reduces the burden and promotes the quality of life, taking into account the demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients and their family caregivers.
Caregivers* ; Education ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Marital Status ; Occupations ; Postal Service ; Quality of Life* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Muscle, Smooth* ; Smooth Muscle Tumor*

True cysts of the pancreas are rare, and enterogeous (duplication) cysts are extremely rare. We describe a case of enterogenous cyst of the pancreas located in the retroperitoneum, in which homogenous low attenua-tion, multiloculation, internal septation and cyst wall calcification were noted.
Pancreas*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence, risk factors of metabolic syndrome, and lifestyle in religious women by age and metabolic syndrome status between the metabolic syndrome group and the normal group. METHODS: As the subjects for this study, 125 religious women in the city of D, H, S, Y, participated in this study. The diagnostic criterion of metabolic syndrome used was the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher as the religious women got older. The metabolic syndrome group in their forties showed higher waist circumference, triglycerides, and lower HDL- cholesterol than the normal group. Among those in their fifties, the metabolic syndrome group had higher waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol than the normal group. In their sixties, the metabolic syndrome group had higher fasting glucose, triglyceride and systolic blood pressure than the normal group. CONCLUSION: The metabolic syndrome group in their forties showed that their practice rate of 'trying to avoid stresses at work', 'taking prescription medicines' was low. For those in their fifties, the practice rate of 'reducing overeating' and 'choice of low fat meats' was low. Finally, in the group of those in their sixties, 'reducing fried foods' was low.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Education ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

No abstract available.
Fistula*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate nursing students' awareness of biomedical ethics and attitudes toward death of terminal patients. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was developed to examine nursing students' biomedical ethics. Their attitudes toward terminal patients' death were measured by using the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale. Surveys were conducted with 660 nursing students enrolled at a three-year college located in Daejeon, Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Kruskall Waills test. RESULTS: Students who have experienced biomedical ethics conflicts, agreed to prohibition of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and have no religion exhibited more negative attitudes toward death compared to students without the above characteristics. Of the participants, 81.2% answered that life sustaining treatment for terminal patients should be discontinued and 76.4% replied that CPR on terminal patients should be prohibited. The majority of the correspondents stated that the two measures above are necessary "for patients' peaceful and dignified death". CONCLUSION: Study results indicate the need to establish a firm biomedical ethics value to help nursing students form a positive attitude toward death. It also seems necessary to offer students related training before going into clinical practice, if possible. The training program should be developed by considering students' religion, school year, experience with biomedical ethics conflicts and opinion about CPR on terminal patients. The program should also include an opportunity for students to experience terminal patient care in advance via simulation practice on standardized patients.
Attitude to Death ; Bioethics ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Humans ; Korea ; Patient Care ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires