PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy, social support, sense of community and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including the direct and indirect effects of the variables on HRQoL. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 249 middle-aged and elderly residents living in a rural community in A-County, K Province. The structured questionnaire included 4 scales from the Euro Quality of life-5 Dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression), and measures of General Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Sense of Community. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 20.0 and AMOS 21.0 program. RESULTS: The mean HRQoL score for the participants was 0.87+/-0.13. Self-efficacy (beta=.13, p=.039) and age (beta= -.38, p<.001) were significantly associated with HRQoL, explaining 21% of the variance. In the path analysis, self-efficacy showed a significant direct effect on HRQoL (beta=.14, p=.040) and significantly mediating relationships between both social support (beta=.05, p=.030) and sense of community (beta=.02, p=.025) and HRQoL. CONCLUSION: Although self-efficacy was found to be the main predictor for HRQoL, the findings imply that social environmental factors such as social support and sense of community need to be considered when developing interventions to increase HRQoL in middle-aged and elderly residents in rural communities.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Personal Satisfaction ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Rural Population ; *Self Efficacy ; Sex Factors ; *Social Support

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obstructive jaundice is developed from the cholangiocarcinoma, biiliary tract stone, biliary benign stricture and pancreatic head cancer and is rapidly progress to cholangitis or sepsis. So early decompression, accurate diagnosis and treatment are very important. Percutaneous transhepatic choledocoscopy (PTCS) and endoscopic retrograde choledocoscopy (ERCS) have been used for evaluation of the obstructive jaundice. We performed, through the PTCS, electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) for biliary tract stone rernoval, biopsy for diagnosis of biliary stric and self expandible metalic coil stent (EndocoilTM stent, Instent Co.) insertion on biliary stricture to evaluate the usefullness of PTCS in patients with obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Between Auguest 1994 and September 1995, PTCS was performed in 37 patients with obstructive jaundice. First, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) with 7Fr. drainage tube was done. Three days later, we exchainged the 7Fr. drainage tube with 16Fr.. Seven days later, through the PTCS, we performed EHL, biopsy and EndocoilTM stent insertion.
Biliary Tract ; Biopsy ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Lithotripsy ; Sepsis ; Stents

BACKGROUND: Use of single donor apheresis platelets and concerning for the quality of apheresis platelets has been rapidly increased. Apheresis platelets depleted white blood cell(WBC) are used to prevent or to reduce febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, alloimmunization and cytomegalovirus infection. We compared COBE Spectra LRS (leukoreduction system) and COBE Spectra with PALL PXL 8 in terms of the yield predictors, processing times, and WBC contamination. METHOD: Seventy-two single donors who visited Apheresis Unit(APU) in St. Mary s hospital were prospectively randomized into COBE Spectra LRS and COBE Spectra followed by PALL PXL 8 between September 1997 and October 1998. We used Coulter counting for platelet and Nageotte hemocytometer for WBC count. Data were analyzed by independent t-test. RESULTS: The mean platelet yield per unit was 3.6+ 1.0 x 10 ' with COBE spectra LRS compared to 2.9+ 1.1 X 10 with COBE Spectra(p=0.002), and the mean WBC content per unit with COBE spectra LRS was 4.1 x 104(0.4-23.5) compared to 3.7 x 104(0.43-17.9) with PALL PXL""8(p=0.0728). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that COBE Spectra LRS has higher platelet yields than that of COBE Spectra, and similar WBC contamination compared to PALL PXL 8. Therefore, this data suggests that COBE Spectra LRS is conveient than COBE Spectra with PALL PXL 8 in clinical practice. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 43-51, 1999)
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Platelets* ; Blood Transfusion ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Humans ; Leukocytes* ; Prospective Studies ; Tissue Donors*