OBJECTIVES: The present study proposed to evaluate 1st-month and 3rd-month health status, depression, self-efficacy and medical expenses of a community-based health promotive self-management program for old Koreans. METHOD: Participants in the CDSMP were selected from elders in a community health center through convenient sampling. The program included a 3-hour session per week for 14 weeks. Outcomes of evaluation in the 1st month and the 3rd month included modified Self-rated Health Status Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-item Scale, and 1-item Medical Expenses Scale. RESULTS: Self-rate health scores increased significantly just after the intervention (16.22), in the 1st month (17.57) and in the 3rd month (19.04) (chi2=32.06, p=.000); Depression scores (reversed) also increased significantly just after the intervention (6.04), in the 1st month (7.75) and in the 3rd month (8.39) (chi2=29.92, p=.000); Self-efficacy score increased significantly just after intervention (12.87) but it decreased in the 1st month (12.73) and in the 3rd month (12.04). But all of the three scores were still higher than those before the intervention (8.65) (chi2=32.42, p=.000): Medical expense score decreased at the end of the intervention (1.57) but the cost score increased in the 1st month (2.48) and in the 3rd month (2.39) (chi2=7.81, p=.050). CONCLUSION: CDSMP is effective in increasing self-rate health and self-efficacy and in decreasing depression in the Korean elderly. However, no significant effect of the program was observed in decreasing the medical cost of the Korean elderly.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease* ; Community Health Centers ; Depression ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Self Care*

The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and practice of the Clean Inter mittent Self Catheterization (CIC) conducted by Spinal Cord Injury Patients (SPIC) or their significant others as an activity of daily living at their homes or working places. Forty-seven patients were participated in this study. Three questionnaires developed by researchers for this study were used to collect demographic data, knowledge and practice skill of CIC. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Nineteen (19) patients experienced Urinary Track Infection (UTI) during the last one years and two of them have had several times of UTI. Knowledge level of the participant was not high enough to perform correct CIC. Some evidences indicated that the knowledge did not apply to their practice. Systematic analysis and development of educational content based on this study results was recommended and the systematic instructional design before actual patient education was strongly recommended.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Humans ; Patient Education as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge of successful aging for the Korean elderly and to identify the effects of an intervention program on the change of the knowledge. METHOD: Data were collected from 134 elders from 3 schools for the elderly in H City. The Successful Aging Scale was used to collect data and modified CDSMP was applied as the intervention. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used. RESULTS: The total score of the knowledge of successful aging among the elderly cohort was 2.44 out of 3, and the scores of the factors making up old age were 2.66 for the success of children, 2.63 for self-control, 2.56 for self-efficacy, and 2.05 for happy marriage. Life satisfaction from the success of children and self-control were strongly correlated(r=0.7036, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The self-management program brought positive changes to the knowledge of successful aging through the self-control parameter, and although it could not change the degree of knowledge of the overall successful aging among the elderly cohort, the program represents the first Korean nursing intervention focused on self-management techniques needed for successful aging.
Aged ; Aging* ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Marriage ; Nursing ; Self Care*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the parenting characteristics and problem behaviors of school-aged children living in poverty. METHODS: With a cross-sectional study design, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was utilized to collect data from 190 primary caregivers of children in low income families in one middle-size city in South Korea. RESULTS: Among the children's characteristics, only school performance showed significant association with problem behaviors and children's age and gender were not associated with problem behaviors. Among the primary caregivers' parenting characteristics, discipline style, rearing confidence, and concerns for their children showed significant association with problem behaviors for girls, but not for boys. Parenting attitude was not related to problem behaviors with either girls or boys. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that the parenting characteristics of low income primary caregivers are important in children's problem behaviors, especially for girls and parent education programs for child rearing, including methods of discipline for both boys and girls, are effective nursing interventions.
Caregivers ; Checklist ; Child Behavior ; Child Rearing ; Child* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Poverty*

PURPOSE: To examine the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the adapted Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (a-IIRS). The a-IIRS is a modified version of the original IIRS that measures illness-disruptions to daily life in patients with diverse diagnoses. While the psychometric properties of the original IIRS have been validated, no study has been conducted to validate the Korean version of a-IIRS. METHODS: After translation and back-translation processes, the Korean version of a-IIRS was developed. A pilot test was conducted with 10 patients with chronic diseases. A convenience sample of 380 patients with diabetes, hypertension, and/or arthritis was used. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, known-group technique, hypothesized relationships, internal consistency, and item analysis were tested. RESULTS: Three factors were extracted from principal components analysis with varimax rotation: Relationships and Personal Development, Instrumental Life, and Intimacy. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the good fit of the three-factor model. Illness intrusiveness was significantly different among the study subjects categorized into three groups according to different health status: poor, fair and good. The instrument was positively correlated with the scales of fatigue and depression. The tool demonstrated high internal consistency with adequate item-total correlations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are consistent with previous study results on IIRS and support the reliability and validity of the Korean version of a-IIRS. The instrument is culturally relevant for Korean patients with chronic diseases. Health care professionals need to consider illness intrusiveness when caring for patients with chronic diseases and promote their quality of life.
Arthritis ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Weights and Measures ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the concept of happiness among pregnant women. METHODS: Walker and Avant's method for concept analysis was used. RESULTS: The defining attributes of happiness among pregnant women were 1) period of pregnancy, 2) emotional dimension (positive affect), and 3) cognitive dimension(existence need-satisfaction, relatedness need-satisfaction, growth need-satisfaction). The antecedents of happiness among pregnant women were 1) intrapersonal characteristics, 2) reproductive history and related characteristics, 3) interpersonal relationship, and 4) external factors. The consequences included 1) pregnant women's well-being, 2) fetal well-being, 3) maternal well-being, and 4) child's happiness. CONCLUSION: Although further studies are required to refine the diverse attributes of the concept, the results of this study contribute to explaining happiness among pregnant women. In addition, the development of adequate interventions to increase prenatal happiness is needed.
Female ; Happiness* ; Humans ; Methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Reproductive History ; Walkers

Twenty-three research studies regarding nurses or nursing students intention to care for HIV disease patients were reviewed. Studies on this issue were sporadic and not systematic. A majority of the studies were limited to one institution at one point in time. Convenience sampling was prevalent. Only 5 studies used random sampling (Jemmott III et al., 1992; Kelly et al., 1988; Planter & Foster, 1993; Scherer et al., 1989; Van Servellen et al., 1988). Consequently the findings of most studies can not be generalized to the population at large. In addition, between 1985 and 1994, the emphasis on descriptive studies continued even though correlational and experimental studies were being conducted. The development of the body of knowledge on this issue is still in a primitive stage. Correlational or comparative studies reviewed rarely had a theoretical basis for the study questions. Only two studies were found that cited a theoretical basis (Laschinger & Goldenberg, 1993; Goldenberg & Laschinger, 1991). A variety of attitude instruments were developed by investigators and used in their own studies. The constructs of the instruments were quite varied. For example, some studies identified fear as the attitude to be measured, while others measured opinion or intention as the attitude. None of the studies reviewed reported content, construct or convergent validity of the instruments. Reliability data for most instruments used in the studies were either not reported or low. Such a lack of information limits the interpretation of the findings. Study findings were inconclusive. Some descriptive studies indicated that nurses or nursing students were willing to care for HIV disease patients, while others revealed they were not willing to do so. Three correlational studies examining the relationship between attitude and intention obtained inconsistent findings. Findings from one study (Jemmott et al., 1992) indicated a positive relationship, while others found no relationship between them (Cole & Slocumb, 1994; Jemmott et al., 1992). Descriptive studies identified that families or friends stigmatization were the important factors. Only two correlational studies on this issue were found, but study findings were inconsistent (Laschinger & Goldenberg, 1993; Glodenberg & Laschinger, 1991). Studies focusing on nursing students intentions or attitude were limited. Only 7 of the 23 research reviewed were conducted using nursing students (Lawrence & Lawrence, 1989; Lester & Beard, 1988; Mueller et al., 1992; Oerman & Gignac, 1991; Jemmott et al., 1992; Jemmott III et al., 1992; Wiely et al., 1988). This review leads to the conclusion that there is a need for study of this issue with nursing students as the target population. Studies with questions based upon a theoretical framework provide a basis for linking findings. In addition, reliable instruments and sophisticated statistical analysis are also needed when studying this topic.
Friends ; Health Personnel ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; HIV ; Humans ; Intention ; Patient Care* ; Research Personnel ; Stereotyping ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to explore the relationships between the fear of falling and daily activities, and physical functioning of older people in community. METHOD: A descriptive study design was used in this study. 295 people aged over 65 and living in community participated. Data of demographic characteristics, fear of falling, activity daily living, physical functioning were collected. RESULT: 13.2% of the participants reported that they have falling accident last one year. 75.6% of participants reported fear of falling. 67.7% of them expressed restricting activity because of fear of falling. There were no significant relationship between fear of falling and BADL(Basic Activity Daily Living) but fear of falling and IADL(Instrumental Activity Daily Living) were related. It was also found that older people with higher fear of falling expressed more pain and uncomfortable feelings especially on their lower body and had higher scores of morbidity of neurologic diseases such as neuralgia and cerebrovascular diseases. CONCLUSION: There were significant relationships between fear of falling and IADL, and physical functioning on lower body, and morbidity of neurologic diseases such as neuralgia and cerebrovascular diseases.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Neuralgia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships among critical thinking disposition, general self-efficacy, leadership and clinical competence, and identify the factors influencing clinical competence in nursing students. METHODS: In this descriptive study, 153 nursing students (from 2nd to 4th school year) of a university in South Korea were enrolled in December 2010. The instruments for this study were the Korean versions of the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Leadership Inventory, and Clinical Competence Scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, MANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression with PASW 18.0 software. RESULTS: The mean scores (ranging from 1 to 5) in nursing students for critical thinking disposition, general self-efficacy, leadership, and clinical competence were 3.44, 3.51, 3.55, and 3.42, respectively. Positive correlations were found for clinical competence with critical thinking disposition, general self-efficacy, and leadership. The strongest predictor of clinical competence was leadership. In addition, leadership, nursing school year, and subjective academic achievement accounted for 34.5% of variance in clinical competence. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that developing leadership, critical thinking disposition, and self-efficacy in undergraduate nursing education is important to improve clinical competence of nursing students.
Achievement ; Clinical Competence ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Leadership ; Linear Models ; Republic of Korea ; Schools, Nursing ; Students, Nursing ; Thinking

BACKGROUND: Although organizing pneumonia (OP) responds well to corticosteroid therapy, relapse is common during dose reduction or follow-up. Predictors of relapse in OP patients remain to be established. The aim of the present study was to identify factors related to relapse in OP patients. METHODS: This study was retrospectively performed in a tertiary referral center. Of 66 OP patients who were improved with or without treatment, 20 (30%) experienced relapse. The clinical and radiologic parameters in the relapse patient group (n=20) were compared to that in the non-relapse group (n=46). RESULTS: Multivariate analysis demonstrated that percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), PaO2/FiO2, and serum protein level were significant predictors of relapse in OP patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.97; p=0.018; OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.04; p=0.042; and OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.87; p=0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study shows that FVC, PaO2/FiO2 and serum protein level at presentation can significantly predict relapse in OP patients.
Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pneumonia* ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Vital Capacity