Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing quality of life in post-menopausal women. Methods: The participants were 194 post-menopausal women who visited a women’s clinic in Changwon, Korea from July 1 to August 31, 2018, and completed questionnaires containing items on menopausal symptoms, marital intimacy, current menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and quality of life. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression using SPSS for Windows version 23.0. Results: Quality of life had a significant negative correlation with menopausal symptoms (r=–.40, p<.001), and a significant positive correlation with marital intimacy (r=.54, p<.001). The factors influencing the quality of life of post-menopausal women were current MHT (t=6.32, p<.001), marital intimacy (t=4.94, p<.001), monthly family income (t=4.78, p<.001), menopausal symptoms (t=–4.37, p<.001), and education level (t=3.66, p<.001). These variables had an explanatory power of 59.2% for quality of life in post-menopausal women. Conclusion In order to improve the quality of life of post-menopausal women, nursing interventions are needed to help menopausal women choose appropriate MHT, alleviate menopausal symptoms, and increase marital intimacy. Interventions should also be prioritized for women of a low educational level and with a low income in consideration of their health problems.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing quality of life in post-menopausal women. Methods: The participants were 194 post-menopausal women who visited a women’s clinic in Changwon, Korea from July 1 to August 31, 2018, and completed questionnaires containing items on menopausal symptoms, marital intimacy, current menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and quality of life. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression using SPSS for Windows version 23.0. Results: Quality of life had a significant negative correlation with menopausal symptoms (r=–.40, p<.001), and a significant positive correlation with marital intimacy (r=.54, p<.001). The factors influencing the quality of life of post-menopausal women were current MHT (t=6.32, p<.001), marital intimacy (t=4.94, p<.001), monthly family income (t=4.78, p<.001), menopausal symptoms (t=–4.37, p<.001), and education level (t=3.66, p<.001). These variables had an explanatory power of 59.2% for quality of life in post-menopausal women. Conclusion In order to improve the quality of life of post-menopausal women, nursing interventions are needed to help menopausal women choose appropriate MHT, alleviate menopausal symptoms, and increase marital intimacy. Interventions should also be prioritized for women of a low educational level and with a low income in consideration of their health problems.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurses' behaviors while soothing newborns with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. METHODS: An observational study was used to assess nurses'soothing behaviors. Data were collected from September, 2012 to March, 2013 using an audio-video recording system. Participants were eight babies and 12 nurses caring for those babies. After obtaining parental permission, the overall process of each episode from nurses'engagement in soothing to the end of soothing was recorded. Then a researcher interviewed each participating nurse. Data from 18 episodes were transcribed as verbal and nonverbal nursing behaviors and then categorized by two researchers. RESULTS: There were 177 observed soothing behaviors which were classified with the five sensory-based categories (tactile, oral, visual, auditory, vestibular). Most frequently observed soothing behavior was ‘Gently talking’ followed by ‘Removing irritant’, and ‘Providing non-nutritive sucking’. Nurses' perceived soothing behaviors were similar to the observed soothing behaviors except for ‘Gently talking’. CONCLUSION: Nurses used diverse and mixed soothing behaviors as well as recognizing those behaviors as essential nursing skills. Nurses' soothing behaviors identified in this study can be used to comfort babies and to enhance their developmental potential in accordance with individual characterstics or cues.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Cues ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Care ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Observational Study ; Parents

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the Lasater Clinical Judgement Rubric for use with Korean nursing students. METHODS: A methodological study was used to validate the rubric developed by Lasater to assess clinical judgment during nursing simulation. Participants were 34 nursing students at K University in Seoul. Between February and May, 2012, analysis was done of 91 video clips recording performance during simulation. RESULTS: Findings showed reliability and validity of the rubric. For internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha score was .884 and intraclass correlation coefficient was .839, which established reliability. The rubric was validated using the exploratory factor analysis and content validity. The content validity score was 83%, establishing the appropriateness and readiness of the tool. Factor analysis showed that noticing, responding, and reflecting domains had Eigen values of 2.669, 1.991, and 2.912, respectively and were bound, but unlike the original tool in which four factors noticing, interpretation, responding, and reflecting domains were bound. CONCLUSION: Results of the study indicate that the rubric shows acceptable reliability and validity in Korean nursing students. This evaluation tool for nursing simulation allows nursing faculty to objectively evaluate students' clinical judgment as well as students to reflect on their clinical judgment process during simulation.
Faculty, Nursing ; Humans ; Judgment ; Methods ; Nursing ; Patient Simulation ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Seoul ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of breathing exercises performed using panflutes in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery. METHODS: The study design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized pre-post test. The study included 24 patients in both the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group completed a daily breathing exercise regimen using panflutes for 30minutes after meals, whereas the control group was provided standard preoperative education, including breathing exercises using incentive spirometers. After the exercise regimen, breathing exercise compliance, pulmonary infections, and life satisfaction were measured in both groups, and the data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: The compliance rate of breathing exercises was significantly higher in the experimental group. The experimental group presented no pulmonary infections in the later period, whereas the control group presented higher pulmonary infection rates in the same period. In addition, the life satisfaction score in the experimental group significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The breathing exercise program using panflutes for elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery enhanced their breathing exercise compliance and their daily life satisfaction in addition to reducing their pulmonary infection rates.
Aged* ; Breathing Exercises ; Compliance* ; Education ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Meals ; Motivation ; Patient Compliance ; Personal Satisfaction ; Postoperative Complications ; Respiration* ; Work of Breathing

PURPOSE: The study was done to investigate physical assessment skills used by, and educational needs of, advanced practice nurses (APNs) and nurse specialists in Korea. METHODS: A total of 123 APNs and nurse specialists working in five major hospitals in Seoul were surveyed from July 15 to August 20, 2007. RESULTS: Fourteen skills out of 126 items were reported as being performed on a regular basis by participants. The majority of these skills involved general observation. Forty-six skills were rarely used. Some participants showed a lack of confidence in certain assessment skills, such as in doing a rectal or pelvic exam, and the use of some assessment equipment. Over 90% of participants required in-depth education on health assessment provided by specialists or nursing professional organizations. CONCLUSION: More educational opportunities in physical assessment should be provided including education programs based on the nurses' skill levels and needs. This effort will help to increase confidence of APNs and nurse specialists in physical assessment skills, ultimately resulting in better nursing outcomes.
Adult ; *Clinical Competence ; Education, Nursing, Continuing ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nurse's Role ; Nurses/*standards ; Nursing Assessment ; Physical Examination/methods/*nursing ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop and evaluate an algorithm-based simulation scenario for emergency measures for high-risk newborns presenting with apnea. METHODS: A one shot case study design was used to evaluate the algorithm-based simulation scenario. Effects of the developed simulation scenario were evaluated using the Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET) and the Lasater Clinical Judgement Rubric (LCJR). From March to November 137 senior nursing students completed the simulation using this scenario. RESULTS: The eight-frame simulation scenario was developed based on the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and the nursing clinical judgment process. After use of the scenario, overall scores for SET and LCJR were 21.0 out of 26.0 and 32.4 out of 44.0 respectively. There were no significant differences in scores according to general characteristics. Positive correlation coefficients were identified among overall and subcategories of SET and LCJR. In addition, students provided positive feedback on the simulation experience. CONCLUSION: Considering that nursing students have limited access to high-risk newborns during their clinical experience and that newborns presenting apnea are common in the neonatal intensive care unit, the simulation scenario developed in this study is expected to provide nursing students with more opportunities to practice emergency measures for high-risk newborns.
Apnea* ; Education, Nursing ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Judgment ; Nursing ; Pediatric Nursing ; Resuscitation ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop and evaluate an algorithm-based simulation scenario for emergency measures for high-risk newborns presenting with apnea. METHODS: A one shot case study design was used to evaluate the algorithm-based simulation scenario. Effects of the developed simulation scenario were evaluated using the Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET) and the Lasater Clinical Judgement Rubric (LCJR). From March to November 137 senior nursing students completed the simulation using this scenario. RESULTS: The eight-frame simulation scenario was developed based on the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and the nursing clinical judgment process. After use of the scenario, overall scores for SET and LCJR were 21.0 out of 26.0 and 32.4 out of 44.0 respectively. There were no significant differences in scores according to general characteristics. Positive correlation coefficients were identified among overall and subcategories of SET and LCJR. In addition, students provided positive feedback on the simulation experience. CONCLUSION: Considering that nursing students have limited access to high-risk newborns during their clinical experience and that newborns presenting apnea are common in the neonatal intensive care unit, the simulation scenario developed in this study is expected to provide nursing students with more opportunities to practice emergency measures for high-risk newborns.
Apnea* ; Education, Nursing ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Judgment ; Nursing ; Pediatric Nursing ; Resuscitation ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: Children in migrant villages in Kyrgyzstan have a high incidence of anemia and need effective health promotion programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a pilot study of a health promotion project for infants and toddlers based on community participation.METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the project. The project was carried out by nurses at a public health center, community health workers, and local residents in a migrant village. After the operational system of the project was established, health assessments, child-care education, provision of vouchers for iron supplements, and activities to improve residents' awareness were conducted during 6 months among 100 children, of whom 85 were finally analyzed.RESULTS: In international health projects, close cooperation of the project team with community residents and health workers is important. Access to the community-based program was feasible in the socially and economically poor migrant village, and improvements were shown in children's anemia and awareness of health care.CONCLUSION: By focusing on the effective aspects of this preliminary project, plans to utilize community health workers and promotion strategies can be added to the main project to improve health promotion among children in this area.
Anemia ; Child Health ; Child ; Community Health Centers ; Community Health Workers ; Community-Based Participatory Research ; Consumer Participation ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Iron ; Kyrgyzstan ; Pilot Projects ; Program Evaluation ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Transients and Migrants

PURPOSE: This study aimed to characterize the relationship between parental stress and nurses' communication as perceived by parents of high-risk newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: The participants were 54 parents of high-risk newborns in a NICU. Data were collected from January to March 2018. Parental stress and parents' perceptions of nurses' communication ability and styles were measured using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The average scores for parental stress and nurses' communication ability were 3.39 and 4.38 respectively, on a 5-point scale. Parents most commonly reported that nurses showed a friendly communication style, followed by informative and authoritative styles. Mothers and fathers reported significantly different levels of parental stress. Parental stress showed a negative correlation with nurses' perceived verbal communication ability. Higher scores for nurses' verbal communication ability and for friendly and informative communication styles were associated with lower parental stress induced by the environment, the baby's appearance and behaviors, and treatments in the NICU. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that nurses need to offer proper information for parents and to support parents by encouraging them to express their emotions of stress and by providing parents with therapeutic communication and opportunities to participate in care.
Communication ; Fathers ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Mothers ; Parents ; Stress, Psychological