PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare salivary cortisol levels, self-reported occupational stress, and anxiety before duty to those after duty in the shift and regular work nurses, and the relationships among them. METHODS: Thirty nurses working in a tertiary hospital participated in the study. Salivary specimens were collected before and after daytime duty for 2 days. The occupational stress and state anxiety were also evaluated using self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: The average level of salivary cortisol was 0.40 µg/dL before duty and 0.20 µg/dL after duty in Korean nurses. Overall levels of salivary cortisol, self-reported occupational stress, and anxiety were higher in shift working nurses than regular working nurses. In shift working nurses, the salivary cortisol gap between before and after duty was attenuated on the first day of daytime duty. Significant positive correlation was found between the level of cortisol before duty and anxiety after duty. CONCLUSION: Strategies to alleviate occupational stress and anxiety are needed for shift working nurses, especially for those with elevated levels of cortisol. It seems to require 3days to recover from attenuated cortisol rhythm during nighttime duty in shift working nurses.
Anxiety* ; Hydrocortisone* ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify sleep patterns, alertness, and fatigue of shift nurses according to circadian types. METHODS: The researchers' enrolled 17 nurses doing shift work in a tertiary hospital. To evaluate circadian types, a morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) was administered. Sleep patterns were examined using an actigraph for 14 days. To assess alertness and fatigue, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test with a SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: The researchers found that 17.6% of participants reported morning type, 47.1% neither type, and 35.3% evening type. Mean total sleep time (TST) was 6.8 h, mean sleep efficacy was 82%, level of alertness was 6.54, and level of fatigue was 5.49, regardless of the type of shift work. Evening type nurses had higher variation in TST and alertness, according to the shift patterns than other circadian type nurses. Evening type nurses also had higher fatigue levels than other circadian type nurses. CONCLUSION: Sleep, alertness, and fatigue were related with circadian types. These results suggest that circadian rhythm management in shift work nurses, particularly in evening type nurses is urgently needed to improve sleep patterns, alertness, and to decrease the level of fatigue.
Asthenopia ; Circadian Rhythm ; Fatigue* ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a community-based muscle and joint self-management program with muscle stretching and muscle strengthening exercises for community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: The study was a pre-and-post design in a single group, which examined the effects after the intervention of muscle and joint self-management program for 6 weeks, on the 42 subjects of the elderly who registered in a Community Senior Center in J city. Data analyses were conducted with paired t-test by using a SAS (version 9.2 for Windows) program. RESULTS: The effectiveness of muscle and joint self-management program on shoulder flexibility and right knee extension (flexibility) were significantly improved (t=2.72, p=.010; t=−2.26, p=.029). Joint symptoms (pain, stiffness), physical functioning, depression, fatigue, and left knee extension were not significantly improved after the muscle and joint self-management program. CONCLUSION: The results showed the possibility of this 6-week exercise program in improving shoulder and knee flexibility for community-dwelling older adults.
Adult* ; Aged ; Depression ; Exercise ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Joints* ; Knee ; Muscle Strength ; Pliability ; Self Care* ; Senior Centers ; Shoulder ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to examine the impact of socioeconomic, health-related, and health behavioral factors on Korean people's intention to quit smoking. METHODS: The subjects were 851 men and 145 women, aged 19 or more who had participated in the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The intention to quit smoking was categorized as “within 6 months,”“after 6 months,” or “no intention”. The associations of the intention to quit smoking with sociodemographic, health related, and health behavioral factors were examined in a logistic regression. RESULTS: In male smokers, the number of diseases, perceived somatotype, vigorous intensity leisure activity, aerobic physical activity, and smoking intensity had a significant influence on the intention to quit smoking. In female somkers, the economic status, number of diseases, walking activity, and moderate intensity leisure activity were significantly influential on the intention to quit smoking. CONCLUSION: To increase male smokers' intention to quit smoking, it should be emphasized that smoking is harmful to. Moreover, special attention should be paid to low-educated female smokers to increase their intention to quit smoking.
Adult* ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Intention* ; Korea* ; Leisure Activities ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking* ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Somatotypes ; Walking

PURPOSE: This study was to identify factors influencing the quality of sleep in elderly women with urinary incontinence and examine the relationship among the factors. METHODS: The study investigated 113 elderly women with urinary incontinence who were subject to the visiting care program at health centers in D-gu, D-si, South Korea. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 19.0 along with χ²-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) of the participants was found to be 11.41±4.34. As a result of the correlation analysis, PSQI was found to have significant correlations with Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS) (r=.32, p<.001). The Korean version of Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (K-PASE) was (r=−.34, p<.001) and the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF) was (r=.23, p=.012). Multiple regression analysis found sleeping pill use (β=−.35, p<.001) had the strongest influence on PSQI, followed by physical activity (β=−.20, p<.001), depression (β=.20, p<.001), and lower urinary tract symptoms (β=.19, p<.001). The total model explanatory power was 28.3% (F=12.07, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The study findings are expected to be useful for enhanced understanding of the quality of sleep in elderly women with urinary incontinence.
Aged* ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Motor Activity* ; Urinary Incontinence*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the Gratitude Enhancement Program on self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, gratitude disposition, subjective happiness, stress index in patients with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: The research was designed for a nonequivalent control group before and after the test design. The subjects of this study were 29 patients in the experimental group and 28 patients in the control group. The Gratitude Enhancement Program was conducted three times a week for a total of nine sessions. Data were collected with questionnaires and measured with autonomic nervous system response (stress index) and was analyzed by t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact, and repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. RESULTS: There are no significant differences in the homogeneity test of a dependent variable between groups. The experimental group showed significant higher scores of self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, gratitude disposition, and subjective happiness than the control group. There was no significant difference in the stress index between two groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, this Gratitude Enhancement Program can be a good nursing intervention to improve self-esteem, interpersonal relationship, gratitude disposition, and subjective happiness for chronic schizophrenia patients.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Happiness ; Humans ; Nursing ; Schizophrenia*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of hand and foot baths on sleep and body temperature of the elderly. METHODS: The research was designed for a nonequivalent control group before and after the test design. The subjects of this study totaled 43, aged 65 and over (23 people in hand bath group and 20 people in a foot bath group), who received a written voluntary consent to participate in experimental treatment and are in the W care center, S Nursing Home, and H care center in Seoul. Data were collected with questionnaires and observations, and were analyzed on the basis of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, χχ2-test, Fisher exact test, t-test and paired t-test. RESULTS: There are no significant differences in homogeneity test of a dependent variable between groups (hand bath, foot bath). The differences between 2 groups on the sleep quality score and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure temperature were not significant statistically except on the pulse. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, hand bath is as efficient as foot bath. Therefore, a hand bath can be a nursing intervention in order to enrich sleep quality for the elderly because a hand bath is more convenient than foot bath.
Aged* ; Baths* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Foot* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Nursing Homes ; Seoul ; Vital Signs*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Korean Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) education program on oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and serum homocysteine (Hcy) level in elderly Korean women. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study employing non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The DASH group (n=27) underwent the DASH education program for 12 weeks, whereas the control group (n=21) was provided one education session. The survey was conducted before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: In DASH group, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intakes significantly increased after the intervention as compared to prior to the intervention. No significant differences were found in the control group. After the intervention, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and Hcy levels significantly decreased in the DASH group but not in the control group. CONCLUSION: The DASH education program was effective in reducing oxidative stress and Hcy levels in elderly Korean women.
Aged* ; Antioxidants ; Diet* ; Education* ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid ; Female ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Oxidative Stress*

PURPOSE: Dyslipidemia was a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and was a leading cause of mortality in worldwide. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with prevalence and medication treatment of dyslipidemia in Korean adult population. METHODS: In this study, based on the criteria set by the Korean Society of Lipidology and Atherosclerosis, the factors associated with prevalence and medication treatment of dyslipidemia was evaluated in a population of 12,506 people (age≥20), who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015). The findings were tested by using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Dyslipidemia prevalence rate was 36.5%. Among populations with dyslipidemia, 17.5% were treated with lipid-lowering drugs. In the multivariate logistic regression model, male, increase in age, lower education level, non-drinker, current smoking, less physical activity, increase of body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with an increased odd of dyslipidemia. Female, increase in age, higher income, excess fat intake, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, and angina were associated with an increased odd of medication treat. CONCLUSION: The results of this study could be used to screen patients at the high risk for dyslipidemia or to predict medication adherence.
Adult* ; Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Dyslipidemias* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medication Adherence* ; Mortality ; Motor Activity ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify factors influencing intra-operative core body temperature (CBT), and to develop a predictive model for intra-operative CBT in laparoscopic abdominal surgery. METHODS: The prospective observational study involved 161 subjects, whose age, weight, and height were collected. The basal pre-operative CBT, pre-operative blood pressure, and heartbeat were measured. CBT was measured 1 hour and 2 hours after pneumoperitoneum. RESULTS: Explanatory factors of intra-operative hypothermia (<36℃) were weight (β=.361, p<.001) and pre-operative CBT (β=.280, p=.001) 1 hour after pneumoperitoneum (Adjusted R2=.198, F=7.56, p<.001). Weight was (β=.423, p<.001) and pre-operative CBT was (β=.206, p=.011) 2 hours after pneumoperitoneum (Adjusted R2=.177, F=5.93, p<.001). The researchers developed a predictive model for intra-operative CBT (℃) by observing intra-operative CBT, body weight, and pre-operative CBT. The predictive model revealed that intra-operative CBT was positively correlated with body weight and pre-operative CBT. CONCLUSION: Influence of weight on intra-operative hypothermia increased over time from 1 hour to 2 hours after pneumoperitoneum, whereas influence of pre-operative CBT on intraoperative hypothermia decreased over time from 1 hour to 2 hours after pneumoperitoneum. The research recommends pre-warming for laparoscopic surgical patients to guard against intra-operative hypothermia.
Anesthesia, General* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature* ; Body Weight ; Cohort Studies* ; Colectomy* ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Laparoscopy ; Observational Study ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Prospective Studies