PURPOSE: The purposes of this pilot study were to describe the perceived effectiveness of music therapy for pain control and to identify music preference for postoperative pain and anxiety control in Korean women who had a gynecological surgery. SAMPLE: A convenience sample of 52 women was recruited from a gynecological unit at P University hospital and they were interviewed to assess their perception of music therapy and music preference using a structured study questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of women reported that music therapy would be effective and 96% perceived it would be effective if combined with analgesics. The best music chosen for relieving postoperative pain and anxiety were Korean old pop and ballad song/music followed by Korean religious music, American pop songs, piano music, Korean classic songs, and Orchestra music. CONCLUSION: There was a cultural difference in music preference for the relief of post-operative pain in this sample. Therefore, effects of music for postoperative pain control need to be determined after considering musical preferences of postoperative women in Korea.
Analgesics ; Anxiety ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* ; Humans ; Korea ; Music Therapy* ; Music* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pilot Projects* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of infant massage on stress, immune function and self-confidence in postpartum mothers. METHOD: From September, 2003 to February, 2004, 65 women who had delivered babies and were enrolled in the postpartum clinic were assigned to the experimental group or control group. In the experimental group, infant massage was given for 20 minute sessions twice a day from 4 days to 14 days after delivery. The instruments were Parental Stress Index, serum cortisol levels, WBCs, lymphocytes, and Self Confidence Scale. RESULTS: Stress scores, WBCs and lymphocytes showed significant differences by the time, but there weren't significant differences according to the group and interactions between the group and the time. Cortisol and self-confidence scores showed significant differences by the time and the group. CONCLUSIONS: Applying massage to their newborn baby influenced cortisol levels of postpartum mothers. Therefore stress, cortisol, and immune functions in postpartum mothers should be generally screened and follow up studies are needed for the effective application of massage in postpartum mothers.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lymphocytes ; Massage* ; Mothers* ; Parents ; Postpartum Period*

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of Dan Jeon Breathing on physical health promotion in middle aged women. METHOD: This study was quasi-experimental with a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The subjects were classified into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group had 21 middle-aged women who did Dan Jeon Breathing, the control group consisted of 22 middle aged women. Dan Jeon Breathing was carried out for 40 minutes a day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The difference between the experimental group and control group was verified with an chi2- test, t-test and paired and unpaired t-test. RESULTS: The score of physical symptoms for the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. The score of physical strength for the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Dan Jeon Breathing can be a physical health promotion for middle aged women. In terms of nursing practice, Dan Jeon Breathing can be utilized as a nursing intervention for physical well-being of middle aged women.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Female ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Middle Aged* ; Nursing ; Respiration*

PURPOSE: Recently as couples have only one or two children, they concern about their children's optimal health. Furthermore, as the basic principles of Korean traditional prenatal education (Taegyo) are supported by scientific evidence, and as increasing numbers of pregnant women are recognizing Taegyo refresh, the practice of Taegyo is growing. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with the practice of Taegyo among pregnant Korean women. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, survey study of 228 pregnant women recruited at a health center in South Korea using a convenience sampling method. The instruments included the perception of Taegyo scale, the spouse's support scale, the self-confidence for infant care scale, and the practice of Taegyo scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the following factors accounted for 26.5% of the variance in the practice of Taegyo: the perception of Taegyo, family income. CONCLUSION: Consequently, this result showed that the pregnant women were influenced by family income, spouses' support as requisite factors, and also they developed the level of self-confidence for infant care and the perception of Taegyo as self-care agency for the practice of Taegyo. The present study findings will add to the accumulated knowledge of health care professionals about the cultural factors involved in the practice of Taegyo and the traditional cultural beliefs and culture-specific health promoting behaviors of ethnic minority pregnant women to provide culturally competent care for them.
Child ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Care ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Care ; Republic of Korea ; Self Care

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the impact of job stress on low back symptoms among Clinical nurses (CNs) in university hospital. METHODS: A total of 322 CNs employed in a hospital in Seoul were interviewed by a well-trained interviewer using the structured questionnaire. Data collected for this study includes demographics, social and work characteristics, low back symptoms, and job stress. To test the impact of job stress on low back symptoms, we used multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back symptoms was 25.8% in this study. Low back symptoms differed significantly by factors, such as physical work burden, past history of injury and work duration. Also low back symptoms differed significantly by organizational system among independent variables of job stress. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of organizational system to low back symptoms was 2.07 after an adjustment. CONCLUSION: This study showed that organizational system among job stress was a significant variable in explaining low back symptoms. We suggest the improvement of organizational system category as a preventive strategy for low back pain in CNs working in hospital.
Demography ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Women, Working

PURPOSE: To examine the details of lymphedema, upper limb morbidity, and its self management in women after breast cancer treatment. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey design, 81 women were recruited from a university hospital. Lymphedema was detected by a nurse as a 2-cm difference between arm circumferences at 6 different points on the arm. Degrees of pain, stiffness, and numbness were scored using a drawing of upper limb on a 0~10 point scale. Aggravating conditions and self-management for lymphedema were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 52.5 years; the average time since breast surgery was 29.7 months. Histories of modified radical mastectomy (55%) and lymph node dissection (81%) were noted. Lymphedema was found in 59% of women, then pain and stiffness were prevalent most at upper arm while numbness was apparentat fingers, and the symptom distress scores ranged 3.9~6.7. Women experienced aggravated arm swelling after routine housework with greatly varied duration. Self-management was conservative with a wide range of times for the relief of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Lymphedema education for women with breast cancer should be incorporated into the oncologic nursing care system to prevent its occurrence and arm morbidity. Risk reduction guidelines, individually tailored self-care strategies, and self-awareness for early detection need to be refined in clinical nursing practices.
Arm ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Fingers ; Housekeeping ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphedema ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Oncologic Nursing ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Self Care ; Upper Extremity

PURPOSE: Cervical cancer can be prevented by regular cervical screening. Embarrassment has been reported as one important barrier to cervical screening uptake. The absence of appropriate instrumentation, however, has limited our understanding of the links between embarrassment and health care outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychometric attributes of the uterine cervical cancer screening embarrassment questionnaire. METHODS: A convenience sample for field study was recruited from four gynecological clinics in Gyeongju, Korea. Within a cross-sectional descriptive design, 339 women who had cervical screening completed self-administered measures of embarrassment including a visual analogue, general medical embarrassment, dispositional embarrassment, and Pap smear related negative emotion. RESULTS: Rasch analysis of items demonstrated the evidence of one-dimensional construct and good 7-point rating scales functioning. Factor analysis revealed that uterine cervical cancer screening embarrassment was comprised of two domains-bodily manifestations and perceiving an undesirable social face. Construct validity was demonstrated by a high subscale-to-subscale correlation. Convergent and discriminant validity was evidenced by significant correlations with a 100 mm VAS scale, general medical embarrassment, and Pap smear related negative emotion. Known-group validity was established by comparing women with high versus low trait embarrassment. Both two sub-scales and overall scale demonstrated good internal reliability. CONCLUSION: The Uterine uterine cervical cancer screening questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument suited to assessing the manifestations of embarrassment during screening. The use of instrument can be extended to understand the client's embarrassment undergoing health examinations which require the exposure of their private parts.
Delivery of Health Care ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Psychometrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: This paper identified the effects of kangaroo care (KC) on maternal self-esteem and the growth and physiological stability of premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: The experiment was conducted with an experimental group of 17 infants, and a control group of 17 infants selected by convenience sampling. KC was given to the infants one time a day for 30 minutes after feeding for two weeks. Their weight was measured every morning, and their physiological stability was measured in terms of their body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and stability of the cardio-respiratory system in premature infants (SCRIP) score, as physiological responses at every 10 minutes during the intervention. Maternal self-esteem was assessed by a maternal self-report inventory. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significant increase in the self-esteem of mothers. Also, KC was effective on physiological stabilization of preterm infants. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that KC can be provided in clinical settings more widely in Korea as one of the nursing interventions aimed at promoting maternal self-esteem as well as infants' physiological stabilization.
Body Temperature ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Macropodidae ; Mothers ; Oxygen ; Respiratory Rate

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to identify levels of parenting stress, depression and family support of immigrant women and to investigate the moderating effect of family support on the relationship between parenting stress and depression of immigrant women. METHODS: The research was carried out with 86 immigrant women who were registered in multi-cultural support centers and receiving education in three cities South Jeolla Province. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 17.0. RESULTS: The level of parenting stress perceived by the immigrant women was moderate and the level of depression was slightly high. The level of family support as perceived by the wives was slightly high as well. There was a positive correlation between depression and parenting stress but no correlation with family support. Effects of parenting stress on depression were moderated by family support. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that family support provided to immigrant women moderated effects of parenting stress on depression. Accordingly, as family support is critical to immigrant women, education and other programs need to be provided to promote understanding of family support as a help for immigrant women.
Depression ; Depression, Postpartum ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Humans ; Parenting ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Spouses

PURPOSE: Early diagnosis is the primary method aimed at controlling breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze some factors affecting the performance of mammography screening among women with a family history of breast cancer in Korea. METHODS: This study applied a descriptive design method through structured self-report questionnaires. The Care Seeking Behavior Theory provided a theoretical framework for the study. Factors measured in this study represent demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables including anxiety, barriers, utility, habits, perception, and facilitators. A total of 212 participants, of at least 20 years old, were sampled from April 8, 2010 to March 31, 2011. The data was analyzed by logistic regression method using the Statistical Package for the Social Science 18.0 software. RESULTS: Of the 212 participants, 122 women (57.5%) went through mammography screening. The results of the analysis showed that (a) age (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.10, p<.001), (b) facilitating influences (OR=1.83, p=.008), (c) perception of mammography importance (OR=1.92, p=.011), (d) barriers to mammography (OR=0.60, p=.031), and (e) utility of mammography (OR=2.01, p=.050) significantly affect mammography screening. CONCLUSION: The results underscore the impact that psychosocial variables in obtaining mammography have on adherence to screening. Women with a family history of breast cancer should be given accurate information and recommendation about mammography by healthcare provider and a regular source of healthcare.
Anxiety ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Delivery of Health Care ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Social Sciences ; Women's Health