Background: As social media continue to grow as popular and convenient tools for acquiring and disseminating health information, the need to investigate its utilization by laypersons encountering common medical issues becomes increasingly essential. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the content posted in Facebook groups for Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and how these engage the members of the group. Methods: This study employed an inductive content analysis of user-posted content in both public and private Facebook groups catering specifically to G6PD deficiency. The G6PD Facebook groups with 10 or more posts within the past 12 months were selected for this study. Data were harvested from posts and comments using ExportComment. Results: A total of 46 G6PD-related Facebook groups were identified. Of which, 19 were public and 27 were private groups, with an average membership of 5000-6000 accounts. After eligibility based on criteria and authorization for private groups, 3 public and 3 private groups were included, with the majority of these groups focused on sharing information. Five main themes of posted content were identified: diagnosis, management, beliefs, psychosocial factors, and medical requirements. “Diagnosis”-related posts referred to conversations about the causes and symptoms of G6PD, “management” referred to medication or diet, “beliefs” involved traditional or lay perceptions, “psychosocial factors” referred to posts that disclosed how psychosocial factors influenced G6PD deficiency practices, and “medical requirements” referred to documentation regarding the condition. The bulk of these posts used three strategies for communication: information-requesting, self-disclosure, and promotion of products/services. Information requests were the most common. Conclusion The results of the study showed opportunities and challenges in health education on G6PD, especially in evaluating the credibility and accuracy of the information given and received. Looking at the content and manner of communicating information noted, the newborn screening program may improve its advocacy and education campaign, and may develop targeted educational materials and effective dissemination strategies that could clarify, explain, or refute information and beliefs mostly shared on these platforms.
Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; Self-Help Groups

The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of support group intervention on the various adaptations of primary family caregivers caring for Cerebro-Vascular Accident patients. The nonequivalent control group pretest- posttest design within the framework of Lazarus & Folkman's stress-adaptation model was used for this experimental study. The subjects were 86 primary family caregivers caring for Cerebro-Vascular Accident patients at K hospital in Taegu, D herbal hospital in Kyung Ju, H hospital in Pohang from March, 1998 to July, 1998. Among 86 subjects, 43 were placed in an experimental group and 43 in a control group. The experimental group was treated by researcher who administered informational and emotional support group intervention once a week over a five weeks period. The data were collected through interviews. Collected data was analized by means of a chi-square test, t-test, ANCOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results of this research were as follows: 1. Physical, emotional, and social adaptation scores in the experimental group were revealed to be significantly higher than those of the control group. 2. There was significant positive correlation among physical health, subjective burden, depression and objective burden. Accordingly, it is concluded that informational and emotional support group intervention was a useful nursing intervention on the various adaptations of primary family caregivers caring for Cerebro-Vascular Accident patients.
Caregivers* ; Daegu ; Depression ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Nursing ; Self-Help Groups*

The majority of childhood cancer survivors and their families will be psychologically healthy, but may desire and benefit from preventive care. A significant portion of the survivor population will be psychosocially distressed in various aspects by their harsh experience of long cancer treatment, and may warrant professional intervention and treatment. Pediatricians should be aware of the late psychological effects that can occur a year or 2 after treatment, possibly in many aspects of a survivor's life. Not only the cancer diagnosis, but also treatments such as chemotherapy, irradiation, and surgical intervention may exert different long-term effects on the psychosocial outcomes of survivors. Pediatricians need to be more concerned with maintaining and improving the psychological health of this growing number of childhood cancer survivors through long-term follow-up clinics, community support, or self-help groups. Research on all of the psychosocial aspects of childhood cancer survivors is important to recognize the reality and problems they face in Korea.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Self-Help Groups ; Survivors

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in psychosocial adjustment between younger (age< or =50) and older (age>50) breast cancer survivors, and to explore the role of sociodemographic and disease-related variables in predicting psychosocial adjustment between younger and older breast cancer survivors. METHODS: A total of 262 women participated in this study. A self-reported questionnaire, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report Korean version (PAIS-SR Korean version), was used. Data were analyzed with SAS/WIN 9.1 for descriptive statistics using the t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The psychosocial adjustment score of younger breast cancer survivors was significantly higher than that of older breast cancer survivors. Significant predictors influencing psychosocial adjustment in younger breast cancer survivors were marital state, menopausal cause, immune therapy, and self-help group, and these predictors account for 48% of the variance in psychosocial adjustment. Significant predictors influencing psychosocial adjustment in older breast cancer survivors were stage of cancer, monthly income, marital state, and menopausal cause. These predictors accounted for 35% of the variance in psychosocial adjustment. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the importance of counseling and educational programs to improve the psychosocial adjustment according to breast cancer survivors' age.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Counseling ; Female ; Humans ; Self-Help Groups ; Survivors*

The main purpose of this study was to identify the effects of group social support and individual social support on the reduction of burden and improvement in family functioning of families with asthmatic children. The design of this study was a randomized pre-posttest quasi-experimental design to compare the two experimental groups. The theoretical framework for this study was derived from the study of burden in family caregivers by Suh and Oh(1993) based on the main effect model of social support theories. The data were collected from February 12, 1998 to May 29, 1998 at the pediatric out patient department of a university hospital located in Suwon city. The sample consisted of 39 family members who were identified as families with asthmatic children, Eighteen subjects were randomly assigned to the group social support group and 21 were assigned to the individual social support group. Group and individual social support members were seen for 60 to 90 minutes, four times over one to three weeks. The instruments used in this study were the Burden Scale developed by Suh and Oh(1993), the Visual Analogue Scale, and the Family Adaptability Cohesion Evaluation Scale(FACES-III) developed by Olson, Portner, and Lavee(1985). The collected data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, x2-test, Wilcoxon sign rank test, t-test, ANOVA(Scheff), pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and social support process and content analysis. The results are as follow ; 1. There was no significant difference before the experimental treatment among the subjects in the group social support group and individual social support group for general characteristics, burden, or family functioning. 2. Hypothesis 1 ; "There will be a greater reduction on the burden score of the group social support group compared to the individual social support group" was not statistically significant(U=174.5, p=.683). The burden scores showed a significant decrease after participation in social support as compared to before participation for both groups. However there was a tendency for more reduction in the burden scores for the group social support than for individual social support. 3. Hypothesis 2 ; "There will be a greater improvement in the family functioning scores for the group social support group compared to the individual social support group" was not statistically significant(U=153.0, p=.309). There was a tendency toward improvement in the family functioning scores of the group social support as compared to that of the individual social support. 4. According to the length of the treatment period, families with asthmatic children displayed affirmative responses, and the families set up a self-help group of mothers with asthmatic children n order to share their experiences, to get information and to solve their problems. In conclusion, it was found that group social support was the more effective nursing intervention for reducing burden and for improving family functioning of families with asthmatic children.
Caregivers ; Child* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Self-Help Groups

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate job stress and stress coping strategy among workers in a regional statistics office. METHODS: A total of 133 workers in regional statistics office participated in this study and they were divided into two groups, survey group(n=109) and support group(n=24) depending on relation to statistical survey task. They were asked to respond to Short Form of Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS-SF) and Stress Coping Strategy(SCS) to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, job stress, and stress coping strategy. RESULTS: The proportion of the 133 participants in the sample was 59(44.4%) of men, 74(55.6%) of women. There were no significant differences in KOSS-SF scores in relation to age, sex, education, and marital status, while the KOSS-SF scores were significantly different between the two groups. In regard to the subscales of KOSS-SF, the two groups had significant differences in insufficient job control, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity, and organization system. In addition, the total score of KOSS-SF had a negative correlation with problem-focused coping strategy and social support coping strategy of SCS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that workers of survey group had more job stress compared to those who works in support group in regional statistical office. In addition, in comparison with workers of support group, both men and women of survey group get stressed when they were confronted with interpersonal conflicts. Our results suggest that using problem-focused coping and social support coping strategy lowers job stress.
Education ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Self-Help Groups

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of self-efficacy promotion programs on self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. METHODS: This study was conducted from November 1, 2009 to December 10, 2010. A total of 39 breast cancer patients, who received radiotherapy in a University hospital located in city B, participated in the study and were divided into two groups (experimental group 17 and control group 22). The data were analyzed with the chi2-test and ANCOVA using the SPSS/Win 17.0 program. RESULTS: Self-efficacy promotion programs aimed at self-management were effective in enhancing concrete self-efficacy but not effective in promoting general self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and quality of life among breast cancer patients who have received radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Organizing a support group for the breast cancer patients seems to be highly necessary to help themselves obtain higher level of specific self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and quality of life in general. It will also be beneficial for the breast cancer patients to understand their unique situations and improve their health problems for themselves.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Self Care ; Self Efficacy ; Self-Help Groups

PURPOSE: The purpose of this preliminary study was to develop and evaluate the effects of East-West Self-help program for Rehabilitation of post-stroke clients. METHOD: This program is developed through literature review, survey and seminar. The program is consisted of six sessions twice a week for 6 weeks. This program is composed of health education on stroke, exercise, oriental nursing interventions, and therapeutic recreation. The outcomes have been evaluated on the basis of perceived health status, self-efficacy, U/E function, ADLs and subjective response. RESULTS: 1) After the 6 week program, the perceived health status had improved and the score of rehabilitation self-efficacy increased significantly. 2) After the 6 week program, the score of BADL increased significantly, but, the score of IADL was not statistically significant. 3) After the 6 week program, the amount of use and quality of movement of the affected U/E were increased significantly. 4) All of the participants showed satisfaction with this program. CONCLUSION: Considering these research results, the program is effective in improving functional abilities and self-management ability. Therefore this program could be continuously developed and implemented as a community based self-helf group program for post-stroke clients.
Activities of Daily Living ; Health Education ; Nursing ; Recreation ; Rehabilitation* ; Self Care ; Self-Help Groups* ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The purpose of this preliminary study was to develop and evaluate the effects of East-West Self-help program for Rehabilitation of post-stroke clients. METHOD: This program is developed through literature review, survey and seminar. The program is consisted of six sessions twice a week for 6 weeks. This program is composed of health education on stroke, exercise, oriental nursing interventions, and therapeutic recreation. The outcomes have been evaluated on the basis of perceived health status, self-efficacy, U/E function, ADLs and subjective response. RESULTS: 1) After the 6 week program, the perceived health status had improved and the score of rehabilitation self-efficacy increased significantly. 2) After the 6 week program, the score of BADL increased significantly, but, the score of IADL was not statistically significant. 3) After the 6 week program, the amount of use and quality of movement of the affected U/E were increased significantly. 4) All of the participants showed satisfaction with this program. CONCLUSION: Considering these research results, the program is effective in improving functional abilities and self-management ability. Therefore this program could be continuously developed and implemented as a community based self-helf group program for post-stroke clients.
Activities of Daily Living ; Health Education ; Nursing ; Recreation ; Rehabilitation* ; Self Care ; Self-Help Groups* ; Stroke

Assessment of quality of life (QOL) is a new method to investigate the effectiveness of dietary regimen. Particularly, diet-related QOL is the most appropriate method to estimate social and psychological problems originated from dietary regimen practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diet-related QOL and the correlation between diet-related QOL and health-related QOL, and dietary regimen practice in online diabetes self-help patients who practice the dietary regimen. Sixty one subjects who intended to practice dietary regimen were recruited from online diabetes self-help community, and instructed to fill-up the self report questionnaires. Contents of questionnaire were comprised of general characteristics, clinical characteristics, dietary compliance, and dietary regimen practice. As a result, the mean score of the 'Dietary impact' among the diet-related QOL sub-scales was the lowest suggesting most of the subjects suffer from burden of dietary regimen practice. The "Dietary impact" was correlated with "Taste", "Convenience" and "Cost" (p < 0.05). "Self-care" and "Satisfaction" were positively associated with well-controlled blood glucose and dietary regimen compliance, but negatively associated with "Dietary impact". Diet-related QOL was significantly correlated with the Health-related QOL, particularly the mental and social component (p < 0.05). Diet-related QOL was negatively associated with BMI, and self monitoring blood glucose was negatively correlated with "Self-care" (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Diet-related QOL might be appropriate to evaluate the effects of dietary regimen or nutrition education. The need for dietary education of cognitive-behavioral strategies and problem-solving ability is required.
Blood Glucose ; Compliance ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Report ; Self-Help Groups