PURPOSE: This study was conducted to test the effects of a community-based depression prevention program on community people and the effectiveness was measured by assessing depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. The theoretical framework supporting the program was Ellis' REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) theory (1962). METHODS: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Study participants were 29 community residents (experimental: 14, control: 15). The depression prevention program consisted of music activity, bibliotherapy, and cognitive behavior therapy and was provided for 6 weeks (a twelve-session). Data were collected before and after the program and 3 months later for follow-up testing. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: There were no differences in outcome variables between the experimental and control groups. From the additional analyses, statistically significant differences by time point were observed for Self-esteem and Quality of life at 3 months later for experimental group. And 50% of the participants with depression symptoms no longer scored in the depression symptoms in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that depression prevention programs are positive in reducing depression in people suffering from depression symptoms. However some modifications are required to increase effectiveness.
Bibliotherapy ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Music ; Quality of Life*

We reviewed surgical specimens from 11 patients with diffuse neurofibroma to define the specific clinicopathologic characteristics. Ten cases were cutaneous neurofibromas and one case was an uncommon gastrointestinal neurofibroma involving the rectum. The most frequent sites of involvement were the head and neck, especially the eyelids and the periorbital areas. They usually presented as a plaque-like elevation of the skin. They primarily occured in children and young adults and positive family histories of von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis were obtained in 45.4%. Pathologically, the involved skin & rectum were diffusely thickened by an infiltrative growing mass, showing proliferation of short fusiform cells in the uniform matrix of fine fibrillary collagen. The characteristic prominence of Wagner-Meissner bodies (45.4%) suggests they could be associated with pathogenesis of diffuse neurofibroma. On the basis of these findings, we could confirm diffuse neurofibroma to be a distinct form of neurofibroma.
Child ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between depression, self-esteem and quality of life in a community population. METHODS: The subjects were given questionnaires which included general characteristics, measures of depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. Data were analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of depression was 81.47 (range 40~150). Gender, age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with depression. The mean score of self-esteem was 30.42 (range 16~39). Education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with self-esteem. The mean score of quality of life was 156.29 (range 81~229). Age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with quality of life. 28.9% of the subjects had experiences with depression symptoms. There were significant correlations among depression, self-esteem and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a need for a nursing intervention to decrease levels of depression in the depression group. In addition, it is necessary to develop a mental health promotion program in order to enhance self-esteem and quality of life in a community population.
Depression* ; Education ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between depression, self-esteem and quality of life in a community population. METHODS: The subjects were given questionnaires which included general characteristics, measures of depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. Data were analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of depression was 81.47 (range 40~150). Gender, age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with depression. The mean score of self-esteem was 30.42 (range 16~39). Education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with self-esteem. The mean score of quality of life was 156.29 (range 81~229). Age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with quality of life. 28.9% of the subjects had experiences with depression symptoms. There were significant correlations among depression, self-esteem and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a need for a nursing intervention to decrease levels of depression in the depression group. In addition, it is necessary to develop a mental health promotion program in order to enhance self-esteem and quality of life in a community population.
Depression* ; Education ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: This research investigated the daily experiences of patients' lives to develop a formal theory that explains the lives of schizophrenic patients. METHOD: A grounded theory method(Strauss & Corbin, 1998) guided the data collection and analysis. Thirteen patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia in regional communities participated. RESULT: The experiences of chronic schizophrenic patients are defined as "escaping from a fallen mine" comparing their suffering to that of entrapped miners trying to free themselves from a collapsed mine tunnel with much difficulty and without hope. In observing participant's time lines of having lived with chronic schizophrenia, it advances with "surrender", "collapse", "reaching out", "rising", "preparing to spring up", and "starting anew". CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the experience of a chronic schizophrenic patient is like that of a miner caught under a fallen mine channel, who, without external help cannot escape the depths of the mine, but at the same time must have conviction and hope of rescue and avert fear to cooperate with outside help. The result indicates that family members, doctors and nurses as well as an institute's persistent and active support is most critical for the patient's adjustment to social life.
Social Support ; *Schizophrenic Psychology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Fear ; Chronic Disease ; Adult

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effects of a smoking prevention program among preschool children. METHOD: This study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 141 preschool children aged 6 or 7 at two childcare centers in Jecheon City, who were divided into an experimental group (n=66) and a control group (n=75). The smoking prevention program was applied through 9 sessions and 30 minutes per session. Surveys were conducted before and after the smoking prevention program to examine the preschoolers' knowledge and attitude toward smoking and smoking coping behavior. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in smoking knowledge (t=-2.02, p=.044) and smoking coping behavior (t=-2.01, p=.047), but smoking attitude (t=-1.20, p=.230) was not statistically significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: As a result, further research is needed into the long term effects of a smoking prevention program on the future behavior of preschoolers so that the health benefits of early prevention can be quantified. It is necessary for parents to participate actively in influencing preschoolers' attitudes and behaviors with regard to the avoidance of smoking.
Adaptation, Psychological* ; Child, Preschool* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Parents ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a health education program on the health promoting behavior and self-efficacy in university students and evaluate its effects. METHOD: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The subjects were 148 students [experimental(N=80) and control(N=68) groups] from a university in J City. The experimental group members participated in thirteen sessions of a health education program for fifteen weeks and the degree of their health promoting behavior and self efficacy was evaluated. The instruments for this study were the health promoting lifestyle profile developed by Walker et al.(1987) and self-efficacy scale developed by Sherer & Maddux(1982). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and paired t-test using SPSS 10.0. RESULT: The experimental group had a significantly higher health promoting behavior score(F=10.389, p=.002) than the control group, while no significant difference was found in the self-efficacy score(F=.481, p=.489). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the health education program can be utilized as an effective program to promote health promoting behavior in university students.
Health Education* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Self Efficacy

Holoprosencephaly of unknown definite causes, has been associated with several chromosome abnormalities involving the autosomes and the sex chromosomes. The most commonly reported associations include dup(3p), del(7q), deletions of chromosome 13, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and triploidy. In previously reported cases in Korea, none were associated with chromosome 21 anomalies. In conclusion, we reported the first case of holoprosencephaly(semilobar type) associated with pure monosomy 21. We experienced a semilobar type holoprosencephaly with monosomy 21 in a neonate who had multiple congenital anomalies, including an abnormal face, a small thorax with widely spaced hypoplastic nipples and nail hypoplasia, lung hypoplasia with severe scoliosis and cardiac abnormalities. Chromosomal analysis revealed a 45, XY, -21.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Holoprosencephaly ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Lung ; Monosomy ; Nipples ; Scoliosis ; Sex Chromosomes ; Thorax ; Triploidy ; Trisomy

An eccrine nevus is a rare hamartoma characterized by an increase in the number or size of eccrine glands. Eccrine nevi usually present as localized hyperhidrosis and are not associated with overlying skin abnormalities. However, among the cases that have been reported in the literature, some unique presentations of eccrine nevi have been demonstrated, including a pigmented patch, a depressed nodule, linear papules, and a sacral skin tag. Herein, we report two unusual cases of coccygeal polypoid eccrine nevi and review the literature.
Coccyx ; Eccrine Glands ; Hamartoma ; Hyperhidrosis ; Nevus ; Skin ; Skin Abnormalities