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*

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

No abstract available.

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

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

BACKGROUND: Social support is defined as interpersonal transaction ; the giving of symbolic or material aid to another. It has been shown to have both buffering effects and direct beneficial effects on diverse health related outcomes. But there has been the dearth of well-validated measurement instruments. This article describes the development of Korean version of the Duke-UNC functional social support questionnaire(DUFSS), focusing on the aspect of social support. METHODS: The 13-item, self-administered questionnaire was translated to Korean language. It was evaluated on 177 patients attending the family medicine clinic of Seoul National University Hospital during one month(November, 1996.) Comparisons to the family APGAR, COOP/ WONCA functional status chart are made to assess validity. Factor analyses are performed. Correlation of the questionnire score with the sum of family APGAR and each items of COOP/ WONCA functional chart are measured Internal consistency are evaluated. RESULTS: The questionnaire score are correlated with significantly correlated with social activity item. The total Cronbachs alpha is calculated as 0.89. The four content areas developed by factor analyses are donfidant support(items 8, 9, 10), af fective support(items 4, 5, 6, 7), instrumental support(items 3, 12) and quantity of support(item 1). These shows similarity to American study results. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean version of the Duke-UNC functional social support questionnaire has been documented as having high reliability and moderate validity. It covers two dimensions well(confidant support, affective support) with a small enough number of questions. Instrumental support may need further study.
Humans ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Congenital Iobar agenesis of the liver is a rare anomaly. We report five cases (three cases of right Iobar agenesis and two cases of left Iobar agenesis) and discuss the radiologic findings of this congenital anomaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July, 1992 and February, 1993, three cases of right Iobar agenesis and two cases of left Iobar agenesis of the liver were diagnosed by means of computed tomography(CT) and/or sonography. MR imging was performed in two patients, cholangiography in two, and digital subtraction angiography in one. RESULTS: The main findings of right Iobar agenesis of the liver were nonvisualization of the right portal vein and absence of liver tissue to the right of gallbladder. The findings of left Iobar agenesis were nonvisualization of left portal vein, absence of liver tissue to the left of the gallbladder, and absence of ligamentum teres. The ancillary finding of the Iobar agenesis was visualization of less than three hepatic veins. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider Iobar agenesis of the liver in differential diagnosis when imaging studies reveal abnormal portal vein branches, unusual position of gallblader, absence of ligamentum teres, and visualization of less than three hepatic veins.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Cholangiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gallbladder ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver ; Portal Vein