BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors for preventive behaviors of falls in elderly inpatients. METHODS: Data on 200 elderly inpatients at one university hospital were collected. Descriptive analysis, independent t-test, analysis of variance, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were done to analyze the data. RESULTS: The high risk group, scoring higher than 5.0 in the degree of self-awareness of fall risk, scored low in knowledge about falls while subjects with activity limitations and not using hearing aids scored significantly high in the same area. Subjects with no training regarding falls and the high risk group scored low in fall efficacy while subjects with activity limitations and using hearing aids scored significantly high in the same area. The degree of self-awareness of fall risk, knowledge about falls, and fall efficacy were significant factors affecting fall prevention activities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that self-awareness of the risk of falls, knowledge about falls, and fall efficacy are significant factors in preventing falls. These factors should be considered when developing nursing assessment tools and intervention programs for elderly inpatients.
Accidental Falls ; Aged ; Hearing Aids ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Nursing Assessment

No abstract available.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide* ; Calcitonin* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine relationships between critical thinking disposition and multiple intelligences. METHOD: Participants were nursing students (N=186) who completed a questionnaire assessing critical thinking disposition and multiple intelligences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance with post hoc comparison, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: For type of multiple intelligences, 32.9% of students had the strongest fit for "interpersonal intelligence" type and 20.1% for "intrapersonal intelligence" type. Mean score for critical thinking disposition was 3.42+/-0.37. Factors related to critical thinking disposition were participation in club activities (F=5.962, p=.001) with a representative role in the club (t=2.140, p=.034). There were significant differences in interpersonal intelligence scores by personality traits (t=2.445, p=.015), participation in club activities (F=10.003, p<.001), and friendship (t=2.539, p=.012); and significant differences in intrapersonal intelligence scores by participation in club activities (F=3.862, p=.010), having a representative role in the club (t=2.101, p=.037), and friendship (t=2.220, p=.029). CONCLUSION: Results indicate that critical thinking disposition is significantly associated with multiple intelligences and suggest that multiple intelligences should be considered to enhance critical thinking disposition when tailored teaching is adopted in nursing education.
Education, Nursing ; Friends ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing* ; Thinking*

The purpose of this pilot study was to identify the effects of hand moxibustion therapy to decrease pain and relieve coldness of the body in women who had a hysterectomy. The conceptual framework of this study was derived from Ying-Yang, Khi and other corresponding theories. The data were collected from February to May 1997. A Graphic Rating scale was used to measure the degree of pain and Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I) was used to examine the degree of coldness. The subjects were women who resided in Seoul and had a hysterectomy within five years. An experimental group was composed of five women who received moxibustion and a control group was composed of five who did not. The research procedure began with having both the experimental group and control group describe their general characteristics and the degree of pain they perceived. Then, Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I) was conducted. Moxibustion was only given to the experimental group on both hands twice every day for a total of five weeks. Their perception of pain and D.I.T.I were examined weekly. The control group received no therapy. After finishing therapy, the perception of pain and D.I.T.I for both groups were also measured. According to this study, moxibustion therapy resulted in a change of body temperature on the right shoulder joint(p=0.00074), abdomen(p= 0.0047), waist(p=0.0068) and hands(p=0.0317) respectively. Also, the study results showed significant decrease (p=0.0001) in pain over time and significant improvement over body coldness.
Body Temperature ; Female ; Hand* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Moxibustion* ; Pilot Projects ; Seoul ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the tailored group exercise program on perceived health status, physical strength, depression and cognitive function in seniors. METHODS: The subjects were 42 seniors of the experimental group and 28 seniors of the control group. The exercise program tailored by physical fitness was carried out for 16 weeks. The dependent variables were measured by Perceived Health Status Scale, The Senior Fitness Test, MMSE-K, and GDS-K. The collected data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test and t-test, and ANCOVA using the SAS program. RESULTS: In terms of physical strength and depression there was significant difference among groups. Perceived health status and cognitive function were not significant different among groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, the tailored exercise program was effective and safe for the elderly, and resulted in improving physical and psychological health status in the elderly. This demonstrated that the tailored group exercises program on the basis of the subject's fitness, played an essential role in maintaining and improving the health.
Aged ; Depression ; Exercise ; Humans ; Phenothiazines ; Physical Fitness

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the using pattern of alternative therapies in the elderly. Method: 197 subjects, persons who were more than 60 years old, we interviewed. We modified and complemented Shin's(2000) instrument in accordance with purpose of this study. Data were analyzed statistically by using SAS program. RESULTS: 1. It was shown that 66.84% of subjects have utilized one or more types of alternative therapy. 2. It was shown that the most frequently used types are acupuncture (48.83%), and ethmoid bone therapy (42.75%). 3. Acupuncture was shown to be the most satisfactory type of therapy (14.50%). 4. There was a significant difference in the use ratio by sex; female 73.47% and male 60.20%. 5. Among users of alternative therapies, the most frequent responses to each question were as follows; 1. Motive of Use - "for complete cure of symptoms" (32.31%). 2. Side effects - "no side effects" (95.97%). CONCLUSION: We found that elderly persons used alternative therapies more frequently than others perpulations. Diet therapy and Hand therapy were most commonly used in older people. Although the elderly use alternative therapy, they cannot place confidence in its scientific reliability. Therefore, we need to examine the effects of alternative therapy.
Acupuncture ; Aged* ; Complement System Proteins ; Complementary Therapies ; Diet Therapy ; Ethmoid Bone ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the using pattern of alternative therapies in the elderly. Method: 197 subjects, persons who were more than 60 years old, we interviewed. We modified and complemented Shin's(2000) instrument in accordance with purpose of this study. Data were analyzed statistically by using SAS program. RESULTS: 1. It was shown that 66.84% of subjects have utilized one or more types of alternative therapy. 2. It was shown that the most frequently used types are acupuncture (48.83%), and ethmoid bone therapy (42.75%). 3. Acupuncture was shown to be the most satisfactory type of therapy (14.50%). 4. There was a significant difference in the use ratio by sex; female 73.47% and male 60.20%. 5. Among users of alternative therapies, the most frequent responses to each question were as follows; 1. Motive of Use - "for complete cure of symptoms" (32.31%). 2. Side effects - "no side effects" (95.97%). CONCLUSION: We found that elderly persons used alternative therapies more frequently than others perpulations. Diet therapy and Hand therapy were most commonly used in older people. Although the elderly use alternative therapy, they cannot place confidence in its scientific reliability. Therefore, we need to examine the effects of alternative therapy.
Acupuncture ; Aged* ; Complement System Proteins ; Complementary Therapies ; Diet Therapy ; Ethmoid Bone ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to understand the conceptual definition and attributes of the clinical critical thinking ability(CCTA) in nursing and to grasp the characteristics of clinical critical thinking abilities. METHODS: The data were analyzed using the Hybrid model of Schwartz-Barcott and Kim(2000). RESULTS: Having the skills and dispositions to think critically, CCTA refers to something that implies the cognizant ability to interpret contextual meanings, analyze the relationships between materials or circumstances, draw out the best conclusions, predict things using relevant information and evaluate the reliability of information and the strength of inference on the one hand and the emphatic disposition to be curious, open-minded, intellectually integral, systematic and creative and to reflect on things in contextual terms on the other. CONCLUSION: CCTA is characterized by clinical circumstances, such as guessing the reasons for facts, predicting things, connecting theory to practice and approaching individual situation in total terms as well as by the Korean circumstances, such as taking another person's perspective. Hence, this study proposes developing the tools to measure the clinical critical thinking ability and the strategies to improve the clinical critical thinking ability and seeking to verify their validity, on the basis of the findings.
Chimera ; Clinical Competence ; Concept Formation ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Problem Solving ; Thinking

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of insomnia and to compare sleep patterns, demographic characteristics, and obstacles for sleep between women with and without insomnia. METHODS: This was a descriptive study. Study participants were 1,679 Korean women aged over 20 years. Information on symptoms of insomnia, sleep patterns, and related factors was assessed by questionnaire. Symptoms of insomnia included difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep and early morning awakening. RESULTS: This study found that 32.0% of the study participants had insomnia, subjects with insomnia had bad sleep patterns compared to comparison group, lower educational level and menopause were closely related to insomnia, and noise, temperature, lighting, presence of bed partner, intake of caffeine, frequent urination, and pain or itching were associated with insomnia. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that insomnia is prevalent in women and closely associated with education level and menopausal status.
Caffeine ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Noise ; Prevalence* ; Pruritus ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* ; Urination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for proper pain management. METHOD: Data were collected from 85 hospitalized patients with cancer pain. A retrospective chart review of level of pain, source of pain, verbal expression of pain, and pain management was done. The data were analyzed with the SPSS program. RESULTS: The level of pain measured by NRS at the three time points was as follows: Time 1 (4.40+/-2.25), Time 2 (0.61+/-1.30), Time 3 (2.47+/-2.75). The kinds of pain were somatic pain (51.8%), visceral pain (37.6%), neuropathic pain (12.9%). The analgesic amount measured by OME (oral morphine equivalent) was as follows: Time 1 (70.85+/-69.65), Time 2 (91.61+/-89.20), Time 3 (96.71+/-94.25). Degree of pain had significant differences according to type of cancer (F=-3.286, p= .002), cancer origin (F=2.906, p= .018), and metastasis (F=2.906, p= .018) at Time 2. Best control period had significant difference according to type of cancer (F=2.373, p= .023), and origin of cancer (F=2.466, p= .040) at Time 2. CONCLUSION: These finding will enable the application of nursing interventions for pain control in cancer patients, identification of kinds of nursing compared to priorities, and increased levels of comfort in cancer patients in clinical settings.
Analgesics ; Humans ; Morphine ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuralgia ; Nociceptive Pain ; Pain Management ; Retrospective Studies ; Visceral Pain