Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of an eye health education program on the level of knowledge and eye health practice of middle school students. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted using a pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The study participants were from one middle school first graders in a province of Korea. The experimental group was composed of three classes (76 students), and the control group was composed of three other classes (77 students). Pretests were conducted in June for the experimental group and in August for the control group. The experimental group received an eye health education program developed for this study consisting of four sessions in total, given once a week for 45 minutes per session. The control group was instructed by the school's health teacher in the eye health education included in the existing health education curriculum. Posttests were conducted three weeks after the training in the control group and immediately after the fourth eye health education session in the experimental group. Results: After being instructed in the eye health education program, the eye health-related knowledge (t=9.45, p<.001) and eye health practice (t=2.18, p=.031) of the experimental group participating in the education program were higher than those of the control group. Conclusion The eye health education program was effective in improving middle school student’s level of eye health-related knowledge and eye health practice. School health teachers could implement this program as a part of the standard eye health education for middle school students. The long-term effects of practicing eye health behavior needs to be confirmed in a future study.

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine current status of women's health nursing practicum and identify necessary core nursing skills in this practicum area. Moreover, one syllabus and evaluation sheets for women's health nursing clinical practicum at one university were reviewed. METHODS: A survey design was used with 81 educators who were teaching maternity or women's health nursing and its practicum. RESULTS: Most clinical sites for practicum were university hospitals (43.0%), women's hospitals (32.7%), or general hospitals (17.3%); but the majority (77.8%) of educators expressed difficulty in finding appropriate practicum places. Common teaching and learning methods were clinical guides for practicum (44.6%), e-learning content (30.2%), and simulation (23.6%). Core nursing skills for this practicum included assessment of stages of labor, preparation of uterine-fetal monitoring devices and interpretation of results, monitoring uterus and fetal activity, and performing Leopold's maneuver. For postpartum care, the following were included; postpartum fundal massage, assessment of breast engorgement, fundus height, and episiotomy sites, inserting urinary catheter, and teaching the use of patient-controlled analgesia. CONCLUSION: To improve the quality of clinical practicum, development of a clear course syllabus, standardized clinical guidebook, and core nursing skills is required and should be shared with all relevant nurse educators.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Breast ; Clinical Competence ; Education ; Episiotomy ; Female ; Fetal Movement ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Infant, Newborn ; Learning ; Massage ; Maternal-Child Nursing ; Nursing* ; Postnatal Care ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Urinary Catheters ; Uterus ; Women's Health*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the accuracy and adequacy of research papers reporting statistical testings for correlation and regression. METHOD: Original research articles utilized correlation and regression analysis were reviewed from the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing published from the year 2004 to 2006. Thirty-six papers were evaluated in accordance with formatted criteria in respect to an inclusiveness of research title, accuracy of statistical methods and presentation styles, and errors in reporting statistical outcomes. RESULT: Thirty articles (83.3%) utilized Pearson's correlational analysis, and ten articles did regression analysis. Lack of accurate understanding and interpretation of the statistical method was a main fault. Basic assumptions and diagnostic testings for each statistical method were not performed or described in most of the studies. Some points like consistency of research questions with statistical methods and criteria for sample size were still left out in part. Details of the presentation in the reporting of outcomes were not complied with the guidelines, which need careful concerns of the writers. Errors in English of result tables were found in more than one third of the tables. CONCLUSION: The outcome would be reflected in the submission guidelines for future writers. To reach the level comparable with internationally recognized nursing journals, concrete knowledge to apply statistical methods should be ensured in the processes of submission, reviews, and editing.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Sample Size ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: The study aimed to apply Tai Chi exercise to patients with coronary artery disease for 6 months, and to examine changes on body composition, physical strength, and cardiovascular risks. METHODS: Applying a quasi experimental design with a nonequivalent control group, 90 subjects with cardiovascular disease were recruited at C university hospital. For 6 months, 44 subjects performed Tai Chi exercise once a week and daily home exercise, while 46 subjects did not. Body composition was assessed by body mass index, % body fat, and waist-hip ratio; physical strength by balance, mobility, flexibility, grip strength, and back muscle strength; and cardiovascular risk checklist for fixed and modifiable risk factors. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN program with ANCOVA to consider group differences at the pretest. RESULTS: The subjects were 66 years old in average. In 6 months, Tai Chi group improved significantly in balance, mobility, and flexibility with decreased modifiable cardiovascular risks after adjusting for the pretest scores. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi exercise was safely applicable to individuals with coronary artery disease, and effective in some measures of physical strength and modifiable cardiovascular risks. It could be an alternative exercise for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in this population.
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Checklist ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Muscles ; Outpatients ; Pliability ; Research Design ; Risk Factors ; Tai Ji

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of antenatal depression in pregnant women and its influencing factors. METHODS: With a cross-sectional survey design, a total of 396 pregnant women were recruited from a local obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Measurements included antenatal depression, perceived stress, predictors of depression during pregnancy, and demographic and obstetric characteristics. RESULTS: Mean antenatal depression score was 8.20 (standard deviation=4.95) out of 30, falling into its normal range. However, the prevalence of antenatal depression was 35.9% when cut-point of 9/10 was used. The prevalence of antenatal depression among women in the first trimester was 31.4%. It was slightly increased to 34.9% in the second trimester but significantly increased to 40.5% in the third trimester. In multiple logistic regression analysis, experiencing prenatal anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 4.16), having no job (OR, 2.90), lower self-esteem (OR, 1.62), and higher perceived stress (OR, 1.32) were significant factors influencing antenatal depression. CONCLUSION: Negative feeling such as feeling anxious, lower self-esteem, and higher perceived stress during pregnancy are key factors affecting antenatal depression. Thus, antenatal nursing intervention focusing on pregnant women's feeling upon their job status is necessary to improve their antenatal psychological well-being.
Accidental Falls ; Anxiety ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Health ; Nursing ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify menstrual distress, coping method and relief of symptoms among female nurses who worked with 3-shift. METHODS: A total of 185 participants were recruited from November 18, 2011 to January 30, 2012. The measurement included menstrual distress and coping method questionnaire and relief of symptoms. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients with SPSS 19.0. RESULTS: The level of menstrual distress was moderate (mean 3.0), and there were significant differences in menstrual distress by age, education, stress, regularity of menstrual cycle. Among the coping methods, coping according to menstrual cycle specific was the most frequently used, followed by active recognizing coping, active behavioral coping, and avoidance coping. Among the degree of symptom relief, symptom relief score was the highest when used coping according to menstrual cycle specific. Menstrual distress was associated with stress, adequate amount of sleep, dysmenorrhea and number of coping method total. CONCLUSION: Nurses experienced moderate levels of menstrual distress and used various types of coping to relieve it. There is a need for hospital nurses to develop an effective nursing intervention to relieve the menstrual distress and utilize active coping methods.
Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The study was done to compare quality of life by gender, and to identify factors which explain quality of life in individuals with coronary artery disease. METHODS: For the survey, 91 individuals (53 men and 38 women) agreed to participate in the study. Cardiovascular risk factors, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, health behavior as well as quality of life, were measured. Descriptive statistics, t-test, correlation and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS WIN 12.0 were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Significant gender differences were found for education, smoking status, chronic disease, perceived health status, and quality of life within sub-dimensions. Hierarchical regression analysis showed gender (men), age, perceived health status, cardiovascular risk scores, and health behaviors together explained 40.2% (adjusted R2) of variance in quality of life. CONCLUSION: As the factors explaining quality of life in individuals with coronary artery disease have been identified as gender (men), age, perceived health status, and health behaviors, health promotion programs designed for this population should focus on these factors for effective behavioral modification, and consequent improvement in quality of life.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/*psychology ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Diet ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: Natural menopause resulting in the decline in endogenous estrogen concentrations is responsible for an increased risk of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a 6-month Tai Chi exercise program on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life in post-menopausal women. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measures was used. The participants in the study, 29 women in the Tai Chi group and 31 in the control group, were enrolled for 6 months. RESULTS: After 6 months of Tai Chi exercise, total cholesterol (M=213 to 185), LDL-cholesterol (M=135 to 128), and their 10 yr cardiovascular disease risk (M=2.62 to 2.27) had improved significantly for the Tai Chi participants compared to the control group. Total scores for quality of life along with the sub-dimensions of health perception and mental functioning were also significantly higher in the Tai Chi participants. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi exercise favorably affected cardiovascular health and quality of life in post-menopausal women after 6 months. Additional rigorous studies are needed to examine long term effects on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in this population.
Aged ; Attitude to Health ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*prevention & control ; Cholesterol/blood ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; *Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; *Tai Ji

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to survey the health behaviors related to reproductive health, reproductive health history, and sexual behaviors of college students in local areas. METHOD: With a survey design, 792 college students from C and D areas were recruited to assess health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as history of reproductive health and sexual behaviors. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire from November to December, 2007. RESULT: Mean age of the students was 20.8(SD=1.96) and gender distribution was 29.2% for male and 70.8% for female. Unhealthy behaviors were alcohol drinking, smoking, excessive weight loss, and irregular exercise; unsafe sex practices were experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners and history of sexually transmitted disease (STD). Male students had more alcohol drinking (p=.04), smoking(p<.001), excessive weight loss(p=.01), experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners(p<.001), history of STD(p=.025) compared to females. On the other hands, female students participated in regular exercise less than males(p<.001). CONCLUSION: College students seem to perform unhealthy behaviors related to reproductive health and less effective way of safe sex practices. Therefore, a planned education program for reproductive health promotion operated by college level is needed to assess and improve the level of reproductive health in college students.
Alcohol Drinking ; Coitus ; Female ; Hand ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproductive Health ; Safe Sex ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Unsafe Sex ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: This study was based on social-role theory, and purposes were to investigate (1) how depression and health determinants vary with married and employed women, and (2) what factors contribute to depression according to family cycle. METHODS: A stratified convenience sample of 765 married and employed women was recruited during May to August 2010. Study variables of depression, socio-demographic threatening factors, psycho-stimulating factors, and social-role related factors were measured via a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Prevalence rate for depression was 18.6%, with highest rate (25.4%) from elementary laborers. Greater levels of depression were related to women's occupation, higher life stress, and poorer health; lower social support and vulnerable personality; higher levels of social-role related stress. From multivariate analysis, women with preadolescents were the most vulnerable to depression affected by occupation, life stress, personality, and parenting stress. These factors (except for occupational class) combined with economic status, social support, and housework unfairness were significant for depression in women with adolescents. CONCLUSION: Depression among married and employed women differs by psycho-stimulating and social role relevant factors in addition to occupational class and family life cycle. Female elementary laborers and women with children need to have the highest prioritization for community mental health programs.
Adult ; Depression/epidemiology/*psychology ; Employment ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Marriage ; Models, Theoretical ; Parenting ; Questionnaires ; *Social Support ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; Women's Health