PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to: (a) develop a comprehensive communication course combined with a group program for improving communication skills; and (b) examine the effects of the comprehensive communication course on interpersonal communication, relationship change, self-esteem, and depression in nursing students. METHOD: The experimental group consisted of 82 nursing students, and the control group, 108 nursing students. Both groups each took communication courses from March to June, 2002 and 2003. A group program for improving communication skills was conducted for each 8 subgroups of the experimental group for 90 minutes once a week during the 6 weeks, while the existing communication lecture was conducted for the control group. Both groups were post-tested after the intervention for verifying the difference of variables between the two groups, and the experimental group was also pre-tested for verifying the difference between before and after the treatment. RESULT & CONCLUSION: Interpersonal communication score of the post-test in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group and the depression score of the post-test in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group. Interpersonal communication, relationship change and self-esteem scores were significantly increased and the depression score was significantly decreased in experimental group after the treatment. In conclusion, the comprehensive communication course that was developed in this study had positive effects on communication skills in nursing students.
Adolescent ; Adult ; *Communication ; *Education, Nursing ; Female ; Humans ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Nurse-Patient Relations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that influence risk-taking behavior in middle school students. METHODS: The participants in this study were 544 students from 4 middle schools in Seoul or Gyeonggi Province. From July 16, to September 9, 2008, data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Demographic, individual, socio-economic characteristics of risk-taking behavior were examined. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, zero-inflated negative binomial regression as count model using SAS 9.1 and Stata 10.0 program were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The score for risk-taking behavior of the middle school students tended to be low with thrill-seeking behavior being the highest. Risk-taking behavior was higher for boys and for students not living with parents. Stress coping ability, family risk factors, family functioning, peer's risk-taking behavior, and harmful environment were correlated with risk-taking behavior. On zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis, the factor significantly influencing risk-taking behavior were self-esteem and for increased risk-taking behavior, family functioning, and peer's risk-taking behavior. CONCLUSION: A risk-taking behavior approach that considers developmental needs is useful in understanding the behavior of early adolescents. Development of effective guidance and interventions considering factors influencing risk-taking behavior as identified in this study is recommended.
Adolescent ; Analysis of Variance ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Parents ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking* ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore status and level of communication ability, interpersonal relationships, anxiety, and depression in Korean soldiers and identify factors that influence depression. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was employed. The instruments were PCI (Primary Communication Inventory), RCS (Relationship Change Scale), STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and CES-D (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale). Data were collected from 961 soldiers from Gyeong-gi Province and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score for PCS, RCS were 87.0+/-11.43; and 98.8+/-14.17 respectfully and for STAI-I (state-anxiety), and STAI-II (trait-anxiety), 34.7+/-10.36; and 36.6+/-9.64 respectfully, and for CES-D, 11.2+/-7.0. Of the participants 22.2% were in the clinical group for depression. Major variables showing significant correlations were family intimacy, intimacy with friends or colleague, and inconvenience in not being able to use computer or internet. STAI-II, intimacy with friends or colleague, STAI-I accounted for 44.2double dagger of the variance in depression. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that a systemic approach needed to relieve soldiers' anxiety and depression. Development of program for communication training, activities for leisure and interpersonal relationship during military life could contribute to lessening depression and anxiety in solder.
Anxiety* ; Communication* ; Depression* ; Friends ; Humans ; Internet ; Leisure Activities ; Military Personnel*

PURPOSE: The relationship between perception of recovery by people with mental health problems and job satisfaction in community mental health professionals was examined in this study. METHODS: A correlational survey design was used. Data were collected from 176 community mental health professionals who worked in 29 community mental health centers in Gyeonggi Province. The perception of recovery was measured with the Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) by Bedregal, O'Connell & Davidson (2006) and job satisfaction was measured with Job Satisfaction Scale developed by Lee (2009). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire. The SPSS/WIN 12.0 program was used for descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: There was no correlation between perception of recovery and job satisfaction. But a statistically significant difference was found between the roles of self-definition and peers in recovery and the job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that community mental health professionals are still have a low level for perception of recovery. The results also suggest that health professionals' understanding of the concept of recovery is not sufficient. It is necessary to include recovery knowledge for community mental health professionals in education programs.
Community Mental Health Centers ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Job Satisfaction* ; Mental Health* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a communication course with lecture, small group activity and music therapy for nursing students, compared to a conventional lecture course. METHODS: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group with a pre-post test. Data were collected by questionnaires from 166 nursing students from Y University, Seoul, Korea, with 92 in the experimental group and 74 in the control group. A 13 session program with lecture, small group activity and music therapy was given to the experimental group in 2008, while a conventional lecture course was given to the control group in 2007. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and independent/paired t-tests. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in interpersonal communications or relationships change between the experimental and control group. We found that which area in interpersonal communication and relationships had a positive effect in each course. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to consider the characteristics of students and thoroughly prepare for operational difficulties in advance of effectively administering various instructional methods in communication courses for nursing students in the second year.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Korea ; Music Therapy ; Music* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare factors predicting depressive symptoms in single and married employed women. METHODS: A comparative study using a cross-sectional survey design was used. The participants were 373 single and 355 married women. Measurements used for this study were demographic and work-related characteristics, physical conditions, self-efficacy, stressful life events, and depression. The SAS 9.1 program was used for descriptive statistics, chi2 test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and stepwise- multiple regression. RESULTS: Single employed women (SEW) had higher scores for stressful life events than married employed women (MEW), but there was no difference in depression between the groups. In examining the factors predicting depression, stressful life events and self-efficacy explained a portion of the variance in depression for both groups. Family monthly income and working hours were significant variables for SEW, while satisfaction with marriage and role as wife was significant for MEW. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mental health of MEW is not worse than it is for SEW, and they do not suffer from multi-role strain. Although different variables explained depression for these women, family-related factors are especially important to MEW.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage ; Mental Health ; Spouses ; Women, Working

PURPOSE: The purposes of this descriptive study were to: (a) describe the identifiable characteristics of the population of battered women; (b) examine mental health aspects by means of measuring level of anxiety, self-esteem, and depression. METHOD: A convenience sample of 96 battered women was recruited from women who were admitted to a shelter. RESULT & CONCLUSION: Data from this study supported the assertion that many battered women were exposed to severe physical abusive situations. Also the major finding was that the levels of anxiety and depression were high and the level of self-esteem was low in battered women living in shelters.
Anxiety ; Battered Women* ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Mental Health* ; Methods

Purpose: In the present study, we aimed to establish a liquid biopsy-based monitoring method using peripheral blood cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients with cervical cancer were prospectively recruited and treated with external beam RT and brachytherapy. In all patients, except one, chemotherapy was administered concurrently during RT. Whole peripheral blood samples were obtained at least twice from each patient. We performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the target-captured libraries (67 oncogenes and human papillomavirus [HPV] type 16/18) using 64 plasma cfDNA samples from the 25 participants. The ratio of HPV cfDNA and the variant allele frequency (VAF) in cfDNA was calculated, and their dynamic changes were monitored. The median follow-up duration was 25.4 months. Results: In total, we identified 21,866 cfDNA variants. ARID1A and frameshift variants occupied the largest portion of altered genes and HIGH-grade variant types, respectively. In most cases, tumor shrinkage was followed by a decrease in the HPV ratio; however, an increase in HPV ratio indicated distant metastasis, despite the reduced tumor size. The initial HPV ratio reflecting the tumor burden was likely associated with treatment outcomes (p = 0.16). We did not determine a role for serial changes in the VAF in cfDNA. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the HPV cfDNA ratio, calculated after targeted NGS, may be valuable for monitoring and predicting treatment responses. Accordingly, further validation of these findings is warranted.

BACKGROUND: For phosphate control, patient education is essential due to the limited clearance of phosphate by dialysis. However, well-designed randomized controlled trials about dietary and phosphate binder education have been scarce. METHODS: We enrolled maintenance hemodialysis patients and randomized them into an education group (n = 48) or a control group (n = 22). We assessed the patients’ drug compliance and their knowledge about the phosphate binder using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The primary goal was to increase the number of patients who reached a calcium-phosphorus product of lower than 55. In the education group, 36 (75.0%) patients achieved the primary goal, as compared with 16 (72.7%) in the control group (P = 0.430). The education increased the proportion of patients who properly took the phosphate binder (22.9% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.087), but not to statistical significance. Education did not affect the amount of dietary phosphate intake per body weight (education vs. control: −1.18 ± 3.54 vs. −0.88 ± 2.04 mg/kg, P = 0.851). However, the dietary phosphate-to-protein ratio tended to be lower in the education group (−0.64 ± 2.04 vs. 0.65 ± 3.55, P = 0.193). The education on phosphate restriction affected neither the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment score (0.17 ± 4.58 vs. −0.86 ± 3.86, P = 0.363) nor the level of dietary protein intake (−0.03 ± 0.33 vs. −0.09 ± 0.18, P = 0.569). CONCLUSION: Education did not affect the calcium-phosphate product. Education on the proper timing of phosphate binder intake and the dietary phosphate-to-protein ratio showed marginal efficacy.
Body Weight ; Compliance ; Dialysis ; Diet* ; Dietary Proteins ; Education* ; Humans ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Patient Education as Topic ; Phosphates ; Renal Dialysis*