PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe phenomenological structures of the lived experience of struggling against an illness for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). METHODS: The participants were 7 patients with ALS recruited by snowball sampling who agreed to participate in this research and could verbally communicated with the researcher. Data were collected by long term-repeated interviews with participants in their own homes. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method of phenomenology. RESULTS: Four categories were extracted as follows: 'Being seized with fear of death', 'Living a marginal life', 'Accepting hard fate', and 'Clinging to faint life'. Seven theme clusters were identified as: 'Wandering to find a healing method with ominous signs in the body', 'Having a diagnosis of ALS is like a bolt from the blue and struggling against illness with faint hope', 'Being forced out to the edge of life with anguish', 'Filling one's heart with hatred and longing toward becoming estranged from the world', 'Living with stigma as a stumbling block with bitter grief in one's heart', 'Accepting every things as one's fate with self controlled fear of death', and 'Attaching to desire to live'. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used to develop the programs to support patients with ALS and their family.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/*psychology ; Female ; Grief ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Korean mothers in parenting children with Hunter's syndrome, an X linked recessive genetically inherited disease usually affecting boys. METHODS: Data were collected from 14 mothers having children with Hunter's syndrome, through two focus group interviews and individual in-depth interviews. Qualitative data from the field notes and transcribed notes were analyzed using the grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss & Corbin (1998). RESULTS: The core category about the process of rearing children with Hunter's syndrome was identified as "navigating in the maze". The process of rearing children with Hunter's syndrome passed through three phases; 'entering an unknown region', 'struggling to escape from the unknown region', 'settling down in the unknown region'. CONCLUSION: In this study "navigating in the maze", as the core category deeply showed joys and sorrows of mothers in the process of rearing their children with Hunter's syndrome. In this rearing process they gradually adjusted themselves to their given condition. Also they gained initiatively coping strategies to care for, and protect their children. Therefore health care providers can establish supportive programs in the clinical field to empower these mothers by reflecting their proactive coping strategies.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Child ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Life Change Events ; Mothers/*psychology ; Mucopolysaccharidosis II/diagnosis/*psychology ; Parenting/*psychology ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological

The Purpose of the study was to understand the experience of chronic renal failure patients for the qualified individual care for them. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of patients living with chronic renal failure and to identify the meaning and structure of their experience. The subjects were four patients, two females and two males. The age range was from 21 to 54. Data was collected with a few in-depth interviews by the authors until the data was fully saturated. The framework and methodology of this study was based on Parse's "Human Becoming methodology," an existential phenomenological research methodology. The findings of this study were as follows. Three experience structures of chronic renal failure patients were : 1. Sufferings and conflicts originated in the frustration caused by uncurable disease. 2. Dependence upon God and significant others with complex emotions. 3. Acceptance of sufferings, emerging hope for serving people, and gratitude for living. In conclusion the experience of chronic renal failure patients could be described from the findings (three structures) as "Experiencing the sufferings, conflicts originated in the frustration caused by uncurable disease, dependence upon God and significant others with complex emotion, acceptance of the suffering and hope for serving people, and gratitude for living." The three structures of the lived experience of patients with chronic renal failure, the findings of this study, could be explained by the three concepts of "Theory of Human Becoming," the first structure could be explained with values, the second with revealing-concealing, and the third with transforming.
Female ; Frustration ; Hope ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Male ; Research Design

No abstract available.
Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor*

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of hospice nurses on spiritual care. METHODS: Data was collected from 9 hospice nurses by using in-depth interview. The main questions include what they understand as spiritual care, when they feel the needs of spiritual care, how they perform spiritual care, and what is the outcome of spiritual care. The data was analyzed by grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: The core category of experience of hospice nurses on spiritual care was identified as "Untie a knot of mind". In the process of spiritual care in hospice nurses was consisted of soothing, dwelling with, releasing, giving meaning, plunging, and going beyond a life. CONCLUSION: The result of this study was expected to give useful information to nurses and nursing managers about the real situation of performance of spiritual care. The findings of this study contributes to developing programs and supportive policies for encouraging spiritual care.
Hospices

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the role adaptation process experienced by executive directors of nursing department of general hospitals. METHODS: Data were collected from 9 executive nursing directors though in-depth interviews about their experiences. The main question was "How do you describe your experience of the process of role adaptation as an executive nursing director?" Qualitative data from field and transcribed notes were analyzed using Strauss & Corbin's grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: The core category of experience of the process of role adaptation as an executive nursing director was identified as "entering the center with pushing and pulling". The participants used five interactional strategies; 'maintaining modest attitudes', 'inquiring about trends of popular feeling', 'making each person a faithful follower', 'collecting & displaying power', 'leading with initiative'. The consequences of role adaptation in executive nursing directors were 'coexisting with others', 'immersing in one's new role with dedication', and 'having capacity for high tolerance'. The types of role adaptations of executive directors in nursing department were friendly type, propulsive type, accommodating type. CONCLUSION: The results of this study produced useful information for executive nursing directors on designing a self-managerial program to enhance role adaptation based on interactional strategies.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Leadership ; Middle Aged ; Nurse Administrators/*psychology ; Professional Competence

OBJECTIVES: In order to devise the combination module transmitting bio signal and signal data remotely, as defect of wirewireless combination module was complemented by designing a single combination of wireless module and power supply module, a single system was implemented. METHODS: Currently in case of wireless transmission, it had various problems causing by some factors such as buildings, obstruction, and entanglement of wires and so on. In order to overcome problems of wireless transmission, a single combination module design was researched, which transmits vital signal and sign data using basic electric line installed in the inner building or between others. Even though it was also possible of wireless communication and the internet, in case of a power supply without them, it could be possible to transfer data to underground or top ground in the inner building without any special communication line. RESULTS: Bio signal data was transmitted through a power supply line, a noise problem occurred would be solved by the designed noise filter. The filter showed that noise was cut off about more than 90%. It was also confirmed that the used ECG signals was stably received on transmission experiment. An internal PCB antenna could make the system be wireless communication without the disclosure of an antenna. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, in order to implement a useful system transmitting bio signal and data through wire and wireless management for combination design of wireless module and electrical line module, bio signal transmission system was implemented by design of noise break filter circuit to reduce power noise and PCB internal antenna design.
Complement System Proteins ; Disclosure ; Electric Power Supplies ; Electrocardiography ; Internet ; Noise ; Vital Signs

The purpose of this study was to examine professors’ and students’ perceptions of curriculum that fosters character in medical school. ‘Character’ can be defined as a desirable personality and the ability to be a good person. A total of 264 subjects (professors=131, students=133) participated in the study. Survey questions were divided into the three parts (education needs, factors of character, and curriculum management strategy). Data were analyzed by using t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Both professors and students recognized the need for character education. Professors were more aware of the need for education than students (t=4.35, p<0.01), and clinical professors were more aware of the need for education than basic medical science professors (t=3.48, p<0.01). Premedical students were more aware of the need for character-centered education than medical students in the later stages of their education (t=3.41, p<0.01). Professors and students commonly referred to ‘consideration and communication’ as the most important factor in building character. Professors considered ‘self-regulation’ more important than the students recognized, while students perceived ‘wisdom’ as more important than the professors did. There was a difference in preference for curriculum development (creating new subjects vs. revising existing subjects) between the two groups. However, both groups agreed on the teaching and evaluation methods. In conclusion, both groups acknowledged the need for character education. However, there were differences in perception on the major factors of character and preference for curriculum development. The results of this study may assist in designing character education in medical education.

Ankylosing spondylitis causes ankylosis of the spine due to ossification of the articular cartilage and ligaments around the vertebral body as well as the sacroiliac joint. This pathophysiology limits joint movement and, in many cases, causes pain and deformity of the spine. If this disease is left untreated, it ultimately causes ankylosis and ossification of the whole-body joints. The symptoms generally develop before age 30 years, and the gradual progression of the disease adversely affects the physical function, professional ability, and quality of life. This increases the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders, such as depression. The authors are aware of this severity and introduce recent trends and studies to prevent surgical treatment with various medications before systemic ossification. This paper presents various surgical treatments and complications in patients who were unable to prevent progression and underwent surgical treatment.