PURPOSE: The study was performed to investigate the predictors associated transition with each stage of exercise behavior based to the Transtheoretical Model, and to provide basic data for exercise behavior programs for middle aged women. Methods: The subjects consisted of 434 women residing in B city by convenience sampling. The collected data were analyzed with multiple logistic regression using SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: The predictors of transition from precontemplation to contemplation were consciousness raising(OR=2.095, 95% CI: 1.305-3.363), Reinforcement management(OR= 1.903, 95% CI: 1.107-3.271), Stimulus control (OR=2.176, 95% CI:1.239-3.820), Menstrual status (OR=5.327, 95% CI: 1.110-25.562). The predictors of transition from contemplation to preparation were Helping relationship(OR= 1.671, 95% CI: 1.065-2.662), Pros(OR=2.500, 95% CI: 1.254-4.982), Perceived Health status (OR=.178, 95% CI: .041-.770). The predictor of transition from preparation to action was Stimulus control(OR=1.918, 95% CI: 1.103- 3.336). The predictors of transition from action to maintenance were Consciousness raising(OR= 1.939, 95% CI: 1.031-3.647), Dramatic relief (OR=2.249, 95% CI: 1.025-4.931). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate examination on the factors, which can predict the transitional stages of change exercise behaviors among middle aged women, which is presented in this study. The results of this study will become the pillar of exercise intervention program planning and application.
Consciousness ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged*

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of oral vitamin C supplements on blood sugar and serum lipid level (total cholesterol, triglyceride. high density lipoprotein. low density lipoprotein) in non-insulin independent diabetes mellitus. The study design was a non equivalent control group pre-test post-test design. Data for the study were collected from June 24 to August 31. 2001. The ninty-five research subject were assigned to experimental group(51) and control group(44). Vitamin C(3g/day) was given to 51 subjects for 4 weeks. Following a 12h overnight fasting, blood sample was obstaind at baseline and at the end of 4week - supplementation. Blood samples were taken for plasma vitamin C concentration. fasting blood sugar. HbA1c and serum lipid level. The pre-equivalent test was used by Chi-squre, t-test and two group's pre and post experimental differences were analyzed by t-tset to compare with each other. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The difference between the two groups in plasma vitamin C concentration was significant(t=-12.950. p=.000). 2. The difference between the two groups in fasting blood sugar was significant(t=5.293, p=.000). 3. The difference between the two groups in HbA1c was not significant(t=1.758. p= .082). 4. The difference between the two groups in total cholesterol, HDL, LDL was significant (t=3.786. p=.000 ; t=-5.515. p=.000 . t= 4.169. p = .000). These results suggest that megadose vitamin C supplementation be effective in lowering fasting blood sugar. serum lipids and increasing plasma vitamin C. Thus dietary measures to increase plasma vitamin C may be on important health strategy for reducing the compliance of diabetic patients.
Ascorbic Acid* ; Blood Glucose* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Compliance ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Fasting ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Plasma ; Research Subjects ; Triglycerides ; Vitamins*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of alternative therapy and to describe the characteristics of cancer patients used alternative therapy. The sample of this study were 232 consisted of cancer patients who visited at Pusan National University Hospital, Dong-a, Kosin University Hospital. The data were gathered from August, 1 to October, 30 1999 and analyzed by using SPSSWIN program for frequency, percentile and chi-test. The important results of this study are as follows 1. In population-sociological characteristics, sexual distribution showed female 52.6% and the male 47.4%, age distribution showed that more than 60year old group are most as 31.5%. 2. In the disease characteristics, colon and rectal cancer patients were most as 19.0%. In the type of pain, the most of subjects were dully pain as 25.4%. In the pain level, 134 subjects complained pain, mean maximal pain score was 7.3+/-2.29 in 10 points rating scale. 3. 132 patients(56.9%) among 232 cancer patients had used alternative therapy. The most common type of alternative therapy was dietary and nutritional therapy 44%, the place of use, home 43.2%, duration, less than 3 months, 56.8% The most common motive was a recommendation by friends or family. The degree of satisfaction after the use of alternative therapy was high for 22.0%. 4. In the relation between general characteristic and utilization of alternative therapy, the only living area was showed a significant statistical differance(chi=4.070, P= .044). also in the relation between disease characteristic and utilization of alternative therapy, morbidity periods, the size of higher pain, the type of treatment were showed a significant statistical differance(chi= 7.964, 7.303, 3.565, P=.044, .026,.042) In conclusions, these findings indicate that cancer patients use various complementary and alternative therapy. therefore, suggested that medical doctors or nurses verify the true effects or side-effects from the most common complementary or alternative therapies through experiments.
Age Distribution ; Busan ; Colon ; Complementary Therapies ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The study was performed to identify the process of change, decisional balance and self-efficacy corresponding to the stage of exercise behavior change based on a Transtheoretical Model in middle aged women. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 317 women by convenience sampling residing in city B. The collected data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Discriminant analysis by SPSS/WIN program. RESULT: The subjects were distributed in each stage of change of exercise behaviors: 53 subjects (16.7%) in the precontemplation stage, 86 subjects (27.1%) in the contemplation stage, 88 subjects (27.8%) in the preparation stage, 51 subjects (16.1%) in the action stage and 39 subjects(12.3%) in the maintenance stage. Analysis of variance showed that consciousness raising (F=24.96, p=.00), environmental reevaluation (F=7.13, p=.00), self reevaluation (F=19.47, p=.00), dramatic relief (F=15.22, p=.00), social liberation (F=4.26, p=.00), counter conditioning (F=26.44, p=.00), a helping relationship (F=13.17, p=.00), reinforcement management (F=21.25, p=.00), self liberation (F=27.70, p=.00), stimulus control (F=13.49, p=.00), pros (F=14.40, p=.00) and self-efficacy (F=39.91, p=.00) were significantly associated with the stages of change of exercise behaviors. Through discriminant analysis, it was found that 'stimulus control' was the most influential variable in discriminating the five stages of change. CONCLUSION: This study can provide the basis of a staged matching exercise program using TTM for more effective and useful intervention.
Adult ; *Decision Making ; Exercise/*psychology ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; *Self Efficacy

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Humans ; Internship and Residency*

PURPOSE; This study was aimed to identify the effect of foot reflexology massage on climacteric symptom, fatigue and physiologic parameters of middle-aged women. METHOD; A non-equivalent pretest-posttest experimental design was used. Participants were recruited from the Community Health Center in Busan, Korea. Forty participants were assigned to either an experimental group(20) or a control group(20). Foot reflexology massage was administered twice a week for 6 weeks in the participant in experimental group. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in climacteric symptom, fatigue, total cholesterol and cortisol level. However, there were no statistically significant differences in triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. CONCLUSION; These results suggest that foot reflexology massage could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to reduce climacteric symptom and fatigue in middle-aged women.
Busan ; Cholesterol ; Climacteric* ; Community Health Centers ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Foot* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Korea ; Lipoproteins ; Massage* ; Middle Aged* ; Nursing ; Research Design ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to identify the effects of a self-foot reflexology massage on depression, stress responses and functions of the immune system of middle-aged women. METHOD: This study was a one group pretest-posttest experimental design and the data was collected from August 1st, 2004 to May 31st, 2005. The subjects consisted of 46 middle-aged women (40 - 64 years) who were recruited from the Community Health Center in Busan city. Subjects were not treated for 4 weeks, subsequently they were trained in self foot reflexology massage for 2 weeks, and then they did their own daily for 6weeks (2 days at the research center, 5 days at home).The outcome variables were measured 4 times, at baseline, pre training, after training, and after the intervention. The collected data was analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA by the SPSS/WIN program. RESULT: There was a statistically significant difference in depression, perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, natural-killer cells and Ig G. However, there was not a statistically significant difference in dyastolic blood pressure, pulse or serum cortisol. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a self-foot reflexology massage could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to reduce depression and stress responses, and to strengthen immune systems in middle-aged women.
Stress, Psychological/immunology/*nursing ; Middle Aged ; *Massage ; Leukocyte Count ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Immunoglobulin G/*blood ; Humans ; *Foot ; Female ; Depression/immunology/*nursing ; Adult

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Prevalence*

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a health management program on body composition(body weight, body fat mass, body fat ratio, lean body mass, abdominal fat ratio), self-efficacy and health promotion behavior in middle-aged women. This 6-week long program containing exercise and health education was developed by researchers. The study design was one group pretest- posttest design. Data for the study was collected from August 1 to September 15, 2002. The participants consisted of 15 middle - aged women living in the community. The collected data was analyzed using Wilcoxon Matched - Signed - Ranks Test by SPSS/WIN program The results are as follows: 1. There was a significant difference in body composition at week 6 compared to week 1. The body weight, body fat mass and body fat ratio significantly decreased(Z= -2.533, p=. 011 ; Z= -2.023, p= .043; Z= -2.023, p= .043). But the lean body mass significantly increased(Z= -2.226, p= .026). 2.There was a significant improvement in self-efficacy at week 6 compared to week 1(Z= -3.434, p= .001). 3.There was a significant improvement in health promotion behavior at week 6 compared to week 1(Z = -3.305, p= .001). In conclusion, health management program promoting self - efficacy for middle-aged women was effective in improving health promotion behavior. Further study with a longer follow up period is necessary in order to test the long term effect of the program.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition* ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Education ; Health Promotion* ; Humans