Purpose: Patients’ perception of fall risk is a promising new indicator for fall prevention. Therefore, a fall risk perception questionnaire that can be used rapidly and repeatedly in acute care settings is required. This study aimed to develop a short version of the fall risk perception questionnaire (Short-FRPQ) for inpatients. Methods: For the psychometric measurements, 246 inpatients were recruited from an acute care hospital. The construct (using confirmatory factor analysis and discriminant validity of each item), convergent, and known-group validities were tested to determine the validity of the Short-FRPQ. McDonald’s omega coefficient was used to examine the internal consistency of reliability. Results: In the confirmatory factor analysis, the fit indices of the Short-FRPQ, comprising 14 items and three factors, appeared to be satisfactory. The Short-FRPQ had a significantly positive correlation with the original scale, the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale-International, and the Morse Fall Scale. The risk of falls group, assessed using the Morse Fall Scale, had a higher score on the Short-FRPQ. McDonald’s omega coefficient was .90. Conclusion The Short-FRPQ presents good reliability and validity. As patient participation is essential in fall interventions, evaluating the fall risk perception of inpatients quickly and repeatedly using scales of acceptable validity and reliability is necessary.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify levels of perception and performance of end-oflife care among nurses and to investigate correlations between perception and performance. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive survey included 321 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The participants had at least 6 months of work experience and had been involved in end-of-life care at least once, in either ward or intensive care unit settings.A structured questionnaire was utilized to assess their perception and performance of endof-life care. Results: The mean score for perception of end-of-life care was 3.23±0.34, while the score for performance of end-of-life care was 3.08±0.34. There was a significant positive correlation between nurses’ perception of end-of-life care and their performance in this area (r=0.78, P＜0.001). Conclusion It is necessary to change perceptions regarding end-of-life care and to develop systematic and standardized education programs including content such as assessing the hydration status of dying patients, evaluating mental aspects such as suicidal ideation, and providing spiritual care for nurses working in end-of-life departments.

Objective: Medication beliefs are a significant determinant of medication adherence in chronic illness. This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and medication-related factors associated with medication beliefs in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: We used a descriptive cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 173 PD patients who had been taking antiparkinson drugs for more than one year. Results: The subjects who believed PD medication was more necessary had more severe illness, younger age of onset, longer illness duration, and longer duration of levodopa therapy. They had higher levels of non-motor symptoms and depression, number of medication uses, number of drugs, and levodopa equivalent dose, and they reported fluctuation of motor symptoms and dyskinesia. The subjects who used catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, dopamine agonists, amantadine, and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors had significantly higher necessity scores than those who did not use them. The subjects who had higher concerns about PD medications had higher levels of non-motor symptoms and depression. The subjects using amantadine and anticholinergics had significantly higher concern scores than those who did not use them. Positive necessity-concerns differentials were associated with severe illness, the presence of motor fluctuation and dyskinesia, and the use of COMT inhibitors. Based on stepwise multiple regression, the most significant factors influencing necessity beliefs were severe illness, followed by depression and motor fluctuation. Conclusion Severe illness, higher levels of depression, and motor fluctuation are independent factors influencing patients’ beliefs regarding medication necessity. Therefore, these characteristics should be considered in medication belief assessment and interventions for PD patients.

Objective: Medication beliefs are a significant determinant of medication adherence in chronic illness. This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and medication-related factors associated with medication beliefs in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: We used a descriptive cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 173 PD patients who had been taking antiparkinson drugs for more than one year. Results: The subjects who believed PD medication was more necessary had more severe illness, younger age of onset, longer illness duration, and longer duration of levodopa therapy. They had higher levels of non-motor symptoms and depression, number of medication uses, number of drugs, and levodopa equivalent dose, and they reported fluctuation of motor symptoms and dyskinesia. The subjects who used catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, dopamine agonists, amantadine, and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors had significantly higher necessity scores than those who did not use them. The subjects who had higher concerns about PD medications had higher levels of non-motor symptoms and depression. The subjects using amantadine and anticholinergics had significantly higher concern scores than those who did not use them. Positive necessity-concerns differentials were associated with severe illness, the presence of motor fluctuation and dyskinesia, and the use of COMT inhibitors. Based on stepwise multiple regression, the most significant factors influencing necessity beliefs were severe illness, followed by depression and motor fluctuation. Conclusion Severe illness, higher levels of depression, and motor fluctuation are independent factors influencing patients’ beliefs regarding medication necessity. Therefore, these characteristics should be considered in medication belief assessment and interventions for PD patients.

The long-term effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the longterm effects of STN-DBS surgery on PIGD symptoms in patients with advanced-stage PD. Methods This study included 49 consecutively included patients with PD who underwent bilateral STN-DBS. The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and subscores for PIGD were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, and 5 years postoperatively. The PIGD subscore was divided into PIGD-motor and PIGD-activities of daily living (ADL) scores according to parts III and II of the UPDRS, respectively. Results The PIGD-motor and PIGD-ADL scores at the “medication-off” state improved at 3 and 5 years, respectively. Overall, the UPDRS III and II scores at “medication-off” improved at 5 years. The UPDRS IV score also significantly improved and the levodopa equivalent daily dosage decreased at all follow-ups. Finally, the PIGD-motor score at baseline was able to predict long-term improvement in the PIGD-motor score at the 5-year follow-up. Conclusion The STN-DBS has both short- and long-term effects on PIGD, as well as overall motor function, in patients with advanced PD. The degree of PIGD at the preoperative evaluation can be used to predict long-term outcomes after STN-DBS surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship among the factors of self-awareness, other-awareness and communication ability, and how they relate to communication ability in nursing students. METHODS: For data collection 237 nursing students completed self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Self-awareness, other-awareness and communication ability of the participants showed moderate levels of self-awareness, other-awareness, and communication ability. There were significant positive correlations between self-awareness and communication ability (r=.59, p<.001). and between other-awareness and communication ability (r=.22, p=.001). Social anxiety, private self-awareness, and internal other-awareness were significant factors, which explained about 37% of the variance in communication ability. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a systematic and effective curriculum focused on self-awareness and other-awareness should be developed for nursing students in order to promote their communication ability.
Anxiety ; Communication* ; Curriculum ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy 20 items (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. METHODS: A convenience sample of 249 Korean cancer patients, previously or currently, being treated with peripheral neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0. Construct validity, known-group validity, concurrent validity, and internal consistency reliability of the Korean version of the QLQ-CIPN20 were evaluated. RESULTS: Factor analysis confirmed 3 dimensions of CIPN: sensory, motor, and autonomic. The factor loadings of the 20 items on the 3 subscales ranged from .38 to .85. The 3 subscale-model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (GFI=.90, AGFI=.86, RMSR=.05, NFI=.87, and CFI=.94), and concurrent validity was demonstrated with the EORTC QLQ-C30. Furthermore, the QLQ-CIPN20 established known-group validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for internal consistency of the subscales ranged from .73 to .89. CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 showed satisfactory construct, concurrent, and known-group validity, as well as internal reliability.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/*etiology ; Pilot Projects ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Research Design ; *Translating

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify nutritional status, and relationships among malnutrition, depression and quality of life in patients with gynecologic cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: For this study a descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Participants were 111 women who were enrolled and agreed to undergo a face-to-face interviews including administration of the structured questionnaires: Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). RESULTS: Mean body mass index was 23.3 and mean body weight was 56.5 kg. Sixty-three (57%) of the 111 patients were malnourished according to the PG-SGA. The malnourished patients showed higher levels of depression and lower quality of life compared to the non-malnourished patients. In addition, malnutrition was associated with BMI level, depression, appetite and quality of life. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the prevalence of malnutrition is high and malnutrition in patients with gynecologic cancer influences depression and adversely affects the quality of life of these women. To improve the patient's quality of life, nutritional assessment and appropriate management is important to decrease malnutrition in patients with gynecologic cancer.
Appetite ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Depression* ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female ; Humans ; Malnutrition* ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life* ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the effects of Type D personality on compassion fatigue, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and job stress in clinical nurses. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 172 clinical nurses working in two tertiary hospitals. The structured questionnaires included Type D personality scale, compassion fatigue, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and job stress scales. RESULTS: About 79.7% of participants were classified as Type D personality group. The Type D personality was not related to general characteristics of clinical nurses. The Type D personality group showed statistically significant higher compassion fatigue, burnout, and job stress and lower compassion satisfaction compared to the non-Type D personality group. In addition, compassion fatigue and burnout were positively correlated with job stress and compassion fatigue was positively correlated with burnout. However, compassion satisfaction was negatively correlated with burnout. CONCLUSION: As the prevalence of Type D personality is high in clinical nurses, it is necessary to assess stress-related personality. In addition, management for the nurse with Type D personality is required to alleviate compassion fatigue, burnout, and job stress and to improve compassion satisfaction.
Empathy* ; Fatigue* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Type D Personality* ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience various types of sleep disturbances, and exhibit multiple risk factors for sleep disturbances. However, few studies have considered the demographic and psychosocial factors related to sleep disturbances in Korean PD patients. This study investigated the characteristics of sleep disturbance and related factors, including demographic and psychosocial factors, in Korean PD patients. METHODS: A population of 181 PD patients was studied; all agreed to be interviewed using structured questionnaires. RESULTS: The Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) score was not correlated with sex, age, educational level, marital status, household income, or the presence of religion, a job, or a hobby. With regard to psychosocial factors, the PDSS score was positively correlated with the Self-Esteem Score and the Social Support Score. The PDSS score was negatively correlated with the Parkinson Fatigue Scale score, the pain score, the Beck Depression Index, and the Spielberger Anxiety Score. On stepwise multiple regression analysis, the most significant factors contributing to low PDSS scores were severe anxiety, a shorter duration of levodopa therapy, severe fatigue, and a higher daily levodopa dosage, in that order. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbance in PD patients was significantly associated with anxiety, fatigue, and daily levodopa dosage, suggesting that these factors should be carefully managed in PD patients.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Family Characteristics ; Fatigue ; Hobbies ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Marital Status ; Parkinson Disease* ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors