OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine the infertility stress, resilience, intimacy and infertility-related quality of life of infertility women in an infertility clinic, and to reveal associated factors of infertility-related quality of life. METHODS: As a descriptive study, data was collected from 92 infertility women in an infertility clinic. Data was analyzed using t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Infertility stress, resilience, intimacy and infertility-related quality of life averaged 3.1±0.5, 3.7±0.3, 3.3±0.3, 3.2±0.5 respectively. The infertility-related quality of life varied with a statistical significance by marital period, the presence of a burdensome person and burdensome person. Infertility-related quality of life had a negative correlation with infertility stress (r=−0.69, p<0.001), and a positive correlation with resilience (r=0.23, p=0.28) and intimacy (r=0.22, p=0.030). Meaningful variables that influenced infertility-related quality of life were ‘need for parenthood,’ ‘social concern in infertility stress’ and ‘positive factor in resilience,’ and infertility-related quality of life was explained 56.6% by the variables. CONCLUSION: It is suggested to highlight the importance of the infertility-related quality of life and to develop and execute the nursing intervention program for enhancing resilience and decreasing infertility stress of infertility women in infertility clinics.
Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Nursing ; Quality of Life

We examined the precision, accuracy, and capability of detecting changes of Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for the measurements of total-body weight (TBW), total-body fat weight (TBFW), and total-body lean weight (TBLW) in an 8-week follow-up study of rats. Twenty male rats (4-week) were divided into 2 diet groups. For 8 weeks, we measured body composition (TBW, TBFW, TBLW) by DXA and TBW by an electronic scale once a week. In week 8, we measured body composition 5 times by DXA and TBFW by dissecting experiment (EXP) of euthanized rats (12-week). Total-body fat ratio (TBFR) was defined as TBFW/(TBFW+TBLW). The precision of DXA was evaluated by measuring the coefficient of variation (CV) and accuracy was evaluated by comparing DXA-derived data with EXP data. The capability of detecting changes of DXA in follow-up study was verified by analyzing the trend of DXA-derived values over the 8 weeks. For TBW, TBFW, TBLW of DXA, CVs were 0.02 ± 0.01, 0.10 ± 0.05, 0.03 ± 0.02 and errors were − 6.996 ± 3.429 (r = 0.999), + 14.729 ± 3.663 (r = 0.982), − 21.725 ± 4.223 (r = 0.991), respectively. Prediction models were [EXP TBW = − 31.767 + 1.085 (DXA TBW), R2 = 0.998, root mean square error (RMSE) = 1.842] and [EXP TBFR = − 0.056 + 1.177 (DXA TBFR), R2 = 0.948, RMSE = 0.007]. Over 8 weeks, DXA TBW and DXA TBLW steadily increased, DXA TBFW steadily increased followed by saturation or declination, difference of DXA TBFW between 2 diet groups steadily increased. In conclusion, our study verified that DXA (iNSiGHT VET DXA, OsteoSys, Korea) is accurate and precise enough to measure body composition of rats. Additionally, we confirmed the possibility that DXA could be used for the long-term follow-up studies.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Animals ; Body Composition ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Rats

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify factors influencing health promotion behavior of late-middle aged women. METHODS: The subjects were 128 women who were attending a cultural center located in B metropolitan city. Data were collected from July 1 to July 31, 2016. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficient, Stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. RESULTS: Health promotion behavior of later middle-aged women was different by general characteristics such as religion, exercise, economic satisfaction, life satisfaction, and leisure time activities. Health promotion behavior had a positive relationship with health perception and perception of successful aging, and a negative relationship with aging anxiety. Health perception, perception of successful aging, exercise, leisure time activities (exercise and social activity) were verified significant factors influencing health promotion behavior accounted for 38%. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that health perception and perception of successful aging influence health promotion behavior of late-middle age women. It would provide the basic data for the development of program aimed at improving health promotion behavior of late-middle age women.
Aging* ; Anxiety* ; Female ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Leisure Activities

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in behavioral characteristics and parental stress between allergic and nonallergic elementary school children. METHODS: Ninety-one elementary school children who had allergic disease were enrolled (asthma, n=27; allergic rhinitis, n=35; combined, n=29). Also one hundred six nonallergic elementary school children were enrolled for the control group. The Korean Child Behavior Check List (K-CBCL) and Korean Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (K-PSI-SF) were completed by their mothers. RESULTS: According to the analysis of K-CBCL, the score for Internalizing, anxious/depressed and somatic complaints were significantly higher in the combined group than in the control group. The score for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-affective problems in the combined group and DSM-somatic problems were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group. According to the analysis of K-PSI-SF, the score for parental distress was significantly higher in the allergic rhinitis group than in the control group. The scores for behavioral problems and parental stress were significantly correlated to allergic disease groups. CONCLUSION: Behavioral problems and parental stress were significantly associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The results of this study suggest the importance of psychosocial support for mothers and children with allergic diseases.
Asthma* ; Child Behavior ; Child* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parenting ; Parents* ; Problem Behavior ; Rhinitis, Allergic*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influences of oral health behaviors, depression, and stress on periodontal disease in pregnant women. METHODS: The participants in this study were 129 pregnant women. Data were collected using questionnaires which included individual characteristics, oral health care behaviors, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D), a global measure of perceived stress, and pregnancy stress. A dentist measured periodontal probing depth and classified stages of periodontal disease according to the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. RESULTS: Periodontal disease had significant correlations with oral health care behaviors (r=-.56, p <.001), perceived stress (r=.44 p <.001), pregnancy stress (r=.37 p <.001), diet (r=-.33, p <.001) and depression (r=.18 p =.046). Factors influencing periodontal disease for these pregnant women were being in the 2nd (β=.27, p <.001) or 3rd trimester (β=.45, p <.001), having a pregnancy induced disease (β=.20, p =.002), performing higher oral health behaviors (β=-.30, p <.001), and having higher perceived stress (β=.17, p =.028). The explanation power of this regression model was 61.6% (F=15.52, p <.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated that periodic assessment of periodontal disease is essential for pregnant women who are in 2nd or 3rd trimester and have pregnancy induced diseases. Enhancing oral health care behaviors and reducing perceived stress are indicated as effective strategies to reduce periodontal disease in pregnant women.
Dentists ; Depression* ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Oral Health* ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Periodontal Index ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: We evaluated the relationship between laboratory/clinical factors and vitamin D levels in recurrent wheezers less than 3 years old. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data and laboratory factors (25-hydroxyvitamin D, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamyl purovic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], eosinophil counts, and serum IgE IgG, IgA, IgM) of 84 children less than 3 years who had experienced wheezing episodes at least 3 times. RESULTS: Children in the normal group (1.4+/-0.9 years) were younger than those in the deficient (2.2+/-1.2 years) and insuffient (2.3+/-1.0 years) groups (P=0.010). Glutamyl purovic transaminase were higher in the normal group (24.5+/-19.4 IU/L) than in the deficient (16.0+/-4.7 IU/L) and insufficient (15.3+/-4.5 IU/L) groups (P=0.009). ALP were higher in the deficient (791.4+/-180.8 IU/L) and insufficient (770.4+/-251.2 IU/L) groups than in the normal group (631.9+/-127.0 IU/L, P=0.034). Total IgE levels were higher in the deficient group (171.9+/-212.1 kU/L) than in the normal group (43.7+/-58.3 kU/L, P<0.05), and the rate of sensitization to aeroallergens was higher in the insufficient group (36.1%) than in the normal group (10%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among children with recurrent wheezing less than 3 years old, low vitamin D levels may be associated with older age, total IgE, ALP level, glutamic pyruvate transaminase level, and rate of sensitization to aeroallergens.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Asthma ; Blood Cell Count ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Pyruvic Acid ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin D*

PURPOSE: Asthma inhalation therapy is important for the treatment of childhood asthma. Therefore, it is necessary to educate patients on the correct inhalation techniques. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and necessity of educating patients on the correct inhalation techniques. METHODS: A total of 86 patients with bronchial asthma and who were over 7 years old were enrolled and educated on handling inhaler devices for 2 years. The inhaler devices used were the diskus (n=27), turbuhaler (n=12) and metered dose inhaler with a spacer (n=47). Trained pharmacists provided the education. Four steps (breathing out prior to inhalation, inhalation, holding the breath, exhaling slowly) that were critical for handling each device were evaluated and each step was scored as good, fair or poor. We evaluated the symptom score (daytime cough, nighttime cough, sleep disturbance and limitation of activity) and lung function before treatment and 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Over 90.0% of the diskus users performed fair to good in each step. The symptom score and lung function at 4 weeks later after education were significantly improved (P=0.000). The turbuhaler users all performed fair to good on each step. The symptom score was significantly improved (P<0.005), but the lung function was not difference. Over 95% of the users of a metered dose inhaler with a spacer performed moderate to good on each step. The symptom score and lung function were significantly improved (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The structured, detailed education on inhaler devices by trained specialists was very important for performing correct inhalation therapy to control asthma, and repeated education might be also necessary.
Asthma ; Cough ; Exhalation ; Handling (Psychology) ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung ; Metered Dose Inhalers ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Pharmacists ; Respiratory Therapy ; Specialization

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of integrated menopause management program derived theoretical framework of King (1981)'s goal attainment theory model for middle aged women. METHODS: This research was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The subjects of this study were 37 middle aged women in Busan and experiencing menopause; 17 for the experimental group and 20 for the control group. Experimental group was educated for 1 hour group interchange activity and five minutes individual interchange activity, once a week during 8 weeks. Measurement for comparison were taken two times, at baseline, 8wks. The effects were evaluated with menopause symptom, menopause knowledge, menopause attitude and menopause management. RESULTS: The experimental group was significantly lower than control group on menopause symptom (F=5.936, p=.010) and higher than control group on menopause knowledge (F=12.031, p=.001) and menopause management (F=5.861, p=.010) after integrated menopause management program. However integrated menopause management program did not make significant differences on menopause attitude (F=0.105, p=.374). CONCLUSION: Results indicate that integrated menopause management program could be an effective intervention decreasing menopause symptom and for increasing menopause knowledge, menopause management in middle aged women.
Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: The HPV vaccination target adolescents, and may be influenced by opinion of parents and other family member. For implementation of HPV vaccine, we measured knowledge of HPV infection and acceptability of vaccination among adults in Korea. METHODS: From August 2006 to November 2007, we provided a written questionnaire to females (above 19 years- olds) who visited Il-sin Christian hospital for prenatal care or gynecological examination. The questionnaire was built using elements of The Health Belief Model. We measured (1) awareness of HPV (2) perceived susceptibility (3) perceived seriousness (4) perceived benefit of vaccination (5) perceived barriers (6) cues to action. RESULTS: Total 975 females answered the questionnaire, and the mean age was 40 years. Only 23.8% knew the fact cervical cancer is related to HPV infection. 78.3% of respondents were willing to accept HPV vaccination after they understood HPV vaccination can prevent cervical cancer. Financial burden and possible side effect were barriers to vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Despite of low awareness of HPV infection, most (78.3%) adults favored having HPV vaccination. But the vaccine was more likely to be accepted if it is recommended by a physician and reasonably priced.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cues ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Korea ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Parents ; Prenatal Care ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vaccination

Endometrial cancer is increasing in South Korea. In young women, endometrial cancer can be treated by progestins for preserving fertility. We experienced a successful case of twin pregnancy after conservative therapy of endometrial cancer with Megestrol acetate. Ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination was done. A brief review of related literature was done.
Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Insemination ; Korea ; Megestrol Acetate ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Progestins ; Twins*