PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a maternal role adjustment program on first-time mothers. METHODS: The research was quasi-experimental with a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Participants were first-time mothers admitted to two postpartum clinics at women's hospitals. The experimental group had 38 mothers and the control group had 35 mothers. A maternal role adjustment program was applied individually to the experimental group between the 1st and 2nd weeks after childbirth. Assessing Adaptation to Motherhood, Semantic Differential Scale-Myself as Mother, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used to measure effects of the program. A pre-test was conducted in the 1st week after childbirth while post-tests were conducted in the 4th and 6th weeks. Data were analyzed with χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS 24.0. RESULTS: Maternal role adjustment (F=6.17, p=.015) and maternal identity (F=6.63, p=.012) were significantly increased in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. However, the difference in postpartum depression (F=1.11, p=.335) was not statistically significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The maternal role adjustment program can be utilized as an effective nursing intervention program to enhance maternal role adjustment and maternal identity for first-time mothers.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Depression, Postpartum ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Behavior ; Mother-Child Relations ; Mothers* ; Nursing ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Semantic Differential

PURPOSE: This study is a descriptive study to analyze the relationship between the cognitive function, body image and pain, and the influencing factors on the daily life performance of brain injured patients. METHODS: The study subjects were 119 inpatients with brain injury who gave informed consent. The activities of daily living (ADLs), cognitive function, pain and body image were measured by Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), K-MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Semantic Differential Method (SDM), respectively. RESULTS: ADLs was significantly associated with body image, cognitive function, and pain. Multiple regression analysis showed that paralysis, consciousness, cognitive function, and pain were significant factors influencing ADLs. Overall, approximately 48% of total variability in the ADLs could be explained by the 4 variables (R²=.477, p<.001). CONCLUSION: To improve ADLs of brain injury patients, a deeper understanding of paralysis, consciousness, cognitive function, and pain of patients is required and active nursing invention should be conducted.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Body Image* ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Cognition* ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Inpatients ; Inventions ; Methods ; Nursing ; Paralysis ; Semantic Differential ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the perception about the elderly among undergraduate students interested in the elderly care business. METHOD: In this descriptive research, a total of 183 undergraduate students were participated. The instrument was consisted of a 18-item semantic differential scale developed by Sanders et al (1984). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients by SPSS 18.0. RESULT: Undergraduate students' perception about the elderly was slightly positive(2.98+/-1.51). The significant factors associated with the perception about the elderly were gender, age, present residing state with the elderly, experience of residing with the elderly at the past. Male students' perception about the elderly was more positive than female. Among 18 items, 'wise' and 'knowledgeable' was highly related to the perception about the elderly(r=.671, p=.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the items of optimistic, attractive, flexible and good were the impressive perceptions about the elderly for the undergraduate students. The result of this study can be utilized to promote perception about the elderly among undergraduate students.
Aged ; Commerce ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Semantic Differential

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the relationship between nurses' characteristics and perception of seriousness of elder abuse. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey design was used to describe the perception of elder abuse by 301 nurses. Data were collected by convenience sampling. The research instruments utilized in this study were 12 scenarios adapted by Yoo & Kim from the 13 senarios to measure the perception of elder abuse developed by Moon and Williams (1993), a seven item questionnaires related to elder abuse law, and a Semantic Differential Scaling to measure attitudes toward elderly people. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: The mean score for perceptions of elder abuse was 3.07. Among the types of abuse, sexual abuse was perceived as the most severe type of abuse followed by physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse, and emotional abuse in that order. Education, job position, experience of gerontological nursing course, and education on elder abuse, exposure to elder abuse information, and attitudes toward elders were significantly related to the perception of seriousness on elder abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that provision of elder abuse education is needed for nurses, to enable them to identify elder abuse and address their legal and professional responsibilities.
Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Elder Abuse ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Moon ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Semantic Differential ; Sex Offenses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among knowledge, attitudes, and the use of negative control maintenance techniques toward older adults among nurses working in geriatric hospitals (n=86). METHODS: Data were collected from April 4th to May 30th in 2006 by using questionnaires of Fact on Aging Quiz Part I, Aging Semantic Differential Scaling, and Control Maintenance Techniques. RESULTS: The findings showed that the nurses displayed lack of knowledge concerning older adults and their average rate of correct answer was 45.6%. They also hold some negative bias and attitudes, especially in psychological and social aspects. The level of using negative control maintenance techniques in managing older patients' problematic behaviors was reported as the mean of 5.65 with a possible range of 0-40. Nurse's knowledge of older adults was positively associated with their attitudes toward older adults, but their knowledge and attitudes were not associated with the use of negative control maintenance techniques. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to provide educational programs for nurses that focus on a comprehensive understanding of aging with lifetime developmental perspectives. Further studies are needed to understand the factors associated with using negative control maintenance techniques and to evaluate the intervention programs in reducing the use of negative control maintenance techniques.
Adult* ; Aging ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Humans ; Semantic Differential ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Purpose of this study was to identify the effects on maternal role strain, maternal role confidence and maternal identity of a maternal role promotion program for mothers of premature infants. METHOD: A quasi-experimental non-equivalent pre-and-post test was used to compare the two groups. The data were collected from 62 mothers from September 10. 2003 to August 30, 2004 at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU) located in S. city and K. city. The maternal role promotion program was provided three times during the period from two-three days after the baby's admission to 1 month after the baby's discharge. The instruments for measurement were the Perceived Role Difficulty & Steffensmeier Scale, Self Confidence Scale and Semantic Differential Scale. Data were analyzed by means of frequency, mean and SD, x2-test and t-test. RESULTS: There were significant differences in maternal role strain level between the experimental and control group (t=2.163, p=.035), in the maternal role confidence between the two groups(t=-5.645, p=.000) and in maternal identity between the two groups(t=-4.923, p=.000). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the maternal role promotion program had positive effects in decreasing maternal role strain levels and increasing maternal role confidence and maternal identity.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Mothers* ; Premature Birth ; Semantic Differential ; Child Health

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among body image, depression and sexual function in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects were 96 postmenopausal women who have lived in Korea. Data was collected using Semantic Differential scale, CES-D, and FSFI. RESULTS: The level of body image was positive, depression was mild, and sexual function was moderate. There were no significant correlation between depression and sexual function. The subjects who had more positive body image experienced higher sexual function and less depressed mood. CONCLUSION: These findings showed the need for a knowledge development program for nurses regarding women's sexual function. Also, nurses must do counseling with sexual partner's and consider patients' body image when counseling those who complain of sexual dysfunction
Body Image* ; Counseling ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Postmenopause ; Semantic Differential ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among body image, depression and sexual function in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects were 96 postmenopausal women who have lived in Korea. Data was collected using Semantic Differential scale, CES-D, and FSFI. RESULTS: The level of body image was positive, depression was mild, and sexual function was moderate. There were no significant correlation between depression and sexual function. The subjects who had more positive body image experienced higher sexual function and less depressed mood. CONCLUSION: These findings showed the need for a knowledge development program for nurses regarding women's sexual function. Also, nurses must do counseling with sexual partner's and consider patients' body image when counseling those who complain of sexual dysfunction
Body Image* ; Counseling ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Postmenopause ; Semantic Differential ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the quality of lives in neuromuscular disease patients using mechanical ventilators by comparing their `Index of Well-being' reported their own and caregivers. METHOD: The Semantic Differential Scale of General Affect and Life Domain Satisfaction Measures were instruments to measure perceived well-being. They were used to survey 33 ventilator-assisted patients and their caregivers. A third instrument was devised to study the satisfaction of rehabilitative management including mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: The caregivers significantly underestimated their patients' scores in the general affect instruments and life satisfaction (p<0.05). Twenty-six of 33 responding patients (78.8%) expressed satisfaction with present rehabilitative management. CONCLUSION: The most disabled ventilator-assisted patients with neuromuscular disease rated their quality of life as satisfying. The dependence on ventilation was not a predictor of a low quality of life. But the rating of the patient's quality of life from significant others was underestimated. This was important because patients' decision making concerning ventilation care was influenced by significant others.
Caregivers ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases* ; Quality of Life* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Semantic Differential ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

The main purpose of this study was to identify the effect of phone counseling carried out to promote the role of the primiperous mothers. The data were collected from march 20 to may 30, 1998. The subjects for the study were the mothers of 60 first bon neonates admitted to and discharged from Sam-sung Medical Center's neonatal ward. Thirty subjects were assigned to the experimental group and thirty to the control group. A measure of maternal identity as well as level of self confidence in taking care of an infant after giving birth was taken. Informational supportive nursing was then provided to the mothers through phone counseling for a total of four times at 2~3 days, 7~8days, 12~13days and 18~1days after discharged. The level of self confidence in taking care of an infant was then remeasured. The control group was not provided with supportive nursing through phone counseling instead the level of confidence in taking care of an infant was measured at 3 weeks. Taking previous study documentary evidence into consideration the researcher developed a supportive nursing telephone counseling program that provided both informational and emotional support suitable to primiperous mothers. A semantic differential scale developed according to Osgood and translated and adapted by Koh Hyo-Jung was used as the maternal self identity measurement tool. The tool used to measure self confidence in taking care of infant was the developed by Bak Mi Suk which includes 13 items from Pharis's self confidence scale The data were analyzed using x2-test, t-test and paired t-test. The result of the study are as follows 1. First hypothesis The level of self confidence in taking care of an infant for the group of primiparas who received phone counseling in the postpartum period would be higher than that of the primiparas who did not receive phone counselling : As the experimental group's level of self confidence in taking care infants was significantly higher than that of the control group this hypothesis is accepted 2. Second hypothesis The level of maternal identity will be higher for the group of primiparas who received phone counseling than that of primiparas who did not received phone counseling As the experimental group's level of maternal identity was significantly higher than that of the control group this hypothesis is accepted In looking at the results of the study as a whole, it can be concluded that emotional and informational nursing support provided through phone counselling is an effective strategy in promoting the role of new mothers.
Counseling* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers* ; Nursing ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Semantic Differential ; Telephone ; Child Health