Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare variables related to weight control between normal weight and overweight/obese female adolescents. Methods: This study is a supplementary analysis using a total of 293 female adolescents in Seoul. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires on the topics of stages of change, processes of change, and the decisional balance pertaining to weight control. Body weight and height were also measured. Results: There was a significant difference in the stages of change between the normal weight and overweight/obese groups. Of 12 processes of change, 9 processes were significantly higher in the overweight/obese group than in the normal weight groups. Also, female adolescents who were overweight or obese had significantly higher pros and eating efficacy scores comparing to those in the normal weight group. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that overweight/obese female adolescents, especially those in the action stage need supports to continue their weight control behaviors. In addition, a weight control program for female adolescents should emphasize their participation in physical activities in addition to their dietary control efforts.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the impacts of maternal depression on the temperament, health problems, and development of 4-month-old infants. Methods: For this longitudinal comparative study, data collected at one month postpartum and at the 4th month of follow-up were evaluated from sixty five pairs. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess the symptoms of depression. Results: Eighteen point 5 percent and15.4% of mothers were diagnosed with postpartum depression at one month post-partum and at the 4th month of follow-up, respectively. The temperament of the infants between the two groups was not different. However, the infants of the depressed mothers had more health problems after 4 months. Depressed mothers had a lower score for the acceptance of Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME), and the development score of their infants was lower than that of the non-depressed mothers. Conclusion: Maternal depression affects the health and development of infants. Women should be screened for potential risk factors and for symptoms of depression during postpartum periods so that appropriate interventions including emotional support can be initiated in a timely manner.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a program for rights advocacy on the level of human rights perception and self-esteem for those who are mentally ill. Methods: A quasi-experimental study using a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The data were collected from January 20 to March. 17, 2010. Forty one (23 in the experimental group and 19 in the control group) individuals participated in this study. The program was developed based on the education program for human rights developed by the Gyeonggi-do community mental health center in 2009. The program consisted of 8 sessions lasting 8 weeks. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic variables or the outcome variables between the two groups before the intervention. The level of human rights perception and self-esteem increased after the program in the experimental group but not significantly (t=1.87, p=.07; t=0.88, p=.384). Conclusion: Despite the fact that the program was not effective in increasing the level of human rights perception and self-esteem, the study was timely in that it suggests directions for those who develop rights advocacy programs for the mentally ill.

Purpose: This research was performed to investigate Korean adolescents' body weight perception, appropriate weight change efforts, and factors that influencing these efforts. Methods: The data were obtained from 68,136 adolescents, aged 12~18 years from the 2007 Third Korean Youth' Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Descriptive statistical analysis and odds ratio were calculated by logistic regression. Results: The distribution of the body mass index differed in boys and girls. The accuracy of body weight perception was shown in the order of the underweight (91.6%), overweigh t (73.3%), normal weight (55.4%), obesity (41.3%) groups. Adolescents with high perceived economic status tended to have a high prevalence of accuracy of body weight perception. The distribution of appropriate weight change efforts according to the actual body mass index showed that girls were trying to lose weight more than boys. The results of a logistic regression analysis regarding appropriate weight change efforts showed differences according to gender, perceived economic status, mother's educational level, and family affluence scale. Conclusion: Appropriate body weight perception and change management plans are needed for Korean adolescents. In addition, active weight change programs have to be established in the adolescents' living environments, such as schools.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a yoga program on perceived stress, stress response and heart rate variability in professionals. Methods: The research design was a quasi-experimental intervention study. The participants were 47 adults with professional jobs consisting of an experimental group with 23 adults and a control group with 24 adults. The duration of the yoga program was eight weeks from July 4 to August 30, 2012. Results: There were significant decreases in the stress response score after the yoga program. No significant changes in perceived stress and heart rate variability were observed between the experimental group and control group. However, there were significant decreases in perceived stress, stress response scale, and heart rate variability for some participants whose stress levels were high. Conclusion: An eight-week-long yoga program could be considered as an intervention to decrease the stress response of professionals even though it might not reduce their perceived stress and heart rate variability. To further analyze the effects of a yoga program in professionals, changes in intervention strength (such as longer periods and frequency) and the development of physiological measures, which would show the co-relationship between perceived stress and physiological response, are necessary in future studies.

Purpose: Despite poor cognitive function in heart failure (HF), few studies have examined cognition and its probable implication in self-care among Korean HF patients. The purposes of this study were (1) to describe cognition in the domains of global, memory, and executive functions, (2) to explore the relationship between cognition and self-care, and (3) to determine the amount of dietary sodium intake among Korean HF patients. Methods: A pilot study was conducted: 7 HF patients (3 men, mean age 68 years) completed face-to-face interviews for neuropsychological tests of cognition and self-care including dietary sodium intake. Results: More than half of the patients had impaired global cognition, memory, or executive function; patients with more severe HF were at higher risk of poor cognitive function. Korean HF patients exhibited poor self-care, with a high dietary sodium intake (5.6 g/day), approximately twice more than the suggested guideline of 2~3 g/day for patients with stable HF. Conclusion: Cognitive dysfunction and inadequate self-care with noncompliance with dietary sodium restriction were evident in Korean HF patients. More studies are warranted that examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and areas of deficit using neuropsychological tests in a larger sample and that examine how cognition affects self-care and compliance in salt-intake.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a self-directed e-learning program for ICU nurses and to evaluate how the proposed e-learning program affects the level of knowledge, nursing performance and job satisfaction of ICU nurses. Methods: The e-learning program was developed with the Computer Assisted Instruction Design Model using sources of self-efficacy which included the inactive attainment, vicarious experience, and verbal persuasion of ICU nurses. The program was evaluated by experts. Following the revision of the program, it was applied to a total of 59 ICU nurses (experimental group n=29, control group n=30) from three hospitals. Four weeks later, we measured the level of knowledge, nursing performance and job satisfaction. Results: The level of knowledge significantly improved in the experimental group (t=5.691, p<.001). Moreover, the level of nursing performance significantly increased in the areas of circulatory diagnostic test (t=2.143, p=.039), EKG (t=2.911, p=.006), aortic balloon pump (t=2.491, p=.017), and nebulizer therapy (t=2.085, p=.044). Overall, job satisfaction did not significantly increase (t=1.664, p=.105); however, job satisfaction in terms of relationships with coworkers (t=2.371, p=.023) and the needs of nursing performance (t=2.940, p=.006) were significantly increased. Conclusion: The results showed that the proposed e-learning program using sources of self-efficacy from ICU nurses was an effective learning method to increase the level of knowledge and nursing performance. The propose de-learning program would be a useful teaching tool for ICU nurses improving the quality of ICU patient care.