• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2008

Purpose: Undertreatment of canter pain, especially due to the differences in the perception of pain between the patients and caregivers, is a well recognized problem. The purpose of this study were to determine if there exist differences in communication about pain intensity scores between patients and their family caregivers in Korea. Methods: A total of 127 patient-family caregiver dyads who have experienced canter pain participated in this study at a hospital in Seoul for six months. The data were obtained by fare to face interview with a structured questionnaire based on Brief Pain Inventory-Korean version and other previous researches. The clinical information for all patients was compiled by reviewing their medical records. Results: Patients' 'worst-pain for 24-hour' and 'right-now-pain' scores estimated by family caregivers were significantly higher than those by patient themselves. The degree of agreement between patients and family caregivers in the estimate of patients' 'worst-pain for 24-hour' intensity categories was 78.7% for 'severe pain', 40% for 'no pain', 27.5% for 'mild pain' and 22.9% for 'moderate pain'. In case of 'right-now-pain' intensity categories, the agreement was 50% for 'severe pain', 47.2% for mild pain, 46.3% for 'no pain', and 26.3% for 'moderate pain'. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the degree of agreement between patients and family caregivers in the estimate of patients 'pain intensity categories was less than 50% except for 'severe pain'. The results indicate that Korean family caregivers tend to overestimate the canter pain intensity of their caring patients, especially, when a lancer patient has 'moderate' or 'mild pain'. Health Providers are advised to educate patient-family caregiver dyads to use a pain measurement scale to promote their agreement in pain Intensity stores. Further analyses and studies are needed to identify the factors and differences that influence their communication about pain intensity scores between patients and their family caregivers.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.123-143
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• 2009

To investigate the reliability, validity of posttraumatic growth among Korean cancer caregiver, 295 participants were asked to complete a Korean posttraumatic growth inventory, translated from the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; J Trauma Stress 1996; 9: 455.471), together with the Caregiver burden scale, life style interruption scale, economic burden scale and positive adaptation scale, social support scale and questions about religious and demographic factors. Cronbach's alpha was 0.95 for the K-PTGI, indicating sufficient internal consistencies. Construct and Criterion validity were also supported. K-PTGI appeared to be a sound measure for the experience of posttraumatic growth in cancer caregivers and this study result will be able to contribute to facilitate future research.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the need for hospice care between families of children and adults with cancer. Methods: The data was collected from 190 families of children and adult with cancer using self-rating questionnaires from December, 2004 to February, 2005. Data was analyzed using SPSS/Win program by Mean, SD and t-test. Results: The mean score of the need for hospice care in families of children with cancer was greater significantly than in families of adults with cancer (t=-2.126, P=.035). The scores of two factors among the five factors evaluated for the need for hospice care were different significantly. The mean score of control of major terminal physical symptoms' in families of children with cancer was greater significantly than the mean score of adults with cancer (t=-2.165, P=.032). The mean score of 'spiritual care to prepare for death' in families of adults with cancer was greater significantly than the mean score of children with cancer (t=-2.380, P=.018). Conclusion: For improving the quality of life for both patients and families, the hospice service program needs to consider the life cycle of patients.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.443-454
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• 2018

The purpose of this convergence study was to evaluate and to identify predictors of health-related quality of life(HRQoL) of families with cancer survivor(FCS) focusing on the comparison of families with cancer patient(FCP) receiving treatments. The research was conducted with the data for 153 FCS and 115 FCP taken from the 6th wave of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The independent variables included socio-demographic, health related, psychological and social factors. The data were analyzed by hierarchical multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 18.0. The results showed different patterns of predictors on the HRQoL of FCS and FCP. In FCS, the statistically significant factors were stress(${\beta}=-.192$, p<.05) and exclusion from economic activities(${\beta}=-.191$, p<.05). Therefore, families of cancer patients also need appropriate interventions for each stage of the disease.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine posttraumatic growth (PTG) in family caregivers of patients with cancer. Methods: Participants included 201 family caregivers of cancer patients who are treated at outpatient clinics and oncology wards of a university hospital and two general hospitals in Busan, Korea. The study instrument was the Korean version of the posttraumatic growth inventory (K-PTGI). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t test, one-way ANOVA and Scheffe's test using the SPSS 21 for Windows. Results: The mean score of PTG was 3.10. The factor with the highest score was "Changes to self-perception" (3.15), while the one with the lowest was "Increase in spiritual interest" (2.88). There were significant differences in PTG, depending on age, religion, importance of religious life and perceived level of daily difficulties. Conclusion: Family caregivers also experience PTG when their loved ones are diagnosed with cancer. According to these findings, it is necessary to develop a spiritual nursing program to help family caregivers growth from the experience of attending patients with cancer.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs for return-to-work support of cancer survivors and related factors in patients with cancer and their caregivers. Methods : 182 patients and 114 caregivers were recruited. Distress Thermometer and Problem List and scale ranging 0~10 measuring the degree of needs for return-to-work support were utilized. The needs for return-to-work support between the patient group and caregiver group (patient's needs evaluated by the caregiver) were compared, and related factors were investigated using logistic regression analysis. Results : 34.6% and 28.1% of patients and caregivers reported return-to-work support of cancer survivors is "very necessary". The degree of needs was 6.60±3.365 points in the patient group and 6.17±3.454 points in the caregiver group, with no significant difference (p=0.282). The needs for return-to-work support evaluated by patients was high when they underwent surgery (OR=2.592, p=0.007), has fertility problems (OR=6.137, p=0.025), has appearance problems (OR=2.081, p=0.041), or has fatigue (OR=2.330, p=0.020). The needs for return-to-work support of patients evaluated by caregivers was high when patients treated with breast cancer (vs respiratory cancer, OR=13.038, p=0.022 ; vs leukemia/lymphoma, OR=4.517, p=0.025 ; vs other cancer, OR=13.102, p=0.019), has work/school problems (OR=4.578, p=0.005), or has depression (OR=3.213, p=0.022). Conclusions : The degree of needs for return-to-work support of cancer survivors was high, and factors related to the needs were different between the two groups. This suggests that return-to-work support of cancer survivors is required, and clinical characteristics, the distress of patients, and differences between patients and their caregivers should be considered in establishing a support plan.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2004

Purpose: This research aims to assess the effect of a single session of group education of hospice program at Seoul National University Hospital for the advanced and terminal cancer patients and their family members. Methods: Response to questionnaires from 89 participants were evaluated using SAS and CHISQ analysis. The questionnaires included the following items: 1) the characteristics of participants; 2) the characteristics of patients; 3) the difficulties of patient care; 4) the satisfaction with the program Results: The participants consist of 33 patients (37.5%) and 56 family members (56.2%). Diagnosis included mainly stomach, lung, breast, and colon cancer. Participants of family members consisted of spouse, parent, children, daughter-in-law, and siblings (in decreasing order). The participants were interested in the medical information, nutrition, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial adaptation. They had difficulties in emotional problem, nutrition and symptom management. Even though it was a single session of group education, the level of satisfaction was high (95%). Conclusion: This research shows that even the single session of the group education for the advanced and terminal cancer patients and their family members is very helpful by giving them the necessary information. In order to develop comprehensive care-giving services, more specific informations, more opportunities to participate in such sessions and longer question-answer time is required.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to discover the structure of the lived experience of suffering of families with cancer patients to develop a theoretical foundation that can be used to reinforce nursing practice for cancer patients and their families. Methods: A qualitative study was performed using Parse's research method. Participants were four families with cancer patients. From February 2009 through April 2010, data were collected via dialogical-engagement between participants and the researcher and analyzed through the extraction-synthesis and heuristic interpretation processes. Results: The structure was identified as follows. The families' lived experience of suffering was a process through which they experienced a psychological shock of cancer diagnosis and difficulties associated with reshuffled roles among family members, and made efforts to care for the patients. Conclusion: Amidst sadness, pain, anxiety, guilt, fear and agony, the families focused on the human-health-universe aspect and found meanings of their experiences as love, triumphant, responsibility and hope. As such, the study results suggest that the suffering of families with cancer patients is a human becoming process of positive transformation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.348-360
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning and essence of experience of family members as care givers of patient with head and neck cancer. Methods : This study was based on the colaizzi's phenomenological method, which describes the experiences about the family care givers. We had in-depth interview with family of five head and neck cancer patients. Results : Data was classified by 24 themes, 9 theme clusters and 4 categories. The categories are as follows: 'Shocking and actuality like a deadly maze', 'Cut off from the world by changes in family's physical image', 'Exhaustion of family', 'Take-off for mature care'. Conclusion : The results of the study provide useful information in understanding care givers' experience of patient with head and neck cancer and establishing effective strategies to support these care givers.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2006

목적: 종양환자 및 가족을 위한 환자교육의 필요성은 건강 돌봄의 중심이 완치의 개념에서 삶의 질 개념으로 바뀌어 감에 따라 더욱 대두되고 있다. 이들을 위한 환자교육이 성공적으로 이루어지기 위해서는 환자와 가족들의 교육선호 양상과 일치하는 교육적 전략이 필요하다. 본 연구는 종양환자와 가족들의 교육선호와 일치하는 효과적인 교육적 전략의 기초를 제공하기 위해 시도되었다. 방법: 본 문헌고찰은 컴퓨터 데이터베이스 에 수록된 1990년에서 2002년에 출간된 선행연구 결과를 토대로 분석하였다. 결과: 종양환자와 그 가족은 의료전문인과의 대화, 책자, 시청각 및 인터넷 매체 등의 다양한 방법을 통해 정보를 구하였으며, 이러한 교육 요구 및 선호 양상은 다양한 요인에 따라 매우 개별적이었다. 또한 이들의 교육 준비상태는 질병 경험의 정신 사회적 수용 상태와 밀접하게 연관되어 있었다. 결론: 다양한 교육 방법을 활용한 개별적 접근이 종양 환자와 가족을 위한 환자교육에 적절할 것이며, 이들의 교육 준비상태와 일치하는 환자교육을 제공하기 위해 질병에 대한 정신적 적응과 수용상태를 지속적으로 사정하는 것이 필요하다.