• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2014

Purpose: As the number of cases of heart transplantation (HT) and the survival rate have increased, concerns regarding post-HT life have grown. This study was conducted to explore the relationships of perceived social support to the depression and health status of HT recipients. Methods: This descriptive study targeted all recipients who had undergone HT at S University Hospital since 1994, and 32 recipients were recruited. Results: 90.6% of the recipients were men, and the average age at the time of surgery was $47.4{\pm}13.4$ years. The ejection fraction was increased from $18.47{\pm}5.63%$ to $63.25{\pm}7.57%$, and 31 cases of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV improved to class I or II after HT. The patients reported mild depression even with high perceived social support and improved health status after HT. Among those resource persons who offered support, they reported their spouse, doctors, and nurses as most meaningful to them. Conclusion: This study confirmed the positive effects of HT on the recipients' physical improvement. It also added the discovery that the importance of recipients' subjective perception of social support might be critical for their more successful recovery and adjustment to post-HT life. Focusing on a different approach to social support and types of social resources in the recovery phase is suggested for future studies on quality of life after HT.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.501-512
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study, which was guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, was twofold: (a) to explore family and parental adaptation and factors influencing family adaptation in Korean families of children with Down syndrome (DS) through a quantitative methodology and (b) to understand the life with a Korean child with DS through a qualitative method. Methods: A mixed-methods design was adopted. A total of 147 parents of children with DS completed a package of questionnaires, and 19 parents participated in the in-depth interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression and content analysis respectively. Results: According to the quantitative data, the overall family adaptation scores indicated average family functioning. Financial status was an important variable in understanding both family and parental adaptation. Family adaptation was best explained by family problem solving and coping communication, condition management ability, and family hardiness. Family strains and family hardiness were the family factors with the most influence on parental adaption. Qualitative data analysis showed that family life with a child with DS encompassed both positive and negative aspects and was expressed with 5 themes, 10 categories, and 16 sub-categories. Conclusion: Results of this study expand our limited knowledge and understanding concerning families of children with DS in Korea and can be used to develop effective interventions to improve the adaptation of family as a unit as well as parental adaptation.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.302-316
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and validate a structural model for the quality of life (QoL) among high-risk pregnant women, based on Roy's adaptation model. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 333 first-time mothers diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy in two obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Cheonan, Korea, or participating in an online community, between October 20, 2021 and February 20, 2022. Structured questionnaires measured QoL, contextual stimuli (uncertainty), coping (adaptive or maladaptive), and adaptation mode (fatigue, state anxiety, antenatal depression, maternal identity, and marital adjustment). Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35.29±3.72 years, ranging from 26 to 45 years. The most common high-risk pregnancy diagnosis was gestational diabetes (26.1%). followed by preterm labor (21.6%). QoL was higher than average (18.63±3.80). Above-moderate mean scores were obtained for all domains (psychological/baby, 19.03; socioeconomic, 19.00; relational/spouse-partner, 20.99; relational/family-friends, 19.18; and health and functioning, 16.18). The final model explained 51% of variance in QoL in high-risk pregnant women, with acceptable overall model fit. Adaptation mode (β=-.81, p=.034) and maladaptive coping (β=.46 p=.043) directly affected QoL, and uncertainty (β=-. 21, p=.004), adaptive coping (β=.36 p=.026), and maladaptive coping (β=-.56 p=.023) indirectly affected QoL. Conclusion: It is essential to develop nursing interventions aimed at enhancing appropriate coping strategies to improve QoL in high-risk pregnant women. By reinforcing adaptive coping strategies and mitigating maladaptive coping, these interventions can contribute to better maternal and fetal outcomes and improve the overall well-being of high-risk pregnant women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.138-150
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• 2010

Objectives: There are at least three conceptual models for the effects of the childhood social environment on adult health: the critical period model, the social mobility model, and the cumulative risk model. However, few studies have investigated all three different models within the same setting. This study aims to examine the impact of childhood and adulthood socioeconomic positions and intergenerational social mobility over the life course on the health in adulthood based both on the critical period model and the social mobility model. Methods: This study was conducted on 9583 adults aged between 25 and 64 years old and they were the respondents to the Korea Welfare Panel Study (2006). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out, using the critical period model and the social mobility model out of the life course approaches, to look into the impact of childhood and adulthood socioeconomic positions and intergenerational social mobility on the health status in adulthood. Results: Household income and occupation out of the adulthood socioeconomic position indicators had an independent influence on the adulthood health status. The childhood socioeconomic position indicators, except for the place of childhood residence, affected the adulthood health status even after adjustment for the adulthood socioeconomic position. The effect of intergenerational social mobility was also statistically significant even after adjusting for the adulthood socioeconomic position, but it became insignificant when the childhood socioeconomic position was additionally adjusted for. Conclusions: Adulthood health is indeed affected by both the childhood and adulthood socioeconomic positions as well as intergenerational social mobility. This result shows that a life course approach needs to be adopted when dealing with health issues.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.373-382
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare levels of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between fallers and non-fallers among community-dwelling elderly people. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted with the secondary analysis of 2,067 elderly people registered in S-Gu Visiting Health Care Program in Seoul, South Korea. Participants were 206 fallers and 206 non-fallers who were age- and sex-matched with fallers. HRQOL was measured by SF-8 including physical component summary (physical HRQOL) and mental component summary (mental HRQOL). Results: There were more people in the faller group having more than or equal to three chronic diseases (p<.001), living in multiplex houses (p=.004), and being dependent by the activities of daily living (ADL) (p=.001) and instrumental ADL (IADL) levels (p<.001) than those in the non-faller group. Fallers had higher levels of depression than non-fallers (p<.001). Moreover, fallers had significantly lower levels of both physical HRQOL (p<.001) and mental HRQOL (p=.001), after adjusting for number of chronic diseases, ADL, IADL, depression, healthcare insurance, and living environment. Conclusion: Among the community-dwelling elderly people, falllers had lower levels of HRQOL than non-fallers, and such a difference remained even after the adjustment for covariates. Factors that underlie the different susceptibility to HRQOL need to be explored.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2002

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of depression in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Methods : Subjects were 37 cancer inpatients of oncology in Yeungnam university hospital. BDI and ZDS were done and HDS was performed through semistructured interview. Results: 1) There were no significant differences of depression scale score according to sex, education, religion, marital status. 2) The mean scores of BDI, ZDS and HDS in 37 cancer patients were 18.27${\pm}$7.73, 36.51${\pm}$10.82, 15.14${\pm}$6.60, respectively. 3) HDS, ZDS scores were significantly higher in other cancer group receiving high dose chemotherapy. 4) Item score for depressed mood, diurnal variation(p<0.001), dissatisfaction(p<0.01), physical anxiety, decreased libido, sleep disturbance(p<0.05) were significantly higher in other cancer group than others. 5) Eight patients were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, 11 as adjustment disorder, and 18 patients had no axis I diagnosis. 6) In major depressive disorder group, the score of the depressed mood item in ZDS was high (p<0.05). HDS item score for depressed mood, work difficulty, anxiey(p<0.001), psychomotor retardation(p<0.01) were significantly higher in major depressive disorder group. 7) In patients with adjustment disorder, ZDS item score of constipation(p<0.001), fatigue, anorexia (p<0.01), emptiness, sleep disturbance, dissatisfaction, weight loss(p<0.01) were high. HDS item score of hypochondriasis(p<0.01), agitation(p<0.01), fatigue, decreased libido(p<0.05) were significantly higher in adjustment disorder group. Conclusion : Some psychiatric disorders, such as adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder were common in the cancer patients in chemotherapy. Psychiatric intervention will increase compliance of cancer treatment and improve the quality of life. This study suggests that it would be important to consider the nature of somatic symptoms in diagnosing depression in cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.665-675
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Korea. The specific aim was to identify major problems that people with CHB face and strategies that they are dealing with. Methods: A grounded theory method was utilized. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from 12 CHB patients from one of the major hospitals in Korea. Results: After constant comparative analysis, a core category emerged as "illness management with self-reliance and will." Seven major strategies that were identified in dealing with the illness were maintaining receptive and positive attitudes; restraining excessive work and greed; searching for information; controlling illness information; adhering to practices for not spreading the viral disease; abstaining from alcohol and smoking and maintaining healthy eating habits; nd using alternative therapies. The outcomes that result from employing these strategies were identified as burden, depression and helplessness, stress for maintaining compliance, and dispirited interpersonal relationships. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that most people with CHB in Korea have problems in psychosocial area. Thus health professionals need to provide not only informational support but also emotional one to improve quality of life of the people with CHB.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

Purpose: To survey and examine the relationships of self-esteem, family function, and self-efficacy in Chinese-Korean university students, and to provide supplemental data useful in counseling of university students during their adjustment to university life. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire with cross-sectional design was used. Participants were 103 Chinese undergraduate students in one university in Jilin, China. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA with Duncan's test and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to analyze the data. Results: Mean scores were 3.40 for self-esteem, 2.32 for family function, and 2.93 for self-efficacy. The score for self-esteem differed significantly according to gender, body mass index (BMI), family number, education level of mother, and course of study. The mean score for family function differed significantly according to nursing satisfaction. The mean score for self-efficacy differed significantly according to BMI and nursing satisfaction. Positive correlations were evident between self-esteem and self-efficacy. Conclusions: To promote self-esteem and self-efficacy, development of nursing interventions to support family function is prudent.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experience of adult Korean children who are caregivers for parents institutionalized with dementia. Methods: Participants were fourteen adult children caregivers of elders institutionalized with dementia. Data were collected through in-depth unstructured interviews with individual participants from August to November, 2012. Theoretical sampling was used to the point of theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's Grounded Theory Method. Results: From open coding, 67 concepts, 29 sub-categories, and 14 categories were identified. Analysis revealed that the core category of the experience of adult children caring for their parents institutionalized with dementia was 'enduring the role of a prop' consisting of four phases: initial turmoil, exploration, role adjustment, and acclimation. To manage the role of a prop, participants utilized various action/interactional strategies such as overcoming the unfamiliarity, overseeing the nursing home care, and counterbalancing the caring roles. As a result, participants experienced ambivalence towards the existence of parents with dementia, changes in family relationships, altered viewpoint towards nursing homes, and restructuring of life. Conclusion: In-depth understanding of the experience will guide nurses to promote effective interventions in order to better support the Korean family caregivers of parents institutionalized with dementia.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.132-145
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a care promotion program based on nursing students' self-understanding. Methods: A quasi-experimental approach using a randomized clinical trial pre- and posttest design was used. Participants were assigned to an experiment group (n=29) or control group (n=30). Data were collected from June 23 to September 8, 2017. The experiment group participated in a care promotion program based on self-understanding for 24 hours through eight sessions covering eight different topics. The data were analyzed using t-test and repeated-measures ANOVA using SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: Compared to the control group, the experiment group reported significant positive changes for college life adjustment (F=28.74, p<.001), emotional intelligence (F=15.66, p<.001), and interpersonal caring behavior (F=9.37, p=.003). Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that care promotion based on a self-understanding improvement program with the application of group enneagram education is a useful intervention strategy to promote the care promotion program based on nursing students' self-understanding. Care promotion based on self-understanding will be utilized as an intervention program to form positive values of care and interpersonal relationship through care awareness, self-change, understanding of others and care experience in the group.