• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.257-269
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate educational needs, knowledge and attitude towards menopause in middle-aged women Method: The research design was a descriptive study. The subjects of this study were 231 middle-aged women. Data was collected from a structured questionnaire from October 2 to November 30, 2007. Result: The score of educational needs towards menopause was relatively high at 3.83/5. The score of educational needs related to 'Osteoporosis'(3.99 score), 'Cardiovascular disease'(3.91 score), and 'Hormone replacement therapy'(3.87 score) was relatively high. The score of know ledge towards menopause was relatively low at 17.28/30. The score of attitude towards menopause was neutral at 2.3/4. The relationship between knowledge and attitude towards menopause revealed a negative significant correlation(r=-.194, p=.003). The relationship between knowledge and educational needs towards menopause revealed a positive significant correlation(r=0.275, p<.0001). The degree of educational needs of women before menopause is higher than in menopausal women. Conclusion: There is a need to develop a continuing educational program according to age and menopause condition. Specialists(Nurses) must give information about menopause for a positive attitude toward menopause.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.186-193
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to extend the understanding and knowledge of menopause by comparing attitudes toward menopause and menopausal symptoms of women religious and married women. Methods: The data were collected by self-report questionnaires from 126 women religious and 131 married women, between 40 and 59 years of age who lived in P city, D city and K province. A structured questionnaire was used which included demographic and health-related information, attitudes toward menopause, and menopausal symptoms. Data were analyzed by using $x^2$ test, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program. Results: The mean score for attitudes toward menopause of women religious and married women was $69.46{\pm}6.15$ and $66.98{\pm}6.12$ respectfully, and the difference was significant (p=.001). The mean score for menopausal symptoms of women religious and married women was $41.33{\pm}23.55$ and $55.99{\pm}30.81$ respectively, and the difference was also significant (p<.001). Attitudes toward menopause were negatively correlated with menopausal symptoms (r=-.27, p<.001).

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.82-93
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to explore attitude and belief about menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms according to menopausal status. This study conducted a cross-sectional assessment of the effects of depressive symptoms and the severity of trait anxiety on the severity of menopausal symptoms. Methods : Participants were all outpatients at the psychiatric outpatient clinic of Korea University Guro Hospital. All participants, aged 40 to 64, had depressive or anxiety disorders and were divided into the premenopause, perimenopause, premenopause, and postmenopause groups. Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) was used to measure the severity of menopausal symptoms. The attitude toward menopause was examined by a self-report questionnaire regarding menopause. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) were used to assess depressive symptoms and anxiety. Results : The severity of menopausal symptoms was not different among the groups according to menopausal status. There was a significant correlation between a negative attitude toward menopause and the severity of menopausal symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms and trait anxiety had more severe menopausal symptoms. Conclusion : Negative attitude toward menopause, depressive symptoms, and anxiety had a significantly negative impact on the severity of menopausal symptoms. The results of this study suggest that treatment to relieve depressive symptoms and anxiety and intervention to reduce negative attitude toward menopause are required. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to evaluate potentially effects of depressive symptoms and anxiety on severity of menopausal symptoms in middle-aged female psychiatric patients.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.631-647
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of climacteric women's attitude to developmental phenomena and their menopausal symptoms on their meaning of life in an attempt to provide some information on the improvement of climacteric women's quality of life. The subjects in this study were 313 women who resided in different regions involving a large city D and another city C. They were aged between 40 and 60 and were going through their menopause. They were aged between 40 and 60 and were going through their menopause. The subjects were selected by convenient sampling, which was one of nonprobability sampling methods. The collected data were analyzed by the statistical package SPSS. The major findings of the study were as follows: First, the climacteric women didn't take a positive attitude toward developmental phenomena. They occasionally suffered severe menopausal symptoms, and they didn't find a great meaning in their life. Second, the climacteric women found a more meaning in their life when they took a more positive attitude to developmental phenomena, and those who underwent severer menopausal symptoms found a less meaning in their life. Third, the climacteric women's meaning of life was under the influence of their attitude toward developmental phenomena and menopausal symptoms. Specifically, their attitude to menopause and mental symptoms had a large impact on that. Given the findings of the study, social welfare intervention should be provided for climacteric women to promote their physical health related to menopausal symptoms and psychological health related to attitude toward developmental phenomena to find a more meaning in their life. Besides, local welfare centers should be open to climacteric women as one of governmental policies so that they could lead a healthy life. Education should be provided for them to be ready for their own menopause, and social welfare counseling service should be offered from diverse angles

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life and evaluate the risk factors affecting severity of menopausal symptoms in early and late postmenopausal women based on the stages of reproductive aging workshop(STRAW) paradigm. Methods : This cross-sectional study examined 497 Korean postmenopausal women aged 41-59 years in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. We divided subjects into early postmenopause group and late postmenopause group. Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) was used to measure the quality of life. MRS scores, sociodemographic variables, smoking, alcohol use, age at menopause, and risk factors such as attitude to menopause, depression, history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder were compared between early and late postmenopause groups. Multiple regression analysis was performed in each group to assess the independent contribution of several variables. Results : Early postmenopause group showed significantly higher MRS scores, more negative attitude toward menopause, higher scores of depressive symptoms than late postmenopause group. Moderate to very severe hot flush group showed significantly, more negative attitude toward menopause, higher score of depressive symptoms, and higher MRS scores than none to mild hot flush groups. Depressive symptoms and attitude toward menopause contributed to the severity of menopausal symptom in both early and late postmenopause groups. Chronological age, age at menopause, history of PMDD contributed to severity of menopausal symptoms in early postmenopause group while marital status and occupation contributed in late postmenopause group. Conclusion : Health-related quality of life in postmenopause women was significantly lower in early postmenopause group than the late. Attitude toward menopause and depressive symptoms contributed significantly to quality of life in both early and late postmenopause groups but other variables contributed differently in each group. Further studies on clinical samples of postmenopausal women in order to confirm quality of life and its risk factor are needed to be done.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.719-731
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge, attitude, and practice of middle-aged women breast self-examination, and to develop a breast self-examination promotion program for them. Method: The subjects of the study were 365 middle-aged women in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gyeongbok, Gyeongnam, Jeonbuk, Gangwon, and Kyonggi. The instruments used in this study included knowledge (l6items), attitude (22items) by Choi (1996) and practice (1item). The data were collected from September 15 to October 31, 2001 by using self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, $x^2$ test, t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test with SPSS program. Results: 1) 78.4% of the subjects were educated for breast self-examination. The most common source of knowledge for the breast self-examination was mess media. 2) The average score of knowledge on breast self-examination was 8.52 points. The average score of attitude toward breast self-examination was 3.08 points. 58.3% of the subjects practiced breast self-examination. But only 9.4% of the subjects practiced breast self-examination with a monthly basis. 3) Knowledge on breast self-examination was correlated with demographic variables including residence (F=2.923, p=0.004), education (F=5.145 p=0.000), number of children (F=5.125 p=0.002), family income (F=6.128 p=0.002), and menopause (t=-2.330, p= 0.020). Attitude toward breast self-examination was correlated with demographic variables including residence (F=3.611, p=0.000), age (F=2.731 p= 0.029), education (F=4.480 p=0.004), and family income (F=5.963 p=0.003). Practice of breast self-examination was correlated with demographic variables including residence ($x^2$=51.342, p=0.000), education ($x^2$=19.896, p=0.000), and menopause ($x^2$=9.841, p=0.000). 4) In terms of correlations among the scores of breast self-examination related knowledge, attitude, and practice, there was a correlation between knowledge and attitude. But there was no correlations between knowledge and practice, and between attitude and practice of breast self-examination. Conclusion: This study suggests that programs about the practice of breast self examination need to be developed in the future.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.290-301
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• 2012

This survey of 836 midlife women ($51.0{\pm}4.0$ yrs) was undertaken by exclusively a face to face interview by well-trained interviewers guarantying data collection of higher quality. This survey data was analyzed using the SPSS program. The main purpose of this study was to describe the factors affecting self-rated health status, including dietary habits and physical mental social factors. In the self-rated health status of a 'good' group, age was lower (p < 0.05), monthly income was higher (p < 0.01), dietary habits score (p < 0.001) and appetite (p < 0.001) and the degree of movement (p < 0.001) and life satisfaction (p < 0.001), marital intimacy (p < 0.001) and relationship satisfaction with their children (p < 0.001) were significantly higher than the 'bad' group. The level of depression (p < 0.001) and severe feeling of menopausal symptoms (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the 'poor' group. The results of correlation analysis demonstrated that educational level (r = 0.069, p < 0.05), income (r = 0.157, p < 0.001), eating habits (r = 0.235, p < 0.001), appetite (r = 0.263, p < 0.001), life satisfaction (r = 0.197, p < 0.001), marital intimacy (r = 0.167, p < 0.001), child relationship satisfaction (r = 0.149, p < 0.001), positive attitude toward menopause (r = 0.070, p < 0.05) showed a positive correlation, but depression (r = -0.122, p < 0.001) and menopausal symptoms (r = -0.292, p < 0.001) showed a negative association with self-rated health status. The predictable factors affecting the self-rated health status of middle-aged women were examined by multiple regression analysis. The 'menopausal symptoms - physical discomfort' was the most important variables followed by the 'appetite', 'eating habits', 'menopause symptoms - sensory problems', 'BMI', 'positive attitude toward menopause' and 'high marital intimacy'. These results showed that the 'appetite' and 'eating habits' are important factors affecting the self-rated health status. Therefore, a program of dietary education must be considered for the effective health education and counseling of middle-aged women.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between vasomotor symptoms and factors such as sociodemographics, health behaviors, medical condition, depression, stress, anxiety, attitude toward menopause, and quality of life. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional study in peri- and post-menopausal women enrolled by the Korean Association of Health Promotion. Subjects submitted self-report questionnaires about vasomotor symptoms and other clinical symptoms. Associations between vasomotor symptoms and clinical variables were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression analyses. Results : 1951 women completed self-report questionnaires and 1022 women were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of vasomotor symptoms in peri- and post-menopausal women was 63.9%. Variables showing significant differences between subjects with vasomotor symptoms and subjects without them were score of Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument-Korean Version, proportions of clinically significant depression(Beck Depression Inventory ${\geq}16$), Menopausal rating scale, attitude towards menopause, the 4 subscales of World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF(Physical health, psychological, social relationships, environment), and a History of Premenstrual syndrome/Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument-Korean Version, Menopausal Rating Scale, and the Psychological subscale of World Health Organization Quality of Life -BREF show associations with vasomotor symptoms. Conclusions : Menopausal vasomotor symptoms are associated with various psychological factors, especially with depression. Midlife women suffering vasomotor symptoms should therefore be screened for depression. Future prospective studies where clinical subjects are diagnosed using structured interviews, focusing on the causal relationship between depression and vasomotor symptoms are necessary.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.176-184
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• 2017

Objectives : Middle aged women with depression often experience hot flush symptoms. It is still unclear about the association between depression and hot flush symptoms. Therefore, we investigated hormonal profile, functional somatic symptoms, coping styles and attitude for menopause between depressed women with hot flush and those without hot flush. Methods : This study included 33 depressed patients with hot flush symptoms and 33 depressed patients without hot flush symptoms. Hot flush was confirmed through prospective daily symptom ratings for a week. Subjects' coping styles were assessed by the stress coping checklist. Somatic symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-15(PHQ-15). Sex hormonal levels were assayed by a radioimmunoassay. The Brief World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument(WHOQOL-BREF) was used to evaluate quality of life. Results : In coping style, depressed women with hot flush symptoms used less 'problem-centered coping'($13.15{\pm}3.17$) and 'search for social support'($11.83{\pm}2.84$) than those without hot flush symptoms($15.17{\pm}3.1$, p=0.028 ; $14.25{\pm}3.22$, p=0.009 ; respectively). Depressed women with hot flush symptoms showed more negative attitude toward post-menopause, but its statistical significance was marginally insufficient(p=0.059). We did not find any group differences in sex hormonal levels and somatic complaints assessed by the PHQ-15. The score of social relationship domain of WHOQOL-BREF was significantly lower in subjects with hot flush symptoms($8.62{\pm}2.04$) than subjects without hot flush symptoms($9.71{\pm}1.65$ ; p=0.044). Conclusions : Among middle aged women with depression, the manifestation of hot flush symptoms was associated with coping styles and attitude for menopausal transition. Hot flush symptoms in depressed women negatively influence quality of life, so clinicians actively perform therapeutic approach in case of depressed patients with hot flush symptoms. In case of depressed patients who present hot flushes, cognitive behavior therapy or stress management might be an effective treatment option in company with antidepressants or hormonal treatment. Later, longitudinal study will be needed to evaluate risk factor, cause and effect associated with hot flush and depression.