• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 2001

Cancer survivor's self-help group may promote psychosocial adjustment in cancer patients. Self-transcendence has been shown to be related with crisis and adjustment in women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of self-transcendence promoting program to facilitate self-transcendence, physical, and emotional well-being in women with breast cancer. Thirty patients who received mastectomy were recruited, but 9 subjects of experimental group and 14 subjects of control group participated in this study. Subjects of experimental group attended the self-help group for self-transcendence once a week for 6 weeks. Each session of program was proceeded for 2hours and the program contained activities for promoting self-transcendence, stress management, communication skill, exercise and relaxation, symptom management, and family support. Data were collected by self-reporting questionnaires within seven days after mastectomy and after the program was finished in experimental group, within 7 days after mastectomy and after 3 months in control group. Self-transcendence was assessed using the self-transcendence scale (STS) developed by Reed. Physical well being was assessed using Symptom distress scale (SDS) developed by McCorkle and Young and emotional well being was assessed using Profile of mood states (POMS). As a result, no significant differences were found between both groups in changes of self-transcendence, emotional well-being, and physical well-being. Self-transcendence score was significantly decreased in control group (p =0.16). But that of experimental group showed no decrease. In conclusions, when the self-transcendence promoting program is provided to the patients with breast cancer, it can be helpful for promoting self- transcendence. For the further study, repeated research with appropriate sample size and more intensive nursing intervention to promote self-transcendence is suggested. And reassessment after 6 months is recommended for testing long term effects of the program.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.104-113
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze physical activity as measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and an actigraph in breast cancer survivors, as well as to identify their intention to participate in a physical activity program. Methods: Breast cancer patients who had been diagnosed for more than six months (N=135) at a university hospital participated from June 2012 to May 2013. Physical activity was measured using the Korean version of the IPAQ-Short Form and Actigraph GT3X plus an accelerator for seven consecutive days. Data analyses were conducted using the SPSS WIN 19.0 program. Results: Mean total physical activity was 2298.21 metabolic equivalent task (MET)-min/week as assessed by IPAQ and 150,140.57 counts/day as measured by an actigraph. There were statistically significant correlations between moderate physical activity from IPAQ and light intensity of physical activity from the actigraph (r=.735, p<.001), vigorous physical activity from IPAQ and vigorous intensity of physical activity from the actigraph (r=.871, p<.001), total physical activity from IPAQ and light intensity of physical activity from the actigraph (r=.825, p<.001), respectively. Most (80.7%) cancer survivors reported a positive attitude toward physical activity and 57.8% expressed a willingness to participate in a physical activity program. More than half (60%) of the subjects preferred walking, 80.6% preferred more than 30 minutes of exercise, and 57.1% wanted to engage in physical activity three times a week and preferred home-based activities. Perceived barriers included fatigue, lack of strength and pain. Conclusion: It is necessary to consider intensity, personal preferences, and patient-perceived barriers when developing physical activity programs for breast cancer survivors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.481-487
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• 2013

Following breast cancer diagnosis, women often attempt to modify their lifestyles to improve their health and prevent recurrence. These behavioral changes typically involve diet and physical activity modification. The aim of this study was to determine association between healthy eating habits and physical activity with quality of life among Iranian breast cancer survivors. A total of 100 Iranian women, aged between 32 to 61 years were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Eating practices were evaluated by a validated questionnaire modified from the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A standardized questionnaire by the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life and its breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ-C30/+BR-23) were applied to determine quality of life. Approximately 29% of the cancer survivors were categorized as having healthy eating practices, 34% had moderate eating practices and 37% had poor eating practices based on nutrition guidelines. The study found positive changes in the decreased intake of fast foods (90%), red meat (70%) and increased intake of fruits (85%) and vegetables (78%). Generally, breast cancer survivors with healthy eating practices had better global quality of life, social, emotional, cognitive and role functions. Results showed that only 12 women (12%) met the criteria for regular vigorous exercise, 22% had regular moderate-intensity exercise while the majority (65%) had low-intensity physical activity. Breast cancer survivors with higher level of physical activity had better emotional and cognitive functions. Healthy eating practices and physical activity can improve quality of life of cancer survivors. Health care professionals should promote good dietary habits and physical activity to improve survivor's health and quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.786-800
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• 1998

The purposes of this study were to describe systemically 18 years of oncology nursing research in Korea and suggest it's direction in future. 149 nursing studies published from 1980 to 1998 were selected for the present study. There were examined the source and the design of study, type of subjects, measurement variables, the intervention outcome of experimental research, and theme of qualitative research. The results were as follows : 1. 121 of 149 studies were composed of master thesis and dissertation of graduate school. There were 55 correlations, 30 descriptions, 19 comparisons, 19 qualitative studies and 2 Q-methods as the type of research design. 2. Cancer patients without describing specified diagnosis as subjects' characteristic were 44 of total studies. The others had various diagnoses such as gastric cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. According to treatment type, patients receiving chemotherapy were the highest number distribution as 53 of all researches. 3. Most measurement instruments used for research were translated it into Korean that developed by foreigners, such as Zung's depression, Spielberg's anxiety, and Wallston's locus of control. 4. Quality of life was shown the most frequently among correlational researches. the next one was depression, the third was hope, and so on. 5. There was the most frequent comparison between cancer and non-cancer patients in comparative researches. It was surveyed those variables as diet habits, risk factors, stressful life events, anxiety and depression, and self-care capacity between two groups. 6. The subjects were mostly chemotherapy patients as 15 of 24 experimental studies. Oral care and education were respectively the highest experimental interventions. 7. Qualitative researches about cancer were reported since 1991. Their themes were illness experience, adaptation process, dying experience, family experience, hope, caring, experience of health behavior, meaning of chemotherapy and experience of cancer survivor. Phenomenologic methodology was designed above 50% of qualitative researches. According to the above findings, cancer research had increased since 1990 and done mostly by descriptive design but a few experimental studies. As recommendations for the future, It is necessary to study the comparison of oncology nursing research internationally, the replication to establish the effect of nursing intervention, and the family care of cancer patient.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.968-973
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• 2008

The study was to provide basic data and to examine the effect of combined exercise for 12 months on functional fitness and bone mineral density (BMD) in breast cancer survivors. The subjects of this study were 40 to 60-year-old married women (N=24) who finished their treatments chemotherapy and radiation therapy. They were divided into two groups that exercise group and exercise with alendronate group. Eighteen (T-score=$-2.2{\pm}0.8$) of the 24 women who were diagnosed osteopenia (N=15) and osteoporosis (N=3), participated in combined exercise (EG). The other six (T-score=$-4.6{\pm}0.9$) women who were diagnosed as osteoporosis (EDG), participated in the combined exercise program with osteoporosis drug (Alendronate 70 mg/w). The result of the analysis was as follows: Twelve months after, the participants (N=24) had a significant increase of the items such as sit and reach ups, grip strength (R and L) and sit ups test of functional fitness in the periods. In body composition, FM (fat mass) had significant decrease in periods. In the comparison of BMD, EG (N=18) had no change, while EDG (N=6) had significant improvement in L1, T12 and T-score after 12months. Consequently, complex exercise program (Hatha yoga, elastic band, gym ball) had positive effect on functional fitness and bone mineral density. We suggest that complex exercise program can be applied as recovery program after breast cancer surgery. Further research needs various and repetitive studies from more different targets or methods in the exercise program for its improvement.