• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1172-1183
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• 2004

Purpose: Ego-integrity in Erikson's stage theory is used frequently among health team members related to the care of the elderly and has specific meanings within the context of quality of life in later life. However, the concept of ego-integrity in the elderly has not been well articulated in the literature. This study was conducted clarify and conceptualize the phenomena of ego-integrity in the elderly. Method: A Hybrid Model of concept development was applied to develop a concept of ego-integrity, which included a field study carried out in Seoul, South Korea using in-depth interviews with old adults who were admitted as a right person for research subject according to attributes of ego-integrity analysed in the theoretical phase. Results: The concept of ego-integrity emerged as a complex phenomenon having meanings in several different dimensions which encompassed several attributes. Conclusions: Ego-integrity is a concept having needs that should be treated in a specific way and it is possible to enrich the meaning and methods to manage ego-integrity in nursing interventions for promoting quality of life so that its application may have effects that have positive impacts on the elderly's well being.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.794-806
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• 2020

This study was conducted in order to attain an in-depth understanding of and describe the Ego-Integrity Phenomenon of the elderly of age 65 and older. The data was collected from June 2020 to July 2020 as an in-depth interview consisting of semi-structured questions. The data was analyzed using the Colaizzi's method, one of the phenomenology methods. All interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Through analysis, 309 significant statements were extracted, and 88 formulations of meaning, 53 themes, 16 theme clusters, and 5 categories were derived. The categories and the theme clusters are as such : 'reflecting on the past life with delight' ('fruitfulness over the lifetime', 'achieving through fulfilling responsibilities', 'achieved specially and gratefully'), 'Currently lonely and distressed due to the bitter old days' ('Physical health needs and psychosocial needs are not met', 'Wasn't able to make good choices for parents and children', 'Elderly life is not easy'), 'Satisfaction from enduring tough and difficult journeys in life' ('Compensated for hard work at workplace and home', 'Problem solved through endurance and overcoming', 'Living a healthy elderly life by escaping from the habits of the past'), 'Realizing the way of life as an elderly' ('Now is the best and most satisfying moment', 'Managing self in old age', 'Living passionately, though it may be late', 'Retiring from the forefront of life with an abundant heart'), 'Passing on beautifully' ('Desires toward the later years', 'Hope during the last moments', 'Appearance and emotions when death approaches'). It was observed that during the Ego-Integrity Phenomenon of the elderly, they have come to discern the meaning of life by reminiscing the regrets and difficulties of the past, and through this reminiscence, they have come to attain a positive and transcendental hope for the rest of their lives. The Ego-Integrity of the elderly appeared to be subjective, dynamic, and occurring simultaneously rather than continuously. It is recommended to develop a variety of nursing interventions while taking into consideration the age and the type of experience of the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.349-360
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to derive a substantive theory on lived experiences of elderly cancer patients. Methods: The data were collected from February to March 2018 through in-depth personal interviews with 14 elderly cancer patients. The collected data were analyzed based on Corbin and Strauss's grounded theory. Results: The core category was "the journey to find balance in daily lives as a cancer patient by recovering disturbed ego integrity." The core phenomenon was "shattered by suffering from cancer," and the causal conditions were "physical change" and "limitations in daily life." The contextual conditions were "decreased self-esteem," "feelings of guilt toward the family," and the sense of "economic burden." The participants' action and interaction strategies were "maintaining or avoiding social relations," "seeking meaning of the illness," "falling into despair," and "strengthening the willingness to battle the cancer." The intervening conditions were "support from health care providers and family," "dissatisfaction with health care providers," "spiritual help from religion," and "the improvement or worsening of health conditions." The consequences were "having a new insight for life," "living positively along with cancer illness," and "the loss of willingness to live." A summary of the series of processes includes the "crisis stage," "reorganizing stage," and the "ego integration stage." Conclusion: This study explored the holistic process of ego integrity impairment and the recovery experience of elderly cancer patients. This study is expected to be used as a basis for the development of nursing interventions that can support patients when coping with all stages of their cancer illness trajectory.