• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.27-31
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Lymphedemas are tissue fluid swellings, usually on the arms or legs, and occur as a result of impaired lymphatic drainage. Presently, the most effective treatment available is complete decongestive physiotherapy (CDP). However, this therapy is ineffective in some patients and surgery may be indicated. Herein, we examined the efficacy of minimally invasive needle aspiration of the most enlarged areas in hypodermic adipose tissues, of patients who had failed CDP. Methods: We included 21 patients who were diagnosed with lymphedema stage II-III in the upper or lower extremities and visited the lymphedema clinic at a university hospital from September 1, 2003 to February 28, 2004. All patients had been treated with CDP at least once, but had failed to respond to the therapy for more than one year. Nine patients had breast cancer and 12 had cervical cancer. We identified the area with the most severe edema by using MRI and performed a 16-gauge angio-needle aspiration on the area. The patients were followed up for 3 months. Effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by comparing the volume of edema before and after the treatment using Wilcoxon signed rank-test. Results: The mean reduction ratio of the volume of edema comparison normal volume was 41.1${\pm}$35.3% (P=0.001). There were no major or minor operative complications except localized hemorrhage. Conclusion: We conclude that a needle aspiration prior to other surgical treatments is relatively safe and effective for those patients who are unresponsive to CDP.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.183-189
• /
• 2005

Purpose: Despite the advance of medical science, the number of cancer patient have increased and the mortality rate is also on the rise. Therefore, a perfect cure for cancer is crucial, but the value and meaning of the remaining life for the patient are also becoming more and more important. The principal aim of this study is to examine the differences in the quality of life, physical and psychosocial symptoms according to the performance status of terminal cancer patients. Methods: We evaluated the performance status, demographical data, blood analysis and quality of life of cancer patients who visited the Department of family Medicine at Myoung-ji Hospital in Korea between September 1, 2003 and August 31, 2005. Their performance status (ECOG) was divided into two groups ($ECOG\;0{\sim}1/ECOG\;2{\sim}4$) and analyzed by ANOVA to see if there was a difference in their blood analysis and quality of life. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: A total of 104 patients were evaluated, among which 71 patients (23 male and 48 female) scored $0{\sim}1$, and 33 patients (8 males and 25 females) scored $2{\sim}4$ in the ECOG. The blood analysis showed that patients whose performance status was $2{\sim}4$ had lower levels of lymphocytes, hemoglobin, protein, albumin and sodium. The evaluation on their quality of life showed that the overall health status of patients with $2{\sim}3$ functional ability were poor (P=0.02). Also, from a functional perspective, these patients had poor physical (P=0.05) and role (P=0.01) scores, and in terms of symptoms, they showed a significant loss of appetite. Conclusion: If a patient's performance status was poor, levels related to certain nutritions were also found to fall in blood tests, thereby leading to an overall weakened state of health. However, there was no difference in symptoms except for a loss of appetite. In conclusion, it is most important to increase the appetite in patients with poor performance status.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.190-199
• /
• 2005

Purpose: Objectives of this study was to investigate the level of anxiety and depression according to the stages of autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). It would be provide the basis for effective psycho-emotional nursing intervention. Methods: We report on 52 patients, including 19 with autologous HSCT, and 33 with allogeneic HSCT from August 2002 to August 2003, at a university hospital. Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Jung's Depression Inventory were used to measure levels of anxiety and depression, respectively, at admission time, the day before HSCT, and discharge time. Data was analyzed using SAS program that included Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, repeated measures ANOVA and Stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: In all stages of HSCT, the level of anxiety of patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT was significantly higher than that of autologous HSCT (P=0.047). The depression at the day before HSCT was significantly higher than that at admission. The major variable affecting anxiety in autologous HSCT was depression. Specially depression and gender were significant predictors to explain anxiety in allogeneic HSCT at admission time (61%). Experience of relapse and gender were significant predictors to explain anxiety in allogeneic HSCT at discharge time (36%). Conclusion: We recommend that the anxiety and depression be researched during the stages of allogeneic HSCT, specifically in the day before HSCT. It is necessary to develop an effective psycho-emotional nursing intervention according to the stages of HSCT.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.136-145
• /
• 2002

Purpose : This study was designed to develop an instrument that could be used for comprehensive and effective need assessment for patients with cancer. Methods : In the first phase, a conceptual framework for the instrument was established by Wingate & Lackey (1989). In the second phase, the preliminary instrument was drawn up through a review of the literature and in consultation with three professors in Nursing. In the third phase validity and reliability of the preliminary instrument were tested as follows; 1) an expert validity test of the preliminary instrument was done by nine head nurses and charge nurses who had over ten years experience caring for patients with cancer at Wonju Christian Hospital. 2) A construct validity test and reliability test was done for the instrument by 116 staff nurses selected by convience sampling from hospitals located in Kang-Won, Kyoung-Ki, and Choong-Chung Provinces. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 WIN program. For the factors of the instrument, factor analysis was used. The reliability of the scale was analyzed by Cronbach's alpha. Results : The results of the experts' test of validity, showed that, of 32 items, only one item had less than 55.4%. It was then deleted and a total of 31 items was selected. On the basis of the results of the factor analysis, the following six components were identified: physiological, informational, spiritual, and emotional needs, available resources, and legal/financial needs. These factors explained 61.8% of the variance. In the factor analysis, the first factor (physiological needs) and the second factor (informational needs) explained 25.4% and 10.9% of the variance respectively, which were major factors for the needs of patients with cancer in Korea. Cronbach' alpha for the scale was .90 indicating internal reliability. Conclusion : This instrument can be effectively utilized for assessment of needs of patients with cancer in Korea. Use of the needs assessment instrument developed in this study will allow nurses to develop nursing interventions that provide comprehensiveness and continuity in meeting the needs of patients with cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.8-19
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study identifies research trends and provides fundamental data related to curative power of aromatherapy to relieve pain in Korea. Methods: The study analyzed 44 experimental studies on humans that were published in Korea before the end of December, 2009. The key words used for searching were: aroma, aromatherapy, hyang-yobeob, hyanggi-yobeob, hyanggichilyo, aromatherapy and pain, headache, scapulodynia, omodynia, feeling uncomfortable in the perineal region, sense of pain, labor pains, arm pain, menstrual pain, aches, and dysmenorrheal. Those words were found on websites, including those for Korea Education & Research Information Service, the National Assembly Library, KISS, KoreaMed, and NDSL. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The results showed that most of essential oils to relieve pain is composed of three to four kinds of oils, including Lavender, Roman chamomile, Rosemary, and Clarysage. Aromatherapy is applied usually by means of massage (50%), inhalation (13.6%), or a combination of the above two (13.6%). Measuring instruments as a dependent variable include VAS, questionnaire, GRS, blood pressure, pulse, and Algometer. Aromatherapy plays an important role in soothing headaches and arthralgia. However, when it comes to labor and menstrual pain, it doesn't seem to be effective. Conclusion: The study found that different kinds of oil, frequencies, and periods of time are used for the same symptoms. Further research should employ standardized oil blending, application, duration, and measuring instruments, and more systematically analyze the effects of aromatherapy to establish the effects on relieving pain.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.98-108
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between fatigue and quality of life (QOL) of Korean cancer inpatients. Methods: The data were collected from May to August 2007. Study subjects were recruited at D, Y and A university hospitals in Daegu and Kyungpook, Korea. The research instruments utilized in this study were fatigue (FACT-F) and quality of life (FACT-G) in Korean version 4. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation using SPSS Win 12.0 program. Results: Fatigue of subjects showed a significant difference according to the type of treatment, change in weight, performance status, exercise, and sleep. The QOL of subjects showed a significant difference according to the purpose of treatment, change in weight, performance status, exercise, and sleep. The mean score of fatigue was 22.48 and the mean score of QOL was 55.52. The fatigue was negatively related to QOL, physical well-being, emotional well-being, and functional well-being. Conclusion: The results suggest the needs for intervention in order to reduce fatigue and to improve QOL of cancer inpatients.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2006

Purpose: This study is aimed to confirm nurse's attitudes and to investigate the factor analysis on organ donation in brain dead donors. Methods: This survey were collected from 198 nurses in three university hospitals and four general hospitals in B city with questionnaires developed by the author. The consent for this research was obtained from nursing managers, head nurses, and staff nurses after explaining the purpose of this research. Results: In questionnaires, 45 items about attitudes were included and positive and negative attitude were analyzed. The contents of factors are 'legal permission of brain death', 'one's will of organ donation at the brain death', 'need for educational program about brain dead during college curriculum', 'organ donation is good presents for others', 'connection with professional institutes', 'necessity of brain death', 'convenient to control of brain death' and 'the goods for organ transplantation in brain dead donors' as positive attitudes. Meanwhile, 'contrast to certain religion and dignity to life', 'negative dangers on brain dead permission', 'unbelief to the medical teams', 'burdens to ask organ donation to brain deads/families' and 'economical compensation' are factors as negative attitudes about organ donation in brain dead. The total mean point score of positive attitudes about organ donation in brain dead donors was $3.753{\pm}3.398$. The total mean point score of negative attitudes about organ donation in brain dead donors was $2.915{\pm}0.472$. Conclusion: The results of this study may be of help for the nurses who concern organ sharing and make effective interventions and educations to facilitate the decision making process for organ donation in brain dead donors or families.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study analyzed the difference in survival time of patients with delirium according to sedative medication. Methods: From January 2012 through December 2013, a retrospective cohort study was performed using the electronic medical records (EMR) of Pusan National University Hospital. Among 900 patients who died from cancer, we selected 240 who suffered delirium based on the EMR. The Nu-DESC delirium screening test was used to diagnose delirium. Results: The median length of delirium period was five days. Delirium characteristics were dominated by inappropriate behaviors (35.0%). Sedatives were administered in 72.1% of the cases. The most frequently used sedative was haloperidol which was used in 59.6% of cases. The delirium period significantly differed by patients' age (F=3.96, P=0.021), cancer type (F=3.31, P=0.010), chemotherapy (t=-3.44 P=0.001). The average survival time was 16.85 days for the sedative medication group and 9.37 days for the non-medication group, which, however, was not significant (t=1.766, P=0.079). Conclusion: In this study, the use of sedatives did not affect patients' survival time. Thus, appropriate sedative medication can be positively recommended to comfort terminal cancer patients and their families.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.18-29
• /
• 2012

Purpose: We analyzed how clinical nurses in Korea perceive terminally ill patients' medical decision-making. Methods: The Q-methodology which analyzes the subjectivity of each item was used. We selected 34 Q-statements among those provided by each of 37 subjects and grouped them into a shape of normal distribution using a 9 point scale. The collected data were analyzed using a QUANL PC program. Results: Four types of perception toward medical decision-making were identified. Type I focuses on patient participation, and Type II emphasizes the role of health professionals. Type III is characterized by an open-minded culture toward death, and Type IV values the role of family members. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the need for development of a multi-disciplinary curriculum medical decision-making and death for medical and nursing students.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.212-221
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to compare nursing students' attitudes toward death among South Korea, Japan and Indonesia, and to confirm the need for death education in nursing. Methods: A total of 294 nursing students completed a questionnaire titled as the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (Wong, Recker, Gesser. 1994). Participating students were from two nursing schools in South Korea, two in Japan and one in Indonesia. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including, ${\chi}^2$-test, ANOVA and multiple comparison analysis. Results: The total mean score of the DAP-R for the three countries combined was $3.84{\pm}0.73$. By country, the mean was the highest for Indonesian students ($4.32{\pm}0.71$), followed by Korean ($3.75{\pm}0.57$) and Japanese ($3.56{\pm}0.70$) respectively. In relation to subcategories, Indonesian students showed the highest mean score for death avoidance ($3.67{\pm}1.38$) and approach acceptance ($5.37{\pm}1.00$). Korean students marked the highest ($5.51{\pm}0.91$) in neutral acceptance and Japanese students scored the best ($3.63{\pm}1.46$) in escape acceptance. Nursing students who had an experience of caring terminally ill patients tended to be affirmative in approach acceptance (P=0.047). There were significant differences in each of the four subcategories except fear of death among the three countries (P<0.001). Conclusion: The above results indicate it is necessary to develop education programs based on each country's social and cultural background to help nursing students form desirable attitudes toward death.