• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Purpose: Although vitamin D deficiency is more commonly found in cancer patient than in non-cancer patients, there have been little data regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in cancer patients at the very end of life. We examined vitamin D deficiency in terminally ill cancer patients and related factors. Methods: This study was based on a retrospective chart review of 133 patients in a hospice ward. We collected data regarding age, sex, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, cancer type, physical performance, current medications and various laboratory findings. We investigated factors related to serum vitamin D levels after multivariate adjustment for potential confounders. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<20 ng/mL was considered deficient and <10 ng/mL severely deficient. Results: Ninety-five percent of the patients were serum vitamin D deficient. Severe vitamin D deficiency was more common in male patients, non-lung cancer patients, $H_2$ blocker users and non-anticonvulsant users. Elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also associated with low serum vitamin D levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that severe vitamin D deficiency was associated with male gender (aOR 3.82, 95% CI: 1.50~9.72, P=0.005), $H_2$ blocker users (aOR 3.94, 95% CI: 1.61~9.65, P=0.003) and elevated serum ALT levels (aOR 4.52, 95% CI: 1.35~15.19, P=0.015). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among terminally ill cancer patients. Severe vitamin D deficiency was more common in male patients, $H_2$ blocker users, and patients with elevated ALT levels.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2005

Purpose: To provide the basic data in developing the nursing intervention for patients who have symptoms of insomnia after undergoing hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This was achieved through investigating sleep quality and sleep patterns according to admission time, and discharge time. Methods: Data was put together by studying 52 HSCT patients who have been admitted to the department of HSCT from August 2002 to August 2003, in a university hospital. Research instruments used were, PSQI for sleep quality and a specified questionnaire for sleep patterns. Results: The PSQI regarding the past mono which was measured at the last day of hospitalization, was 11.8. This was significantly higher than 5.3, which was a measurement for the past month before the hospitalization (t=11.41, P=0.000). Looking at it with 7 categories-quality of sleep, consistency of sleep, sleep period, effectiveness of sleep, sleeping disorder, usage of sleeping pills, impediment of daily life- the PSQI for a month after admission increased significantly compared to the rate measured for a month before admission. Comparing the subjects sleep pattern before and after admission, it showed a significant difference regarding time attending sleep, time it takes to sleep, wake-up time, total time of sleep, day time sleep, number of times waking up during sleep, number of usage of sleeping pills, actions that are taken during sleep disorder, reasons for insomnia. Conclusion: The PSQI score of patients who undergo hemopoietic stem cell transplantation have increased significantly after hospitalization. Compared to the change of sleep patterns when hospitalized, significant changes were observed. Therefore nursing interventions addressing sleep are needed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.190-199
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• 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
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2013

Purpose: Spirituality is an important domain and is related with physical and psychological symptoms in terminal cancer patient. The aim of this study is to examine how patients' spirituality is associated with their physical and psychological symptoms as it has been explored by few studies. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 50 patients in the palliative ward of a tertiary hospital were interviewed. Spiritual well-being, depression, anxiety and pain is measured by Functional Assessment of Chronic-Illness Therapy-Spirituality (FACIT-Sp), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the Korean version of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-K). The correlations between patients' spiritual well-being and anxiety, depression and pain were analysed. The association between spiritual well-being and age, gender, palliative performance scale (PPS), religion, mean pain intensity, anxiety, depression were assessed by univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results: Spiritual well-being was negatively correlated with the mean pain intensity (r=-0.283, P<0.05), anxiety (r=-0.613, P<0.05) and depression (r=-0.526, P<0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, spiritual well-being showed negative association with anxiety (OR=-1.03, 95% CI=-1.657~-0.403, P=0.002) and positive association with the existence of religion (OR=9.193, 95% CI=4.158~14.229, P<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, patients' anxiety and existence of religion were significantly associated with spiritual well-being after adjusting age, gender, PPS, mean pain intensity, depression. Prospective studies are warranted.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the change pattern and the leading factors of delirium in the palliative ward from 2 weeks before to the end of life. Methods : From October 2015 to August 2017, a retrospective chart review was conducted on the final 180 patients of 207 patients with terminal cancer patients at the Inha University Hospital. Clinical records were collected during palliative care hospitalization. Patients were diagnosed with three subtypes of delirium through the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale and the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, which were evaluated daily. Results : The prevalence of delirium 13 days before death was 46%, of which 18.3% were hyperactive subtypes, 13.8% were hypoactive subtypes, and mixed subtypes were 13.8%. And hyperactive delirium gradually decreased with the approach to the end of the day, and the mixed subtype gradually increased until 4 days before the end of life. Of the patients, the day before death, 86.9% were diagnosed with delirium. In multivariate analysis, hematologic malignancy was associated with a lower rate of delirium at the end of life than gastrointestinal cancer. Overweight was associated with hyperactive, mixed, and hypoactive delirium. Conclusions : Most palliative care patients experienced delirium at the end of life. Overweight was considered as a protective factor that reduced the all subtypes of delirium at the end of life. Further prospective studies are needed to reveal the prevalence of terminal delirium, and their risk factors.