• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to systematically review the recently published nursing intervention studies. Methods: The literature was identified through the Korean Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), the Korean Information Service System (KISS), and National Assembly Library websites. Key words such as breast cancer, nursing, and intervention were used. The factors analyzed are as follows: 1) the characteristics of studies and study populations, 2) the classification of interventions, 3) outcome indicators and their effects, and 4) effective interventions. Results: Thirty two studies were included. Seventeen studies used a single intervention such as aerobic dance, TaiChi, foot massage, aromatherapy, or a stress-reduction method. Fifteen studies used combined interventions, including education, exercise, counseling, support, yoga or meditation. The data on 47 outcome indicators and their effects were segregated into psycho/spiritual outcomes, stress coping, physical outcomes, cardiorespiratory function, symptom management, arm and shoulder functions, fatigue, and quality of life. Some interventions had positive effects on stress, fatigue, and functions of shoulder. Conclusion: Various interventions are available for breast cancer patients, and some have had positive effects. However, more studies are required to develop evidence-based practice guidelines for nursing interventions.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was designed to identify the impact of uncertainty degree and uncertainty appraisal on cancer patients resilience. Methods: A sample of 181 patients with cancer was recruited from a hospital in Incheon. Data were collected from May 20 to August 25, 2011. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: The resilience for cancer patients showed a significant relationship with uncertainty degree and uncertainty appraisal. The significant factors influencing resilience were uncertainty degree and uncertainty appraisal, they explained 26.5% of the variance. Conclusion: Patients with cancer were adversely affected by uncertaint which led to a negative effect on resilience. The result suggests that intervention programs to reduce the level of uncertainty among patients could improve the resilience of cancer patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between physical activity and fatigue in patients with cancer. Methods: The participants of the study were 118 patients who had been diagnosed with cancer at least more than three months before at a university hospital. Physical activity was measured by IPAQ Korean version (2006), and fatigue by the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Continuous physical activity overall in this study was on average $2,154.03{\pm}2,845.86$ MET, and the overall degree of fatigue of the participants was $4.47{\pm}1.80$. There were significant negative correlations between fatigue and moderate physical activity. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggested that moderate physical activity is effective for improving fatigue in cancer patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was aimed to examine mothers'knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV)vaccination to prevent cervical cancer in Korea. Methods: From September 20 to October 10 2011, 101 mothers who have adolescent girls were surveyed with questionnaires about their general characteristics, the knowledge of HPV vaccine, inoculation rate and vaccination-related factors of their daughters. Results: The percentage of correct answers for HPV vaccine knowledge was 24.2% and the HPV vaccination rate was only 5.9%. HPV vaccine knowledge score of the vaccination group was significantly higher than that of the non-vaccinated group. Mothers said that the reasons why they didn't vaccinate their daughters against the HPV was the financial burden, the lack of HPV knowledge, and worries about possible side effects. The participants addressed that they understood the appropriate age for vaccination was sixteen. Conclusion: We recommend that more educational and promotional efforts need to be given for mothers in order to improve their knowledge of HPV vaccination and to increase the performance rates of HPV immunization against cervical cancer for their daughters.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2005

Purpose: This descriptive correlation study was to identify the influencing factors on fatigue of patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. Method: One hundred twenty-six breast cancer patients were recruited from a radiotherapy clinic of two university hospitals. Data were collected using a package of questionnaires consisting of the Symptom Experience Scale, mood disturbance scale, and Social Support Scale. Results: The mean score of the fatigue, physical status, emotional status, and social support was 4.18, 21.96, 100.95, and 3.70, respectively. Family support and health profession support were 3.94 and 3.47, respectively. Fatigue and physical status, fatigue and emotional status, physical status and emotional status were found to have statistically positive correlations. But emotional status and social support were found to have statistically negative correlation. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the influencing factors on fatigue were emotional status, marital status, and physical status which explained 64.4% fatigue of breast cancer patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the needs of hospice care in families of the hospitalized patients with terminal cancer. Method: The data were collected from April to July, 2008. The participants were 100 family caregivers of hospitalized terminal patients with cancer recruited from two general hospitals in 2 cities in Korea. Needs of hospice care were measured using the 'Needs Assessment Instrument for Hospice Care in Families of the Patients with Cancer'. Results: The mean of needs score was 76.6, which meant degree of the needs was very high. Among the categories of the needs, the mean of category 'emotional care' was the highest. There were significant differences in the needs of hospice care according to sex and type of present therapy. Conclusion: Health care providers in hospital and hospice facilities must assess the needs of families as well as the patients in order to meet their specific needs. Additionally, they need to have deeper understanding of the need of emotional care and to apply emotional care to hopice patients and their families.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to identify the relationship between mental adjustment to cancer and anxiety. Method: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. A total of 124 ambulatory cancer patients completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Results: There was a significantly negative correlation between anxiety and fighting spirit which was adaptive adjustment to cancer (r=-0.29, p<0.001). However, anxiety had significantly positive correlation with helplessness/hopelessness (r=0.38, p<0.001), anxious preoccupation (r=0.55, p< 0.001), and fatalism (r=0.22, p<0.05) to cancer. Conclusion: Cancer patients' mental adjustment is correlated with the degree of the psychosocial distress. Anxious preoccupation and helplessness/hopelessness are the most maladaptive adjustments whereas fighting spirit is one of the most adaptive adjustment to cancer.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2012

Purpose: This micro-ethnographic study aimed to understand coping experiences of Korean-American (K-A) women after diagnosis with breast cancer due to a hereditary gene mutation. Methods: Participatory observation and in-depth interviews were performed at one breast cancer screening center in Southern California, in 2005 with eleven first generation K-A immigrant women. All transcribed interviews and field notes were analyzed using ethnographic methodology. Results: K-A women's experience varied based on acculturation risk factors including: limited English speaking ability; disrupted family relationships, individualistic family values, or intergenerational communication barriers; lack of Korean speaking nurses; and Korean physicians' who lacked knowledge about hereditary breast cancer risk. These risk factors led to isolation, loneliness, lack of emotional and social support. In comparison to Korean homeland women in a similar medical situation, these K-A immigrants felt disconnected from the healthcare system, family support and social resources which increased their struggling and impeded coping during their survivorship journey. These women were not able to access self-support groups, nor the valuable resources of nurse navigator programs. Conclusion: Professional oncology associations for nurses and physicians have a moral obligation to support and promote knowledge of hereditary cancer risk and self-help groups for non-native speaking immigrants.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to use as a basic data to develop suitable nursing intervention program and decide an appropriate intervention time after assessing shoulder range of motion in postmastectomy from 2 weeks to 3 month. 147 patients are chosen as study subject among patients who were in recovery of 2weeks, 1month, 2months and 3 months after surgical operation which is modified radical mastectomy. Data were collected at oncology medicine local and general surgery local in Seoul National University Hospital from May, 2003 to October, 2003. The range of motion of the shoulder(flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation) were examined. Analysis of data that shoulder range of motion average and standard deviation, percentage of the unaffected side and affected side compare with normal shoulder range of motion. Paired t-test was adopted to analyze the difference between affected side and unaffected side. Conclusion from this study is as following, 1. The most serious problem was external rotation (0.56%) and internal rotation is the next (19.9%) in 5 kinds of shoulder range of motion in 2 weeks after surgical operation 2. There was no difference in internal rotation after post operation 3 months but there were differences and shown to recover more than 90% in flexion and abduction. Also shoulder function incresed in flextion less than 80% and more than 80% in external rotation. As this study finding was shown that shoulder range of motion did not get back perfectly except of internal rotation and extension in point of 3 months after breast cancer surgical operation. External rotation was specially shown the lowest result so it is needed to exercise for improving their physical functioning recovery in postmastectomy patients. And it is suggested to study for helping to postmastectomy patients' physical and psycosocial functions with the early rehabilitation program which is based on these results.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.162-171
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was undertaken to obtain the basic data on the spouses‘ stress and adaptation caring their wives affected by gynecological cancer. In addition, moderating variables for adaptation, family resource and situational definition, were also investigated. Method: This study was descriptive survey research work by questionnaire on the 71 spouses hospitalized in an university hospital located on Gwangju from Sep. 2001 to Oct. 2002. Results: The mean score of stress was 2.27, and the mean score of adaptation was 3.12. The correlation between stress and adaptation was significant (r = -.692, p = .000). The adaptation score of high stress group with high family resource was higher (p = .041) than the group with low family resource. The adaptation score of high stress group with high situational definition was higher (p = .033) than the group with low situational definition. Conclusion: This study showed that the spouses experienced a similar level of stress compared with the level of families with other type of cancer. This study also showed that the stress and adaptation levels were different depending upon the family resource and situational definition. This aspect should be considered for the development of nursing intervention program for the spouse of patients with gynecological cancer.