• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2002

Purpose : The system to refer terminally ill patients to palliative or hospice care which ultimately give them emotional, psychological, and social support hasn't been fully developed and organized yet in Korea. The controversies concerning the current referral system are being analyzed to present the improvements. Methods : The questionnaires were asked to be filled out by family members of the 76 patients by phone interview, who were referred from the Seoul National University Hospital between April, 2001 to March, 2002. They were referred to the 35 palliative and hospice care-giving institutes and hospitals which were given questionnaires by mail. Results : Of the 76 patient's family members, 47 family members accepted to answer the questionnaire. The first thing that influence to family to determine the referral of patient was solicitation of doctors or nurses (44%). And they were influenced by allowance for the other things such as convenience of patients (32%), convenience of caring family members (24%). In the course of determining of referred institutes, responders had considered at first their dwelling area, and then fame of institutes, the place which patent had wanted to spend last hours or which is suitable for patient's funeral service, and their financial condition. Thirty-eight the 47 responders answered that they had experienced difficulties in referral procedure. The worst among difficulties was unwanted discharge, and followings were lack of information about the referred institutes, concern about patient's suffering, resistance of patient and opposition of other family members, etc. Although they expressed dissatisfaction in referral procedure, most of them answered they had been satisfied with hospice care at referred institute after referral. Merits of referral which responders counted were patient's peace, caring family's comfort and reduced cost in order. Of the 35 referred institutes, 24 institutes' staffs responded mail questionnaires and sent to us in return. Except one responder, the rest approved the referral system and thought that referred patients had been satisfied with their hospice care. And they claimed that systemic support of the government is definitely necessary. The most difficult thing which responders experienced in care of referred patients was lack of information about patients. Besides, there were patient's financial problems, lack of understanding about their institutes of patients or family, and inconvenience of terminal cancer patient's pain control. Conclusion : The development and support of the organized referral system is needed to alleviate the troubles which patients, family members, and palliative or hospice institutes and hospitals have to face through the procedure of the referral.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.597-615
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• 1994

This study is designed to facilitate the creation of home environment conducive to the family taking care of chronic bed-ridden patients with more effective method. The need for this study has emerged against the background of marked changes in the structure of ailments and causes of death, resulting in the number and plights of chronic bed-ridden patients as well as of a rapid increase in demand for medical care and resulting premature discharge. Keeping these in mind, this study focused on home-wards where the majority of chronic bed-ridden patients are being cared for. Despite. their overriding importance, home-words are less than efficient in caring (or chronic bed-ridden patients. These circumstances require the designing of home-wards that can offer greater comfort to patients and at the same time make things easier for caregivers, on the basis of an overall analysis of patients' life and home - ward situation. According1y this study adopted a Participant Observation Method derived cultural anthropology, Toward this end, 3 patients were chosen as subjects of this study for intensive interviewing and participant observation. In the process of this field re-search efforts were made to collect emprical data, that is, to faithfully record the words of the subjects and their caregivers for analysis and interpretation. The findings of these analyses are as follows. Firstly, the chronic bed-ridden patients are mostly being taken care by close family members. Secondly, a room for the exclusive use of the patient, floor, kitchen, bathroom and multipurpose space were found to be necessary for proper caring of the patient. These spaces were respectively used with a view to 1) accomodating the patient as well as caregivers' activities, 2) keeping general and medical supplies and other appliances for patient's care and drying the patient's washing, 3) preparing and keeping the patient's foods and beverages, 4) keeping the supplies necessary for cleaning the patient's body and treating the patient's eliminations, 5) washing the patient's clothes, underwears and bedclothes. The patient's room in turn is subdivided into six portions in terms of uses : specifically the places for accomodating 1) the patient, 2) medical supplies, 3) medicines, 4) linens St clothes, 5) bedclothes and, 6) diapers. Thirdly, the activities of the caregiver are subdivided into seven key areas : hygiene, exercise, diet, elimination, therapeutic nursing, prevention of sore, and other activities. Each area is further classified into several different activities of caring. These activities we mainly carried out in the patient's room. Fourthly, the supplies for caring the chronic bed-ridden patient is divided into two large domains : medical and general supplies. Finally, three main problems areas were found in this study on the part of caregivers, that is, sore prevention, hygiene problem related frequent urination / defecation, the caregiver's physical, psych ological and emotional burden. In consideration of the aforesaid problem areas, a model home-ward was developed in this study. The newly-developed model has been found to have the following six advantages. Firstly, the time and effort required for maintaining the patient's hygiene are reduced, thus relievins the caregiver's physical and psychological bur-den. Secondly, the patient's hygiene can be maintained in satisfactory conditions, because the patient's eliminations are more easily removed. Thirdly, skin irritations caused by the patient's eliminations were remarkably reduced and so were the patient's sores due to moisture and bacteria. Fourthly, the home-ward have a tilt-table ef-fect thanks to the inclining room floor. This improves the patient's cardiovascular function as well as constantly changes pressed skin areas and thus prevents sores. Fifthly, improved shelf arrangements help make the best use of patient's supplies. Sixthly, the trouble of continuously changing clothes, underwears, diapers & bedclothes is remarkably reduced simply by covering the patient with cotton sheets when laid in bed. This is espected to cut down expenses by reducing the comsumptions of diapers and other disposable supplies.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2018

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the barriers influencing the sexual conversation. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 200 midwives were selected through convenience sampling method from private and public clinics in Mashhad, North East of Iran. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect the study data. Results: The mean age of subjects was $39.58{\pm}8.12years$ with $13.49{\pm}7.59years$ of work experience. A number of cultural conditions act as an inhibitory force for the midwives to address sexual issues with menopausal women. Menopausal women visit a doctor at the acute stage when emotional and physical problems make sexual discussion difficult for the midwives (86.5%). Other related causes for not having proper sexual conversation were insufficient knowledge (51.4%), inadequate education provided via public media through health providers (83.5%), midwives or their patient's shame (51.5%), and attempt to get help from traditional healers, friends, relatives and supplicants instead of midwifery staff (78.5%). Also, we found that sexual workshops, communication workshops, and work experiences had a significant influence in changing the views of midwives. Conclusions: Cultural barriers prevent the patients and providers from communicating effectively with each other, thus highlighting the need for sexual and communication workshops for the health care providers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4571-4576
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• 2013

Background: Depression is a comorbid disabling problem and potentially affects patient likelihood of survival. The aims of this study were to recognize the characteristics of depression and investigate associated predictor factors in patients with oral cancers. Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational design was used to collect data for this study conducted in northern Taiwan. A set of questionnaires was used to measure depression, symptom distress, performance status, social support, and demographic and disease-related information. Logistic regression was conducted to determine important factors predicting depression. Results: A total of 132 oral cancer patients participated in this study. Of these, 18.2% were identified as depression cases. The patient average performance status score was 90 or higher. Patients reported mild-to-moderate levels of symptom distress. The majority of social support was from families. Religious belief, alcohol use, symptom distress, and social support from family were found to be important factors predicting depression. Patients with religious belief with alcohol use reported greater symptom distress, and those with lower levels of social support from families were significantly more likely to develop depression. Conclusions: Clinicians should assess patient emotional status and manage symptoms in a timely manner to enhance coping abilities. Supportive care provides assurance during the acute survivor phase.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1183-1192
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to investigate clinical nurses' understanding of delirium and their educational need of delirious patient care. Method: A survey questionnaire regarding nurses' general perception and understanding of delirium, experience with delirious patients and educational need was developed and conducted with 179 clinical nurses in a university hospital in Seoul. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Nurses thought that delirium was one of the most important nursing problems and they considered it to be more treatable than to be preventable. However, the majority of nurses were ilot confident in caring for delirious patients. Nurses reported that delirium happened most often after surgery, and that possible contributing factors could be changes in physical environment and anxiety/stress, as well as medication and long-term isolation. Thirteen nursing interventions were identified but half of the nurses utilized only one or two of the thirteen. The most frequently used intervention was reorienting the patient followed by medication and emotional support, presenting family, and close observation. 99.5% of nurses addressed the importance of professional education on delirium care, especially in the area of intervention and management. Conclusion: The results support the strong need for development of a multi-component educational program on delirium care.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.276-286
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• 2002

Purpose: The concept of embarrassment as an unpleasant emotion is important in caring for those who are in the continuum of illness and health requiring body care and facing sexual problems. In spite of its nursing implication, embarrassment has not been focused in nursing research. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develope a conceptual analysis of embarrassment. This analysis would help to understand comprehensively an embarrassing situation in which an intimate relationship between nurse and patient regarding body care of the patient could develope. Futhermore, it would be a basis for developing strategies for prevention of embarrassment which could lead for both patient and nurse to emotionally vulnerable situation because of their failure of self-presentation (impression management). Method: The concept analysis model suggested by Walker and Avant (1988) is used to clarify what is meant by the term 'embarrassment'. Result: This analysis defines the attributes of embarrassment such as follows. First, embarrassment is often attributed to situational factors interrupting a smooth interaction such as intimacy, confusion, vulnerability, exposure of interaction and characteristics of audience. Second, embarrassment is closely related with cognitive factor such as fear of losing face resulted from a behaviour being out of line. Third, embarrassment is closely associated with dispositional factor such as embarrassability. Fourth, embarrassment is an unpleasant and unwanted emotion arising reactively after an interaction had occurred. Fifth, embarrassment encloses physical, physiological and behavioral aspects such as a variety of unique and easily noticeable reactions and a pattern of verbal and non-verbal behaviour for coping in an embarrassing situation. The antecedents were normally socialized adolescents with normal cognitive ability, concern of losing face, embarrassability, embarrassing events related with situational intimacy, confusion, vulnerability, exposure of interaction and characteristics of audience, physical, behavioral blunders resulting in a failure of impression management. The consequences were an emotional coping behaviour, audience's embarrassment responses, and verbal and non-verbal coping strategies of interactional participants. Conclusion: It is hoped that this analysis will stimulate further exploration of this concept and study for developing systematic assessment and nursing practice that diminishes embarrassment of interactional participants.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3429-3434
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• 2014

Aims: To identify the psychosocial adjustment of Turkish patients with breast cancer and the effects of perceived social support on their adjustment. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 100 volunteering patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the last six months reporting to the Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit at the Medical Faculty Hospital in northern Turkey. The data for the study were collected through the Descriptive Information Form, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self-reflection (PAIS-SR) and the Cancer-Specific Social Support Scale and analyzed via SPSS 16.0 for Windows. Descriptive statistics, Chi square test, ANOVA and correlation were used to evaluate data. Results: There was a negative significant correlation between mean scores in the sub-scales of the social support scale and the ones in the sub-scales of the psychosocial adjustment to illness scale (p<0.05). Similarly, there was a negative significant correlation between confidence support and health care orientation as well as adjustment to social environment. Likewise, emotional support was in a negative significant correlation with health care orientation, adjustment to domestic environment, extended family relationships and adjustment to social environment. Conclusions: It was concluded that social support for patients with breast cancer had an influence on their psychosocial adjustment to illness. Holistic care should be given to breast cancer patients by oncology nurses especially in the first six months of treatment. It could be concluded that patients should be accompanied by their family/relatives in treatment and care following their diagnosis with breast cancer, that their family should be made more aware of the fact that the patient should be physically and psychologically supported, that patients with breast cancer should be provided with domiciliary care, and that they should be encouraged to participate in social support groups.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.620-635
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• 1992

This study identified correlations between perceived family support and hopelessness in patients admitted to Neuro - surgical Intensive Care Units. The purpose was to enhance theoretical understanding of the relationships of these two variables. The subjects of this study were 51 patients admitted to N-lCU, at three general hospitals in Seoul. Data were collected by researcher in structured interviews from Aug. 12 to Oct. 13, 1992. The research tools were parts of the Moos Family Environment Scale and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The general characteristic data were analyzed for frequency and percentage ; the hypothesis was tested by the pearson product Moment Correlation Coefficient. After normality tests by using Kolmogorov - Sminorvtest, and T- test, ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal -Wallis test were used on the Family Support and the Hopelessness about general charcteristics. The results of the above analysis were as follows 1) The average family support score for the group was 63.61 (tool average 51) and item average was 3.74 (tool item average 3) : the family support score of this sample was higher than average. The average family cohesion score of family support was 35.25 (tool average 27) and item average was 3.91 (tool item average 3). The average family expression score of family support was 28.35 (tool average 24) and item average was 3.57 (tool average 3). In this sample, perceived family expression was lower than family cohesion. 2) The average hopelessness score was 45.88 (tool average 60) and item average was 2.29 (tool item average 3) : the hopelessness score of this sample was low in comparison to the average. 3) The hypothesis in this study was supported. The main hypothesis that the higher the perceived family support level, the lower the level Of the hopelessness, was Supported (r＝-.3869 p＝.003). The sub-hypothesis that the higher the perceived family cohesion level, the lower the level of hopelessness, was supported(r＝-.3688 p＝.004). The sub-hypothesis that the higher the perceived family expression level, the lower the level of hopelessness, was supported (r＝-.3068 p＝.014). 4) General characteristics of the objects related to family support were ‘economic status’(p＝.025) and ‘helping person’(P＝.044) : the higher the economic status, the greater the family support. When the patient identified the helping person as a spouse, family support was rated more highly. The only general characteristic related to family cohesion was ‘helping person’(p＝.041). No general characteristics were related to family expression. 5) The one general characteristic related to hopelessness was ‘education’(p＝.002) : the higher their education, the lower their hopelessness. For these ICU patients, were related perceived family support and hopelessness, and family expression level was low in comparison to family cohesion level. The perceived family support of these seriously ill patients in situational crisis may have influenced the patient's emotional reaction of hopelessness. This study concluded that nurses in the ICU confirm the family support of the patient, and involve the family as the most intimate support systems in the care of the patient to help reduce the patient's hopelessness.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate nursing professionalism, emotional labor (surface acting, deep acting), empathic concern, and customer orientation, and identify factors contributing to customer orientation among clinical nurses. Methods: The participants in this study were 151 clinical nurses at the three general hospitals. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: The significant predictors of customer orientation among clinical nurses were empathic concern (${\beta}=.43$, p<.001), nursing professionalism (${\beta}=.29$, p<.001), nursing career (${\beta}=.16$, p=.007), and deep acting (${\beta}=.14$, p=.021). Theses variables explained 47.6% of the variance of customer orientation. Empathic concern was the most influential variable. Conclusion: The results suggest that it is crucial to improve deep acting, empathic concern and nursing professionalism for increasing clinical nurses' customer orientation. Management-level leaders in the hospitals should develop strategies of promoting nursing professionalism, deep acting and empathic concern to improve customer orientation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2024

Objectives: Nurses face mental health issues like emotional labor, stress, and depression, increasing the risk of medical errors. This study assesses the mental health and medical errors among nurses in Korean medicine clinics in South Korea. Methods: The cross-sectional analysis involved 83 nurses, examining relationships between emotional labor, stress, depression, cognitive failure, Hwa-byung (HB) (a syndrome of suppressed anger in Korean culture), and medical errors. It identified factors associated with HB and medical errors using multiple regression analysis, presenting their odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The findings revealed a current HB prevalence of 19.28% and a 6-month medical error prevalence of 16.87% among participants. The regression analysis showed that higher levels of depression (OR = 1.368, 95% CI = 1.098 to 1.703, p = 0.005), cognitive failure (OR = 1.072, 95% CI = 1.011 to 1.136, p = 0.020), and HB trait (OR = 1.136, 95% CI = 1.005 to 1.284, p = 0.041) significantly correlated with HB presence. Conclusion: This groundbreaking study on this previously under-researched nurse workforce highlights the critical need for comprehensive mental health care, with the objective of significantly enhancing their mental well-being and improving their overall work environment.