• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.93-109
• /
• 1998

The purpose of study is to identify the relation between pain level and perceived family support and quality of life in musculoskeletal patient with chronic pain. The subjects for the study consist of 155 patients with musculoskeletal pain that received medical treatment in hospital or by attending hospital in Chonju. The data were collected during the period from August 5 to August 14, 1998 by means of interviews with structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics. t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, Regression. Cronbach alpha using the SAS program. The result of this study were as follows : 1. The mean score of pain was 8.02, family support was 3.88 and quality of life was 3.07. 2. Hypothesis : The first hypothesis that 'The lower pain level is, the higher quality of life is' was accepted (r=-.2178, p= .0065). In addition, pain level of musculoskeletal patient with chronic pain provided predicted 4.7%(F=7.619, P= .0065) of quality of life. The second hypothesis that 'The higher perceived family support is, the lower pain level is' was rejected (r=-.0376, p= .6425). The third hypothesis that 'The higher perceived family support is, is higher quality of life is' was accepted (r= .3212, p= .0001). In addition, perceived family support of musculoskeletal patient with chronic pain provided predicted 10.31% (F=17.597, p= .0001) of quality of life. 3. General characteristics related pain were age(F=6.85, p= .0001),educational-level(F=9.29, p= .0001), occupation(F=5.81, p= .0037), marriage status(F=8.09, p= .0005), family numbers(F=5.73, p= .001), benefits of medical care(F=4.09, p= .0019), pain period(F=9.52, p= .0001), part of pain(F=2.33, p= .0352), pain period(F=3.08, p= .0181). 4. General characteristics related pain were sex(t=3.20, p= .0017), support sources(t=3.26, p= .0014), pain period(F-4.52, p= .0018). 5. General characteristics related pain were religion(t=3.11. p= .0022), benefits of medical care(F=3.61, p= .0293), pain duration(F=3.03, p= .0195). In conclusion, perceived family support in musculoskeletal patient with chronic pain is an important factor that can improve their quality of life. Therefore, nurses must establish nursing plan included patient's family when nurses carry out nursing intervention and education for patient so that a patient promote quality of life by maintaining optimal wellbeing.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.113-127
• /
• 2021

Purpose : This systematic review was conducted to identify which dyadic intervention could be implemented for heart failure patient-family caregiver dyads to improve patient and/or their family caregivers outcomes. Method : Eleven databases were searched from their inception to July, 2021. This review considered any randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of intervention including heart failure patient-family caregiver dyads. Two reviewers independently evaluated the methodological quality using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias and extracted details of the included studies. The studies included in this review were not suitable for meta-analysis and therefore the results were presented as a narrative summary. Results : Six studies including 900 dyads were included and mainly primary family caregiver of patients was spouse. Majority of dyadic intervention were focused on psychoeducational intervention excepting one study on mobile health intervention. All studies included in this review focused on patients' outcomes compared to family caregivers' outcomes and dyadic outcomes. Individual interventions improved quality of life among heart failure patients and their family caregivers in two articles. The overall quality of selected articles was low. Conclusions : This study provides moderate support for the use of a dyadic intervention to improve quality of life among heart failure patients and their family caregivers. More rigorous high-quality studies investigating interventions to meet the needs of patient and family caregivers in heart failure care are needed.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.58-74
• /
• 2002

This paper constitutes a descriptive investigation and used a structured questionnaire to investigate nurses' and doctors' recognition of cancer patients. The subjects were extracted from the medical personnel working at the internal medicine, the surgery ward, the obstetrics and gynecology department, the pediatrics department, the cancer ward, and the emergency room of five general hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The research lasted from August, 2001 to September 2001. Total 137 nurses and 65 doctors were included and made out the questionnaires directly distributed by the investigator. The study tool was also developed by the investigator and consisted of such items as the demographic and social characteristics, the medical personnel's recognition degree of cancer and cancer patients, their recognition of the management of cancer patients, and their participation in a hospice. The results were analyzed using the SPSS Window program in terms of technological statistics, ranks, t-test, and ANOVA. The reliability was represented in Cronbach' α=.75. The nurses' and doctors' recognition degree of cancer and cancer patients had an overall average of 3.86 at the 5 point-scale. The items that received an average of 4.0 or more included 'Medical personnel should explain about the cancer cure plans to the cancer patient and his or her family', 'A patient whose case has been diagnosed as a terminal cancer should be notified of it, 'If I were a cancer patient, I would want to get informed of it,' and 'Cancer shall be conquered whenever it is'. In the meantime, the items that received an average of 3.0 or less was 'My relationship with the cancer patient's family has gotten worse since I announced his or her impending death.' And according to the general characteristics and the difference test, the recognition degree of cancer and cancer patient was high among the subgroups of nurses, females, married persons, who were in their 30s, who had a family member that was a cancer patient, and who received a hospice education. The biggest number of the nurses and doctors saw 'a gradual approach over several days'(68.8%) as a method to tell a cancer patient about his or her cancer diagnosis or impending death. Those who usually tell tragic news were the physician in charge(62.8%), the family members or relatives(32.1%) and the clergymen(3.8%) in the order. The greatest number of them recommended a cancer patient's home as the place where he or she should face death because they thought 'it would stabilize his or her mentality'(91.9%) while a number of them recommended the hospital because they 'should give the psychological satisfaction to the patient'(40%) or 'should try their best until the last moment of the patient's death'(30%). A majority of the medical personnel regarded 'smoking or drinking' and 'diet' as the causes of cancer. The biggest symptom of a cancer patient was 'pain' and the pain management of a cancer patient was mostly impeded by the 'excessive fear of drug addiction, tolerance to drugs and side effects of drugs' by medical personnel, the patient, and his or her family. The most frequently adopted treatment plan of a terminal cancer patient was 'to do whatever the patient or his or her family wants' to resort to a hospice' and 'to continue active treatment efforts' in the order. The biggest reasons why a terminal cancer patient went to see a doctor were 'pain alleviation' 'control of symptoms other than pain(intravenous supply)' and 'incapability of the patient's family' in the order. Terminal cancer patients placed their major concern in 'spiritual(religious) matter' 'emotional matters' their family' 'existence' and 'physical matters' in the order. 113(58.5%) of the whole medical personnel answered they 'would recommend' an alternative treatment to a terminal cancer patient mostly because they assumed it would 'stabilize the patient's mentality.' Meanwhile, 80(41.5%) of them chose 'not to recommend it mostly due to the unverified effects and high cost of it(78.7%). A majority of them, I. e. 190(94.1%) subjects said they 'would recommend' a hospice to a terminal cancer patient mostly because they thought it would help the patient to 'mentally prepare'(66.6%) Only 17.3% of them, however, had received a hospice education, most of which was done through the hospital duty education(41.4%) and volunteer training(34.5%). The follows are results of this study: 1. The nurses and the doctors turned out to be still passive and experience confusion in dealing with a cancer patient despite their great sense of responsibility for him or her. 2.Nurses and Doctors realize the need of a hospice, but an extremely small number of them participate in a hospice education or performance. Thus, a whole recognition of a hospice should be changed, for which purpose a hospice education for nurses and doctors should be provided. 3.Terminal cancer patients preferred their home to a hospital as the place to face their impending death because they felt it would bring 'mental stability.' And most of nurses and doctors think it would be unnecessary for them to be hospitalized just for control of their symptoms. Accordingly a terminal cancer patient can be cared at home, and a home hospice care needs to be activated.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.315-327
• /
• 2001

This was a descriptive study clarifying the factors affecting family caregivers' sense of well-being. This study was conducted with 131 caregivers using structured self-reporting questionnaires and directly interviewing adult patients who had been under treatment in two general hospitals. The hospitals were located in M city from Aug. 10, 2000 until Sep. 2, 2000. The collected data were analyzed using SAS PC+ program, and the data were tested using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. The results of this study are as follows; 1) The variables affecting the caregivers' sense of burden were age (F=3.76, p=.0063), education level (F=4.67, p=.0015), monthly income (F=2.49, p=.0466), amount of assistance provided (F=4.19, p=.0037), and the relationship with patient before disease (F=9.49, p=.0001). 2) The variables affecting caregivers' sense of well-being were age (F=9.54, p=.0001), residing with patient (t=11.38, p=.0010), the period of caregiving (F=10.52, p= .0001), education level (F= 2.79, p=.0290), monthly income (F=3.04, p=.0196), and relationship with patient before disease (F= 10.51, p=.0001). Also, all of the variables which showed statistical significance. 3) In viewing the relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) and the senses of burden and well-being, a negative relation- ship between activities of daily living (ADL) and a sense of burden was found (r=-.640, p=.000). However, the relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) and a sense of well-being had a positive correlation (r= .232, p=.008). Also the relationship between the sense of burden and the sense of well-being was revealed to have a negative correlation (r=-.614, p=.000). 4) A sense of burden was the most important indicator to the well-being of the caregivers who took care of stroke patients (R2 =.36). In addition to this, living with the patient (45%), activities of daily living (51%), relationship with patient before disease (53%), and the family's monthly income accounted for 56% of the sense of well-being of the caregivers.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.389-398
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study of this study was to identify factors influencing the burden of main family caregivers who take care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases. Methods: This was conducted as descriptive research and data were collected from 255 main family caregivers who were taking care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases from 4 hospitals in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province. Stepwise-multiple regression was used to identify the influencing factors of burden felt. Results: As the score of burden felt by the main family, economic, social, physical, interdependent and emotional burdens were high in order. Factors influencing burden felt by main family care givers taking care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases were changed relation with patient after hospitalization, daily life ability, marital status, education and family caregiver's personality (explanatory power of 24.6%). Family caregivers felt a heavier burden when their relation with the patient was changed negatively or when the patient's activity of daily living was low. Conclusion: Based on these results, we need to develop coping measures and interventional programs for reducing the burden felt by the main family caregivers of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.73-84
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ethical awareness and attitude of patients' families towards Do-Not-Resuscitate(DNR), and thus provide basic information required to develop Korean appropriate DNR instructions and practice informed consent for DNR. Methods: During April 2010, 219 patient family members visiting the hospital were surveyed using a questionnaire. Results: Most of the participants preferred DNR to meaningless treatment for incurable patients. They recognized the necessity of explaining DNR to the patient with a terminal disease. They also requested DNR orders for themselves if they were in the same medical condition. In making a DNR decision, the patient's family agreed and preferred that it reflect the opinion of the patient and the doctor in charge. They also agreed that treatment should be given with the best efforts even if a DNR decision had been made for the patient. Conclusion: To make a decision on DNR for a patient who is terminally ill or for whom survival is not possible, a practice of informed consent and guidelines for executing the DNR reflecting the patient's opinion are required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.402-412
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify health promotion behavior, self-efficacy and role stress of family caregivers who care for hospitalized cancer patient, The results would be used to provide the necessary basic data for promoting healthy behavior of the family caregivers to the cancer patient. The results were as follow : 1) The level of health promotion behavior was significantly different depending on the existence of care givers religion and type of help from family members. There was a positive relationship between the performance level of health promotion behavior and perceived health status or age. There was a negative correlation between the performance level of health promotion behavior and time cared for. 2) The level of self-efficacy was significantly different depending on gender and if the subject was employed. There was a positive relationship between perceived health status and intimacy with patient. 3) The level of role stress was significantly different in genders and relationships with patients. 4) There was a positive relationship between health promotion behavior and self-efficacy.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The study was to examine the relationships between stress, ways of coping and burnout among family caregivers of cancer patients. Methods: Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 207 family caregivers of cancer patients at one university hospital and one general hospital in Busan, Korea. The instruments included a Stress Scale, a Ways of Coping Scale and a Burnout Scale. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, and Pearson's correlation coefficients with the SPSS WIN 19.0 program. Results: Stress was found to have significant relationships with age, relation to the patient, education, monthly income, degree of care-giving, financial burden and activities of daily living of patient. In active coping, there were significant differences according to education and religion. Passive coping was significantly related to gender. In burnout, there were significant differences according to age, relation to the patient, education, occupational status, monthly income, degree of care-giving, financial burden and activities of daily living of patient. Stress and burnout showed a positive correlation, while there was a negative correlation between burnout and active coping. Conclusion: These results suggest that promoting active coping would better support family caregivers of cancer patients in managing burnout effectively.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.125-134
• /
• 2002

Purpose: The objectives for this study were to identify the factors that correlate with appraisal of illness and to explore what variables are predictive of cancer patients primary caregivers' cognitive appraisal for stress. Method: The subjects were selected by convenient sampling and 130 caregivers who completed a questionnaire. Measures used in this study included the Family Inventory of Resources for Management, Social Support Index, Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales and Family Coping Coherence Index. Pearson correlation was used to identify the relationship among factors and multiple regression was used to determine the individual and cumulative effect of potential predictors on the caregivers' appraisal. Results: Patient's level of activity, severity of the disease, quality of relation between patient and caregiver, caregiver's subjective health status, economic status, family resources and coping were significantly correlated. Among the variables, coping, family resources, economic status and quality of relation between caregiver and patient predicted 49.2 percent of the variance in appraisal of caregivers' stress condition. Conclusion: These findings suggest that coping mechanisms and family resources are important for positive appraisal. Nurses should provide adequate nursing care for the primary caregiver about professional care information and supportive counseling.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.35-52
• /
• 1991

The purpose of this study was to assess the degree of stress and patterns of coping for that Stressful events on family members because of the hospitalization of the patients. Stress and coping were measured with a tool on the basis of Volicer and Bell's questionnaire. In data collection, the modified 38 items of Volicer's stress scale and Bell's 18 item coping scale were administered. The subjects consisted of 259 family members of general ward-patients in Seoul National University Hospital during April in 1990. They were randomly selected on the basis of relationship of patients; patient's spouse, patient's daughters or sons. The stressors of the family members were ranked as follows; The first rank Stressful events was related to the patient's diseases and pain, the second ones was related ·to caring of their patients and family's psychosocial life. Families used long term coping method significantly more than short term ones. The results indicated that there was no difference in use of coping method between pre and post hospitalization. Finding out more about situation and optimism were the most common coping methods, and the least frequent coping method was the use of drugs. In conclusion, the identification of perceived stress and coping patterns of family members provides useful information for family nursing and aimes at better nursing care for the hospitalized in patients.