• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8135-8142
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Iranian women and usually features delayed presentation and late diagnosis. Interpretation of symptoms, as the most important step, has a significant impact on patient delay in seeking treatment. There is a dearth of studies on symptom appraisal and the process leading to seeking help in breast cancer patients. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of Iranian women with self-detected possible breast cancer symptoms. Materials and Methods: A qualitative method was conducted involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with 27 Iranian women with self-discovered breast cancer symptoms. Participants were purposefully selected from women who attended Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences during June 2012 to August 2013. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis with MAXQDA soft ware version 10. The trustworthiness of the study was verified by prolonged engagement, member validation of codes, and thick description. Results: The main concepts emerging from data analysis were categorized in four categories: symptom recognition, labeling of symptoms, interactive understanding, and confronting the fear of cancer. Symptom recognition through breast self-examination, symptom monitoring and employing prior knowledge distinguished normal from abnormal symptoms and accompanied with perception of being at risk of breast cancer led to symptom labeling. Social interaction by selective disclosure and receiving reassurance from a consultant led to confirmation or redefinition of the situation. Perceived seriousness of the situation and social meanings of breast cancer as a stigmatized and incurable illness associated with loss of femininity were reasons for patient worries and fear. Conclusions: This study emphasized that entangled cognitive, emotional and socio-cultural responses affecting understanding of symptom seriousness require further investigation. It is suggested that programs aimed at shortening patient delay in breast cancer should be focused on improving women's knowledge and self-awareness of breast cancer, in addition to correcting their social beliefs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.219-232
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• 2002

This study was conducted to identify the relationship between the perceived family support and mental health of middle school students and provide basic data to develop a nursing program for prevention of mental disease and mental health promotion in adolescent. The subjects for this study were 427 students in their first, second and third year of two middle school in K city. The data were collected from December 12th to 19th, 2001. The instruments used for this study were the family support scale by Kang and the mental health assessment scale was the Symptom Check List-90-R. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, ANOVA, and Duncan test with SPSS program. The results were as follows: The mean score of the perceived family support was 42.26 and the mean score of mental health was 52.24. As a subarea of mental health was analyses, the scores of obsessive-compulsive reaction and hostility were respectively higher but the scores of phobia were lower than others. Family support was significantly different according to student's grade, religion and economic status, and educational level, the relationship between them, and living in parents. the characteristic influence on the level of mental health were sex, grade, and economic status of students and the relationship between them of parents. There was a significant correlation between the perceived family support and the level of mental health was revealed a significant correlation(r=-.35(P=0.001)). In conclusion, this study was found that family support was an important factor for promoting mental health of middle school students. In order to increase mental health of middle school students effectively, family support must be increased. Efforts to promote mental health of students are required in home and school. School authorities have to search a plans like "family support-class program" as one countermeasure to increase family support. teachers have to make educational programs to promote mental health constantly with participating parents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2005

Purpose: Recently there are scientific evidences for the health effects of Asian dust-storms. Particularly in 2002, the daily average of $PM_10$ exceeded 600 and 700 $\mu{g}/m^3$ in March and April respectively. We examined the effects of Asian dust‐storms on perceived symptoms and preventive behaviors among children, adults, and elders. Method: The subjects of this study were 425 children, 444 adults and 60 elders. A questionnaire survey was carried out on the children and the adults by teachers and on the elders by interviewers to obtain information on demographic variables, perceived symptoms and preventive behaviors, previous respiratory disease, environmental tobacco smoke, and proximity between the house and the road during Asian dust-storms. We analyzed using descriptive statistics, $X^2$ test and multiple logistic regression models. After adjustment for potential confounders, we estimated the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the children and the elders for perceived symptoms and preventive behaviors. Result: The elders had a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms than the other groups. The children had a significantly higher prevalence than the adults in getting URI (1.51), coughing (1.68), rhinorrhea (1.46), fever (2.39) and medication for allergy or asthma (1.90). The children had better behaviors than the elders in closing windows (3.57), taking less outdoor recreational activity (2.59) and staying home (2.60). Conclusion: This study suggested that children and elders are susceptible to the effects of Asian dust on health. Health educators should inform these populations about the influence of Asian dust and provide health education for preventive behaviors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate determinants of intention of smoking cessation behavior. We sampled 204 university student smokers using questionaires and analyzed the data using the t-test, ANOVA, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression. The results are as follows: 1. The attitudes concerning smoking cessation behavior are related to a student's course of study, religion and is further related to whether or not they tried to stop smoking. The subjective norm is related to smoking cessation recommendations. Perceived behavioral control is related to a growth criterion, the smoking amount and whether or not they have tried to stop smoking. The intention of smoking cessation behavior is related to smoking amount and whether or not they nare tried to stop smoking. 2. Total symptom number is related to smoking amount and smoking period. 3. Total symptom number is related to behavioral belief, attitude, and the intention to stop smoking. In conclusion, it was found that university students smoke far too much, however the intention to stop smoking is very low. Therefore, an intention promoting program of smoking cessation behavior is needed to reduce the smoking rate and relaxation therapy is necessary for in changing health promoting habits.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify family resiliency, ADL in elders with dementia, and symptom for families with an elder with dementia. Method: The participants were 102 people who were caregivers to elders with dementia and who visited the out-patient department at S. hospital for follow up care. Data were collected from August to October 2003 using a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test aided by the SPSS/PC. Result: Family resiliency for the whole sample was within normal limits but when the sample was quarter-divided by good and poor family resiliency, based on established cut-off scores, there were differences for some characteristics according to good/poor family resiliency. These differences were for perceived health state of caregivers (t=-2.78, p=.008), economic state of family (t=-3.34, p=.002), and ADL (t=-2.56, p=.014). Conclusion: Future research should focus on the way in which family resiliency can be enhanced and on the effects of interventions for those caregivers who report poor family resiliency.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to investigate the factors affecting health-related quality of life in Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy(BPH) Patients. Method: Data was collected on 259 outpatients who were receiving ambulatory treatment after having been diagnosed with BPH. The measurement tool for the quality of life was developed by Epstein and Deverka(1992) and adapted by Kim Yeong-hye(1997). Data was analyzed with the number, percentage, and the mean and multiple regression, by using the SPSS 12.0 program. Result: The mean quality of life in the sexual-life domain respectively. Factors affecting the quality of life in BPH patients were the symptom of BPH(51.4%), the perceived health state(3.6%), and self-efficacy (1.6%). These three factors described 56.6% of quality of life. Conclusion: It's necessary to have an intervention plan that can enhance the most influential disease-symptom management in a patient, and self-efficacy when planning a nursing education program aiming to promote quality of life in BPH patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify relationships among trait anger, life styles and physical symptoms in elderly people. Method: The participants were 348 elderly persons over 65 years of age who lived in Seoul, Geonggi Province, South Chungcheong Province and South Jeolla Province. The data were analyzed using descriptive $X^2-test$, t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient with SPSS win 12.0. Results: Physical symptoms of the participants correlated with trait anger and life style. Trait anger in the elderly people had a significant positive correlation to cardiovascular symptoms. Smoking showed a significantly positive correlation to alcohol drinking and cardiovascular symptoms. Regular diet showed a significantly negative correlation to general symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms. Caffeine intake significantly negative correlation to general symptom and cardiovascular symptom. Conclusion: These results suggested that elderly people with a high degree of trait anger are likely to be high in perceived physical symptoms. Therefore nursing interventions to reduce levels of trait anger and change life style should be provided for elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.250-260
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• 2005

This study was designed to find the symptom prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders and the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among selected hair dressers. Methods; The survey were conducted from July 1 to 30, 2004 for 459 hair dressers working in Seoul and Gwangju using self-administration questionnaire. The risk factors on musculoskeletal disorders have analysed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study are summarized as follows: The experience rate of musculoskeletal disorders symptom in the last one year was 56.4%. The experience rates of each body parts were 36.4% on the shoulders, 30.5% on the legs and the feet, 28.5% on the low back, 27.0% on the hand and the fingers, 23.3% on the neck and 17.0% on the arms and the elbows. The prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders symptom in the last one week was 40.5%, those of each body parts were 24.0% on the legs and the feet, 21.4% on the shoulders, 20.7% on the low back, 15.7% on the hand and the wrists, 15.0% on the neck, 9.4% on the arms. The risk factors on musculoskeletal disorders were working posture(${\beta}=0.32$), perceived stress(${\beta}=0.19$), working period(${\beta}=0.16$), standing working over 10 hour(${\beta}=0.16$), hard working(${\beta}=0.11$). The adjusted determinant coefficient($R^2$) of this regression model was 0.267. Based on the results, in order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders of hair dressers, working posture shall be improved and leisure opportunities to relieve stress, and health management program shall be provided.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.808-819
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to examine the stressors and coping strategies of school -age children and to explore the relationship between stressful life events and health symptoms and the effects of coping and trait anxiety which is theoretically considered to mediate the relationship between stress and health symptom. The study subjects consisted of 639 elementary school children in the fourth to sixth grade living in Seoul. Of the 639 subjects, 348 were boys and 291 were girls. The mean age was 11.35 (SD=.86). The Feel Bad Scale(FBS), Schoolager's Coping Strategy Inventory(SCSI), Spielberger's Trait Anxiety Scale for Children(STAIC), and Health Symptom Questionnaire (HSQ) were adapted for this study. A pilot study was undertaken to ascertain the reliability and validity of the instruments. The Cronbach alphas of FBS, SCSI, STAIC and HSQ were from .81 to .92. The Researcher and a research assistant visited the school and data were collected in the class using the questionnaire method after an explanation of the purpose and procedures was given to the children. Data collection was done during the period between Nov.25 to Dec.19, 1995. Using the SAS statistical program, percentages, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and multiple regression were used for data analysis. The result are as follows : 1. The mean score for the FBS was 204.79(range : 48-472) and there was a significant difference according to grade. The most severe stressors perceived by children were parental divorce and death or illness of family members. The most frequently experienced stressful life events were conflict with siblings and being home alone. 2. The mean score for the SCSI was 57.36(range : 9-118) and there was a significant difference according to grade. The most frequently used, and perceived as helpful, coping strategies were distraction and cognitive activities. 3. The mean score for the HSQ were 20.7(range : 0-81) and there were significant differences according to grade and sex. The percentage of the children answering that they perceived their health state as not good was 3.9%. 4. The mean score for the STAIC was 33.76 and there were significant differences according to grade and sex. 5. There was a significant relationship between stressful life events and health symptoms ( r=.53, p<.01). Also, Stressful life events were postively related with coping strategies(r=.39, p<.01). Trait anxiety was highly correlated with health symptoms(r=.72, p<.01). 6. To examine the multivariate effects of the variables to health symptoms, multiple regression was performed. Stressful life events, coping, trait anxiety, and health concerns were identified as significant variables. Explanation of the health symptoms by these variables was 56.78%. The study revealed that stressful life events correlated with health symptoms in school-age children and coping and trait anxiety had mediating effects on this relationship. The implication for nursing is that there is a need to develop supportive interventions for high risk population to decrease health problems due to stress. Also, it is recommended that a study be conducted to explore protective factors for the prevention of health problems in children.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2011

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to examine the level of anger, anger expression, depression, psychosomatic symptom and perceived health status, and to identify the influencing factors of anger expression in shelter residents. Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. Data were collected from 407 homeless people residing at 27 shelters using structured instrument. Results: The level of anger expression was different by age, educational level, existence of children, and duration of shelter residency. Anger expression was significantly correlated with depression, psychosomatic symptoms and perceived health status. The predictors of high-level anger expression was younger age, low educational level, duration of shelter residency in Model 1 (F=6.884, p<.001, Adj. $R^2=.065$, and depression and psychosomatic symptoms in Model 2 (F=7.197, p<.001, Adj. $R^2=.113$. Conclusion: This study suggested that the homeless in the shelters had various psychological vulnerabilities, and therefore more individualized programs based on their needs and psychological health status should be provided for the homeless.