• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 2001

Cancer survivor's self-help group may promote psychosocial adjustment in cancer patients. Self-transcendence has been shown to be related with crisis and adjustment in women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of self-transcendence promoting program to facilitate self-transcendence, physical, and emotional well-being in women with breast cancer. Thirty patients who received mastectomy were recruited, but 9 subjects of experimental group and 14 subjects of control group participated in this study. Subjects of experimental group attended the self-help group for self-transcendence once a week for 6 weeks. Each session of program was proceeded for 2hours and the program contained activities for promoting self-transcendence, stress management, communication skill, exercise and relaxation, symptom management, and family support. Data were collected by self-reporting questionnaires within seven days after mastectomy and after the program was finished in experimental group, within 7 days after mastectomy and after 3 months in control group. Self-transcendence was assessed using the self-transcendence scale (STS) developed by Reed. Physical well being was assessed using Symptom distress scale (SDS) developed by McCorkle and Young and emotional well being was assessed using Profile of mood states (POMS). As a result, no significant differences were found between both groups in changes of self-transcendence, emotional well-being, and physical well-being. Self-transcendence score was significantly decreased in control group (p =0.16). But that of experimental group showed no decrease. In conclusions, when the self-transcendence promoting program is provided to the patients with breast cancer, it can be helpful for promoting self- transcendence. For the further study, repeated research with appropriate sample size and more intensive nursing intervention to promote self-transcendence is suggested. And reassessment after 6 months is recommended for testing long term effects of the program.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2459-2464
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• 2016

Background: Cancer treatments can have long-term physical, psychological, financial, sexual and cognitive effects that may influence the quality of life. These can vary from urban to rural areas, survival period and according to the type of cancer. We here aimed to describe demographics and psychosocial analysis of cancer survivors three to five years post-treatment in rural Australia and also assess relationships with financial stress and quality of life domains. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 65 participants visiting the outpatient oncology clinic were given a self-administered questionnaire. The inclusion criteria included three to five years post-treatment. Three domains were investigated using standardised and validated tools such as the Standard Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors Scale (QLACS) and the Personal and Household Finances (HILDA) survey. Included were demographic parameters, quality of life, treatment information and well-being. Results: There was no evidence of associations between any demographic variable and either financial stress or cancer-specific quality of life domains. Financial stress was however significantly associated with the cancer-specific quality of life domains of appearance-related concerns, family related distress, and distress related to recurrence. Conclusions: This unique study effectively points to psychosocial aspects of cancer survivors in rural regions of Australia. Although the majority of demographic characteristics were not been found to be associated with financial stress, this latter itself is significantly associated with distress related to family and cancer recurrence. This finding may be of assistance in future studies and also considering plans to fulfil unmet needs.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2014

Objectives This study aimed to identify the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial factors of schizophrenia patients registered in a community mental health center. Methods The ninety patients with schizophrenia, diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition-Text Revision, registered in a community mental health center were studied cross-sectionally. Four trained personnels interviewed each subject individually for the assessment of QoL, psychopathology, severity of depressed mood, insight of illness, attitude toward drugs, social function, degree of social supports and conflicts. Results QoL was significantly related to the psychopathology, depressed mood, social conflict, social support; and other aspects of QoL were slightly differently related to depressed mood, social conflict, social support and attitude toward drug by scales. In multiple regression analysis, depressed mood (20.0%) and social conflict (10.3%) were contributed to QoL assessed by Korean version of 4th revision of Schizophrenia Quality of Life. Social support (21.4%), social conflict (20.9%) and depressed mood (3.1%) were contributed to QoL assessed by Korean modification of the Scale to measure Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic treatment. Conclusions These findings demonstrated that QoL of schizophrenia patients in a community is affected by depressed mood, social support and conflict rather than psychotic symptoms, insight and attitude toward drugs. And this result suggests the necessity of approaching not only to the psychotic symptoms but also to the psychosocial characteristics in caring schizophrenia patients in the community.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5927-5936
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• 2014

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Jordanians. Breast cancer patients suffer from several negative consequences after treatment and these include pain, fatigue, sexual problems, appearance and body image concerns, with psychological dysfunction. This could affect the patient quality of life and psychological well-being. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published quantitative data on the quality of life and psychological well-being of breast cancer patients in Jordan. The objective of this study was to obtain such data and assess predictors with calculated scores. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted among breast cancer patients in Jordan diagnosed in 2009 and 2010, assessment was performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Breast Module (QLQ-BR23) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Clinical, demographic and psychosocial indicators that could predict patient quality of life scores were collected. Results: The number of patients interviewed was 236 (mean age=$50.7{\pm}10.7$ years). The mean Global Health score for the QLQ-C30 was $63.7{\pm}20.2$ SD. Among functional scales, "social functioning" scored the highest ($mean=78.1{\pm}28.6$ SD), whereas "emotional functioning" scored the lowest ($mean=59.0{\pm}SD\;33.5$). For the QLQ-BR23, the worst scores within the functional scales were for "body image" ($mean=52.1{\pm}36.8$ SD) and "future perspective" ($mean=52.9{\pm}38.5$ SD). The worst symptom was "upset by hair loss" ($mean=69.8{\pm}43.0$). The mean HADS scores was $18.{\pm}9.0$ SD. Out of study participants, 53% scored abnormal on the anxiety scale and 45% on the depression scale. Severe depression and severe anxiety were detected among 8% and 14% of study participants, respectively. Statistically significant predictors for individual scores were similar to those reported in published studies, such as the presence of recurrence since baseline, family history of cancer, low educational status, current social problems, extent of the disease, presence of financial difficulties, and employment status. Conclusions and Recommendations: Breast cancer survivors in Jordan have overall good quality of life scores when compared with patients from Western countries. However, their psychological wellbeing is more impaired. There is an urgent need for psychosocial support programs and psychological screening and consultation for breast cancer patients at hospitals of the Ministry of Health in Jordan.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.73-97
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• 2011

This study examined what factors were associated with psychological well-being of grandparents providing daily care to their grandchildren. More focus on the role of various mediators such as caregiving perception and resources were given to investigate the complicated relationships between providing care and psychological function. I used the nationally representative data from the '2008 Korean National Survey of Welfare Need in the Elderly'. Results showed that there were diverse circumstances of caregiving. Grandparents who cared their grandchildren on behalf of dual career parents emerged predominantly from them. Findings also suggested that type of caregiving was related to external factors. Grandparents shouldering greater responsibility for their grandchildren showed lower levels of resources such as financial conditions and social support, and more negative perception of caregiving, which in turn was associated with lower psychological well-being. Finally, more financial resource and neighborhood support directly influenced more positive perception of caregiving. To enhance resources and empower grandparents raising their grandchildren, community-based intervening mechanism incorporating various environments and effective services to meet the needs of grandparents should be discussed in future studies.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.238-248
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• 2017

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to explore the adaptation experience of adolescent cancer survivors during and after cancer treatment, and their perceived social support networks. Methods: This study was a qualitative descriptive study using the in-depth interview. Eight adolescent cancer survivors who were diagnosed with cancer between 11 to 18 years old participated in the study. Results: The adaptation experiences of adolescent cancer survivors over time were identified within five categories for during their treatment such as "being catapulted from one's life," "standing at the center of discomfort," "falling behind the line," "accepting the change," "being developed", and another five categories for after the treatment including "being shackled," "encountering the forgotten reality," "overcoming and emerging from the reality," "growing into adulthood," "entering into a new orbit." Participants reported the various members of their social support network and their roles during and after the treatment as well. Conclusion: While adolescent cancer survivors adjusted to their changing situations after the cancer diagnosis, their internalized adaptation, as well as perceived social support from their diverse surrounding network, played significant roles. These findings will become a valuable asset for developing age-appropriate nursing interventions to promote psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with cancer.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.243-258
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to achieve an understanding of psychosocial needs of elderly female residents living in the nursing home and their evaluation about psychosocial services from their perspectives. In-depth interview by constructivist inquiry was conducted to explore residents' needs. Purposive sampling was used to ensure that participants could communicate verbally and share their experience of living in the nursing home. 8 female residents who cognitively intact and aged 65 or over were invited to participate in this study. Data collection was conducted from January 1 to 5 in 2008. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Constant comparison method was used for data analysis. Levels of psychological needs were identified as four categories-satisfied needs; unmet needs; hidden needs; lack of expression of needs. While nursing home generally focuses on medical care provision, residents' psychosocial needs tend to be relatively overlooked. The satisfaction of psychosocial needs is significant in guaranteeing well-being in later life.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to analyze the responses of breath-counting meditations with the psychological test and the physical index. Methods: Breath-counting meditation was applied to 10 normal adults. Then, clinical research State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), State-Trait Anger eXpression Inventory (STAXI), Psychosocial Well-being Index Short Form (PWI-SF), Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument-Korean version (BEPSI-K), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and Vital Signs (V/S) were carried out to analyze the responses of breath-counting meditations. Results: 1) Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) decreased on the fifteenth day of breath-counting meditation, and Body Temperature (BT) increased on the fifteenth day. In addition, respiration decreased throughout the period of breath-counting meditation. 2) Standard deviations of N-N interval and Total Power (TP) of HRV all significantly increased on the fifteenth day of breath-counting meditation. 3) Scores of STAI1, STAXI1, STAXI2, and PWI-SF decreased after the breath-counting meditation. Conclusions: The results suggested that breath-counting meditations have positive responses to anger, anxiety and stress.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the levels of anxiety, depression and uncertainty of patients who participated in the clinical trials for anticancer drug, and to identify correlations among these variables. Methods: Cross-sectional survey used the Symptom Check List-90-Revision and the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale from 106 subjects in 2011. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: The mean score of anxiety was 2.06, that of depression 2.35, and that of uncertainty 2.61. Anxiety and depression (r=.70), anxiety and uncertainty (r=.44), depression and uncertainty (r=.60) were significantly correlated each other. The levels of anxiety, depression and uncertainty were different in various characteristics of the subjects, such as education, recurrence, and economic burden. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that when implementing psychosocial interventions for cancer patients who participate in clinical trial, factors such as education, economic burden, and recurrence should be integrated into the intervention. Further studies applying theoretical model would be helpful to identify directional relationships among the variables that are important in psychosocial well-being of cancer patients undergoing clinical trial.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of improvement in health promotion behavior of nursing college students by the difference of self esteem. The students was divided two groups one is low level self esteem the other is high depending on median point of self esteem. The specific objectives were first, to find out the differences of health promotion behavior, self efficacy, health perception, fatigue level, depression, psychosocial wellbeing, second, to establish which factors determine their health promotion behavior between two groups. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were given to 262 students enrolled in a nursing college. between may and June 2008. The questionnaire items included age, sex, education level, self esteem, self efficacy, health perception, fatigue, depression,, psychosocial well being and health promotion behavior. For statistical analysis, frequency, t-test, regression used for determining the factors effecting health promotion behavior. Results: The influencing factors were self efficacy among low level and self efficacy, fatigue and stress among high level. Self efficacy strong positive impact on health promotion behavior among both groups. Stress and fatigue was only effective among high level group. Conclusion: Based on the study results, improvement of health promotion behavior among nursing students requires the development and application of programs to manage self efficacy and stress as a precondition for depending on self esteem level.