• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.241-253
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effect of social support and resilience on the relationship between symptom distress and coping in young Korean breast cancer survivors. Methods: A purposive sample of 209 young breast-cancer survivors (mean age 39.9) was recruited for a cross-sectional survey, and the data were collected between June and October 2015. The instruments used in this study were the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Cancer Coping Questionnaire. The collected data were then analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 programs. Results: Symptom distress was found to have a significant indirect effect on coping (beta=-.32, p=.002), but not a significant direct effect (beta=.06, p=.577). Additionally, based on the values obtained for the squared multiple correlation, symptom distress, social support, and resilience were found to explain 46.4% of the total variance of coping. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be suggested that in order to enhance young breast cancer survivors' ability to cope with the distress they commonly feel, intervention methods that strengthen resilience and provide social support should be developed and made available to them.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-199
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of foot bath therapy on the symptom intensity, distress, and interference with usual activities due to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients with metastatic and recurrent cancer. Methods: Foot bath therapy was administered to the experimental group for >8 sessions in 2 weeks, and the chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy assessment tool (CIPNAT) was used to measure its effects on the symptom intensity, distress, and interference with usual activities due to CIPN. SPSS was used to perform data analyses including descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measures ANCOVA. Results: A statistically significant difference in the variation of the symptom intensity, distress, and interference with usual activities due to CIPN was observed between the two groups; however, a statistically insignificant difference was observed between the groups and time of interaction. Conclusion: Foot bath therapy can be used as a simple and effective clinical or home care nursing intervention to improve the symptom intensity, distress and interference with usual activities due to CIPN.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to clarify the effects of foot reflexology on peripheral neuropathy, symptom distress, anxiety and depression in cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed. Changes in the variables were evaluated to test the effects of foot reflexology. Participants were cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin (experimental group 14 and control group 17). Peripheral neuropathy, symptom distress, anxiety and depression were measured before and after reflexology. Data were collected from October, 2010 to April, 2011. ${\chi}^2$-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data. Results: The experimental group who received foot reflexology experienced less peripheral neuropathy and symptom distress than the control group. There was no difference in anxiety and depression between the experimental and control group. Conclusion: The foot reflexology program adopted in this study was found to be an effective method to reduce peripheral neuropathy and symptom distress. We recommend foot reflexology for patients with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.

• 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.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among women's total symptom distress, uncertainty and quality of life in women with endometriosis. Method: A total of 121 women who had been diagnosed with endometriosis was given a questionnaire. Data was collected from August 2004 to January 2005. The data was analyzed by frequency, mean, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS WIN 10.0 software. Result: The mean score of TSD was 3.23. 'Menstrual cramping' showed the highest score. The mean score of uncertainty, and quality of life of the subject was 56.6, and 38.3 respectively. TSD was significantly related with coffee intake and uncertainty was significantly related with marital status, economic status, alcohol intake, diagnosis after period, and family history. Quality of life was significantly related with age, and dysmenorrhea. There were significant relationships between total symptom distress and uncertainty, and quality of life. There were significant relationship between uncertainty and quality of life. Conclusion: Endometriosis symptoms showed a significant relationship with uncertainty and quality of life. This study will help to manage women with endometriosis.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2008

Purpose: Women with gynecologic cancer often experience various physical and psychological symptoms relating to the cancer and its treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify symptom clusters. Method: A survey was conducted on 184 women with diagnoses of cervical, ovarian or endometrial cancer. Fifty symptoms were assessed for prevalence, severity and interference, and symptom clusters were identified. Cluster analysis was done using SPSS version 12.0. Results: Fatigue was identified as the most prevalent symptom (81.52%), lack of vaginal lubrication (2.26) as the most severe symptom, and lack of vaginal lubrication as the most interfering one (2.15). Identified six clusters were: Anorexia-pain cluster (loss of appetite, taste change, weight loss, appearance change, alopecia, weakness, pain), Fatigue cluster (lack of concentration, lack of memory, fatigue, dry mouth), Urinary-bowel distress cluster (urinary difficulty, constipation), Abdominal discomfort cluster (lower abdominal pain, abdominal pain, bloating), Emotional distress (sadness, anxiety-worry, nervousness, restlessness), and Menopausal cluster (sweating, hot flush, fever). Conclusion: The result of this study provides fundamental data to health care professionals in developing interventions for effective symptom management for women with gynecologic cancer by understanding identified 6 symptom clusters.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.170-179
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify menstrual distress, coping method and relief of symptoms among female nurses who worked with 3-shift. Methods: A total of 185 participants were recruited from November 18, 2011 to January 30, 2012. The measurement included menstrual distress and coping method questionnaire and relief of symptoms. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients with SPSS 19.0 Results: The level of menstrual distress was moderate (mean 3.0), and there were significant differences in menstrual distress by age, education, stress, regularity of menstrual cycle. Among the coping methods, coping according to menstrual cycle specific was the most frequently used, followed by active recognizing coping, active behavioral coping, and avoidance coping. Among the degree of symptom relief, symptom relief score was the highest when used coping according to menstrual cycle specific. Menstrual distress was associated with stress, adequate amount of sleep, dysmenorrhea and number of coping method total. Conclusion: Nurses experienced moderate levels of menstrual distress and used various types of coping to relieve it. There is a need for hospital nurses to develop an effective nursing intervention to relieve the menstrual distress and utilize active coping methods.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.51-64
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• 2016

This study is to find a service that improves the subjective happiness of cancer patients that receive radiation therapy. One hundred and one cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy were enrolled in the survey to verify the self-consciousness and symptom distress that could affect the subjective happiness. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation were conducted with the SPSS 20.0 program. Symptom distress of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy showed highest in the order of fatigue, appearance changes, dizziness, loss of appetite, and sleep disorders. And lower symptom distress, higher private self-consciousness were significantly correlated with higher subjective happiness among patients receiving radiation therapy for cancer. Study findings reflect the necessity of an integrative approach combining physical, psychological and emotional interventions during a radiotherapy period. For this cause, it would be necessary to supplement previously existing service programs and organize a patient-friendly system that could affiliate regional cancer centers or Public health centers with the hospitals in which the patients are being treated.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 1987

Twenty five cancer patients were assigned to two groups: The experimental group which received Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) training and the control group without the training. Base line data for dependent variables -nausea and vomiting, state anxiety and symptom distress- were collected when the subjects of both groups received the first cycle chemotherapy. Then the experimental group was trained for PMR between the first and the second cycle chemotherapy. The same dependent variables were measured during the second cycle chemotherapy from the subjects. Results indicated that the PMR group showed no significant difference in severity of nausea and vomiting compared to the control group. Although the significance was not supported, the severity of nausea and vomiting in experimental group decreased while control group increased between the first and fifth day of the second cycle chemotherapy. The experimental group showed significantly less state anxiety during the second cycle than the control group (p＜0.01). Significantly low symptom distress was also reported in the experimental group compared to the control group(p<0.01). The result suggests that PMR training may be an effective procedure for helping cancer patients cope with the adverse effects of their chemotherapy.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was conducted to develop primary assessment tools to evaluate the relationship between symptom prevalence and symptom distress in cancer patients of Korea. Methods : A total of 196 patients diagnosed with cancer admitted in 5 general hospitals from January, 6 to January, 20 in 2003, were entered into the study. These patients were asked to complete the MSAS (Memorial symptom assessment scale). We classified these answers into prevalence and distress and then scored them according to grade and frequency. Results : The five most prevalent symptoms were lack of energy (82.1%), dry mouth (73.5%), pain (73.5%), itching (72.4%), and feeling drowsy (68.9%). Among 24 common prevalent symptoms, the ten most distress the symptoms were dry mouth (2.11), itching (2.07), pain (2.03), lack of energy (1.98), difficulty sleeping (1.96), worrying (1.94), "I don't look like myself" (1.91), constipation (1.88), and difficulty concentration (1.76). Conclusion : These 10 symptoms had high prevalence and distress in cancer patients of Korea. We suggest these symptoms to be applied in developing the primary assessment tool in cancer patients.