• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1135-1143
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived importance and the perceived caring of nursing needs among oncology nurses, patients with non-terminal cancer and patients with terminal cancer. Method: A total of 83 oncology nurses, 56 patients with non-terminal cancer and 39 patients with terminal cancer served as subjects. Data was collected based on the 4-point Likert scale using a self-administered questionnaire from Mar. to Sept. 2004. Finally, data was analyzed using mean, SD, paired-test,. and ANOVA. Results: The score of the perceived importance of nursing needs was higher than that of the perceived performance of nursing needs in all three groups. There was also a difference in the degree of perceived performance of nursing needs among the three groups. In contrast, there was no difference in the total score of the perceived importance of nursing needs among the three groups, unlike the importance of informational and physical needs as a subgroup of perceived importance, where a difference was noted. Conclusions: Strategies should be developed to narrow down these gaps between nurses and patients. In particular, informational and educational programs should be designed for patients with terminal cancer.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was to identify the relationship between perceived family support and quality of life in hospitalized patient with terminal cancer. Method: Study subjects were 104 patients with terminal cancer who were hospitalized and treated at K university hospital, in Busan. Perceived family support and quality of life were measured using the Kang's Revised Family Support Scale and Youn's Quality of Life scale for terminal patients. Results: 1) The mean score of perceived family support was $4.23{\pm}0.61$. The mean score of quality of life was $5.83{\pm}1.37$. 2) The perceived family support was significantly different with primary care giver, food type, medical period after diagnosis. 3) The levels of quality of life was significantly different by number of children, effect of religion on the one' life, perceived state of disease and pain. 4) There was moderate positive correlation between perceived family support and quality of life. Conclusions: Increase in perceived family support was associated with increase in quality of life in hospitalized patients with terminal cancer. It is necessary that the development of nursing education program for family which help to support the patient with terminal cancer for increasing the quality of life of patient with terminal cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2021

Purpose: This study attempted to develop clinical guidelines to help patients use hospice and palliative care (HPC) at an appropriate time after writing physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) by identifying the characteristics of HPC use of patients with terminal cancer. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted to understand the characteristics of HPC use of patients with terminal cancer through decision tree analysis. The participants were 394 terminal cancer patients who were hospitalized at a cancer-specialized hospital in Seoul, South Korea and wrote POLST from January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021. Results: The predictive model for the characteristics of HPC use showed three main nodes (living together, pain control, and period to death after writing POLST). The decision tree analysis of HPC use by terminal cancer patients showed that the most likely group to use HPC use was terminal cancer patients who had a cohabitant, received pain control, and died 2 months or more after writing a POLST. The probability of HPC usage rate in this group was 87.5%. The next most likely group to use HPC had a cohabitant and received pain control; 64.8% of this group used HPC. Finally, 55.1% of participants who had a cohabitant used HPC, which was a significantly higher proportion than that of participants who did not have a cohabitant (1.7%). Conclusion: This study provides meaningful clinical evidence to help make decisions on HPC use more easily at an appropriate time.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2001

This study was to investigate the degree of the nurses' burden and the attitude on the terminal cancer patients, as well as the relationship between two variables using questionnaire. The non-randomized convenient samples were 252 nurses with the experiences in caring the terminal cancer patients more than 1year in 5 university hospitals in Seoul and Inchon city. The cross-sectional one time survey was conduced by using the modified questionnaires on the burden and the attitude on the terminal cancer patients at October, 2000. n SPSS for Window, the demographic information and the degree of the burden and the attitude of subjects were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Pearson correlation coefficiency was used to investigate the relationship between the degree of the burden and the attitude from subjects. The additional analysis were performed to examine the differences the degree of the burden and the attitude by the general characteristics of the nurses using t-test and ANOVA. The result was as follow: 1) The degree of the nurses' burden on the terminal cancer patients was the mean of 2.91 ranged from 2.08 to 3.96. 2) The degree of the nurses' attitude on the terminal cancer patients was the mean of 3.52 ranged from 1.83 to 4.68. 3) There was no significant relationship between the degree of the burden and the attitude on the terminal cancer patients(r=.08, p=.23). However, the burden and. the nursing environment among 4 aspects of the attitude showed a significantly positive relationship each other (r=.16, p=.01). 4) The degree of the nurses' burden was different by the nursing specialties (F=2.79, p=.03) and the professional perspectives on nursing(F=3.52, p=.02). 5) The degree of the nurses' attitude was different by the age(F=5.33, p=.01), the married status(t=3.93, p=.05), nursing specialties (F=7.42, p=.00), the amount clinical experience(F=2.85, p=.04), the job satisfaction (F=10.58, p=.00) and, the professional perspectives on nursing (F=6.30, p=.01).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.299-309
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• 2006

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to develop a substantive theory on the process of the spiritual experience in Christian terminal cancer patients in the context of Korean society and culture. The question for the study was 'What is the spiritual process in Christian terminal cancer patients?'. Method: The research method used was the Grounded Theory Method developed by Strauss & Corbin(1998). Participants for this study in total were 9 Christian terminal cancer patients. Data was collected using in-depth interviews during April 2003 to March. 2004. Data collection and analysis were carried out at the same time. Result: From the analysis 58 concepts and 20 categories emerged. The categories were presented into a paradigm, which consisted of condition-actions/interactions-consequences. The theoretical scheme was described by organizing categories. In total, 4 stages were developed from the condition-actions/ interactions-consequences. Throughout these stages, the 'overcoming process of unbalanced interconnectedness' was the core category discovered. Conclusion: This study provides a framework for the development of individualized care interventions in the 'overcoming process of unbalanced interconnectedness' for Christian terminal cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.493-502
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma hand massage on pain, state anxiety and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer. Methods: This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects were 58 hospice patients with terminal cancer who were hospitalized. Twenty eight hospice patients with terminal cancer were assigned to the experimental group (aroma hand massage), and 30 hospice patients with terminal cancer were assigned to the control group (general oil hand massage). As for the experimental treatment, the experimental group went through aroma hand massage on each hand for 5 min for 7 days with blended oil-a mixture of Bergamot, Lavender, and Frankincense in the ratio of 1:1:1, which was diluted 1.5% with sweet almond carrier oil 50 ml. The control group went through general oil hand massage by only sweet almond carrier oil-on each hand for 5 min for 7 days. Results: The aroma hand massage experimental group showed more significant differences in the changes of pain score (t=-3.52, p=.001) and depression (t=-8.99, p=.000) than the control group. Conclusion: Aroma hand massage had a positive effect on pain and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Purpose: This study utilized a non-equivalent control group pre-post design to assess the effects of spiritual nursing care on loneliness and spiritual well-being of terminal cancer patients. Method: Forty-one terminal cancer patients in a general hospital, were divided into an experimental group of 20 patients and a control group of 21 patients. Those in the experimental group received four weeks of treatment three times a week for about 45 minutes each session. The treatment included nurses' spiritual care involving five instruments of spiritual nursing intervention, each of which was used according to the six types of spiritual need assessment. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics including real number, percentage, $X^2$-test, t-test, and ANCOVA. Result: There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the level of loneliness and spiritual well-being. Conclusion: Spiritual nursing care was verified as an effective program that can lessen the loneliness and improve the spiritual well-being of patients with terminal cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the life-sustaining treatment decisions of terminal cancer patients. Methods: Data on 10 terminal cancer patients who decided to withhold or withdraw from treatment were collected using in-depth interviews conducted from February 8 to October 30, 2019. Data were collected until saturation was reached and then analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: In this study, six thematic clusters were identified: "having complicated feelings", "making choices to protect everyone", "accepting and preparing for death", "feeling distress", "pursuing spiritual wellbeing", and "evaluating the new system". Conclusion: When facing death, terminal cancer patients often made choices to protect their family and their dignity with uneasiness of mind when deciding to withdraw from life-sustaining treatments. Though many patients had accepted and prepared for death, they experienced distress about leaving children behind after death. They also pursued spiritual well-being to find peace after deciding to withdraw from life-sustaining treatment. In addition, participants evaluated the new system of policies pertaining to decisions on life-sustaining treatment. Thus, various approaches regarding acceptance and preparation for death, communication with family, hope, and spiritual comfort should be taken in educational interventions to assist terminal cancer patients as they decide whether to withdraw from life-sustaining treatment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.280-290
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• 2012

Purpose: This study done to identify the experiences of families caring for patients with terminal cancer. The question was, "What is the caregiving experience of a family who has a member with terminal cancer?" Methods: Grounded Theory was applied and in-depth interviews were done with 11 family members. Interviews were recorded with the interviewees' consent and were transcribed and analyzed. Participants' relationships to patients were 6 spouses, 4 daughters, and 1 mother. The ages of the participants were between 32 and 62, with an average of 47.5. Results: The study showed "enduring with bonds" as the main category and the main factor affecting this category was the "patients' diagnosis of terminal cancer." The caregiving experience was divided into four stages: shock, confusion, struggle, and acceptance. Mediating factors were relationship with the patient, intimacy with the patient, social support, communication, and trust. Conclusively, participants underwent internal maturity, and changes occurred in family and social and personal life. Conclusion: The families took care of the patients with responsibility and love. The study results should help with the understanding of a family with a member with terminal cancer and should be used to develop nursing, mediating, and consulting programs for these caregivers.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 1999

Background : In order to improve the quality of life of dying patients, they need to receive not only the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care, but also systematic and continuous care to die with dignity. However, no adequate medical services are available for these terminal cancer patients. We studied their behavior patterns of health care utilization to understand more of their medical and social needs. Methods : We investigated 108 bereaved families through the telephone interview with structured questionnaires. They were randomly selected through the retrospective chart review of the terminal patients who passed away due to cancer. Results : Most of the terminal cancer patients received their care from proper medical services including admission to hospital (45.4%), outpatient clinic (22.2%), emergency room (16.7%), and oriental medicine (12.0%). But during the terminal phase of their illness, 32.4% of patients never received medical care including oriental medicine, and 28.7% received alterative natural care. 26 bereaved families (24.1%) pointed out the indifference of medical staff as a problem receiving proper hospital care, and 22 (20.4%) emphasized emotional strain of their helplessness with the patients' suffering as a problem of caring at home. Over 90% suggested availability of continuous care, hospice care, home care, and 24 hour telephone service to be improved. Conclusions : Due to various reasons, adequate medical care is not delivered to the terminal cancer patients in our present medical system. These problems can be approached with the establishment of proper education and medical delivery system. The role of comprehensive medical specialty cannot be overly emphasized to accomplish this most effectively.