• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.252-264
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify pregnant women's needs for information on prenatal genetic diagnosis and screening. This study is consisted of two phases. In the first phase in December 2011, six blogs featuring questions and answers on prenatal genetic diagnosis and screening were selected from four major search engines in Korea by using the keywords "prenatal genetic diagnosis," "prenatal genetic screening", and "amniocentesis." An analyzing framework was constructed on the basis of 389 posts on six blogs between November 2006 and October 2011. In the second phase, the contents of the "MomsHolicbaby" blog posted from November 2010 to October 2011 were reviewed. Then, pregnant women's questions on prenatal genetic diagnosis and screening (100 questions) and amniocentesis (200 questions with 1,665 answers) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Among posters who had ever been recommended to undergo amniocentesis, 56.5% described feelings of anxiety, 25.5% did not know the purpose of the test, and 33.9% refused to undergo the test. Among 295 posters answering questions about amniocentesis, 61.4% disagreed with undergoing the test. The results show that there is a need for healthcare professionals to provide more educational and emotional support to pregnant women considering prenatal genetic diagnosis and screening. Providing online health information can be integrated into prenatal genetic education for pregnant women as well as nurses. In addition, prenatal women's preferences about undergoing amniocentesis should be reflected in the current legal discussion on criteria for termination of pregnancy.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2018

Purpose: Physicians' attitudes may have a strong influence on women's decision regarding prenatal screening options. The aim of this study is to assess the physicians' attitudes toward prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were distributed and collected at several obstetrics-gynecological conferences and meetings. The questionnaire included 31 multiple choice and 5 fill-in-the-blank questions. Seven questions requested physicians' demographic information, 17 questions requested information about the NIPT with cell-free fetal DNA, and 12 questions requested information about general prenatal screening practices. Results: Of the 203 obstetricians that completed the survey. In contrast with professional guidelines recommending the universal offering of aneuploidy screening, only 53.7% answered that prenatal aneuploidy testing (screening and/or invasive diagnostic testing) should be offered to all pregnant women. Physicians tended to have positive attitudes toward the clinical application of NIPT as both primary and secondary screening methods for patients at high-risk for fetal trisomy. However, for patients at average-risk for fetal trisomy, physicians tended to have positive attitudes only as a secondary screening method. Physicians with more knowledge about NIPT were found to tend to inform their patients that the detection rate of NIPT is higher. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate expert opinion on prenatal screening in South Korea. Education of physicians is essential to ensure responsible patient counseling, informed consent, and appropriate management after NIPT.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 2018

Purpose: To identify risk factors for premature birth among premature obstetric labor women. Methods: Participants were 129 hospitalized women who were diagnosed with potential premature obstetric labor with 20 weeks to 37 weeks of gestation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, t-test, and binary logistic regression. Results: Of 129 women, 78(60.5%) gave premature birth and 51 (39.5%) gave full-term birth. Risk factors for premature birth were education level (${\leq}$bachelor's degree), abnormal bowel condition (constipation or diarrhea), time firstly diagnosed with a premature obstetric labor (below 28 weeks of pregnancy), and multiple pregnancy. There were also increased risks of premature birth for participants with high level of anxiety and high level of prenatal stress. In social support, there was an increased risk of premature birth for participants with low level of social support. Conclusion: Prenatal nursing programs should consider not only psychosocial factors such as anxiety, prenatal stress, and social support, but also some general and obstetric factors such as education level, abnormal bowel condition, time firstly diagnosed with a premature obstetric labor, and multiple pregnancy to increase maternal and child health.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program's feasibility. Methods: With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women's hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. Results: The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.10 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. Conclusion: A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples' relationships.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.3
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• pp.49-62
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• 1982

This is a study to analyze rural area women's perception and practice of prenatal care, which is the fundamental of the education of children. Further, it was aimed to provide basic data for ideal childbirth, upbringing and household management process. For that object, questionnaires were distributed to women living in Yongdong region to judge the level of general understanding on prenatal care. Research was done from three different aspects; dietary life, emotion control and health management. Percentages were drawn out to see the general tendency. The following results were discovered from data analysis: 1. Most subjects of the survey knew well about prenatal care. They had acquired that knowledge from their parents. Most thought that prenatal care is necessary. They answered that they think prenatal care has more or less effect on the fetus. The first dime they thought about prenatal care was after they found that they were pregnant. 2. The subjects knew well about dietary needs for pregnant women carried out much of what they knew. Intake of sufficiently nutritious food is somewhat difficult, but foods that are regarded as bad were avoided thoroughly. It appears that most women have much concern about what they eat during pregnancy. 3. Most of the subjects understood that the emotional stability is necessary but it wasn't put into practice so well as in dietary life. Especially, attitudes connected with emotional development like, "Look or hear only what is good (for the fetus)" were practised little. Efforts for self-restraint as "Not to hate or pick out others' defects or talk bad about others" were appeared to be great, and it is practised well, too. 4. The subjects were well-informed on health area, but practised little. Behaviors for health improvement as to "Lead a regular daily life for health" or "Not to take a long trop" were practised very faithfully. The results of the survey showed that passive attitudes related to tabooed food, self-abstinence and cautions for bodily safety were prevalent; more positive and progressive disposition missing. That is, full perception and active practices for caloric intake, emotional improvement and physical strength development are needed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.5716-5725
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• 2014

This study examined the effects of a prenatal education program of labor and delivery experience for primigravidas in mid-pregnancy. This investigation was designed as a one group pre-post quasi-experimental study, aiming to determine the effects of prenatal education on anxiety, confidence and knowledge in delivery by demonstrating knowledge and actual situations including understanding labor, breast-feeding, baby care and others, and experiencing the education program. Subjects were collected randomly from an on-line club in D city. The simulation education proceeded for 2 hours a week from April to June, 2014, and there were 6 sessions each in the first and second periods. We included 35 primigravidas who attended all 6 sessions. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and a paired t-test. According to the study results, the subjects showed a significant difference in knowledge in delivery (t=-9.07, p<001), confidence in delivery (t=-9.00, p<001) and anxiety (t=14.39, p<001) after participating in the prenatal education program. An evaluation of satisfaction revealed experience to be the most differentiating factor, and the simulation experience was identified as most effective. The desired appropriate number of class sessions was 4 times, and 88.6% of the pregnant women intended to attend the program at their next birth, indicating a high response rate.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.774-789
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• 1995

Due to the rapid socioeconomic development and the introduction of the national health insurance system the general population's need for health care and utilization of health care services have increased dramatically. As a result of this change. Korea is experiencing a shortage of health care facilities and health manpower, and this leads long wailing line at doctor's offices. One of the solutions of this problem could be home health care system for those who have minor health related problems. With this background, this study was conducted to look at the feasibility of a home-based prenatal care system using information superhighway and nursing informatics specialists. With the home-based prenatal care system, the pregnant woman checks her blood pressure, tests her urine for sugar and protein, and measures her body weight at home and sends the information to a hospital computer via the information networks such as public telephone line and information superhighway. Nursing informatics specialist at the hospital will go through each patient record and screen those who have abnormal values and notify them to see a doctor as soon as possible. Besides telemonitoring features, the proposed system will include tole-education capabilities for the patients so that patient can learn whatever they need to know ragarding the prenatal care via information networks. If this system develops and operates, patient can save time in terms of travel to and from the hospital and waiting time in the hospital. And the health care institute can utilize its resource more efficiently.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.184-194
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• 2019

Purpose: There has been a considerable increase in the number of women giving birth at advanced age. The genetic screening of such women is highly desirable. Clinical nurses, however, are not adequately trained to assist such clients. This study aims at identifying the educational needs of nurses in order for them to provide better care and treatment for such women. Methods: 206 South Korean clinical nurses participated in this study. Study variables were measured by nurses' attitudes toward terminating pregnancy (ATP), knowledge of prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis (K-PGSD), and information needs for prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis (I-PGSD). The statistical analysis included T-test, analysis of variance and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Results: Mean scores were 34.57±5.73 for ATP, 16.44±3.04 for K-PGSD, and 78.81±10.95 for I-PGSD. The findings demonstrate that nurses have high information needs (I-PGSD) to take better care of women who have positive results from their amniocentesis tests. Conclusion: Information needs among clinical nurses are not currently being met. Education for nurses must include training in counseling to encourage patients' autonomous decision-making regarding their pregnancies.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.326-335
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting prenatal care (PNC) by married immigrant women. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of "Reproductive Health Status of Married Immigrant Women and Policy Directions in Korea" by the Korea Institute for Health & Social Affairs. The participants were 727 married immigrant women from Asia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test and logistic regression with SPSS 14.0. Results: Of the 727 women interviewed, 91.7% visited prenatal clinic. However, first time for PNC was late and total number of PNC was lower (9.07) than the average of Korean women. Timing and number of PNC in rural area were later and fewer than those in urban area. PNC by these women was significantly lower in those who had lived in Korea longer and for those who the employed. However, PNC was significantly higher in those who attended health education during pregnancy and had not experienced premature delivery. Those who attended health education during pregnancy (OR=2.84, CI=1.49~5.40) or were unemployed (OR=0.51, CI=0.26~0.99) were more likely to have PNC. Conclusion: These findings illustrate the need to strengthen the public information and provide special services to their demands about PNC for married immigrant women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship among mother-daughter relationship, husband-wife relationship, and prenatal attachment according to pregnant women's internal working model. Method: A convenience sample of 68 pregnant women was recruited from two OBGYN hospitals in M city. Data collection was conducted through the use of an Adult Attachment Interview and questionnaires. This study used a descriptive correlational design and the period of investigation was from July 3-20, 2002. 41 of the 68 women were in a secure pregnant women's internal working model and 27 of the 68 in insecure ones. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Result: The results of this study were as follows: Mean score of the prenatal attachment of the secure pregnant women and mean score of the mother-daughter relationship of the secure pregnant women was significantly higher than that of insecure ones. 3) Prenatal attachment was negatively and significantly related to mother-daughter attachment and husbandwife attachment in the secure pregnant women's internal working model. However it was not significantly relationship in insecure pregnant women's internal working model. Conclusion: It is found in this study that there is an intergenerational attachment relationship during pregnancy. Further findings support the development of creative strategies to enhance positive attachment relationships for pregnant women. It is recommended to develop nursing education of attachment for the insecure pregnant women's internal working model.