• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-71
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• 2021

Objectives In order to reinterpret the meaning of Inch-Bar-Cubit used by pulse diagnosis, this study investigates floating pulses of lung and heart in the Inch area, middle pulse of spleen and livers in the Bar area, and deep pulse of kidney and life gate in the Cubit area. However, some suggested that the meaning of Inch-Bar-Cubit should be interpreted in the same way as floating-middle-deep. Methods In this study, the contents of Inch-Bar-Cubit assignment of pulse diagnosis proposed by Dongeuibogam and Medical Scientist were investigated along with the existing investigation of pulse diagnosis, and their interpretation was investigated. Result and conclusion The assignment of books in Pulse diagnosis can be applied by replacing them with floating-middle-deep instead of Inch-Bar-Cubit.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the life of newly appointed professors of nursing by exploring the meaning and essence of their academic work and life experience. Methods: The participants consisted of 11 newly appointed female full-time professors with less than five years of experience who had been purposely sampled from three or four-year nursing colleges. Data were collected from October 2010 to December 2011 through the face-to-face interview and phone interview. Thematic analysis was conducted using hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. Results: The findings were classified into seven themes: 'Starting feeling hope and delight', 'putting sustained energy into lecturing and training', 'struggling in the tense atmosphere where assessments are often conducted', 'gaining courage in an associated relationship network', 'experiencing confusion of the identity as a professor', 'seeking compromise, handling their work and housework', and 'shedding new light on reality with self-awareness'. Conclusion: This study is significant in that it offered the foundation for the creation of human resources networks and mentoring programs that help newly appointed professors to effectively adjust to university society on the basis of the sympathetic understanding of and support for their life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.601-621
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to synthesize the caring experiences of Korean family members of patients with dementia through a qualitative meta-synthesis method. Methods: By searching through nine Korean and English databases, we compared 37 qualitative studies on caring experiences of family members of patients with dementia. The selected studies were synthesized through meta-synthesis, proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso (2007). Results: The meta-synthesis elicited four themes: tough life due to care for patients, changes in relationships, adaptation to caregiver's roles, and new perspectives of life through personal growth. Caregivers were shocked when a sudden diagnosis of dementia was made prior to any preparation on their part. They were tied to their patients all the time and their mind and body got exhausted. Their relationship with patients began to change and they looked at them differently. They experienced conflicts with the other non-caring family members and were alienated from them. They were also socially isolated. However, by building their own care strategies and utilizing social resources, they gradually adapted to their caregiver roles. Finally, they experienced personal growth and acquired a new perspective toward life by accepting their roles and finding meaning in their lives. Shifting the caregiver's centricity from themselves to the patient was the process of becoming human beings who actively constructed their realities while giving meaning to their painful lives and interacting with the environment. Conclusion: The results of the study can be useful for nurses in understanding the experiences of caregivers of the patients with dementia and in providing them with practical interventions.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.75-94
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• 2016

Objectives : The uterus plays an important role in the woman's body. In Korean Medical literature, the uterus is mentioned in various contexts according to different perspectives on its meaning and function. An examination of these various contexts is crucial in understanding the meaning of the uterus and to better understand and approach woman's body. Methods : Aside from the most widely used term Jagung(子宮), there were various terms used to refer to the uterus. Based on a list of these terms, the Siku Qianshu collection of medical literatures was investigated. Contents related to the definition, shape, location, function were extracted and examined. Results : Among the findings, first, there were various terms referring to the uterus similar to contemporary understanding. Some of them referred to the uterus as a whole, while others referred to specific parts, one of which is the placenta. Some reflected a broader perspective on the meaning of the uterus. Second, the functions of the uterus could be summarized as gate keeping, and the maintenance of uterine environment that is related to menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth. Third, based on the examination of the meaning of the uterus and its functions, perspectives on the uterus in Korean Medicine could be summarized into two. Conclusions : One viewed uterus as an organ dedicated to reproduction, similar to today's common understanding. According to this view, uterus is a special organ specific to women, which functions as an incubator for the fetus. The other viewed the uterus as an intangible source of life in the woman's body. As a general source of life to all human beings, it is not a passive organ but functions as an active source in woman's life phenomena. The two perspectives are not in conflict, but rather reflect the broad range of thought on the concept of the uterus in Korean Medicine. In today's biomedical society, the diversity and flexibility of these perspectives could shed light on medical practices that have resulted from extreme views on the woman's body.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.17-32
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• 2022

Objectives : To overcome limitations of previous diagnostic systems and constitutional medicine by suggesting a new perspective of constitutional medicine and a system of Yin Yang and Five Phases that is applicable to many diseases untreatable by biomedicine. Methods : The Life Structure Diagram which shows the different distribution of Yin Yang and Five Phases according to constitution, reflects the non-local and simultaneous characteristics of Yin Yang and Five Phases. It overcomes previous diagnostic systems and constitutional medicine which were local and segmented. Each constitutional types were determined through their defining deep fractal pulse patterns, for which appropriate acupuncture methods and formulas were suggested. Results & Conclusions : A more effective differentiation of constitution and treatment could be achieved through the Life Structure Diagram, which could overcome limitations of pre-existing diagnosis and treatments of Korean Medicine.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.104-114
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to comprehensively understand and describe the meaning of physical activity for managing menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. Methods: This study targeted middle-aged women with menopausal symptoms who participated in regular exercise at least three times a week for more than 12 weeks. Nine participants were individually interviewed via in-depth face-to-face interviews, and participatory observation was also employed. Colaizzi's phenomenological qualitative research method was applied for analysis. Results: Participants were asked, "What does it means to participate in physical activity at this time of your life?" Fourteen codes, six themes, and three theme clusters were derived for the meaning of physical activity for managing menopausal symptoms these middle-aged women. The six themes were "reviving the exhausted body and mind," "being free from the yoke of pain," "being settled in life," "finding oneself and becoming altruistic," "striving while anticipating change," and "equipping the body and mind." The three theme clusters were "overcoming my past pain," "taking the initiative for today's life," and "moving towards new change." Conclusion: The narratives revealed that physical activity allowed women to overcome menopausal symptoms, the burden of relationships, and stress, thereby enabling them to make positive changes in their lives and have expectations for the future. Thus, physical activity was a positive force in a healthy menopausal transition for women with menopausal symptoms. The findings of this study can be used to encourage physical activity in peri-menopausal women and to develop physical activity programs for managing menopausal symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.76-86
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the extent to which nurses' death perceptions, death anxiety, and stress associated with terminal care affects their attitudes toward terminal care. Method : A total of 214 nurses were asked questions about characteristics, death perceptions, death anxiety, stress associated with end-of-life care, and terminal care attitudes, using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé's test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results : Factors influencing terminal care attitudes in participants were positive meaning associated with death, respect for life, final education, end-of-life nursing education experiences, stress associated with end-of-life care, death anxiety, and position. These factors explained 38.7% of variance in participants' terminal care attitudes (F=20.18, p<.001). Conclusion : In order for nurses to have a positive attitude toward terminal care, it is necessary to raise positive awareness about death and respect for life, and it is necessary to develop various educational programs and strengthen their capacity through continuous education.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to explore the hope structures of the newly diagnosed cancer patients by examining the relationships between hope and the three concepts of 'Personal Spirit', 'Risk' and 'Authentic Caring' which composed the multidimensions of the Nekolaichuk and Bruera's hope model. Methods: Data was collected via survey from 32 newly diagnosed cancer patients. The perceived meaning of life (PML) for 'personal spirit', perceived confidence in cure (PCC) for 'risk', and perceived family support (PFS) and perceived support from medical team (PSM) for 'authentic caring' were adapted from the definitions of the concepts in the model. Hope, PML, and PCC were measured with VAS. PFS and PSM were measured with Korean version of 'Cobb's family support scale', which was modified by Kang. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to identify the relationships among the concepts. Results: The significant relationships were revealed between hope and PCC (p<.001), hope and PML (p<.001), PML and PCC (p<.001), PFS and PML (p=.030), and PSM and PML (p=.047). Conclusion: The newly diagnosed cancer patients experience hope in different ways. The cancer patients' hope immediate after diagnosis, however, is most likely to be experienced as seeking balance between uncertainty about cancer treatment and the meaning of life.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.551-562
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• 2003

Purpose: All nurses should provide spiritual care for their clients. It is especially important to care spiritually for cancer patients facing the crisis of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the concept of spirituality which is one of the basic concepts for spiritual care in cancer patients. Method: The subjects of this study were 8 cancer patients; 2 Christians,3 Buddhists, and 3 persons who did not have any religion. The data was collected and analyzed by Hybrid Model. Result: The results of this study were as follows: Dimensions of spirituality(vertical dimension connected with the absolute being, horizontal dimension related to others, existential dimension related to seeking of meaning), attributes of spirituality(dynamic process strengthened in suffering due to struggle with cancer, connectedness with the absolute being or will and belief in oneself, transcendence of reality, meaning and purpose of life, future oriented), outcomes of spirituality(intrinsic, behavioral). Conclusion: The spirituality of cancer patients is manifested differently by his(her) religion, age, past experiences and burden of family, and is able to be strengthened with cancer. Therefore, nurses should recognize that diagnosis and deterioration of cancer is not only a spiritual crisis but can be a good chance for spiritual growth, as well.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.147-166
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• 2019

Objectives : To determine and analyze problems in existing discussions on Zong Qi and to establish a new concept of Zong Qi based on the initial idea that gave birth to this concept through examination of early texts. Methods : Descriptions of Zong Qi in contemporary theoretical texts published in both Korea and China were thoroughly examined. Also, theories of major doctors that dealt with this concept were selectively examined, after which problems of existing discussions on Zong Qi were analyzed. Next, verses that mention contents related to Zong Qi in the "Huangdineijing" were studied for better understanding of the concept. Results & Conclusions : The findings determined that existing discussions could not explain the meaning of Zong Qi properly. Based on new discussions, Zong Qi can be understood as a concept of maintaining the constancy of life dynamic in the Later Heaven(後天) that is lead by Qi from food and drinks. Clinical observation of aforementioned life phenomenon maintained by Zong Qi and additional discussion on its concept is necessary.