Bok Yae Chung

Research Priorities of Korean Oncology Nurses

Systematic nursing research activities in South Korea began in the 1970s, but research into oncology did not begin until the mid-1980s. Although the number of Korean oncology nursing studies has increased steadily since then, no national agenda exists for future research in oncology nursing. This study involved a descriptive survey of oncology nursing research priorities among Korean oncology nurses. The analysis included 59 members of the Korean Oncology Nursing Society. The questionnaire used by the Oncology Nursing Society in a US survey was revised and translated into Korean. The questionnaire contained 108 items. In addition, respondents were asked to rank 5 items in order of research priority. The Korean Oncology Nursing Society members ranked prevention of cancer and cancer risk reduction as the top research priority, followed by pain management, quality of life, hospice and end-of-life care, and standards of care. These findings provide the basis for developing a Korean oncology nursing research agenda, and for determining the direction of oncology research funding.

Comparison of Climacteric Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors and Healthy Women

Comparison of Climacteric Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors and Healthy Women Kim, Gyung Duck · Chung, Bok Yae · Kim, Kyung Hae · Byun, Hye Sun · Choi, Eun Hee Department of Nursing, Dongyang University, Yeongju; School of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, Daegu; Department of Nursing, Kimcheon Science College, Gimcheon; Department of Nursing, Suseong College, Daegu; Department of Nursing, Yeungnam College of Science and Technology, Daegu, Korea

Hospice and Hospice Care in Korea: Evolution, Current Status, and Challenges

Hospice care is one of the most important health care services, because death is the ultimate end of precious life and is as important as birth. Hospice provides support and care for terminally ill patients so that they can live comfortably to the largest extent possible in their final phase of life. Hospice care based on dignity of human life and humanism helps patients spend their last days in a meaningful way. Hospice care is a service created to meet the needs of dying patients and their families. Its aim is to provide the best quality of care to dying patients while meeting the needs of families, friends, and their relatives. This column provides a sketch of hospice and hospice care in Korea. From this overview, readers will come to realize that Korean hospice services are different from those in other countries because of different cultural beliefs, values, and assumptions.

Evaluation of a Home-Based Hospice and Palliative Care Program in a Community Health Center in Korea

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of a home-based palliative care program, delivered by a community health center in Korea, in terms of quality of life and health care utilization. METHODS A cross-sectional comparative study was utilized. Data were collected from 30 terminally ill cancer patients who had received palliative care from the community health center and 46 terminally ill cancer patients not receiving palliative care from the center. The measurements used in the study were a Revised Korean version of Quality of Life at the End of Life survey, self-reports on days of hospital admission and the frequency of outpatient care and ER visits during the past 6 months. RESULTS The palliative care group had a higher quality of life only in a physical aspect. The palliative care group had a lower frequency of outpatient visits and ER visits in the last 6 months than the nonpalliative group, but no significant statistical differences were found. CONCLUSIONS A home-based palliative service program delivered by the community health center appears to be an appropriate care model for managing physical symptoms. Reinforcing services for psychosocial and spiritual counseling and encouraging affiliation with free-standing inpatient healthcare providers are warranted. [Asian Nursing Research 2009;3(1):24-30].

Transforming End-of-Life Care

In the News... • Recognizing the value of meaningful discussions among physicians, patients and caregivers, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has established a separate payment and payment rate for advance care planning services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by physicians and other practitioners. Previously, CMS had provided coverage for advance care planning as part of the “Welcome to Medicare” visit available to all Medicare beneficiaries. However, Medicare beneficiaries may not have needed these services when they first enrolled. Establishing separate payment for advance care planning codes in recognition of practitioner time to conduct these conver sa tions provides beneficiaries and practitioners greater oppor tunity and flexibility to utilize these planning sessions at the most appropriate time for each patient. CMS is also finalizing payment for advance care planning when it is included as an optional element of the Annual Wellness Visit. See https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/MedicareLearning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/ MM9271.pdf

Analysis of a Trend of Instrument Usage to Assess Cognitive Function of Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Analysis of a Trend of Instrument Usage to Assess Cognitive Function of Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Kim, Gyung Duck · Chung, Bok Yae · Kim, Kyung Hae · Byun, Hye Sun · Choi, Eun Hee Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Dongyang University, Yeongju; Professor, School of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, Daegu; Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Kimcheon Science College, Gimcheon; Full-time Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Daegu Polytechnic College, Daegu; Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Yeungnam College of Science and Technology, Daegu, Korea

Evaluation of home-based hospice and palliative care in a community health center in Korea: Impact on quality of life and health care utilization

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of a home-based palliative care program, delivered by a community health center in Korea, in terms of quality of life and health care utilization. METHODS A cross-sectional comparative study was utilized. Data were collected from 30 terminally ill cancer patients who had received palliative care from the community health center and 46 terminally ill cancer patients not receiving palliative care from the center. The measurements used in the study were a Revised Korean version of Quality of Life at the End of Life survey, self-reports on days of hospital admission and the frequency of outpatient care and ER visits during the past 6 months. RESULTS The palliative care group had a higher quality of life only in a physical aspect. The palliative care group had a lower frequency of outpatient visits and ER visits in the last 6 months than the nonpalliative group, but no significant statistical differences were found. CONCLUSIONS A home-based palliative service program delivered by the community health center appears to be an appropriate care model for managing physical symptoms. Reinforcing services for psychosocial and spiritual counseling and encouraging affiliation with free-standing inpatient healthcare providers are warranted. [Asian Nursing Research 2009;3(1):24-30].

Original ArticleEvaluation of a Home-Based Hospice and Palliative Care Program in a Community Health Center in Korea

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of a home-based palliative care program, delivered by a community health center in Korea, in terms of quality of life and health care utilization. METHODS A cross-sectional comparative study was utilized. Data were collected from 30 terminally ill cancer patients who had received palliative care from the community health center and 46 terminally ill cancer patients not receiving palliative care from the center. The measurements used in the study were a Revised Korean version of Quality of Life at the End of Life survey, self-reports on days of hospital admission and the frequency of outpatient care and ER visits during the past 6 months. RESULTS The palliative care group had a higher quality of life only in a physical aspect. The palliative care group had a lower frequency of outpatient visits and ER visits in the last 6 months than the nonpalliative group, but no significant statistical differences were found. CONCLUSIONS A home-based palliative service program delivered by the community health center appears to be an appropriate care model for managing physical symptoms. Reinforcing services for psychosocial and spiritual counseling and encouraging affiliation with free-standing inpatient healthcare providers are warranted. [Asian Nursing Research 2009;3(1):24-30].