Hyun-Sook Kang

Effects of Meridian acupressure for stroke patients in Korea

AIM To examine the effects of Meridian acupressure on the functions of affected upper extremities, activity of daily living and depression for stroke patients. BACKGROUND The handicaps of stroke patients necessitate multidisciplinary rehabilitation, which is aimed at decreasing the consequences of the illness in daily functions. In traditional Chinese medicine, Meridian acupressure has been used for rehabilitation of affected upper extremities of hemiplegia stroke patients in clinical practice. DESIGN Randomised clinical trial. METHOD Sample was 56 consecutive stroke patients in K Oriental hospital. Meridian acupressure was applied every day for 10 min per time in the experimental group (28 subjects) for two weeks. Routine care only was applied in the control group (28 subjects). Measures were a hand dynamometer for grip power, a 15-point graphic rating scale for pain, the distance round the index finger for oedema, electrogoniometry for the passive ROM of the upper extremities, the activity of daily living scale for activity of daily living and the six-face rating scale for depression. Data were collected from March 2003-September 2004. RESULTS There were significant differences in functions of affected upper extremities, activity of daily living and depression between experimental and control group. CONCLUSIONS Meridian acupressure was an effective intervention for improving the movement of the affected upper extremities, increasing activity of daily living and decreasing depression of hemiplegia stroke patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Health professionals need to consider an array of methods including Meridian acupressure for the rehabilitation of stroke patients. Meridian acupressure has the potential as an alternative nursing intervention for multidisciplinary rehabilitation of stroke patients in practice.

Development of a Multimedia Learning DM Diet Education Program using Standardized Patients and Analysis of Its Effects on Clinical Competency and Learning Satisfaction for Nursing Students

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to develop a multimedia learning program for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) diet education using standardized patients and to examine the effects of the program on educational skills, communication skills, DM diet knowledge and learning satisfaction. METHODS The study employed a randomized control posttest non-synchronized design. The participants were 108 third year nursing students (52 experimental group, 56 control group) at K university in Seoul, Korea. The experimental group had regular lectures and the multimedia learning program for DM diet education using standardized patients while the control group had regular lectures only. The DM educational skills were measured by trained research assistants. RESULTS The students who received the multimedia learning program scored higher for DM diet educational skills, communication skills and DM diet knowledge compared to the control group. Learning satisfaction of the experimental group was higher than the control group, but statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION Clinical competency was improved for students receiving the multimedia learning program for DM diet education using standardized patients, but there was no statistically significant effect on learning satisfaction. In the nursing education system there is a need to develop and apply more multimedia materials for education and to use standardized patients effectively.

A Validation Study of EQ-5D in the Patients with Osteoarthritis

Purpose: We aimed to test the validity of the EQ-5D (Euro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension), a brief and simple instrument, in measuring health related quality of life in the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: 183 participants attending the education programs for osteoarthritis patients at the Health Centers located in Seoul and Gyunggi province area during the periods of June to December in 2009 were interviewed with the EQ-5D and KWOMAC (Korean version of Western Ontario and McMaster Scale). The data were analysed with Spearman correlation coefficents and t-test by using of SPSS/WIN 12.0 version. Results: There was a negative correlation between knee pain, stiffness and difficulty in usual activity of sub category items of KWOMAC and EQ-5Dindex, while there was no correlation between these categories and EQ-VAS. Moreover, as a result of comparing the score of physical function measured by KWOMAC according to the severity degree of the EQ-5Dindex, the group of advanced stage having moderate and severe symptoms reported significantly higher scores of physical function than those of groups having no health problems. Conclusion: The EQ-5D is an acceptable and valid instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis.Purpose: We aimed to test the validity of the EQ-5D (Euro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension), a brief and simple instrument, in measuring health related quality of life in the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: 183 participants attending the education programs for osteoarthritis patients at the Health Centers located in Seoul and Gyunggi province area during the periods of June to December in 2009 were interviewed with the EQ-5D and KWOMAC (Korean version of Western Ontario and McMaster Scale). The data were analysed with Spearman correlation coefficents and t-test by using of SPSS/WIN 12.0 version. Results: There was a negative correlation between knee pain, stiffness and difficulty in usual activity of sub category items of KWOMAC and EQ-5Dindex, while there was no correlation between these categories and EQ-VAS. Moreover, as a result of comparing the score of physical function measured by KWOMAC according to the severity degree of the EQ-5Dindex, the group of advanced stage having moderate and severe symptoms reported significantly higher scores of physical function than those of groups having no health problems. Conclusion: The EQ-5D is an acceptable and valid instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis.

Effects of a Home-based Exercise Program for Patients with Stomach Cancer Receiving Oral Chemotherapy after Surgery

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a home based exercise program for patients with stomach cancer who were undergoing oral chemotherapy. METHODS The home-based exercise program was developed from the study findings of Winningham (1990) and data from the Korea Athletic Promotion Association (2007). The home-based exercise program consisted of 8 weeks of individual exercise education and exercise adherence strategy. Participants were 24 patients with stomach cancer who were undergoing oral chemotherapy following surgery in 2007 or 2008 at a university hospital in Seoul. Patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (11) or control group (13). The effects of the home-based exercise program were measured by level of cancer related fatigue, NK cell ratio, anxiety, and quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 13.0 version. RESULTS The degree of cancer related fatigue and anxiety in the experimental group decreased compared to the control group. The NK cell ratio and the degree of quality of life of experimental group increased while that of the control group decreased. CONCLUSION This study result indicate the importance of exercise and provide empirical evidence for continuation of safe exercise for patients with cancer during their chemotherapy.

The Analysis on Published Research in the Journal of Muscle and Joint Health

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the published research in the Journal of Muscle and Joint Health and to suggest the future perspectives. Methods: In this study, we reviewed the contents of 195 articles published in this journal from the first issue of the year 1994 to 2007. Results: The majority of subjects were adult, mostly with arthritis. The position of the authors was mostly professor (73.3%). Most of studies did not clearly describe about ethical consideration. The data collection was mostly conducted in the hospital (53.8%) or community (36.9%), with the questionnaire (62.6%). The types of research design were correlational study (36.4%), experimental study (31.8%), survey (18.5%), and qualitative research (4.6%). Physical variables included pain, fatigue, activities of daily living, joint flexibility, muscle strength, etc., psychosocial variables were measured by self-efficacy, depression, quality of life, etc., and cognitive variables by knowledge, education, etc. The most utilized nursing intervention for experimental study were exercise, self-help, and education. Conclusion: Further research is needed to extend the target population research design from multidisciplinary perspectives.

Leg Length Inequality, Habitual Posture, and Pain in Women's College Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the leg length Inequality, habitual posture, and pain in women`s college students. Methods: The subjects were 281 students, in 8 women`s college in Korea. The tapelines were used for measuring leg length Inequality and questionnaires were used for measuring habitual posture, and pain. The data were collected between August and October 2010 and analyzed using SPSSWIN 11.5. length Inequality(

Clinical Research Nurses: Roles and Qualifications in South Korea

This study aimed to determine the standard roles, proficiency, and qualification of clinical research nurses (CRNs) in clinical trials/research in South Korea. Seventy-one investigators with experience working with CRNs and 79 current CRNs were conveniently sampled. Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographics, perceived roles, proficiency, and qualification of CRNs. The top three roles of CRNs perceived by investigators were scheduling subjects, communicating with investigator and sponsor, and completing case report forms. The top three roles of CRNs perceived by current CRNs were completing case report forms, communicating with investigator and sponsor, and screening subjects. The most important proficiencies perceived by investigator and current CRNs was communication and human relationship skills. Both investigators and current CRNs considered the key role of CRNs as communicating with investigator and sponsor; a bachelors degree and more than one year of clinical experience were seen as the minimum qualification.

The Effect of Tai Chi Self Help Group Program for Hemophilic Arthritis Patients

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the effects of Tai Chi Self-help program for Hemophilic Arthritis Patients. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used. The subjects were 48 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery (24 experimental group, 24 control group). The subjects of experimental group were participated in the Tai Chi self-help group program in which 16 times for 8 weeks. The program consisted of health education on hemophilia, Tai Chi exercise, and workshop and its outcomes have been evaluated on WOMAC(Western Ontario and McMaster scale), mobility, pain, fatigue, muscle strength, depression, and quality of life(SF-36). The obtained data were analyzed by using the t-test or Fisher`s exact test of PASW 18.0. Results: 1) The score of WOMAC, pain, fatigue, and depression decreased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. 2) The score of mobility, muscle strength, and quality of life increased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Considering these research results, the program could be useful to improve joint movement, strength and psychological condition for patient with hemophilic arthritis, particularly in those who underwent orthopedic surgery.

An international comparison of Korean and Chinese nursing students with nursing curricula and educational outcomes

AIM The aim of this study was to compare Korean and Chinese nursing students with respect to their nursing curricula and educational outcomes including critical thinking, professionalism, leadership, communication skills, and nursing practice skills. METHODS Data were collected from 762 nursing college students (355 in Korea and 407 in China) using the validated self-report questionnaires. The instruments were translated into Chinese for the Chinese students. FINDINGS Korea offered various nursing courses more focused on specific nursing compared to China. With respect to critical thinking skills, the Korean students had significantly higher scores than the Chinese students. The Chinese students had significantly higher scores than the Korean students on the professionalism and communication skills. There were no differences between the groups in scores of leadership and nursing practice skills. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS This study provides preliminary information on cross-national nursing educational outcomes. A comparison of educational outcomes among nursing students of other countries as well as China will determine differences in nursing educational outcomes that the nursing program is located in, and an international flow of students through the nursing educational should develop a general direction for nursing education.

Analysis of Studies on the Effect of Aquatic Exercise Program

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of aquatic exercise and to identify directions for future research. Methods: Twenty one articles from 2 sites of article database (1990-2010) and 6 from Korean nursing journals were reviewed. Results: There were 20 quasi experimental design and 1 randomized controlled design. Major subjects of research were older women with arthritis. The most common type of exercise was Kim (1994)s form. The most frequent duration of exercise was over 6 weeks. Outcome measurement was classified to physical and psychosocial variables. For physical outcomes, pain release was found in 13 articles among 15 articles, muscle strength improvement in 5 articles among 10 articles, flexibility improvement in 5 articles among 9 articles, and balance improvement in 3 articles among 6 articles. For psychosocial outcomes, improvement of quality of life was found in 3 articles among 7 articles and self-efficacy improvement in 5 articles among 7 articles. Conclusion : The effect of aquatic exercise over 6 weeks improves the physical and psychosocial functions. It is suggested that meta analysis needs to be done to integrate the various results.