Seongmi Moon

Public knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotic use in South Korea.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to examine public level of knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotic use and potential drug resistance. METHODS A cross-sectional face-to-face survey of 1,177 residents aged 18 or over was conducted in Korea. A quota sampling method was used. RESULTS Most respondents (70%) did not know that antibiotics are ineffective in treating coughs and colds. Two-thirds of the respondents were unaware of the conditions under which antibiotic resistance occurs, despite understanding the concept of resistance. Lower education level and older age were independently associated with inadequate knowledge. Lower education level, older age, inadequate knowledge and no exposure to the education campaign were independently associated with poor attitude. CONCLUSION The results of this study demonstrate that the general public has misunderstandings and a lack of knowledge with regard to antibiotic use, despite a national educational campaign. However, the campaign may have had an effect on the publics attitudes towards antibiotics.

Perceived Cognitive Function and Related Factors in Korean Women With Breast Cancer

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to explore perceived cognitive function and its related factors in breast cancer patients that had received or were receiving adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. METHODS A cross-sectional and correlational design was used in this study. A total of 118 women who had undergone or were undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery recruited from a convenience sample from a university hospital in Korea were included in the study. The attentional function index was used to measure perceived cognitive function while the linear analogue self-assessment scale was used to measure mood disturbance. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were done to determine possible predictors of perceived cognitive function in patients with breast cancer. RESULTS Perceived cognitive function and mood disturbance had a mean score of 66.22 (SD= 13.43) and 159.78 (SD = 81.40), respectively. Mood disturbance was a statistically significant predictor of cognitive function in patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS Breast cancer patients with mood disturbance may experience decrements in perceived cognitive function. Nurses should be aware of mood changes and its influence on perceived cognitive function in breast cancer patients.

Psychometric Evaluation of a Need Scale for Cancer Patients Undergoing Follow-up Care

PURPOSE The purpose of this present study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a needs scale for patients with cancer undergoing follow-up care (NS-C). METHODS A preliminary NS-C of 48 was derived from literature reviews and in-depth interviews with patients with cancer. Content validation of the items was established by oncology physicians and nurses. Each item was scored on a five-point Likert scale. The preliminary NS-C and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status questionnaires were administered to 873 patients with cancer recruited from three university hospitals. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, multidimensional scaling analysis, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Cronbachs alpha. RESULTS From the factor analysis, 25 significant items in six subscales were derived. The subscales were named physical symptoms, diet and exercise, support, relationship with health professionals, treatment/prognosis, and keeping mind under control. The NS-C also established item convergent and discriminant validity, and known-groups validity. Cronbachs alpha of the subscales ranged from .90 to .92. CONCLUSION This study suggests that the NS-C is an easy, reliable and valid instrument to measure the needs of patients with cancer. Health professionals may use the NS-C for patients with cancer both in practice and research.

The influence of marital intimacy on urinary and sexual symptom experience among patients with prostate cancer: a cross-sectional study

Background: Little is known about the influence of how patients with prostate cancer perceive emotional support from their spouses on their treatment-related symptoms. Aims: To explore the influence of marital intimacy on urinary and sexual symptoms. Methods: The research participants were 42 men diagnosed with prostate cancer recruited from a convenience sample from a university hospital in South Korea. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite, the Korean Marital Intimacy Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to measure variables of interest. Results: In the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, higher marital intimacy was associated with more favorable symptom in the urinary domain. In the sexual domain, none of the models were significant, and no influence was found for marital intimacy. Conclusions: Marital intimacy, measured as perceived emotional support from spouses, was found to positively influence only the experience of urinary symptoms among South Korean men with prostate cancer.

Mediating Effect of Uncertainty on the Relationship between Social Support and Rehabilitation Motivation in Patients with Stroke

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the uncertainty mediates relationship between rehabilitation motivation and social support. Methods: Participants were 123 adults patients diagnosed as stroke in a hospital located in a Metropolitan City. Data were collected by self-administe...

Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Korean People with Metabolic Syndrome

ABSTRACT This study identified factors associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors in people with metabolic syndrome in South Korea. The sample consisted of 1,207 subjects with metabolic syndrome from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014. High-risk alcohol consumption, smoking, aerobic physical activity, leisure physical activity, excessive carbohydrate intake, and fat intake were measured. A secondary data analysis was performed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Gender was associated with all unhealthy behaviors. The number of metabolic syndrome components, a poor perceived health status, and attempts to control weight were associated with physical inactivity. Those findings may be helpful to develop a tailored lifestyle modification programs for people with metabolic syndrome.

Types of Health Behavior Clusters and Related Factors among Korean Adults

Abstract This study sought to identify types of health behavior clusters among Korean adults and their related factors. A secondary analysis of 1,441 subjects, aged 19 to 64, in the 2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-3) was conducted. A cluster analysis was used to identify types of clusters related to physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking. A complex samples chi square test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to analyze the associations between types of health behavior clusters and sample’s characteristics using SPSS WIN 21. Five clusters were identified: health promotion, smoking, alcohol drinking, passive attitude, and risky behavior. The passive attitude cluster had the most subjects, with 47.7% of subjects as members. Socio-demographic factors, hypertension, and depressive symptoms were associated with membership in the alcohol drinking, smoking, passive attitude, or risky behavior cluster rather than the health promotion cluster. The findings of this study suggest that integrated health promotion programs incorporating multiple strategies need to be investigated. In addition, further studies should explore psychosocial factors that affect health behavior clusters, such as stress, self-efficacy, social support, and social networks.