SoMi Park

Relationship between the intention to repeat a Papanicolaou smear test and affective response to a previous test among Korean women

The purposes of this descriptive cross-sectional study were to describe (1) women’s affective (emotional) responses before, during, and after a Papanicolaou smear test and after receiving the test result and (2) the difference in affective response between women who did or did not intend to repeat the Papanicolaou smear test in the future. The theory of reasoned action was used as the theoretical basis for this study. Participants were selected by convenience sampling and included 515 women aged 24 to 69 years who had a previous Papanicolaou smear test, did not have cervical cancer, and who agreed to participate. Affective response was measured with an instrument developed by Park. Intention to repeat the Papanicolaou smear test was measured with a single question on intention of repeating the Papanicolaou smear test. Women with intention to repeat the Papanicolaou smear test showed higher apprehension after the test (t = 2.695, P = .04) and higher positive affective responses such as feeling relieved, great, and comfortable after receiving the test result (t = 3.014, P = .003). This result suggests that women with the intention to repeat the test are more concerned with the test result and that emotional relief after confirming normal findings is an important motivator for repeating the Papanicolaou smear test.

Effects of Tailored Message Education About Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal for Obese Korean Women

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of tailored message education about breast cancer risk in obese Korean women. DESIGN Pretest/post-test with two comparison treatments. SETTING Rural community settings in South Korea. SAMPLE Non-random sample of 64 obese women. METHODS Based on the Health Belief Model, tailored message education involved a one-session individual approach addressing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral domains. The comparison group received a one-time standard education group session. Data on breast cancer risk factors and mammography findings were recorded. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Knowledge, awareness, emotional barriers, self-efficacy, and intent to screen and prevent breast cancer. FINDINGS Compared to standard education, tailored message education showed significantly higher score changes on awareness of personal risk (F = 5.21, p < 0.05), self-efficacy for breast self-examination (BSE) (F = 5.16, p < 0.001), intent to perform BSE (F = 6.24, p < 0.05), intent to have mammography (F = 5.45, p < 0.05), and intent to prevent breast cancer with eating habits (F = 7.28, p < 0.05) and exercising (F = 12.51, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Individually tailored education effectively enhanced awareness of personal risk for breast cancer, self-efficacy for BSE, and intent to screen and prevent breast cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Tailored message education targeting breast cancer and risk associated with obesity is useful in breast cancer screening education. Future studies should incorporate individualized messages on nutrition, exercise, and cultural barriers to reduce breast cancer risk in obese women. KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION Individual educational strategies can effectively enhance breast cancer prevention and early screening. Public and preventive education should include a focus on cultural, cognitive, and emotional domains. For obese women, a heightened awareness and self-efficacy may influence screening behaviors.

Comparison of breast cancer risk estimations, risk perception, and screening behaviors in obese rural korean women

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To assess three breast cancer risk assessment tools in obese rural Korean women. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey design. SETTING Community settings in the rural region of northeastern South Korea. SAMPLE A nested cohort sample of 64 severely obese women aged 40-60 years from the Korean Genomic Regional Cohort registry. METHODS The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool of the National Cancer Institute (BCRAT-NCI), Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal for Korean Women (BCRA-K), and Estimation of Individualized Probabilities of Developing Breast Cancer for Korean Women (EIPDBC-K) were used for interview data. Mammography, womens perceptions, and screening behaviors also were analyzed. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Breast cancer risk assessment, mammography findings, womens perceptions of breast cancer risk, and breast cancer screening behaviors. FINDINGS A total of 5 (BCRAT-NCI), 19 (BCRA-K), and 43 (EIPDBC-K) women were at higher (above average or high) risk for breast cancer. The BCRA-K (r = 0.28, p < 0.05) and EIPDBC-K (r = 0.43, p < 0.001) correlated with mammography findings. However, the BCRAT-NCI correlated only with the BCRA-K. Womens breast self-examination (χ2 = 4.77, p < 0.05) and mammography findings (χ2 = 5.22, p < 0.05) differed according to their risk perception. CONCLUSIONS Risk assessment by the BCRA-K and EIPDBC-K was related to mammography findings. Womens perception of breast cancer risk influenced their screening behaviors. When choosing a risk assessment tool, healthcare professionals should consider the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the target population. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Healthcare professionals should use appropriate risk assessment tools in breast cancer education and counseling to help women understand their risk factors and adopt proper health behaviors.

Effects of Small-Group Education for Testicular Self-Examination on Knowledge, Self-efficacy, and Performance Intention in Male College Students

Purpose: This study examined the effects of Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) small-group education on knowledge, self-efficacy, and performance intention in male college students. Method: A non-equivalent pre-post test of quasi-experimental design was used. Out of 74 male college students selected by convenient sampling, 37 students were assigned to the experimental group and were given TSE small-group education. A 60-minute program consisted of lecture, demonstration, practice, discussion, and Q&A. Result: With an initial homogeneity between the two group, scores of knowledge about testicular cancer (p

Health behaviors related to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the associated factors of adolescent Korean girls

ABSTRACT In this cross-sectional study, we examined the relationships among knowledge about endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), recognition of EDCs-related female reproductive illnesses, concern for the environment, perceived susceptibility to EDCs-related diseases, self- appraisal of exposure to EDCs, and health behaviors related to EDCs in adolescent Korean girls. A convenience sample of 218 girls was recruited during July and August 2015 from middle and high schools located in a city in Korea. The self-administered questionnaire incorporated four characteristics of the participants, five related factors, and a dependent variable of health behaviors. Four of the factors explained 20.4 percent of variance in health behaviors, and after controlling covariates, concern for the environment and self-appraisal of exposure to EDCs were still significant factors explaining 29.0 percent of the variance in health behaviors. However, for one factor, knowledge about EDCs, no independent contribution to health behaviors was observed. The findings indicated that education for young women should focus on enhancing their interests in the environment and awareness of environmental hazards. Further, clear and reliable guidelines to protect young women from the exposure to EDCs should be provided to adolescent girls.

Factors influencing parenting efficacy of Asian immigrant, first-time mothers: A cross-sectional, correlational survey

In this study, we determined the factors influencing parenting efficacy of Asian immigrant, first-time mothers. The research design was a cross-sectional, correlational study. The study included 125 first-time mothers who immigrated and married Korean men, and were living in Korea. Data were collected using translated questionnaires, and analyzed for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The major finding was that the parenting efficacy of immigrant women was influenced by childcare support from their husbands, maternal identity, and original nationality. The findings suggest that customized programs be developed and used to enhance parenting efficacy for Asian immigrant, first-time mothers. In developing such programs, the advantages of maternal identity, social support from the husband, and womens cultural context should be considered.