Yang-Sook Yoo

Smartphone Overuse and Upper Extremity Pain, Anxiety, Depression, and Interpersonal Relationships among College Students

This study aimed to survey the impact of smartphone overuse on upper extremity pain, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal relationships among college students. Subjects completed a structured questionnaire consisting of the Smartphone Addiction Inventory, the Musculoskeletal Symptom Checklist, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Relationship Change Scale from May to June 2012. We analyzed the survey data from 525 responses, excluding unreturned or incomplete surveys. Data were analyzed using the test and t-test to determine the differences in smartphone overuse and its impact on upper extremity pain, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal relationships between two groups: the overuse and normal use groups. Moreover, Pearson`s correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlation between smartphone overuse and upper extremity pain, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal relationships. The results placed 62 people (11.8%) in the smartphone overuse group. The extent of smartphone overuse was more severe among female than male college students, and longer time spent using smartphones per day was directly related to smartphone overuse. The smartphone overuse group evidenced higher shoulder pain than the normal use group did, but no differences were found in other sites of the upper extremities. State anxiety, trait anxiety, and depression were higher in the smartphone overuse group than in the normal use group. Subjects with a higher extent of smartphone overuse experienced increased state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, and depression. Moreover, subjects with higher state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, and depression scores were more likely to have poor interpersonal relationships. Therefore, early screening for smartphone overuse should be evaluated, because it can be useful in developing addiction prevention programs to improve posture, stress coping, positive mental health, and effective interpersonal relationships.

The Effect of Comprehensive Care Program for Ovarian Cancer Survivors

This study was done to investigate the effects of comprehensive care program on cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, immune response, and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors. Participants were 40 ovarian cancer survivors, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group, at C university hospital gynecological cancer center from May 2009, to December 2010. The treatment was a comprehensive care program for 8 weeks consisting of group education and self-help group support, home-based exercise, and relaxation. Data were analyzed by t test and repeated-measures ANOVA. Cardiopulmonary function, measured by 12-min walk distance; muscle strength, measured by the chair-stand test; and quality of life were more increased in the experimental group. But immune response was not statistically significant. These results indicate that the comprehensive care program is an effective nursing intervention to improve cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors.

Comparison of parent–child communication patterns and parental role satisfaction among mothers with and without breast cancer

PURPOSE This study compared parent-child communication (PCC) patterns and parental role satisfaction (PRS) between women with breast cancer and healthy women. BACKGROUND A limited number of studies have examined PCC and the impact of PRS between cancer patients and their children. METHODS It was a descriptive survey design comprising the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale and a PRS measure. Data from 202 participants in total were analysed with two-way analyses of variance and t-tests. RESULTS Closed communication was higher in both groups than open communication, but higher still in children of women with breast cancer than in children of healthy women. PRS was lower in women with breast cancer than in healthy women. Educational programs should be developed to support parents and children during the post-treatment adjustment period for mothers with breast cancer. CONCLUSION Such programs should take a practical approach toward increasing open parent-child communication while considering personal characteristics and cultural backgrounds.

Factors Influencing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Advanced Cancer Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to identify factors that influenced LUTS in advanced cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods This cross-sectional study included a total of 158 advanced cancer patients with CIPN. A structured questionnaire including the International Prostate Symptom Score and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecology Oncology Group/Neurotoxicity scale was used. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results Nocturia was the most prevalent LUTS. A positive relationship was found between CIPN symptoms and LUTS. The duration of cancer diagnosis and the severity of CIPN were key factors that influenced LUTS. Conclusions The severity of CIPN symptoms was the most important predictor of LUTS. Nurses’ care for advanced cancer patients should incorporate a comprehensive health assessment, which includes a history of treatment and physical neuropathic symptoms, for any patient complaining of CIPN symptoms.

Sexual discrimination, attitudes toward sexual health, and consciousness of biomedical ethics in Korea

With industrialization, increasing workforce participation of women, and advances in information and communications technology, South Korean society is experiencing conflict and confusion regarding sexual ethics. We investigated the relationships among sexual discrimination, attitudes toward sexual health, and consciousness of biomedical ethics with a sample of 142 Korean adults in Seoul, South Korea. Men exhibited greater sexual discrimination than did women. Consciousness of biomedical ethics was higher in those with religious faith and married individuals, those with a higher level of education, individuals in paid employment, and those with firmly held ethical values, than in people without these characteristics. Finally, consciousness of biomedical ethics was higher in individuals with a more positive attitude toward sexual health. On the basis of these results, we proposed the development of a sex education program in South Korea to encourage gender-equality awareness, strengthen sound attitudes toward sexual health, and increase consciousness of biomedical ethics.

Infection Management and Health Practices Among Forensic Science Investigators in South Korea

This study investigated the current status of infection management for forensic science investigators in South Korea. This study included 104 forensic science investigators, of which 97.1% were exposed to the blood or body fluids of corpses during handling. Of these investigators, 98% claimed they wore gloves, and 12.9% used double-layered gloves. A total of 70.6% of the participants with relevant work experience wore masks to reduce infection risk; 43% wore gowns and goggles when at risk of contracting an infection. Furthermore, 59.8% of the investigators with pertinent work experience sought appropriate first aid and treatment when they experienced contaminated skin cuts or stab wounds. Working conditions and other problems should be analyzed consistently with the cooperation of employees, occupational health practitioners, and relevant organizations to prevent work-associated infections among forensic science investigators.

Knowledge of hepatitis A, Health Perception and Health Promoting Behavior among young and middle-age adults

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of knowledge of hepatitis A, health perception, and health promoting behavior among young and middle-age adult`s. Methods: 207 young and middle-age adult`s workers living in Gyeonggi-do participated in this study and completed structured questionnaire. The knowledge of hepatitis A was assessed by the questionnaire which researchers developed. Health perception was measured by Health Perception Scale (Ware, 1979) while health promoting behavior was assessed by Lee`s(2006) questionnaire. These data were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, ANOVA. Results: The knowledge score of hepatitis A was 9.53; the health perception score was 3.71; the health promoting behavior score was 3.38. There were no significant differences in knowledge of hepatitis A, health perception, and health promoting behaviors. However, A significant correlation was found between health perception and health promoting behaviors. Conclusion: The knowledge of hepatitis A found to be low. Therefore further study needs to develop nursing interventions that could improve knowledge and awareness of hepatitis A.