Young Ran Chae

Prevalence and Predictors of Geriatric Depression in Community-Dwelling Elderly

PURPOSEnThis study aimed to examine the relationship between depressive mood and physical and socio-environmental variables of community-dwelling elderly.nnnMETHODSnThis study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive survey. The setting was two elderly welfare centers and two public health centers in Korea. The subjects were recruited by public announcement and participated after giving their written informed consent. A total of 295 participants were included in the final analysis. The Korean version of the short form of Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) of activities of daily living (ADL) and a socio-demographic questionnaire were administered to participants. Hand-grip strength was measured with a hand dynamometer.nnnRESULTSnThe prevalence of depression among the subjects was 63%. Of the elderly, 21% had severe depressive symptoms. The mean depression score was 6.21 (SD = 3.83) and it was higher in women than in men. In the regression analysis, perceived health status alone had an accountability of 17.3% to depression. When TMIG-IC was added, this increased to 22.6%. Additionally, when hand-grip strength and social activities were input, it increased to 25.2%. Therefore, perceived health status was a significant and powerful factor explaining depression among the Korean elderly.nnnCONCLUSIONnIn this research, perceived health status was the most powerful predictor of elderly depression. TMIG-IC, hand-grip strength and social activities also predicted Korean elderly depression. These factors should be considered when the program is developed for elderly people with depression. [Asian Nursing Research 2009;3(3):121-129].

Feasibility and Effects of a Tai Chi Self-Help Education Program for Korean Gastric Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVESnTo determine the feasibility of conducting a study of a tai chi self-help education program in Korean adults with gastric cancer and to describe the effects of a six-month tai chi self-help education program on depression, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and immune markers.nnnDESIGNnOne-group, pre- and post-test design.nnnSETTINGnOutpatient clinics of two large hospitals in the Republic of Korea.nnnSAMPLEnConvenience sample of 33 Korean adults with gastric cancer diagnoses after gastrectomy.nnnMETHODSnThe Korean gastric cancer survivors participated in a 24-week tai chi self-help education program. The participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (Korean version) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (Korean version) for HRQOL and provided blood samples for immune markers. All measurements were conducted at baseline and at one week following the 24-week intervention.nnnMAIN RESEARCH VARIABLESnFeasibility was determined as the percentage of participants completing the 24-week protocol. Preliminary data on depression, HRQOL, and immune markers were obtained.nnnFINDINGSnThe dropout rate was 36.4%; 21 of 33 survivors participated in the tai chi self-help education program for 24 weeks. No complications or injuries occurred to the participants during the program. No significant differences were noted in depression, HRQOL, and immune markers before and after the intervention.nnnCONCLUSIONSnTai chi exercise, in combination with a self-help program, can be safe and feasible for Korean gastric cancer survivors. This feasibility study did not show that the tai chi self-help education program improves depression, HRQOL, and immune markers in Korean gastric cancer survivors.nnnIMPLICATIONS FOR NURSINGnAdditional studies are needed to determine the long-term impact relative to usual care.

위장암 환자의 삶의 질에 영향을 미치는 요인

PURPOSEnThe purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing quality of life after analyzing the relationship between depression, health promotion and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms.nnnMETHODSnThe subjects of this study were 63 people who underwent treatments from 2 general hospitals in Seoul and Daejeon and had no recurrence in stages I & II of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Data was collected from March 1 to April 30, 2006. A questionnaire consisting of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) was given. The collected data was analyzed with the SPSS program which was used for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression.nnnRESULTSnThe major findings of this study were as follows: 1) There was a significant relationship between depression (r=-.639, p=.000), health promotion (r=.407, p=.001) and quality of life. 2) Significant factors were depression (F=-4.091, p=.000) and health promotion (F=2.375, p=.021) that explained 46% of quality of life (F=10.022, p=.000).nnnCONCLUSIONnCancer patients experienced extreme depression which led to a negative effect on quality of life. Health promotion was an important variable to the quality of life and it gave the patients motivation for having a will and belief for better health.

Musculoskeletal symptoms among Korean nursing students.

Abstract We investigated the epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Symptoms (MSS) among Korean nursing students using a validated, questionnaire survey. Among 202 students, the prevalence of MSS at any body site ranged from 69.0% to 77.1% (overall rate: 73.3%). MSS was most commonly reported at the shoulder (46.0%), followed by the lower back (39.1%), neck (35.6%), feet (25.2%) and lower legs (23.8%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that students who undertook regular exercise were only half as likely to report an MSS at any body site (OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.2 – 0.9, P = 0.0350). Increasing body weight was also correlated with a decreased likelihood of MSS (OR 0.04, 95%CI 0.002 – 0.9, P = 0.0460). Overall, our study has shown that Korean nursing students report a high prevalence of MSS, when compared to their international counterparts. Their MSS burden is roughly comparable with Korean workers, in a variety of occupations. Further investigations will now be required to elucidate the contributory factors for nursing students MSS in Korea, as elsewhere.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer in Korea: Do Sociodemographic Characteristics and Time Since Diagnosis Make a Difference?

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVESnTo describe whether levels of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) differ by sociodemographic characteristics and time since breast cancer diagnosis in women in Korea.nnnDESIGNnA descriptive, cross-sectional study of women with breast cancer.nnnSETTINGnAn outpatient clinic of one large hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea.nnnSAMPLEnA convenience sample of 244 women with breast cancer after mastectomy.nnnMETHODSnStudy participants completed sociodemographic characteristics and HRQOL questionnaires. Medical charts were reviewed to determine time since breast cancer diagnosis.nnnMAIN RESEARCH VARIABLESnSociodemographic characteristics (age, marital status, employment status, education, monthly household income, and religion), time since diagnosis, and HRQOL.nnnFINDINGSnThe psychological well-being domain scored the lowest among domains of HRQOL. Women who are younger, married, unemployed, highly educated, or religious, with higher monthly household income or with greater than one year elapsed time since diagnosis, had higher HRQOL.nnnCONCLUSIONSnStudy findings will be useful to establish priorities in planning nursing interventions to enhance HRQOL in care of women with breast cancer.nnnIMPLICATIONS FOR NURSINGnNursing interventions can be provided to Korean women with breast cancer who are not religious, who are older, single or widowed, or employed, with lower education level, with lower monthly household income, or with one year or less elapsed time since breast cancer diagnosis.

Effects of Rotated Endotracheal Tube Fixation Method on Unplanned Extubation, Oral Mucosa and Facial Skin Integrity in ICU Patients

PURPOSEnThe study was done to compare effects of two endotracheal tube (ET tube) fixation methods (rotated fixation versus conventional) on unplanned extubation and skin integrity for orally intubated patients in intensive care units.nnnMETHODSnThe research design was a non-equivalent control group with repeated measures design. Participants were 80 patients; 40 participants assigned to each group. ET tube for the experimental participants fixed with rotated method every morning. Unplanned extubation was assessed by bedside nurses using the unplanned extubation report form. Oral mucosa and facial skin integrity were assessed using oral assessment guide and facial skin integrity assessment guide at day 3, 7, 10 and 14.nnnRESULTSnThere was no difference in the unplanned extubation rate between the two groups. Oral mucosa impairment scores for the rotated fixation method were significantly lower at day 7 (p=.044), 10 (p=.048) and day 14 (p=.037). Also facial skin integrity impairment scores for the same group were significantly lower at day 7 (p=.010), 10 (p=.003), and 14 (p=.002).nnnCONCLUSIONnResults of the study suggest that the rotated fixation method is effective for these patients, to prevent impairment of oral mucosa and facial skin integrity. Further research is needed to prevent unplanned extubation.

Patients’ Perceptions of Advance Directives and Preferences for Medical Care Near the End of Life in South Korea

This study aimed to explore the current status of advance directives (ADs) and preferences for care near the end of life (PCEOL) of patients with chronic diseases in South Korea. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. A total of 303 participants were recruited by convenience sampling from 3 hospitals in Korea. All participants completed a questionnaire on perception of ADs and the PCEOL-K (Lee and Kim. Korean J Med Ethics. 2009;12(1):29-42), the Korean version of a tool originally developed by Gauthier and Froman (Res Nurs Health. 2001;24(4):298-306). Most participants reported that they had no living wills (96.4%) and had not heard of ADs (91.4%). They preferred that their spouse (41.6%) or their son/daughter (27.2%) make health care decisions when they could no longer make those decisions. There were relatively positive preferences toward end of life pain control, family input in decision making, decision making by health care providers, and spirituality. There was a negative preference for the autonomous physiological decision-making dimension of the PCEOL-K. The PCEOL-K scores displayed statistically significant differences depending on marital status, age, religion, and perceived stage of treatment. Based on the study findings, it appears that wide promotion and awareness about ADs may assist Korean patients with chronic diseases to make informed decisions regarding their end of life care.