Search

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of a 12-week metabolic syndrome BeHaS (Be Happy and Strong) program in elderly people with metabolic syndrome living alone, based on a community-based participatory research (CBPR)., Methods: A nonequivalent control group pre-posttest design was used, and the participants were 43 elderly people living alone (experimental group 24, control group 19). The experimental group received a one-hour program per week and two individual health consultations during 12 weeks. The control group received two sessions about the metabolic syndrome and two individual health consultations. The effects of health behavior, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, abdominal circumference, triglycerides, and self-esteem were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test., Results: The health behavior with respect to the metabolic syndrome in the experimental group increased significantly (t = - 3.19, p = .002). Both diastolic blood pressure and abdominal circumference decreased in the experimental group (t = 2.00, p = .028 and t = 3.91, p < .001). No significant differences were observed between the groups in systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar levels, triglycerides, and self-esteem., Conclusion: The 12-week metabolic syndrome BeHaS program using community resources improves the health of elderly people with metabolic syndrome living alone. Based on these findings, further studies on the effectiveness of the metabolic syndrome BeHaS program and the experiences of those who participated in the CBPR are warranted., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflict interest., (© 2020 Korean Society of Nursing Science.)

Purpose: Purpose was to explore associations between sleep duration and metabolic syndrome (MS) risks, and to determine factors associated with self-rated health (SRH) of adults with MS compared to other adults., Methods: This is a secondary data analysis based on the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey KNHANES V (N=12662). Study instruments included sleep duration, MS risk factors, SRH and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)., Results: Mean age of participants was 43.68±12.26 years. Fifty-eight percent were women, and 18.3% were identified as having MS. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and SRH were significantly different according to sleep duration (p<.05) among all participants. In the non MS group, male gender, younger age (19~30 and 41~50 age brackets) upper income level, sufficient sleep duration, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were positively associated with SRH, whereas, lower education levels (≤middle school), glucose level, and waist circumference were negatively associated with SRH (p<.05). In the MS group, lower income, lower education levels (≤middle school), glucose level, and waist circumference were negatively associated with SRH, whereas, having an occupation was positively associated with SRH (p<.05)., Conclusion: Results suggest that tailored approaches are required for prevention and control of MS and sleep duration of each individual should be considered rather than applying standardized guidelines. However, as sleep quality was not included in the analysis, further investigations regarding influence of sleep quality on MS and SRH and controlling for other lifestyle and health behavior factors are required.

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the Military Mental Health Promotion Program. The program was an email based cognitive behavioral intervention., Methods: The research design was a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 32 soldiers who agreed to participate in the program. Data were collected at three different times from January 2012 to March 2012; pre-test, post-test, and a one-month follow-up test. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18.0. The effectiveness of the program was tested by repeated measures ANOVA., Results: The first hypothesis that the level of depression in the experimental group who participated in the program would decrease compared to the control group was not supported in that the difference in group-time interaction was not statistically significant (F=2.19, p=.121). The second and third hypothesis related to anxiety and self-esteem were supported in group-time interaction, respectively (F=7.41, p=.001, F=11.67, p<.001)., Conclusion: Results indicate that the program is effective in improving soldiers' mental health status in areas of anxiety and self-esteem.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of meta-analysis regarding exercise using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) as well as to compare effect size according to outcomes., Methods: Electronic databases including the Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), the National Assembly Library and the DBpia, HAKJISA and RISS4U for the dates 1990 to January 2014 were searched for 'meta-analysis' and 'exercise' in the fields of medical, nursing, physical therapy and physical exercise in Korea. AMSTAR was scored for quality assessment of the 33 articles included in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and χ²-test., Results: The mean score for AMSTAR evaluations was 4.18 (SD=1.78) and about 67% were classified at the low-quality level and 30% at the moderate-quality level. The scores of quality were statistically different by field of research, number of participants, number of databases, financial support and approval by IRB. The effect size that presented in individual studies were different by type of exercise in the applied intervention., Conclusion: This critical appraisal of meta-analysis published in various field that focused on exercise indicates that a guideline such as the PRISMA checklist should be strongly recommended for optimum reporting of meta-analysis across research fields.

Purpose: This descriptive study was done to develop a predictive model of depression in rural elders that will guide prevention and reduction of depression in elders., Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was done using face-to-face private interviews. Participants included in the final analysis were 461 elders (aged> or = 65 years). The questions were on depression, personal and environmental factors, body functions and structures, activity and participation. Decision tree analysis using the SPSS Modeler 14.1 program was applied to build an optimum and significant predictive model to predict depression in rural elders., Results: From the data analysis, the predictive model for factors related to depression in rural elders presented with 4 path-ways. Predictive factors included exercise capacity, self-esteem, farming, social activity, cognitive function, and gender. The accuracy of the model was 83.7%, error rate 16.3%, sensitivity 63.3%, and specificity 93.6%., Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as a theoretical basis for developing a systematic knowledge system for nursing and for developing a protocol that prevents depression in elders living in rural areas, thereby contributing to advanced depression prevention for elders.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the associations of non alcoholic fatty liver with metabolic syndrome and the serum carotenoids., Methods: This study was conducted in a general hospital in South Korea from November, 2004 to August, 2005. The study subjects were 350 sampled persons who were aged from 40 years and older (males: 180, females: 170). They were grouped into the normal, mild and severe groups according to fat accumulation in their livers, as determined by ultrasonography. We analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and metabolic syndrome by multiple logistic regression analysis and we analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and the serum carotenoids by a general linear model(ANCOVA)., Results: After adjustment for the effect of potential covariates, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with fat accumulation in the liver (p trend <0.001). If the odds ratio of normal group is 1.00, then that of the mild group is 2.80 (95% C.I=1.17-6.71) and that of the severe group is 7.29 (95% C.I=2.76-19.30). The prevalence of metabolic alterations fitting the criteria of metabolic syndrome, according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver, was significantly increased, except for criteria of high blood pressure, a large waist circumference and low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol level (p trend <0.001). The level of serum beta-carotene was decreased according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver (p trend=0.036), but the levels of serum alpha-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein were not decreased., Conclusions: This study shows that non alcoholic fatty liver was associated with metabolic syndrome and with the serum beta-carotene level.

Background/aims: The aim of this study is to elucidate the efficacy of repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and different chemotherapeutic regimens for treating patients having advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT)., Methods: From Jan. 1999 and Dec. 2003, a total of 103 patients diagnosed as having HCC with PVTT, but without extrahepatic spreading, were enrolled in this study. They were stratified into two groups. Group I (67 patients) received intraarterial cisplatin (CDDP, 80 mg/m2 for 2 hours on Day 1), Group II (36 patients) received intraarterial CDDP (60 mg/m2 for 2 hours on Day 2) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 500 mg/m2 for 5 hours on Day 1-3). They were scheduled to receive at least three consecutive courses of the HAIC at 1 month intervals., Results: Among the 66 patients who completed the protocol, one (2.5%) and seven (17.5%) patients of group I, and one (3.8%) and four (15.4%) of group II, exhibited complete and partial responses, respectively. The median survival period of all the patients was 6 months. Group II showed a tendency to improve the median survival compared to group I (8.5 vs 5.0 months, respectively, P=0.45). The most common adverse reaction was nausea (58.2%). However, an elevation of the total bilirubin level was more frequent in Group I than in Group II (61.3% vs 20.7%, respectively, P<0.05)., Conclusions: Repeated HAIC using CDDP achieved favorable results in a few patients with HCC with PVTT, and additional 5-FU may be useful.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influenced health related quality of life in women with disabilities. The other purpose was to examine the correlations of activities of these women's daily life, self esteem, and health promoting behavior with health related quality of life., Method: The subjects consisted of 120 adult disabled women. Data was collected from February to June 2004 using structured questionnaires. Spearman's correlation, and multiple regression were used to test the quality of life with K-ADL, self esteem, and health promoting behaviors by using SPSS 12.0 for windows., Result: The health related quality of life of women with disabilities was related to educational level, marital status, residential type, cause of acquired disability and disability of spouse. In addition, it was related to self esteem (r=.385, p=0.00), health promoting behaviors (r=.428, p=0.00), K-ADL (r=-.419, p=0.00) and K-IADL (r=-.439, p=0.00). Activities of daily life, self esteem and health promoting behaviors were significant predictors 37.3% (r=0.212, p=0.000) to explain quality of life in disabled women., Conclusion: The more self esteem, health promoting behaviors, K-ADL and K-IADL are positive, the more the health related quality of life is good. Further studies need to be done to investigate additional effects of health related quality of life and to investigate nursing approaches to improve their health related quality of life with significant predictors.

Objective: To elucidate the correlates of self-rated fatigue in Korean employees., Methods: The data for 10,176 (men, 7984; women, 2192; mean age, 34.2; SD: 8.8) employees recruited from a nation-wide sample were examined. A structured questionnaire was used to measure the participants' fatigue, sociodemographics (sex, age, education, and marital status), job-related characteristics (work duration, grade at work, work hours, shiftwork, employment type, and magnitude of workplace), and health-related habits (smoking, drinking, coffee intake, and exercise). Two types of measurement for fatigue were used to evaluate the magnitude of fatigue: self-rated question and a standardized measurement tool (Multidimensional Fatigue Scale: MFS)., Results: According to the self-rated fatigue, 32% of employees reported that they felt fatigue for the past two weeks, and 9.6% of males and 8.7% of females had experienced excessive fatigue (6 months or more). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that fatigue measured by MFS was more common in women, younger, college or more graduated, single, and employees who do not regularly exercise. Fatigue was also associated with long work hours, and the size of the workplace (< 1000 employees)., Conclusions: These results suggest that fatigue has been considered as a common complaint, and that it is affected by job-related factors like work hours and the workplace size as well as sociodemographics or health-related behaviors. Further research is needed to clarify the effects of fatigue on adverse health,outcomes, work performance, work disability, sick absence and medical utilization, and to examine the relationship of job characteristics (e.g.: work demand, decision latitude) to fatigue.

Objective: To estimate the magnitude of psychosocial distress and examine eligible factors associated with the development of psychosocial distress in Korean employees, using a nationwide sample., Methods: A total of 6977 workers were recruited from 245 companies. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, social support at work, personality traits (locus of control, type A behavior pattern), self-esteem, and psychosocial distress., Results: The results showed that 23% of workers were categorized as high stress, 73% as moderate, and 5% as normal. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that psychosocial distress was more common in younger workers, both male and female. Regular exercise was negatively associated with increase of psychosocial distress. In job characteristics, as expected, low decision latitude, high job insecurity, and low social support at work were related to high psychosocial distress. Personality traits such as locus of control and type A behavior pattern, and self-esteem were more powerful predictors of psychosocial distress than general characteristics, health-related behavior, and job characteristics. There were some gender differences. While men who are less educated and single (unmarried, divorced, and separated) experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who are educated and married, women who feel high job demand experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who feel low job demand., Conclusions: The proportion of the high stress group was higher than expected, and psychosocial factors like social support and personality characteristics (e.g. locus of control, type A behavior pattern and self-esteem) were more significant factors for psychosocial distress than other variables. This finding suggests that some psychosocial factors, especially inadequate social support, low self-esteem and lack of internal locus of control for the development of psychosocial distress, will also operate as an intervention strategy in the worksite stress reduction program. It is strongly required that worksite stress reduction programs should be established in at both occupational and level as well as in individual levels.

Purpose: This study was to investigate the factors influencing problem behaviors among adolescents., Method: The subjects for this study were 596 students in middle school in Seoul. The data was collected during the period from May to November, 2001 by use of questionnaires. The instruments used were the Child Problem Behavior list by Hong (1986), the Body Cathexis Scale by Secord and Jourard(1953), and the Beck Depression Inventory by Beck(1978). The data was analyzed by using the SPSS-Win program., Result: Problem behaviors showed a significant negative correlation with body image (r= -.310. p=.000) and positive correlation with depression (r=.674, p=.000). There were significant differences in the problem behavior scores of subjects according to sex, family status, economic status, and school scores. Female students were found to have a high degree of internalized problem behaviors. In addition, depression, body image, and sex were significant predictors to explain problem behaviors(47.3%). Depression, sex, grade, and school scores were significant predictors to explain externalized problem behaviors(21.9%) and depression and body image, internalized problem behaviors(51.4%)., Conclusion: Since predicting factors of problem behaviors among middle school students by problem behavior type and sex were different, then practitioners should consider these differences when developing programs for them.