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Bereaved mothers with a deep bond to their sick child experience a distinct grieving process. This study delved into how Korean bereaved mothers come to terms with their child's death from cancer by exploring their bereavement and adaptation processes. In-depth interviews with 15 bereaved mothers yielded 14 subthemes within three overarching themes. These themes included the diverse coping mechanisms employed by the participants, attribution of meaning to their children's deaths, and personal growth intertwined with their experiences. These findings underscore the critical need for professional support to assist these mothers in their search for meaning and coping with the loss, particularly in the context of the unique cultural context of Korea. Understanding cultural variations is crucial for expanding the knowledge base in this field and advancing culturally informed interventions to support mothers who grapple with the loss of a child due to cancer across varied cultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of a child greatly affects the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in bereaved families. This study explored the relationships in bereaved Korean families from the perspectives of mothers after the death of a child due to cancer. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 bereaved mothers of a deceased child with childhood cancer. Thematic analysis identified 12 subthemes related to bereaved mothers' struggles in grief within three significant themes based on family relationships: (a) relationship with husband; (b) relationship with surviving child or children; and (c) relationships with extended family members. Findings highlight bereaved mothers' need to build supportive family relationships while acknowledging bereaved family members' different grieving styles and their own challenges in grieving the loss of a child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It remains unclear whether lateral joint space narrowing without severe cartilage loss before meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) affects clinical outcomes and graft extrusion. Hypothesis: Patients with greater preoperative joint space narrowing would show more graft extrusion, more osteoarthritis progression, and worse clinical outcomes than would those with less narrowing. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 61 patients who underwent lateral MAT and had a minimum follow-up of 4 to 5 years. The median preoperative joint space width (JSW) on Rosenberg view radiographs was used to classify patients into those with less joint space narrowing (JSW ≥3 mm; group A) and greater joint space narrowing (JSW <3 mm; group B). We compared differences between groups in terms of graft extrusion and articular cartilage loss (modified Outerbridge grade ≥3) on 1-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and changes in JSW and clinical outcomes at the last follow-up. Results: There were 31 patients in group A and 30 patients in group B; the mean follow-up time for all patients was 64.4 ± 10.3 months. All patients showed a significant preoperative to postoperative improvement in outcome scores (P <.001 for all). The mean preoperative JSW was 3.8 ± 0.9 mm in group A and 2.3 ± 0.4 mm in group B (P <.001). In group B, there was more graft extrusion on postoperative MRI scans (3.0 ± 0.9 vs 1.9 ± 0.6 mm, respectively; P <.001) and a higher proportion of patients with pathological graft extrusion at final follow-up (43.3% vs 12.9%, respectively; P =.011) compared with group A. At 1 year postoperatively, cartilage loss grade ≥3 was observed at the lateral femoral condyle in 3.2% and 20.0% of patients in groups A and B (P =.053), respectively, and at the lateral tibial plateau in 3.2% and 30.0% of patients (P =.006), respectively. There were moderate correlations between graft extrusion and preoperative absolute JSW (r = –0.471; P <.001) and preoperative relative JSW (r = –0.428; P =.001). Conclusion: Patients with less preoperative joint space narrowing had less graft extrusion and cartilage loss on 1-year postoperative MRI scans, as well as better radiological and clinical outcomes at midterm follow-up, compared with patients with greater preoperative narrowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cancer experiences can bring positive as well as negative impacts. The current literature, however, focuses mainly on the negative impacts. This qualitative study examines Korean childhood cancer survivors' post-traumatic growth, which concerns how they respond positively to the cancer experience and how they change as a result of their experience. Design: In-person or telephone interviews were conducted with 31 adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer post-treatment who were living in Korea. Results: Thematic analysis found that childhood cancer survivors experienced growth by feeling gratitude (being content with the present, making comparisons with worse situations), engaging in self-affirmation ('I am strong'; 'My example can help others'; 'I am ready for new challenges'), deepening faith (communicating with God, trusting God's direction), and finding the social meaning of cancer (becoming a self-advocate, mapping out a career path). Conclusions: The study findings can be used by psychosocial care professionals to support Korean cancer survivors to recognize post-traumatic growth and, thus, achieve improved well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prevalence of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO), hydrogenated oils (HO) and/or both in Canadian packaged foods in 2013 and 2017 and to determine the mean trans-fatty acid (TFA) content of products declaring such oils.Design: Repeated cross-sectional study of the Food Label Information Program.Setting: Food labels (n 32 875) were collected from top Canadian grocery retailers in 2013 and 2017. Proportions of products declaring PHO, HO and/or both in the Ingredients List were calculated by year and food category. The percentage contribution of TFA (g) to total fat (g) was calculated and compared against the voluntary TFA limits, defined as <2 % of total fat content for fats and oils, and <5 % for all other foods. Foods exceeding limits were identified. The mean TFA content (in g/serving and per 100 g) was calculated for products with these oils.Results: The use of PHO, HO and/or both significantly decreased in Canadian foods from 2013 to 2017 (0·8 to 0·2 %, 5 to 2·4 % and 5·7 to 2·6 %, respectively, for PHO, HO and/or both). The mean TFA content of products containing PHO increased (0·34 to 0·57 g TFA/serving); although it was not statistically significant, it is still concerning that TFA content increased. The TFA content significantly decreased in foods with HO (0·24 to 0·16 g TFA/serving, P < 0·05) during 2013-2017.Conclusions: Products with PHO continue to be present in the Canadian marketplace, despite voluntary efforts to eliminate them. Products with HO should also be monitored, as they can also contribute to TFA content in foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored whether and how childhood cancer survivors in Korea ask and resolve the question of what may have caused their cancer. Thirty-one childhood cancer survivors participated in in-depth interviews about their self-questioning process in this regard. The findings indicate that Korean childhood cancer survivors pondered this question alone due to the stigma attached to cancer in the family and society. Their answers included internal factors (doing “bad things,” having unhealthy eating habits, engaging in magical thinking, having a stress-prone personality, or having a biological susceptibility) or external factors (stressors, random events, the environment, or medical conditions). How they perceived the cause of cancer had an impact on aspects of their current lives. Psychosocial care standards or guidelines are needed in regard to the provision of a safe environment in which Korean cancer survivors and their parents can share their perceptions and process their thoughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoice was used to understand the impact of childhood cancer on Korean young adult survivors. Seven survivors of childhood cancer (currently aged 20–27 years), diagnosed before the age of 19 and with cancer treatment completed, participated in five sessions. The participants took photographs that captured their group’s weekly topics and participated in discussions about their feelings and experiences. Fifty-six photo images with narratives on the survivors’ experiences were produced on these four participant-selected themes: Relationships With Others, Stigma, Overcoming Difficulties, and The Future. This study on Korean childhood cancer survivors sheds light on their perspectives about the impact of cancer. Using an innovative methodology that takes the participants’ point of view, this study contributes to the literature on young adult cancer survivors’ quality of life and their psychosocial adjustment. The results can inform educational programs and increase public awareness by providing survivors’ schoolteachers and peers with knowledge about childhood cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of North Korean refugees residing in South Korea face significant challenges in cultural adjustment. However, psychosocial adjustment of North Korean young refugees is not fully understood. To address this research gap, this study explores the life experiences of 10 North Korean adolescent and young adult refugees who resettled in South Korea. Using Photovoice as a participatory research tool consisting of individual interviews, group discussions, and visual representations, six major themes emerged: friends, what we have lost, the world we live in, culture, life goals, and values. Participants reported experiencing social exclusion and peer discrimination as barriers to successful adjustment in South Korea. They also defined their new homeland as a place where competition, material wealth, and social status are highly valued, while traditional values and nature are shunned. Despite these barriers, all of the participants have made efforts to adapt to their new homeland and create new life goals with support from the group home where the participants resided in South Korea. Recognizing and understanding complex issues related to psychosocial adjustments of these refugees can inform the development of culturally relevant psychosocial interventions that foster a sense of belonging and promote coping mechanisms for these young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to identify and examine posttraumatic growth (PTG) experiences, and their correlates, among young adult survivors of childhood cancer.Methods: 602 long-term childhood cancer survivors between the ages of 18 and 39 participated. Their demographic (age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, relationship status, employment, and income), cancer-related (diagnosis, current health problem, age at diagnosis, and years since diagnosis), and psychosocial (social support and optimism) PTG correlates were examined using descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses.Results: PTG was significantly greater for females and nonwhite survivors, and for those diagnosed at older ages. Survivors diagnosed with solid/soft tissue tumors reported lower PTG. Optimism and social support were positively associated with PTG.Conclusion: Study findings highlight potential intervention opportunities for increasing PTG by facilitating discussion around growth experiences within an optimistic framework among a supportive network of family members and peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]