Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate for the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related symptoms, anxiety, and depression after stroke. Eighty-four patients were enrolled between 2 and 12 months after their first ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the Impact of Event Scale (IES). The IES is a 15-item scale measuring intrusion and avoidance symptoms. The authors assessed mood alterations using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). The HAD is a brief, 14-item, self-reported questionnaire used to detect symptoms of anxiety (HADA) and depression (HADD). The survey data were analyzed using the SPSS 10.0 program. Frequency, mean, standard deviation, percentage t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were determined. Results: Twenty nine of the 84 (34.5%) patients scored higher than the cutoff for PTSD on the IES (IES>26). With use of the HAD scale, 44% of the patients reached the cutoff for anxiety ($HADA\;{\geq}8$). On the HSD scale, 44.1% of the patients reached the cutoff for depression ($HADD\;{\geq}8$). PTSD symptoms and anxiety were more frequent in women under age 39, without spouses, who had operations. Depression was more frequent in patients without spouses. There was a statistically significant correlation among posttraumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion: There was statistically significant correlation among PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression in stroke patients. Therefore, it is necessary to develop nursing intervention for stroke patients with these clinical manifestations.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of job characteristics on emotional empowerment in visiting health personnel. Methods: Subjects were recruited in ten community health care centers in one directorial area. Data collection was done using a self-report questionnaire. Job characteristics of visiting healthcare personnel were measured using the questionnaire developed by Kang (2006), based on Hackman & Oldham (1975). Emotional empowerment was measured using the questionnaire developed by Kang (2006), based on Spreitzer (1995). Results: First, the score of job characteristics was revealed to be 3.51 points the task significance was high, and the feedback was low. Second, the level of emotional empowerment was revealed to be 3.78 points the meaning was high, and the impact was low. Third, the prediction power of job characteristics on emotional empowerment was 34% autonomy, task identity, and task significance were identified as statistically significant predictive factors. Conclusion: The job characteristics of visiting healthcare personnel are highly correlated with emotional empowerment. Autonomy, task identity, and task significance are predictive factors of emotional empowerment. These results can be used to develop more effective job planning for increasing organizational effectiveness in visiting healthcare personnel.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of time management on the clinical nurse's organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Methods: Subjects were recruited in two general hospitals in Seoul and Incheon. Data collection was done using a self-report questionnaire. Time management was measured using the questionnaire developed by Han (1992). Organizational commitment and job satisfaction were measured using the questionnaire developed by Yoon (2000), based on Mowday et al. (1979) and Stamps et al. (1978). The data were analyzed using the SAS statistical package program, version 10.0. Specifically, descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression were performed. Results: The predictive time management factors for organizational commitment included deadline decision, simplification, and goal-setting. The predictive time management factors for job satisfaction included planning/making the priority order, deadline decision, simplification, asking for help, and responsibility reduction. Conclusion: Time management factors are highly correlated with organizational commitment and job satisfaction in clinical nurses. Deadline decision and simplification are common predictive factors for organizational commitment and job satisfaction. These results can be used to develop more effective time management strategies for increasing organizational effectiveness in clinical nurses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an exercise program for elderly community-dwelling adults. The program was intended to improve joint flexibility and self-efficacy and to reduce blood pressure. Methods: A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used to evaluate the program. Twenty-six subjects were enrolled in the experimental group, and twenty-seven subjects were enrolled in the control group. The program was carried out between March 6 and May 4, 2006. The experimental group subjects participated in the exercise program once a week for eight weeks and received a phone call weekly to encourage self-exercise at home. Results: After program participation, the experimental group subjects showed significantly higher flexibility in the right shoulder joint and higher self-efficacy than subjects in the control group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also significantly lower in the experimental group subjects. However, there were no significant differences in knee joint flexibility between the two groups after the intervention. Conclusion: The eight-week exercise program was effective in decreasing blood pressure and improving joint flexibility and self-efficacy in older adults. This study suggests that this exercise program could be utilized as an effective independent nursing intervention modality in elderly persons.

This paper provides the guidelines from which to develop a visiting health care program at the Public Health Center in Korea and involves an expanded payment compensation system of preventive services based on the new long-term health insurance system in Japan. The function and management methods to achieve the goals practiced in a community contact center for elderly support which have recently been established will guide the specific directions and strategies that the Public Health Center should pursue. That is to say, comprehensive and continuous efforts will be put forth in preventive home visiting care targeting the elderly in certain jurisdictions. At this point in time in which the visiting care nursing program has not yet started, visiting health care provided by the Public Health Center oversees chronic diseases of a vulnerable population. But after it has been developed nationwide, the visiting health care system at the Public Health Center will be distinctive and focused on health promotion and prevention.