• 종양간호연구
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.122-128
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• 2009

Purpose: The study was aimed to investigate the levels of marital intimacy and quality of life (QOL) among women with breast cancer. Methods: As a descriptive study, a total of 67 married women with breast cancer was recruited via convenient sampling from a breast clinic in an university hospital. A structured, self-reported questionnaire was administered to the participants. Results: The most participants were housewives in their 40s and 50s, and were in high socioeconomic status. Two thirds of women perceived the marital intimacy with their spouse were increased after the diagnosis of breast cancer. Women's marital intimacy significantly differed by their levels of education. The level of cognitive intimacy was the highest among the subscales, whereas, sexual intimacy was the lowest. The family factor of QOL showed the highest score, and there were differences in QOL by employment status and cancer stage. The QOL and marital intimacy were not correlated significantly. Conclusion: Further research on the couples with breast cancer and intervention for increasing their marital intimacy are needed in the future.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.88-94
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was to identify the effect of hand massage on comfort in women with gynecologic cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used for this study. Hand massage was provided to the experimental group for 5 min (2.5 min for each side) once on admission day, twice from the second day until the day before discharge, and once in the morning on discharge day. Results: Findings showed no significant differences in pre and post levels of general, physical, psycho-spiritual, social and environmental comfort. However, women's comfort levels in all domains were increased after the chemotherapy in the experimental group. Conclusion: Although there were some increases in women's comfort levels on all domains after the treatment, hand massage was not proved as a statistically useful nursing intervention in comforting women with gynecologic cancer. The results suggest that hand massage could be effective if it is applied longer than it was in this study. The future implications of hand massage in patients with various cancers are discussed.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to explore the psychosocial adjustment, marital intimacy and family support of post-mastectomy patients. Methods: The subjects were 90 post-mastectomy patients (stage I or II) who were eligible and agreed to participate in the study. The data collection period was from March to May, 2008. Subjects completed a survey including demographics, psychosocial adjustment scale by Lee (a 4-point Likert scale), marital intimacy scale by Kim (a 4-point Likert scale), and family support by Shim (a 5-point Likert scale). Data were analyzed using SAS (ver 9.0) program and frequency, mean (SD), t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients were used. Results: The mean scores of the psychosocial adjustment and marital intimacy were 2.8 (${\pm}0.4$) and 2.5 (${\pm}0.5$). Also, the mean score of the family support was 3.6 (${\pm}0.7$). Regarding the correlation between the psychosocial adjustment, marital intimacy and family support, there was a positive correlation. Conclusion: These results showed that subjects who had higher marital intimacy and family support showed better in psychosocial adjustment. To improve psychosocial adjustment of post-mastectomy patients for breast cancer more effectively, there is an necessity to provide various strategic supports and intervention for effective communication with spouse and family.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.112-118
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on pain, depression, and anxiety in terminally ill patients. Methods: Twenty patients in the experimental group were provided with music via headphones for 30-40 min at a time as they requested for 2 weeks, whereas no music was provided for the nineteen patients in the control group. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The research instruments included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Depression & Anxiety Inventory Scale. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, and Fisher's exact test, using SPSS 15.0. Results: There were significant decreases in the scores of pain at present (t=-2.54, p<.05), depression (t=-2.187, p<.05) and anxiety (Z=-2.114, p<.05) in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: Music therapy is considered non-invasive and inexpensive intervention and can be easily applied to alleviate pain, depression and anxiety for terminally ill patients.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.86-94
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was aimed to identify the influencing factors on hope in the patients suffering with breast cancers. Methods: The subjects were 150 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer at three university hospitals and a general hospital. Data collection was conducted by hope scale, family support scale, self esteem scale, depression scale, pain scale, and fatigue scale. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Level of hope in the participants was high. There were a significant correlation among hope, family support, effects of religion, self esteem, depression, pain and fatigue. There were significant differences in hope by the age, education level, and cost burden. The most powerful predictor of hope was self esteem (38.2%). Altogether family support, effects of religion, depression, and fatigue explained 50.4% of hope of the participants. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggested that the concepts of self esteem, family support, effects of religion, depression and fatigue should be considered important factors in developing hope promoting program for breast cancer patients.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.10-18
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was intended to identify the patterns of fatigue and its related factors in patients with stomach cancer during chemotherapy. Methods: Thirty participants (24 males and 6 females) were recruited for this study which utilized a longitudinal and descriptive approach. The research instruments included the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale, Symptom Distress Scale, and Linear Analogue Self Assessment Scale. The participants received 5-FU and Adriamycin at the first week and 5-FU only at the second and third week. The instruments were measured six times in total. The data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0. Results: It was found that fatigue scores in patients with stomach cancer, receiving 5-FU and Adriamycin (FA) regimen, reached the highest level on the third day (F=9.37, p=.024) after the initial infusion, and decreased gradually afterward. The symptom and psychological distress scores illustrated very similar pattern. The concept of multidimensionality of fatigue in patients with stomach cancer was supported in this study, showing that all four dimensions of the scale were positively correlated. Conclusion: The results of this study provided useful information of patients with stomach cancer on fatigue and other related symptoms which they experienced during weekly scheduled chemotherapy with FA regimen.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.38-47
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of nutritional education program (NEP) on nausea and vomiting, anorexia, food intake, and nutritional status among GI cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A nonequivalent, non-synchronized posttest design was used. Study subjects were conveniently selected 30 patients (15 subjects for each group) who were undergoing chemotherapy. The subjects of the experimental group received NEP which consisted of 2 educations and 1 counselling while they were hospitalized, and telephone counselling with nutritional supports after discharge for four times. Results: The score of anorexia was lower and the amount of food intake was higher in the experimental group than those of the control group. However, there were no significant differences in levels of nausea and vomiting, weight, hemoglobin, albumin, and total protein level between the experimental and the control group. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the NEP was effective in alleviating anorexia and improving subjective food intake of GI cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. These findings suggest that NEP can be a useful nursing intervention for preventing nutritional disorders for patients with GI cancer after chemotherapy.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify symptom cluster experienced by patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on gefitinib treatment. In addition, this study assessed the patterns in severity of the symptom cluster and differences in quality of life (QOL) and function among subgroups by the severity of symptom cluster. Methods: This study was conducted as a secondary analysis of symptoms of 72 patients from a mother study. Factor analysis was used to identify symptom clusters measured with EORTC QLQ-C30 and LC13 symptom related items. Results: Three symptom clusters were identified: cluster 1 was comprised of fatigue, anorexia and dysphagia; cluster 2 of dyspnea, cough and insomnia; and cluster 3 of pain, constipation and nausea/vomiting. These three symptom clusters were improved one week after gefitinib administration. The group with more severe symptom clusters showed significantly lower QOL and function than the group with less severe symptom clusters. Conclusion: Since symptom clusters experienced by the patients with advanced NSCLC influenced on the QOL and function, it is important for nurses to understand and observe their symptom clusters. In addition, there is an necessity to develop nursing interventions to effectively care patients with the symptom clusters.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.27-36
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• 2006

Purpose: The present study was to investigate the effect of music therapy on anxiety, nausea, and vomiting in patients undergoing total body irradiation (TBI) for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Method: A untreated control group with pretest and posttest was used in this study. A total of 35 patients receiving TBI for HSCT were recruited from a medical center at a university in Korea. The music therapy taking for 15-20 minutes per a time was performed twice a day for three days while the patients in the experimental group were undergoing the TBI. Results: The scores of state anxiety, nausea and vomiting tended to increase in the control group as compare with those in the experimental group. The patients in the control group had been administerd antiemetics more often than those in the experimental group. The levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the pulse rates in the experimental group tended to decrease after the experiment. However, there was no statistically significant differences in anxiety, nausea, vomiting, blood pressure, and pulse between the groups. Conclusion: It is suggested to repeat this study with a enough sample size.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2006

Purpose: The present study explored the effects of education for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs on knowledge and practice in nurses. Method: Data were collected using a single group with pre and posttest design from 59 nurses at medical and surgical wards in C university hospital from April to June 2005. Questionnaires on the knowledge and practice of the guidelines for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs were asked to complete before and after the education. Result: The education improved nurses' knowledge and practice of the guidelines for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs. The knowledge and practice had a significant positive correlation. Conclusion: These findings show that the education for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs improved the knowledge and practice of nurses. As the knowledge of the guidelines for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs makes a positive association with the practice, it is thought to be required to enhance the education program for nurses.