• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2006

Purpose: With accumulated necessity to develop Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) in Korea, various types of Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs have been recently developed. Unlike the origin of the NP programs in the U.S., in which the lack of primary health care provider preceded the creation of NP education, NP programs in Korea are currently in an early stage in which the scope of practice and educational boundaries are still evolving. Just imitating American models may result in culturally inappropriate and practically non-feasible APN programs in Korea. This article was aimed to evaluate the top-ranked Oncology NP (ONP) programs in U.S. with those in Korea. Method: Using the Donabedian paradigm, the educational structure, process, and outcome were compared and contrasted between two countries. Results: The findings of this paper demonstrated that many aspects of structure of the Korean program are similar to those of the Americans with minor differences. Three strategies for future development of ONP program in Korea are suggested. Conclusion: Practical and feasible scope of practice for ONP in Korea should be determined. It needs to embrace every aspects of cancer experience. Also, nursing-oriented and culturally competent practice needs to be identified and incorporated into the ONP practice.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a breathing exercise intervention by measuring pulmonary function test (PFT) three times; preoperative, 3rd and 5th day after operation. Methods: This study was designed as a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. A total of 55 patients with lung cancer were recruited from a Chonnam university hospital in Hawsun-gun, Korea from January to December 2008. Results: 'Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)' and 'Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second $(FEV_1)$' were significantly improved in the experimental group than those in the control group (p<.05). Conclusion: Breathing exercise intervention was found to be effective in improving pulmonary function among lung cancer patients underwent lung lobectomy. Thus, the breathing exercise can be applied in hospitals and communities for patients with lung cancer as one of the nursing intervention modalities for their better postoperative rehabilitation.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to review and discuss the current status, issues, and nursing perspectives of cancer survivorship. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted. Results: The major areas of concern for the survivors included recurrence, secondary malignancies, and long-term treatment sequalae which affect their quality of life. The four essential components of survivorship are prevention, surveillance, intervention, and coordination. Cancer survivorship care plan should address survivor's long-term care, such as types of cancer, treatment modalities, potential side effects, and recommendations for follow-up. It also needs to include preventive practices, health maintenance and well-being, information on legal protections regarding employment and health insurance, as well as psychosocial services in the community. Survivorship care for cancer patients requires multidisciplinary efforts and team approach. Conclusion: Nurses are uniquely positioned to play a key role in ensuring quality services for cancer survivors and family members. Nurses should review the care plans for cancer survivorship with patients and families by instructing them when to seek medical treatment, promoting any recommended surveillance protocols, and encouraging healthy life styles for health promotion and quality of life.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2001

This study was designed to describe the most common and most intense demands of illness in people with cancer in outpatient settings. The sample for this study who were at least 21 years old and had been treated for cancer. They recruited from outpatient setting in Seoul and Kyungsangnam-do. The questionnaire was a Likert type 5 point scale with 55 items on four need categories; informational, physical care emotional care and socioeconomic care. There were significant differences in degree of care need according to gender, religion, marital status, economic status, public insurance status, and the past regimen. In conclusion, emotional needs perceived by patients with cancer and family members were higher than the others. Based upon this result, it is recommended that the research to compare needs between cancer patients who have a same illness and family member are necessary.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was undertaken to establish the framework for development of the curriculum of genetics in Nursing Education. Methods: The Internet search, literature review of the US system of genetic nurses, genetic graduate nursing education programs and curricula for nurse in Korea were reviewed and analyzed. Results: American Nurses genetic system consists of APNG and the GCS and all the APNG credential provided by the GNCC of ISONG. The curriculums of genetic nursing education in the US are mainly conducted in of master's program and genetically related subjects consists of basic genetics subjects, basic applied genetics subjects, genetics in nursing subjects and practical training subjects. Lastly a genetic nursing education program in Korea 44 hr of lectures and practical training of 4 hr is composed of basic genetics, genetic cancer, genetics in nursing and practicum in the computer lab and online include family history assessment, pedigree construction, breast and colorectal cancer risk calculations, and ELSI discussions. Conclusion: This study suggested that genetic nursing education course needs in master's program as detailed subjects. Also the establishment of the genetic nurse system is an urgent needed.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to compare the differences in self-care behaviors between the group with fighting spirit and the group with helplessness. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design. A total of 97 ambulatory cancer patients completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale by Watson et al. (1988) and Self Care Behaviors Scale by Oh et al. (1997). The data was analysed using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Fighting spirit group were found to conduct self-care behaviors more compared to the helplessness group (t=3.346, p<.0001). The score of the self-care behaviors in fighting spirit group was 4.42 out of a total score of 7 and that of helplessness group was 3.85. There was a significant difference (p<.0001) in self-care behaviors according to the level of faith and performance status. Fighting spirit ($R^2$=0.120, p<.0001), performance status ($R^2$=0.078, p=.001) were predictive of self-care behaviors. Conclusion: Cancer patients' mental adjustment is correlated with the degree of self-care behaviors. Having fighting spirit is one of the most adaptive techniques that cancer patients could use in adjustment to the life with cancer.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to set the strategy that clinical nurses can efficiently cope with the stress from bereavement care, by examining and analyzing stress factors and coping methods of nurses' bereavement care. Methods: A total of 628 nurses were recruited from four university hospitals, two cancer specialized hospitals, and three public hospitals. Stress was measured using the bereavement care stress measurement tool, and coping was done using the cope with stress scale. Results: The stress level about bereavement care of the nurses working in the cancer unit was significantly higher than the level of the nurses working in the general unit. However, there was no difference of coping level between nurses working in cancer unit and general unit. Conclusions: It is important to ensure the methods that contrive to perform bereavement care efficiently by generating hospice nurses and by activating the system for nurses specialist who perform bereavement care.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze nursing research trends on the complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for the cancer patients in Korea. Method: Thirty eight articles published in 17 nursing-related journal from 1987 to 2008 were analyzed. Results: Nursing Researches on CAT for the cancer patients have increased since 2000. Among the 38 studies, 34 studies used Quasi-experimental design and 13 studies (33%) were conducted for the breast cancer patients. Mind-body therapy (53%), manual healing therapy (42%), and pharmacologic and biological therapy (5%) were the often used CAT types. Nausea, vomiting, vital signs, immune cell, pain, and fatigue were measured as physiologic outcome variables; anxiety, depression, and hope as psychological outcome variables; and quality of life as social outcome variables. Conclusion: More CAM studies are needed targeting the patients with various cancer types and home-based cancer patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the actual care costs paid to Korean Oncology Advanced Practice Nurses (KOAPN). Methods: We collected data using a group discussion and questionnaire identified 115 tasks from job descriptions developed by the Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing. Forty-two KOAPN working at three university hospitals in Seoul were asked to evaluate each task as to type and whether the cost is paid or not. They were also asked to indicate the tasks in urgent need of development of a care cost with high priority. Results: Only five tasks (4.3%) related to treatment and complication related interventions or education were paid, and they were paid only once during the entire treatment period and were not covered by national health insurance. It was approved as a medical fee by health insurance review & assessment service. Furthermore, the names of the authority (doctor) and the actual provider (nurse) of the prescriptions were different for three of those tasks. Most of the suggested tasks needing development of care costs were actions specifically performed by nurses (physical-psychosocial-spiritual assessment, independent nursing interventions). Conclusion: KOAPN are currently paid for few tasks. To maximize the utilization of KOAPN, the establishment of a clear rational payment system directly related to their actual activities is needed.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of patient education interventions on distress, self-care knowledge and self-care behavior in cancer patients. Methods: A total of 1,102 studies were retrieved from 6 electronic databases in Korea. From these studies, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 850 participants. Two authors independently assessed the methodological quality by Cochrane's Risk of Bias and Methodological Items for Non Randomized Studies. The data were analyzed by the RevMan 5.1 program of Cochrane library. Results: Overall effect size of education interventions on anxiety was -2.12 (95% CI:-3.90, -0.34) (p<.001). The effects on self-care knowledge and self care behavior were -1.08 (95% CI:-1.73, -0.43) (p=.001), and -1.41 (95% CI:-2.13, -0.68) (p<.001), respectively. Publication bias was detected as evaluated by funnel plot, but the fail-safe number was moderate. Conclusion: This study suggests that patient education interventions can relieve anxiety and self-care. Further randomized controlled trials studies are needed to evaluate the effects of patient education intervention on depression.