• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to systematically review the recently published nursing intervention studies. Methods: The literature was identified through the Korean Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), the Korean Information Service System (KISS), and National Assembly Library websites. Key words such as breast cancer, nursing, and intervention were used. The factors analyzed are as follows: 1) the characteristics of studies and study populations, 2) the classification of interventions, 3) outcome indicators and their effects, and 4) effective interventions. Results: Thirty two studies were included. Seventeen studies used a single intervention such as aerobic dance, TaiChi, foot massage, aromatherapy, or a stress-reduction method. Fifteen studies used combined interventions, including education, exercise, counseling, support, yoga or meditation. The data on 47 outcome indicators and their effects were segregated into psycho/spiritual outcomes, stress coping, physical outcomes, cardiorespiratory function, symptom management, arm and shoulder functions, fatigue, and quality of life. Some interventions had positive effects on stress, fatigue, and functions of shoulder. Conclusion: Various interventions are available for breast cancer patients, and some have had positive effects. However, more studies are required to develop evidence-based practice guidelines for nursing interventions.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.68-79
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• 2010

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify job definition, duties and tasks of Korean oncology Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and assess frequency, importance, and difficulty for each of duty and task using the DACUM method. Methods: The DACUM committee was organized with nine oncology APNs. The committee documented the job definition, duties and tasks based on their daily job descriptions. Validity of the elicited duties and tasks was tested by a study team and 6 oncology APNs. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey from 53 oncology APNs. Results: The job description of oncology APNs was identified 12 duties and 66 tasks. Among the twelve duties, 'education for patients/families' was the most frequently performed and was the most important duty. 'Case management' was the most difficult duty. Among 66 tasks, 'providing education for patients/families' was most frequently performed. 'Providing education for patients/families' and 'assessing patient condition comprehensively' were the most important tasks. 'Implementation research' as the principal investigator was perceived as the most difficult task. Conclusion: In this study, Korean oncology APNs' job performances were identified and analyzed. It is recommended that job description for oncology APNs needs to be standardized and reshaped in advanced way in future.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to suggest the projected manpower of oncology nurses & Advanced oncology certified nurses needed in the future. Method: Need models, ratio models and expert opinion were used for projecting the number of oncology nurses & Advanced oncology certified nurses. Resul: 1. The demand for the oncology nurses was estimated 6,043 in the year 2003, 6,548 in the year 2005, and 4,556 in the year 2010. 2. The demand range of the advanced oncology certified nurses centering on the number of hospitalized patients were estimated 358-538 in the year 2003, 388-583 in the year 2005, and 448-672 in the year 2010. 3. The demand range of the middle and long term advanced oncology certified nurses centering on the number of sickbed were estimated 507-787 in the year 2005, 523-810 in the year 2010, and 540-837 in the year 2020. 4. The demand range of the advanced oncology certified nurses centering on the number of organizations were estimated 374 in the year 2003, 399 in the year 2005, 410 in the year 2010. 5. The total demand range, concerning the numbers of hospitalized patients, hospital bed, and organizations are estimated 358-538 in the year 2003, 388-787 in the year 2005, 428-840 in the year 2010, and 540-837 in the year 2020. 6. In the demand of developed country's level oncology nurses are OCN's level 1,495, AOCN's level 102 in the year 2003, OCN's level 1,613, AOCN's level 111 in the year 2005, OCN's level 1,879, AOCN's level 128 in the year 2010 in case of the United States, and in case of Canada, 765 in the year 2003, 826 in the year 2005, and 956 in the year 2010.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.260-273
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was performed to understand the perceived importance and performance frequencies of nursing interventions and identify the core and major interventions in oncology units. Methods: Questionnaires using 151 nursing interventions were given to 45 nurses. The performance frequency was measured through the database of the nursing process recording system for 1 year. Results: The perceived importance of the nursing interventions averaged out to be 3.5 among 4 and on average 36.5 times of nursing interventions were performed on each patient. Fifteen core nursing interventions including 'pain management' were identified and they made up 82.7% of the entire performance frequency rate. And 26 interventions including 'drug administration: Amphotericin-B' were identified as major nursing interventions and occupied 10.6% of the entire performance frequency rate. Conclusion: Since the core and the major nursing interventions were identified and these occupied 93.3% of the all nursing interventions, these results can be utilized as baseline data for establishing the guidelines and standards of nursing interventions and providing systematic education for oncology nurses in Korea.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2011

Purpose: This study compared the effect of two oral care agents on preventing stomatitis and discomfort for acute leukemic patients. Methods: A total of forty patients was enrolled and randomly assigned to sodium bicarbonate or chlorhexidine group. WHO oral toxicity scale was used for measuring stomatitis and Beck's subjective oral discomfort scale for evaluating oral comfort. Data was collected from August 2009 to February 2010. The data was analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney test. Results: Data analyzed was thirty five one. The incidence of stomatitis was 47.4%, 68.8% in sodium bicarbonate and chlohexidine group respectively. The onset of stomatitis was about the 10th and 9th day after chemotherapy initiation, and the duration was 8.0 and 8.67 day respectively. The severity of stomatitis was highest on the 21st day after chemotherapy initiation. There were no statistical differences in the status of stomatitis and the levels of oral comfort during treatment periods. Conclusion: Nurses should routinely assess oral cavity and encourage patients to do oral care actively from second to third week after chemotherapy initiation. Also sodium bicarbonate agent can be recommended to for preventing stomatitis.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was to identify the symptom severity, interference and their psychological predictors in thyroid cancer patients hospitalized for radioactive iodine administration. Methods: One hundred seventy-seven thyroid cancer patients admitted to the isolation room for Iodine ($I^{131}$) therapy were recruited. Subjects were asked to complete the questionnaire on core symptoms, thyroid cancer symptoms, interference, depression and state anxiety in the evening after receiving radioactive iodine therapy. Data was analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression with SPSS vs. 19. Results: Lack of appetite, drowsiness, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and nausea were the 5 most core symptoms. More than 20% of patients experienced moderate to severe thyroid cancer symptoms including feeling cold, hoarseness, swallowing difficulty, and feeling hot. More than 30% of subjects experienced moderate to severe interferences in mood, general activity, and 22% in walking. Depression and state anxiety were identified as predictors of core symptoms, thyroid symptom severity and interference. Conclusion: Nursing interventions to reduce the symptom severity and interference need to be developed by considering thyroid cancer patients' depression and anxiety when hospitalized in the isolation room for radioactive iodine administration.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of the patients with cancer participating in a clinical trial for the development of a new drug. Method: This study was based on a phenomenological approach. The eight patients participating in a clinical trial were selected as the participations of this study. The data were obtained through in-depth interviews from the participants and were analyzed using the Giorgi method. Results: Essential experiences of the patients with cancer under a clinical trial consisted of anticipating recovery of physical health and a social role, passing the strict criteria of a clinical trial, diminishing economic burden, satisfaction with special treatment receiving, social contribution, concerns about side effects and withdrawal from the clinical trial, conflicts as a participant, pain, limited administration of other treatments, regret for giving up other treatments, strict compliance with instructions, prevention of side effects and maintaining desirable life-style. Integrated units of meaning of these components were hope, good luck, a sense of satisfaction, fear, distress, and the will of self-control. Conclusion: The most essential meaning of the cancer patients participating in a clinical trial was hope. Hope was found to be a primary factor reinforcing the will of self-management. The results of this study can be of great help to the research nurses to understand the lived experience of the patients with cancer and to plan an effective nursing intervention for the patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was to analyze the characteristics and effect size of intervention studies in reference to cancer pain. Methods: In order to conduct a meta-analysis, a total of 208 studies were retrieved from search engine. And 29 studies published from 2000 to 2010 were selected upon their satisfaction with the inclusion criteria. The data was analyzed by the RevMan 5.0 program of Cochrane library. Results: 1) Intervention studies included 7 studies on reflexology (24.1%), 5 for pain management education (17.2%), 3 studies for each music therapy, spiritual care and hand massage (10.3%, respectively), and 2 studies for each hospice and horticultural therapy (6.7%, respectively). 2) The effect size of the intervention studies were high in hand massage (d=-0.98), reflexology (d=-0.74), spiritual care (d=-0.72), pain management education (d=-0.66), music therapy (d=-0.41), and horticultural therapy (d=-0.32). Conclusion: This study suggest that non-drug therapy can reduce the levels of cancer pain intensity, even though the numbers of intervention studies and randomized controlled trials are very rare.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2001

Purpose : This study was 1) to determine the relationship between endogenous opioid-peptides and hope 2) to evaluate the availability of the opioid- peptides, known as biochemicals of emotion in psychoneuroimmunology, as a variable to explain hope. Method : blood sampling for 20 cancer patients' (age range 18-73, 13 men and 7 women, having mild pain or no pain, can do ADL) were made under approval from the doctors in a university hospital at 8 A.M. and quantitative analysis of opioid peptides were done by the internal standard method. In 10min after blood sampling, hope was measured using Kim and Lee's hope scale which had acceptable reliabilities and validity after making consent about interviewing. Blood was sampled from the seven normal adults for comparing the degrees of the opioids. None-parametric statistical analysis was used. Results : There was a significant difference in leucine enkephalin between normal adults and cancer patients. And significant positive relationship existed between chemotherapy and leucine enkephalin. So, the relationships between hope and the endogenous opioids in the patients before chemotherapy were re-tested, excluding the effect of chemotherapy on opioids. As a result, a significant negative relationship between hope and beta- endorphin(r=-.841<.05) showed. And there were highly negative relationships between leucine enkephalin and methionine enkephalin and hope, but not significant statistically. Conclusions : This results implies endogenous opioids can be used as a biological variable to explain hope. More researches in sophisticated design would be needed ,especially in human model.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.168-179
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• 2001

Spirituality has been found as a factor that may influence an individual's health and response to illness and dying. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Howden's Spiritual Assessment Scale(SAS). The SAS was developed based on the attributes of spirituality and constructed with 28 items, 4 subscales. The translation involved four steps : translation into Korean, checking agreement, back translation into English, and arriving at a consensus. Psychometric evaluation was done on 222 nurses from five hospitals. All responses were voluntary and anonymous. The Cronbach's alpa coefficient for internal consistency was .928 for the total 28 items and .700${\sim}$.805 for subdimensions. Item- total correlations ranged from .36${\sim}$.68. Principal Component Factor Analysis with Varimax Rotation yielded four factors with four or more items each loading at .40 or higher. These factors explained 51.3% of the total variance. The items clustered in this study were almost identical with initial scale. There was positive correlation(r=.648, p=.0001) between SAS and Ellison & Paloutzian's Spiritual Wellbeing Scale and negative correlation(r=-.418, p=.000) with Pines' Burnout Scale which indicate convergent and discriminant validity. In conclusion, this tool can be effectively utilized for assessing spirituality in Korea.