• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4339-4347
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed at exploring treatment delay (TD) among cancer patients in China with an attempt to develop a practical methodology facilitating frontline Chinese clinicians in promoting earlier cancer diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods: The study comprised framework development, qualitative interviews and paired factor rating. Framework development utilized systematic literature review, soft systems thinking and consensus groups. Qualitative interviews employed a checklist of open questions soliciting information about all the domains included the framework from cancer patients drawn via stratified randomized sampling of inpatients at 10 hospitals in Hefei, China. Paired factor rating used a self-developed computer aid and the interviewed patients as referring cases to weigh the relative importance of the factors listed in the framework in terms of their contributions to specific components of total delay (TD). Results: a) A conceptual framework was proposed consisting of a 6-step path to TD and 36 category determinants. b) A total of 227 patients were interviewed; their TD was 267.3 mean or 108 median days ranging from 0 to 2475 days; average appraisal, illness, behavioral, preparation and treatment delay accounted for 52.1%, 9.4%, 0.30%, 8.8% and 29.4% of the TD respectively. Individual side factors were rated substantially more important than environmental side factors (60% vs. 40%); most influential TD factors included cancer symptoms, overall health, family relations and knowledge about cancer and health. Conclusions: The framework proposed together with the interviewing and rating approaches used provide a potential new methodology for understanding cancer patients' TD and promoting earlier cancer treatment.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2011

Purpose: The study was to identify relationships between the family support, perceived health status and self esteem in Korean women with breast cancer. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaires from 214 women with breast cancer in inpatient and outpatient settings at three different university hospitals and one cancer hospital in B city, Korea. The instruments included Family Support Scale, Perceived Health Status Scale, and Self Esteem Scale. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, and Pearson's correlation coefficients by SPSS WIN 15.0 program. Results: There were significant differences in the family support by age, education, and cost burden. There were significant differences in the perceived health status by education, occupation, economic status, pain, fatigue, and cancer insurance. There were significant differences in the self esteem by age, occupation, economic status, type of religion, pain, fatigue, and cancer insurance. Self-esteem was significantly correlated with family support and perceived health status. Conclusion: These results suggested that promoting perceived health status and enhancing family support would increase self-esteem effectively among Korean women with breast cancer.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.390-398
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze periodic screening behaviors for breast cancer and factors affecting the screening behaviors among hospital nurses. Methods: A total of 461 nurses were recruited from 15 hospitals located in two southern areas of Korea. The Champion's Health Beliefs Model Scale-Korean version and a structured study questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were collected during July and August 2008. Results: Nurses who performed periodic mammography accounted for 15.6% of the total, while 22.8% performed periodic breast self-examination (BSE). Among married nurses, the rates of periodic mammography and BSE were significantly different by age, menopausal status, delivery experience, family history of breast cancer, and experiences of cervical cancer screening. Significant factors affecting periodic mammography were family history of breast cancer, experiences of cervical cancer screening, age above 40, and performance of periodic BSE. For health beliefs, levels of severity, confidentiality and barrier were significant factors for periodic BSE. Conclusion: Nurses, who are role models for health promoting behaviors, did not adequately performing periodic BSE and mammography. A health promotion program for breast cancer designed for hospital nurses is needed to improve performance rates for periodic screening behaviors for breast cancer.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.47-56
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• 2017

Background: Given the potential benefits of wellness programs promoting physical activity of the community-dwelling frail elderly, it is recommended that comprehensive wellness programs combined with the component of physical activity. This may improve overall health and potentially lower the health care cost of the frail elderly. In general, the frail elderly residing in community or those after being discharged from hospitals are often committed to enhancing the status of participation in physical activity. Objects: The purposes of this study were to identify specific shortcomings of current wellness programs as part of continuum of community rehabilitation services and to propose alternatives for the care of the community-dwelling frail elderly. Through this study, geriatric health care professionals may be able to implement assessments and programs to successfully promote an effective continuum of care for the frail elderly. Methods: Article reviews were summarized and evaluated. Results: A model elaborating the relationship between components of successful wellness program and participation in physical activities for the community-dwelling frail elderly are recommended. First, periodic monitoring the levels of physical activity by the use of online measurement system should be considered. Second, individualized adaptive technologies for selecting optimal physical activities for the elderly may be better fit to individuals' current status of physical activity. Conclusion: The current status of physical activity in community-dwelling frail elderly can be monitored by online assessment systems. Through the innovative measurement system, elderly may assess his/her physical activity status overtime, select optimal physical activities matching the status, and create the elderly's own adaptive wellness programs that match to the status while residing in his/her community.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to examine nurses' healthy behaviors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was adapted, and data were collected from 300 hospital nurses between August and November 2021. The nurses' characteristics, healthy behaviors, COVID-19 stress levels, health self-efficacy, and nursing professional pride were self-reported using structured questionnaires. Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to identify factors related to nurses' healthy behaviors. Results: Healthy lifestyle was the lowest among the subscales of healthy behaviors. Nurses' healthy behaviors were related to age (B=0.15, p=.021), COVID-19 stress level (B=-0.08, p=.007), nursing professional pride (B=0.19, p<.001), and health self-efficacy (B=0.38, p<.001). Conclusion: To enhance nurses' healthy lifestyles during the pandemic, organizational support is needed, such as ensuring facilities for rest or physical activities accessible from the hospital and supplying healthy food in hospitals. Younger nurses, nurses with high levels of COVID-19 stress, and nurses with lower health self-efficacy may benefit from hospital organizations that provide more support and guidance in promoting health behaviors. Furthermore, hospital organizations should promote professional pride by empowering nurses' efforts and reinforcing their values.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Purpose: The 2015 Korean Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreaks resulted in 186 cases, with 8% (15 persons) of these being nurses. This study aimed to examine MERS-CoV infection status of clinical nurses and to evaluate perception for infection control. Methods: We investigated the MERS-CoV infection status of nurses using MERS-CoV press release data. We examined and analysed perception for Infection control of 121 nurses of the three MERS intensive therapeutic hospitals in July 2015. Results: One to six nurses per hospital in total 8 health care facilities were infected with MERS-CoV. They mainly had short clinical careers and were unaware of infection possibility. The personal and organizational infection control levels that nurses perceive were low and the relationship between two levels was statistically significant. Conclusion: For promoting health protection and infectious disease management competency of nurses, it is necessary to prepare institutional system for controlling infectious disease.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.11-30
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to lay groundwork for future research on the outcomes of national quality awards for secondary-care healthcare organizations. Methods: For this study, a secondary-care hospital was selected through a convenience sampling method and all of its organizational members participated in complete enumeration survey using 109 survey questions derived from the MBNQA criteria for healthcare through structural equation modeling (SEM) Results: As a result, Leadership was shown to drive Foundation and Direction, which affect System that creates Results with 12 hypotheses supported out of 18 hypotheses established. Conclusion: The findings of this study will provide valuable implications to the top management of secondary-care hospitals for self-examining quality management and promoting sustainable competitiveness.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.101-110
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• 2011

This study analyzed affecting factors of employees working at dental hospitals to the organizational commitment and service quality, and then tried to utilize it as a basic data in executing personnel training policies for dental hospital's practitioners. The survey was conducted from July 1st to July 30th, 2010, and used 193 copies for this research analysis. As a hypothetical verification result through regression analysis, means and capabilities among empowerment factors influenced significant positive (+) effects, and self-determination and influences did not make significant effects. Also, organization commitment was displayed as influencing significant positive (+) effects to the service quality. When considering this research's results as a basement, an alternative for the managerial innovation shall be established for promoting mutual developments of individuals and organization in midst of promptly changing economic environments. That is, a personal training system has to be set up in which more decision-making rights on given assignments of dental hospital's employments are endowed, and then responsibilities are directed to be charged so much by introducing the empowerment concept instead of the managerial technique centering on controls.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

The current study used the critical science paradigm to explore the kinds of oppression experienced by the families of patients in hospitals, and to suggest how the practices should be changed for problem solving. Ethnographic observations and individual interviews were peformed for data collection from the 25 family members of critically ill patients. The results revealed the powerlessness of patients' families caused by multiple oppressions. They were struggling with family-unfriendly hospital systems, negative interactions with medical staff, limited supports from health care systems, and their own resignation to fate. Strategies were discussed to facilitate changes in institutional, humane, policy, and religious/spiritual aspect. The study findings will contribute to promoting the rights of patients' families.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.630-641
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of current study was to explore the positive outcomes of advanced practice nurse who have experienced the roles in their clinical settings. Methods: This study adopted a qualitative research design based on conventional content analysis. Participants were 16 nurse practitioners have been worked at hospitals or community centers. Data were collected via focus group interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis method. Results: Patients' aspect outcomes were "client-centered care in providing continuity", "providing trust based on expertise", "promoting skilled intervention in patient recovering", "blocking the negative consequences", "quality improvement: nursing becoming tighter", "providing total care for cases that require intensive care", "improving patients outcomes by total management", "increasing confidence in evidence-based professional nursing", "rising the satisfaction by cost-effective services", "providing skilled professional practice", and "providing comprehensive care related to covering various aspects". Other themes elicited also included "promoting efficacy by inter-related health professions supervising", "the expansion of specialized practice areas increase business efficiency", "formation of outside customers due to increasing the satisfaction with skilled nursing care", "filling in the emptying spaces of doctors by practicing reliable role to bridge", "attracting external customers through successful management of subjects", "increasing staff's satisfaction on the role to make a bridge between inside and outside doctors", "24 hours medical expertise of professional staff ready secured", and "low cost, same results, that is, cost-effective" in reference to health care resources aspect. Conclusion: These findings suggested that advanced practice nurses perceived various positive outcomes and provided basic data for outcome indicators of advanced practice nurses' role.