• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7171-7178
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• 2015

Background: This descriptive study was performed in order to assess health perspectives of women, who applied to Yildirim Beyazit University Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Outpatient Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology for cervical cancer scans and were in the reproductive years. Factors influencing their perspectives were also assessed. Materials and Methods: In this study, a simple random sampling formula was adopted to calculate the volume (300) of the targeted sample. Results of the research were obtained through individual diagnosis form and cervical cancer and the Pap smear test health belief model scale (HBMS). Results: It was found that 75.0% of the women heard of the Pap smear test before, and 48.7% had undertaken one. Some 51.4% of the women who had Pap smear test expressed that they had the test at irregular periods. Most of the women stated that they heard about the smear test from the health staff (51.7%). Lack of any health complaints (28.3%) and not having adequate information about the test (21.0%) were among the reasons for not undergoing a Pap smear test. It was found that lower dimension average scores of the women obtained from the cervical cancer and Pap smear test HBMS varied from $7.7{\pm}2.3$ to $33.5{\pm}9.3$. When the lower dimension average scores of women from the HBMS were examined, the perception of usefulness was high but the susceptibility and health motivations were low. Conclusions: In this study, it was determined that the awareness of women about cervical cancer and the Pap smear test was insufficient, and susceptibility and motivation perception towards having a Pap smear test were low.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1795-1802
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types in women and is amongst the most devastating and stressful events in the life of women. The external appearance of breast cancer patients usually changes due to the surgical and/or medical therapies used. An association may be found between social support perception and social appearance anxiety in patients with breast cancer in the period after mastectomy. Therefore, this study investigated the social appearance anxiety and social support status in women with breast cancer in our country. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment or follow-up in Medical Oncology and General Surgery departments. Results: The mean age of the participants was $51.13{\pm}8.48$ years (range, 24-74 years) with nearly half of the patients (40.6%) aged 40-50 years. Of the patients, 39.1% had stage 3 breast cancer. The mean score on Cancer Patient's Social Support Scale (CPSSS) was $134.85{\pm}9.35$, and there was a significant difference in CPSSS total scores betweena the age groups, educational levels, self-reported income levels and stage of disease (p<0.05). The mean Social Image Anxiety Scale (SIAS) score was found to be $34.30{\pm}9.35$ (min:16, max:66) in women participating in this study. The CPSSS and SIAS scores of the participants were inversely correlated, and the SIAS score was found to decrease with the increasing CPSSS score but with no statistically significant difference (r=-0.110, p=0.217). Conclusions: Social appearance anxiety is higher in the patients with poor social support.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to analyze the images of the Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Police Academy, and Armed Forces Nursing Academy using multidimensional scaling method. For this research, we surveyed 363 applicants to special purpose academies including Military Academies and Police College. The study showed that the Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies had stronger image than the Police Academy in the area of physical strength, tradition, and fellowship between senior and junior. On the other hand, the Police Academy had better image in the area of social activity and applicant's academic achievement. The Military Academy had been evaluated the best school among the three Academies in the area of applicant's academic achievement, educational environment, faculty, tradition, and fellowship between senior and junior.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.39-51
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was to identify the stop-out experiences of Korean Medicine Students(K.M.S.). The stop-out is defined as a withdrawal temporarily from enrollment at a university. Methods : Data was collected through in-depth individual interviews from 2013 to 2016 and analyzed with Colaizzi's phenomenological methodology. The participants were interviewed once or twice, for 30minutes to 50minutes per interview. Results : Ten theme-clusters were identified from 21 themes. These theme-clusters were divided to 4 divisions as when they made the decision for the stop-out, during their stop-out period, when they went back to school and the meaning of their stop-out. 'A difficult situation to continue the study', 'Uncertainty about their decision and anxiety of the future' are 2 theme-clusters for when they made the decision for the stop-out, 'Conflict and anxiety', 'Novel and free time', 'Improving family relationship and finding new relationship' are 3 theme-clusters for during their stop-out period, 'Anxiety for the returning to school', 'New relationship and sense of relief' are 2 theme-clusters for when they went back to school, and 'Making a present for me', 'An opportunity for the emotional growth', 'Recovery of learning will' are 3 theme-clusters for the meaning of their stop-out that they gave to it. Conclusions : The stop - out of K.M.S. began at the hope that they want to take the lead for their lives. And they would find themselves more mature after the experience of their stop-out. This result could be a basic reference for the counselling of the faculty working with K.M.S.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2453-2458
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• 2012

Background: The healthcare needs of cancer patients are complex and persons involved in their caregiving process are faced with many issues that need to be addressed. The entire family and particularly the person taking on responsibility for patient care develop expectations from healthcare professionals, especially nurses. Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of a home education program provided to caregivers of cancer patients on the level of their perceived social support and problems in caregiving. Interventions/Methods: The caregivers of thirty seven cancer patients of 2,400 registered people in a family center were given an educational program in this descriptive and cross-sectional study twice a week for a month during the period of March 2011 - April 2011. Results: Of all caregivers, 56.8% were between the ages 36-40, 94.5% were female, 91.9% had received no education on caregiving, 81.0% stated that they mostly felt physically and mentally inadequate in their caregiving. Perceived Social Support from the family indicated a significant difference at $8.05{\pm}4.38$ before and $11.7{\pm}4.97$ after the education. A comparison of the mean scores of caregivers on emotional issues before and after the education revealed the following: spiritual distress scores were $2.54{\pm}0.69$ before and $2.44{\pm}0.43$ after the education; hopelessness scores, $2.24{\pm}0.59$ before and $2.23{\pm}0.38$ after the education; ineffective individual coping was $3.89{\pm}1.42$ before and $2.45{\pm}0.59$ after the education; competing needs in decision-making were $3.54{\pm}0.69$ before and $2.10{\pm}1.24$ after the education; depressive feeling were $3.01{\pm}1.53$ before and $2.02{\pm}0.99$ after the education (p<0.05). Conclusions: Positive effects of home education on levels of perceived social support and caregiving problems of caregivers of cancer patients were observed. Home educational programs for caregivers of cancer patients are important for both better understanding of the requirements of their patients and themselves.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2002

This study addresses the need to adopt teaching-learning approaches in physical therapy education that develop links between theory and clinical practice in a meaningful way. Problem-based learning (PBL) is presented as a useful way to educate physical therapy for the future. The essential characteristics of problem-based learning include: curricular organization around problems rather than disciplines; an integrated curriculum rather than one separated into clinical and theoretical components; and an inherent emphasis on cognitive skills as well as on knowledge. PBL as implemented in the health sciences, is an educational method in which the focus of learning is a small-group tutorial in which students work through health care scenarios. The goals of the health care scenarios are to provide a context for learning, to activate prior knowledge, to motivate students, and to stimulate discussion. Learning is student-centered rather than faculty-centered, and self-directed learning is emphasized. Whereas the former focuses on critical thinking and clinical judgement, the latter's emphasis is on clinical competency. The physical therapist (PT) program at Cheju Halla college is a partial integrated problem-based curriculum. The history and process of PBL in general and in the PT program are reviewed. Long-term advocates of PBL stress that it is the only known method for preparing future professionals to be able to adapt to change, learning how to reason critically, enabling a holistic approach to health.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3983-3988
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer though preventable is still the leading cause of cancer death among women secondary to breast cancer. Persistent infection with HPV has been causally linked to the disease. A school based HPV vaccination program was introduced in late 2010 in Malaysia and nurse support is essential for its success. Objectives: To determine nurses knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and its vaccines, and factors associated with their knowledge. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working at primary health clinics in Kelantan from mid-June till the end of July 2014. Its involved 330 nurses selected through multistage random sampling. A validated self-administered questionnaire consisting of 11 items for the knowledge domain and eight items for the attitude domain was used. Results: The response rate of the study was 93.7%. The mean knowledge and mean attitude (SD) scores were 5.37 (1.76) and 29.8 (3.51) respectively. Only 24% knew that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and 67% correctly answered that Gardasil vaccine can protect against four types of HPV. Nearly 60% of participants wrongly answered that HPV vaccines cannot be offered to sexually active women. Likewise, 70.9% participants were not aware that HPV vaccine may be appropriate for females aged 9 through 26 years. Though 90% of participants believed that the vaccine is safe, nearly half of them were unsure about efficacy. From multiple linear regression analysis, among the factors tested only participant's level of education showed a statistically significant association with the HPV knowledge score (p <0.001). Conclusions: This study indicates nurses have favorable attitudes towards HPV vaccination; however they have significant knowledge deficit and major misunderstanding in critical knowledge items. Among the factors tested, nursing qualification is the only factor that is significantly associated with the nurses knowledge score.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6115-6119
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• 2012

Introduction: Increasing prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and its association with cervical cancer as a leading cause of death make it necessary to evaluate and improve the public knowledge, especially of university students, about this cause of disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study of knowledge and attitude of a total 669 students from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences was therefore performed with a modified validated questionnaire, arranged into 5 parts and containing 55 questions, in July 2011. Questions were directed to study socio-demographic characteristics of the participant, knowledge about HPV disease, transmission route, relationship with cervical cancer, predisposing factors, and participants attitude toward people with HPV infection. Results: All of the participants were Moslem with a mean age $25.6{\pm}5.33$ years of age. All of the participants had heard of HPV, and acquired their knowledge through university courses (90.6%); the majority of them knew that HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and a potential cause for genital warts but general knowledge about details was not high. Mean knowledge score of residents and post graduate midwifery and nursing students was high as compared to other groups (P<0.001). Statements that indicated the presence of fear to communicate with people suffering HPV and people's avoidance to rely on babysitting of these patients were observed. Educational level (${\beta}$=0.21, P<0.001), age (${\beta}$=0.18, P=0.002,) and smoking (${\beta}$=-0.11, P=0.006) were predicted to effect knowledge. Conclusions: Moderate level of knowledge about HPV among medical university students makes it necessary to set effective national public health efforts on HPV education and prevention considering he excess of young population in Iran vulnerable to cervical cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6027-6032
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• 2012

Purpose: To identify cancer patient and relatives beliefs, information needs, information-seeking behavior and information sources about cancer and treatment. Methods: This research was conducted at two hospitals of a university. Data was collected via questionnaires and the Turkish version of the Miller Behavioral Style Scale (MBSS) to assess information-seeking behavior. The sample included 82 patients and 54 relatives. Results: Patients were receiving treatment mostly for breast, gynecologic, lung cancer and leukemia/ lymphoma. All of them indicated that they want to be informed by a doctor about their diagnosis and treatment first. Other information sources were internet, media and nurses. The majority of the patients and half of their relatives agreed that "cancer is curable and preventable disease". Only 2.5% of patients agreed with the statement "I don't want to get information about disease which disturbs me". According the data obtained from MBSS; the mean patients MBSS score ($6.41{\pm}3.2$) was higher than their relatives ($5.46{\pm}3.1$). Respondents with higher education and younger age indicated more information-seeking behavior. Conclusions: Patients and their relatives differ in some of their information-seeking behavior. Patients beliefs and their strategies for coping with their illness can constrain their wish for information and their efforts to obtain it. Healthcare professionals need to assess and be sensitive to the information-seeking behavior of cancer patients and their relatives.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4415-4419
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• 2013

Background: Measuring effects of cancer on family caregivers is important to develop methods which can improve their quality of life (QOL). Nevertheless, up to now, only a few tools have been developed to be used in this group. Among those, the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Scale (CQOLC) has met minimum psychometric criteria in different populations in spite of conflicting results. The present study was conducted to evaluate reliability and validity of CQOLC among Turkish cancer family caregivers. Materials and Methods: The CQOLC was administered to 120 caregivers, along with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Medical Outcomes Study MOS 36- Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Internal consistency and test-retest stability were used to investigate reliability. Construct validity was examined by using known group method, convergent, and divergent validity. For the known group method, we hypothesized that CQOLC scores would differ between depressed and non-depressed subjects. We investigated convergent validity by correlating scores for CQOLC with scores for other similar measures including SF-36 and STAI. The MSPSS was completed at the same time as CQOLC to provide divergent validity. Results: The values for internal consistency and test-retest correlation were 0.88 and 0.96, respectively. The CQOLC discriminated those who were depressed from those who were not. Convergent validity supported strong correlations between CQOLC scores and two main component scores (PCS, MCS) in SF-36 although there was a weak correlation between CQOLC and STAI scores. Regarding divergent validity, the correlation between CQOLC and MSPSS was in the low range, as expected. Conclusions: The Turkish CQOLC is a reliable and valid tool and it can be utilized to determine QOL of family caregivers.