• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.617-627
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate fatigue and its related factors in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Method: The subjects of this study consisted of 98 patients receiving radiotherapy. Subjects were recruited from C University Hospital radiation oncology unit located in Gwangju from March to May, 2001. Questionnaire and medical records were used for data collection. The obtained data was analyzed using SAS program that included descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Post-hoc test(Fisher's LSD) and Pearson's correlation coefficients. Result: The fatigue perceived by the subjects was middle level ($5.59{\pm}1.59$) and 72.4% of them reported greater than 5 points. The subjects in no religion, low income, and spouse caregiver groups experienced the higher fatigue than another groups, respectively. The subjects in nasopharyngeal cancer, head & neck radiation site, and analgesics medication groups did, experience fatigue as well. The fatigue not only positively correlated with symptom distress, disruption of usual activity, sleep dissatisfaction, and mood state, but also negatively with less family support. Conclusion: Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy experience the middle level of fatigue and it correlates with the multi-dimensional factors. However, further research is needed to identify the changes in fatigue over the radiotherapy period through longitudinal design and to develop nursing intervention for fatigue decrease.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.894-904
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore decision making experiences of Korean women with breast cancer who underwent breast reconstruction with/after a mastectomy. Methods: Data were collected during 2015-2016 through individual in-depth interviews with 10 women who had both mastectomy and breast reconstruction, and analyzed using phenomenological method to identify essential themes on experiences of making a decision to have breast reconstruction. Results: Five theme clusters emerged. First, "expected loss of sexuality and discovery of autonomy" illustrates various aims of breast reconstruction. Second, "holding tight to the reputation of doctors amid uncertainty" specifies the importance of a trust relationship with their physician despite a lack of information. Third, "family members to step back in position" describes support or opposition from family members in the decision making process. Fourth, "bewilderment due to the paradox of appearance-oriented views" illustrates paradoxical environment, resulting in confusion and anger. Lastly, "decision to be made quickly with limited time to oneself" describes the crazy whirling process of decision making. Conclusion: Findings highlight aims, worries, barriers, and facilitators that women with breast cancer experience when making a decision about breast reconstruction. Deciding on breast reconstruction was not only a burden for women in a state of shock with a diagnosis of breast cancer, but also an opportunity to decide to integrate their body, femininity, and self which might be wounded from a mastectomy. These findings will help oncology professionals provide effective educational counselling before the operation to promote higher satisfaction after the operation.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2013

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to 1) explore nurses' attitudes toward death, coping with death, understanding and performance regarding end-of-life (EOL) care, 2) describe correlations among the above factors, and 3) determine the factors affecting nurses' EOL care performance. Methods: Study participants were 187 nurses stationed at departments that post higher mortality than others such as the oncology department, intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department (ED). Data were collected from three urban university-affiliated hospitals. Multi-dimensional measure was performed for study instruments such as "attitude toward death", "coping with death" and "understanding and performance regarding EOL care". Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regressions. Results: First, nurses showed significantly different attitudes toward death by age, religion, work unit and EOL care education. Younger nurses tend to score low on the understanding of EOL care, and ED nurses' score was lower than their peers at the oncology department and ICU. Second, EOL care performance was positively correlated with attitude toward death (P<0.001), coping with death (P=0.003) and understanding of EOL care (P<0.001). Third, nurses' EOL care performance was affected by work unit (P<0.001) and understanding of EOL care (P<0.001). Conclusion: Because nurses' performance was influenced by their work unit and understanding of EOL care, they should be provided with appropriate training to improve their understanding of death and EOL care according to work unit.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify key educational and counseling needs of breast cancer patients in Korea. The data were collected from 102 breast cancer survivors. The instrument consisted of 66 items and the items were divided into five treatment stages: pre-admission, admission, discharge, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The subjects' mean age was 50 years and most of them were housewives. All had a mastectomy and among them 69 had chemotherapy and 42 had radiation therapy. Average post-surgical period was 47 months. The mean score of the subjects' needs was 2.99 out of 4 points. The highest educational need was to know about the method of recurrence prevention. In terms of the treatment stages, mean score for pre-admission was 3.09, admission 3.06, chemotherapy 3.03, after discharge 2.95, and radiation therapy 2.80. In the pre-admission period, etiology, diagnostic tests, treatment and prevention of the breast cancer were needed the most. During the admission period, symptom management after the operation had the highest score. After discharge, prevention of recurrence had the highest score. The results of this research will help in developing educational and counseling programs by understanding the specific needs of breast cancer patients based on the treatment stages.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2002

Gastric Carcinoma is very plentiful and significant disease in Korean community. The reason is that Gastric Carcinoma is not a simply finding disease with unclear symptoms for early detection. Early detection and early medical treatment of a cancer patient is an important instrument of reducing the mortility rate. The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of audiovisual information with videotape infulencing on knowledge and attitude of early detection of gastric carcinoma. The research design was a non-equivalent control group, pre-post test. The subjects of this study were 52 members of D-taxi drivers which was located in Pusan. The subjects were twenty six experimental group and twenty six control group. The experimental group was collected from January 15, 1999 to January 26, 1999. The control group was collected from the research was 28 minutes video program which was turning out the form of documentary on the based practical experience. And also the experimental tool was used measurung instrument which measured a dependent, variable throughout the consulatation of an percentage, average, standard deviation, ${\chi}^2-test$ and t-test using spss/pc program. The result of this research were as follows : 1)" The experimental group which was offered the video program, should be higher in knowledge of early detection of the gastric carcinoma than the control group" was supported. (t= -7.754, p=.000) 2) "The experimental group which was offered the video program, should be higher in attitude of the early detection of the gastric carcinoma than the control group" was supported. (t=-4.321, p=.000) Therefore, in conclusion, this study that the audiovisual information with videotape influencing on knowledge and attitude of early detection of gastric carcionma was very representational experience throughout the video of documentary form on the based practical experience was much effected the change of the knowledge and the attitude regarding to the early detection of the gastric carcinoma was verified.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.230-235
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• 2004

We previously reported that the phytoprotein extracted from Acanthopanax senticosus (PA) had anti-carcinogenic anti-metastatic activity via increase of inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication. In the present study investigated the immunomodulatory mechanism of phytoprotein isolated from the stem bark of Acanthopanax sentic (PA). PA was found to significantly stimulate macrophages producing TNF-α and IL-1β in vitro. It also showed tumori activity indicating that PA had the ability to stimulate macrophage directly. Moreover, PA induced the CDB/sup +/ CTL cy responses to recognize antigen on the B16-BL6 melanoma cells. Treatment of PA with B16-BL6 melanoma cells increased the proliferation of splenocytes compared with untreated control. These results demonstrate that PA immunomodulatory activity suggesting a useful anti-tumor agent applicable to treatment and prevention of cancer.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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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.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2008

This study was conducted to examine the effect of an individualized educational program by multidisciplinary staffs on the need for caring among patients with radiotherapy. Methods: A quasi experimental study with one group was designed to examine the effect. A total of 48 adult patients were recruited from a university hospital in G-city, Korea from July, 2006 to June, 2007. The level of patients' need for caring during radiotherapy was assessed at the pre- and post-education by a trained research assistant. The level of patients' need for caring on radiotherapy was measured with a 20-item questionnaire. Results: Paired t-test showed that the level of patients' need was reduced at the post-test compared to pre-test (t=3.40, p=0.002). The level of need was higher among the older than 65 yr (F=4.82, p=0.034), and patients who had education years less than 10 yr (F=4.40, p=0.042) and not a spouse (F=5.97, p=0.019) at the pre-test, while there were no difference according to participants' characteristics at the post-test. Conclusions: This multidisciplinary and individualized education program was effective on reducing the level of need for caring during radiotherapy. Therefore, for long-term self-management, further educational strategies based on patients' needs through multidisciplinary teamwork need to be developed and applied.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9767-9771
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• 2014

Background: Social support is an important factor in psycho-social well-being of cancer survivors. There is little information about level of social support and its predictors among cancer survivors in Iran or other Middle Eastern countries. The aims of present study were to determine the social support and its prediction factors among Iranian cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study 187 cancer patients in one educational center and one private oncology office in northwest of Iran participated using a convenient sampling method. The data collection tool consisted of a researcher-prepared checklist and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Assessment (MSPSS). Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software with descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The total score of MSPSS was 68 from a possible score between 7 and 84. Participants believed that they received a high level of support from their family members and significant others. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that single and depressed cancer survivors and participants with lower levels of physical activity believed that they received lower levels of social support. Conclusions: Iranian cancer survivors receive high levels of social support and family members are the most important source of this support. In planning any supportive care program for Iranian cancer survivors this strength should be considered. Especially, single and depressed and patients with lower levels of physical activity need more attention.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2002

The Cancer Patients are rapidly growing and it became one of the main cause of death. Lately with the effect of Chemotherapy, drastically improved patients quality of life and also Prolonged Life of Cancer Patients. But the Chemotherapy not only Kill the Cancer cells but also harm to normal cells witch Cancer lots of side effect. This study was designed to identify the effectiveness of patient education to reduce side effect and help promote self care. The date was collected from October, 2001 to February, 2002 by questionary Survey Method. The subjects were 24 patients Who were and Anti Chemotherapy C University Hospital. Educated booklet contained what is Chemotherapy, what are the side effects, and to promote Self care, Pre test was given after 3-4 weeks re admission period. Analysis data was done by SPSS Program Paired t-test was used to differentiate Knowledge and difference of performing self care. Relationship in between Knowledge and promoting Self care was used Pearson Correlation. As the result of education, knowledge of self care and performance was drastically increased but the relationship in between knowledge of self care performed was not significant. Therefore it is proposed as follows: 1) Further research with experienced subjects to differentiate experience group and control group. 2) Education program need to be develop and standardize for anti cancer Chemotherapy patient. 3) During 6 cycle of Chemotherapy what is ideal number of in order to get the best result.