• Title/Summary/Keyword: Patient well-being

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The Study on Service Design Development for Pharmacy Users: Using Smart Phone Application

  • Lee, Dong-Min;Park, Hye-Jung;Lee, Dong-In
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.93-100
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    • 2012
  • Objective: This study is to review the current state of services offered to pharmacy users, and develop a service design converging a prescription service and a smart phone application service in order to enhance patients' experience at pharmacies and home. Background: Under the new medical system; separation of prescribing and dispensing drugs, a doctor writes a prescription to their patients and patients have their prescription filled at the pharmacy. As the number of flue, allergy and atopy patients has increased, waiting lines have been longer at pharmacies. Besides, the current medical service system lacks of providing proper information on prescribed pills to patients. There are already services offered during waiting times such as offering free drinks, magazines or suggesting general drugs which you can buy without prescription, however they neither cover the current medical service's shorts nor shorten the waiting time. Method: I researched objective and perceived waiting times reduction methods, the current service status at pharmacies, and the government's policy direction in a medical service. Also, I observed a patient's journey from the hospital to pharmacy and then home. I examined the circumstance at pharmacies, patients' behaviors and their thoughts during their journey, and extracted three main goals to design a service in order to help patients have positive perception during the waiting time; (1) to reduce the perceived time by the way of visualizing time and offering readings about what patients consider necessary, (2) to educate patients what they are into and how to get through, (3) to establish trust among patients, doctors and pharmacists. Based on three goals, I designed a structure and a wireframe for a new service application of smart phones. Results: With a new service design for pharmacy users, users can track their medical record and visit the information about their current medical treatments anytime. Also the service helps patients build reliable relationships with doctors and pharmacists. Conclusion: Experience is not just an activity but series of multiple activities. The serving range of a medical service should not be determined by stakeholders but user's holistic experience. By approaching a service design with a holistic vision, it can enrich not only a temporary experience but also a whole life well being. Application: Since there are already many service applications advising patients about their illness and finding right doctors, this service design is focused on the experience from getting a prescription till feeling better. The next move is to combine those two parts medical services and design an integrated service application. As a prescription is going to be coded in numbers, we might consider to design an un-attended pharmacy which can shorten huge amount of time for filling prescriptions.

A cross-sectional study of the association between mobile phone use and symptoms of ill health

  • Cho, Yong Min;Lim, Hee Jin;Jang, Hoon;Kim, Kyunghee;Choi, Jae Wook;Shin, Chol;Lee, Seung Ku;Kwon, Jong Hwa;Kim, Nam
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.31
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    • pp.22.1-22.7
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    • 2016
  • Objectives This study analyzed the associations between mobile phone call frequency and duration with non-specific symptoms. Methods This study was conducted with a population group including 532 non-patient adults established by the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The pattern of phone call using a mobile phone was investigated through face-to-face interview. Structured methods applied to quantitatively assess health effects are Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey where a higher score represents a higher greater health effect. Results The average daily phone call frequency showed a significant correlation with the PSS score in female subjects. Increases in the average duration of one phone call were significantly correlated with increases in the severity of headaches in both sexes. The mean (standard deviation) HIT-6 score in the subgroup of subjects whose average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer was 45.98 (8.15), as compared with 42.48 (7.20) in those whose average duration of one phone call was <5 minutes. The severity of headaches was divided into three levels according to the HIT-6 score (little or no impact/moderate impact/substantial or severe impact), and a logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between an increased phone call duration and the headache severity. When the average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer, the odds ratio (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the moderate impact group were 2.22 and 1.18 to 4.19, respectively. The OR and 95% CI for the substantial or severe impact group were 4.44 and 2.11 to 8.90, respectively. Conclusions Mobile phone call duration was not significantly associated with stress, sleep, cognitive function, or depression, but was associated with the severity of headaches.

A Study for the Development of BoreanNursing TheoT : A Humanistic Approach based on Shinhyung,- Naekyungpyun in Dongeuibogam (한국 간호이론 정립을 위한 연구 I-동의보감을 중심으로 본 인간관-)

  • 신경림
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.141-155
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    • 1997
  • The universe has its order of yang and yin : all creation are continuously generated, grow and die, which is the results of the harmonious operation by yang and yin. Among all creation, the human is one of the samjae(three bases of the world, which are heaved earth, and man) and he is from the combined sukhi(a superior khi) of yang and yin. And human life itself is basically a condensed jonghyul (life blood) and at the same time it is only a transient joining of sadae(the four elements of earth, air, fire and water). Yang and yin, the two axes of the world, therefore. are the most crucial and fundamental concept to explain the generation and extinction of alt creation, to understand people in time and space. to find out the reality of human life as an organism, and, at last, to observe the state of human health. If so, what is the most essential idea in yang and yin\ulcorner It is taegeuk(chungkhi) or tao(of one yang and one yin). If the property of heaven and earth is kongon, taegeuk is a khi and tao a principle. And it can be said that a human body is merely a union of hyung and khi, that human life is an essence of sambo, jeongkhishin, that human health is a harmoninzed coordination of yang and yin because it is from the combined sukhi of yang and yin. Hyung. a vessel for sambo, jeongkhishin, is at the bottom and shin is on the top : the personality and the disposition of individuals differ according to their working. Thus. on the basis of the above discussion. the following can be offered as some suggestions for Korean Nursing Theory. Though human beings are part of Nature, they are the most eminent microcosm among all creation. So, as a subjet for nursing, a person should be understood with khijok kyoryu rather than with logical thinking, then mutual trust between the patient and the nurse can be established. The health of a person depends on the harmony of yang and yin. To be healthy, a person should consider harmonization with Nature(including his surroundings) as well as a balanced human relationships in society. Moreover, it is crucial for each person to obtain hoshim as a method of mind control rather than to only treat the symptoms of disease.

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Evaluation of Setup Usefulness of CBCT using Rando Phantom (인체 팬텀(Rando Phantom)을 이용한 CBCT의 Setup 유용성 평가)

  • Jang, Eun-Sung
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.11 no.7
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    • pp.234-238
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    • 2011
  • This paper will evaluate the usefulness of 3D target of CBCT by comparing human body's posture and position when simulated treatment is being carried out as well as human phantom posture and position using CBCT which is applying OBI. From the Rando Phantom which is located in the datum point moved in parallel and rotationary direction using CBCT. Then the mean and standard deviation difference on images location difference that are acquired were compared with real the Rando Phantom' moved distance. To make a plan of simulated treatment with the same procedure of real radiation therapy, we are going to setup the Rando Phantom. With an assumption that the position is set in accurate place, we measured the setup errors accroding to the change of the translation and rotation. Tests are repeated 10 times to get the standard deviation of the error values. The variability in couch shift after positioning equivalent to average residual error showed lateral $0.2{\pm}0.2$mm, longitudinal $0.4{\pm}0.3$mm, vertical $-0.4{\pm}0.1$mm. The average rotation erroes target localization after simulated $0.4{\pm}0.2$ mm, $0.3{\pm}0.3$ mm, and $0.3{\pm}0.4$ mm. The detection error by rotation is $0{\sim}0.6^{\circ}$ CBCT 3D/3D matching using the Rando Phantom minimized the errors by realizing accurate matching during simulated treatment and patient caring.

Evaluation of Peri-procedural Anticoagulation Drug Therapy undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (심방세동 환자의 고주파 도자절제술 전.후의 항응고약물요법 사용실태 분석)

  • Kim, Su-Hyun;An, Sung-Shim;Kim, Soon-Joo;Bang, Joon-Seok;La, Hyen-Oh
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.159-164
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    • 2010
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RA) is being used to manage atrial fibrillation (AF) with patients failed at the $1^{st}$-line anti-arrhythmic medications. Patients undergoing this procedure are at increased risk of thromboembolism after ablation, and anticoagulation management surrounding the ablation remains controversial. Although no conclusive recommendations can be made, published guidelines and data support therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin. The purpose of this study was to analyze effectiveness of current therapy and to find factors fluctuate International Normalized Ratio (INR) values in patients undergone RA followed by anticoagulation service (ACS). Retrospective review was conducted utilizing database in a hospital. Among 110 patients under warfarin around ablation between January 2006 to September 2007, 54 patients were selected and allocated into 2 groups: Group A included 47 who discontinued warfarin after ablation, while 7 in B continued the medication. Information on demographics, amount and length of warfarin dosing, INR values and measuring frequencies, and the causing factors on INR fluctuation were abstracted. Differences were analyzed using chi-squared test, Fisher's Exact test, and unpaired Student t-test. Mean amount of warfarin before and after surgery was 4.0 mg, 4.1 mg in Group A and was 5.1 mg, 4.6 mg in Group B, respectively. Average duration of warfarin doing before ablation was 73.7 days in Group A, 129.9 days in B with no significant difference (p = 0.312). The duration time of warfarin on groups after ablation lasted several months. The number of checking INRs was 4.1 and 7.6, respectively. Inter-individual variability of INR fluctuations were $2.1{\pm}0.6$ in Group A and $2.2{\pm}0.7$ in B which were not significantly different (p = 0.062). 164 cases of decreased INR were: 'omission in taking medication, stressfulness and headache, 'increased intake of high vitamin K foods', 'lifestyle change of increased physical activities', and 'increase of food-intakes'. To the contrary, 36 cases of increased INR were: 'reduce of food-intake', 'use of non-prescription drugs', 'reduction in physical activities', and 'excessive restriction on food-intake', consecutively. In conclusion, the study validated therapeutic outcomes of RA patients who we treated with standard guideline and demonstrated 9 factors of INR fluctuations in the patient. A well-trained, pharmacist-monitored anticoagulation service could reduce the risk of adverse effects and prevent complications in patients with AF around RA operation.

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring : A Review of Techniques Used for Brain Tumor Surgery in Children

  • Kim, Keewon;Cho, Charles;Bang, Moon-suk;Shin, Hyung-ik;Phi, Ji-Hoon;Kim, Seung-Ki
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.61 no.3
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    • pp.363-375
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    • 2018
  • Intraoperative monitoring (IOM) utilizes electrophysiological techniques as a surrogate test and evaluation of nervous function while a patient is under general anesthesia. They are increasingly used for procedures, both surgical and endovascular, to avoid injury during an operation, examine neurological tissue to guide the surgery, or to test electrophysiological function to allow for more complete resection or corrections. The application of IOM during pediatric brain tumor resections encompasses a unique set of technical issues. First, obtaining stable and reliable responses in children of different ages requires detailed understanding of normal age-adjusted brain-spine development. Neurophysiology, anatomy, and anthropometry of children are different from those of adults. Second, monitoring of the brain may include risk to eloquent functions and cranial nerve functions that are difficult with the usual neurophysiological techniques. Third, interpretation of signal change requires unique sets of normative values specific for children of that age. Fourth, tumor resection involves multiple considerations including defining tumor type, size, location, pathophysiology that might require maximal removal of lesion or minimal intervention. IOM techniques can be divided into monitoring and mapping. Mapping involves identification of specific neural structures to avoid or minimize injury. Monitoring is continuous acquisition of neural signals to determine the integrity of the full longitudinal path of the neural system of interest. Motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials are representative methodologies for monitoring. Free-running electromyography is also used to monitor irritation or damage to the motor nerves in the lower motor neuron level : cranial nerves, roots, and peripheral nerves. For the surgery of infratentorial tumors, in addition to free-running electromyography of the bulbar muscles, brainstem auditory evoked potentials or corticobulbar motor evoked potentials could be combined to prevent injury of the cranial nerves or nucleus. IOM for cerebral tumors can adopt direct cortical stimulation or direct subcortical stimulation to map the corticospinal pathways in the vicinity of lesion. IOM is a diagnostic as well as interventional tool for neurosurgery. To prove clinical evidence of it is not simple. Randomized controlled prospective studies may not be possible due to ethical reasons. However, prospective longitudinal studies confirming prognostic value of IOM are available. Furthermore, oncological outcome has also been shown to be superior in some brain tumors, with IOM. New methodologies of IOM are being developed and clinically applied. This review establishes a composite view of techniques used today, noting differences between adult and pediatric monitoring.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Breast Cancers - Preliminary Results from a Tertiary Care Center in Eastern India

  • Nandi, Moujhuri;Mahata, Anurupa;Mallick, Indranil;Achari, Rimpa;Chatterjee, Sanjoy
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.6
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    • pp.2505-2510
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    • 2014
  • Background: The standard radiotherapy (RT) fractionation practiced in India and worldwide is 50Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks to the chest wall or whole breast followed by tumour bed boost in case of breast conservation (BCS). A body of validated data exists regarding hypofractionation in breast cancer. We here report initial results for 135 patients treated at our center with the START-B type of fractionation. Materials and Methods: From May 2011 till July 2012, women with all stages of breast cancer (excluding metastatic), who had undergone BCS or mastectomy were planned for 40Gy in 15 fractions over 3weeks to chest wall/whole breast and supraclavicular fossa (where indicated) followed by tumour bed boost in BCS patients. Planning was done using Casebow's technique. The primary end point was to assess the acute toxicity and the cosmetic outcomes. Using cosmetic scales; patients were assessed during radiotherapy and at subsequent follow up visits with the radiation oncologist. Results: Of the 135 patients, 62 had undergone BCS and 73 mastectomy. Median age of the population was 52 years. Some 80% were T1&T2 tumours in BCS whereas most patients in mastectomy group were T3&T4 tumours (60%). 45% were node negative in BCS group whilst it was 23% in the mastectomy group. Average NPI scores were 3.9 and 4.9, respectively. Most frequently reported histopathology report was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (87%), grade III being most common (58%), and 69% were ER positive tumours, and 30% were Her 2 Neu positive. Triple negative tumours accounted for 13% and their mean age was young (43 yrs.) The maximum acute skin toxicity at the end of treatment was Grade 1 in 94% of the mastectomy grouppatients and 71% in BCS patients. Grade 2 toxicity was 6% in mast group and 23% in BCS group. Grade 3 was 6% in BCS group, no grade 3 toxicity in mastectomy patients and there was no grade 4 skin toxicity in any case. Post RT at 1 month; 39% of BCS patients had persisting Grade I skin reaction which was only 2% in mastectomy patients. At 3 months post RT, 18% patients had persisting hyperpigmentation. At 6 months 8% patients had persisting erythema in the BCS group only. Some 3% BCS and 8% mastectomy patients had lymph edema till the date of evaluation. Cosmetic outcome in BCS patients remained good to excellent 6 months post surgery and radiotherapy. 1 patient of BCS and 3 patients of mast had developed metastatic disease at the time of evaluation. Conclusions: Hypofractionated RT is well tolerated in Indian population with reduced acute skin toxicity and good cosmetic outcome. Regimens such as these should be encouraged in other centers to increase machine output time. The study is on-going to assess long term results.

A study on the method of Macjin(脈診) in The Whang Di Nei Qing(黃帝內徑) (황제내경(黃帝內徑)에 나타난 맥진법(脈診法)에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Jang, Yong Woo;Lim, Jin Seok
    • Journal of Korean Medical classics
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.146-168
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    • 1998
  • This thesis is a study on the diagnostic theory and methods of Macjin(checking of pulse) as described in the Whang Di Nei Qing. There are four methods of Macjin in this text, namely: Dong Macjin(動脈法), Sam Bu Gu Who Macjin(三部九脈診). In Young Gi Gu Macjin(人迎氣口脈診法), Nei Qing's Gi Gu Macjin(內徑의 氣口脈法). Each method developed in it's own way, but they are all closely related and became the basis of today's Macjin. I examined the methods of Macjin in the Whang Di Nei Qing from a perspective of "change". The main questions of this study are: "What brought about the development of the different methods?". "How do the methods differ?", and "how did these methods evoke into today's Macjin?". The method of Macjin generated spontaneously from the observation and treatment of disease. Dong Macjin was the first method developed and became the basis of subsequent forms of Macjin. The accumulation of medical knowledge and the influence of oriental philosophy fueled the evolution of Macjin. Chronologically, Macjin methods developed starting with Dong Macjin and eventually into Sam Bu Gu Who Macjin. In Young Gi Gu Macjin, and Nei Qing's Gi Gu Macjin. The different methods of Macjin vary in how many pulse points are checked, and were established with simplicity and effectiveness in mind. Dong Macjin involves the checking the whole body. Sam Bu Gu Who Macjin involves nine points. In Young Gi Gu Macjin involves four points. and Nei Qing's Gi Gu Macjin involves two. In it's early development, the checking of a patient's pulse was used to diagnose only localized disorders in comparison with symptoms. It evolved with Oh Jang Mad(五臟脈, five main types of pulse) to be able to check internal organs with the introduction of Nei Qing's Gi Gu Macjin. After the division of Chon Kwan Chuck(寸關尺), it evolved further to be able to make a detailed diagnosis by using the result of pules checks. Nowadays, we can make 28 forms of diagnostic indices from these development. In conclusion, Macjin can be used practically and effectively in the diagnosis of disease. In using three methods of Macjin(In Young Gi Gu Macjin, Nei Qing's Gi Gu Macjin, and today's Gi Gu Macjin, which can determine the whole body's Siate of well-being) in conjunction with Dong Macjin(which helps pinpoint the localized disorder), an exact diagnosis can be obtained. I strongly feel that we should acquire objectivity by accommodating Macjin with modern methods of medicine.

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Quality of Life in Malay and Chinese Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Kelantan, Malaysia

  • Yusuf, Azlina;Hadi, Imi Sairi Ab.;Mahamood, Zainal;Ahmad, Zulkifli;Keng, Soon Lean
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.435-440
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    • 2013
  • Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Malaysia. A diagnosis is very stressful for women, affecting all aspects of their being and quality of life. As such, there is little information on quality of life of women with breast cancer across the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of life in Malay and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study involved 58 Malays and 15 Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer prior to treatment. Quality of life was measured using the Malay version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast-specific module (QLQ-BR23). Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Most of the women were married with at least a secondary education and were in late stages of breast cancer. The Malay women had lower incomes (p=0.046) and more children (p=0.001) when compared to the Chinese women. Generally, both the Malay and Chinese women had good functioning quality-of-life scores [mean score range: 60.3-84.8 (Malays); 65.0-91.1 (Chinese)] and global quality of life [mean score 60.3, SD 22.2 (Malays); mean score 65.0, SD 26.6 (Chinese)]. The Malay women experienced more symptoms such as nausea and vomiting (p=0.002), dyspnoea (p=0.004), constipation (p<0.001) and breast-specific symptoms (p=0.041) when compared to the Chinese. Conclusions: Quality of life was satisfactory in both Malays and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. However, Malay women had a lower quality of life due to high general as well as breast-specific symptoms. This study finding underlined the importance of measuring quality of life in the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, as it will provide a broader picture on how a cancer diagnosis impacts multi-ethnic patients. Once health care professionals understand this, they might then be able to determine how to best support and improve the quality of life of these women during the difficult times of their disease and on-going cancer treatments.

Uncertainty, Self-Efficacy & Coping in Parents′ of Children with Cancer (암환아 부모의 질병에 대한 불확실성, 자기효능감 및 대처정도)

  • Oh Won Oak;Park Eun Sook
    • Child Health Nursing Research
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.274-285
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    • 1998
  • Improvements in therapy have resulted in increasing numbers of children being successfully treated for cancer. However the agrressiveness of therapy & uncertainty about prognosis are associated with many adverse effects, psychological as well as physical for both the child & family. The purpose of this study were to measure the degree of perceived uncertainty, self-efficacy & coping, and then to examine the relationship between the perceived uncertainty, self-efficacy & coping in parents of children cancer patients. The subjects of this study consist of 140 parents with pediatric cancer, registered at pediatric cancer ward & Out Patient Department. Data was collected from July 1st to August 15th 1998. The tools used in this study were Mishel's the Parents' Perception of Uncertainty Scale (28 item, 4 likert scale), Shere's Self-Efficacy Scale (17 item, 5 likert scale) & Folkman & Lazarus Ways of Coping Checklist(34 items, 4 likert scale). Data was analyzed by t-test, Anova, Pearson Correlation coefficient. Results of this study are summerized as follows 1. Parents perceived their uncertainty to be slightly high(Mn 2.41). The degree of perceived uncertainty by the four components were followed as lack of clarity (2.60), unpredictability(2.59), ambiguity(2.51) & lack of information(1.90). The degree of perceived uncertainty of parents with pediatric cancer revealed to be influenced significantly by the family outcome, reliability about health care provider & perceived severity of illness. 2. The range of parents' self-efficacy was measured iron 35 to 85 point, so revealed slightly high. The degree of self-efficacy related to be Influenced signiicantly by the sequency of child birth, family religion & degree of perceived support. 3. The degree of parents' coping was measured slightly high (Mn 2.78). The degree of coping related to be influnced significantly by the sequency of child birth, number of sible & degree of perceived support. 4. parents' uncertainty was related inversely to the parents' self-efficacy(r=-.38, p<.001) & coping(r=-.26, p<.001). And also parents' self-efficacy was positively related to coping(r=.56, p<.001) From the above results, it can be concluded that predicting & controlling parents' uncertainty with children cancer are necessary to improve positive coping strategies. This information may be used as a foundation for developing nursing interventions to decrease perceived uncertainty & to foster self-efficacy & coping for parents with children cancer.

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