Reliability and Validity of the Clinical Competency Scale for Nursing Students

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate clinical competency of nursing students and to examine the validity and reliability of the scale. METHODS: The Clinical Competency Scale was formed through modification of Lee's Clinical Competency Scale that was originally developed in 1990. The Clinical Competency Scale was applied to 203 nursing students. Construct validity, item convergent and discriminant validity, concurrent validity, and internal consistency reliability of the scale were evaluated. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis supported the construct validity with a five factor solution; that explained 63.6% of the total variance. Concurrent validity was demonstrated with the Nursing Competence Scale (r=.78, p < .001). Cronbach's α coefficient for the scale was .96. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the Clinical Competency Scale has relatively acceptable reliability and validity and can be used in clinical research to assess clinical competency for nursing students.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Cancer Stigma Scale

PURPOSE: In this study the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Cancer Stigma Scale (KCSS) was evaluated. METHODS: The KCSS was formed through translation and modification of Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigma Scale. The KCSS, Psychological Symptom Inventory (PSI), and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) were administered to 247 men and women diagnosed with one of the five major cancers. Construct validity, item convergent and discriminant validity, concurrent validity, known-group validity, and internal consistency reliability of the KCSS were evaluated. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis supported the construct validity with a six-factor solution; that explained 65.7% of the total variance. The six-factor model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (Q (χ2/df)= 2.28, GFI=.84, AGFI=.81, NFI=.80, TLI=.86, RMR=.03, and RMSEA=.07). Concurrent validity was demonstrated with the QLQ-C30 (global: r=-.44; functional: r=-.19; symptom: r=.42). The KCSS had known-group validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the 24 items was .89. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the 24-item KCSS has relatively acceptable reliability and validity and can be used in clinical research to assess cancer stigma and its impacts on health-related quality of life in Korean cancer patients.

Effects of a Multicultural Course on the Multicultural Acceptability and Competency of Nursing Students / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of a multicultural course on nursing students' multicultural acceptability and competency. METHODS: The research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group, non-synchronized pre- and post-test. The experimental group (n=28) took 13 weeks of the multicultural course, while the control group (n=28) received only regular classes over the same period. Pre- and post-tests were done to identify the effects of the program. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using the PASW 18.0 program. RESULTS: All indices of multicultural acceptability and competency in the experimental group were significantly higher than that of control group after the program, except for two: universality (a measure of multicultural acceptability) and multicultural awareness (a measure of multicultural competency). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the multicultural course was effective in elevating the level of multicultural acceptability and competency among nursing students.

Related Factors to Quality of Life among Hospitalized Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between quality of sleep, symptom cluster, depression, environmental disorder, and quality of life among hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS: The subjects were 114 patients who underwent chemotherapy for colon cancer, gastric cancer, gynecologic cancer and breast cancer. They were recruited from the cancer center of a university hospital. Data were collected from August 4th to 30th, 2011. The questionnaires included the Korean sleep scale A (quality of sleep), MDASI-K (symptom cluster), the environmental sleep disturbing scale, Zung's depression scale, and the Korean version of EORTC QLQ-C30. The collected data was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 19.0 program. RESULTS: Functional QOL was negatively associated with symptom QOL (r=-.798, p<.001). Symptom cluster, depression, & spouse (46.3%) were the most powerful predictors for functional QOL (46.3%) and symptom QOL (53.4%). CONCLUSION: It is evident that oncology nurses need to evaluate two dimensions of quality of life for cancer patients, for example, functional and symptom QOL. We recommend nurses develop specific protocols for relieving physical symptoms and alleviating depression, and furthermore test the effectiveness of them.

Sexual Function of Breast Cancer Survivors and Healthy Women : A Comparative Study / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the level of sexual function among breast cancer survivors as compared with that among healthy women. METHOD: A total of 208 women participated in this study: 103 breast cancer survivors attending self-help group and 105 community-residing healthy women in G city. A self-reported questionnaire with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to obtain data. Data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 14.0 K+ for descriptive statistics, t-test, and two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The sexual function score of breast cancer survivors was significantly lower than that of healthy women, respectively 14.9+/-9.9 and 20.6+/-11.1 (p<0.001). The sexual function of recurrent breast cancer survivors was significantly lower than that of women without recurrence. However, there were no significant differences in the sexual function score according to the cancer stage, period since diagnosis, and types of cancer treatment modality. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the importance of sex-related counseling and educational programs to improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

Comparisons of Quality of Life, Sexual Function, and Depression in Sexually Active or Inactive Groups of Women with Mastectomy / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to compare quality of life, sexual function, and depression between a group with sexually active women and the other with sexually inactive women who undertaken mastectomy. METHODS: Participants were 106 breast cancer patients who had spouse and participated in self-help group in Gwangju, Korea. The questionnaires were consisted of Quality of Life Index-Cancer Version (Q.L.I.-C), self-rating depression scale, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 14.0 K+ for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANCOVA, and MANOVA. RESULTS: There were no homogeneity at age, job, educational years between sexually active vs. inactive groups. In sexually active group, mean age was 46.1, having job 34.5%, bachelor's degree 38.2%, and pre-menopause 79.2%; for the inactive group 49.6, 10.4%, 12.5%, and 52.7% seperately. There were significant differences in quality of life, sexual function, and depression between two groups when four covariates were controlled. The quality of life and sexual function in sexually active group were significantly higher than inactive group(p<0.001). The depression in sexually active group was significantly lower than inactive group(p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that nurses are needed to counsel and intervene psychosexual approach especially sexually inactive women with breast cancer during the recovery period.

Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on the Relaxation of Clitoral Corpus Cavernosum in Rabbit / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of Korean Red Ginseng(KRG) extract on the relaxation of the clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbit clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle strips were mounted in organ chambers to measure isometric tension. The strips were contracted with phenylephrine(5 x 10(-6) M), and the responses to KRG extract(1~20 mg/ml), nitric oxide inhibitor(N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME), vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) receptor antagonist, KCl were examined. The cGMP content of the strips was measured by radioimmunoassay after various dose of KRG extract. RESULTS: The KRG extract(1~20 mg/ml) relaxed the clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner up to 95%. The relaxation effect of KRG extract was significantly inhibited by L-NAME(10(-4) M) in clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle. The KRG extract also inhibited the contraction induced by depolarization with 10, 20, 40 mM of KCl. The KRG extract(1, 5 mg/ml) increased the accumulation of cGMP in clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that KRG extract has a relaxing effect on the clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbit. These effects are in part mediated by the NO-cGMP pathway and a hyperpolarizing action.

Measurement of Vaginal Blood Flow using Laser Doppler Flowmetry in Rabbit / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: One of the problems using laser doppler flowmetry is variability in the measurements. The purposes of this study were to investigate the regional differences of vaginal blood flow using laser Doppler flowmetry and to suggest a method to enhance the accuracy of measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In New Zealand White female rabbits(3.0~3.5 kg, n=10), vaginal blood flow was measured by laser doppler flowmetry using a surface probe. Flow was measured at the anterior, posterior, left, and right side of vaginal wall in each vaginal introitus and proximal 2 cm of the vaginal wall. Each site was measured 3 times separately. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Regional vaginal blood flows(ml/min/100 gm tissue) at the anterior, posterior, left, and right vaginal wall were 19.7+/-8.7, 19.6+/-7.3, 19.3+/-7.8, 18.8+/-7.2 at vaginal introitus and 27.3+/-8.8, 18.9+/-7.5, 22.6+/-7.1, 20.8+/-5.7 at the proximal 2 cm of vaginal introitus, respectively. Differences were not statistically significant(p> 0.05), as there was a wide range of variation. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal blood flow did not show any regional differences in the distal part of the rabbit vagina. Repeated measurements may decrease the variation of vaginal blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry.

Efficacy of the 3rd Generation Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotriptor (Piezolith 3000(R)) for Treating Patients with Urinary Tract Calculi / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Piezolith 3000(R) is one of the 3rd generation lithotriptors that uses double layered piezoelectric shock waves for the treatment of urinary stone. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the Piezolith 3000(R) lithotriptor and we compared it with the previous Piezolith 2300(R) lithotriptor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 500 patients with urinary calculi who had been treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) from January 2002 to December 2003, but complete follow up data was available for only 385 cases. The distribution of stones, the success rate and the number of ESWL sessions according to the size and location of the stones, the auxiliary procedures and their complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 172 cases with renal stone and 213 cases with ureteral calculi. The success rate, defined as being stone-free or having asymptomatic residual fragments measuring 3mm or less, was 82.0% for the renal stones and 93.0% for the ureteral calculi. The overall success rate for all the calculi was 88.1%. The mean number of sessions was 3.6 for the renal stones and 2.3 for the ureteral calculi. The overall mean number of sessions was 2.8. All the treatments were performed without analgesia or sedation except for one child (5 years old) who was given oral sedation. Any serious complications or side effects such as renal hematoma were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The Piezolith 3000(R) lithotriptor allows shorter treatment sessions and it has more comfortable positioning tools to focus on the stone. It also has the advantage of being anesthesia free and a lower morbidity rate (e.g. pain). Yet we couldn't find any difference of the success rate between the previous standard piezo-system and the Piezolith 3000 .