Causal Attributions and Quality of Life of Korean Breast Cancer Survivors

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was threefold: to explore the causal attributions of breast cancer, examine underlying factors of the attributes, and determine their relationship to quality of life among Korean breast cancer survivors. @*Methods@#The study used a descriptive correlational design, which included quantitative survey questionnaires and an open-ended question to complement the study. Three hundred and three breast cancer survivors were recruited from two university hospitals in South Korea, between January and April 2018. The causal attributions were explored using the Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised and an open-ended question. The survivors' quality of life was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer. The quantitative analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 software package; the ATLAS.ti 8 software was used for thematic analysis. @*Results@#Quantitative and qualitative data of 321 and 238 breast cancer survivors, respectively, were analyzed. “Stress and worry” and “diet or eating habits” were believed to be the two most likely causes of breast cancer. Eleven new causal attributes emerged from the analysis. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at an older age (p < .05), having received chemotherapy (p < .05), and holding nonbehavioral causal attributes (p < .001), were significantly related to lower quality of life. @*Conclusion@#There were differences between the survivors' beliefs on their causes of disease, and causal factors available from the literature. As the survivors' causal attributes were significantly related to their quality of life, healthcare providers should individually assess and incorporate these attributes into their care.

Causal Attributions and Quality of Life of Korean Breast Cancer Survivors

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was threefold: to explore the causal attributions of breast cancer, examine underlying factors of the attributes, and determine their relationship to quality of life among Korean breast cancer survivors. @*Methods@#The study used a descriptive correlational design, which included quantitative survey questionnaires and an open-ended question to complement the study. Three hundred and three breast cancer survivors were recruited from two university hospitals in South Korea, between January and April 2018. The causal attributions were explored using the Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised and an open-ended question. The survivors' quality of life was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer. The quantitative analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 software package; the ATLAS.ti 8 software was used for thematic analysis. @*Results@#Quantitative and qualitative data of 321 and 238 breast cancer survivors, respectively, were analyzed. “Stress and worry” and “diet or eating habits” were believed to be the two most likely causes of breast cancer. Eleven new causal attributes emerged from the analysis. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at an older age (p < .05), having received chemotherapy (p < .05), and holding nonbehavioral causal attributes (p < .001), were significantly related to lower quality of life. @*Conclusion@#There were differences between the survivors' beliefs on their causes of disease, and causal factors available from the literature. As the survivors' causal attributes were significantly related to their quality of life, healthcare providers should individually assess and incorporate these attributes into their care.

Methodological Issues in Nursing Research using IT Technology: A Discussion Paper

PURPOSE: Recent advances in computer and mobile technologies have brought increasing usages of IT technology in nursing research across nursing fields. Despite the increasing usages, there has been little discussion on methodological issues involved in nursing research using IT technology. This is a discussion paper to identify methodological issues in IT technology-based nursing research.METHODS: An analysis was done using content analysis on research team meeting minutes and research team members' research diaries in a clinical trial that tested the efficacy of a technology-based intervention. First, several major categories of IT technology-based nursing research are concisely summarized. Then, the method that was used for this analysis is presented.RESULTS: The findings are presented as themes reflecting methodological issues in IT technology-based research: (a) difficulties in recruitment due to necessary technology literacy; (b) facilitating recruitment through allowing the use of multiple languages; (c) participants' preferences for specific IT technology; (d) efforts needed to ensure technological security; (e) participants' preferences for design; and (f) necessary considerations on timing.CONCLUSION: Finally, future directions for nursing research using IT technology are proposed based on the identified issues.

Transcultural Nursing: Current Trends in Theoretical Works

PURPOSE: To explore the current trends in theoretical works related to transcultural nursing through an integrated literature review. METHODS: The literature on theoretical works related to transcultural nursing during the past 10 years was searched through multiple databases and reviewed to determine themes reflecting the current trends in theoretical works related to transcultural nursing. RESULTS: Through the review and analysis process, four themes reflecting the current trends in theoretical works related to transcultural nursing were found: (a) purposes of exploring, defining and clarifying, and reflecting; (b) various theorizing methods; (c) multiple sources of theorizing; and (d) clear linkages to nursing practice and research. CONCLUSION: Continuous efforts need to be made to further develop the theoretical works related to transcultural nursing to reflect changes in this ever-changing nursing world.

Transtheoretical Model Based Exercise Counseling Combined with Music Skipping Rope Exercise on Childhood Obesity

PURPOSE: The purpose was to evaluate the effects of a transtheoretical model (TTM) based exercise counseling offered with music skipping rope exercise on components of the TTM (stages of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy), body mass index, glucose, and lipid profile of overweight/obese children in Korea. METHODS: This study used a nonequivalent pretest and posttest experimental study design. A total of 75 overweight/obese children participated in the study. Eight sessions of exercise counseling combined with music skipping rope exercise for 12 weeks were offered for children in the experimental group, while one session of exercise counseling with music skipping rope exercise for 12 weeks was offered for children in the control group. Outcomes were measured at baseline, and 6 months after the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, self-efficacy significantly improved among children in the experimental group (p = .049), while these children maintained their baseline BMI at 6-month follow-up (p > .05). Among children in the control group, BMI significantly increased (p < .05). Fasting blood sugar significantly increased for both groups after the intervention (p < .05). However, a greater increase was observed for the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study partially supports the hypothesis that a TTM-based exercise intervention is effective in maintaining BMI and improving self-efficacy of overweight/obese children. The TTM-based counseling combined with exercise classes has potential to control weight among overweight/obese children, while involvement of parents and children in the development of the theory-based intervention may generate further benefits regarding health and well-being of overweight/obese children.

Health Habit, Perceived Health Status and Physical Health Status of Young Korean and Korean-Chinese Women: A Comparative Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare health habit, physical health status, and perceived health status between young Korean and Korean-Chinese women. METHODS: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional comparative survey. For this study, 114 Korean women were recruited in Seoul, South Korea and 64 Korean-Chinese women in Jilin Province, China through convenience sampling. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between health habit and perceived health status. Perceived health status, WHR, body density, flexibility, and muscle endurance were significantly lower in Korean women than in Korean-Chinese ones. Knee flexion and ankle dorsal flexion was significantly higher in Korean women than in Korean-Chinese ones. CONCLUSION: Further investigation is required to compare the two different groups that share the same ethnicity and similar culture but were born into different countries. A study such as this may provide answers regarding the influence of migrated transition on health.

Modulation of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle by Synthetic Bile Acid Derivatives / 대한해부학회지

This paper outlines the current understanding of cell cycle modulation and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by natural and synthetic bile acid. Bile acid homeostasis is tightly regulated in health, and the cellular and tissue concentrations of bile are restricted. However, when pathophysiological processes impair biliary secretion, hepatocytes are exposed to an elevated concentration of bile acids, which triggers cell death. In this context, we have synthesized several new bile acid derivatives. These synthetic bile acids modulate the cell cycle and induce apoptosis in several human cancer cells similar to the effects of natural bile acids. In human breast and prostate cancer cells with different tumor suppressor p53 status, synthetic bile acid induced growth inhibition and apoptosis, and these changes were associated with upregulation of Bax and p21WAF1/CIP1 through a p53-independent pathway. In Jurkat human T cell leukemia cells, the synthetic bile acids induced apoptosis through caspase activation. The synthetic bile acids induced apoptosis in a JNK-dependent manner in SiHa human cervical cancer cells through the induction of Bax and activation of caspases in PC3 prostate cancer cells and induction of G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle in HT29 colon cancer cells. The synthetic bile acids also induced apoptosis in four human glioblastoma multiform cell lines (e.g., U-118MG, U-87MG, T98G, and U-373MG) and one human TE671 medulloblastoma cell line. A chenodeoxycholic acid derivative, called HS-1200, significantly decreased the growth of TE671 medulloblastoma tumor size and increased lifespan in nonobese diabetic and severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. These findings suggest that these new synthetic bile acids, which are novel apoptosis mediators, might be applicable to the treatment of various human cancer cells.

Content Analysis of Experiences of Chest Pain in Women Who Underwent the Treadmill Test with an Impression of Angina Pectoris / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: Experience of chest pain may be different in women from that of men and this discrepancy may cause misdiagnosis of angina contribute to mortality by this disease in women. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of chest pain and responses to the symptoms in women. METHOD: A content analysis was conducted with interviewed data obtained from women who underwent the treadmill test RESULT: Seven major categories were identified from this content analysis: attributes of chest pain; accompanied symptoms; precipitating factors; relief strategies; family support; communication with physicians; and effects of chest pain on their lives. Characteristics of pain were described as heaviness, tightness, heating sensation, tearing, and others. Duration and intensity of pain varied in a wide range. Radiating pain presented in 9 patients, and the locations of radiation were throat, neck, shoulder arm and fingers. Women tended not to respond actively to their chest pain, and didn't get appropriate support either from their family or from their physicians when they reported chest pain. CONCLUSION: Women express non-typical as well as typical patterns of pain when they experience chest pain. Clinicians have to consider the variability of symptoms when they assess women with suspicions of angina.

Neglecting and Ignoring Menopause Within A Gendered Multiple Transitional Context: Low Income Korean Immigrant Women / 간호학회지

Researchers have rarely explored menopausal experience in the context of the totality of women's lives, subsequently making the picture of menopause incomplete, discrete and fragmented. Respecting the totality of women's lives, this study addressed how a vulnerable group of women-low income Korean immigrant women-experience menopause within a context of multiple transitions. This is a cross- sectional study using methodological triangulation. A sample of 119 first-generation Korean immigrant women aged 40 to 60 years, who were in low-income jobs, was recruited using convenience sampling methods. From the total sample, 21 peri- or post- menopausal women were recruited for in-depth interviews following the collection of the survey data. Questionnaires, short interviews, and in- depth interviews were used to collect data. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Thematic analysis was used to interpret interview data. The findings indicate that menopause was given the lowest priority amidst women's multiple and demanding roles within a gendered multiple transitional (immigration, work and menopause) context. The lack of language clarity to describe women's experience, cultural background, inadequate knowledge, and lack of social supports made menopause hidden, invisible, and inaudible. Conclusions and implications for nursing practice are guided by the goal of understanding women's experiences and meanings of menopause and supporting women through reflecting these experiences into their health care.