Quality of life of Korean and Korean American older adults: a comparison.

This study compared the quality of life (QOL) between Korean and Korean American older adults. The participants included 306 older adults (155 Korean, 151 Korean American) age 65 and older who met eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. No significant difference was found in QOL between Korean and Korean American older adults. Differences in the subcategories of QOL between the two groups in cluded higher scores for the Korean older adults in physical functioning, social functioning, and body pain. Scores for the subcategories of role limitations due to physical problems and vitality were higher for the Korean American older adults. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the powerful predictors of QOL for both groups were self-esteem and activities of daily living (ADLs)/instrumental ADLs (IADLs). It is recommended that nursing interventions to increase self-esteem and performance of ADLs/IADLs be developed to enhance QOL among older adults.

[Experiences of nurse turnover].

PURPOSE: This study was designed to search for nursing intervention strategies centering around the meaning structure of the nurse's turnover experience by applying phenomenological methods. METHODS: The participants were 6 nurses in small and medium sized hospitals who had experienced at least 1 turnover. Data were collected used MP3 records. The data analysis was done by Giorgi (1985) method. RESULTS: The results were divided into the following categories: 1) Careless decision: wrong decisions, imprudent desire, insufficient patience, unclear future, 2) Inappropriate working environment: irregular working hours, high workload, poor working environment, insufficient understanding of related divisions, lack of opinion collection, low salary, 3) Interpersonal relations problems: discord with colleagues, difficulty in relationships with others, difficulty in daily lives, 4) Lack of specialization: feeling of inertia, lack of role identification, lack of self identification, 5) Inappropriate coping: regret with clinical challenges, difficulty with a new environment, repentance, expectation, relative humility, 6) New self-dignity: expectation, new challenge, relaxing lives, decisions based on future-oriented confidence. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study will offer profound information on the nurse's turnover experience and provide basic raw materials for improving the quality of nursing performance and contribute to the development of hospital organization.

Auricular acupuncture for insomnia: duration and effects in Korean older adults.

This study examined the duration and effects of auricular acupuncture on insomnia in a sample of 28 Korean older adults. The design was a group, pretest-posttest, repeated-measures study. Measures were the Sleep State Tool and the Sleep Satisfaction Tool. The effects of auricular acupuncture on insomnia among Korean older adults were significant. The duration effects of auricular acupuncture were maintained for 2 weeks. Clinicians should consider providing auricular acupuncture as an alternative method for improving quality of sleep in older adults.

[Effects of muscle electric stimulation on chronic knee pain, activities of daily living, and living satisfaction for korean elderly women].

PURPOSE: This study was to examine effects of muscle electric stimulation on chronic knee pain, activities of daily living, and living satisfaction for Korean elderly women. METHODS: The design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest study. Subjects were 60 (experimental: 30, control: 30) elderly women 65 years old or above with good orientation and communication. The experimental treatment was electric stimulation on both thigh quadriceps muscles for 15 minutes per time, 3 times per week, for a total of 12 weeks. Measures were the S-F McGill Pain Questionnaire and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale for chronic knee pain, activities measurement of daily living for activities of daily living, and living satisfaction measurement for living satisfaction. Data was analyzed through the SPSS Win 12.0. RESULTS: Chronic knee pain by S-F MPQ (t=43.563, p=.000) and chronic knee pain by AIMS (t=31.364, p=.000) were significantly decreased in the experimental group, and the activities of daily living (t=124.353, p=.000) and living satisfaction (t=71.268, p=.000) were significantly increased in the experimental group for Korean elderly women. CONCLUSION: Muscle electrical stimulation decreased chronic knee pain, and increased the activities of daily living and living satisfaction for Korean elderly women. Further studies for muscle electric stimulation need to be done.

[Development of a scale to measure Korean ego-integrity in older adults].

PURPOSE: Ego-integrity in older adults is the central concept related to quality of life in later life. Therefore, for effective interventions to enhance the quality of later life, a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults is necessary. This study was carried out to develop a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults. METHODS: This study utilized cronbach's alpha in analyzing the reliability of the collected data and expert group, and factor analysis and item analysis to analyze validity. RESULTS: Seventeen items were selected from a total of 21 items. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was .88 for the 17 items of ego-integrity in the older adults scale. Three factors evolved by factor analysis, which explained 50.71% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: The scale for measuring ego-integrity in Korean older adults in this study was evaluated as a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity.

Nursing students' and faculty members' knowledge of, experience with, and attitudes toward complementary and alternative therapies.

This study was designed to describe and compare the knowledge, experience, and attitudes of nursing faculty and students (undergraduate and graduate) regarding complementary and alternative therapies (CAT). A cross-sectional survey (N = 153) of undergraduate (n = 41) and graduate (n = 57) students and faculty (n = 55) was conducted in one school of nursing. Most participants were White (87%) and female (78%). More than 70% of the students and faculty agreed that clinical care should integrate the use of CAT. More than 85% desired more education about CAT, especially in undergraduate nursing curricula. More than 65% agreed that the clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner role should include the use of CAT in their practice, and more than 50% agreed that they had some knowledge of CAT, but only approximately 30% had some experience with CAT. Faculty and students expressed positive attitudes toward integrating CAT into the undergraduate nursing curriculum and nursing practice. Faculty development and nursing research are needed to facilitate curriculum change and integrate CAT into nursing programs at all levels.

[A study of factors that influence the promotion of healthy behavior in the elderly according to types of residency].

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate the factors influencing health promoting behaviors in elderly individuals according to types of residency. METHOD: This was a descriptive study. The subjects were comprised of 243 elderly aged 65 years or over living in 3 large cities. The instruments used for this study were a health promoting lifestyle, perceived health status, geriatric depression short form scale-Korea, social support scale, and self-efficacy. The data was analyzed using SPSS Win 12.0. RESULT: Powerful predictors of a health promoting lifestyle were depression, self-efficacy, and perceived health status for the elderly living at home. In the cases of the elderly living in institutions, a powerful predictor of a health promoting lifestyle was identified as social support. CONCLUSION: For the operation of long-term care insurance, a service for home care programs is needed for the elderly living at home in order to reduce depression and to increase self-efficacy and perceived health status. In addition, social support provided by health-care professionals should be developed to promote a healthy lifestyle for the elderly living in institutional environments.

[Effects of individual reminiscence therapy on older adults' depression, morale and quality of life].

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of individual reminiscence therapy on older adults' depression, morale, and the quality of life. METHODS: The design was a single-group pre-test and post-test study. Subjects consisted of 31 older adults from two senior centers and a welfare center in Seoul. Individual reminiscence therapy was applied to study subjects four times, once a week for an hour at each time. Measurement tools were the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea (GDSSF-K) for depression, Mun Ae-ri's (1996) scale for morale, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) for the quality of life. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and pearson correlation. RESULTS: The application of individual reminiscence therapy reduced older adults' depression (t=-5.65, p=.000), and enhanced older adults' morale (t=4.65, p=.000). The application of individual reminiscence therapy improved older adults' quality of life (t=5.00, p=.000). CONCLUSION: Findings of the study suggest that individual reminiscence therapy may be applied as a nursing intervention that contributes to the improvement of older adults' quality of life, reduces their depression, and enhances their morale.

[The effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHOD: The study was designed using a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects consisted of 36 patients (Experimental group: 18, CONTROL GROUP: 18) who received hemodialysis in three hospitals located in Seoul. The measures were a Music Preference Questionnaire (MPQ), anxiety measurement, and depression measurement. Data was collected from December 26, 2004 to April 2, 2005 through questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS 10.0 program. RESULT: The first hypothesis that patients undergoing hemodialysis who received music therapy would have less anxiety than patients undergoing hemodialysis who did not receive music therapy was supported (F=8.05, p=.008). The second hypothesis that patient undergoing hemodialysis who received music therapy would have less depression than patients undergoing hemodialysis who did not receive music therapy was supported (F=11.86, p=.002). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that music therapy may be applied as a method of nursing intervention contributing to the improvement of quality of life by reducing their anxiety and depression of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

[Effects of auricular acupuncture on insomnia in Korean elderly].

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of auricular acupuncture on insomnia in Korean elderly. METHOD: The study design was a triangulation study. Subjects were 40 elderly who were 65 years and over in Seoul, and 10 subjects for a qualitive study who were saturated with interviews and observation. The first auricular acupuncture was applied for three days, and this was applied to subjects on a 5 times series. The quantative data was analyzed by SPSS PC+ and the qualitive data was analyzed by driving of core meaning and abstract concepts using a semi-structural interview and observation. RESULT: 1. The experimental group had higher significant sleep scores than that of the control group (t=32.739, p=.001). 2. The experimental group had higher significant self- satisfaction scores on sleep than that of the control group (t=30.049, p=.001). 3. In the qualitive study, insomnia characteristics before application of auricular acupressure therapy were confirmed by physical dysfunction, recall of past, and psychological dysfunction. Insomnia characteristics after application of auricular acupressure therapy were confirmed by recovery of physical dysfunction, improving recall of past, and recovery of psychological dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Auricular acupuncture was effective on insomnia in Korean elderly.

[The effects of a health promotion program for elderly].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and to evaluate a health promotion program for elderly. METHOD: Subjects were 63 elderly women (experimental group: 33, control group: 30). The study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The data was analyzed with an SPSS Window program, then the data was computed for the purpose of each study. RESULT: 1. In designing the program, the experimental group was given health education--2 times per week, for 8 weeks--and they participated in recreation programs and stretching exercises five times a week. 2. Stretching exercises including health education, significantly affected the total Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, health behavior and self-efficacy. 3. The body fat weight was not significantly affected by the stretching exercises. CONCLUSION: This program was tested to promote the health of elderly and verified as an effective nursing intervention program, because the outcome of this program ascertains that this program enhances self efficacy of exercise, reduces Cholesterol and triglyceride levels' increases HDL-cholesterol, and helps promote the understanding of heath behavior.

Complementary and alternative therapies in nursing curricula: a new direction for nurse educators.

The scope of nursing practice is expanding to include the use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT). This expansion is occurring because of changes in professional and societal attitudes toward the use of such therapies. In this article, we discuss the use of CAT and the development of medical and nursing educational programs related to these therapies in Eastern and Western societies. In addition, we identify future directions for incorporating content on such therapies into nursing education programs in the United States. We suggest that undergraduate nursing programs need to introduce the philosophy of Oriental medicine and content on some of the common therapies and that graduate nursing programs that include content on the use of CAT in nursing practice can possibly be developed.

[The concept analysis of ego-integrity in the elderly].

PURPOSE: Ego-integrity in Erikson's stage theory is used frequently among health team members related to the care of the elderly and has specific meanings within the context of quality of life in later life. However, the concept of ego-integrity in the elderly has not been well articulated in the literature. This study was conducted clarify and conceptualize the phenomena of ego-integrity in the elderly. METHOD: A Hybrid Model of concept development was applied to develop a concept of ego-integrity, which included a field study carried out in Seoul, South Korea using in-depth interviews with old adults who were admitted as a right person for research subject according to attributes of ego-integrity analysed in the theoretical phase. RESULTS: The concept of ego-integrity emerged as a complex phenomenon having meanings in several different dimensions which encompassed several attributes. CONCLUSIONS: Ego-integrity is a concept having needs that should be treated in a specific way and it is possible to enrich the meaning and methods to manage ego-integrity in nursing interventions for promoting quality of life so that its application may have effects that have positive impacts on the elderly's well being.

[Comparative study on the sleep patterns, satisfaction of sleep, and sleep enhancement behaviors between hospitalized and non-hospitalized elderly].

PURPOSE: This study was to compare and analyze sleep patterns, satisfaction of sleep, and sleep enhancement behaviors between hospitalized and non-hospitalized elderly. METHODS: Subjects were 201 older adults, who were hospitalized patients or living in U-city, Gyung-gi province. Data was collected from June 10 to August 25, 2007, and was analyzed by the SAS program. RESULTS: 1) Non-hospitalized elderly had better sleep patterns than hospitalized elderly patients. 2) There was a strong positive correlation between sleep patterns and satisfaction of sleep in both groups. 3) In hospitalized elderly, there were significant differences in sleep patterns and satisfaction of sleep by month. 4) In non-hospitalized elderly, there was a significant difference in sleep patterns by presence or absence of spouses. There was a significant difference in satisfaction of sleep by those living with others. There were significant differences in sleep enhancement behaviors by age, religion, length of time, and sponsors. CONCLUSION: To relieve sleep disturbances of elderly, comprehension of sleep of the aged by nursing care givers should be obtained. Also, improving environments and elder's self-esteem with religious consideration and preparation of financial conditions are needed to promote the sleep of hospitalized and non-hospitalized elderly.

Comparison of health-promoting behaviors of noninstitutionalized and institutionalized older adults in Korea.

PURPOSE: To compare the health-promoting behaviors of noninstitutionalized and institutionalized Korean older adults. DESIGN: Descriptive survey. METHODS: The study sample included 214 Korean older adults (108 noninstitutionalized and 106 institutionalized) aged 65 years or over living in Seoul and Daegu, Korea. Data were collected from April to August, 2003. Measures were the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. FINDINGS: The average scores for HPLP, self-esteem, and self-efficacy of noninstitutionalized older adults were higher than those of institutionalized participants. Noninstitutionalized participants also scored significantly higher than did the institutionalized participants on self-esteem and self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Studies were focused on the effects of various nursing interventions for health promotion are needed for older adults, especially those in institutions.

Effects of acupuncture therapy on insomnia.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture therapy, commonly used in clinical practice in oriental cultures, has the potential to produce a positive effect with patients experiencing insomnia. AIM: The purposes of this systematic review were: (1) to assess the trends across intervention studies using acupuncture for insomnia from 1975 to 2002, (2) to examine dependent variables, and (3) to evaluate the effects of acupuncture therapy on insomnia in older people. METHOD: Data were collected from November 2001 to January 2003. A wide range of electronic databases was searched using the keywords 'insomnia', 'acupuncture' and 'experimental design'. Papers were included if they were published in the English language between 1975 and 2002 and described an experimental study using acupuncture therapy to treat insomnia. Eleven reports met these criteria. FINDINGS: Most of the studies had been conducted since 1990. The findings showed that the first author was usually a Chinese medical doctor (n = 9) employed in a traditional department of medicine. Most of the papers were published in two journals: International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Data were limited because of the small number of studies available. Half the studies had small samples (50 subjects or fewer), which were composed mainly of older women who had a variable duration of insomnia from 3 days to 34 years. The main method used to assess outcomes was questionnaire. All the studies reported statistically significant positive results. CONCLUSION: The results of this review suggest that acupuncture may be an effective intervention for the relief of insomnia. Further research, using a randomized clinical trial design, are necessary to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture. More work is also needed to promote the long-term therapeutic effects of acupuncture and to compare it with other therapies for insomnia.

The effects of meridian exercise on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem of female college students in Korea.

This study examined the effects of meridian exercise on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem of female college students in Korea. The effects of meridian exercise on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem were statistically significant (t = -7.982, P= .000; t= -8.814, P = .000; t = 9.649, P = .000) between the experimental and control group.