No abstract available.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence medication adherence and self-care among low-income older adults with hypertension.
METHODS
A sample of 297 low-income older adults with hypertension was recruited from June 30 to July 30, 2010. Data collection was done using a face-to-face interview with structured questions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and path analysis.
RESULTS
Subjective health status, duration of hypertension, number of drugs excluding antihypertensives, body mass index, knowledge about hypertension, sense of coherence, benefit, barrier, and self-efficacy were identified as significant predictors. Subjective health status and duration of hypertension, knowledge, depression, and self-care showed direct effects on medication adherence. Depression had the strongest direct influence on medication adherence. Body mass index, benefit, self-efficacy, and depression showed a direct effect on self-care. Sense of coherence was a strong predictor of depression which significantly influenced on medication adherence and self-care.
CONCLUSION
For enhancing medication adherence and self-care, it is suggested that a psycho-education program reducing depression and increasing knowledge about hypertension should be provided into low-income older adults with hypertension.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the utilization of the Transtheoretical Model(TTM) for Korean nursing studies on health behaviors and identify the strategies for improvement of further studies.
METHODS
From a main and seven branch journals on the Korean Society of Nursing Science, a total of 26 studies, which had been conducted based upon the TTM, were selected. The selected studies were analyzed from the September of 2006 to the February of 2007 by the criteria; name of journal, year of publication, health behavior, population, sampling, sample size, research design, instrument (translation process, reliability and validity), and statistical analysis.
RESULTS
TTM on the Korean nursing studies was mainly applied for smoking cessation or exercise with elderly or middle aged women. The research findings could not be generalized with the limitation of the use of non representative samples. The most frequently used research design was a cross-sectional survey. Some studies had a lack of reliable and valid instruments, so that the internal validity of the study findings may be threatened. Statistically related problems increased type I error and decreased power.
CONCLUSION
Korean nursing studies based on TTM can be the beginning stage in quality and quantity.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the present study was to explore the meaning of quality of life in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease.
METHODS
A grounded theory method guided data collection and analysis. A total of 16 adult outpatients with chronic cardiovascular disease was participated. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Coding was used to establish different concepts and categories. A theoretical sampling technique was used to obtain diverse data from many relevant categories.
RESULTS
Seven categories were extracted, and they divided into constructing and intervening factors of quality of life. Constructing factors were uncertainty, recovery in the sense of control and maintaining social life. Intervening factors were symptom experiences, social support, taking care of themselves, and reflecting life. 'Keeping restrictive conditions under control' was emerged as a core category. The meaning of quality of life in patients with cardiovascular was explained according to the levels of keeping restrictive conditions under control.
CONCLUSION
The result of this study may contribute for health professionals to understand the quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the present study was to analyze and evaluate prior studies published in Korea on the cardiovascular disease-related quality of life, in order to make recommendations for further research. METHODS: A total of 15 studies were selected from four databases(Digital library of Research Information Center for Health, Korea Medical Database, MedRic, and National Assembly Library). The selected studies were analyzed according to criteria, such as diagnosis/operation, used instrument, generic/specific instrument, dimension of quality of life, translation/ back-translation, sample size, reliability, validity, responsiveness, number of items, type of scale, time required, and independent variables. RESULTS: Of the 15 cardiovascular disease-related quality of life studies, approximately half of them were conducted with hypertension or ischemic heart disease patients. All studies asserted that the concept of quality of life had multidimensional attributes. With respect to the questionnaire used for measuring the quality of life, only one study used a cardiovascular disease specific- instrument and most studies did not consider whether or not the validity of their instrument had been established. In addition, when using questionnaires developed in other languages, only one study employed a translation/ back-translation technique. The types of variables tested for their influence on quality of life were quite limited. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to develop a reliability and validity established cardiovascular disease specific- quality of life for Korean patients and to identify associated new variables.

This study was conducted to develop and evaluate guidelines for cancer patients' symptoms management such as nausea/vomiting, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, and oral mucositis. Based on the literature review, assessment path to identify each stage of five symptoms were also developed. Guidelines for symptom management of each stage of the symptoms were developed. Guidelines then were evaluated by a panel of experts. Finally, 95 cancer patients were recruited and asked to use the guidelines for their symptom management Levels of understanding of and satisfaction with assessment path and management guidelines were surveyed. Prevalence rate of five symptoms varied ranging from 20% (diarrhea) to 47% (nausea/vomiting). Regarding the level of understanding of each symptom most of the cancer patients indicated that they were easy and sufficient. Regarding the easiness of use of the symptom management guidelines, most of cancer patients indicated that they were easy to use. Regarding the nursing intervention on each symptom, most of cancer patients indicated that they were easy and helpful. More information was added with feedback from the patients. The result of this study has implications on development of customized patient education materials based on assessment path and symptom management guidelines.

PURPOSE
This study was to investigate symptom occurrence related to the disease characteristics of patients with cancer.
METHOD
A total of 301 patients with cancer participated in this study. The participants were recruited from University Hospitals located in Seoul, Wonju, Kwangju, Daegu, and Pusan. Data collection was performed by using a questionnaire on symptom occurrence. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS computer program that included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and t-test. 1) Yonsei University (Wonju College of Medicine) 2) Ajou University 3) Home Health-Hospice Research Institute at Yonsei University 4) Research Institute of Nursing Science at Chonnam National University 5) The Institute of Nursing Science at Kyungpook National University 6) Research Institute of Wholistic Nursing Science at Kosin University.
RESULT
The mean score of fatigue was the highest (3.24), followed by loss of appetite, lack of concentration, change in appearance, pain, insomnia, change in bowel pattern, nausea/ vomiting, coughing, and dyspnea. Most symptoms were significantly correlated with each other. The level of symptom occurrence in patients with lung cancer or cervix cancer was significantly higher than the level in patients with stomach cancer. Patients receiving radiation therapy or a combined therapy of radiation therapy and chemotherapy experienced significantly higher level of symptom occurrence than those receiving chemotherapy only. Also, female patients experienced higher level of symptom occurrence than male patients did.
CONCLUSION
The sites of cancer, types of treatment, and gender influence the level of symptom occurrence of patients with cancer. Thus, these variables should be considered when assessing and planing for symptom occurrence of patients with cancer.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to identify predicting factors of the performance of breast self-examination (BSE) among Korean middle-aged women based upon the Health Belief Model.
METHOD
A descriptive design was used for this study. A total of 309 convenience samples were recruited from Yonsu-Gu, Inchon. The Champion's Health Belief Model Scale was used to measure the health belief related variables of susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, confidence, and health motivation. The performance of BSE asked of it was as ever or never performed during the last year. The obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics, x2-test, t-test, and logistic regression.
RESULT
Results showed that 32% had ever BSE last year. Age and BSE education among demographic characteristics were significantly associated with the performance of BSE. Thus, these demographic variables were added to the logistic regression analyses with the health belief variables. As a result, age, BSE education, health motivation, and confidence significantly explained the performance of BSE.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that it is important that the development of BSE educational programs increase confidence and motivation, particularly for middle aged-Korean women.