PURPOSE
The study aimed to investigate the effects of leg strength exercise for elderly women on their muscle strength, flexibility, and frequency of urinary incontinence.
METHODS
The participants were 117 elderly women. The data were collected between June and November 2017. The leg strength exercise was performed for 60 minutes, twice a week, for 24 weeks. Exercise classes were for 60 minutes including 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, 40 minutes of strength exercise, and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises. The muscle strength, flexibility, and frequency of urinary incontinence were measured before and after the leg strength exercise. The results were analyzed with χ2 test and, repeated measures ANOVA using the SPSS/WIN 22.0 program.
RESULTS
After the leg strength exercise, the leg strength significantly increased after 3 and 6 months each, and the flexibility of the leg significantly increased after 3 months. Additionally, frequency of urination before sleep significantly decreased after 6 months, and frequency of urination during bedtime also decreased. Moreover, frequency of urinary urgency and urge urinary incontinence significantly decreased.
CONCLUSION
The leg strength exercise had a positive effect on elderly women in terms of muscle strength, flexibility, and urinary incontinence. A follow-up study is needed to determine the long-term effects of the leg strength exercise.

Citations

• A Multisite Study on the Effect of a Urinary Incontinence Self-Management Program on Community-Dwelling Older Women in Korea
  Sunah Park, Aeyoung So
  Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing.2024; 51(1): 61.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a walking and resistance exercise on body composition and lipid profile in obese women.
METHODS
Fourty three women were assigned to experimental group (n=21) or control group (n=22). The walking and resistance exercise using elastic band was provided three times a week for 12 weeks. Weight, height, body mass index, body fat percentage, abdominal fatness, skeletal muscle mass, body fatness, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were measured before and after the program. Paired and independent t-tests were performed using SAS program.
RESULTS
Weight (t=-5.35, p<.001), body mass index (t=-4.12, p<.001), body fat percentage (t=-2.33, p=.026), and body fatness (t=-4.32, p<.001) were significantly decreased and skeletal muscle mass (t=2.09, p=.044) was significantly increased after the walking and resistance exercise. Also, total cholesterol (t=-3.03, p=.006) and LDL cholesterol (t=-2.70, p=.011) were significantly decreased and HDL cholesterol (t=2.05, p=.046) was significantly increased after the exercise program.
CONCLUSION
According to the study result, exercise led a positive outcome on obese women in their 30~40s. The walking and resistance exercise will contribute to the improving body composition and lipid profile in this population.

PURPOSE
This study was object to the effects of a resistance exercise combined with relaxation therapy on blood pressure, frequency of exercise and physical fitness in elderly women.
METHODS
Seventy three elderly women participated in an exercise program for 12 months. The exercise program consisted of stretching, massage and resistance training using thera-bands twice a week and 50 minutes in every sessions each week. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed using SAS.
RESULTS
After the exercise program there was a significant difference in systolic blood pressure, frequency of exercise, body fat, sitting to standing, walking 2 minutes, sitting on a chair and reaching, and standing on one leg with eyes opened. After 6 months, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and significant increase in frequency of exercise, body fat, sitting to standing and standing on one leg with eyes opened. In 12 months, there was a significant increase in body fat, 2 minutes walking, and sitting in a chair and reaching.
CONCLUSION
Resistance exercise combined with muscle relaxation therapy would have a positive effect on elderly women. We found that it was helpful for the elderly women in terms of physical fitness.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hand massage on fatigue, sleep satisfaction and blood pressure of the aged in a long-term care facility.
METHODS
The data were collected from June to August 2008. The subjects were randomly recruited from a long-term care facility in Junnam Providence and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 22) or control group (n = 22). Hand massage was carried out every other day in the evening for two weeks. Massage was administered to each forearm and hand for 10 minutes. Descriptive statistics, x2-test and t-test were performed using SAS program.
RESULTS
In the experimental group, the fatigue (p = .017) was significantly lower and the sleep satisfaction (p = .043) was significantly higher than for the control group.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of the results of the study, hand massage can be recommended for the elderly with sleep disturbance to reduce fatigue.

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to identify the effects of diabetes education and telephone counseling on depression in diabetic patients. METHODS: 49 diabetic patients(24 in the control group and 25 in the experimental group) completed diabetes education and telephone counseling. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, paired t-test and unpaired t-tests. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in depression between the experimental and control groups. But, Depression scores were much decreased in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: Depression decreased following the diabetes education and telephone counseling. These findings indicate that diabetes education and telephone counseling could be one of the way to decrease depression.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and learning needs on coronary artery disease in diabetic patients by glycemic control.
METHODS
The subjects consisted of 188 patients at the hospital who had diabetes mellitus. Data was obtained using a knowledge and learning needs questionnaire from January to April 2006.
RESULTS
Treatment method, the levels of fasting blood glucose(FBG), and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (PP2hr) showed meaningful differences between normo-glycemic group(HbA1c<7%) and hyper-glycemic group (HbA1c> or =7%). The levels of knowledge on coronary artery disease by glycemic control tend to show higher in normo-glycemic group. Etiology and prevention of coronary artery disease were significantly higher in normo- glycemic group than in hyper-glycemic group. The levels of learning needs on coronary artery disease by glycemic control tend to show higher in normo-glycemic group. The learning needs on items of diet control were higher in normo-glycemic group than in hyper-glycemic group.
CONCLUSION
On the base of these results, we should focus on the coronary artery disease education for hyper-glycemic group. Also individual coronary artery disease educational program should be developed for the patients with different level of knowledge and learning needs.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to compare symptoms, medical therapies, and nursing interventions with terminal cancer patients during the last four weeks of their lives in a hospice unit and general units.
METHOD
For the descriptive survey study, data were collected by reviewing the medical records of 243 patients who died of terminal cancer at K hospital in Seoul. The data was analyzed by using Chi-square test and t-test.
RESULT
The study findings are summarized as follows: There were higher frequencies in physical symptoms of constipation, itching sensation, pain, sleeping disturbance, soreness and dysuria for those patients in the hospice unit than those patient in general units. All emotional symptoms were recorded significantly higher for those patients in the hospice unit than those in general units. Regarding the major medical interventions, pain management was used more significantly for those patients in the hospice unit, but antibiotic therapy and resuscitation were used more significantly for those patients in general units.
CONCLUSION
The hospice unit provided more comprehensive nursing interventions including psychological, spiritual, and family cares as well as physiological care for terminal cancer patients. The facts showed that those patients who would need hospice care in general units should be referred to the hospice unit at an appropriate time.