| Sukhee Ahn | 5 Articles |
PURPOSE
This study was to develop and test a theoretical model based on the revised health belief model explaining osteoporosis prevention behaviors among postmenopausal women under 65. METHODS This secondary data analysis included 342 postmenopausal women under 65 from original data sources of a total of 734 women. The measured instruments were scales for osteoporosis awareness, osteoporosis health belief scale (benefit, barrier, susceptibility, severity, and health motivation), self-efficacy, and osteoporosis prevention behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS The mean age of the subjects was 55.2 years and the mean age of menopause was 51.10. The hypothetical model of osteoporosis prevention behaviors was relatively fit. Osteoporosis prevention behaviors were significantly explained up to 62% by expectation factors (relative benefit, self-efficacy, health motivation) and modifying factors(knowledge only). Expectation factors of health belief had a mediation effect between modifying factors and prevention behaviors. CONCLUSION This study partially supported the revised health belief model for explaining osteoporosis prevention behaviors. It provides a basis for developing an educational program focusing on expectation factors and knowledge with the aim of behavioral changes for osteoporosis prevention. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise on muscle strength, balance, flexibility and bone mineral density among community dwelling elderly women. METHODS A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent comparison group was utilized, Elderly women were recruited from the community settings and assigned to either the treatment group (n=30) or the comparison group (n=34). Both groups completed the pretest and the posttest measures at six months with an 29.7% of dropouts. Tai Chi exercise was performed for 60 minutes, three times a week for 24 weeks. The study participants were referred to the sports clinic of the university hospital where an exercise therapist and a technician measured muscle strength, balance, flexibility, and bone mineral density without the knowledge of the group assignment. Data were collected from June 14, 2010 to May 27, 2011. RESULTS At the completion of 6 month Tai Chi exercise, the experimental group showed a significant difference in knee flexor strength (t=3.26, p=.002), flexibility (t=-2.93, p=.005), and bone mineral density in femur (t=2.20, p=.032), compared to the control group. CONCLUSION Tai Chi exercise could be performed safely to community dwelling elderly women and effective for preventing declining in physical function in this population. Whether or not this health benefits would lead fall prevention will require further study. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
The study aimed to apply Tai Chi exercise to patients with coronary artery disease for 6 months, and to examine changes on body composition, physical strength, and cardiovascular risks. METHODS: Applying a quasi experimental design with a nonequivalent control group, 90 subjects with cardiovascular disease were recruited at C university hospital. For 6 months, 44 subjects performed Tai Chi exercise once a week and daily home exercise, while 46 subjects did not. Body composition was assessed by body mass index, % body fat, and waist-hip ratio; physical strength by balance, mobility, flexibility, grip strength, and back muscle strength; and cardiovascular risk checklist for fixed and modifiable risk factors. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN program with ANCOVA to consider group differences at the pretest. RESULTS: The subjects were 66 years old in average. In 6 months, Tai Chi group improved significantly in balance, mobility, and flexibility with decreased modifiable cardiovascular risks after adjusting for the pretest scores. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi exercise was safely applicable to individuals with coronary artery disease, and effective in some measures of physical strength and modifiable cardiovascular risks. It could be an alternative exercise for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in this population.
PURPOSE
The study was to examine the effect of lumbar stabilization exercise on back pain, physical fitness, sleep, and depression in middle-aged women who have chronic back pain. METHODS With one group pre-post test design, 18 subjects who have had more than 6 months of back pain were recruited by convenience sampling in D metropolitan area. Lumbar stabilization exercise was based on Tai Chi for back pain program developed by Lam(2003). This program was mainly focusing on strengthening lumbar stabilizing muscle for one hour per session, twice a week for 20 weeks. Degree of back pain, back pain disability, sleep, and depression were measured at three time points(pretest, 12 weeks, and 20 weeks) by a structured study questionnaire. Physical fitness variables including waist flexibility, mobility, and back muscle strength were measured three times at health promotion center located in the university hospital. Data were analyzed by frequency, descriptive statistics, and repeated measures of ANOVA. RESULTS Mean age of subjects was 52 years(SD = 6.4). Most of them(90%) had suffered from back pain more than one year and 67% was taking medicine to relieve their back pain. Results showed that back pain score and disability score were not significantly decreased after the exercise. On physical fitness variables, however, waist flexibility(F = 3.50, p = .04) and mobility(F = 3.31, p = .04) were improved after the exercise. Quality of sleep(F = 4.48, p = .03) was improved gradually and depression scores were also decreased(F = 3.12, p = .05) after the exercise. CONCLUSION This lumbar stabilization exercise was not able to reduce chronic back pain, but could improve physical fitness and psycho-social variables for community dwelling women who have chronic back pain. Further study is needed to replicate this exercise with control group to confirm the positive effect.
PURPOSE
The purposes of this study were to identify the level of total symptom distress, uncertainty, depression and ways of coping in women with endometriosis based on Mishel's model of Uncertainty in Chronic illness, and to exam the relationships among symptom distress, depression and ways of coping and the mediating effect of ways of coping between uncertainty and depression. METHOD: The research was used for correlational research design and data were collected with 123 women with endometriosis who live in a local area by convenience sampling. RESULTS: The finding showed that the levels of symptom distress and uncertainty were moderate and the depression was above the middle level. There were positive relationships among symptom distress, uncertainty and depression but a negative relationship between problem focused coping and depression. The significant predictors for depression were symptom distress, uncertainty, and problem focused coping with 40% of explained variance. Problem focused coping showed mediating effect between uncertainty and depression. CONCLUSION: Therefore, nursing intervention for the strategy of increasing problem focused coping as well as lowering uncertainty and depression is recommended. Further study is needed to conduct a repetitive study with randomized nationwide population and to evaluate the theory with different outcomes for adaptation versus maladaptation.
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