| Yeon Hwan Park | 22 Articles |
PURPOSE
This study aimed to investigate suicide ideation and attempts in older women living alone and to identify the factors affecting suicide ideation. METHODS This is a cross-sectional correlational study using secondary data analysis. Original data (n=1,023) were collected using face-to-face interviews from August to October 2018 in Siheung city to investigate the need for health care and daily life support services. Study participants were 297 older women (age=74.67±5.35), with inclusion criteria being women≥65 years old and living alone, those without cognitive impairment(Mini-Mental State Examination-2 Standard Version (MMSE-2 SV)≥24), and those who could evaluate instrumental activities of daily living. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS Data analysis showed 26.9% of participants reported suicide ideation with a frequency of 4.14 out of 10 points. Among study participants, 8.8% had attempted suicide with an average of 2.65 attempts. Participants who had children thought about suicide more than those who did not. Living children, personal income, participation in economic activity, social support, depression, chronic diseases, frailty, and suicide attempts were significantly correlated with suicide ideation. Therefore, depression, frailty and suicide attempts were factors affecting suicide ideation for older women living alone. CONCLUSION Our findings provide evidence that evaluating depression, frailty, and history of suicide attempts is important for suicide prevention in older women living alone. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
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This study aimed to investigate attitude toward and intention to use the so-called silver-care robot technology in older adults and family members. METHODS This descriptive correlational study recruited 80 older adults and 80 family members who were users of a general hospital in Seoul city. Data collection, conducted from February to March 2019, used the Almere model and self-reported questionnaires that included items on socio-demographic and robot-related characteristics. RESULTS The mean age of the older adults was 73.48±6.88 years and that of family members was 53.48±10.08 years. No differences were identified in attitude toward and intention to use silver-care robot technology among the older adults and family members. The older adults were more concerned with the trustworthiness (t=2.46, p=.015) of the care robot technology, whereas the family members were more concerned with ease of use (t=−2.97, p=.003). Intention to use was significantly affected by perceived enjoyment in the older adults (25.4%, p=.001) and perceived usefulness (p=.009) and ease of use (p=.002) in the family members (57.1%). CONCLUSION The participants showed a positive attitude toward and intention to use silver-care robot technology. Perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness and ease of use should be considered in the development and application of silver-care robot technology. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
Delirium is a common symptom among heart surgery patients, and its prevalence is reported to range from 16.0~73.0%. As patients with delirium exhibit multiple negative prognoses, it is important to identify and prevent the risk factors for delirium. However, little research has been conducted to identify the prevalence of delirium and its risk factors among patients who have undergone heart surgery in Korea. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of delirium and its risk factors in heart surgery patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). METHODS This is a retrospective descriptive correlational study. From 623 patients who entered the ICU after heart surgery in a tertiary referral hospital from September 2016 to August 2017, 421 were selected for this study. Data were collected using electronic medical record. Delirium was evaluated using the Korean Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC). RESULTS A total of 63 participants (15.0%) were diagnosed with delirium. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the variables identified that complex surgery (Odds Ratio [OR]=7.24, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]= 2.80~18.74, p<.001), aortic aneurysm surgery (OR=3.30, 95% CI=1.40~7.77, p=.006), creatinine (OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.17~4.60, p=.016), and ICU length of stay (OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.48~1.99, p<.001) were associated with delirium after heart surgery. CONCLUSION The prevalence of delirium after heart surgery in Korean ICU patients is similar to that reported by the American Heart Association study. Type of surgery, lab data, ICU length of stay should be considered in the prevention and management of delirium in heart surgery patients in Korea. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
Nurses' infection prevention and control responsibilities have been emphasized owing to the increasing infection rate in long-term care facilities in South Korea. The aim of this study was to explore nurses' perspectives on challenging situations and the areas of improvement related to their role in infection management. METHODS An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was conducted with a purposive sample of 15 nursing staff from five long-term care facilities. A focus group interview with semi-structured questions was conducted between January and May 2017. The study participants' discussions were analyzed using conventional content analysis with line-by-line coding. RESULTS The participants discussed the breadth of challenges interfering with their ability to provide optimal infection care, from practical human resource management issues to organizational and environmental barriers, and laid a foundation based on which lacking areas can be improved. The analysis produced key themes centered on healthcare personnel-related professionalism, professional role boundaries, daily workflow and management, interdisciplinary collaboration, standards and protocols, and technological infrastructure. CONCLUSION Although participants expressed negative feelings toward the constraints in long-term care facilities, they demonstrated the willingness to create a positive change and offered suggestions for improvement and support to improve resident safety and care management. Therefore, special attention should be paid to nurses' perspectives on their work and roles regarding infection control practices and supporting them with available sources. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to identify gender and age differences in health status and health behaviors of community-dwelling older adults in an urban city. METHODS A convenience sample of 500 older people were recruited. Participants completed eight study instruments by face to face interview. The instruments were the Korea Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Body Mass Index (BMI), Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, Stanford Research Instruments for Chronic Disease, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea version, EuroQol-5 Dimensions scale (EQ-5D), and the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture Frailty Index. RESULTS 71.6% were females and mean age of all participants was 74.4 years. Participants were divided into three age groups: 60 to 74 years (n=263, 52.6%), 75 to 84 years (n=207, 41.4%), and ≥85 years (n=30, 6.0%). Significant gender differences were found in educational level, marital status, family type, religion, perceived economic status, K-IADL, SPPB, grip strength, BMI, fatigue, smoking, drinking, communication with physicians and nurses, and EQ-5D. There were significant differences among the three age groups on educational level, marital status, family type, SPPB, grip strength, regular health check-up, communication with physicians and nurses, and frailty. CONCLUSION Gender difference should be taken into consideration more than age when policy and preventive programs for community-dwelling older adults in an urban city is developed. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
The aims of this study were to identify the reported attitudes of older patients with cancer toward advance directives (ADs) and the factors associated with their attitudes toward ADs. METHODS The design was a cross-sectional survey. The age mean of the 130 participants were 70.8, and 66.2% of the participants were male. The data were collected at one university hospital in Seoul, South Korea during the period from October 1st to December 5th in 2013. The data collecting instruments were the Advance Directives Attitude Survey (ADAS) and questionnaires including socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics, family function. RESULTS 30.0% of the participants were aware of ADs, only 9% of them had been informed by healthcare providers. Most participants (93.1%) intended to complete ADs. The mean score of ADAS was 48.29. The stepwise linear regression analysis indicated that family function, perceived health status, period of education, and age accounted for a significant percentage (52.0%, p<.001) of the variance in participants' ADAS. The variable with the greatest effect was family function. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that family function and attitude of older cancer patients need to be considered for adapting ADs to Korean health care systems. Healthcare providers should include family members in advanced care planning discussions. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to describe health status and to identify the factors related to health behavior in older adults in South Korea. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 186 older people (mean age =68.2yrs, 65.1% Female) registered at one senior center. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires or through face to face interview. The instruments were the Modified Health Behavior Assessment Scale, Stanford Research Instruments for Chronic Disease, Self-Efficacy, SOF Frailty Index and Quality of life questionnaire. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS 58.6% older adults perceived their health status positively. Education level and economic status were significantly related to health behaviors of older adults. Self-rated health, sleep, stress, quality of life, health distress, depression, and frailty were significantly correlated with the health behaviors of older adults. Frailty, education level, and sleep disturbance were the significant factors predicting the health behaviors. CONCLUSION The findings from this study suggest that nurses should take into consideration education level of older adults to promote their health behaviors and health promotion program which focuses on maintaining the quality of sleep and preventing frailty. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
Focus group interviews were conducted to explore the current status and barriers of health care services in nursing home from the viewpoint of staffs taking care of nursing home residents. METHODS A qualitative thematic analysis using the focus group interview method was used. A total of 32 health care professionals (19 nurses and 13 social workers) from thirteen nursing homes in South Korea attended (5 focus groups) in 2014. RESULTS The two main themes were identified: 'minimal health care services that left personal care needs unmet' which has three subthemes of 'stereotyped and fragmented care by types of care providers', 'medically-oriented health care services' and 'health care services mixed with social or recreational programs'; and 'barriers to proper and timely care in nursing homes' with four subthemes including 'unmet care needs due to cognitive dysfunction or lack of expression', 'care guides or tools not suitable for long-term care facilities', 'health care needs that are beyond the facility's care boundary', and 'care delay due to lack of understanding on the older adult's status'. CONCLUSION The findings from this study should help health care policy makers to recognize the factors that influence health care services and provide direction for nurses and other staffs involved in supporting health care services for nursing home residents. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to describe the risk of dysphagia among older adults in senior centers and to find the relationships between the risk of dysphagia and dysphagia-specific quality of life. METHODS The participants were 260 community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 years in two senior centers. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires or face to face interviews. The instruments were the modified dysphagia risk assessment scale for elderly and dysphagia-specific quality of life questionnaire. The data were analyzed using t-test, chi2-test, logistic regression, and pearson's correlation. RESULTS 162 older adults (62.3%) were classified as having the risk of dysphagia. Severe dry mouth (OR=15.677, CI=2.986~82.297), neurologic disease (OR=10.125, CI=1.092~93.899), gastritis (OR=5.731, CI=1.482~22.173), denture discomfort (OR=2.969, CI=1.016~8.677), teeth discomfort (OR=2.61, CI=1.311~5.196) were the significant factors predicting the risk of dysphagia. There is a significant correlation between the risk of dysphagia and dysphagia-specific quality of life. CONCLUSION Dysphagia could be a major health problem among community dwelling older adults. It can affect the dysphagia-specific quality of life. Older adults having severe dry mouth, neurologic disease, or gastritis should receive dysphagia risk assessment and proper management on a regular basis. An effective nursing intervention needs to be developed for the older adults with risk factors of dysphagia. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate caregiver burden and health related quality of life (HRQoL) among male spouses who cared for partners with a stroke. METHODS The subjects were spouses of 121 female patients who visited the neurology outpatients department in one tertiary hospital located in Seoul between February and April in 2011. RESULTS The mean age of the male caregivers was 71.25+/-5.51 years. The mean score of caregiver's burden was moderate (63.28+/-9.85). The average reported caregiving time was 58.48+/-5.51 min/day with the male spouses spending more time in house-working than with caregiving activities. The reported depression and care giving time, plus the cognitive status and functional dependencies of the spouse were significantly related to male caregiver's burden. The mean scores of 'physical health' and 'mental health' for quality of life for the male caregivers was moderate (47.49 and 47.33 respectively). Overall, caregiver's burden has a negative effect on the HRQoL of male spouses. CONCLUSION Caregiver's burden and HRQoL are important problems which are in need of nurses' attention. It is suggested that intervention programs for male spouses be developed with a focus on emotional and social support as well as education about the caregiving role.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify a model based on f the learning objectives in adult health nursing curriculums. The model can be eventually reflected in Korean National Nurse's Licensing Examination (KNNLE). METHODS The model was developed through a series of practical analysis by the task force team from June to October, 2011. The research team conducted the data synthesis and analysis from the learning objectives of adult health nursing drawn from selected national and international universities, from the adult health nursing areas in KNNLE, and from the current disease prevalence from clinical data in the representative university hospitals in Korea. RESULTS The current disease prevalence and mortality rates are on the increase especially for malignant neoplasm, heart diseases, suicide and diabetes. The items on the KNNLE of adult nursing are categorized by body systems into digestive system (15%), introduction (13.8%), respiratory system (11.3%), and cardiac system (11.3%). While the current system-based learning objectives covers extensive areas of adult health nursing, the core items are required to be selected based on core competences and core learning objectives to restructure the items of KNNLE. The first revised model is to consolidate and restructure the items microscopically in the subjects of adult health nursing by system. The second proposed model from macroscopic perspective is to build a comprehensive scheme of nursing curriculum by encompassing 8 subjects under current KNNLE and adjust the number of items accordingly. CONCLUSION The items of KNNLE need to be gradually redesigned by considering the intervention need at clinical practice and the modified learning objectives of adult health nursing. Based on the job analysis on core competences for newly employed nurses performed by the Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing, it is necessary to establish the core learning objectives of adult health nursing and set up standards for core items in KNNLE.
PURPOSE
The purposes of this study were to examine the relationships among the sense of control, social support, depression and nursing home adjustment, and to identify the influencing factors of nursing home adjustment in nursing home residents. METHODS The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from May to June of 2010 using structured questionnaires from 212 elderly residents without dementia from 15 nursing homes. RESULTS The levels of nursing home adjustment depended on the self-rated health, the voluntary institutionalization, and the length of stay. The nursing home adjustment was significantly correlated with a sense of control, social support and depression. The five most influential factors affecting adjustment were self-rated health, placement decision maker, the length of stay, a sense of control and depression, which explained about 51.5% of the variances. CONCLUSION The findings reflect the importance of voluntary institutionalization, a sense of control, avoiding depressive mood and social support which facilitate residents' adjustment. These results can provide guidance for nursing interventions to facilitate nursing home adjustment.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the direction for development of the Korean Journal of Adult Nursing toward becoming an international journal through analysing the accepted and rejected papers during the last three years (2007-2009). METHODS Two hundred and ten accepted papers were analyzed focusing on research methodology and key words using descriptive statistics. In addition, rejected papers were reviewed to analyze their study designs and key words. RESULTS The proportion of quantitative research was 86.4% while the proportion of qualitative research was 9.5%. The majority of the qualitative research design was survey (71.8%). Sixty percent of the research had verbal consent and 32.7% had written consent from the participants. The prevailing data collection settings were hospitals (52.1%), and community (22.7%). The most frequently used research domain was health. It was noted that theoretical framework was rarely presented. The paper rejection rate was 31.5% and among the rejected paper, 75.3% was survey. CONCLUSION The results of this analysis suggest that published studies have been improved and diversified compared with the papers published before the year 2007. However, translation research, clinical trials by nurses, and more detailed evaluation process for ethics in research need to be facilitated.
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the published articles in the Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing from 2004 through 2006. METHODS Two hundreds and ten articles were analyzed focusing on research methodology and key words using descriptive statistics. RESULTS The proportion of quantitative research was 88.1%, while the proportion of qualitative research was 5.2%. The majority of the qualitative research design was survey(67.1%). Seventy-four percent of the research had verbal consent and 8% had written consent from the participants. Eight percent of the research provided conceptual framework. The prevailing data collection settings were hospitals(50.5%) and community(37.1%). For the data analysis, 95% used parametric analysis methods; descriptive statistics(26.2%), chi-square test(18.3%), t-test(18%) and ANOVA(17.4%). Key words were categorized into four nursing domain: human, health, nursing, and environment. The most frequently used domain was health. CONCLUSION The number of the published articles in the Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing has been increased and quality has been improved compared with the articles published before the 2000 year. Varied research methodology and data analysis methods were utilized.
PURPOSE
Increasing numbers of Koreans have immigrated to the United States since the late 1960s. The first generation of Korean immigrants or their parents become old and institutionalized in American nursing home setting. Although the Korean elders would experience many cultural differences in the nursing home, no study to date has investigated their everyday lives on how they live through their later lives within a different cultural environment from their own. METHODS Using ethnographic methodology, the purpose of this paper was to illustrate Korean residents' experiences and daily lives in a nursing home located in an east coastal city in the U.S. Participant observation, filed notes, semi-structured interviews were utilized by means of data collection. Eighteen Korean residents were observed, and five of them and two nurses participated in informal qualitative interviews. RESULTS The overriding theme from the findings is "thrown in a different world." Three sub-themes include "constant struggles in making themselves understood", "dealing with culturally inappropriate nursing care," and "maintaining their own ways of life". CONCLUSIONS The discovered themes reflect culturally isolated lives of the participants and open a venue for designing a culturally congruent nursing care for Korean elders living in the U.S. nursing homes.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the main factors influencing family functioning of caregivers in families with stroke. METHOD A Convenient sample of 173 primary family caregivers who take care of a stroke patient at an Oriental medicine hospital in Jeonbuk. Interviews were done with a standardized questionnaire including family functioning by nurses. RESULTS In Pearson's correlation analysis, the influencing factors related to family functioning were ADL(p=.017), level of paralysis(p=.019) as stressors, Quality of relation(p=.000) as situational variables, and family caregivers' burden(p=.000). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed 29.9% of the variance family functioning was significantly accounted for by the quality of relationship between stroke patient and caregiver(26.8%), and caregiver burden(3.1%). CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that families of stroke patients need family-focused nursing intervention as supported care to improve the relationship between patient and primary caregiver and relieve caregiver burden by culturally tailoring to Korean.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nursing education using a CD ROM on the anxiety and knowledge of the patients having minor surgery. METHOD: Forty patients hospitalized in K hospital in Seoul from April to August 2002 participated in this study. In the experimental group, twenty patients received nursing education on the operational procedures and post-operational care. The control group, received conventional nursing care only. Anxiety experienced by patients was measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and knowledge was measured by an instrument developed by Rahe et al. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical program. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in anxiety level between two groups. However, subjects in the experimental group were found to have significantly higher postoperative knowledge levels than those in the control group, and were very satisfied with the CD ROM program. CONCLUSION The nursing education program using CD ROM before minor surgery proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase knowledge of patients and contribute to their self care after discharge. To decrease anxiety of the surgery, the nursing education program should be combined with supprortive emotional nursing intervention, such as touch, and massage.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing regular exercise of the elderly in discriminating regular exercise and non - regular exercise groups. METHOD The subjects of this study were 167 elderly over the age of 60, living in a rural city in Korea. The data was collected by interview and self report questionnaire in 1999. The Cronbach 's alpha of scales used this study were .66 ~.97. RESULT 1. There were significant differences in doing regular exercise between the perceived importance of the health(p=021), the perceived health status(p=.050), the perceived need of the exercise(p=000), the perceived importance of the exercise(p= .000), the intent of participation in the exercise program(p=.000), IADL score(p= .022), the perceived benefits of exercise (p=.000), the emotion of exercise(p=.000), HPLP(p=.000), the self efficacy(p=.001), the perceived benefits of health promoting behaviors(p= .011), the perceived barriers of the health promoting behaviors(p=.002), and the Internal locus of control(p=.021) of the elderly. 2. Variables which showed significance for discriminating regular exercise of the elderly in this study were the perceived need of the exercise(p=.000) and the perceived benefits of the exercise(p=.000). By using the combination of these variables, the possibility of proper prediction for predicting regular exercise group was 84.8 %, non - regular exercise group was 93.9%, and total Hit ratio was 89.4%. CONCLUSION To improve exercise behavior in older adults, health care providers should focus of developing interventions to strengthen the perceived benefits, the perceived needs of the exercise.
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing health promoting behavior of college students to develop health promoting interventions of young adults. The subjects of this study were 176 women college students, living in a small city in Korea. The data were collected by interviews and a self-report questionnaire, during the period from September, 1999 to December, 1999. The instruments for this study were the PRQ-II by Weinert(1988), the scale of Locus of Control by Wallstone et al.(1978), the scale of self efficacy by Sherer & Maddux(1982), 10 points visual analogue scale for perceived health status and the importance of health, the health promoting behavior scale by Walker et al.(1987), and the scales developed by the authors for the perceived benefits of health promoting behavior, and perceived barriers to health promoting behavior. Cronbach 's alpha of these scales were .68 ~.89. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Among cognitive perceptual factors of the Health Promotion Model by Pender(1987), the scores of the importance of health, the perceived internal control of health, self efficacy, the perceived health status, and the perceived benefits had a significantly positive correlation with the scores of the health promoting behavior of college students. In addition, the scores of the perceived barriers had a significantly negative correlation with the scores of the health promoting behavior of college students. 2. Among modifying factors of the Health Promotion Model by Pender(1987), the extent of religious activities of college students and the scores of social support had a significantly positive correlation with the scores of health promoting behavior of college students. 3.Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of health promoting behavior was self-efficacy. A combination of self-efficacy, the perceived benefits, the perceived barriers, the perceived health status, and the importance of health accounted for 45.1% of the variance in health promoting behavior in college students From the results of this study, we concluded that the Health Promotion Model by Pender can be used to explain health promoting behavior of college students. In addition, we suggested that the results of this study be considered in developing health promoting programs of young adults.
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing health promoting behavior of the elderly for develop health promoting intervention of old people. The subjects of this study were 167 elderly person over the age of 60, living in rural city in Korea. The data were collected by interview and self report questionnaire, during the period from May, 1999 to August. 1999 The instruments for this study were the PRQ-II by Weinert(1988), the scale of Locus of Control by Wallstone et al(1978), the scale of self efficacy by Sherer & Maddux(1982), 10 points visual analogue scale for the perceived health status and the importance of health, the health promoting behavior scale by Walker et al(1987), and the scales developed by authors for the perceived benefits of health promoting behaviors, and the perceived barriers to health promoting behaviors. The Cronbach 's alpha of these scales were .84 ~.97. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Among cognitive perceptual factors of the Health Promotion Model by Pender(1987), the scores of the importance of health, the perceived internal control of health, the self efficacy, the perceived health status, and the perceived benefits were significantly positive correlation with the scores of the health promoting behavior of the elderly. In addition, the scores of the perceived barriers were significantly negative correlation with the scores of the health promoting behavior of the elderly. 2. Among modifying factors of the Health Promotion Model by Pender(1987), the pocket money of the elderly, the scores of social support were significantly positive correlation with the scores of the health promoting behavior of the elderly. In addition, ages of old people were significantly negative correlations with the scores of the health promoting behavior of the elderly. 3. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of health promoting behavior was the self efficacy. A combination of the self efficacy, the perceived barriers, the social support, the importance of health, and the perceived internal control of health accounted for 56.2% of the variance in health promoting behavior in the elderly. From the results of this study, we concluded that the Health Promotion Model by Pender will be used to explain health promoting behavior of the elderly. We suggested that the results of this study will be considered in developing health promoting programs of elderly.
This study examined burdens of primary family caregivers, and family functioning of patients with cancer. In addition, the relationship between two concepts was assessed to develop nursing intervention to reduce the burdens of caregiving, and to improve family functioning. Ninety-two primary family caregivers of patients with cancer at a general hospital in Seoul participated in this study. The patients with cancer aged from 19 to 84 years with a mean age of 51 years, and sixty-one percent were male. About 30 percent of the patients suffered liver and billiary tract cancer. Fifty-six percent of the primary family caregivers were spouses of the patients and 70.7 percent were women. Primary family caregivers' burdens were assessed by the Burden Scale originally developed by Zarit (1980) and Novak & Guest(1989) and modified by Jang (1995) for use in Korea. The instrument consists of six subscales: time-dependent burden, developmental burden, physical burden, emotional burden, social burden, and financial burden. Family functioning was assessed by the Family APGAR developed by Smilkstein(1978). The results were as follows: 1. The average burden score was 86.1, indicating a moderate level of burden. The time-dependent burden scored highest followed by developmental, physical, social, financial, and emotional burdens. The mean score of family APGAR was 9.71; among subjects 82.6% were included in dysfunctional families. 2. Of the characteristics of patients, age, gender, number of admissions, and job were found to be associated with the level of burden. There was no significant difference between patient characteristics and family functioning. Of the characteristics of primary family caregivers, caregiver's perception of patient prognosis was significantly related to the level of burden, and family functioning. Caregiver's sex and age were also related to family functioning. The quality of relationship between a patient and a caregiver was significant situational factors affecting the level of burden, and family functioning. In addition, the income of family, and help from other family members were related to the level of burden. Given the results, it is essential to develop nursing intervention to reduce burden and to improve family functioning, such as support groups.
This study examined burdens of primary family carcgivcrs of paticnto with cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) along with related factors. In addition, their needs for support group intervention were assessed to develop a support group to reduce the burdens of caregiving. Eighty-one primary family caregivers of patients with CVAs at a general hospital in Seoul participated in this study . The patients with CVAs aged from 26 to 83 years with mean age of 63 years. About 90% of the patients had some paralysis and 56.6% suffered speech problems. Fifty-eight percent of the primary family caregivers were spouses of the patients and 80.2% were women. Primary family caregivers' burdens were assessed by the Burden Scale originally devel oped by Zarit (1980) and Novak & Geust(1989) and modified by Jang (1995) for use in Korea. The instrument consists of six subscales time-dependent burden, developmental burden, physical burden, emotional burden, social burden, and financiaI burden. The results were as follows : 1. The average of burden score was 91.7, indicating moderate to severe level of burden. The time-dependent burden was scored highest followed by physical, developmental, social, financial, and emotional burdens. 2. of the characteristics of patients, age, gender, and severity of the disease were found to be associated with the level of burden. Of the characteristics of primary family caregivers, age and educational level were significantly related to the level of burden. Time of care since the CVA and the quality of relationship between a patient and a caregiver prior to the stroke were significant situational factors affecting the level of burden. 3. The need for support group intervention for the caregivero was very high (95.1%). The earcgivcrs of patients who had a CVA for the first time showed higher levels of need compared to those of patients who had a CVA more than once. The caregivers indicated a support group held once a month near home or hospital would be welcomed. In addition, they replied that a group composed of 9 to 10 caregivers and guided by health care professionals (e.g., physicians and nurses) would be most desirable. More than 85% of the earegivers identified the areas that they wanted intervention in as follows : knowledge, skills, and resources to care for a patient with a CVA. the counsel of health care professionals, share of their experiences with those who have similar situations, stress management skills, and methods to overcome emotional isolation due to the great responsibility for a patient. Given the results, support group is expected to be an effective way to reduce the burdens of primary family caregivers of patients with CVAs. As a follow up It is necessary to examine the effect of support group intervention on the patient's recovery and rehabilitation.
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