PURPOSE
To examine the effect of back massage on immune response, symptom distress, and mood state of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allogeneic HSCT).
METHODS
Subjects were thirty-seven patients undergoing sibling allogeneic HSCT (including 16 in the experimental group and 21 in the control group). Experimental subjects participated in an intervention group of back massage for 10 minutes, once a day and 5 times a week, from one week prior to the HSCT to the third week after the HSCT or a control group. A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. t-test and Repeated measures ANOVA were used to examine group differences by using SAS.
RESULTS
No significant group differences were found in Immune response (CD4+, CD8+,CD19+, CD56+) and symptom distress. The experimental group had significantly less mood state (anxiety, confusion) than the control group.
CONCLUSION
The back massage for the patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT may be effective in altering the anxiety and confusion during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, this study did not provide evidence in improving immune response and symptom distress.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors related to prehypertension in Korean adults.
METHODS
The data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005. The ubjects of this study were 3,981 adults aged over 20 years of age. Demographic characteristics, alcohol drinking, smoking, physical activity, stress, BMI, serum lipid profiles and blood pressure were analyzed in this study.
RESULTS
Prevalence of prehypertension was 38.9% in this study. As the result of multiple logistic regression, the risk of prehypertension in male, elderly and low income persons was increased. And the risk of prehypertension was increased in the case of problem drinking, alcohol abuse, formal smoker, overweight, obesity and hyperlipidemia in triglyceride.
CONCLUSION
To decrease prehypertension prevalence, it is necessary to detect and manage the influencing risk factors of prehypertension such as alcohol drinking, smoking, obesity, physical activity, stress and serum lipid profiles.

PURPOSE
This study is descriptive study that confirms the affect of the factors of perceived stress and social support of the kidney transplantation recipient affect on the quality of life.
METHODS
167 subjects who have received kidney transplantation in a university hospital in G city. Data obtained are analyzed by SPSS Win 13.0.
RESULTS
The perceived stress based on transplantation related characteristics and general traits of kidney transplantation has significant differences only in frequency of admission. The subjects who had been supported by acquittances have more significant social support index. The quality of life has significant differences in number of admissions, gender and occupation. Also, when the perceived stress of kidney transplantation recipients is lower and social support is higher, the quality of life is higher. The perceived stress has 28.1% increment of quality of life. Adding social support, both of them affect 34.8% increment of quality of life.
CONCLUSION
To decrease the factor to cause the stress of kidney transplantation recipients, it is necessary to have social support networks and to develop plans and programs to increase the quality of life of recipients.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate bone mineral density(BMD) and identify risk factors of osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women.
METHODS
The subjects consisted of 328 women. The BMD of the calcaneus were measured with peripheral dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The risk factors were collected by a self-report standardized questionnaire. The differences among the osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal group were compared by one way analysis of variance test, Scheffe's multiple comparison tests and Logistic regression.
RESULTS
The average age was 65 years old and the average T-score was 28.7% with osteoporosis. The Risk factors of osteoporosis were inclined by 24% in age (OR = 1.24, CI = 1.16 ~ 1.31), 53% in menarchal age (OR = 1.53, CI = 1.24 ~ 1.88), 3.5 times in vegetarian (OR = 3.52, CI = 1.66 ~ 7.47), 2 times in small-bowel disease (OR = 2.01, CI= 1.03 ~ 3.94), 5.3 times in arthritis (OR = 5.33, CI = 1.61 ~ 17.67), 5.5 times in eating disorder (OR = 5.50, CI = 1.43 ~ 21.17), 6 times in health perception (OR = 6.08, CI = 2.30 ~ 16.06). The Risk factors of osteoporosis were reduced by 10% in weight (OR = 0.90. CI = 0.83 ~ 0.97), and 10% in menopausal age (OR = 0.90. CI = 0.84 ~ 0.98).
CONCLUSION
The risk factors of osteoporosis were in the general characteristics, menstrual history, history of disease, life style & diet, and health perception. Eating disorder and health perception are highest on the risk factor of osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE
This descriptive study was conducted to identify the level of knowledge of stroke symptoms and risk factors among older adults.
METHODS
A total of 200 older adults over 65 years of age were conveniently recruited from out patient departments of two hospitals and a health care center from October to November 2008. The level of knowledge was assessed using both open-ended questions and a structured questionnaire based on semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed by t-tests and ANOVA using the SPSS program.
RESULTS
52.5% of the sample had hypertension and 30% had diabetes. The mean knowledge scores for symptoms and risk factors were 8.4 +/- 3.1(out of 15) and 9.5 +/- 3.9 (out of 16), respectively. The older adults who had lower education, lower family income, and who lived in rural areas were more likely to have less knowledge of stroke symptom and risk factors(p < .05). There was no significant knowledge difference between the older adults who had at least one risk factor and those who had no risk factor for stroke.
CONCLUSIONS
Educational intervention should be focused on informing older adults who are at risk for stroke about the early symptoms and management of risk factors, especially those who have low education and low social status.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of interpersonal relationships of head nurses in interacting with others in general hospital settings.
METHODS
The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from seven head nurses and were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
Five major categories emerged and they represent a major strategy according to five different groups of interacting people. 'Establishing trust' was identified as the key strategy in dealing with patients and family members. 'Embracing with sisterly love' and 'helping with self-defense' were major strategies for subordinate nurses and physicians, respectively. 'Respecting and recognizing' was the main approach for other professionals such as dietitians and 'emphasizing rules and educating' were a major one for non-professionals. Head nurses paid more attention and made efforts in dealing with their subordinate nurses than with other groups of people, because they felt the most difficulty in their relationship with subordinate nurses.
CONCLUSION
The results of the study showed that head nurses employ unique strategies in interacting with different groups of people to increase the efficiency of communication. This study would help nurse administrators establish an effective program for improving interpersonal relationships of head nurse.

PURPOSE
We aimed to describe and compare the cognitive function, anxiety, and quality of life for the demented elderly in day care centers or nursing homes.
METHODS
We selected 44 subjects from day care centers and 63 subjects from nursing homes by performing convenience sampling. The Korean version of Mini Mental Status Examination was used for measuring cognitive status; Rating Anxiety in Dementia, for assessing anxiety; Korean Version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease, for assessing the quality of life. The data were collected from May to June 2008 and analyzed by SPSS WIN 14.0.
RESULTS
1) The cognitive function of the subjects in the day care center was higher than that of the subjects in the nursing home. Anxiety in the subjects in the nursing home was higher than that in the subjects in the day care center. 2) The cognitive function and quality of life of the subjects in the day care center showed statistically significant correlation 3) The anxiety and quality of life of the subjects in the nursing home showed statistically significant correlation.
CONCLUSIONS
Nursing interventions that improve the quality of life of the demented elderly should be considered and applied according to the degree of cognitive function and anxiety.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine core nursing intervention in nursing records and to compare perceived nursing intervention priority and nursing intervention frequency of general surgery department.
METHODS
Subjects were 70 nurses who work in the general surgery department. Data was collected using a nursing intervention classification and analyzed by frequency and mean.
RESULTS
The most frequent nursing interventions of nursing records were orderly risk management, coping assistance, tissue perfusion management, skin/wound management and nutrition support. Important nursing interventions were tissue perfusion management, respiratory management, electrolyte acid-base management, elimination, peri-operative care. The most frequent nursing interventions were drug management, peri-operative care, risk management, tissue perfusion management, patient education.
CONCLUSION
This study found that nursing records were different from intervention priority and nursing frequency. So further study is needed for finding focused intervention of specific subjects and differences with priority of nursing and frequency of nursing.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to compare the antioxidant level, serum cholesterol and skin beta-carotene, of female elderly who had been living more then 10 months in institutions which offered either vegetarian or nonvegetarian diet.
METHODS
Total of 110 female elderly, 56 from institution serving vegetarian diet and 54 from nonvegetarian diet, were recruited from institutions located in S and N city in Korea. beta-carotene level was measured on their palm using Pharmanex Biophotonic Scanner and annual health evaluation data was utilized for the analysis of serum cholesterol.
RESULTS
The subjects on a vegetarian diet had a significantly higher level of phosphorus, carotene, and folic acid. The elderly who were living in an institution offering a vegetarian diet had a lower level of serum cholesterol and higher level of skin beta-carotene, compared to those living in an institution offering a non-vegetarian diet.
CONCLUSION
This study reveals that a vegetarian diet is beneficial in increasing skin beta-carotene level, decreasing serum total cholesterol level. The skin beta-carotene measurement appear valuable as a bio-marker of antioxidant intake. Further study on antioxidant food and effective serving strategy for elderly are recommended.