PURPOSE ; This study was aimed to identify the effect of foot reflexology massage on climacteric symptom, fatigue and physiologic parameters of middle-aged women. METHOD ; A non-equivalent pretest-posttest experimental design was used. Participants were recruited from the Community Health Center in Busan, Korea. Forty participants were assigned to either an experimental group(20) or a control group(20). Foot reflexology massage was administered twice a week for 6 weeks in the participant in experimental group. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences in climacteric symptom, fatigue, total cholesterol and cortisol level. However, there were no statistically significant differences in triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. CONCLUSION ; These results suggest that foot reflexology massage could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to reduce climacteric symptom and fatigue in middle-aged women.
PURPOSE The study was performed to investigate the predictors associated transition with each stage of exercise behavior based to the Transtheoretical Model, and to provide basic data for exercise behavior programs for middle aged women. Methods The subjects consisted of 434 women residing in B city by convenience sampling. The collected data were analyzed with multiple logistic regression using SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: The predictors of transition from precontemplation to contemplation were consciousness raising(OR=2.095, 95% CI: 1.305-3.363), Reinforcement management(OR= 1.903, 95% CI: 1.107-3.271), Stimulus control (OR=2.176, 95% CI:1.239-3.820), Menstrual status (OR=5.327, 95% CI: 1.110-25.562). The predictors of transition from contemplation to preparation were Helping relationship(OR= 1.671, 95% CI: 1.065-2.662), Pros(OR=2.500, 95% CI: 1.254-4.982), Perceived Health status (OR=.178, 95% CI: .041-.770). The predictor of transition from preparation to action was Stimulus control(OR=1.918, 95% CI: 1.103- 3.336). The predictors of transition from action to maintenance were Consciousness raising(OR= 1.939, 95% CI: 1.031-3.647), Dramatic relief (OR=2.249, 95% CI: 1.025-4.931). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate examination on the factors, which can predict the transitional stages of change exercise behaviors among middle aged women, which is presented in this study. The results of this study will become the pillar of exercise intervention program planning and application.
This study was the done to describe health behavior and determine affecting factors in middle aged women. The subjects of this study were 306 middle aged women, living in M city, during the period from June 28th to August. 31st 1999. The instruments for this study were Health Behavior Assesment tool developed by Kim (1998), Self esteem scale developed by Rosenberg(1965), the perceived health status scale by Lawston, et al.(1982), the Quality of life by Ro(1988), the attitude toward Climacteric symptom by Ji(1983). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. The result of this study are as follows; 1. The total mean score for Health behavior was 2.51(range 1-4). The mean scores on the subscale were 2.83 for nutrition, 2.81 for stress management, 2.71 for limitation of liking in the menstrual group, health behavior was 2.64. The mean scores on the subscale were 2.98 for nutrition, 2.85 for stress management, 2.82 for limitation of liking, 2.80 for energy conservation in the menopausal group, 2. The mean scores for cognitive-perceptual variables in the menstrual group were perception of health status: 2.61, quality of life: 3.17, self-esteem: 2.59, and attitude for climacteric symptom: 3.02. In the menopausal group the scores were perception of health status: 2.41, quality of life: 3.10, self-esteem: 2.62, attitude for climacteric symptom: 3.06. 3. Health behavior and self-esteem(r=.269, p=.000; r=.205, p=.042), attitude for climacteric symptom(r=.192, p=.005; r=.545, p=.000), quality of life(r=.385, p=.000; r= .195, p=.050) and health behavior were correlated positively, and the perception of health status and health behavior were correlated negatively(r=.-135, p=.050; r= -.207, p=.040 ) in the menstrual group and menopausal group. 4. Perception of health status, quality of life, age, self-esteem, job and marital status explained 33.7% of the variance for health behavior in the menstrual group; self-esteem and education explained 33.1% of the variance for health behavior in the menopausal group. In conclusion, health behavior should be considered when developing nursing strategies for middle-aged women, especially when dealing with perception of health status, quality of life, and self-esteem.