Purpose
This study aimed to obtain insights into the meaning and nature of the lived experiences of environmental health behavior among pregnant women. Methods: The hermeneutic phenomenology framework developed by Max van Manen informed this study, which included 17 pregnant women as participants. Data were collected using in-depth interviews of the participants between July and September 2020. Results: The key themes identified were: “fear of health threats to the mother and baby”, “patience with inconveniences for fetal health”, “movement for the environment”, and “generativity embodied from pregnancy”. Participants expressed that they had deeper experiences with regard to their environmental health behavior during pregnancy than they did before, and recognized that communal environmental behaviors impact future environmental pollution. They had a negative perspective towards environmental pollution involving plastics and chemicals, and wanted to protect their children's health by making the best possible behavioral choices. Conclusion: This study revealed the meanings of environmental health perceptions and behavioral experiences in the participants' sociocultural context. These findings have implications for health care providers' prenatal care practices that focus on environmental health from an ecological perspective.

Citations

• The protocol of DECO-MOM: a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a mobile application for an environmental health intervention among pregnant women
  Hyun Kyoung Kim
  BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The effects of environmental prenatal program on environmental health perception and behavior using internet-based intervention in South Korea: A non-randomized controlled study
  Hyun Kyoung Kim, Geum Hee Jeong, Hye Young Min, George Vousden
  PLOS ONE.2022; 17(11): e0277501.     CrossRef

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
This study was to identify the health status and reported resilience according to acculturation type among Chinese students in Korea.
METHODS
The subjects were 386 Chinese students studying in three universities in Chungnam province. The data were collected by standardized questionnaires and SPSS/WIN 15.0 program was used to analyze the data with descriptive statistics, Chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA.
RESULTS
Subjects reported the following Acculturation type: integration (26.7%), assimilation (28.5%), separation (32.4%), and marginalization (12.4%). The reported resilience was significantly different according to economic status. The health status was significantly different according to religion and economic status. Acculturation type was significantly different according to age, educational level, length of stay, type of residency and economic status working style. The health status and resilience were significantly different according to acculturation type.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest that integration of acculturation type is most useful to health status and resilience among Chinese students in Korea. Future studies need to examine acculturation type as coping strategy for foreign students' adaptation.

PURPOSE
This study was designed to identify effects of self-esteem and health status on adaptation of elderly residents in facilities.
METHODS
The sample consisted of 151 elderly residents. The data collected from January to April 2010 were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. Using instruments were self-esteem scale (SES) (Rosenberg, 1965), Korean health status measure for the elderly (KoHSME) (Shin et al, 2002), and nursing home adaptation scale (Lee, 2007).
RESULTS
The mean scores of self-esteem (2.90+/-0.71), health status (2.15+/-0.53) and adaptation (2.98+/-0.44) of elderly residents in facilities were above the average. Self-esteem was significantly varied according to religion, economic status and living expenses. Health status was significantly different according to age, disease and motivation of getting into the facilities. Adaptation was significantly different according to religion, satisfaction of facilities and decision maker of getting into the facilities. Significant correlations were found between self-esteem, health status and adaptation. Self-esteem and health status were influencing factors of adaptation (22.6%).
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that perceived self-esteem and health status may be requirements for promoting adaptation of elderly residents in facilities. These results could be utilized in the development of supportive programs for elderly adaptation.

PURPOSE
This study was examined to identify the relationship among knowledge, attitude, and compliance with preventive behavior on influenza A (H1N1) by University students.
METHODS
The sample consisted of 101 students. The data were collected from August to September 2009 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.
RESULTS
The mean scores of knowledge (11.89 +/- 1.39), attitude (30.16 +/- 2.87), and compliance with preventive behavior (22.35 +/- 3.51) on influenza A (H1N1) were above the average. The level of knowledge was not significantly different regardless of characteristics. Students' attitude differed according to gender (p<.001), and plan to seasonal influenza vaccination for this year (p=.007). Compliance with preventive behavior was significantly different according to experience of seasonal influenza vaccination during last year (p=.010), experience of obtained information about influenza A (H1N1) (p=.037). Significant correlations were found between knowledge and compliance with preventive behavior (p<.001), attitude and compliance with preventive behavior (p<.001). Knowledge and attitude was a predictor of compliance with preventive behavior (23.4%).
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that perceived knowledge and attitude may be necessary to improve compliance with preventive behavior on influenza A (H1N1) among university students. The results of the study can be utilized in educational programs about preventing the occurrence of influenza among university students.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of acculturative stress among Chinese students in Korea.
METHODS
Between October and December 2009, two hundred one Chinese students from three universities located in Cungnam province, were included in the current study using a questionnaire survey. Data analysis was done using SPSS/WIN 17.0 program.
RESULTS
The average score of acculturative stress was 38.50+/-6.97. There were significant differences in acculturative stress according to educational level, economic status, type of residence, speaking skill in Korean, listening skill in Korean, grade point average, satisfaction for studying abroad, and perceived health status. The acculturative stress was significantly correlated with depression, resilience and social support. The strongest predictor of acculturative stress among Chinese students was depression.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that developing programs to improve psychological health may provide a buffer against acculturative stress experienced by migrating Chinese students. Furthermore, more studies are needed to explore variables that influence on the international students' acculturation in Korea.

PURPOSE
This study was to provide baseline data about nurses' Influenza A (H1N1) knowledge, awareness, andpractice of infection control and to identify the significant factor affecting the level of practice.
METHODS
The subjects of this study were 144 nurses who worked at Influenza A (H1N1) regional base Hospital in D city. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires during September 2009. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program.
RESULTS
The knowledge of Influenza A (H1N1) was statistically different according to age, unit, career and experience of seasonal influenza vaccination during the last year. The awareness of infection control was statistically different according to age, career, experience of seasonal influenza vaccination for last year and intention to get seasonal influenza vaccination for this year. The practice of infection control was statistically different according to unit, experience of seasonal influenza vaccination for last year, intention to get seasonal influenza vaccination for this year and intention to get Influenza A (H1N1) vaccination for this year. There was positive correlation among knowledge, awareness and practice (p < .05). Awareness was the significant factor affecting the level of practice.
CONCLUSION
An educational program focusing on strategy to change nurse's awareness can be effective for infection control of Influenza A (H1N1) in regional base hospitals.

PURPOSE
This study was to identify the relationship between knowledge, self efficacy, and self care behavior regarding foot care among elderly diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.
METHODS
The subjects consisted of 146 elderly with DM. The data collected from February to October 2008 were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.
RESULTS
The mean scores of knowledge (13.21 +/- 1.99), self efficacy (2.23 +/- 0.54), and self care behavior (2.29 +/- 0.51) regarding foot care were moderate. The level of knowledge was significantly different according to education about DM (p = .012) and drinking (p = .007). Self efficacy was significantly different according to gender (p = .019), educational level (p = .014), spouse (p = .048), disease period (p = .000), admission of DM (p = .000), complication of DM (p = .001), education of DM (p = .023). Self care behavior was significantly different according to educational state (p = .003), disease period (p = .039), and other disease (p = .000). Significant correlations were found between knowledge and self care behavior (p = .001), self efficacy and self care behavior (p = .000), knowledge and self efficacy(p = .012). Knowledge and self efficacy were a predictor of self care behavior (18.2%).
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that perceived knowledge and self efficacy may be necessities to improve self care behavior regarding foot care among elderly DM patients. The above mentioned results will be reflected in developing patient educational programs.

PURPOSE
To examine pressure ulcer care from the standpoints of perceived importance, educational needs, knowledge and performance among clinical nurses.
METHODS
This descriptive study was conducted with a convenient sample of 289 nurses from four hospitals. Questionnaire data collected from June to August 2008 was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients.
RESULTS
The mean scores of importance and educational needs concerning pressure ulcer care were high, performance was moderate, and knowledge was low. Knowledge level differed significantly according to career, performance differed significantly according to pressure ulcer care education and the main healer(the person primarily responsible for treatment). Perceived importance differed significantly according to the main healer, and educational needs differed significantly according to working area and the main healer. Significant correlations were evident between performance and importance, performance and educational needs, importance and knowledge, and importance and educational needs.
CONCLUSION
Focus on perceived importance and educational needs to clinical nurses about pressure ulcer care may be beneficial to improve knowledge and practice of pressure ulcer care, and should be reflected in the development of effective programs to enhance relevant nursing skills.