PURPOSE
This study was conducted to explore the factors related to family support for hemodialysis patients.
METHODS
Preferred Reporting Items Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) flow diagram was used to select 18 studies in Korea for systematic review and meta-analysis. The Effect Sizes of correlation coefficients (ESr) were determined through Fisher's Z transformation.
RESULTS
The systematic review revealed 31 factors that affect family support(including socio-economic and disease-specific factors) and 23 factors that are influenced by family support (including socio-psychological factors and physiological indicators). In the meta-analysis, 18 factors (10 socio-economic and disease-specific factors and 8 psychological factors and physiological indicators) were used. The socio-economic factors that significantly affected family support were type of medical insurance, perceived economic state, marital status, primary care giver, living together, family monthly income, education level, and job state. Disease-specific factors such as frequency of dialysis per week did not have a significant impact on family support. Family support had a positive influence over patients' self efficacy (ESr=.56), quality of life (ESr=.48), self-esteem(ESr=.42), fatigue (ESr=−.32), sick role behavior (ESr=.32), and depression (ESr=−.24).
CONCLUSION
This study showed that economic status and family characteristics of hemodialysis patients in Korea affect the level of family support that patients receive, and family support promotes patients' positive psychology and sick role behavior. The results of this study provide useful information in developing family support intervention programs for hemodialysis patients.

Citations

• The influence of family health on self-efficacy in patients with chronic diseases: the mediating role of perceived social support and the moderating role of health literacy
  Zhen-ni Luo, Kun Li, An-qi Chen, Yu-chi Qiu, Xi-xi Yang, Zhi-wen Lin, Jing-han Liu, Yi-bo Wu, Jiang-yun Chen
  BMC Public Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Variables Associated with Self-Compassion among Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Bokeung Peun, Heeseung Choi
  STRESS.2022; 30(4): 221.     CrossRef
• Healthy life of Korean patients with chronic kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis: A situation-specific nursing theory
  Jinhyang Yang, Myung-Ok Cho, Haeok Lee
  Applied Nursing Research.2022; 65: 151584.     CrossRef
• Mediating effect of Maternal and Paternal Family Relationship between Neuroticism and Postpartum Depression: The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model
  Hye Gyeong Seo, Suk-Sun Kim
  Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.2021; 30(4): 400.     CrossRef
• Effect of Hemodialysis Adequacy on Quality of Life in Older adults with Chronic Kidney Disease
  Virgianti Nur Faridah, Muhamad Syukri Ghozali, Arifal Aris, Siti Sholikhah, Masunatul Ubudiyah
  Indonesian Journal of Community Health Nursing.2021; 6(1): 28.     CrossRef
• Quality of Life and Social Support of People on Peritoneal Dialysis: Mixed Methods Research
  Miquel Sitjar-Suñer, Rosa Suñer-Soler, Afra Masià-Plana, Emilia Chirveches-Pérez, Carme Bertran-Noguer, Concepció Fuentes-Pumarola
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(12): 4240.     CrossRef
• Relationships between depression, family function, physical symptoms, and illness uncertainty in female patients with chronic kidney disease
  Oksoo Kim, Eun Yi Yeom, Hae Ok Jeon
  Nursing & Health Sciences.2020; 22(3): 548.     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing Self-Care Behaviors of Renal Dialysis Patients
  Yoonjung Kim, Sanggeon Park
  STRESS.2019; 27(4): 320.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of using aroma essential oils on allergic symptoms, eosinophils and quality of life related to rhinitis for university students with allergic rhinitis.
METHODS
A randomized controlled experimental design was used. There were 37 participants in the experimental group, and 30 in the control group. The experimental group applied the essential oils four times a day in the nasal area as well as using inhalation of the oils each night for four weeks. Rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire was composed of 28 questions regarding seven areas associated with allergic reactions. The data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.
RESULTS
Rhinitis symptom index, nose itching (p<.001), sneezing (p<.001), watery rhinorrhea (p<.001), and nose congestion (p<.001) all had significant difference for the participants in the treatment group. Further there were significant differences in eosinophils both for measured time and interaction (p<.001). For the quality of life related to rhinitis, the results showed significant difference (p<.001).
CONCLUSION
Using aroma therapy by applying essential oils turned out to be an effective nursing intervention that can be utilized in the easing of allergic symptom and the decrease of eosinophils, causing improvement in the quality of life related to rhinitis.

Citations

• The effects of mask applied aromatherapy on allergic rhinitis symptoms, fatigue, and quality of life related to allergic rhinitis in the COVID-19 era: a randomized controlled trial
  Jihoo Her, Myung-Haeng Hur
  Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science.2024; 26(3): 177.     CrossRef
• Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis
  Hyesuk Lee, Hyojung Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2018; 25(3): 197.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to identify levels of anxiety, stress hormone, lymphocytes, and neutrophils of the nursing students before an examination and to examine effects of social support on those variables related to taking examinations.
METHODS
Thirty eight healthy nursing students participated. They completed the questionnaire including state anxiety, test anxiety (VAS scale) and social support two weeks before the exam and again just before the exam. Simultaneously, a venous sample for ACTH, cortisol, lymphocytes & neutrophils count was drawn by a trained nurse. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, student t-test, and Pearson's correlation with SPSS/WIN 14.0 were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
Test anxiety scores and cortisol level on the exam day showed a significant increment compared with those on the non-exam day. The participants with higher levels of total social support scores showed significantly lower state anxiety on the exam day than those with lower levels of total social support scores.
CONCLUSION
These data indicate a possible alteration in cortisol responsiveness to academic stress in nursing students. Social support would play an important role in modulation of academic stress.

PURPOSE
The purposes of this study was to identify the health status, health-related life habits, activities of daily living and biophysical index of the elderly in Korea and Japan respectively, and to compare the Korean elderly with those of the Japanese elderly.
METHOD
Two hundred ninety five elderly from Korea and 325 elderly from Japan, aged over 65 years were conveniently recruited from welfare centers in both countries. Health status, health-related life habits, and activities of daily living were assessed by self-report questionnaires. BMI, lean body mass, body fat, body fat rate, muscle area of limbs and grip strength were measured for biophysical indices. Descriptive statistics, non paired t-test and Chi-square test were used to describe and to compare the levels of these variables.
RESULTS
The mean scores on frequencies of Korean and Japanese elders' chronic diseases were 2.9 and 0.8. The mean scores on activities of daily living were 9.8 and 12.4 respectively. The Korean elderly had higher mean scores of BMI, and body fat rate than The Japanese elderly, and showed lower mean scores of muscle areas of the lower extremities and grip strength. Hypertension was the most prevalent disease in the both groups.
CONCLUSION
Significant differences in several variables of health status, health-related life habits, activities of daily living and biophysical index were noted between the Korean and Japanese elderly.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to describe the degree of perceived health status, depression and quality of life(QOL) and to examine the relationships among these factors in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: The subjects were 105 women with mastectomy after breast cancer diagnosis who were in the out-patient department of surgery at SNUH in Seoul. Data was collected using self-report instruments. The instruments included 1-item for perceived health status, Chae and Choe's QOL scale for Korean breast cancer survivors, and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) as well as socio-demographic and medical information. Data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 program. RESULTS: The levels of perceived health status and QOL were moderate. Mild depression was found on the BDI. QOL and depression showed a negative correlation(r= -.598), whereas QOL and perceived health status was correlated positively(r=.370). Depression, perceived health status, and time since diagnosis accounted for 47.4% of variance of the QOL. Depression was the most significant predictor of QOL in breast cancer survivors. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer survivors may experience depression and alteration in QOL. Future nursing research should be directed toward the implementation and evaluation of interventions that promote QOL and decrease depression in breast cancer survivors.

The purpose of this study was to develop a Quality of Life(QOL) scale for breast cancer patients in Korea and to test the validity and reliability of the instrument. To achieve the purpose of the study, a questionnaire was developed to interview 10 breast cancer patients and distributed to 155 patients with breast cancer in Korea. For data analysis, SPSS WIN 8.0/PC were used. Item analysis and factor analysis were carried out to test validity of the QOL scale. Cronbach's alpha and Guttman split half coefficient were used to test reliability of the scale. The results were as follows; As a result of the item analysis, 27 items were selected from the total of 34 items. 6 factors were selected by factor analysis. Six factors were labeled as 'response to cancer diagnosis and treatment', 'family well-being', 'physical concerns', 'psychological well-being', 'spiritual well-being', and 'economic concerns'. Six factors were explained by 72.236% out of the total variance. The first factor explained 20.738% and the second factor explained 16.593%, which were major factors for Korean breast cancer patients. Chronbach's alpha coefficient of the tool was .9120, and Guttman split-half coefficient was .8148. The scale was identified to be a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity. Therefore, this scale can be effectively utilized for assessment of Quality of Life of patients with breast cancer in Korea.