Research in Community and Public Health Nursing

Original Articles

[English] Change in the Sensation of the Arms, the Range of Motion in the Shoulders and Depression in Breast Cancer Patients: Suk Jeong Lee, Si Ja Chon, Young Sook Roh, Young Mi Park; J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2008;19(3):398-407. Published online September 30, 2008

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the association among change in the sensation of the arms, the range of motion in the shoulders and depression in breast cancer patients.
METHOD
This is a descriptive study on correlation. The participants were 132 patients who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had mastectomy at a university hospital, and had participated in a breast cancer self-help group. The degree of depression was assessed by SCL-90-R scores. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS 12.0 for Windows.
RESULTS
The participants complained of 'heaviness' as the most frequent and serious symptom of change in the sensation of the arms. 'Completely zip up the dress with a back-fastening zipper' was the most difficult motion of the shoulders. Participants who were in a worse stage of disease were in a worse condition in shoulder functions, and on a higher degree of depression. The degree of change in sensation and shoulder functions showed a positive correlation with each other, and both of them showed a negative correlation with the degree of depression.
CONCLUSION
Sensation and motion change in the arms and the shoulders were common phenomena that affected depression in patients who had mastectomy. Nurses should consider not only depression but also discomfort of the arms and the shoulders for patients with mastectomy.

[English] Factors Related to Regular Mammography Screening for Outpatients: Young Im Kim, Chang Hyun Lee; J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2007;18(3):420-430. Published online September 30, 2007

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
This study was to identify factors affecting regular mammography screening behavior of outpatients. The target subjects were 150 women who had visited the breast clinic at the university hospital, and the study period was around 10 months from March to December 2006. Data were analyzed by using chi2-test, t-test and logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
Of the subjects, 50% experienced mammography and 31.6% took mammography regularly. In the relational analysis between various factors and regular mammography, there were significant differences among the 41~50 year old group, the employed group, the high income group, the regular exercise group, the non-drinking group, and the previously chi-rayed group. And, in the Logistic Regression analysis, those who preferred bean food were 3.20 times more likely to take mammogram regularly, and those who married were 3.49 times more likely to do than the unmarried. Also, those who had low health belief and who were under age 51 were less likely to take regular mammogram.
CONCLUSION
In order to increase the rate of conducting regular mammography, there must be different intervention strategies according to food habit, marital status and age, and a support system must be devised to increase health belief about breast cancer.

[English] Comparative Analysis of Influencing Factors on Implementation of Mammography for Ordinary Women and Outpatients: Young Im Kim, Chang Hyun Lee, Hye Sun Jung, Ji Yoon Kim; J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2006;17(1):56-64. Published online March 31, 2006

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
This study is to conduct a comparative analysis of influencing factors on the experience of mammography targeting ordinary women and outpatients.
METHODS
The target subjects were 116 ordinary women and 105 outpatients, and the study period was around 8 months from May to December.
RESULTS
When mammography experience was examined, it was found that mammography experience was conducted in 44.8% of ordinary women and 59.0% of outpatients, but this study showed that there was a statistically significant difference. When the relation between the characteristics of the targeted objects and the experience of mammography was examined, it was found that ordinary women have a lot of experience when they have regular exercises and a high health belief. On the other hand, in case of outpatients. mammography experience was more frequent in the older group. In addition, outpatients had experiences in breast-related diseases or high self-efficacy. It was also found that the influencing factors on the experience of mammography were a high health belief in case of ordinary women, and old ages and high self-efficacy in case of outpatients.
CONCLUSIONS
In order to increase the rate of conducting early detection behavior for mammography, it is needed to conduct an intervention that increases health belief for ordinary women, while it is effective to conduct an intervention that increases self-efficacy for outpatients.

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