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In prostate cancer, the bone is the most common site of metastasis, and it is essential to evaluate metastatic bone lesions to assess the tumor burden and treatment response. Castration-resistant prostate cancer refers to the state wherein the cancer continues to progress despite a significant reduction of the sex hormone level and is associated with frequent distant metastasis. The Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 (PCWG3) released guidelines that aimed to standardize the assessment of treatment effects in castration-resistant prostate cancer using bone scintigraphy. However, these guidelines can be challenging to comprehend and implement in practical settings. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of a specific image acquisition method and treatment response assessment for bone scintigraphy-based evaluation of bone lesions in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, in accordance with the PCWG3 guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This descriptive research study was conducted to examine hospital nurses' knowledge of standard precautions, nursing professionalism, and organizational culture for infection control and their performance with guidelines for standard precautions, as well as to identify factors influencing the performance with guidelines for standard precautions. Methods: The study participants were 179 nurses with more than 6 months of experience working at a general hospital. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. Factors influencing performance with guidelines for standard precautions were identified by multiple regression analysis. Results: The factors affecting performance with guidelines for the standard precaution were infection control organizational culture (β=.29, p=.001), knowledge of standard precautions (β=.23, p=.001), and clinical experience (≥5) (β=-.15, p=.029), with a total explanatory power of approximately 29%. Conclusion: This study identified variables that could affect hospital nurses' performance with guidelines for standard precautions, making a novel contribution to the literature. The results of this study can be used as a basis for improving the management of medical-related infections and as basic data that can enhance the implementation of guidelines on standard precautions by hospital nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate whether a telephone-based self-care intervention improved self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care performance of gynecologic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants included 38 gynecologic cancer patients who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital and received chemotherapy. To reduce the spread of the experimental treatment, the control group was recruited prior to the experimental group, with matching inclusion criteria for age, diagnosis, and chemotherapeutic agent. The experimental group received education on managing chemotherapy side effects in the form of a booklet prior to chemotherapy and four telephone-based self-care interventions after discharge. The control group received only education on managing chemotherapy side effects in the form of a booklet prior to chemotherapy. Data were collected prior to the intervention and 3 weeks after the first-line chemotherapy cycle ended. Outcomes were measured using a self-care knowledge measurement tool, the New General Self-Efficacy Scale and a self-care performance assessment scale. The statistical analysis was performed using the χ² test, Fisher's exact test, Shapiro-Wilk normality test, paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in scores for self-care knowledge (t=-2.64, p=.012), self-efficacy (t=-4.32, p<.001), and self-care performance (t=-2.53, p=.016) after the telephone-based self-care intervention. Conclusion: This telephone-based self-care intervention was effective for improving self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This descriptive survey-based study aimed to examine the degree of relational bonds, followership, occupational stress, and organizational commitment in nurses and to identify factors influencing organizational commitment. Methods: The research was conducted among 181 nurses who had more than 1 year of experience at a general hospital with 700 beds in Seoul. Relational bonds, followership, occupational stress, and organizational commitment were measured using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from June 3 to June 28, 2021. Results: Relational bonds, followership, and occupational stress showed significant correlations with organizational commitment. Relational bonds (r=.45, p<.001) and followership (r=.55, p<.001) had positive correlations with organizational commitment, and occupational stress (r=-.44, p<.001) had a negative correlation with organizational commitment. Followership (β=.43, p<.001) and occupational stress (β=-.32, p<.001) were identified as factors affecting organizational commitment, and the total explanatory power was 41%. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that effective strategies are needed to enhance followership and reduce occupational stress among nurses, which could improve nurses' organizational commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This descriptive survey-based study was conducted to understand the influence of leader-member exchange, perceived organizational support, and work-life balance on retention intention, with the ultimate aim of increasing retention intention among nurses. Methods: Data were collected from 150 nurses with more than 6 months of experience at a tertiary general hospital with 700 beds in Seoul, Korea. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing retention intention. Results: Job satisfaction (β=.28, p<.001) and the work and growth factor (β=.39, p<.001) had significant influences on the intention to stay. These factors accounted for approximately 49% of the variance in retention intention. Conclusion: In this study, variables that can affect the retention intention of hospital nurses were identified, and the work and growth factor, which is a component of work-life balance, was found to affect retention intention. It is necessary to develop a competency development program that can foster the development of professional nurses and a system that can apply the program in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of laughter therapy on the quality and quantity of sleep in elders with sleep disorders. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design with 59 participants and included elders with sleep disorders, The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores of five or more points were: 29 in the experiment group and 30 in the control group. The experimental group participated in laughter therapy sixteen times, twice a week for 50 min per session for 8 weeks. Results: The results showed that laughter therapy was effective according to the PSQI (F=86.13, p<.001), total sleep time (F=9.34, p<.001), sleep efficiency (F=45.34, p<.001), sleep onset latency in the experimental group χ²=13.77, p=.001, and in the control group χ²=11.95, p=.003), number of awakenings (F=31.21, p<.001), light sleep (F=5.09, p=.008), deep sleep (F=15.13, p<.001), and serum melatonin levels (Z=-3.90, p<.001). but rapid eye movement sleep time did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that laughter therapy may be an effective nursing intervention to improve quantity and quality of sleep in community-dwelling elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of auricular acupressure on sleep in older adults with sleep disorders. Methods: This was a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Fitbit Charge HRTM helped assess subjective sleep quality and objective sleep quantity, respectively. In addition, melatonin levels were measured. The participants aged over 65 years were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=26) and sham control group (n=25). PSQI, sleep quantity, and melatonin were measured before and 6 weeks after the experiment. In the experimental group, 4 (shenmen, heart, anterior lobe, occiput) and 4 (helix 1,2,3,4) areas were pressed 4 times a day for 6 weeks. Results: The difference of PSQI scores (t=-1.19, p=.239) and melatonin levels (Z=0.53, p=.598) between the experimental and sham control groups were not statistically significant. Light sleep time (F=4.71, p=.017), deep sleep time (F=15.11, p<.001), and rapid eye movement time (F=12.07, p<.001) of the experimental group showed a significant decline over time compared with the sham control group. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that auricular therapy is an effective intervention to improve the quantity of sleep in older adults with sleep disorders. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies to encourage pressure therapy to improve older adults' quality and quantity of sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was done to examine the effects of auricular acupressure (AA) on blood pressure (BP) and stress responses in adults with prehypertension. Methods: This single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted from September 2019 to February 2020. Participants were recruited through bulletin board notices in D city. The experimental group (n=27) received 8 weeks of AA intervention on specific acupoints (shenmen, kidney, heart, occiput, adrenal gland) to reduce blood pressure and stress, whereas the control group (n=25) received AA unspecific acupoints (helix 1-5). The outcomes were measured using BP, perceived stress scale (PSS), cortisol, and heart rate variability (HRV). Collected data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, chi-square, Shapiro-Wilk normality test, paired t-test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measures ANOVA and Friedman test with the SPSS/WIN 24.0. Results: Statistical differences were found between the groups for systolic BP (χ²=85.64, p<.001), diastolic BP (χ²=27.76, p=.001), PSS (F=9.439, p=.003), low frequency (F=5.22, p=.027), heart rate (F=3.208, p=.045), and HRV index (F=3.579, p=.035). Cortisol did not differ significantly between the experimental group and control group. Conclusion: The findings show that AA leads to improvements in BP and stress responses in adults with prehypertension. Therefore, AA can be used as an alternative nursing intervention for hypertension prevention and stress management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the quality of life of patients with radical prostatectomy. Methods: Participants included 114 patients with radical prostatectomy in Pusan National University Hospital in Busan, Korea. Data were collected from May to July 2018, using a structured questionnaire measuring quality of life, erectile dysfunction, lower urinary tract symptoms, appraisal of uncertainty, resilience, educational needs for sexual health, and marital intimacy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, a one-way analysis of variance, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The statistically significant regression model explained about 77% of the variance in quality of life. Appraisal of uncertainty as an opportunity, appraisal of uncertainty as a danger, and resilience were identified as factors influencing the participants' quality of life. Conclusion: In order to improve the quality of life of patients with radical prostatectomy, it is necessary to reduce uncertainty through providing practical information on uncertain situations, and the programs should be applied that can lower the danger aspect of uncertainty, increase the opportunity factor of uncertainty, and increase the resilience of the patient himself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the effects of auricular acupressure on symptoms of patients with allergic rhinitis and their quality of life. Methods: A quasi experimental was used with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest method involving 56 adult outpatients who were seen in the Allergy & Asthma clinic at a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, Korea. The experimental group (n=28) received 2 weeks of auricular acupressure to the Shenmen, wind stream, endocrine, adrenal, and lung acupuncture points; no acupressure was provided to the control group (n=28). Outcome measures included Total Nasal Symptom Score used to assess nasal symptoms, and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire to assess the quality of life. Repeated measure ANOVA and independent t-test were used to calculate statistical significance. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in terms of allergic rhinitis symptoms (p<.001) and on the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (p<.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: Finding in this study indicate that auricular acupressure can be used as a nursing intervention to alleviate nasal symptoms and improve rhinoconjuctivitis quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Purpose of this study was to investigate relationships and influence of peripheral neuropathy, sleep, and quality of life in patients with gastric cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. Methods: Participants were 131 patients with gastric cancer being treated at a chemotherapy outpatient clinic and receiving chemotherapy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS program. Results: Mean score for peripheral neuropathy was 24.66, for sleep, 6.71 and for quality of life, 67.69. Peripheral neuropathy had a significant positive correlation with sleep (r=.26, p=.003) and sleep had a significant negative correlation with quality of life (r=-.50, p<.001). The regression model explaining quality of patients' lives was significant (F=11.91, p<.001), peripheral neuropathy, sleep, and pain due to anticancer drugs and number of neurotoxic anticancer drugs explained 25.1% of the variance in quality of life and sleep was the most important factor. Conclusion: To improve the quality of life for these patients, individualized nursing interventions for pain should be provided according to number of anticancer drugs in the chemotherapy. Also there is a need to identify ways to assess peripheral neuropathy and sleep disorders that are appropriate in the treatment and reduce side effects during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aroma inhalation therapy on stress, anxiety, depression, and an autonomic nervous system reaction in high-risk hospitalized pregnant women. Methods: A quasi-experimental study used a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Fifty high-risk hospitalized pregnant women were selected as participants on delivery room and maternity ward at university hospital. Twenty-five were selected for the experimental group while 25 were assigned to a control group. Neroli essential oil was used for aroma therapy and was already identified as not being hazard to pregnant women. It provided emotional stability from previous study. The participants inhaled Neroli 2 minutes, 3 times (9 am to 10 am, 4 pm to 5 pm, just before sleep) a day. A total of 15 sessions were held from the day of the preliminary investigation. Pre and post written survey and measuring an autonomic nervous system reaction were collected from both groups. Results: The data were analyzed by χ² test, t-test, and paired t-test. There was a statistically significant difference in stress (t=-3.98, p<.001) between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that aroma inhalation therapy is effective as a nursing intervention for the stress relief of hospitalized high-risk pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among sexual function, sexual stress, and quality of life in middle aged women patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 154 middle aged women patient with diabetes mellitus in one hospital. Results: The mean sexual function score was 12.99±9.11. There were statistically significant differences in sexual function according to age, level of education, employment status, time of being diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, number of complications, self-monitoring of blood glucose,menopausal status, and level of glycosylated hemoglobin. The mean sexual stress score was 26.99±16.88. The score of quality of life was 79.12±14.30. There were statistically significant differences in quality of life according to level of education. Sexual function was negatively correlated with sexual stress (r=-.46 p<.001) and positively correlated with quality of life (r=.32, p<.001), while sexual stress was negatively correlated with quality of life (r=-.36 p<.001). Conclusion: Higher sexual dysfunction in middle aged women patients with diabetes mellitus was correlated with lower sexual stress and improved quality of life, while lower sexual stress was correlated with improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on reducing obesity in adult women with abdominal obesity. Methods: The study design was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 58 women, aged 20 years or older, assigned to the experimental group (n=30) or control group (n=28). Auricular acupressure using vaccaria seeds was administered to the experimental group. The sessions continued for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included body weight, abdominal circumference, and body mass index, body fat mass, body fat percentage, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum glucose. Results: Women in the experimental group showed significant decreases in body weight (t=6.19, p <.001), abdominal circumference (t=4.01, p <.001), and body mass index (t=2.58, p =.006) after 8 weeks compared with those in the control group. Conclusion: Results show that auricular acupressure using vaccaria seeds was effective in decreasing body weight, abdominal circumference, body mass index, and triglyceride levels in adult women with abdominal obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine their levels of knowledge of the kidney, self-efficacy, and kidney function in pre-dialysis patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Methods: A total of 142 pre-dialysis patients with chronic renal insufficiency were recruited from a nephrology clinic of a hospital in Korea. Participants` knowledge of the kidney, self-efficacy, and kidney function were measured, and the correlations between these factors were computed. Results: The levels of knowledge of the kidney were moderate, with a mean score of 12.30±5.35. Knowledge level was significantly correlated with age, education level, occupation, income, physical symptoms, and information resources (p<.05). The mean score for self-efficacy was 6.06±2.00. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with patients` age, education level, occupation, income, cigarette use, and information resources (p<.05). The mean score for kidney function was 35.66±18.68 mL/min/1.73 m2 . Kidney function was significantly correlated with use of medications and drinking behavior (p<.05). Knowledge of the kidney was significantly correlated with self-efficacy (r=.31, p<.001), but not with kidney function. There was a significant correlation between self-efficacy and kidney function (r=.30, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy and drinking behavior accounted for 11% of the variance in kidney function of pre-dialysis patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Conclusion: Nursing interventions are necessary to increase self-efficacy among pre-dialysis patients with chronic renal insufficiency in order to maintain their kidney function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate health literacy, diabetic knowledge, and diabetic self-care among foreign diabetic patients at a hospital in South Korea. Methods: Participants was 134 foreign patients diagnosed with diabetes and who understand English. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20.0. Results: Health literacy significantly differed with HbA1c levels, whereas diabetic knowledge significantly differed with education levels, and time since diagnosed. Diabetic self-care significantly differed with time since the diagnosis. Health literacy significantly differed with diabetic knowledge and diabetic self-care. There was a correlation between health literacy and diabetic knowledge and between diabetic knowledge and diabetic self-care but not between health literacy and diabetic self-care. Conclusion: There are significant results on health literacy, diabetic knowledge and diabetic self-care. Subject with adequate health literacy had high scores on diabetic knowledge and self-care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine fatigue, sleep disturbances, and quality of life (QOL) among patients with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy. Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 201 breast cancer patients in a hospital. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results The fatigue scores showed significant differences depending on exercise and duration since diagnosis. The sleep disturbance scores showed significant differences depending on duration since diagnosis. QOL scores showed significant differences depending on exercise, duration since diagnosis, and treatment site. Fatigue and sleep disturbances (r=.40, p<.001) showed statistically significant positive correlations, while fatigue and QOL (r=-.55, p<.001), and sleep disturbances and QOL (r=-.45, p<.001) showed statistically significant negative correlations. The multiple regression analysis, which was used to determine the variables influencing on QOL after radiotherapy, resulted in a significant regression model (F=23.88, p<.001), which accounted for approximately 45% of the explanatory power. Fatigue (β=-.39, p<.001) and sleep disturbances (β=-.27, p<.001) were revealed to adversely affect quality of life. Conclusion The nursing intervention is necessary to reduce fatigue and sleep disturbance and to promote exercise in order to enhance QOL of patients with breast neoplasm while receiving radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine fatigue, sleep disturbances, and quality of life (QOL) among patients with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 201 breast cancer patients in a hospital. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: The fatigue scores showed significant differences depending on exercise and duration since diagnosis. The sleep disturbance scores showed significant differences depending on duration since diagnosis. QOL scores showed significant differences depending on exercise, duration since diagnosis, and treatment site. Fatigue and sleep disturbances (r=.40, p<.001) showed statistically significant positive correlations, while fatigue and QOL (r=-.55, p<.001), and sleep disturbances and QOL (r=-.45, p<.001) showed statistically significant negative correlations. The multiple regression analysis, which was used to determine the variables influencing on QOL after radiotherapy, resulted in a significant regression model (F=23.88, p<.001), which accounted for approximately 45% of the explanatory power. Fatigue (β=-.39, p<.001) and sleep disturbances (β =-.27, p<.001) were revealed to adversely affect quality of life. Conclusion: The nursing intervention is necessary to reduce fatigue and sleep disturbance and to promote exercise in order to enhance QOL of patients with breast neoplasm while receiving radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]