Purpose: Advancing genetic knowledge for oncology nurses is especially important in Korea because physicians have launched to incorporate genetic risk assessment and genetic testing into their practice. The purpose of this paper was to identify the effect of the first academic cancer genetic risk assessment and counseling course for Korean nurses. Methods: Thirty-five nurses were recruited and educated from June 8 to 14, 2006 in Seoul, Korea. Two measurement tools were used: 'knowledge about the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC)' and 'knowledge about the cancer genetics'. Results: Students' score of knowledge about HBOC at pre-education was 12.22±2.23, and after education, it increased to 13.62± 1.76. This change was statistically significant (t=-3.253, p=.003). The score of knowledge about cancer genetics at pre-education was 11.31±3.44, and after education it has increased to 16.17±1.94. It also was statistically significant (t=-6.92, p=.000). Conclusion: This program was effective to be a starting point for establishing genetic educational planning for the oncology nurses in Korea. This academically-based course is recognized as valuable by oncology nurses. With this new knowledge, nurses can begin to expand their role in delivering comprehensive cancer care services in Korea.

Introduction Hemodialysis (HD) causes many life changes, not only for patients undergoing it but also for their families by allowing them to rely on this lifesaving equipment unless they receive a kidney transplant. The stress of the primary caregivers, who spends the most time in the family taking care of the patient undergoing HD, is quite high. This study was to identify attitudes about stress and coping among primary caregivers of HD patients. Methods Q-methodology was undertaken because it integrates quantitative and qualitative research methods. A convenience sample of 33 primary caregivers of HD patients participated. Forty selected Q-samples were obtained from each participant and were classified into a forced normal distribution using a nine-point grid. Data was analyzed using a pc-QUANL program. Findings Three discrete factors emerged as follows: Factor I (they reduced their stress by participating in religious activities; religious sublimation), Factor II (they always worried about the caregiving situations and about the patients' conditions; nervousness), and Factor III (they thought it better to accept their stressful situations; leading handler). Three factors accounted for 44.5% of all the variance, including Factor I (26.0%), Factor II (10.1%), and Factor III (8.4%). The eigenvalues were 8.58, 3.34, and 2.79, respectively. Discussion The subjectivities of the three factors that were identified can be applied during the planning stages of effective interventions for stress and coping. Healthcare workers in clinical practices should consider assesses primary caregivers' attitudes about stress and coping and approaches their situation to cope with it and to adapt to lifestyle changes.

An individual’s values of life (VL), considered important to coordinate and practice behaviors that are required to accomplish a task in a profession, may vary widely depending on the practice environment. It is important to know and understand the values in life (VL) of nursing professionals who are charged with patients’ health and safety because they are key human resources in health system organizations. This study aims to identify and understand the subjective perspectives of VL in Korean nursing professionals. This study used Q-methodology because it synthesized the advantages of quantitative and qualitative methods. A convenience sample of 29 nursing professionals participated in this study. Twenty selected Q-samples obtained from each participant were classified into a forced distribution using a 7-point grid. The collected data were analyzed using a PC-QUANL program. Q-factor analysis revealed that three types of VL are held by nursing professionals: family-based values, ideal-oriented values, and individual achievement-oriented values. Perspectives of these three types of VL can provide the baseline data to develop customized interventions to support the quality of life of nursing professionals and can also be used to inform health professionals in other countries about the perspectives on VL of Korean nurses.

This study is a secondary analysis which used raw data of 448 participants from 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and was also conducted to identify predictors that can influence health-related quality of life in Korean Diabetic mellitus adults. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression were used with SPSS/WIN 18.0. The results of multiple regression analysis showed self-health status, physical activity, bed ridden state, age and education significantly predicted health-reated quality of life in Korean Diabetic mellitus adults, explaining 41.2% of the variances. In order to improve health-related quality of life in Korean Diabetic mellitus adults, it is important not only to enhance their physical health, but also to provide them with health education.

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