Purpose:The purpose of this study was to identify effects of a strengthening program for the lower back in older women with chronic low back pain. Methods: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest experiment. The experimental group consisted of 16 older women and the control group, 14, all of whom had experienced low back pain for at least 3 months. The strengthening program for the lower back included lumbar stabilization exercises and education on pain management in daily living. For an 8 week period, exercises were done 3 days a week and on one day education was also given. Results: Pain and disability scores decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. Flexibility, life satisfaction and lumbar muscle strength scores increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Low back pain and disability can be relieved, and flexibility, muscle strength, and life satisfaction increased through a program to strengthen the lower back. It is suggested that a program to strengthen the lower back would be an effective nursing intervention for older women with low back pain.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to identify the conceptual structure of stressors experienced by nursing students during clinical practice. Methods: Ten men and 10 women nursing college students were interviewed. The results were 208 ideas. By synthesizing and editing these ideas, the final statement was trimmed down to 39 questions. The next step was to have the participants classify these 39 final questions. They were asked to rate stress scores using a five-point scale. Through multidimensional scaling analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis yielded dimensions and clusters. Results: Results of the study showed 2 dimensions which were classified as 'interpersonal relationship-practice system' and 'identity-practice environment'. It also yielded 8 clusters which were classified as 'role confusion', 'gender discrimination', 'attitudes of medical personnel and patients', 'comparison between fellow students', 'difference between theory and practice', 'disestablishing the role of practice guide', 'interference with training', and 'problems of the practice environment'. Further, stress factors and stress levels were differentiated depending on the gender of the student. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that educators who are developing clinical practice programs and clinical practitioners should consider stressors during clinical practice and the educational implications to nursing students.

Public health nurses and community mental health professionals should recognize risk groups with high suicidal ideation, and target these groups when implementing preventive interventions.

The study aimed to investigate the occupational exposure to airborne solvents in nail salons and to make clear whether relationships between airborne exposure and urinary metabolite excretion would be still useful as biomarkers. Twenty technicians as exposed group and twenty-one as control group were participated. The airborne solvents, urinary acetone and hippuric acid were determined by gas chromatography, UV-visible spectrometer and GC/MS spectrometry. When evaluated with the addictive effects using geometric mean value of each solvent, overall airborne solvents exposed were very low. Concentrations of urinary acetone and urinary hippuric acid were weakly correlated with those of airborne acetone and airborne toluene. In exposed group, urinary acetone concentration was not significant difference and hippuric acid was only slightly above those in control group. In conclusion, urinary acetone and hippuric acid excretion at low level of airborne acetone and toluene would be inadequate biomarkers.

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