Purpose This study aims to identify demographic, clinical, and nutritional factors related to malnutrition in community‐dwelling patients with schizophrenia. Design and Methods We used a descriptive cross‐sectional design. Between June and July 2016, 188 community‐dwelling patients with schizophrenia were included in this study. Findings Of the 188 participants, 4.3% were classified as malnourished, and 40.4% were at risk of malnutrition. Living status, body weight, and appetite were significant factors related to malnutrition in community‐dwelling patients with schizophrenia. Practice Implication Assessment of nutritional status should be considered along with demographic and nutritional factors in community‐dwelling patients with schizophrenia.

The results of this study indicate that the experience of a chronic schizophrenic patient is like that of a miner caught under a fallen mine channel, who, without external help cannot escape the depths of the mine, but at the same time must have conviction and hope of rescue and avert fear to cooperate with outside help. The result indicates that family members, doctors and nurses as well as an institute's persistent and active support is most critical for the patient's adjustment to social life.

South Korea is rapidly becoming an aged society and with changing family structures there is increasing concern about the care of older people. This paper considers the well being of family carers of older people who suffer from dementia or a stroke. One hundred and sixty eight family caregivers, who were caring for elderly relatives, were selected and the major factors affecting their psychological well-being and proposals to improve their quality of life are identified and discussed.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between depression, self-esteem and quality of life in a community population. METHODS: The subjects were given questionnaires which included general characteristics, measures of depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. Data were analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of depression was 81.47 (range 40~150). Gender, age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with depression. The mean score of self-esteem was 30.42 (range 16~39). Education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with self-esteem. The mean score of quality of life was 156.29 (range 81~229). Age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with quality of life. 28.9% of the subjects had experiences with depression symptoms. There were significant correlations among depression, self-esteem and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a need for a nursing intervention to decrease levels of depression in the depression group. In addition, it is necessary to develop a mental health promotion program in order to enhance self-esteem and quality of life in a community population.

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