Women treated for breast cancer have shown cognitive deficits with reduced capacity to focus and concentrate or to direct attention. This study examined the relationship between cognitive function prior to any treatment for breast cancer and individual factors including age, education, menopausal status, chronic health problems, and distress. Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer (N=184), ages 27-86 years, were assessed with standardized attention tests, self-reports of effectiveness in cognitive functioning, and measures of distress at about 18 days before surgery. Measured performance on the cognitive tests was not significantly correlated to self-reports of effectiveness in cognitive functioning. Age, education, presence of a chronic health problem, and menopausal status, but not distress, were associated with performance on the cognitive tests. Only age and education, however, were significant (p<0.001) predictors of overall performance on the cognitive tests, when controlling covariates. In contrast, symptom and mood distress significantly (p<0.001) predicted perceptions of effectiveness in cognitive functioning. Thus, different factors were associated with measured performance versus self-reports of cognitive functioning. Individual factors that predispose to lowered effectiveness in cognitive functioning prior to treatment in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer are discussed.
Purpose:The purpose was to identify the effects of a Tai Chi exercise program on physical fitness, fall related perception and health status among institutionalized elderly. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was carried out with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. There were 23 subjects in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. The data was gathered by structured questionnaires about fall related perception, and health status. Physical fitness was measured by an exercise therapist with a blind principle. Results: At the completion of the 12 weeks Tai Chi exercise program, flexibility (F=4.50, p=.00), and ability to balance (F=3.27, p=.00) had increased significantly. Fall related perception showed significant improvement in the fear of falling (F=-3.52, p=.00). Physical functioning (F=3.38, p=.00), role limitationphysical (F=2.67, p=.01), role limitation-emotional (F=2.47, p=.02). and general health (F=3.88, p=.00) in health status showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: The study findings revealed Tai Chi exercise as a useful nursing intervention for elderly that enhances flexibility and balance, decreases fall related perception and also increases the health status. Further research is warranted to compare the potential effects of Tai Chi exercise and its health benefits from other types of exercise or martial arts.
A nutrition education program may be effective in improving self-efficacy, diet behavior pattern and cardiovascular risk factors for patients with cardiovascular disease.
The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that persons with a low risk of falling should practice t'ai chi for 3 months to improve their balance. The effects of t'ai chi on balance in those with a high risk of falling were small but significant at 3 months, supporting the safety and effectiveness of t'ai chi. It is important to select reliable and sensitive measures for balance to examine the effects of t'ai chi.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify from the International Classification of Functioning model, factors influencing quality of life in elderly persons and to describe the concrete pathway of influence and the power of each variable. Methods: The sample included 334 elders who lived in 5 districts of D Metropolitan City. A structured questionnaire was used and the collected data were analyzed for fitness, using the AMOS 18.0 program. Results: This model was concise and extensive in predicting the quality of life of elders. The research verified the factors influencing quality of life for elders as direct factors such as activity of daily living (ADL) (β = .13, t= 2.47), leisure activity (β = .55, t= 5.04), social disengagement (β = -.25, t= -2.25), and depression (β = -.62, t= -10.86). Indirect factors including economic status (γ = .17, p= .009), type of residence (γ = .19, p= .004), ADL (γ = .12, p= .027) were important factors in predicting quality of life for elders. These variables explained 75.6% of variance in the prediction model. Conclusion: The findings indicate a need for the nursing scientific community to develop intervention programs considering these variables to improve the quality of life for elders.
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