This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationships among sociodemographics, health literacy, self-efficacy, social support, health-promoting behavior, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults. A total of 240 older adults aged >65 years were recruited from three community senior welfare centers in South Korea. Standardized self-administered questionnaires measuring sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, health-promoting behavior, and health-related quality of life were distributed to older adults. Multiple regression analyses with stepwise selection was used to determine the factors affecting health-related quality of life. Factors affecting a higher physical component score of HRQOL were a higher comprehension level of and numeracy in health literacy, physical health-promoting behavior, perceived emotional-informational support, and a lesser number of comorbidities. Factors affecting a higher mental component score of HRQOL were a higher comprehension level of and numeracy in health literacy, self-efficacy, physical health-promoting behavior, perceived emotional-informational support, and a lesser number of comorbidities. To improve HRQOL among older adults, nursing interventions are required to measure health literacy, empower physical health-promoting behavior and self-efficacy, and enhance emotional-informational support from family or other resources.

Background: Sleep quality is an important physical requirement for a healthy life, and good sleep quality has been recognized as a significant component in physical and mental health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that affect sleep quality as well as the relationship between sleep quality and neck pain, shoulder pain and disability, physical activity, and health perception. Methods: We conducted surveys on 494 women between the age of 35 and 64 years. The study evaluated neck pain, shoulder pain and disability, physical activity, self-health perception and sleep quality with self-reported questionnaires in middle-aged women. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Results: The results showed that the more severe the neck pain and shoulder pain and disability, the worse the sleep quality was in middle-aged women and the better the health perception, the lower the sleep quality score was, indicating good sleep quality. Shoulder pain, self-perceived task difficulty, and health perception were identified as variables that affected the sleep quality in middle-aged women. The explanatory power of the model in explaining sleep quality was 22.9%. Conclusions: Worsened shoulder pain, self-perceived task difficulty, and negative health perception can affect poor sleep quality; therefore, it is necessary to develop health interventions for pain management and emotional and social support for improving daily sleep quality. To improve the sleep quality in middle-aged women, healthcare workers should consider the subjects’ pain and functional disability, in accordance with their health perception.

Lee MK. Healthc Inform Res. 2015 Apr;21(2):125-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.4258/hir.2015.21.2.125

Background: Health promotion is necessary to mitigate the negative consequences of colorectal cancer and its treatment. Rates of behavior modification are low in populations of cancer patients. Studies are needed to determine the factors, such as decisional conflict, which influence adoption of healthy behaviors following a cancer diagnosis. Objective: To examine the effects of information provision, decision self-efficacy, and decisional conflict on the adoption of healthy behaviors among patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional study focused on 251 patients with colorectal cancer in South Korea. Information provision, decision self-efficacy, and decisional conflict were measured using validated instruments. Patients rated their decisional conflict related to the adoption of behaviors that include regular exercise and a balanced diet. Results: Most participants (73%) reported low satisfaction with the amount of information received. Of the participants, 64% had low decision self-efficacy, and 80% experienced decisional conflict. The perception of a higher level of information provision was associated with greater decision self-efficacy (odds ratio, 4.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.61-13.35). Higher decision self-efficacy was associated with lower decisional conflict (odds ratio, 5.19; 95% confidence interval, 2.33-11.59). Conclusion: Receiving adequate information is important for promoting patients' confidence in making decisions about their health and reducing decisional conflict in the adoption of healthy lifestyle changes following a cancer diagnosis. Implication for Practice: Oncology nurses should assess patient information needs and promote decision self-efficacy, thus empowering patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer to make lifestyle decisions that improve their health and quality of life.