PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify recognition and the performance level for nosocomial infections amongst student nurses and to provide data for preparing on efficient policy and control program for nosocomial infections. METHOD: 191 senior nursing student participated in this research from 5 nursing college which allowed data collection, in the city of Seoul. The questionnaire was composed of 73 items (likert scale) about eight areas; aseptic technique, disinfection, precaution, hand washing, urinary tract infection, respiratory infection, catheter related infection, and self care about nosocomial infections. RESULTS: The mean score of recognition and performance level for management of nosocomial infection were 4.29 and 3.41 respectively. The mean score of the recognition level was significantly lower than the performance level in the eight areas. The mean score of both recognition and performance were highest in the area of disinfection. However, the mean score of recognition was lowest in the area of aseptic technique and the mean score of performance was lowest in the area of catheter related infections. The correlationf of recognition and performance level was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These research findings should be useful in promoting an intensive and continuous educational program on nosocomial infection for nursing students and to establish an efficient policy for preventing nosocomial infections.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Cross Infection* ; Data Collection ; Disinfection ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Care ; Seoul ; Students, Nursing* ; Urinary Tract Infections

This thesis explores the actual circumstances of Korean nursing by investigating its present situations. Ultimately, the intent of this study aims to establish a future direction of Korean Nursing. As such, the current conditions of Korean nursing is analyzed in he following categories: education, practice, research, nursing policy, expansion of nursing field, and entrepreneurship. In the final conclusion, an appropriate orientation of the future of Korean nursing is discussed. There are two primary Nursing programs, a three-year (63) and a four-year (53), in Korean Nursing education. Master's programs are available at 32 nursing schools or 32 professional graduate schools. A total of 15 nursing schools have a doctoral program in Korea. The ratio of graduates between the three-year and four year programs is 76: 24. Hence, it is highly encouraged to expand four-year nursing programs, because it will help raise the social status of nursing professionals as well as the quality of nursing. In the clinical nursing field, independency and self regulation are critical. As such, organizational change, implementation of a standardized nursing information system, appropriate workforce, and improvement of the reimbursement system in nursing is recommended. In community nursing, the following should be resolved to provide better nursing services: improvement of working condition and benefits, establishment of a law enforcing the hiring of nurses, and providing continuing education. The number of nursing research has increased and nursing studies are in great quantity. However, research in practices and theories are more in demanded. Hence, research that integrates theories and practices are very significant. Ultimately, it is critical to support nursing studies that will influence nursing policy. The Korean Nurses Associatio (KNA) is an organization that supervises the nation's nursing policy. The primary focus of KNA is to combine the three and four year undergraduate education systems into 4 years and to establish the Nursing Practice Act. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has adapted a system to educate and certify nurse specialists in 10 nursing areas in 21 nursing graduate schools expecting high-quality nursing services and a decrease of cost. The government also allowed nurses to operate facilities for health management or welfare agencies.
Education ; Education, Continuing ; Education, Nursing ; Entrepreneurship ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Nursing Research ; Nursing Services ; Nursing* ; Organizational Innovation ; Primary Nursing ; Schools, Nursing ; Self-Control ; Specialization

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of foot reflexzone massage on state - anxiety and discomfort of ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. METHOD: A quasi experimental design with a non equivalent control group and non synchronized design was used. The experiment was conducted from October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004. The subjects consisted of 40 patients admitted to C University Hospital. Twenty subjects were assigned to the experimental group and received foot reflexzone massage everyday for 3 days. The other 20 subjects were in the control group and received routine care. Foot reflexzone massage was done on both feet of the subjects for 30 minutes for 3 days using standard protocol. The 'State-Anxiety Inventory' developed by Spielberger was used to measure the degree of state-anxiety. Discomfort was assessed using the 'Symptom Distress Scale' of McCorkle and Young. Data was analyzed by a SAS program using t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank sum test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: State-anxiety and discomfort of subjects receiving foot reflexzone massage were significantly lower than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that foot reflexzone massage could be an effective nursing intervention for relieving state-anxiety and discomfort in ovarian cancer patients.
Anxiety ; Drug Therapy* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Research Design

Fatigue is a universally common word. The subject has been studied in different disciplines, but the basic concept of the term still remains unidentified. It becomes especially important for the medical communications between nurses and clients. Based on the framework outlined by Walker and Avant(1995), this analysis attempts to clarify and examine the symptoms of fatigue. The attributes of fatigue identified in this paper were exhaustion, weighted psychological burden, shortage in capacity or lack of energy, shortage incapacity(motivation and excitement), and imbalance of energy. Therefore, the definition of fatigue refers to a subjective feeling from various internal or external stresses. The consequences of fatigue bring reduced capacity and imbalance of energy. The symptoms show a homeostatic disability or shortage of capacity (physical, psychological, environmental and physiological factors). A precise understanding of 'fatigue' will be utilized in defining the causes and measuring outcomes. Also, it will enhance the effective medical communications with clients and nurses. In conclusion, more work is needed to develop objective measurement and effective nursing intervention.
Fatigue* ; Nursing

PURPOSE: This study determined the effect of head and neck massage on anxiety, pain, and discomfort for hysterectomy patients. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 48 hysterectomy patients at K hospital. Experimental group (n=23) received head and neck massage at 8 minutes per massage for five times: (at admission, before sleeping on preoperative day, at 4 hours after operation, before sleeping on operation day, before sleeping on the first postoperative day). Control group (n=25) received conventional treatment. As an effectiveness of this intervention, state of anxiety and BP was measured before sleeping on preoperative day. Pain and discomfort were measured before sleeping on the day of surgery and then on the first postoperative day. Data was analyzed descriptive statistics using chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, unpaired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni multiple comparison. RESULTS: 1. State of anxiety score and BP at post-treatment decreased significantly in the experimental group. 2. Pain score in experimental group was lower than that in control group, with no significant difference; whereas, 3. Discomfort level decreased significantly in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that head and neck massage could be an effective intervention for reducing preoperative anxiety and postoperative discomfort in hysterectomy patients.
Anxiety ; Head ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Massage ; Neck

The purpose of this study was to perform the fetal education effectively for the delivered woman and her husband. This study was conducted by the questionnaire survey on 199 delivered women and their 171 husbands at several hospitals located in Seoul and Kyonggi Province from February 28 to March 26, 2002. The contents of questionnaire included the purposes, the cognition and the practice of fetal education. The SAS program was used for the statistical analysis of the data. The character of subject was analyzed by the percentage. The difference between the cognition and practice of fetal education was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Wilcoxon rank sum test. The factor analysis affected on the practice of fetal education was adopted by Multiple regression. The results were as follows; 1. In the purpose of fetal education, the well- balanced emotion showed the highest mark. The cognition of fetal education(woman:4.39 +/-0.52, husband:3.88+/-0.70) and the practice (woman:3.88+/-0.60, husband:3.83+/-0.70) showed the relatively high mark, but the score of cognition showed higher than that of practice. 2. In the comparison of the cognition between the delivered woman and the husband for the fetal education the item of the mental or health state would affect unborn baby, which occupied the highest mark in both woman and the husband(woman:4.81+/-0.44, husband :4.81+/-0.50). But they were prohibited to eat the deformed food, which showed the lowest mark(woman:3.19+/-1.12, husband:3.21+/-1.29).3. In the comparison of the practice for the fetal education between the delivered woman and the husband, the practice for the healthy baby showed the highest mark in woman (4.51+/-0.71), which had a statistically significant difference(P=0.025), compared with that of the husband(4.13+/-0.99).4. In the comparison of cognition and practice for the fetal education, the general character was associated with the duration of marriage, the satisfaction with marriage and the support of husband on pregnancy. The mark was associated with the age of woman, the level of education and the first birth.5. The significant factors influencing on the practice for the fetal education were connected with the cognition of fetal education, age, satisfaction with marriage, the support of husband on pregnancy, the type of family, the experience of delivery and the state of health during the period of pregnancy. etc. In conclusion, it is indicated to make effort for transforming and developing the traditional fetal education in accordance with the modern fetal education. And it is suggested that the fetal education might be recognized by all members of family, and the importance of husband's role for the fetal education should be informed as well as that of woman's.
Cognition* ; Education* ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Marriage ; Pregnancy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Spouses*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the concept, 'palliation', in order to enhance understanding of palliative care and ultimately lead to the provision of timely quality palliative care. METHOD: This study used Walker and Avant's methods for concept analysis. RESULT: The defining attributes of palliation identified in this study were 1) being limited, 2) responsiveness, 3) leading to positive effects, 4) relativity, and 5) being unsettled. The antecedents of palliation were 1) a problematic condition, 2) appropriate management for the problematic condition, and 3) interaction between the problematic condition and the appropriate management. The consequences of palliation included 1) improvement of a problematic condition and 2) dependency on a management of the problematic condition. CONCLUSION: Although further studies are required to refine the diverse attributes of the concept of palliation, according to this concept analysis of palliation, palliative care should be introduced at the early stage of disease and constantly provided for the improvement of its negative symptoms.
Palliative Care

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of QiGong gymnastics exercise program in the physiopsychological parameter inessential hypertension. The design of the research was a one group pretest-posttest design. A total of 20 patients with hypertension who were from forty to sixty-five years old participated in the study. The Qi Gong gymnastics program was carried out twice a week for thirty minutes or forty minutes for six weeks from 22, Sep. to 31, Oct. in 1997. In order to evaluate the effect of the QiGong gymnastics program physiological parameter(blood pressure, pulse rate, FVC, FEV1, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Cortisol) and psychological parameter(self-efficacy, Life satisfaction) were measured before and after the exercise program. Collected data was analyzed by the paired t-test with SAS package. The result are as follows: 1) There were significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure, but there was no significant change in pulse rate. 2) There were no significant difference in FVC and FEV1. 3) There were significant decrease in epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol. 4) There were significant improved in general self-efficacy and life satisfaction. 5) The effect of QiGong gymnastics program by measurement time on blood pressure and pulse rate were as follows: In a systolic blood pressure was gradually significant decreased from 1 week to 6 weeks and diastolic blood pressure was significantly decreased after 4 weeks. But there was no significant in pulse rate. This results suggest that QiGong gymnastics are an appropriate nursing intervention for clients with hypertension. For further research is necessary to reevaluate the effect with a letter experimental design and longer period than 8 weeks for the QiGong gymnastics program.
Blood Pressure ; Epinephrine ; Gymnastics* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypertension* ; Norepinephrine ; Nursing ; Qi* ; Qigong* ; Research Design

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation after normal delivery. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 49 (experimental group: 25, control group: 24) postpartum women who passed 6 weeks after normal delivery without complication of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. The experimental group was applied to the pelvic muscle enforcement program by biofeedback and electrical stimulation for 30 minutes per session, twice a week for 6 weeks, after then self-exercise of pelvic floor muscle was done 50-60 repetition per session, 3 times a day for 6 weeks. Maximum pressure of pelvic floor muscle contraction (MPPFMC), average pressure of pelvic floor muscle contraction (APPFMC), duration time of pelvic floor muscle contraction (DTPFMC) and the subjective lower urinary symptoms were measured by digital perineometer and Bristol Female Urinary Symptom Questionnaire and compared between two groups prior to trial, at the end of treatment and 6 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The results of this study indicated that MPPFMC, APPFMC, DTPFMC were significantly increased and subjective lower urinary symptoms were significantly decreased after treatment in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation might be a safer and more effective program for reinforcing pelvic floor muscle after normal delivery.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Biofeedback (Psychology)/*methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Delivery, Obstetric/adverse effects/methods ; Electric Stimulation/*methods ; Exercise Therapy/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Muscle Contraction ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Parity ; *Pelvic Floor/physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Puerperal Disorders/etiology/physiopathology/*prevention & control ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress/etiology/physiopathology/*prevention & control ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to probe the effect of foot reflexology education program on nursing students with constipation, anxiety and depression. This study was a quasi-experimental study of pre-test and posttest design on non-equivalent control group. METHOD: The data of this study were collected from October 28, to December 14, 2002. The subjects consisted of 61 nursing students (experimental group: 31, control group: 30) with constipation, anxiety and depression. 31 out of them were devided into the experimental group and received foot reflexology education program that was authorized by the World Foot Reflexology Association and made to suit for the subjects by the author for 6weeks composed of 2 weeks theory and of 4 weeks practical skill on the program. The effect of the program was measured by Bowel Function Assessment Form for constipation, State Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed by t-test, X(2)-test, Repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni multiple comparison using SAS/PC 8.12 program. RESULT: After all session of treatment, the score of bowel function assessment were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Outcomes of 6 and 7 weeks were significantly different from those of pre-experiment. After all session of treatment, anxiety states were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Outcomes of 7 weeks were significantly different from those of pre- experiment. After all session of treatment, depression states were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Outcomes of 6 and 7 weeks were significantly different from those of pre- experiment. CONCLUSION: The results are suggested that the foot reflexology education program might improve the bowel function, anxiety and depression for the nursing students with constipation, anxiety and depression.
Anxiety* ; Constipation ; Depression* ; Education* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing*