PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the common themes of the experiences of women with thyroidectomies in Korea. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological method was used in this study. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews with six participants, and analyzed using methods presented by Colaizzi. RESULTS: Five theme clusters were derived from the data as follows: "Uninvited guest came without notice", "Feeling of confinement", "Suffering and endurance to live", "Added suffering for a woman", "The crossover of anxiety and affirmation" CONCLUSION: The results of this study can guide nurses to understand women with thyroidectomy and contribute to the nursing education program development and improvement of nursing practice.
Anxiety ; Education, Nursing ; Female ; Humans ; Methods ; Nursing ; Program Development ; Thyroidectomy*

This article has been retracted at the authors' request.

BACKGROUND: Vasoconstrictors have been used as an adjunct to local anesthetics to prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia. Recently, clonidine, an 2-receptor agonist has been shown to prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia following intrathecal administration. Bupivacaine has been used for spinal anesthesia and compared with tetracaine in recent studies. We have undertaken this study to further evaluate the effect of clonidine in hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty patients who were scheduled for lower limb or urologic operation were divided into 2 groups: Group A (hyperbaric bupivacaine 13 mg, 2.6 ml + N/S 1 ml), Group B (hyperbaric bupivacaine 13 mg, 2.6 ml + clonidine 150 g, 1 ml). We used standardized techniques and injected above drugs to group A and B intrathecally for spinal anesthesia. We investigated the onset and the duration of spinal anesthesia along with hemodynamic changes (blood pressure and heart rate) in patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the onset of spinal anesthesia and hemodynamic changes between two groups. The time taken to recover from the nerve block was more prolonged in the group B (touch 225, pain 262, foot dorsiflexion 271, knee flexion 290 minutes) than group A (touch 154, pain 188, foot dorsiflexion 198, knee flexion 216 minutes). There were no significant differences in sedation, and in experiencing dry mouth and other side effects between two groups. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal clonidine 150 g has been proved to prolong the duration of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine spinal anesthesia without neurotoxicity or dangerous hemodynamic depression. Therefore, clonidine can be used as an effective adjunct in hyperbaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine* ; Clonidine* ; Depression ; Foot ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Mouth ; Nerve Block ; Tetracaine ; Vasoconstrictor Agents

ADA's Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is defined as "a systematic problem-solving method that dietetics practitioners use to critically think and make decisions to address nutrition-related problems and provide safe, effective, high quality nutrition care." The NCP is a standardized process not standardized care. The NCP consists of four distinct but interrelated steps: (1) nutrition assessment, (2) nutrition diagnosis, (3) nutrition intervention, and (4) nutrition monitoring and evaluation. The second step, nutrition diagnosis, is the newest addition to the nutrition care process. The desired format for writing a nutrition diagnosis is a PES (problem, etiology, and signs and symptoms) statement. Nutritional management for diabetes patients is conducted differently by each registered dietitian and medical institution. If a nutritional diagnosis is identified by nutrition assessment in diabetes patients and the accompanying process, which includes implementation of nutrition intervention and monitoring and evaluation of the results of intervention, is standardized, high quality nutritional management through standardized language and documentation is expected to result.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Dietetics ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Nutrition Assessment ; Writing

The purpose of this study was to investigate the implications of dietary intake and the level of serum micronutrients (Se, Mn, Cu, Zn), lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant capacity in Korean women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). From October 2002 to March 2003, 50 patients diagnosed with CIN (confirmed with colposcopy directed biopsy) and 50 patients without any cervical disease as the control group were enrolled in the study at the Department of Gynecology Cancer Center at Samsung Cheil Hospital. Animal fat intake in CIN group was significantly higher than that of the control group, but plant protein intake in the CIN group was significantly lower than that of the Control group. Energy and zink intakes were similar in the two groups. The serum concentration of antioxidant minerals in the CIN group were not signifi-cantly different from the control group. The total radical trapping antioxidant potential concentration of plasma was sig-nificantly lower in the CIN group (1.12 mM) than in the control group (1.25 mM)(p < 0.05). But MDA (malondialde-hyde) of serum was significantly higher in the CIN group (7.60 mM) than in the control group (4.99 mM)(p < 0.005). The serum selenium concentration of the control group showed significant positive correlation with the MDA level (r = 0.311). These findings are suggestive of protective roles for healthy dietary habit including increasing antioxidant nut-rients and decreasing intake of fat.
Animals ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Colposcopy ; Copper* ; Female ; Food Habits ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Manganese* ; Micronutrients ; Minerals ; Plants ; Plasma ; Selenium* ; Zinc*

Folate and Vitamin B12 are essential nutrients important during pregnancy. This study was conducted to evaluate the folate and vitamin B12 nutritional status of Korean pregnant women and to investigate the relationship between maternal-umbilical cord serum folate and vitamin B12 levels and pregnancy outcomes. Dietary intakes of the pregnant women were estimated by 24 hour-recall (3 times). Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in maternal blood and umbilical cord of 27 pregnant women at 1'st-, 2'nd-, 3'rd- trimester and delivery were measured by RIA (radioimmuno assay), respectively. Means of folate and vitamin B12 intake were 283.53 +/- 58.01 microgram/day and 2.99 +/- 1.32 mg/day, respectively. Maternal mean serum folate levels of the trimester and delivery were 9.75 +/- 3.60 ng/ml, 10.46 +/- 4.63 ng/ml, 10.71 +/- 4.14 ng/ml and 15.05 +/- 7.04 ng/ml. Those maternal levels were significantly lower than that of umbilical cord blood (23.99 +/- 9.42 ng/ml). Serum vitamin B12 levels of maternal trimester and delivery were 479.07 +/- 137.56 pg/ml, 310.96 +/- 137.56 pg/ml, 308.22 +/- 74.65 pg/ml, and 295.67 +/- 93.36 pg/ml, which were significantly lower than those of umbilical cord blood (500.13 +/- 185.60 ng/ml). This finding indicates that the uptake of folate and vitamin B12 in the fetus may be due to an active placental transport mechanism. Maternal serum level correlated positively with those of umbilical cord blood, showing that folate and vitamin B12 concentration of umbilical cord blood might be affected by maternal status. There was no significant correlation between the serum folate levels in maternal-umbilical cord blood and the pregnancy outcomes. However, maternal vitamin B12 level at 1'st trimester was significant positive correlation between the gestational age except for birth weight and weight gain.
Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetus ; Folic Acid* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Umbilical Cord* ; Vitamin B 12* ; Vitamins* ; Weight Gain

The purpose of the present study was to compare prapofol, newly introduced anesthetic agnet, & thiopental as to the characteristics of induction & recovery as well as the safety of both anents. Fifty patients who presented for termination of pregnancy were allocated at random to recieve either propofol 2 mg/kg IV or thiopental 4 mg/kg IV. In addition all patients recevied fentanyl, 1 ug/kg IV, one minute befor the induction. Repeated bolus doses of either propofol 20 mg or thiopental 50 mg were given, if the patient respond to surgical stimulation by moving. The result were as follows. 1) Both propofol and thiopental produced smooth and rapid induction, but caused significant respiratory depression. 2) There was more cardiovascular depression with propofol than with thiopental. 3) Postoperative recovery(time to ambulation) was faster with propofol than with thiopental (36.5+/-1.4 vs 72.9+/-5.1 min, p<0.001). 4) Propofol was associated with less side effects(Nausea, vomithing, and dizziness) than thiopental. These results suggest 1) that propofol has significant advantage over thiopental in outpatient surgery, where early ambulation and discharge is desirable, and 2) that both propofol and thiopental should be administered by expert anesthesiologist only when ventiatory assistant device with oxygen is immediately available.
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures* ; Anesthesia* ; Depression ; Early Ambulation ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy ; Propofol* ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thiopental*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intake of antioxidant vitamins and plasma concentrations of those in 60 maternal-infant pairs (30 in normal term delivery group, NT; 30 in preterm delivery group, PT). We also investigated the relationship between vitamin levels of maternal-umbilical cord plasma and pregnancy outcome. Mean energy intakes of NT and PT pregnant women were 93.2% and 85.4%, and their protein intakes were 113.3% and 110.9 % of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively. While vitamin A intakes were only 51.2% and 39.6% of the RDA in NT and PT pregnant women. The vitamin E intake was about 50% of the RDA (NT 6.27 mg, PT 7.78 mg). The levels of retinol in maternal plasma of NT and PT were 1.51 micronmol/l and 1.43 micronmol/l, respectively. The retinol levels in umbilical cord plasma in NT and PT were 0.72 micronmol/l and 0.61 micronmol/l, respectively. The level of beta-carotene in maternal plasma of NT was 0.49 micronmol/l, significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that of PT (0.31 micronmol/l). The beta-carotene of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were 0.02 micronmol/l and 0.01 micronmol/l, respectively. The plasma alpha- tocopherol of maternal of NT and PT were 29.51 micronmol/l and 27.17 micronmol/l, respectively. The alpha-tocopherol of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were 4.16 micronmol/l and 3.80 micronmol/l, respectively. The antioxidant vitamin levels retinol, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol) in maternal plasma were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than those in umbilical cord plasma. However, there was no correlation between the vitamin levels in maternal plasma and those in umbilical cord plasma. The maternal plasma beta-carotene level showed a positive correlation to gestational age. Also Apgar score at 1 min produced a positive correlation to maternal plasma beta-carotene level.
alpha-Tocopherol* ; Apgar Score ; beta Carotene* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Tocopherols ; Umbilical Cord ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to suggest agenda priorities for nursing service R&D (Research and Development) related policies development. METHODS: Two steps in developing the agendas and priorities were performed in this descriptive study. First, nursing service R&D agendas were extracted through needs assessment of nursing researchers and practitioners. Then, the priority of agendas was set by Analytic Hierarchy Process by ten experts who were representatives of nursing and other healthcare professionals. RESULTS: Six core areas and forty-six nursing service R&D agendas were developed. The priority of agendas was different according to the evaluation criteria depending on weight value of nursing services. CONCLUSION: In order to select and promote nursing service R&D projects within national healthcare policy, nursing service R&D policy should be proposed with consideration to the importance of the criteria in reflecting characteristics of nursing care. By strengthening R&D capabilities for quality improvement and sensitive awareness of national directions for healthcare R&D policies, nursing service R&D can be appropriately promoted.
Delivery of Health Care ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Research ; Nursing Services* ; Quality Improvement