BACKGROUND: Approxinately 30%-70% of patients hospitalized receive intravenous(IV) therapy[l-4], It is generally believed that many hospitalized patients experienced IV therapy related complications-including infiltration(swelling), phlebitis, pain, suppurative phlebitis and bacterernia. These complications may be critical to ill children in the hopsital. This study was done to assess the IV therapy related complications and characteristics od the phlebitis of the hospitalized children. METHODS: We collected date prospectively from December 8, 1994 to December 14 at the tertiary care hospital in Seoul. The subhects of this study were children who got new IV catheters during that period. RESULTS: There were 306 new cases(176 children) that got IV therapy and which meant 63.8 per 100 discharge patients. Male(62.8%), pediatric surgery patients(70.6%) were more than female(37.2%) and pediatrucs(28.4%) respectively. The usually used IV sites were the upper extermities(71.3%). Among various purposes of IV therapy, the most common was to administer drugs(74.2%) including antibiotics, and next was to keep vein open (41.2%). By the way, 172 cases(56.3%) had IV related complications and 14 resulted in phlebitis. The most common IV related complication of hospitalized children was swelling(35.1%). The incidence of IV related complication of hospitalized children was swelling(35.1%). The incidence of IV phlebits was higher in pediaterics than in pediatrid surgery (P<0.05), over 12 years old than under that aged patients (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that many hospitalized children experienced the IV related complications. In order to decrease the IV related complications, reduce the incidence and thorough care is recommanded.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Child* ; Child, Hospitalized ; Humans ; Incidence ; Phlebitis ; Prospective Studies ; Seoul ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Veins

BACKGROUND: This was concerned with outbreak investigation of the epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) which occurred from April to May 1996 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Korea. METHOD: We defined the cases by the clinical signs and symptoms and investigated the possible risk factors of this outbreak by case-control analysis. RESULTS: The number of total cases were 17, including neonates (10 cases) and health care workers (7 cases), The index case was thought to be infected by his family, while the other cases may have been transmitted through contact with nurses who cared for or fed the index case. There were no statistically significant differences between case and non-case (control) neonates. However, for nurses, the total amounts of time spent working in the hospital and in the NICU were identified as significant factors. And the incidence of EKC was higher in the nurses who contacted neonates with EKC more frequently. CONCLUSION: According to our contact precautions, we enforced cohort isolation and emphasized strict hand washing and aseptic technique to the health care workers. All of the equipment, especially eye dips used by the cases, was disinfected or sterilized. Fortunately this outbreak ended after about one week when we recognized and started to investigate this outbreak.
Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Keratoconjunctivitis* ; Korea ; Risk Factors ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Ear* ; Pilomatrixoma*

PURPOSE: This study was done to analyze the effects of an exercise program on body composition and physical fitness of obese female college students. METHOD: Data was collected from September 29, 2003 to December, 29, 2003. The research design was arandomized control group pretest-posttest experimental design. The subjects were college nursing students at K University. Forty four students, 20 in the experimental group and 24 ina control group, with more than 30% body fat were randomly assigned. The subjects in the experimental group participated in an exercise program for 12 weeks, sixty minutes per session, five times per week. Body composition and physical fitness was measured by a body composition analyzer, cardiovascular endurance, muscle endurance, muscle strength(grip strength, back strength), flexibility, balance, agility(whole body reaction time) and power(standing long jump). RESULT: Body weight(F=4.76, p=0.035), body fat(kg)(F=5.68, p=0.022) and body mass index(F=5.73, p=0.021) of the experimental group were significantly different from the control group, but there were no significant differences in body fat(%), lean body mass, muscle mass and WHR. Back strength(F=6.50, p=0.015), flexibility(F=14.62, p=0.000), muscle endurance(F=7.98, p=0.007), power(F=5.76, p=0.021) and balance(F=2.46, p=0.018) of the experimental group were significantly different from the control group, but there were no significant differences in cardiovascular endurance, grip strength or agility. CONCLUSITON: The exercise program was effective in improving body weight, body fat(kg), body mass index, back strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, balance and power of obese female college students.
*Physical Fitness ; Physical Endurance ; Obesity/*therapy ; Humans ; Female ; *Exercise Therapy ; *Body Composition ; Adult ; Adolescent

PURPOSE: This study was done to analyze the effects of an exercise program on body composition and physical fitness of obese female college students. METHOD: Data was collected from September 29, 2003 to December, 29, 2003. The research design was arandomized control group pretest-posttest experimental design. The subjects were college nursing students at K University. Forty four students, 20 in the experimental group and 24 ina control group, with more than 30% body fat were randomly assigned. The subjects in the experimental group participated in an exercise program for 12 weeks, sixty minutes per session, five times per week. Body composition and physical fitness was measured by a body composition analyzer, cardiovascular endurance, muscle endurance, muscle strength(grip strength, back strength), flexibility, balance, agility(whole body reaction time) and power(standing long jump). RESULT: Body weight(F=4.76, p=0.035), body fat(kg)(F=5.68, p=0.022) and body mass index(F=5.73, p=0.021) of the experimental group were significantly different from the control group, but there were no significant differences in body fat(%), lean body mass, muscle mass and WHR. Back strength(F=6.50, p=0.015), flexibility(F=14.62, p=0.000), muscle endurance(F=7.98, p=0.007), power(F=5.76, p=0.021) and balance(F=2.46, p=0.018) of the experimental group were significantly different from the control group, but there were no significant differences in cardiovascular endurance, grip strength or agility. CONCLUSITON: The exercise program was effective in improving body weight, body fat(kg), body mass index, back strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, balance and power of obese female college students.
*Physical Fitness ; Physical Endurance ; Obesity/*therapy ; Humans ; Female ; *Exercise Therapy ; *Body Composition ; Adult ; Adolescent

PURPOSE: This prospective cohort study was done to investigate recall bias to antepartum variables measured at postpartum periods and predictors of postpartum depression. METHODS: Participants were 215 women who answered a self-administered questionnaire which included demographics, Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised and Korean version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale at antepartum 36-40 weeks and postpartum 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using kappa, and hierarchical multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Agreement between antepartum variables at both antepartum and two postpartum periods was relatively high (kappa=.55-.95). Postpartum depression rates were 36.3% and 36.7% at two follow-up points. In hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, prenatal depression (OR=4.32, 95% CI: 1.41-13.19; OR=5.19, 95% CI: 1.41-19.08), social support (OR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.18-1.66; OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.06-1.53) and maternity blues (OR=4.75, 95% CI: 1.89-11.98; OR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.60-11.12) were commonly associated with postpartum depression at two follow-up points. Child care stress (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.01-3.37) was only associated with postpartum depression at 2 weeks postpartum and pregnancy intendedness (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.09-2.27) was only associated with postpartum depression at 6 weeks postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a need to apply nursing interventions such as prenatal education and counseling with families from antenatal period.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Depression, Postpartum/*psychology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the level of sexual function among breast cancer survivors as compared with that among healthy women. METHOD: A total of 208 women participated in this study: 103 breast cancer survivors attending self-help group and 105 community-residing healthy women in G city. A self-reported questionnaire with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to obtain data. Data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 14.0 K+ for descriptive statistics, t-test, and two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The sexual function score of breast cancer survivors was significantly lower than that of healthy women, respectively 14.9+/-9.9 and 20.6+/-11.1 (p<0.001). The sexual function of recurrent breast cancer survivors was significantly lower than that of women without recurrence. However, there were no significant differences in the sexual function score according to the cancer stage, period since diagnosis, and types of cancer treatment modality. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the importance of sex-related counseling and educational programs to improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Counseling ; Female ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Recurrence ; Self-Help Groups ; Survivors

No abstract available.
Antiviral Agents/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus/genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon Alfa-2a/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Interferon Alfa-2b/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Ribavirin/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a RNA virus classified within Picornaviridae family HAV vaccines containing formalin-inactivated virus produced in cell culture have been licensed in the early 1990s. HAV seroepidemiology in Korea is rapidly changing according to improvement of socioeconomical status. This epidemiologic shift is presented by growing numbers of hepatitis A cases among young adults, who are more symptomatic than children. Recently, about 70% of acute viral hepatitis in Korean adults are attributable to HAV. The seroprevalence of HAV among the young people in their teens and twenties is only about 10%, which suggests that a growing number of young adults are susceptible to HAV infection and development of more cases with severe presentation is expected in the near future. Therefore, active campaign for childhood HAV vaccination should be continued, and catch-up vaccination for the young population should be considered in Korea. Some preliminary data suggest the incidence rate of hepatitis A might be higher than 20/100,000 population, and routine childhood vaccination for HAV could be cost-effective in Korea. To provide reasonable recommendation for HAV vaccine, the continuous survey of HAV seroepidemiology and study on the cost-effectiveness of routine childhood vaccination are urgently warranted.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Child ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; Hepatitis A virus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Picornaviridae ; RNA Viruses ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Viruses ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Immunosuppression