PURPOSE: This study was performed to analyze effects of the power and empowerment on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. This study was based on the Kanter's theory of organizational empowerment. METHOD: A predictive, non-experimental design was used to test the model in a sample of 688 nurses working in 7 university hospitals that have over 500 beds in Seoul, Kyunggi and Kangwon provinces. The data were collected from December, 2003 to January, 2004. It was analyzed with descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation of SPSS and with path analysis of LISREL. RESULT: The formal and informal power had direct effects on empowerment. Formal power also had direct effects on informal power. Empowerment had direct effects on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Organizational commitment had direct effects on job satisfaction. There was positive effects in all of the variables. CONCLUSION: The positive changes show on personal behaviors and attitudes when the nurses who have formal and informal power are empowered. These findings would be important resource to nurse administrators for clinical implication.
*Attitude of Health Personnel ; Humans ; *Job Satisfaction ; Models, Organizational ; Models, Psychological ; Nurse Clinicians/*psychology ; Personnel Loyalty ; *Professional Autonomy

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identify associations between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among adults aged 19 to 64 years in the Gwangju-Jeonnam area. METHODS: This study utilized data from the 2010 Community Health Survey (CHS). Health behaviors considered in this study were smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, low-salt diet, and perception of stress. The index for the health behaviors was calculated as the sum of the practice of each health behavior (range: 0-5). The analysis was weighted with a complex sampling design, and the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify the association between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of MetS. RESULTS: A total of 19.8% of the population were aware of MetS. The perception of MetS was statistically significantly associated with healthy behaviors, including nonsmoking (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.14-1.56), non-high-risk drinking (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.27-1.88), engagement in physical activity (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.28-1.72), and a low-salt diet (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.13-1.51). The ORs of the perception of MetS were significantly higher in patients with a health behavior index of 2 to 3 (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.66) and in those with an index of > or =4 (aOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.51-4.04) than in those with an index of 0. Among all health behaviors, physical activity had the highest OR for the perception of MetS (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29-1.74). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed associations between health behaviors, especially physical activity, and awareness of MetS. Therefore, integrated health promotion programs may be needed to enhance awareness of MetS and to effectively prevent MetS and non-communicable diseases.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Drinking ; Health Behavior* ; Health Promotion ; Health Surveys* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: To statistically analyze the advantages of distraction osteogenesis in combination with free flap in the treatment of tibial open fracture with bone and soft tissue defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with tibial open fracture with bone and soft tissue defect were treated by distraction osteogenesis with or without flap. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months and retrospectively analyzed, for the admission period, the out patient follow-up period, and the intravenous antibiotic period, and distraction consolidation indices were determined. RESULTS: Those treated with free flap showed statistically significance shorter antibiotic period, admission period, and distraction consolidation indices. CONCLUSION: Free flap and distraction osteogenesis with an Ilizarov external fixator has many advantages for treating tibial open fracture with bone and soft tissue defect.
External Fixators ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Open ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia

OBJECTIVE: Fall is one of major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. It is known that sleep is associated with quality of life in the elderly. Snoring is one of the factors affecting sleep quality. The aim of the study was to examine whether snoring affect fall in the community elderly. METHODS: This survey was performed as a part of the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, which studied the elderly living in Ganghwa-gun. Fall was defined as any history of fall in the last year through face-to-face interview. We examined the following variables: age, sex, snoring, insomnia, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, bone disease, vision problems, depression, alcohol intake, mini-mental state examination, and body mass index. The data was analyzed by multiple logistic regression to determine the association of fall with the risk factors. RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis of 516 participants, the adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval) of simple snoring affecting fall was 1.70 (1.10–2.63). In addition, sex (female), age, and diabetes were significantly predicted the fall. CONCLUSION: Our result suggested that snoring could be a risk factor of fall. A more comprehensive study of the relationship between snoring and fall is needed to improve the quality of life of the community elderly.
Aged* ; Aging ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Diseases ; Depression ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Snoring* ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Heart Diseases* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Sciatic Nerve*

OBJECTIVES: Research has shown that obesity appears to spread through social ties. However, the association between other characteristics of social networks and obesity is unclear. This study aimed to identify the association between social network characteristics and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) in an elderly Korean population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 657 Koreans (273 men, 384 women) aged 60 years or older who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Network size is a count of the number of friends. Density of communication network is the number of connections in the social network reported as a fraction of the total links possible in the personal (ego-centric) network. Average frequency of communication (or meeting) measures how often network members communicate (or meet) each other. The association of each social network measure with BMI was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, the men with lower density (<0.71) and higher network size (4-6) had the higher BMI (beta=1.089, p=0.037) compared to the men with higher density (>0.83) and lower size (1-2), but not in the women (p=0.393). The lowest tertile of communication frequency was associated with higher BMI in the women (beta=0.885, p=0.049), but not in the men (p=0.140). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that social network structure (network size and density) and activation (communication frequency and meeting frequency) are associated with obesity among the elderly. There may also be gender differences in this association.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Self Concept ; Smoking ; *Social Networking

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence supports an association between age-related loss of muscle mass and insulin resistance. However, the association has not been fully investigated in the general population. Thus, we investigated the association between appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and insulin resistance in an elderly Korean population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 158 men (mean age, 71.8) and 241 women (mean age, 70.6) from the Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project, which started in 2011. In this study, ASM was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and was analyzed in three forms: ASM (kg), ASM/height2 (kg/m2), and ASM/weight (%). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used as a measure of insulin resistance. The relationships between the ASM values and the HOMA-IR were investigated by multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: The HOMA-IR was positively associated with ASM (beta=0.43, P<0.0001) and ASM/height2 (beta=0.36, P<0.0001) when adjusted for sex and age. However, after additional adjustment for body weight, HOMA-IR was inversely associated with ASM (beta=-0.43, P<0.001) and ASM/height2 (beta=-0.30, P=0.001). Adjustment for other potential confounders did not change these associations. Conversely, HOMA-IR was consistently and inversely associated with ASM/weight before and after adjustment for other potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Our results support the idea that lower skeletal muscle mass is independently associated with insulin resistance in older adults. When evaluating sarcopenia or muscle-related conditions in older adults, their whole body sizes also need to be considered.
Adult ; Aged* ; Aging* ; Body Size ; Body Weight ; Cohort Studies* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance* ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Sarcopenia

No abstract available.
Histiocytosis ; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell ; Stomach* ; Xanthomatosis*

BACKGROUND: Many patients seeking treatment for skin disorders have an underlying psychiatric problem that either causes or exacerbates a skin condition; thus, the demand for dermatologists' expert opinions on such cases is increasing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze and quantify the pattern of dermatologic consultations referred by the department of neuropsychiatry in a tertiary hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively studied data from 337 inpatients referred by the department of neuropsychiatry for dermatologic consultation during an 8.5-year period in a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: The percentage of department of neuropsychiatry patients who were referred to the department of dermatology for consultation was 15.3%. The most prevalent age group for referrals was 30~39 years (26.4%), and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.6. Bipolar disorder was the most common underlying neuropsychiatric problem (31.1%), and eczema (36.5%) was the most common dermatoses, followed by infectious disease (27.6%). The main reasons for dermatologic consultations were dermatologic disease (71.5%) and treatment-related dermatoses (10.1%). Thirty-five cases were discordant as to the reason for consultation between psychiatrists and dermatologists. Neuropsychiatric medication-related adverse reactions were reported in 9.8% of referred patients. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the distribution of skin disorders in patients referred by department of neuropsychiatry for dermatologic consultation. We believe its findings could be helpful as educational material to encourage cooperation between the specialties of dermatology and neuropsychiatry.
Bipolar Disorder ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermatology ; Eczema ; Expert Testimony ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Neuropsychiatry ; Psychiatry ; Referral and Consultation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND: Recent research demonstrates a strong association between smoking-related behaviors and genetic variation. We investigated the clinical features and genetic effects of dopamine receptors and a serotonin transporter on smoking cessation in Koreans. METHODS: Smokers (n=51) wanting to quit smoking were included as the study population. They were genotyped for polymorphisms in dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) (TaqI and -141C), dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4), and a serotonin transporter (5-HTT). We defined abstinence as stopping smoking at six months after enrollment. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (35.3%) stopped smoking at six months. The abstinence group had a higher rate of alcohol use whereas the non-abstinence group had more coughing. However, there were no significant differences in average smoking rate, starting age of smoking, gender, nicotine dependence, and forced expiratory volume in one second between the two groups. As for the genes in the dopamine pathway, the polymorphisms of DRD2 TaqI (A1 allele) and DRD2 -141C (Ins C allele) were not genotypically different between the two groups (P=0.245 and 0.409, respectively). The genetic variation in the DRD4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) also showed a similar distribution in the two groups. Regarding the polymorphisms of 5-HTT, there was no difference in the long allele between the two groups (P=0.852). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the genetic variations of DRD2 TaqI, DRD2 -141C, DRD4 VNTR, and 5-HTT might have little influence on smoking cessation in Korean smokers.
Alleles ; Cough ; DNA ; Dopamine ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Minisatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Dopamine ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; Receptors, Dopamine D4 ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Use Disorder