Adverse reactions to latex are various from localized skin problem to systemic anaphylaxis, even causing death. There are few reports on latex glove hypersensitivity in Korea, even though clinically the adverse reactions to latex sporadically have been reported. The purpose of this study was to survey the prevalence rate of adverse reactions to latex glove and compare the rate of allergy to ordinary latex glove with those 4 types of hypoallergenic gloves. Data on adverse reaction to latex gloves and symptoms as well as risk factors were collected from 63 operating room nurses using a questionnaire and direct observation of skim prick test. Questionnaire was used to survey the adverse reactions including the type I and IV, skin prick test was used to survey latex allergy defined type I. Among respondents, 25 nurses with adverse reaction to latex gloves were selected for the skin prick and exposure test with 5 latex gloves ( 1 ordinary glove, 4 hypoallergenic gloves) using the repeated measures design of the counterbalancing method. The results were followed : 1) The response rate of questionnaire was 96.8%, and the prick test was performed in 61 out of 63 nurses. 2) Common symptoms of adverse reactions to latex gloves were rash (49.2%), skin itching (44.3%), dizziness (31.3%), and eye itching (26.2%). 3) The prevalence rate of adverse reactions to latex glove was 80.3%. 4) The prevalence rate of latex allergy was 9.8%. The relationship between the latex allergy and atopy was significant, i.e. the atopic persons had more latex allergy than the non-atopics. 5) In 5 latex gloves, the prevalence rate of latex allergy by skin prick test and skin exposure test was follows : 16%, 24% for skin angel gloves, 8%, 24% for hypoallergenic HAG glove, 12%, 4% for hypoallergenic SmooTer-R glove, 8%, 0% for hypoallergenic Candle glove, 8%, 24% for hypoallergenic Neutralon glove respectively. There was no difference in prevalence rate of latex allergy among gloves by skin prick test. As the results of skin exposure test, the usual latex gloves had higher prevalence rate of latex allergy than the hypoallergenic gloves (p<0.0001).
Anaphylaxis ; Dizziness ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Latex Hypersensitivity ; Latex* ; Operating Rooms ; Prevalence ; Pruritus ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing patient satisfaction and to evaluate the utility of patient satisfaction as an outcome indicator. The study was conducted by mailed questionnaire. The subjects were 900 patients discharged from adult nursing units in a tertiary teaching hospital. On the discharge date, questionnaires were distributed by two trained research assistants. The questionnaire developed by the researchers was based on Larson(1996)'s study, and consisted of 71 items with the following components: overall satisfaction, domain-specific satisfaction(administration process, hospital facility and environment, nurses, and doctors), patients' loyalty(intention to use the health care service of the hospital in the future), recommendation to others, health benefits, and demographic characteristics. Each item was rated using a five point Likert scale ranging from '1=strongly disagree' to '5= strongly agree'. The response rate was 43%(387/900). The satisfaction level with the health care service was generally high. Perceived health status was the only significant factor influencing satisfaction level. Satisfaction with doctors contributed the most to explaining overall satisfaction. Overall satisfaction was significantly correlated with patient loyalty, recommendation, to other and perceived health benefit. It was found that the score of satisfaction was positively correlated with the score of loyalty, recommendation, and health benefit. Therefore, patient satisfaction seems to be a good outcome indicator.
Adult ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Nursing ; Patient Satisfaction* ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a Web-based ostomy self-care education program and to evaluate its effects on ostomates' self-care knowledge and self-care behavior. METHODS: Based on the needs assessment and literature review, a Web-based ostomy self-care education program was developed and modified incorporating feedbacks from nurse experts panel. The experimental group received the ostomy self-care using the Web-based program and the control group received the traditional education. The level of self-care knowledge and self-care behavior were measured and were compared between the experimental and the control groups. RESULTS: The levels of self-care knowledge and self-care behavior in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: This study implies that a Web-based education program for the ostomates can be used to improve ostomy self-care.
Education* ; Internet ; Needs Assessment ; Ostomy* ; Patient Education as Topic ; Self Care*

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to compare nursing records before and after the implementation of an electronic nursing records system. METHODS: Twenty patients' paper-based nursing records and 20 patients' electronic nursing records were analyzed according to the nursing process and compared in terms of quantity and quality. RESULTS: In terms of quantity, the average number of statements documented per patient per day has increased by 2.5 times, from 10.3 to 25.6 statements. The average number of redundancies of a unique statement also has increased by 67%, from 5.0 to 8.8. As for the content of nursing records, paper-based nursing records have more patient problem statements describing signs and symptoms, nursing observations, and patient status. Electronic nursing records have more nursing activity statements. In terms of quality, there were more nursing records following patterns of nursing process in electronic nursing records than paper-based nursing records. The electronic nursing records have a more detailed documentation compared to the paper-based nursing records. CONCLUSION: After the implementation of electronic nursing record system, quantity of nursing records and the pattern of nursing records following the nursing process have been increased and granularity of nursing records has been improved.
Humans ; Nursing ; Nursing Process ; Nursing Records* ; Thoracic Surgery*

No abstract available.
Medical Informatics

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to find out what nurses wrote in narrative nursing notes. METHODS: Forty-six patients' nursing notes were analyzed based on the nursing process. Eight patterns were extracted depending on the different combinations of the nursing process components. RESULTS: Of the 8 patterns, assessment only pattern was the most frequent comprising 45.8% and assessment or diagnosis-intervention-outcome patterns accounted for 25.9% of the total nursing phrases. The content of nursing notes was also classified into 15 categories. Out of these 15 categories, nursing outcomes were recorded more frequently in nursing care mainly driven by doctor's order such as diseases related symptom management, insomnia care, respiratory care and pain control than in independent nursing care such as education and emotional care. According to the survey on nurses' attitude toward nursing record, nurses did not document nursing outcome as much as they reported they did. The main reasons for this discrepancy were insufficient time for recording and lack of knowledge about why, how and what to evaluate. CONCLUSION: Even though there is room for improvement, nursing notes can be used a source for nursing contribution to patient outcomes.
Education ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Process* ; Nursing Records* ; Nursing* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Thoracic Surgery*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of aromatherapy on anxiety, depression, and stress. METHODS: Medical and nursing literature databases were searched to identify studies comparing aromatherapy with a control group. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies published till September 2008 were included in the analysis. Twenty-two studies showed that aromatherapy generally had positive effects on the anxiety level (ES: 0.61). Thirteen studies showed that aromatherapy has significantly decreased the depression level (ES: 0.91). Seven studies showed that aromatherapy had positive effect on the stress level (ES: 0.78). Further analysis found that aromatherapy was more effective for normal population than for patients group with anxiety and stress. On the contrary, aromatherapy was more effective for patients group than for general population with depression. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy had positive effect on anxiety, depression and stress level. But there was no sufficient evidence to show the two different aromatherapy methods and two different period of aromatherapy had different effects due to small sample size and heterogeneity of sample. And it was needed to perform follow-up and further comparative studies.
Anxiety ; Aromatherapy* ; Depression ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Population Characteristics ; Sample Size

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care