PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the levels of the perception and work performance of patient safety based on the healthcare accreditation criteria among long-term care hospital nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using questionnaires. Out of 205 criteria, 39 items relevant to patient safety were selectively adapted for this study. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The mean scores of perception and work performance were 4.36 and 4.24 out of 5, respectively, and the difference between them was significantly different (t=5.78, P<.001). The two variables were both significantly higher among those nurses who were older, married, head nurses, had many nursing experiences, and aware of Healthcare Accreditation than the other nurses. Positive correlations were observed between perception and work performance in all three sub-systems. The relations between these two in the patient care system was the most highly correlated (r=.894, P<.001). The lowest scores of perception and work performances were fire-related criteria (i.e., reporting). CONCLUSION: Overall, subject's perception proves to be higher than their work performance. It is necessary to develop some viable environment and training programs to enhance their work performance up to the level of their perception of patient safety.
Accreditation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Humans ; Long-Term Care* ; Nursing ; Nursing, Supervisory ; Patient Care ; Patient Safety* ; Work Performance*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the differences in organizational commitment, nursing organization culture, and job satisfaction of Korean nurses employed in Korea and the United States, and to determine how these variables were associated with selected study characteristics. METHODS: An exploratory cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of 357 nurses from Korea and the U.S. Data were collected by using a web site survey and self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used for data analysis. RESULTS: In comparison to Korean American nurses (KAN), Korean nurses (KN) were younger, single, worked more time, took a charge role or higher, and had less turnover experience. After controlling for age and marital status, nursing organization culture and job satisfaction of KN were significantly lower than those of KAN, respectively (F= -26.02, p<.001; F= -4.87, p=.028). Significant relationships among selected socio-demo-health and work-related characteristics and the three variables were higher for KN. CONCLUSION: Higher organizational commitment and nursing organization culture from all Korean nurses were related their perceived high level of job satisfaction. Recommendations for further study include exploring a larger sample size of a variety of different types of nursing organizations and staff as well.
Asian Americans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Marital Status ; Nursing* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sample Size ; Statistics as Topic ; United States

PURPOSE: Improving productivity in nursing practice is an important issue. This study investigated factors affecting nursing productivity of Korean clinical nurses. METHODS: A structured survey tool was used in a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 239 nurses working in university hospitals. Stepwise multiple regressions were done to identify influential factors. RESULTS: The level of nursing productivity was at a moderate level (3.3 out of 5). Those nurses who were over 36, married, over master-graduated, regularly employed, on day duty, and with experiences as a charge or head nurse reported better achievements in nursing productivity than the other groups of nurses. All three independent variables, age, and employment status explained 55.4% of the variance in nursing productivity. CONCLUSION: The leaders and managers of nursing organizations should develop educational programs aimed at increasing nurses' competencies in relation to emotion controls and communication skills, which consequently should improve nursing productivity.
Efficiency ; Emotional Intelligence ; Employment ; Hospitals, University ; Nursing ; Nursing, Supervisory

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the relationships among experiences of traumatic events, post-traumatic stress (PTS), and the needs for health promotion programs of 119 paramedics. METHODS: Experiences of traumatic events, PTS, and needs for health promotion programs were measured using a structured questionnaire. The subjects were 193 paramedics in Jeju Island. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and χ2 test. RESULTS: The most experienced event out of the 16 different traumatic events was ‘retrieve a suicide's body.’ A high-risk classification of PTS was observed in 36.2% of the subjects. The rates of experiences were higher than those of the actual needs for all 26 health promotion programs. The programs reported as highly needed by respondents were stress management (75.5%) followed by exercise (74.6%) and PTS management (72.5%). Subjects with longer career periods, a fire sergeant, perceived obesity, numerous experiences of traumatic events, and in the PTS risk group had a higher need for a stress management program. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that a significant number of 119 paramedics experienced PTS. They also show that onsite strategic management is strongly required. In addition, implementation of health promotion programs based on the needs of 119 paramedics is highly needed.
Allied Health Personnel* ; Classification ; Fires ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Obesity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with perceived job satisfaction of TB control nurses in Korea. METHODS: This study employed a descriptive survey research design using data for 189 TB control nurses. Variables included in this study were demographic, social, and work-related characteristics (including job stress), and job satisfaction. ANOVA, t-test,and multiple regression analyses were performed using SPSS/WIN 19.0 program. RESULTS: The mean value of perceived job satisfaction was lower in the subjects (2.9+/-0.41) than in general nurses working in other departments. In multiple regression analysis, factors associated with TB control nurses' job satisfaction were job stress (beta=-.281, p<.001), marital status (beta=-.229, p<.001), and the number of TB control nurses employed (beta=.200, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that job satisfaction was associated more significantly with job-related characteristics than with non-job-related variables in workplace. Along with increased TB control nurse staffing, efforts should be made to reduce negative workplace issues such as job stress and inappropriate pay to improve the subject's job satisfaction.
Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Marital Status ; Nursing ; Research Design ; Tuberculosis*

No abstract available.
Gaucher Disease*

Porencephaly is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a cavitary hole extending from the cerebral mantle to the ventricle of the brain and covered by leptomeningeal membrane. It is now generally believed that the porencephaly represents a fetal or neonatal destructive process of the neural tissue. Authors experienced an autopsy case of bilateral porencephaly in a 35-day-old Korean male infant who died of sepsis. The brain weighed 150 gms and morphologically well formed except for two large symmetric defects at the fronto-parietal region. These defects were characterized by cleft-like shape, covering the entire cerebral mantle with resultant direct communication between ventricular cavity and leptomeninges. Thin leptomeningeal trabeculae were covering the cavity. There was a smooth transition between ependyma and roof of the defects. There are focal, microscopic cerebral infarct and abscess without connection with the cavitary lesion. The remaining central nervous system was unremarkable.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High-speed videolaryngoscopy (HSV) is the only technique that captures the true intra-cycle vibratory behavior of the vocal folds by capturing full images of the vocal folds. However, it has problems of no immediate feedback during examination, considerable waiting time for digital kymography (DKG), recording duration limited to a few seconds, and extreme demands for storage space. Herein, we demonstrate a new post-processing method that converts HSV images to two-dimensional digital kymography (2D-DKG) images, which adopts the algorithm of 2D videokymography (2D VKG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HSV system was used to capture images of vocal folds. HSV images were post-processed in Kay image-process software (KIPS), and conventional DKG images were retrieved. Custom-made post-processing system was used to convert HSV images to 2D-DKG images. The quantitative parameters of the post-processed 2D-DKG images was validated by comparing these parameters with those of the DKG images. RESULTS: Serial HSV images for all phases of vocal fold vibratory movement are included. The images were converted by the scanning method using U-medical image-process software. Similar to conventional DKG, post-processed 2D DKG image from the HSV image can provide quantitative information on vocal fold mucosa vibration, including the various vibratory phases. Differences in amplitude symmetry index, phase symmetry index, open quotient, and close quotient between 2D-DKG and DKG were analyzed. There were no statistical differences between the quantitative parameters of vocal fold vibratory movement in 2D-DKG and DKG. CONCLUSION: The post-processing method of converting HSV images to 2D DKG images could provide clinical information and storage economy.
Kymography ; Methods ; Mucous Membrane ; Vibration ; Vocal Cords ; Voice

No abstract available.
Gallium* ; Neoplasm, Residual* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Primary cutaneous aspergillosis is rare. In this report we describe primary skin infection by Aspergillus in 9 children with leukemia. The skin lesion was characterized clinically by erythematous macule and papule associated with pain and itching, followed by a rapid progression to ulcer and central black eschars with raised erythematous border at the site of venipuncture, insertion of intravenous cannula, or where arm boards had been taped to extremities. Diagnosis was confirmed by skin biopsy and wound culture. Positive revealed in 6 patients, including A. glaucus in 2 cases, A. flavus in 1 case. Treatment consisted of temporary withdrawl of anticancer chemotherapy, intravenous amphotericin B, oral flucytosine, itraconazole and/or rifampin. One patient recovered completely without antifungal medication with resolution of leukopenia. Six of eight treated patients recovered. One patient discharged against medical advice, while cutaneous aspergillosis was improving. One patient died with persistent skin lesion and neutropenia. We conclude that primary cutaneous aspergillosis is increasingly recognized in association with intravenous cannula, intravenous puncture or prolonged contact with arm boards in immunocompromised patients, and that this serious disease can be treated successfully with appropriate management.
Amphotericin B ; Arm ; Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus ; Biopsy ; Catheters ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Extremities ; Flucytosine ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Itraconazole ; Leukemia ; Leukopenia ; Neutropenia ; Phlebotomy ; Pruritus ; Punctures ; Rifampin ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries