PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare health-related characteristics and self-care behavior between a controlled group and a non-controlled group of hypertension patients in a customized home visiting health service. METHODS: This study was conducted as cross-sectional research. The subjects were 1,317 hypertension-controlled patients and 555 non-controlled ones. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi2-test, and t-test using the SPSS WIN 15.0 program. RESULTS: Socio-demographic characteristics and self-care behavior were not significantly correlated between the groups. According to health-related characteristics, the health status was significantly higher in the hypertension-controlled group than in the non-controlled group. The cholesterol level was significantly lower in the hypertension-controlled group than in the non-controlled group. CONCLUSION: Attention should be paid to patients who are not in good health status in order to control their hypertension. Also, it is necessary to educate the patients in order for them to manage their hypertension and cholesterol.
Cholesterol ; Health Services* ; House Calls* ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Self Care* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary*

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND: Recently several clinical studies suggested that maternal treatment with magnesium sulfate had protective effects against cerebral palsy in premature infants. But previous studies with differing perinatal animal models resulted in inconclusive results with regard to magnesium neuroprotection. Our purpose was to study the neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate and optimal dosage on hypoxicischemic brain damage in the newborn rat. METHOD: Seven-day-old rats(n=68) underwent right carotid ligation, followed by 3 hours of hypoxia(8% oxygen in 92% nitrogen). Rats received magnesium sulfate immediately before and again after hypoxia(two doses, 150mg-600mg/kg/dose, n=39), or saline solution(n=29). Severity of injury was assessed 5 days later, by visual evaluation of ipsilateral hemisphere infarction and by measurement of bilateral hemispheric cross sectional areas. RESULTS: Magnesium sulfate pre-treatment reduced the incidence of liquefactive cerebral infarction and atrophy from 80.8% in controls to 22.2% with magnesium sulfate(450 mg/kg/dose, P<0.05). Quantitation of hemispheric areas confirmed these findings. Percent protection based on inter-hemisphere area differences by pre-treatment with magnesium sulfate 450mg/kg/dose ranged from 71.1%(hippocampus) to 90.8%(striatum). However higher dose of magnesium(600mg/kg/dose) did not attenuate hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the newborn rat but increased mortality. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment of magnesium sulfate has neuroprotective effects against hypoxia-ischemia in the newborn rat and adequate dose of magnesium sufate is important to protect the brain. Magnesium pretreatment may be an effective strategy to decrease the severity of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the adequate dose.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebral Palsy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Infarction ; Ligation ; Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; Models, Animal ; Mortality ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Oxygen ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Spinal Stenosis*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting professional burnout in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. METHOD: Data were obtained through questionnaires from 240 ICU nurses working in hospitals of 500 beds or more in two cities in South Korea. Data analysis was done with t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple stepwise regression with SPSS WIN 14.0. RESULT: Work stress was positively correlated with level of professional burnout and there was a negative correlation between hardiness and professional burnout. Social support was negatively correlated with level of professional burnout. Hardiness had a positive correlation with social support and a negative correlation with work stress. The explained variances for burnout was 44.7% and factors affecting professional burnout in the ICU nurses' were work satisfaction, work stress, social support, and hardiness. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that high levels of stress coupled with low levels of hardiness and social support in ICU nurses result in high levels of professional burnout. Reducing work stress and the level of professional burnout in ICU nurses and increasing work satisfaction can be done by enhancing the mediating factors of hardiness and social support through educational efforts and nursing and administrative support.
Burnout, Professional ; Intensive Care Units ; Job Satisfaction ; Negotiating ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: To examine the results of PBL classes for sophomore nursing students during one semester. METHOD: Self-reflection journals and class evaluation questionnaires were collected from 121 nursing students and analyzed. Results of class evaluation questionnaires were analyzed using mean scores, SD, frequencies and percentages. Significant statements were derived by repeated review of the self-reflection journals by the researchers. RESULTS: The statements, 'Understanding of PBL', 'Improvement of human relationships', 'Expansion of nursing knowledge', 'Excellency in nursing class and application of nursing skills in nursing practices' and 'Improvement of learning ability and attitude during classes' were derived from the self-reflection journals. Analysis of class evaluation questionnaires showed the following scores: prerequisite of PBL (3.0/4), role of facilitator (3.48/4) and satisfaction with PBL learning (3.31/4). Also some complaints such as lack of adequate references in the library, and confusion in at the beginning of PBL were noted. CONCLUSION: PBL was effective. Using the results of the study for planning a more effective PBL class syllabus is recommended.
Humans ; Learning ; Problem-Based Learning ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing

No abstract available.
Brachial Plexus* ; Golf*

From July 1989 to February 1993, twelve patients were analysed for infected bone loss which treated with radically debriding all infected dead bone and closed suction-irrigation system with antibiotics and internal lengthening by using the external fixator. The results are summarized as follows. 1, The average time for application of external fixation was 30.7 weeks in tibia, 27 weeks in femur and average time for bone union was 31.5 weeks in femur, 34.2 weeks in tibia. 2. Soft tissue defects were treated with split thickness skin graft in 6 cases, secondary closure in 4 cases, gastrocnemius rotational flap in 2 cases. 3. The length of bone defects after infected bone excision ranged from 2cm to 9.3cm, averaging 4.5cm. The bone defect was treated by internal lengthening after corticotomy with the Ilizarov apparatus in 4 cases, the Orthofix external fixator in 8 cases. 4. Four cases in this series were complicated; one pin tract infection, one angulation deformity, one checkrein deformity, one flexion contracture of knee joint. 5. Infection was managed with radical debriding infected dead bone and closed suction-irrigation system with antibiotics in all cases. 6. We recommend that the infected bone loss can be effectively managed with radically debriding dead bone and closed suction-irrigation system with antibiotics and lengthening with Ilizarov apparatus or Orthofix external fixator.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; External Fixators ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Skin ; Tibia ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral* ; Ulnar Nerve*