PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with performance of nursing care for postoperative delirium of elderly patients among recovery room nurses. METHODS: The research was a cross-sectional, descriptive design using questionnaires. The participants were 99 nurses from five urban recovery rooms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression with SPSS WIN 21.0. RESULTS: The performance level of delirium nursing care was low because its mean score was 3.80 out of 5. Performance of nursing care was significantly positively correlated with the importance of nursing care and self-efficacy. Stepwise multiple regression analysis for performance of nursing care revealed that the most powerful predictor was the importance of nursing care. The importance of nursing care and self-efficacy explained 32.3% of the variance. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to enhance the performance of nursing care for postoperative delirium of elderly patients among recovery room nurses. The findings also suggest that consideration be given to strategies for improving the importance of nursing care and self-efficacy in developing programs to enhance the performance level of nursing care for elderly patients with postoperative delirium.
Aged* ; Delirium* ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Postoperative Care ; Recovery Room*

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the visiting occupational health services(OHS)and the factors associated with the proper control of blood pressure in hypertensive apartment management workers. METHODS: The study group included 60 workers,who were visited and followed up regularly by a nurse for a period of more than 6 months.We checked the risk factors of hypertension, blood pressure and provided hypertension control methods every 2 months. RESULTS: Mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 151.9 mmHg at the first visit to 141.1 mmHg at the last visit, and mean diastolic blood pressure also decreased from 93.6 mmHg to 87.1 mmHg (p<0.01).The number of workers who had regular exercise more than once a week increased from 7 (11.7%)at the first visit to 34 (56.7%)at the last visit, and the number of workers taking hypertensive medicines increased from 4 (6.7%) to 26 (43.3%)(p<0.01). The percentage of workers who either changed their life style or began taking hypertensive medication over the course of the action undertaken by the occupational health services showed a significant differences, 36.8%in the shorter intervention group, 43.5%in intermediate intervention group, and 72.2%in longer intervention group (p<0.05). Among those who were on shift work for less than 10 years was 32 (78.0%), while the corresponding number was only 9 (22.0%) for those who were on shift work for more than 10 years (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the visiting OHS was effective in bringing about a reduction in blood pressure, as well as an improvement in life style habits and in the use of medication. It suggests that occupational factors should be taken into account for the proper control of blood pressure in hypertensive apartment management workers.
Blood Pressure ; Hypertension* ; Life Style ; Occupational Health Services* ; Occupational Health* ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: We conducted an epidemiological survey to inquire into an outbreak of acute pneumonitis after two reported cases of interstitial lung disease. METHODS: The study subjects were 45 workers from a compound metal alloy factory. We reviewed the factory's industrial hygiene data along with the results of a special health examination, including pulmonary function tests, simple chest X-rays, and high resolution computed tomography. RESULTS: The air concentrations of beryllium ranged from 0.42 microgram/m3 to 112.3 microgram/m3, and the mean concentration of urinary beryllium were 1.53+/-0.79 microgram/g of creatinine in the molding workers, 1.41+/- 0.50 microgram/g of creatinine in the casting workers, and 1.16+/-0.53 microgram/g of creatinine in the sorting workers. The rates for cough (p=0.054), dyspnea (p=0.030), and the use of medical services (p=0.018) were higher in the molding workers than in the non-molding workers. The incidence rate of acute interstitial lung disease was higher for the molding process (32.0%) than for the non-molding process (5.0%) (p=0.012). The time of employment for all patients was prior to December 1st, 2002. CONCLUSIONS: Since most of the patients were molding workers, and all of the patients had worked without a ventilation system, this outbreak of acute interstitial lung disease was regarded as acute beryllium disease. Although the direct cause of the epidemic was the beryllium fumes, the fundamental cause was improper control of the work environment. Therefore, the means for preventing avoidable epidemics of occupational diseases are discussed.
Alloys ; Berylliosis ; Beryllium ; Cough ; Creatinine ; Dyspnea ; Employment ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thorax ; Ventilation

OBJECTIVES: We conducted an epidemiological survey to inquire into an outbreak of acute pneumonitis after two reported cases of interstitial lung disease. METHODS: The study subjects were 45 workers from a compound metal alloy factory. We reviewed the factory's industrial hygiene data along with the results of a special health examination, including pulmonary function tests, simple chest X-rays, and high resolution computed tomography. RESULTS: The air concentrations of beryllium ranged from 0.42 microgram/m3 to 112.3 microgram/m3, and the mean concentration of urinary beryllium were 1.53+/-0.79 microgram/g of creatinine in the molding workers, 1.41+/- 0.50 microgram/g of creatinine in the casting workers, and 1.16+/-0.53 microgram/g of creatinine in the sorting workers. The rates for cough (p=0.054), dyspnea (p=0.030), and the use of medical services (p=0.018) were higher in the molding workers than in the non-molding workers. The incidence rate of acute interstitial lung disease was higher for the molding process (32.0%) than for the non-molding process (5.0%) (p=0.012). The time of employment for all patients was prior to December 1st, 2002. CONCLUSIONS: Since most of the patients were molding workers, and all of the patients had worked without a ventilation system, this outbreak of acute interstitial lung disease was regarded as acute beryllium disease. Although the direct cause of the epidemic was the beryllium fumes, the fundamental cause was improper control of the work environment. Therefore, the means for preventing avoidable epidemics of occupational diseases are discussed.
Alloys ; Berylliosis ; Beryllium ; Cough ; Creatinine ; Dyspnea ; Employment ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thorax ; Ventilation

Klebsiella pneumoniae causes pyogenic infections in various sites, with the risk of which increases in patients with diabetes mellitus. Recently, K. pneumoniae has emerged as a leading cause of pyogenic liver abscess. Primary liver abscess caused by K. pneumoniae in the absence of underlying hepatobiliary disease is commonly associated with metastatic infections such as endophthalmitis, meningitis, brain abscess and infection in other sites. We experienced a case of K. pneumoniae liver abscess associated with septic metastatic lesions including pyomyositis and infected aneurysm of aorta. Despite the aggressive management with antibiotics, surgical pus drainage and aortic bypass graft, patient died of ventilator associated pneumonia and multiorgan failure. Our experience suggests that clinicians should be alert to septic metastatic infections when they treat a patient with K. pneumoniae liver abscess.
Aneurysm, Infected ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Brain Abscess ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Endophthalmitis ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Meningitis ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Pyomyositis ; Suppuration ; Transplants

Klebsiella pneumoniae causes pyogenic infections in various sites, with the risk of which increases in patients with diabetes mellitus. Recently, K. pneumoniae has emerged as a leading cause of pyogenic liver abscess. Primary liver abscess caused by K. pneumoniae in the absence of underlying hepatobiliary disease is commonly associated with metastatic infections such as endophthalmitis, meningitis, brain abscess and infection in other sites. We experienced a case of K. pneumoniae liver abscess associated with septic metastatic lesions including pyomyositis and infected aneurysm of aorta. Despite the aggressive management with antibiotics, surgical pus drainage and aortic bypass graft, patient died of ventilator associated pneumonia and multiorgan failure. Our experience suggests that clinicians should be alert to septic metastatic infections when they treat a patient with K. pneumoniae liver abscess.
Aneurysm, Infected ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Brain Abscess ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Endophthalmitis ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Meningitis ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Pyomyositis ; Suppuration ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: We conducted an epidemiologic survey to evaluate the effect of the aircraft noise exposure on the health of the residents near the military airbases in Pyeongtaek City. METHODS: The evaluation of environmental noise level, questionnaire survey, and health examination were performed for 917 residents. The study population consisted of four groups: subjects who lived in the village close to the fighter airbase (high exposure), subjects who lived along the course of fighters (intermediate exposure), and subjects near a helicopter airbase, and the control group. RESULTS: The prevalence of the aircraft noise related accident and irritable bowel syndrome in the exposure groups were higher than that of the control group. The risks of noise induced hearing loss, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were higher in the exposed groups than in the control group. The prevalence of anxiety disorder and primary insomnia were higher in the exposed groups than in the control group. Prevalence odd ratios of the risk for primary insomnia after adjusting age, sex, agricultural noise, and occupation were 4.03 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.56-10.47] for the subject near the helicopter airbase, 1.23 (95% CI 0.40-3.76) for those intermediately exposed to fighter noise, and 4.99 (95% CI 2.14-11.64) for those highly exposed to fighter noise. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the aircraft noise may have adverse effects on hearing function, cardiovascular health and mental health. Therefore, it seems to be needed to take proper measures including the control of the aircraft noise and the management of the exposed people's health.
Adult ; Aged ; *Aviation ; Chronic Disease/epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; *Health Status ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Military Personnel ; Noise, Transportation/*adverse effects ; *Residence Characteristics