PURPOSE: This study was done to learn the status of occupational injuries and illnesses among Korean nurses. METHODS: Thirty four articles published between 1990 and 2007 were selected using keywords as nurse and back pain, musculoskeletal symptom, violence, needle stick injuries and latex allergy from the database. The 609 RN cases among the workers' compensation data from 2005 to 2007 were analyzed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Based on the analysis of the articles, the most frequent work-related illness and injuries were the musculoskeletal symptoms including back pain. The prevalence of back pain was ranged from 36.5% to 98.5%. Tuberculosis cases were the most frequent and the musculoskeletal cases were the second rank in the workers' compensation data. In the case of violence, there has been an increasing tendency since 2000 in the articles and workers' compensation data. The relatively high percentage of compensation cases occurred among the ones working in small institutions and with less than one year experience. CONCLUSION: The further research on the nurses' work-related illness and injuries needs to consider the measurement tool selection and longitudinal design. The various types of contribution to the occupational health in nursing is suggested to improve the nurses' health and safety.
Back Pain ; Compensation and Redress ; Latex Hypersensitivity ; Needlestick Injuries ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Occupational Injuries ; Prevalence ; Tuberculosis ; Violence ; Workers' Compensation

No abstract available.
Lung*

No abstract available.
Rickettsia typhi* ; Rickettsia*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to analyze obstetric and neonatal causes of Korean neonatal deaths. METHODS: The study subjects are a cohort of infants who were born during 1996 and who died before their first birthday. The data were collected through three stages of the study: the collection of existing data, a national infant mortality survey at medical facilities, and data integrating and adjusting process. The sources of existing data were health insurance data and the resident registration data. The National infant mortality survey was conducted by both 'Ministry of Health and Welfare' and 'Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs'. 3930 medical and health facilities where obstetrics services are available were surveyed during November 1998. The survey results were computerized to match data sets, and any overlap among different data sets were filtered. Causes of deaths were grouped according to the KCD (Korean Standard Classification of Diseases). Causes of neonatal death were further analyzed using composite causes combining obstetric and neonatal conditions. RESULTS: Causes of 2,433 neonatal death were known out of 2,856 deaths. "Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period" comprised 77.1% of neonatal death, being the most common cause. The next common cause was 'congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities', constituting 15.7% of neonatal death. Among the 'certain conditions originating in the perinatal period', 'respiratory distress of newborn' constituted 17.1% of neonatal deaths and 'disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight', constituted 15.6% of neonatal deaths. Neonatal sepsis constituted 14.8% of neonatal death. Among congenital malformations 'congenital malformation of the heart' was most common, constituting 6.2% of neonatal death. 'Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period' was more important cause of preterm neonatal death. Of the related maternal condition, idiopathic preterm birth, multifetal pregnancy, premature rupture of the membranes and hypertensive diseases during pregnancy were common conditions. Congenital malformation was the most important cause of term neonatal death. CONCLUSION: Prematurity-related condition was more important cause of preterm neonatal death while congenital malformation was the most important cause of term neonatal death.
Cause of Death ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Dataset ; Gestational Age ; Health Facilities ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Insurance, Health ; Membranes ; Obstetrics ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Rupture ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: The study was to explore the level of low back pain and characteristic factors influencing low back pain (LBP) and mental health during pregnancy. METHODS: The subjects were a total of 383 healthy pregnant women in S City and K-Do. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: 82.5% of the pregnant women answered the existence of LBP and 19.7% of them had high LBP. The preferred method of controlling LBP was 'Just endure' (42.3%). There were significant differences in pregnancy level (p < .05) and discomfort condition related to pregnancy (p < .01) according to low back pain. There were significant differences in pain intensity according to mental health. The correlation between pain level and pregnancy weeks (p < .001) and BMI in previous pregnancy (p < .001) was significant. The correlation between mental health and age was significant (p < .001). CONCLUSION: The majority of the pregnant women experienced LBP during pregnancy. However, they were not offered the best method of controlling the pain. Thus, for preventing LBP during pregnancy, we recommend regular exercises and BMI control.
Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Mental Health* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women*

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to produce basic data on the prenatal environmental risk factors of low birth weight infants at a community level. METHODS: In 2000, we conducted the direct interview using questionnaire about prenatal environmental risk factors with low birth weight infant-delivered mothers and normal weight infant-delivered mothers in Asan-city, Chungcheongnamdo Province, Korea. The questions given to the mothers included past pregnancy history, menstrual status, disease history before and during the pregnancy, family history, environmental risk factors and exposure history. The responses of the two groups were compared to calculate the prenatal environmental risk factors of each group. RESULTS: Mothers' smoking was significantly associated with low birth weight infants (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.27; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-8.56) and preterm baby (AOR 4.20; 95% CI, 1.21-14.61). Other environmental risk factors were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Smoking of mothers can be a risk factor for the delivery of low birth weight infants. These results could provide the basic data on prenatal environmental risk factors of mothers of low birth weight infants and suggest research topics for further community-based evaluation.
Chungcheongnam-do* ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Maternal Exposure ; Mothers* ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive History ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was the development and validation of a scale to measure the self-care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in Korea. METHOD: Self-care scale was developed based on the self-care activities patients had to carry out in order to manage their COPD. The original scale contained 34 items rated along a five-point Likert scale and was reviewed by 18 professional nurses and 10 Korean patients with COPD for content validity. Subsequently, patients with COPD were asked to complete this 23-item scale and further tests were done with the 125 useable responses. RESULT: Factor analysis identified eight factors- "maintaining a clean air way", "taking medication", "support from family", "preventing infection", "managing symptoms", "breathing exercising", and "taking in nutrition". The internal consistency of the total scale was Cronbach's alpha=0.7226. These eight factors explained 60.8% of total variance. There was correlation among Korean Self-Care Scale score, administration level, and knowledge level but there was no correlation to patients' satisfaction with medical services. CONCLUSION: The 23 item questionnaire positively identified 8 areas defined important for COPD patients. Further studies are required to see how these can be integrated into patient education.

PURPOSE: To compare the scar formation after laughter therapy in facial burn scar and to make facial burn rehabilitation program. METHODS: In a prospective clinical trial, laughter therapy was done in 12 facial burn injury patients. One group pretest-posttest design was done. After 8 weeks group laughter therapy session, we measured scar condition. Facial burn scar were checked. Scars were assessed with objective measurement tools such as pigmentation, erythema, pliability, transepidermal water loss, thickness and perfusion. RESULTS: Pigmentation value was decreased significantly: 211.6+/-71.9 to 177.8+/-57.1 (p<0.05). Erythema value increased from 432.3+/-62.5 to 451.1+/-49.7 (p>0.05). Transepidermal water loss value changed from 40.7+/-15.9 g/h/m2 to 37.8+/-15.4 g/h/m2 (p>0.05). Microcirculation value was decreased significantly (0.80+/-0.05 volt to 0.43+/-0.19 volt)(p<0.05). Skin elasticity level (R0) was significantly increased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Laughter therapy in burn patients could be an alternative treatment to control burn scar contracture. In the future, more studies are needed how laughter therapy may affect the skin condition of the burn injuries.
Burns ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Contracture ; Elasticity ; Erythema ; Humans ; Laughter ; Laughter Therapy ; Microcirculation ; Pigmentation ; Pliability ; Prospective Studies ; Skin

BACKGROUND: The effects of glucose on cardiovascular events or mortality in nondiabetic patients has been recently reported. However, since atherosclerosis can be formed over a long period of time, it is necessary to devote several years to unveil the relationship between the two factors. Here, we attempted to find out the relationship between the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level and HbA1c variability for 5 years and coronary artery disease (CAD) by using coronary angiography (CAG) to assess nondiabetic patients. METHODS: We reviewed patients who performed CAG who were followed up for at least 5 years after the initial diagnosis. The fasting blood test was performed annually for glucose and HbA1c level. CAD was defined as more than 50% of luminal narrowing. The severity of CAD was divided into two groups depending on whether no vessels were involved or one more vessel were involved (CAD(-) or CAD(+), respectively). RESULTS: The patients in CAD(+) group had higher mean HbA1c level for 5 years than CAD(-) group (5.71+/-0.40 vs. 5.86+/-0.68; P=0.04). Mean HbA1c was a significant predictor for CAD in multiple regression (odds ratio, 2.224; P=0.028). The percentage of patients with CAD was significantly higher in patients with >6.2% of mean HbA1c levels compared to patients with <6.2% of mean HbA1c levels (P<0.019). CONCLUSION: When the mean HbA1c levels were above 6.2%, the risk of CAD was higher. Also this study shows that HbA1c level can be one of the predictors for CAD even if the patients do not have diabetes.
Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Mortality ; Phenobarbital

BACKGROUND: The role of cutaneous bacterial flora in eczematous dermatitis has been discussed for decades. Areas of active dermatitis in patients with atopic dermatitis(AD) are known to be heavily colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. The density of S. aureus is correlated with the severity of AD. S. aureus is considered to be an exacerbating factor in this disease. The bacterium interferes in the inflammatory process of atopic dermatitis in various ways, among which the ability to release superantigens in a high percentage of clinical isolates is of great importance. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbiology of the skin of the patients with AD and non-atopic dermatitis(NAD). We compared bacterial colonization of AD with those of NAD and healthy controls(HC). METHODS: Cutaneous organisms were obtained using Tape method from the worst lesion and uninvolved forearm skin of 30 patients with AD, 25 patients with NAD and 30 individuals as HC. Bacterial growth was examined in aerobic culture and the counts of colony forming unit(CFU) were estimated. The sensitivity to ten antibiotics of the bacteria isolated was also tested. RESULTS: 1.S. aureus colonizations of the eczematous skin were found in 19 of 30 AD patients(63%) and in 9 of 25 NAD patients(36%). The difference between the two groups was statistically significan t(p=0.076, alpha<0.1). 2.In AD patients, the frequencies of S. aureus colonizations revealed 63%(19 of 30) in the lesion and 60%(18 of 30) in uninvolved skin, which were significantly higher than 33%(10 of 30) of HC(p<0.05). 3.The frequency of S. aureus colonizations in the lesions of NAD patients revealed 36%, which was not significantly higher than 33% of HC(p=0.836). 4.Coagulase negative strains of staphylococcus were found in 20 of 30 HC(66%) and 17 of 25(68%) uninvolved skin of NAD patients(68%) compared with 12 of 30 uninvolved skin of with AD(40%). 5.In AD patients with positive nasal colonization with S. aureus, the frequencies of S. aureus colonization in the lesion and uninvolved skin were increased in significance compared with patients with negative nasal colonization(p<0.05). And total counts of CFU in the lesion and uninvolved skin of AD patients were significantly higher compared with HC(p<0.05). 6.Total counts of CFU correlated with severity of dermatitis. CONCLUSION: Colonization of S. aureus was significnatly increased in the skin of AD patients compared with healthy controls. As the severity of the AD lesions increased, the numbers of S. aureus isolated increased. These results support the role of S. aureus in the AD described in the previous reports. Tape method had the advantage of being inexpensive, quick and straightforward to prepare, easy for the clinician to use and was well tolerated by children. It is hoped that the result of this study and the availability of Tape method in the culture of bacteria of the skin will facilitate and promote investigations of pathophysiology and treatment of eczematous dermatitis as well as AD.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Child ; Colon ; Dermatitis* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eczema ; Forearm ; Hope ; Humans ; NAD ; Skin ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Superantigens