BACKGROUND: Candida species are one ol the major pathogens causing opportunistic infection. The need for a standardized. and clinically relevant method for antifungal susceptibility testing has become more increased because resistance to antifungal agents is now being reported with increasing frequency. The purposes of this study were to measure the minimal inhibitory concentrations actions amphotericin B, flucytosine and fluconazole of clinical isolates of Candida species, and to evaluate broth microdilution method as a more efficient test method, compared with NCCLS standard broth macrodilution. METHODS: The minlmal Inhibitory concentrations of C. parapsilosis ATCC 90018, C, albicans ATCC 90028 and 32 Candida isolates from Korea University Hospital were evaluated against amphotericin B, flucytosine and fluconazole by broth macrodilution and microdilution methods. RESULTS: The minimal inhibitory concentrations of Candida species ranged 0.25 to 1.0 microgram/mL for amphotericin B, 0.125 to 2.0 microgram/mL for flucytosine and 0.125 to 64 microgram/mL for fluconazole. The percent of agreement between NCCLS standard broth macrodilution and microdilution was highest when inoculum size was 0.5-2.5x103 CFU/mL and incubation time was 48 hours, and one fold dilution agreement was 100% for amphotericin B, 100% for flucytosine and 88-96% for fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed good agreement of results of broth microdilution test with those of macrodilution, and suggested that broth microdilution method is an accessible and useful method and can be substituted for broth macrodilutlon method with the expectation of good results.
Amphotericin B ; Antifungal Agents ; Candida* ; Fluconazole ; Flucytosine ; Korea ; Opportunistic Infections

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: This study was to develop a valid and reliable self-care performance scale for stomach cancer patients with gastrectomies. METHODS: The initial items for the self-care performance scale were derived by a literature review and in-depth interviews with stomach cancer patients with gastrectomies and a conceptual framework based on Orem's theory was used. The identified items were evaluated for content validity by experts. The main survey with refined items was performed with a sample of 232 patients. The data were analyzed using item analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis. RESULTS: A 22 item instrument with 7 factors was developed and the total variance explained was 66.9%. The factors were 'manage dietary restriction', 'avoid hazards', 'rest and elimination', 'manage social support and stress', 'regulation diet', 'meal portion control' and 'seek information and follow-up care'. The internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha was .86 and reliability of the subscale ranged from .65 to .82. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the self-care performance scale is a reliable and valid instrument to measure self-care performance for patients with stomach cancer after gastrectomy.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Self Care* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Weights and Measures

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy as one of the psychiatric nursing intervention tools, with addtional information in relieving anxiety during the procedure. Data were collected through nonequivalent pre-and post tests from July 1, 1998 to September 30 1998 in 90 patients (test group A: 28 patients, test group B: 27 patients, control group: 33 patients) who were hospitalized in DongSan Medical Center in order to have cardiac catheterization. The Subjects were informed by educational videos, which were modified according to the sensory information of the 10 study patients. They were based on the informative booklet by Kim keum-soon (1989). The procedural information was also modified according to the hospital`s customs. Provided the music for patients suitable to their tastes, and measured their blood pressure, heart rate, the degree of anxiety using the Spielberger`s measurement device of anxiety, and behavioral response of Finesilver`s. The statistical significance was analyzed using chi-square test and ANOVA. The results of this study were as follows : Hypothesis 1 : There are significant differences in the degree of anxiety among test group A, Test group A was provided only information, Test group B was provided information and the control group was provided neither. Hypothesis 2 : There are significant differences in systolic blood pressure among test group A, test group B, and control group.: non-significant. Hypothesis 3 : There are significant differences in diastolic blood pressure among test group A, test group B, and control group.: significant(F=1.31, p=.27, interaction; F=3.80, p=.00). Hypothesis 4 : There are significant differences in heart rate among test group A, test group B, and control group.: non-significant. Hypothesis 5 : There are significant differences in behavioral responses among test group A, test group B, and control group.: significant(F=10.05, p=.00). Further validation study is required with other subjects and other settings.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Music Therapy ; Music* ; Pamphlets ; Psychiatric Nursing

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy as one of the psychiatric nursing intervention tools, with addtional information in relieving anxiety during the procedure. Data were collected through nonequivalent pre-and post tests from July 1, 1998 to September 30 1998 in 90 patients (test group A: 28 patients, test group B: 27 patients, control group: 33 patients) who were hospitalized in DongSan Medical Center in order to have cardiac catheterization. The Subjects were informed by educational videos, which were modified according to the sensory information of the 10 study patients. They were based on the informative booklet by Kim keum-soon (1989). The procedural information was also modified according to the hospital`s customs. Provided the music for patients suitable to their tastes, and measured their blood pressure, heart rate, the degree of anxiety using the Spielberger`s measurement device of anxiety, and behavioral response of Finesilver`s. The statistical significance was analyzed using chi-square test and ANOVA. The results of this study were as follows : Hypothesis 1 : There are significant differences in the degree of anxiety among test group A, Test group A was provided only information, Test group B was provided information and the control group was provided neither. Hypothesis 2 : There are significant differences in systolic blood pressure among test group A, test group B, and control group.: non-significant. Hypothesis 3 : There are significant differences in diastolic blood pressure among test group A, test group B, and control group.: significant(F=1.31, p=.27, interaction; F=3.80, p=.00). Hypothesis 4 : There are significant differences in heart rate among test group A, test group B, and control group.: non-significant. Hypothesis 5 : There are significant differences in behavioral responses among test group A, test group B, and control group.: significant(F=10.05, p=.00). Further validation study is required with other subjects and other settings.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Music Therapy ; Music* ; Pamphlets ; Psychiatric Nursing

No abstract available.
Primary Myelofibrosis*

BACKGROUND: Malpositioning of the endotracheal tube within airway after intubation may results in serious complications, such as accidental extubation and inadvertent endobronchial intubation. Therefore, early detection of malposioning of the endotracheal tube is very impotant for deciding patient's prognosis. METHODS: We assessed the distance from the tip of the endotracheal tube to the carina according to the patient's age, sex, and the time, the location, and the route of intubation. The chest x-ray was taken for 333 patients (men, 226: women, 107) who were admitted to the intensive care unit of Wonju Christian Hospital from march 1, 1995 to February 28, 1996. Chest x-ray was obtained after intubation to verify endotracheal tube position. Appropriate endotracheal tube position on chest x-ray was defined as between 2 and 6 cm above the carina. RESULTS: Of the 333 intubations, 106 (31.8%) endotracheal tubes were inappropriately placed according to the chest x-ray. The percentage of malpositioned endotracheal tubes (<2 cm) was higher in women than in men (11.2% vs. 5.3%, p<0.05), with higher in night (7 PM to 7 AM) than in day (7 AM to 7 PM) (42% vs. 24%, p<0.05). Distance from the carina to the tip of endotracheal tube is 4.34 +/- 1.77cm in women and 5.23 +/- 1.64cm in men. Thus, position of the endotracheal tube in women is deeper than men (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the chest x-ray for confirmation of endotracheal tube position after endotracheal intubation may remain the standard of practice. And endotracheal tube position should be carefully assessed immediately after tracheal intubation, particularly in women and at night.
Female ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Male ; Prognosis ; Thorax*

The restricted resources on healthcare highlights the importance of clinical and cost effectiveness. The social and economic costs of chronic diseases are increasing. Home total parenteral nutrition (home TPN) for the patients with intestinal failure is a life-sustaining therapy until intestinal transplantation. An economic evaluation of home TPN has not been conducted in Korea. Three types of economic evaluations for home TPN are cost benefit analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, and cost utility analysis. Korea's medical market is competitive due to the limited health care resources. A health care delivery system from hospital to home needs to be established under the supervision of professional Nutrition Support Team staff including the systematic policies and social recognition.
Chronic Disease ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Korea ; Organization and Administration ; Parenteral Nutrition, Home Total* ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of sexual rehabilitation education on the knowledge of sexual activities and satisfaction of sexual activities of spinal cord injury clients by the method of Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest group. The study period was between Jan. 6th and Apr. 11th, 1999. The experimental group was 21 spinal cord injury clients from one general hospital, and the control group was 21 spinal cord injury clients from three University hospital. Sexual rehabilitation education was done with manuals and video-tapes. Education time was 90 minutes a week for 4 weeks. The study tool was 20 questionnaires about sexual knowledge, designed Song, Chung Sook(1990) and 10 questionnaires from Derogatis's Derogatis Sexual Function Inventory for satisfaction of sexual activities(1979) translated by Jang, Soon Boke(1989). Analysis of data was done by x2 -test, t-test, repeated measures ANOVA and simple main effect with SAS/PC. The results are as follows. The 1st. hypothesis, "The group educated about the sexual rehabilitation has more sexual activities knowledge than those of the uneducated group." is significant statistically(F=12.06, p=0.001). The 2nd. hypotheses, "The group educated about the sexual rehabilitation has more satisfaction of sexual activities than those of the uneducated group." is significant statistically(F=5.04, p=0.030). According to the results, sexual rehabilitation education helps spinal cord injury clients to gain knowledge of sexual activities and satisfaction of sexual activities.
Education* ; Hospitals, General ; Music ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation* ; Sexual Behavior* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

Nutrition care is important for patients’ well-being. With legislation for reimbursement for nutrition support team activities from the Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare, this has increased the importance of nurses’ role in nutrition. Nutrition support nurses (NSNs) focus on the optimization of nutritional health and prevention of nutrition-related illness and injury. NSN performs as an advanced practice nurse, a core member of a nutrition support team, an educator or consultant, a policy maker in nutrition care, and a researcher or a member of quality improvement. NSNs should develop their core competency to fulfill their roles in nutrition care and the need to participate in qualified nutrition support education programs. Further, the tasks and duties of NSNs should be specifically identified so that NSNs can fulfill their roles.