PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nursing education using a CD ROM on the anxiety and knowledge of the patients having minor surgery. METHOD: Forty patients hospitalized in K hospital in Seoul from April to August 2002 participated in this study. In the experimental group, twenty patients received nursing education on the operational procedures and post-operational care. The control group, received conventional nursing care only. Anxiety experienced by patients was measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and knowledge was measured by an instrument developed by Rahe et al. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical program. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in anxiety level between two groups. However, subjects in the experimental group were found to have significantly higher postoperative knowledge levels than those in the control group, and were very satisfied with the CD ROM program. CONCLUSION: The nursing education program using CD ROM before minor surgery proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase knowledge of patients and contribute to their self care after discharge. To decrease anxiety of the surgery, the nursing education program should be combined with supprortive emotional nursing intervention, such as touch, and massage.
Anxiety* ; Education, Nursing* ; Humans ; Massage ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Patient Education as Topic ; Self Care ; Seoul ; Surgical Procedures, Minor*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nursing education using a CD ROM on the anxiety and knowledge of the patients having minor surgery. METHOD: Forty patients hospitalized in K hospital in Seoul from April to August 2002 participated in this study. In the experimental group, twenty patients received nursing education on the operational procedures and post-operational care. The control group, received conventional nursing care only. Anxiety experienced by patients was measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and knowledge was measured by an instrument developed by Rahe et al. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical program. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in anxiety level between two groups. However, subjects in the experimental group were found to have significantly higher postoperative knowledge levels than those in the control group, and were very satisfied with the CD ROM program. CONCLUSION: The nursing education program using CD ROM before minor surgery proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase knowledge of patients and contribute to their self care after discharge. To decrease anxiety of the surgery, the nursing education program should be combined with supprortive emotional nursing intervention, such as touch, and massage.
Anxiety* ; Education, Nursing* ; Humans ; Massage ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Patient Education as Topic ; Self Care ; Seoul ; Surgical Procedures, Minor*

To eveluate the risk factors which are related to recurrence of ischemic stroke, we selected subjects who were admitted to YNUH due to recurrent stroke and compared their risk factors with non-recurred group- who suffered from single ischemic stroke. In the subjects, 55 of them are men and 22 were women and in the non-recurred groups, 84 of them were men and 40 were women, Subject's age ranged from 29 to 86 years(Mean 62. 5years), and non-recurred group's age ranged from 27 to 90 years(Mean 60.7years), Peak incidence of ischemic stroke is in the 7th decade in both groups. Age and sex are not statistically significant for recurrence of ischemic stroke. The patient's history of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, transient attack and type or site of ischemic stroke had no significant effect statistically on the recurrent ischemic stroke. However, when the patient had previous history of hypertension or systolic blood pressure more than 160mmHg and diastolic more than 95mmHg, there was substantial difference (P<0.05) between the two group in the recurrence of ischemic stroke. According to the above results, hypertension is most likely significang risk factor of the recurrence of ischemic stroke within 2yeats after initial one. Therefore, adequate treatment of the hypertension is impertant for the prevention of ischemic stroke. Further study is required for searching other risk factors.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors* ; Stroke*

Transient ischemic attacks or embolic strokes caused by the cardiac myxoma are very rare in its freguency. To detect cardiac myxoma, as a source of cerebral embolism originating from the heart, has a great significance because of the occurrence and recurrence of the possible stroke can be prevented by surgical procedure. We present a patient who showed typical clinical symptoms and signs of the left atrial myxoma which was subsequently diagnosed by 2-dimensional real time echocardiography and confirmed by sugery. Following the successful removal of the left atrial myxoma, now, the patient is in stable neurological condition.
Echocardiography ; Heart ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism* ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Myxoma* ; Recurrence ; Stroke