This study was designed to identify the relationship between perceived social support and discernd powerlessness held by the elderly residing in a rural community. The purpose of this study was to contribute to theoretical understanding of the relationship of these two variables and eventually to the more effective adaptation of the elderly to their situation. The subjects for this study were the 89 elderly residing in a rural community. Data were collected by a questionnaire from June 2 to 20, 1998. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlated coefficient and stepwise multiple regression using a SAS program. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. 1. The relationship between perceived social support and discernd powerlessness was significant(r = -.23502, p=.0266). Especially, discernd elderly's powerlessness shows a highly significant relationship with family and neighborhood support(family r= -.45096, p=.0001, neighborhood r= -.35681, p=.0006). In the support patterns, the discernd powerlessness of the elderly has a significant relationship to emotional, informational and evaluational support. Therefore the hypothesis that, "the lower the degree of social support peiceived by the elderly, the higher the degree of discened powerlessness" was supported. 2. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of discened powerlessness was family support in support system (R2 = .2034), and emotional support (R2 = .0627) in support patterns. 3. General characteristic related to the degree of social support was only residential status(P< .05), but the degree of family support was related to spouse(t=2.390. p<.01). residential status(t= -2.157, p<.05), and household.
Aged* ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Residence Characteristics ; Rural Population*

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Motor Activity*

OBJECTIVES: Outbreaks of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) occur every 3-4 years in Korea, most recently in 2011. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal time to perform indirect particle agglutination antibody assays to improve early diagnosis of MP pneumonia in children. METHODS: A database of 206 pediatric patients treated for pneumonia at the Hanyang University Hospital from June to October 2011 was analyzed retrospectively for demographic characteristics and laboratory test results. RESULTS: Among the 206 patients treated for pneumonia during the study period, there were 160 children (mean age, 5.44 years) diagnosed with MP pneumonia, who were studied further. The mean age of these MP pneumonia patients was 5.44 years. Antibody titers increased with increasing time between symptom onset and the collection of serum collection: MP titers were <1:640 for sera collected after 5.44 days and titers > or =1:640 for those collected after 8.58 days; P<0.001). Antibody titers were considered positive when they reached > or =1:640. In 42 MP pneumonia patients in whom there was a four-fold or greater increase in titer between successive serum samples, the optimal cut-off time-point for distinguishing between the initial and second titer groups was 7.5 days after the onset of symptoms (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Negative MP antibody titers earlier than 8 days after the onset of symptoms in children with pneumonia may require repeating to confirm the diagnosis. This finding could optimize diagnosis and result in better therapeutic outcomes of MP pneumonia in children.
Agglutination ; Child ; Disease Outbreaks ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among nursing work environment, job embeddedness, and turnover intention in order to provide basic data for efficient management of human resources in nursing organizations. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was conducted with 177 nurses who had worked for more than 6 months in five general hospitals on Jeju Island. A self-report questionnaire was used for data collection. RESULTS: About 88% of the participants reported that they were considering a turnover plan because of overload in their jobs and poor salaries. Nursing work environment was significantly related to job embeddedness and turnover intention. Job embeddedness was significantly related to turnover intention. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that factors affecting turnover intention were the organizational embeddedness factors of organization fit and organization sacrifice. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that nurses' turnover intention is associated with nursing work environment and job embeddedness. To reduce nurses' turnover intention and improve nurses' retention, nurse managers should improve the nursing work environment and consider job embeddedness, particularly in relation to the organization fit and sacrifice.
Data Collection ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intention* ; Nurse Administrators ; Nursing* ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

We report a case of squamous metaplasia of the pleura observed in a 51 year old man. Squamous metaplasia of serosal surface, and in particular of the pleura, is uncommon. The pathogenesis of squamous metaplasia is obscure, but it may be associated with chronic irritation.

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine actor and partner effect of dementia knowledge, self-efficacy and depression on dementia preventive behavior in elderly couples. METHODS: Participants were 115 couples aged 60 years or over who met eligibility criteria. All measures were self-administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 program. RESULTS: Dementia knowledge in elderly couples showed actor and partner effect on dementia preventive behavior. Self-efficacy in the wife did not have direct effects on dementia preventive behavior, but showed indirect effects through dementia knowledge. Self-efficacy in the husband showed direct effects on dementia preventive behavior and indirect effects through dementia knowledge. Wife's depression had direct actor effect on dementia preventive behavior and indirect effect through self-efficacy and dementia knowledge. Husband's depression did not have direct actor effect on dementia preventive behavior, but indirect effect through self-efficacy and dementia knowledge. Effect size of wives' dementia knowledge, self-efficacy and depression on dementia preventive behavior was larger than that of husbands'. Dementia preventive behavior, dementia knowledge and depression had a mutual effect. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that to promote dementia preventive activity in elderly couples, programs should be conducted for both of the couple, but focused differently for wife and husband.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dementia/*prevention & control ; *Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Knowledge ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; *Self Efficacy ; Spouses/*psychology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations among emotional intelligence, interpersonal relationship, and job satisfaction among clinical nurses. METHODS: Data were collected from 315 nurses who had worked for more than 6 months at five general hospitals by a self-reported questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe-test, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchial regression using SPSS 18.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of emotional intelligence was 3.42 and the score of self emotional appraisal was the highest. The mean score of interpersonal relationship was 3.44 and the score of intimacy was the highest. The mean score of job satisfaction was 3.04. Emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationship were positively correlated with the job satisfaction. Hierarchial multiple regression analysis showed that use of emotion was the main factor of affecting job satisfaction, which explained 30.8% of the variance for the nurses' job satisfaction together with intimacy, regulation of emotion, position, and monthly salary. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationship, especially use and control of emotion and intimacy contributed to nurses' job satisfaction. It is necessary to develop and implement the program for increasing emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationship for improving job satisfaction.
Emotional Intelligence* ; Hospitals, General ; Job Satisfaction* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

Macroamylasemia is a benign condition characterized by abnormally large-sized serum amylase; it has been reported to occur in 1-2% of the population. In macroamylasemia, a macromolecular complex consisting of amylase linked to immunoglobulins circulates in the plasma and usually causes hyperamylasemia with low or normal amylasuria. Macroamylasemia is extremely rare in children. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl with abdominal pain and macroamylasemia, who was initially misdiagnosed as having acute pancreatitis. Failure to immediately identify macroamylase as the cause of the unexplained but benign hyperamylasemia can lead to the misdiagnosis of the condition, necessitating costly analyses for ruling out pancreatic disease and unnecessary prescriptions such as fasting and intravenous replacement therapies, as was observed in our patient.
Abdominal Pain ; Amylases ; Child ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Immunoglobulins ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma ; Preschool Child ; Prescriptions

Macroamylasemia is a benign condition characterized by abnormally large-sized serum amylase; it has been reported to occur in 1-2% of the population. In macroamylasemia, a macromolecular complex consisting of amylase linked to immunoglobulins circulates in the plasma and usually causes hyperamylasemia with low or normal amylasuria. Macroamylasemia is extremely rare in children. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl with abdominal pain and macroamylasemia, who was initially misdiagnosed as having acute pancreatitis. Failure to immediately identify macroamylase as the cause of the unexplained but benign hyperamylasemia can lead to the misdiagnosis of the condition, necessitating costly analyses for ruling out pancreatic disease and unnecessary prescriptions such as fasting and intravenous replacement therapies, as was observed in our patient.
Abdominal Pain ; Amylases ; Child ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Immunoglobulins ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma ; Preschool Child ; Prescriptions

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a Critical Pathway for Uterine Artery Embolization patients. METHOD: There were 6 steps that were taken. Step 1 was selecting a diagnosis, and Step 2 was organizing a development team consisting of 7 experts. Step 3 analyzed the medical records, and Step 4 drew up a preliminary Critical Pathway. Step 5 tested the clinical validity of the preliminary Critical Pathway, and Step 6 developed the final Critical Pathway. RESULT: The contents of the medical practices observed in the medical records were investigated in seven areas: monitoring/assessment, treatment, medication, diet, activity, consults, and education/discharge plan; and a total of 73 items was identified. The validity of the 73 items was examined by a group of specialists. 68 items were adopted, 4 items revised, 1 item removed, and 1 item was added. Using the results, a preliminary Critical Pathway was drawn up. According to the results from examining the clinical validity of the preliminary Critical Pathway with five patients for five weeks, 3 items which showed discrepancy were revised and another 3 items were added. Then, the final Critical Pathway was completed. CONCLUSION: This Critical Pathway needs to be clinically applied and continuously to measure its effects in terms of the length of stay, cost?effectiveness, and the patients' and staffs' satisfaction.
Critical Pathways* ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Specialization ; Uterine Artery Embolization* ; Uterine Artery*