PURPOSE: In this study, we examined the differences and relationship between teaching style of preceptors, and personality, nursing performance, and organizational socialization of new nurses. METHODS: The participants were 118 new nurses. The data collected from March to May 2011 were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Teaching style of preceptors was most frequently judgement-initiative, and personality of new nurses was most frequently extraversion. Nursing performance (3.05+/-.59) and organizational socialization (3.05+/-.59) of new nurses were at an average level. Nursing performance and organizational socialization of new nurses were not significantly different according to teaching style of preceptors. Significant correlations were found between personality and nursing performance, and between personality and organizational socialization. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that changes in perceived teaching style of preceptors and personality of new nurses may be necessary to increase efficiency of preceptorship related to nursing performance and organizational socialization of new nurses. The above-mentioned results should be reflected in the development of effective preceptor training programs.
Extraversion (Psychology) ; Preceptorship ; Socialization

Human brucellosis has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, which includes endocarditis, a focal complication that is uncommon yet responsible for the majority of associated deaths. The most successful treatment outcomes of Brucella endocarditis have been reported with usage of both antimicrobial agents and surgery. However, there are few reports on the treatment of Brucella endocarditis using antibiotics only. We report the first case in Korea of Brucella endocarditis with aortic valve vegetations and an accompanying splenic abscess, which were treated successfully with antibiotic therapy alone.
Abscess/*microbiology ; Animals ; Aortic Valve/microbiology ; *Brucella abortus ; Brucellosis/*diagnosis ; Cattle ; Dairying ; Endocarditis/*microbiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*microbiology ; Spleen/microbiology ; Zoonoses

Red cells that express extremely low levels of D antigen that cannot be detected by routine serologic tests are designated as DEL. Most DEL blood donors are typed as D-negative. However, DEL red blood cells can be recognized by serological adsorption and elution test or molecular RHD genotyping. Anti-D production in patients with D-negative who received transfusion containing DEL blood has reported, therefore distinction between DEL variant and true D- negative is clinically important. This review highlights a transfusion strategy and laboratory update on the DEL variant in the Korean population.
Adsorption ; Blood Donors ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Serologic Tests

BACKGROUND: Adverse transfusion reactions (ATRs) are clinically relevant to patients with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to review the cases of ATR reported in the recipient-triggered trace back system for a recent nine-year period in Korea. METHODS: Nine-year data obtained from 2006 to 2014 by the trace back system at the Division of Human Blood Safety Surveillance of the Korean Centers for Disease Control (KCDC) were reviewed. The suspected cases were assessed according to six categories: (i) related to, (ii) probably related to, (iii) probably not related to, (iv) not related to transfusion, (v) unable to investigate, and (vi) under investigation. RESULTS: Since 2006, 199 suspected serious ATRs were reported in hospitals and medical institutions in Korea, and these ATRs were reassessed by the division of Human Blood Safety Surveillance of the KCDC. Among the reported 193 cases as transfusion related infections, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (135, 67.8%) was reported most frequently, followed by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (27, 13.6%), HIV infection (13, 6.5%), syphilis (9, 4.5%), malarial infection (4, 2.0%), other bacterial infections (3, 1.5%), HTLV infection (1, 0.5%), and scrub typhus infection (1, 0.5%), respectively. Of the 199 cases, 13 (6.5%) cases were confirmed as transfusion-related (3 HCV infections, 3 malarial infections, 1 HBV infection, 2 Staphylococcus aureus sepsis, 3 transfusion-related acute lung injuries, and 1 hemolytic transfusion reaction). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first nationwide data regarding serious ATRs in Korea and could contribute to the implementation of an effective hemovigilance system.
Acute Lung Injury/epidemiology/etiology ; Blood Transfusion/*adverse effects ; HIV Infections/epidemiology/etiology ; Hepatitis C/epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; Malaria/epidemiology/etiology ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Transfusion Reaction/*etiology

BACKGROUND: In the Republic of Korea, due to the low birth rate, blood donation is expected to decrease. However, the demand for blood is increasing as the proportion of elderly has increased. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention operate the Korea Blood Inventory Monitoring System (KBIMs) for detection and response to the shortage of blood. The aim of this study was to show the trend of blood supply monitored by KBIMs. METHODS: This study analyzed the red blood cell inventory ratio, average daily usage, time-lag from blood donation to transfusion and from receipt to transfusion in blood banks monitored by KBIMs from 2009 to 2012. RESULTS: A total of 25 hospitals have participated in KBIMs since 2009. The average inventory ratio of blood banks was 5.3 days. By month, the inventory ratio was highest between November and February; and by week, highest on Fridays. Daily amount of RBC utilized in hospitals peaked on Thursday by week. Time-lag from blood donation to transfusion and from receipt to transfusion in blood banks was 12.2 and 6.4 days, respectively. The inventory ratio of type-A RBC was the lowest, because of the highest level of demand. In addition, time-lags from blood donation to transfusion and from receipt to transfusion were shortest in type-A RBC. CONCLUSION: The inventory ratio in blood banks monitored by KBIMs was stable throughout the years. However, due to higher level of demand, there is a risk of shortage of type-A RBC.
Aged ; Birth Rate ; Blood Banks ; Blood Donors ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Korea ; Republic of Korea

BACKGROUND: It was reported that a continuous education program and external proficiency testing (PT) for blood grouping test (BGT) might be necessary because some blood centers of medical institutions could not correctly examine ABO subtype and D variant, according to the results of the first year project in 2011. Therefore, the results of PT for BGT in blood centers in 2012 and 2013 were compared to those in 2011 in order to assess the impact of projects during a period of three years and to help in planning the future PT for BGT. METHODS: Whole blood survey samples composed of three panels for ABO grouping and three panels for D typing were sent to 74 and 71 institutes in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Evaluation criteria for BGT were as follows: 'Good' for the answers matched with intended results, 'Acceptable' for the correct answers other than that of 'Good', and 'Unacceptable' for the answers other than those of 'Good+acceptable' as correct answers. RESULTS: The answer rates of 'Unacceptable' for ABO subtype were 1.4% in 2012 and 4.2% in 2013. However, the answer rate of 'Good' increased from 44.6% in 2012 to 83.1% in 2013. The answer rate of 'Unacceptable' for D variants showed a marked decrease, from 16.2% in 2012 to 1.4% in 2013. CONCLUSION: Projects for PT for BGT during a period of three years have improved laboratory quality in blood centers. However, the acquisition and change of the materials for PT would be necessary in order to continuously and practically provide help to blood centers.
Academies and Institutes ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching* ; Education

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has received considerable attention due to its association with a thrombophilic disorder. Thrombotic events associated with this syndrome most often involve the venous system and occasionally the arterial system such as the cerebral, coronary, renal, and retinal arteries. Few reports on mesenteric artery thrombosis associated with APS are documented. We report a case of a 45 year old male diagnosed with superior mesenteric artery thrombosis associated with APS. The patient had symptoms of chronic mesenteric ischemia including postprandial abdominal pain, weight loss and diarrhea, and was positive for lupus anticoagulant antibody. An abdominal CT showed superior mesenteric arterial thrombosis and luminal narrowing. Symptoms were improved after anticoagulant therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Phenobarbital ; Retinal Artery ; Thrombosis ; Vascular Diseases ; Weight Loss

The prevalence of RhD-negative individuals in the Korean population is approximately 0.15-0.30% and the supply of RhD-negative blood often faces potential shortage. Furthermore, 15-17% of serologically RhD-negative Korean individuals were revealed to be DEL variants and should be treated as RhD-positive when being considered as blood donors. This change is expected to result in a further shortage of RhD-negative blood supply, whereas surplus DEL variant blood stock is created. Therefore, it is now required to amend blood donation and supply policies, and transfusion strategies. In this review, a new transfusion strategy for patients with RhD-negative or variant blood in Korea is discussed, with particular interest in women of child-bearing age, patients with anti-D, and Asia type DEL (c.1227G>A) variants.
Asia ; Blood Donors ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Korean Blood Safety Commission has implemented external proficiency testing (PT) for blood grouping test (BGT) to help improve the quality of blood centers since 2011. We analyzed the results of 2014 PT for BGT to help in planning the future PT for BGT and to improve the quality of blood centers. METHODS: Whole blood survey samples including three panels for ABO grouping and three panels for D typing were sent to 69 institutes. Evaluation criteria for BGT were as follows: 'Good' for answers matched with intended results, 'Acceptable' for correct answers other than that of 'Good', 'Unacceptable' for answers other than those of 'Good+acceptable' as correct answers; and 'Not graded' for answers in case of different answers in the two standard laboratories. RESULTS: All of the answer rates of 'Good' for D typing were 100%. However, the answer rates of 'Good' for cell typing, serum typing and interpretation for 14-ABO-2 samples with discrepant result between cell typing and serum typing were 39.1%, 29%, and 47.8%, respectively. Those of 'Unacceptable' for cell typing and interpretation for 14-ABO-2 samples were 2.8% and 1.4%. CONCLUSION: Because the answer rates of ABO grouping for samples with discrepant result between cell typing and serum typing were not high, education for this case is needed. Diversity of materials for PT would be necessary for more accurate evaluation of the performance of BGT in blood centers.
Academies and Institutes ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Blood Safety ; Education

BACKGROUND: Donor screening test is one of the most important processes for blood safety management. Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has been conducting an annual proficiency test program that includes the distribution of specially manufactured panels for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) to blood centers. Here, KCDC reports the results of these proficiency tests for HBsAg and anti-HCV blood donor screening for all licensed blood centers in Korea between 2012 and 2015. METHODS: Panels for the proficiency tests were manufactured and distributed to blood centers by Chung-Ang University Hospital, which has been participating in the Korea Blood Safety Commission. Well-proven reactive sera and healthy donor's sera acquired from the Human Serum Bank in Chung-Ang University were used to make the panels. To identify the S/CO ratio of the panel, three medical institutes triple-checked the results of each panel. RESULTS: Most blood centers reported correct answers for the proficiency test with six panels. The average percentages (year) of correct answers were as follows: 98.7% (2012), 98.5% (2013), 99.1% (2014) and 99.6% (2015) for the HBsAg proficiency tests; and 97.7% (2012), 99.5% (2013), 99.1% (2014), and 99.8% (2015) for the anti-HCV proficiency tests. CONCLUSION: To improve the blood center's ability for donor screening tests, KCDC will continue the proficiency test program by managing specialized panels for HBsAg and Anti-HCV tests. Furthermore, we will investigate the level of satisfaction to improve the quality of the program.
Academies and Institutes ; Blood Donors* ; Blood Safety ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Donor Selection ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening*