The purpose of this study was to provide a bases for comfort of patient through of measuring the noise level on emergency room and grasping the perception to noise of inpatient. Data on noise level through sound level meter in ER and patients' perception of the noise through a structured questionnaire and were collected from August 21 to September 5 in 1998. And collected data were analyzed with SAS statistics program, descriptive statistic, t-test and ANOVA. The result of examination is as follows : 1. Among a noise level of measured highest was 64.6dB(A) in 'rounding of medical teams', the lowest was 54.8dB(A) in 'traffic noise from outside'. 2. The mean score of noise perception was 0.93. Among a kind of noise reported by the subjects that which ranked highest was 'conversation of patients' caregiver and visitors'(1.75). The ranked lowest was 'noise of air-conditioner'(0.59). 3. The relationship between perception of noise and subjects' characteristics was not significant. Therefore, based on this result, ways require to decrease the noise level in emergency department.
Caregivers ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Noise* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was a descriptive research on the level of self-care available to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients( here-inafter referred to as "CAPD patient" ) related to the specific area of infection management. The method employed for the collection of data was a modified instrument of the self-care survey essentially based on Young Sook Choi's instrument. The relevant data was collected from september 1, 1996 to september 30, 1996. the subjects were provided with an open-ended question regarding the reasons behind why they did not seek self-care. The answers provided about self-care compliance were analyzed by SPSS for frequency, percentage, mean, t-test, ANOVA. Reasons for non-compliance were analyzed by content analysis. The results of the study were as follows : 1. The percentage of patients engaging in self-care were according to the following self performed tasks : preparation of dialysis : 30.58 points Dialysate exchange procedures : 49.40 points - Two bag type : 50.50 points - Spike type : 48.80 points - Neo type : 48.90 points Catheter exit site care : 25.13 points More specifically, in relation to the preparation of dialysis as referred to above, those patients engaging in self care was relatively high with respect to the cleaning of the dialysis before use and for the preservation of peritosol. However, in dialysate exchange procedures, data revealed that those patients engaging in self-care are relatively low with respect to putting on a mask during the performance of peritosol exchange. Similarly in peritosol exchange procedure and catheter exit care, low levels of self-care performance were fond in the area of putting on a mask during the peritosol exchange procedures and catheter line testing procedures, respectively. 2. In general characteristics, there appeared to be no distinction in self-care compliance among CAPD patients. 3. The main reasons for non-compliance were based in the following factor : intellectual, attitude, environmental surrounding and physical. As a result of the foregoing finding, nurses should provide adequate assistance to promote self-care compliance by CAPD patients by checking the preparation of dialysis, dialysate exchange procedure, and catheter exit site care which received ow point in this research.
Catheters ; Compliance* ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Masks ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Self Care*

Pressure sores are a serious concerns in that respect to increasing risk of medical complications and medical costs. Prevention and care of pressure sores is an essential area of nursing practice. The nurse at ICU should be more careful of maintaining the skin integrity of patients expecially than at any other place. This study was conducted to determine if the risk factors of pressure sores and nutritional status of the patients at risk for pressure sores is related the occurrence of pressure sore. The risk group refers the patients having the below 14 scores of the braden scale. The 100 subjects were recruited from the ICU ward at an university hospital in Choong-Nam. The parameters for nutritional status are the blood chemistry including plasma protein, albumin, hemoglobin and the anthropometric measurements consisting of weight, LBM, the proportion of body fat, body fluid and triceps skin fold using biompedence analyzer and calipers. The results are as follows : 1. The subjects were 55 years and stayed 8 days on average. Of the 100 subjects, males were 61%, neurologic/neurosurgical disease were 68% and the incidence of pressure sores was 17% mainly occurring within 3 days after the admission. 2. The present paralysis(or paraplegia) and edema(arm, leg, trunk) were showed more significantly the subjects with pressure sores than those without pressure sores. 3. Regarding with the nutritional status, the subjects with pressure sores had significantly lower the weight, BMI, LBM, body fluid, albumin than the ones without pressure sores. This results were supported the reports of previous studies that the decreased weight and albumin could be the important predictors of pressure sores. Thereafter we should encourage these factors to be utilized in predicting pressure sores for a comprehensive assessment. Nurse should identify patients at risk of the development of pressure sores, assess their nutritional status and dietary intake at regular intervals.
Adipose Tissue ; Body Fluids ; Chemistry ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leg ; Male ; Nursing ; Nutritional Status* ; Plasma ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Risk Factors* ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine satisfaction and dissatisfaction factors with the method of testing practice in Fundamentals of Nursing with the students using checklists. METHOD: Subjects were 251 students doing three month practice. Checklists by K Publishing were used to assess skill in measuring blood pressure and sterilized. Measure for satisfaction and dissatisfaction factors were developed by researcher through a literature review. Collected data were processed using SAS. RESULTS: 1. Average score for satisfaction was 3.49+/-0.68 for theoretical subjects of basic nursing, 3.44+/-0.72 for practical subjects and 3.29+/-0.74 for practice. Average score for interest was 3.71+/-0.73. 2. Average score for general satisfaction was 3.52+/-0.56, and the satisfaction factor with the highest score was "It was helpful in improving practical skills after the test"(average 3.78+/-0.78). Average score for general dissatisfaction was 3.13+/-0.59, and dissatisfaction factor with the highest score was "As I did not think deeply, I don't know exactly what mistakes I made"(average 3.41+/-0.94). 3. Students who wanted to study further in the future appeared to be satisfied with practical tests using checklists(F=2.04, p=.038), and students appeared to be dissatisfied with them when they didn't have enough time for practice(F=3.38, p=.010). CONCLUSION: Students' satisfaction was relatively high, particularly as the tests were seen as helpful in improving practical skills after tests.
Arm* ; Blood Pressure* ; Checklist* ; Competency-Based Education ; Education* ; Humans ; Nursing*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify health risk behaviors in adolescents according to grade in school and to offer basic data to develop a health promotion for adolescents. METHODS: A descriptive survey design was used and the SPSS 12.0 program was used for the data analysis, which included Chi-square test and Spearman correlation coefficients. The instrument for this study was based on the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: The results indicate that adolescent have an average of 2 risk behaviors out of 10 health risk behaviors categories. There are various types of risk behaviors, which are different for each grade, such as physical fights, using alcohol, using heroin, weight control, and the lack of AIDS education. Physical fights, and the lack of AIDS education are common in the 9th grade, using alcohol, heroin, and weight control are common in the 11th grade. Physical fights were correlated with using cigarettes and sexual intercourses. Using alcohol was correlated with using cigarettes, heroin, sexual intercourses and weight controls. Using heroin was correlated with sexual intercourse and weight control. CONCLUSION: For the promotion of health in adolescents, different approaches to health education and prevention of health risk are needed for each grade because the health risk behaviors differ between grades.
Adolescent* ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Coitus ; Education ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Heroin ; Humans ; Risk-Taking* ; Statistics as Topic ; Tobacco Products

PURPOSE: Self-care behavior is a key dimension of healthcare quality among elderlys with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with self-care behaviors related to insulin therapy among elders with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The research was a cross-sectional, descriptive design using questionnaires. The participants were 147 older adult patients with diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression with SPSS statistics 19.0 program. RESULTS: Participants' self-care behaviors related to insulin therapy were not adequate. Stepwise multiple regression analysis for self-care behaviors related to insulin therapy revealed that the most powerful predictor was self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, family support and frequency of blood sugar test explained 54.4% of the variance in self-care behaviors related to insulin therapy. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to promote self- efficacy, family support and frequency of blood sugar testing with these participants. In addition, strategies to improve self-care behaviors among elderly patients should be considered by health professionals, family members and the elderly patients themselves.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Insulin ; Quality of Health Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Care ; Self Efficacy

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationship of perceived health, coping strategies, dependency, suicidal ideation and depression widowed elders, and to identify predictors of depression in this population. METHOD: The research design for this study was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sampling. Data collection was done using self-questionnaire with 162 elders from welfare centers for senior citizens located in 3 cities, Seoul, Gangneung and Seosan. Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS Win 12.0 Program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Depression had significant negative correlations with perceived health (r=-.525, p<.001), and coping strategies (r=-.253, p=.005) and positive correlations with dependency (r=.430, p<.001), and suicidal ideation (r=.473, p<.001). The explained variance for depression was 47.5%. Of the variables, perceived health (beta=-.237, p=.003), suicidal ideation (beta=.398, p<.001) and dependency (beta=.341, p<.001) significantly predicted the degree of depression. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study provide a comprehensive understanding of depression and related factors for widowed elders in Korea. However, further study with a larger random sample and more a detailed research design is necessary.
Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Research Design ; Suicidal Ideation ; Widowhood

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the factors that influence low back pain in nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). METHODS: A descriptive-correlational design was used, with a convenience sample of 116 nurses from one university hospital in Seoul. The data collected were processed using SPSS Window 17.0 Program for actual numbers and percentages, differences in the dependent variable according to general characteristics, and mean, standard deviations, correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The factor influencing low back pain in nurses in ICUs was functional ability (beta=.652). This one factor explained 41.9% of low back pain in nurses in ICUs. CONCLUSION: These results show that functional ability was related to nurses' low back pain in nurses in ICUs. These results further suggest that more research is needed to develop program involving functional ability to prevent and management of low back pain in nurses in ICUs.
Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Low Back Pain

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify skin hydration status and skin surface pH according to the body parts of the aged with immobilization. METHODS: The subjects were 101 aged patients in a hospital and a institution for the elderly in Seoul. Data for skin hydration and skin surface pH were collected using corneo-meter and skin pH-meter. The body parts of measurement were 10 parts; face, forearm, back of the hand, flank, upper abdomen, leg, back of the foot, heel, scapular, and sacrum. The data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: Skin hydration status were relatively low especially on lower extremity and back of body, and skin surface pH of scapular and sacrum were high. There was significant negative correlation between skin hydration status and skin surface pH on the 6 body parts. CONCLUSION: Skin hydration status and skin surface pH, especially on scapular, sacrum, and lower extremity need to be considered as important control factors for increasing skin health status of the aged with immobilization.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Foot ; Forearm ; Hand ; Heel ; Human Body ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immobilization ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Sacrum ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and performance of tuberculosis infection control measures among emergency department nurses. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 227 emergency department nurses from 20 hospitals in B City. RESULTS: The mean perception score was 4.52 out of a possible 5, and the mean performance score was 3.31 out of a possible 5. There were big differences between the perception and performance score on the items regarding wearing a gown or mask, while there were small differences on the items regarding dealing with patients' articles or medication. CONCLUSION: Emergency nurses showed high perception and low performance score on the items related to facilities and regulation such as visitation restriction or patient isolation. There was a positive correlation between perception and performance score. CONCLUSION: For emergency nurses, perception is higher than performance of tuberculosis infection control measures. The findings indicate the importance of providing continuing education for emergency nurse professionals seeking to update and increase their knowledge and to develop evidence-based nursing protocols on tuberculosis infection control in emergency department.
Education, Continuing ; Emergencies ; Emergency Nursing ; Evidence-Based Nursing ; Infection Control ; Masks ; Patient Isolation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tuberculosis