PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) package, test its application and evaluate students' recognition of the effectiveness of PBL in nursing colleges. METHOD: Thirteen steps were used in the process developing the PBL package. After its application, the first questionnaire for self-evaluation and satisfaction with PBL class was given to 94 nursing students in December, 2005. To further evaluate the students' recognition of the effectiveness of PBL, a second questionnaire was given to 83 nursing students out of the 96 in May, 2007 after clinical practice. Data analysis was conducted using means with standard deviation. RESULTS: The results of students' self-evaluation showed high achievement in learning outcome and process using the PBL method. Also, they expressed satisfaction with the subject management, the lecturer and their peers after the PBL class. Students recognized that the PBL class had positive effectiveness in clinical practice and wanted more PBL classes and the inclusion of complex cases from well designed packages. CONCLUSION: PBL class could be considered as an opportunity to fortify student nurses' abilities to adjust to the real clinical situation.
Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Humans ; Learning ; Nursing ; Problem-Based Learning ; Questionnaires ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Nursing

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of alienation, depression, suicidal ideation and delinquency in high school students and to explore the relationships between the variables. The respondents, 226 students attending a high school located in Chonnam province made up the convenience sample. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire which included the alienation scale, suicidal ideation scale, BDI, and delinquency scale. Data collection was done between June 20 and July 6, 2001. Data were analyzed with the SAS program and included descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficients. There were no significant association between alienation and general characteristics of the students. The scores for depression were significantly higher in female students, in students who had recently dropped in their school ranking compared to students who had improved. The scores of suicidal ideation were significantly higher in male students. Also, the scores of delinquency were significantly higher in male students, and students in the high economic class and those with low school rankings. There were significant positive correlations between alienation and other; alienation and depression (r=.432, p=.000), alienation and suicidal ideation (r=.267, p=.000), and alienation and delinquency (r=.150, p=.024). Findings from this study suggest that subsequent practical study in consideration of Korean sociocultural background is needed to identify the cause of alienation and develop supportive strategies to maintain mental health in high school students. Also, study on alienation of students should be based on family, community and popular culture in combination with improvements in school environment.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression* ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Female ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Mental Health ; Suicidal Ideation*

The main purpose of this study was to identify the effect of hand massage on pain and anxiety related to chest tube removal in patients with a lobectomy. The research design of this study was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. Of the twenty nine adult subjects, fourteen were assigned to the experimental group and fifteen to the control group. The data were obtained over 3 months from a medical center in Seoul. The instruments used to assess trait state anxiety was the Spielberger Trait-State anxiety Inventory. For Pain and psychological anxiety, The Visual Analogue Scale was used. Hiko analogue sphygmo- manometer(2001) was used to check blood pressure and pulse rate as indicators of physiological anxiety. Subjects in the experimental group received hand massage for 5 minutes just before chest tube was removed, and subjects assigned to the control group did not receive hand massage. Data were analysed with x2-test and Mann-Whitney U test using the SPSSWIN 10.0 program. The results of the study are as follows; 1. Hypothesis 1: "there will be a significant difference between two groups in the level of pain after chest tube removal" was supported (u = 23.00, p<0.001). 2. Hypothesis 2: "there will be a significant difference between the two groups in the level of psychological anxiety after chest tube removal" was supported (u = 3.00, p<0.001). 3. Hypothesis 3: "there will be a significant difference between the two groups in physiological anxiety(systolic, diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate) after chest tube removal" was supported(u = 55.50, p = 0.01 ; u = 41.50, p = 0.01 ; u = 20.50, p<0.001, relatively). The findings of this study indicate that hand massage is effective for pain and anxiety related to chest tube removal in patients with lobectomy. Therefore, hand massage is recommended as an effective nursing intervention for relieving pain and anxiety in patients undergoing chest tube removal. Further research is needed to identify the proper duration and timing to achieve the optimal effect of hand massage. A larger subject population is required to apply the current findings to the general population. Further research is also needed to assess the effects of hand massage in other patient subsets. Finally, it would be interesting to see if the effects of hand massaging would be attenuated when performed by a non-medical specialist.
Adult ; Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Chest Tubes* ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Specialization ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: This study was done for the purpose of identifying the relationship between work stress and job satisfaction of nurses who were evaluating medical insurance. METHOD: The participants in the study were 154 nurses who were in charge of evaluating medical insurance in 32 hospitals in Korea. Data were collected for 1 month from April 20 to May 20, 2001. RESULT: The mean total work stress score was 93.79. In comparison with work stress scores according to the work stress factors, 'work overload'(2.95) had the highest work stress score. The mean total job satisfaction score was 69.56. The total work stress scores did not show significant differences for any of the variables. The total job satisfaction score showed significant differences for the variables of age (F=3.51, p=.01), position (F=3.16, p=.02) and reason for transfer from one department to another (F=3.40, p=.003). CONCLUSION: The total work stress score showed a inverse correlation(gamma=-.36, p=.001) with the total job satisfaction score.
Insurance* ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea

PURPOSE: This study was done to help provide patients with information on medical insurance cost through medical insurance education for nurses, to increase effective management, check on omissions in treatment and appropriateness and accuracy of fees, and to contribute to the economic growth of hospital by providing nurses with necessary knowledge about medical insurance cost. METHOD: The participants in this study were clinical nurses in general hospitals. The study instrument was a questionnaire developed by the researcher through reference to data for medical insurance education. The data were analyzed with percentages, means, ANOVA, and Duncan method using SPSS PC+10. RESULT: The results on knowledge of medical insurance according to general characteristics of the nurses showed that there were significant differences according to age (p=.0036) highest level of education (p=.0007), position (p=.0010) and place where education on medical insurance was received (p=.0093). CONCLUSION: Continuous in-service education for clinical nurses is reflected in increased knowledge about medical insurance costs but special attention needs to be given to younger nurses and nurses with less education, as well as staff nurses, and those nurses who only received education on medical insurance during their schooling. Accordingly, in-service education is necessary for nurses at the time of orientation so that they have knowledge on standards for recuperation allowance, guidelines to calculate material costs, and guidelines to calculate drug rates. In addition, as medical insurance cost frequently change, all nurses need continuous in-service education.
Economic Development ; Education ; Fees and Charges ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insurance* ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare of adult body composition and body image before and after regular exercise program at a sports center. METHOD: The participants were 32 adults who were beginning regular exercise at a sports center in D city. The body composition was measured by body weight, soft lean mass, fat mass, percent body fat, fat distribution, degree of obesity and BMI, using the Inbody 3.0. Body image. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using paired t-test. RESULTS: 1. Significant improvement was shown in body composition. 2. The score for body image increased after the program, but the change was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The short-term exercise program was very effective in improving body composition, but changes in the evaluation of body image need long-term exercise. Also, we were concluded that it is very important to consider preference level when evaluating body composition and body image.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult* ; Body Composition* ; Body Image* ; Body Weight ; Fitness Centers* ; Humans ; Obesity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sports

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationship of life satisfaction, family support, physical health and demographic characteristics to perceived health, and to identify factors affecting perceived health of elderly participating in programs in welfare centers for senior citizens. METHOD: The research design for this study was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sampling. Data collection was done using self-questionnaire with 211 elders from 2 welfare centers for senior citizens located in Seoul. ANOVA, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients and hierachical multiple regression with the SPSS Win 12.0 Program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean score for degree of perceived health was 3.27+/-0.91. Perceived health had a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction (r= .362, p< .001), family support (r= .403, p< .001), physical health (r= .424, p< .001). The explained variance for perceived health was 37.9%. Among the variables, physical health (beta= .175, p= .014), life satisfaction (beta= .208, p= .002), and family support (beta= .277, p< .001) significantly predicted the degree of perceived health. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of perceived health and related factors for elders in Korea. However, further study with a larger random sample from various living environment is necessary.
Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Humans ; Korea ; Research Design

PURPOSE: This study was done to determine the rate for handwashing by intensive care unit nurses according to the content of nursing tasks, to investigate the relationship between hand washing practice evaluated by nurses themselves and their actual practice observed, and finallly to provide basic materials for strategy for hand washing education. METHOD: Data were collected by observing 27 nurses working in intensive care units of a hospital in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do and by using observation and a structured self-assessment tool. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS and SAS. RESULTS: The handwashing rate for the nurses was 4.3%. The handwashing rate was high in proportion to the risk of cross infection. In addition, the handwashing rate was highest in nurses working in the neurosurgery intensive care unit. The average score for self-assessment of handwashing was 49.42+/-3.78 points and it was higher than their actual practice of handwashing. CONCLUSION: In order to improve handwashing by nurses, it is necessary to educate them on the importance of handwashing. In addition, there should be strategies for standardizing knowledge and attitudes to handwashing and inducing nurses to practice hand washing in compliance with the policies and working conditions of the institution.
Compliance ; Cross Infection ; Education ; Faculty, Nursing* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand Disinfection* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Neurosurgery ; Nursing Faculty Practice* ; Nursing* ; Self-Assessment

PURPOSE: To investigate the status of health education courses in elementary schools. METHOD: From September to December in 2003, 607 school nurses were surveyed by questionnaires. RESULTS: 1) Of the schools, 32.1% had health education programs as part of the school health service. A higher proportion was found in schools in suburban and rural areas. Mass media in health education was used by 75% of school nurses. Regular classes were more frequently utilized in schools in rural areas, while the classes in health-related subjects were utilized in urban areas. For 20.6% of school nurses, there was a substitute person to provide health care while the nurse was in health education classed, but 94.2% of school nurses found they had to give up health education due to pressure from other health services. 2) Of the nurses, 97.0% felt the need to provide health education courses, but 60.6% insisted that their work load needed to be modified and supplemental personnel were necessary if health education courses were to be provided. 3) More than 30% school nurses responded that educational materials and media, and concern by teachers and administrators were insufficient. 4) School nurses suggested that the content for health education courses should include healthy life and dental health care for students in lower grades, dental health care, sex education and safety for students in middle grades, and sex education and drug abuse prevention for students in higher grades. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to provide health education courses in elementary schools but conditions in the schools are not satisfactory. For successful school health services, personnel supplement, modified work loads and sufficient educational materials and media should be in place before health education courses are provided.
Administrative Personnel ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Education* ; Health Services ; Humans ; Mass Media ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; School Health Services ; Sex Education ; Substance-Related Disorders

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors for surgical site infections in patients undergoing general surgery, to analyze the prolonged hospital stay and extra cost for antibiotics, and to provide basic data for control of surgical site infections. METHOD: Surgical site infection was defined using the definition of the CDC and the data were analyzed by chi2-test and unpaired t-test. RESULTS: The prevalence of surgical site infections was 9.7%, and it was related to wound class, duration of operation, number of operations, whether the operation was an emergency, trauma, drains, preoperative stays, presence of remote infection during operative period, and previous history of recent surgery. The mean duration for post-operative stay when a surgical site infection occurred was 9.5 days and in 56.9 % of the patients the surgical site infection appeared 7 days after the operation. Post-operative stays for infected patients were 20.3 days longer than that of uninfected patients The mean cost of antibiotics for infected patients was higher than that for uninfected patients by 561,067 won per person. CONCLUSION: Surgical site infection results in an increased length of stay and extra-cost, thus, hospitals need to create strategies to reduce nosocomial infections through effective infection surveillance and by considering factors related to surgical site infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cross Infection ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries