Purpose: This study aimed to identify the changes in psychological distress and the quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer from pre-surgery to 3 months after surgery. Methods: We enrolled 49 patients scheduled to undergo esophageal surgery at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Patients’ psychological distress and quality of life were assessed using the Korean scales, such as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and an esophageal cancer-specific questionnaire (QLQ-OES18) at pre-surgery, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery. Results: Moderate-to-severe anxiety was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, 57.1% of patients at 1 month post-surgery, and 8.2% at 3 months post-surgery. Moderate-to-severe depression was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, 63.3% at 1 month post-surgery, and 16.3% of patients at 3 months post-surgery. Clinically significant, moderate changes (10~20 points) in physical functioning, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and dyspnea (per EORTC QLQ-C30) and dysphagia and taste problems (per QLQ-OES18) were reported from pre-surgery to 1 month post-surgery. Conclusion One month after esophageal cancer surgery, patients demonstrated severe psychological distress and worsening quality of life. Nursing intervention is needed to relieve psychological distress and improve the quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer in the 1-month early recovery period.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of precocious puberty and elucidate the distinct characteristics of each type of perception related to precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone treatment for the condition. Methods: This study applied the Q methodology to identify and classify the perceptions of precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone treatment for the condition. The analysis involved 34 questions from the Q sample and data from 35 individuals in the P sample, using the PC-QUANL Program for analysis. Results: The perceptions of precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone precocious puberty treatment were classified into the following four types: "shyness - passive self-management," "resentment - suppression," "anxiety - fear," and "adaptation - acceptance." Conclusion This study investigated the experiences and perceptions of children who have undergone treatment for precocious puberty. Through the identification of four types of perceptions, we can see that there is a need to develop an intervention program for nursing that is tailored to the specific type of precocious puberty.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the influence of nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, and nurses’ perceived health status on quality of nursing work life according to nursing clinical ladder at a tertiary hospital. Methods: Participants were nurses working at a tertiary hospital in D city, and a total of 352 participants were recruited according to four stages of clinical experience: novice stage (below 1 year), advanced beginner stage (2~3 years), competent stage (4~6 years), and proficiency stage (above 7 years). Data were collected from February 7-February 16, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Multiple regression. Results: There was statistically significant correlation between innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, nurses’ perceived health status and quality of nursing work life. In all clinical ladder stages, nursing work spirituality and nurses’ perceived health status were factors influencing the quality of nursing work life; innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture was an influencing factor in the novice, advanced beginner, and competent stage, but not the proficient stage. Conclusion To improve the quality of nursing work life, it is necessary to develop and apply practical programs that reflect nurses’ characteristics at each clinical ladder stage.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the influence of nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, and nurses’ perceived health status on quality of nursing work life according to nursing clinical ladder at a tertiary hospital. Methods: Participants were nurses working at a tertiary hospital in D city, and a total of 352 participants were recruited according to four stages of clinical experience: novice stage (below 1 year), advanced beginner stage (2~3 years), competent stage (4~6 years), and proficiency stage (above 7 years). Data were collected from February 7-February 16, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Multiple regression. Results: There was statistically significant correlation between innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, nurses’ perceived health status and quality of nursing work life. In all clinical ladder stages, nursing work spirituality and nurses’ perceived health status were factors influencing the quality of nursing work life; innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture was an influencing factor in the novice, advanced beginner, and competent stage, but not the proficient stage. Conclusion To improve the quality of nursing work life, it is necessary to develop and apply practical programs that reflect nurses’ characteristics at each clinical ladder stage.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the influence of nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, and nurses’ perceived health status on quality of nursing work life according to nursing clinical ladder at a tertiary hospital. Methods: Participants were nurses working at a tertiary hospital in D city, and a total of 352 participants were recruited according to four stages of clinical experience: novice stage (below 1 year), advanced beginner stage (2~3 years), competent stage (4~6 years), and proficiency stage (above 7 years). Data were collected from February 7-February 16, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Multiple regression. Results: There was statistically significant correlation between innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, nurses’ perceived health status and quality of nursing work life. In all clinical ladder stages, nursing work spirituality and nurses’ perceived health status were factors influencing the quality of nursing work life; innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture was an influencing factor in the novice, advanced beginner, and competent stage, but not the proficient stage. Conclusion To improve the quality of nursing work life, it is necessary to develop and apply practical programs that reflect nurses’ characteristics at each clinical ladder stage.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the influence of nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, and nurses’ perceived health status on quality of nursing work life according to nursing clinical ladder at a tertiary hospital. Methods: Participants were nurses working at a tertiary hospital in D city, and a total of 352 participants were recruited according to four stages of clinical experience: novice stage (below 1 year), advanced beginner stage (2~3 years), competent stage (4~6 years), and proficiency stage (above 7 years). Data were collected from February 7-February 16, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Multiple regression. Results: There was statistically significant correlation between innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture, nursing workplace spirituality, nurses’ perceived health status and quality of nursing work life. In all clinical ladder stages, nursing work spirituality and nurses’ perceived health status were factors influencing the quality of nursing work life; innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture was an influencing factor in the novice, advanced beginner, and competent stage, but not the proficient stage. Conclusion To improve the quality of nursing work life, it is necessary to develop and apply practical programs that reflect nurses’ characteristics at each clinical ladder stage.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the prevalence of colorectal cancer related with metabolic syndrome is increasing in Korea. The aim of this study was to reveal a relationship between components of metabolic syndrome and the development of colon polyp. METHODS: Among the subjects who visited a health promotion center of one university hospital and underwent colonoscopic examination from February 2010 to February 2011, a total of 1,630 (males 1,156, females 474) asymptomatic adults were included for the study. Sex, age, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol levels and the presence of colorectal polyps were measured. Alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome was defined by criteria of 2004 American Heart Association/Updated NCEP Adult Treatment Panel III. RESULTS: The prevalence of colon polyps and metabolic syndrome was 21.7% and 16.0% respectively among study subjects. After adjustment for sex and age, metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR]=1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.82, P=0.031) and waist circumference (OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, P=0.009) were associated with increased risk of colorectal polyps. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and waist circumference were associated with increased risk of colon polyps in asymptomatic Korean adults.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Colon* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Heart ; Humans ; Korea ; Polyps* ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Primary malignant melanoma of tbe esophagus is extremely rare and its incidence is below 0.1%. The tumor is polypoid and tend to be large, which is covered with false membrane, friable, hemorrhagic, and necrotic. Hematogenous and lymphogenic metastasis are common. Resection of the tumor with an anastomotic procedure seems to be the treatment of choice, and postoperative irradiation may be useful. But, despite these measures, prognosis is poor, with a 5-year survival of 4.2%. We report a case of 58-year-old man with primary malig- nant melanoma of the epophagus, and review of the literature in presented related studies.
Esophagus* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestines* ; Melanoma* ; Membranes ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Stomach*

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) is a complicated procedure with a high incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Previous studies indicate that even transient or mild post-LT AKI can result in critical conditions, including prolonged stays in hospitals and intensive care units and increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and occurrence of AKI in LT recipients. METHODS: Medical data from 203 patients who received LT surgery from January 2010 to August 2016 in a single university hospital setting were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients were classified as either underweight (BMI <20 kg/m²) or normal weight (20 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m²). Demographic data, anesthetic methods, complications, and perioperative laboratory test values of each patient were assessed. Propensity analyses and logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between BMI and post-LT AKI. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in occurrence of post-LT AKI between underweight and normal weight patients. The underweight patient group had significantly longer hospital stay compared with the normal weight patient group (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: BMI classification was neither a positive nor negative predictor of postoperative AKI occurrence. However, patients with lower BMI had significantly longer hospital stay compared with their counterparts. Although our study was limited by its retrospective design, our observations suggest that lower BMI might play a role in post-LT AKI.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Body Mass Index* ; Classification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies* ; Thinness

Since the first survey done in 1983, this is the second national sample survey of medical students about their perception and evaluation on medical study, career plan, and medical care system. One out of every 10 students plus one in each class were systematically sampled from each grade year of 32 medical schools in Korea that had students from freshman to senior in November 1997. A questionnaire was developed by adding items related with recent changes in medical care environment and with viewpoint on medicine and physician as an occupation to the questionnaire used in 1983. The questionnaire was administered at each school under the supervision of designated collaborator of the same school in December 1997 through January 1998. A total of 1,386 students were sampled from a total of 11,987 medical students and 1,233 students(89.0%) filled out the questionnaire. Twelve students were excluded from the analysis because of incomplete response and the final analysis was done for 1,221 students. A few demographic characteristics of the sample were compared with those of the study population to check the representativeness of the sample and found no skew. The contents of the study were divided into three parts and the first part describes the study methods, demographic and other characteristics of the sample, students' viewpoint on medical education, and students' aptitude for medicine Male students accounted for 75.7% of the sample. The proportion of students who entered medical school right after graduating from a high school was 45.8% in Seoul and 53.4% in other than Seoul area. The students who classified their own political inclination conservative were 43.9% in Seoul and 33.0% in other than Seoul and the percentage of students with progressive inclination was higher in out of Seoul than Seoul area. The proportion of students who have a religion was 57.2%; Christian 31.0%, Catholic 15.2%, and Buddhist 9.5%. The educational level of fathers of students was far higher than the level of general population, e.g. 59.8% had college or higher education. Occupation of fathers was mainly white-collar worker; professional worker 21.2%, company employee 17.2%, government official 13.1%, manager 11.8%, and medical professional 8.7%. In the decision-making process to enter the medical school, 53.7% of the students were influenced by someone else and 62.1% of them were parents. Socio-economic factor was the most common reason for recommending medical school and it accounted 33.5% of the reasons. Medical students enjoy learning life phenomenon(47.2%) and human being(44.3%) in medical study but most disturbing factors are memory work(39.7%) and too much to study(34.1%). If students were given another chance to choose a college as a senior student in high school, 50.3% of them said that they would choose medical school. Only 6% of students have intention to change their major subject of study if they are allowed to change now. The proportion of students who consider their scholastic aptitude is compatible with medical study was 64.9% and such proportion increased with grade. The percentage of students who are going to recommend medical school to their own son in the future was 36.6% for male and 26.7% for female students and to their own daughter 33.6% and 27.7%, respectively.
Aptitude ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Learning ; Male ; Memory ; Nuclear Family ; Occupational Groups ; Occupations ; Organization and Administration ; Parents ; Schools, Medical ; Seoul ; Students, Medical*