No abstract available.
Thyroidectomy*

BACKGROUND: An intensive and ongoing surveillance program is effective for preventing the hospital infections. but it is time-consuming to detect all cases of hospital infections. So, labratory-based surveillance was performed with the aid of personal computer. The software 'MICRO' that coded and used privately was written in FoxPro 2.0 code. METHODS: All results of the microbiologic culture were stocked in the software and hospital infections were detected by review d an positive microbiology reports and daily ward rounds with examination of patient progress notes. If there was any suggestion or evidence of outbreak of hospital infections the data were analyzed by the 'MICRO' and reported to hospital infections control committee. RESULTS: We detected the outbreak of nosoccmial pneumonia due to a putative single species of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the neurosurgical ward at May, 1996. The suggestive outbreak of wound infections in the 7th ward at April, 1966 was denied by the 'MICRO'. The possible outbreak of 10th ward at May, 1996 was detected. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a surveillance method that identifies excessive rates of positive culture on patient location culture site, and organism indentification using the 'MICRO'. We were able to monitor patient-to-patient cross-infections and possible breakdowns in proper technique, and expect suggestive outbreak of infections early. These results demonstrate that computer analysis of positive culture rates by 'MICRO' is a sensitive and time-efficient method for detecting potentially preventable hospital infections.
Cross Infection* ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microcomputers* ; Pneumonia ; Wound Infection

We report a case of Dariers disease which showed a more effective result using a combined treatment with oral etretinate and topical tretinoin cream than treatment with oral etretinate alone in a 17-year old male patient. Oral etretinate 40mg was given daily and topical therapy with tretinoin cream was applied to lesions of neck and face. Two weeks later, lesions of neck and face showed good improvement compared with the not applied lesions. Topical therapy was then extended to other lesions. Six weeks after treatment, there was a marked improvement. Three months after treatment, most of lesions were nearly gon.
Acitretin* ; Adolescent ; Darier Disease ; Etretinate* ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Tretinoin*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between social support, dependence of activities of daily living and depression among Parkinson's disease patients. Subjects were 122 patients with Parkinson's disease. Neurologic wards inpatients or neurology clinic out patients department in a tertiary-affiliated hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from April 1996 to March 1997. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. The lower the level of dependence of activities of daily living, the lower the level of depression. 2. The higher the level of perceived family support, the lower the level of depression. 3. The higher the level of perceived health personnel support, the lower the level of depression. 4. The rate of depression evaluated by Zung depression scale was 37.4%(mild to moderate:30.1%, moderate to severe:4.1%, severe:3.2%). 5. Socio-demographic characteristics sex, education, occupation, and the charge person of treatment cost, significantly influenced the level of depression. 6. There was no significant difference in level of depression, dependence of activities of daily living, stage of disease between user and nonuser of L-dopa. Suggestions were made for further studies: 1. To develop nursing intervention for decreasing the dependence of activities daily living is needed. 2. To identify the change pattern of depression by time.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Depression* ; Education ; Health Care Costs ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Levodopa ; Morinda ; Neurology ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Outpatients ; Parkinson Disease* ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify hospital nurses' recognition of the team system and the effectiveness of the team system as an organizational structure. METHODS: A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from 247 general hospital nurses during 4 months in 2013. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and factor analysis with SPSS 18.0. program. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in nurses' recognition of team structure (t=2.06, p=.153) or effect of team structure (t=0.36, p=.549) according to use of team system. In hospitals with a team system, there were positive correlations between recognition of the effect of the team system and age (r=.25, p=.033), and total clinical career (r=.26, p=.012). In hospitals not using a team system, nurses' recognition of team structure as an organizational system (r=.31, p<.001), nurses' recognition of team structure, total (r=.30 p<.001) correlated significantly with the effects of team system. CONCLUSION: Results of this study provide a retrospection view of the team system in nursing organizational systems. The nursing team system's ultimate goal needs to be confirmed for complementary nursing care. Also, more studies on nurses' perceptions of, and effectiveness of the team system are necessary.
Hospitals, General ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We report a case of a 59 year-old female with hyperlipoproteinernia who had xanthoma tuberosum, xanthoma tendinosurn and xanthoma planum. Yellowish nodules appeared on the right elbow 26 years ago and the lesions gradually increased in size and spread to the elbow, hand, knee, foot and achilles tendon. Except for the skin lesion, she was normal on physical examination. The laboratory findings showed that the serum cholesterol, beta lipoprotein and total lipid were increased. The beta band was rnarkedly elevated on electrophoresis, which suggested type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia. Histopathological findings shc wed many aggregates of foam cells and foreign body giant cells were seen in the dermis.
Achilles Tendon ; Cholesterol ; Dermis ; Elbow ; Electrophoresis ; Female ; Foam Cells ; Foot ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II* ; Knee ; Lipoproteins ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Temazepam* ; Xanthomatosis*

BACKGROUND: Opioid analgesics are widely used to reduce postoperative pain and to enhance post-operative recovery. However, orthostatic intolerance (OI) induced by opioid containing intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IPCA) may hinder postoperative recovery. This study investigated factors that affect OI in patients receiving IPCA for postoperative pain control. METHODS: OI was instantly evaluated at the time of first ambulation in 175 patients taking opioid containing IPCA after open and laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomies. Patients were classified as having OI if they experienced dizziness, nausea/vomiting, blurred vision, headache, somnolence and syncope. Factors contributing to OI were assessed with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Out of 175 patients, 61 (52.6%) male and 44 (74.6%) female patients experienced OI at the time of first ambulation. The frequency of OI related symptoms were dizziness (97, 55.4%), nausea (46, 26.3%), headache (9, 5.1%), blurred vision (3, 1.7%) and vomiting (2, 1.1%). Significant risk factors for OI were gender (P=0.002) and total amount of opioids administered (P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of OI is significantly higher in male than in female patients and is influenced by the opioid dose.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Cyanoacrylates ; Dizziness ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nausea ; Orthostatic Intolerance ; Pain, Postoperative ; Risk Factors ; Syncope ; Vision, Ocular ; Vomiting ; Walking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe nurses' experience of a career ladder program (CLP) in a general hospital in Korea. METHODS: The data were collected from 15 nurses who participated in the CLP. Each nurse completed individual in-depth interviews, for which the main interview question was "How do you describe your experience of CLP?". All interview data were transcribed and were analyzed using the grounded theory method. RESULTS: The core category of the experience of CLP was identified as "challenging to rebirth as an expert". The participants used five action/interaction strategies such as "taking some time for introspection", "appreciating the essence of nursing", "making use of feedback positively", "throwing away doubts about their own capabilities", "exerting themselves with confidence". The consequence of the process of adjusting to CLP was "positioning a differentiated expert." CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that participants recognized CLP as a powerful resource which leads them to professional growth and development. Thus, CLP could be utilized as a clinical career-promoting program and ultimately as a program for providing high-quality nursing services.
Adult ; *Career Mobility ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Program Evaluation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the role experience of preceptor nurses in general hospitals. METHODS: Data were collected from 10 experienced preceptor nurses through in-depth interviews about their experiences. The main question was "How do you describe your experience as a preceptor in the process of role adaptation?" Qualitative data from field and transcribed notes were analyzed using Strauss & Corbin's grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: The core category of experience in the process of role adaptation as a preceptor nurse was identified as 'being responsible to teach from beginning to end'. The participants identified five interactional strategies; 'abruptly having to take the role as a preceptor unwilling', 'difficulties in field training with variable situations', 'preceptor and new nurse with love and hate relationships', 'bring up preceptee as a child', 'redefining the concept of preceptor'. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide useful information for understanding the role of preceptor nurses in general hospital who have to teach new nurses with patience and responsibility. It will be needed to establishment of preceptor's role and educational standards, and policy for their rewards by nurse manager. Additionally, making cooperative educational climate in nursing ward is important for teaching new nurse.
Climate ; Hate ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Love ; Nurse Administrators ; Preceptorship ; Reward

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate how nurses perceive the Career Ladder System(CLS). METHODS: This study was a descriptive survey using questionnaires. Questionnaires were developed by an expert group. Participants included 161 nurses working in the Children's Hospital. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, descriptive statistics, chi-square-test and ANCOVA. RESULTS: This study revealed that nurses who advanced in their career ladders have a significantly higher perception of participation in their professional activities and a general comprehension of the CLS more than the nurses who did not advance in their career ladders. However, nurses who advanced in their career ladders have a significantly lower perception of the expected outcome of the CLS more than nurses who did not. CONCLUSIONS: This result showed that nurses who had experienced in clinical advancement and recognition were highly motivated with their professional activities via the CLS as well as they considered it to allow professional growth.
Career Mobility ; Comprehension ; Surveys and Questionnaires