PURPOSE: The study purposes were to describe the process of developing the Korean versions of the Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (Six-D) and Student Nurse Stress Index (SNSI) and psychometric evaluation of the two measurements. METHODS: This was a methodology study using a descriptive cross-sectional design with 51 nursing students in 4th year of university. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach alphas. Construct validity was determined by exploring correlations among Six-D, SNSI, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), self-efficacy and grade point average (GPA). RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability of Six-D and SNSI was acceptable with Cronbach's alpha of .95 and .82. Correlation analysis to determine construct validity revealed that Six-D presented positive correlations with OSCE (r=.109~.272) and self-efficacy (r=.005~.161) and negative correlation with GPA (r=-.246~-.394), although all were not statistically significant. SNSI presented all negative correlations with OSCE (r= -.007~-.238), self-efficacy (r=-.246~-.394), and GPA (r=-.092~-.426) and were mostly statistically significant except OSCE. CONCLUSION: Six-D needs more evidence to confirm validity to predict observed clinical competency and theoretical relationships with self-efficacy and GPA. However, SNSI presented trends of expected relationships with relevant variables. Therefore, further research is recommended in testing validity of Six-D with other student populations.
Asthma ; Humans ; Psychometrics ; Students, Nursing

Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis of unknown causes that occurs predominantly in infants and young children and produces coronary artery aneurysm. We have recently experienced a case of persistent Kawasaki disease in a 24 month-old-girl improved with pulsed doses of methylprednisolone. Even with an administration of intravenous gamma globulin(IVIG), she repeated the course of recovery and aggravation. After four times repeated doses of IVIG, additional intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy was tried and resulted in remarkable improvement. We reported the case with a brief review of the related literature.
Aneurysm ; Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Infant ; Methylprednisolone* ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Vasculitis

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence rates and to explore associated factors of sarcopenic obesity (SO) in 2,221 Koreans over 60 yr-of age from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009). Participants were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by body weight was used to define sarcopenia and waist circumference was used to define obesity. We estimated the prevalence rates of SO according to age-groups, sex and region. In addition, each group was compared by demographic characteristics, metabolic status, nutrition, and physical activity. The prevalence rates of SO were 6.1% (95% confidential interval [CI] = 6.1-6.2) for men and 7.3% (95% CI = 7.3-7.3) for women, respectively. SO was positively associated with no current working and the number of combined medical conditions. High serum insulin level was positively associated with SO, whereas vitamin D was negatively associated with SO in both men and women. In conclusion, the prevalence rates of SO are 6.1% in men and 7.3% in women. SO is associated with insulin resistance, inappropriate nutrition, and low physical activity.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Databases, Factual ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity/*epidemiology/etiology ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sarcopenia/*complications ; Sex Factors ; Vitamin D/blood ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify historical backdrop leading to the introduction of the doctorate degree of nursing in Korea, and to explore trends of doctoral nursing education program. METHODS: The research design was a descriptive study adopting a historical approach. Documentation data were collected through web sites and mail survey. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 professors who were involved in the introduction of the doctorate degree of nursing. The outcomes of doctoral nursing education program were evaluated with a total of 1,153 dissertations' titles published from 1982 to 2007. RESULTS: First introduced in Korea in 1978, doctoral nursing education program had steadily increased totaling 21 doctoral program in 2007. This resulted in a rapid increase in the number of doctoral students, but the number of faculty and the quality were not as satisfactory as expected. Many doctoral program had the missions or goals that fostered nursing scholars, theorists, and researchers, a trend that seems set to continue. The majority of dissertations utilized the experimental design (39.9%), others were qualitative design (21.6%), and survey design (19.0%). CONCLUSION: Doctoral education that is the hallmark of nursing scholarship is further elaborated in terms of academic tradition of nursing school in Korea.
Education ; Education, Nursing* ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; History of Nursing ; Humans ; Korea ; Missions and Missionaries ; Nursing ; Postal Service ; Research Design ; Schools, Nursing ; Social Change

Metastatic tumor to ovary are uncommon, but there is a situation in which a metastatic adenocarcinoma to ovary appears as a large mass and resembles a primary tumor: a Krukenberg tumor of ovary which has a signet ring histologic pattern and usually is metastatic principally from a gastrointestinal tract cancer. We have an experience of one case of metastatic Krukenberg tumor from stomach and report the case with brief review of literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Krukenberg Tumor* ; Ovary ; Stomach

PURPOSE: This survey was intended to investigate the awareness and application of the asthma guideline among pediatricians. Insight into the feasibility in the guidelines can guide implementation strategies in the future and, if necessary, support the revision of the previous guideline. METHODS: This self-administered survey study was conducted with the data on 10 items of questionnaire about knowledge and implementation of Korean childhood asthma guideline. The data was analyzed using SPSS WINDOW 8.0. RESULTS: A total of 141 doctors out of 500 participants in the pediatric refresh course responded the questionnaire. Ninety-five percent of the responders were aware of guideline, but differences were found between the asthma management policies in the guideline and their habitual practice patterns. As far as the prescription of inhaled corticosteroid, approximately half of the responders followed the guideline. For peak flowmeter use, 57% of the responders never prescribed peak flowmeter and only 5% of the responders used peak flowmeter frequently. The barriers pediatricians face when applying the guideline in the practice were habitual management pattern, time limitation, low compliance, lack of knowledge and economic burden. CONCLUSION: The guideline for diagnosis and management of childhood asthma seemed to be recognized widely, however, the role of the guideline to change pediatricians habitual practice was limited. These data clearly indicate a need for further educational programs directed to both physicians and patients. Finally the development of more practical evidence- based guideline is needed
Asthma* ; Compliance ; Diagnosis* ; Flowmeters ; Humans ; Prescriptions ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this clinical study was to evaluate clinical and pathological findings, surgical procedures, and postoperative treatment in women with ovarian granulosa cell tumor. METHODS: A clinical study was made on 28 cases of ovarian granulosa cell tumor that were treated at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Korea University Hospital between January 1978 and December 2002. Data for 28 women with granulosa cell tumor were collected retrospectively. Follow-up data were collected from the hospital records or telephone survey. Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were applied, as appropriate. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 49 years (range, 28 to 71 years). The most common present symptom was vaginal bleeding (11/28, 39.3%). 82.6% of patients were with FIGO stage I, 3.6% with stage II, 7.1% with stage III, and none with stage IV. Follow-up time was 62 months (5-128 months). The five year disease free survival rate was 90.4% and 10 year disease free survival rate was 86.5%. Significant prognostic factors were FIGO stage and the rupture of tumor. CONCLUSION: Even though granulosa cell tumor usually has good prognosis, it is a tumor of unquestionable malignant potential and has a tendency for late relapse. Long term follow-up is recommended. Multicenter prospective randomized studies are needed to identify the more rational treatment strategies of these rare malignant tumors.
Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulosa Cell Tumor* ; Granulosa Cells* ; Gynecology ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Korea ; Obstetrics ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Telephone ; Uterine Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVES: Approximately 15-20% of all clinically recognized pregnancies result in spontaneous abortion between 8 and 12 weeks. In some early abortus only the extra-embryonic components of the conceptus survive, either as fragments of placenta or as empty gestational sac, and these have been termed 'anembryonic pregnancies'. Despite their common occurrences, the etiology of anembryonic conceptuses is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether chromosomal abnormalities relate to a role in anembryonic pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study, that consisted of 143 pregnancies from chromosomally normal couples that aborted in first trimester period between January 1, 1994 and December 27, 1997, had chromosomal analysis performed on the products of conception and had ultrasonographic examination prior to spontaneous abortion. The tissue was processed and analysed using standard G-banding cytogenetic techniques with long-term cultures. RESULTS: The patient characteristics of the anembryonic pregnancy were not significantly different from those of the embryonic pregnancy. Among products of conception from embryonic pregnancies, 45% (52/115) had normal chromosomal analyses and 55% (63/115) had abnormal chromosomal analyses. Products of conception from anembryonic pregnancies resulted in 54% (15/28) of abnormal chromosome analyses and normal chromosomal analyses resulted in 46% (13/28) (p>0.05, Chi-square test). The frequency of aneuploidy and polyploidy were not different between products of conception from anembryonic pregnancy and embryonic pregnancy. Also, the gender ratio of euploid spontaneous pregnancy losses showed similar in this study. CONCLUSION: There are no differences in frequency of abnormal karyotypes in products of conception from anembryonic pregnancies compared with miscarriage after the demonstration of fetal pole. If further studies are need for the evaluation of these etiologies, and then immuno-molecular studies in early placental tissues from anembryonic pregnancy might be helpful.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Fertilization ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Placenta ; Polyploidy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: Brain metastasis is estimated to occur in 20 to 40% of cancer patients, and meningeal involvement has been reported in 5% to 8% of cancer patients. Even if the prognosis is grave, standard treatment modality of brain metastasis or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis has not been established. We evaluated the prognosis and the clinical features of the brain and leptomeningeal metastasis of the breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 43 patients who was diagnosed as brain parenchymal metastasis or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis clinically, radiologically and/or cytologically were included in this study. The median age was 44(range: 27-61) years. RESULTS: The median duration from brain metastasis to death was 181 days(range: 8~1599), and the median duration from leptomeningeal carcinomatosis to death was 39 days(range: 25~152). Age(p=0.7174) and number of brain metastatic lesion(p=0.4097) did not influence the survival, but the presence of other systemic metastatic lesion affected the survival(p 0.0224). When we compared the survival rates of patients according to treatment modality, the patients with systemic chemotherapy versus patients without systemic chemotherapy showed differences(p= 0.0009). Patients treated with whole brain radiation only versus patients with whole brain radiation and other systemic management also showed different survival rate(p=0.0009). But intrathecal chemotherapy had no effect on survival. Well differentiated, solitary lesions were treated by operation and/or gamma-knife surgery, and their effects were good. CONCLUSION: Prolongation of survival was suggested with whole brain radiotherapy combined with systemic treatment in brain or leptomeningeal metastasis. Further study is expected to confirm this finding.
Brain* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Meningeal Carcinomatosis* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Increased maternal age is a major risk factor for chromosomal abnormalities. The maternal age-specific risk of fetal trisomy was theoretically calculated. We investigated the actual frequency of fetal trisomy between 16 and 24 gestational weeks in pregnant women over the age of 34 at delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively, over a four-year period, reviewed the medical records of women with singleton pregnancies that started their antenatal care before the 10th week of pregnancy. Pregnant women aged 34 to 45 years at the time of delivery were enrolled and divided into groups of one-year intervals. We investigated the frequency of Down syndrome and all trisomies as a function of the maternal age and compared with the theoretical maternal-age-specific risk. RESULTS: Of the 5,858 pregnant women enrolled in the study, the rate of trisomy 21 was 0.29% (17 cases). The observed frequencies of trisomy 21 in women with maternal ages of 35 years and 40 years were 1:1,116 and 1:141, respectively. The rate of all trisomies was 0.39% (23 cases). The observed frequencies of all trisomies in women with maternal ages of 35 years and 40 years were 1:372 and 1:56, respectively. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of Down syndrome and all trisomies were proportional to the maternal age. However, the observed frequencies of Down syndrome and all trisomies between the 16 and 24 gestational weeks were lower than the theoretical rates.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Trisomy*