Fungi have been recognized as a significant cause of external otitis and it may be the primary pathogen or be part of a mixed infection. In the immunocompromised host, fungus is capable of producing infection in inner ear or middle ear. Otomycoses are most frequently caused by Aspergillus spp. and Candida sap. There are few reports that Aspergillus species other than A. fumigatus, A. niger and f. flavus have caused chronic otitis media. We report two cases of chronic otitis media caused by Aspergillus ferrous in Korea. One case is a 7-year-old girl who had recurrent serous otorrhea and otalgia for 4 years, was reattended otolaryngology clinics with otorrhea of 3 days durations and another is a 6-year-old girl who had serous otorrhea for 2 months and 3 day fever, was attended otolaryngology clinics with them. Microscopic appearance and colony morphology from ear discharge cultures revealed A. ferrous. The infection responded well to topical ketoconazole therapy. This report should help to raise medical personnel's awareness of such human opportunistic fungal ear infections.
Aspergillus* ; Candida ; Child ; Coinfection ; Ear ; Ear, Inner ; Ear, Middle ; Earache ; Female ; Fever ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Ketoconazole ; Korea ; Niger ; Otitis Externa ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Otolaryngology ; Otomycosis

PURPOSE: Purposes of this study were to identify non-value-added nursing activities (NVANAs) and to estimate the amount of time spent on NVANAs among total nursing activities. METHODS: Non-value-added nursing activities were identified though the use of a focus group. The nurses in the focus group were nurses working in a tertiary hospital. They discussed possible activities that could be NVANAs. Based on the focus group discussion, a pilot study was done to examine the actual occurrence of NVANAs in clinical settings. RESULTS: The focus group discussion showed that NVANAs occurred in ten categories of nursing performances including communication with physicians, communication with other departments, medications, equipment/supplies, nursing records, tests, admission, discharge, and transfer. Direct nursing activities accounted for 35.5% of total nursing activities while indirect nursing activities accounted for 64.5%. Of indirect nursing activities, 16% were NVANAs. Most NVANAs were related to communication and equipment/supplies. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the quality and efficiency of nursing activities, it is necessary to identify NVANAs and their causes. Results of this study suggest that improvement in the work process and nursing unit structure, support for equipment/supplies, and effective communication are needed to reduce NVANAs in tertiary hospitals in Korea.
Focus Groups ; Korea ; Nursing Records ; Pilot Projects ; Tertiary Care Centers

OBJECT: It is to evaluate the priority area for effective eye care service to the aged population of rural comniunity at present and in future. METHOD: Number of aged group surveyed on 60 and over 60 years age that, counted 531 among the total 580 patients. Visual acuity was tested and refractive error was measured by Retinornax (Nikon, Japan) . Ocular examination was performed to determine the causes of visual impairment. This survey was conducted under the auspices of the Korean Foundation for Prevention of Blindness with assistance of the Seoul National University Postgraduate School of Public Health from 1994 to 1996 at the Public Health Center of Chun-Cheon, Kang-Won Do(Province). RESULTS: Age distribution showed the sixties (60-69) 49,3%, the seventies (70-79) 33.9%, and the eighties (80) 16.8%. Proportion of visual acuity of 0.7 or upper in the better eyes constituted 32.2% and of 0.2 or worse 19.4%. Causes of visual impairnnente consisted of refractive errors 35. 9%, cataract 35. 9%, macular degeneration 7, 4%, and corneal opacity 3.9% in order. Contributed modes of care were spectacles 27.9%, surgeries 23.9% (cataract, operation, pterygium removal etc.), and medical treatment 23.9%. DISCUSSION: Surgery of the aged population in rural comrnunity of Chun-Cheon revealed the most. prevalent. causes of visual impairment as the refractive errors and cataract. It is suggested that. the most effective eye care would be provided systemically based 0 the result of the epidemiological study on the various ocular disorders.
Age Distribution ; Blindness ; Cataract ; Corneal Opacity ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Eyeglasses ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Pterygium ; Public Health ; Refractive Errors ; Seoul ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate factors affecting prevention performance of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) among long-term care hospital nurses. Methods: The participants were 162 nurses in 11 long-term care hospitals. Data were collected from May 21 to June 4, 2021, using structured questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed with an independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, a one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis. All analyses were performed using SPSS/WIN 26.0. Results: The factors influencing the prevention performance of CAUTI were formal learning (β=.22, p=.003) and prevention knowledge on CAUTI (β=.17, p=.029). These variables explained 13% of the prevention performance of CAUTI. Conclusion In this study, it is necessary for long-term care hospitals to develop infection prevention educational programs for CAUTI based on nursing evidence and ensure that nurses apply the knowledge obtained through these educational programs.

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to explain the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of hemorrhoidectomy patients, and to provide the effective and holistic nursing care to them. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The data were collected during the period from November 1 to November 30, 2003 at K-Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were fifty patients who were to have a hemorrhoidectomy under general anesthesia. They were assigned to two groups, 25 subjects to the experimental group and 25 subjects to the control group. The State Anxiety Inventory tool was used to measure state-anxiety on all patients the day before surgery. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. The experimental group received aromatherapy massage on the hand with lavender oil. Data were analyzed by x2 test, independent t-test, paired t-test. RESULTS: 1. Hypothesis 1, that the level of preoperative state-anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage would be lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.047). 2. Hypothesis 2was that the Physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy would be lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy. The 1st subhypothesis that "the level of the preoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the experimental group would be less than that of the control group" was not supported. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives the preoperative anxiety of surgical patients and stabilizes vital signs.
Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy* ; Blood Pressure ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Holistic Nursing ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Preoperative Period ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to explain the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of hemorrhoidectomy patients, and to provide the effective and holistic nursing care to them. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The data were collected during the period from November 1 to November 30, 2003 at K-Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were fifty patients who were to have a hemorrhoidectomy under general anesthesia. They were assigned to two groups, 25 subjects to the experimental group and 25 subjects to the control group. The State Anxiety Inventory tool was used to measure state-anxiety on all patients the day before surgery. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. The experimental group received aromatherapy massage on the hand with lavender oil. Data were analyzed by x2 test, independent t-test, paired t-test. RESULTS: 1. Hypothesis 1, that the level of preoperative state-anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage would be lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.047). 2. Hypothesis 2was that the Physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy would be lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy. The 1st subhypothesis that "the level of the preoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the experimental group would be less than that of the control group" was not supported. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives the preoperative anxiety of surgical patients and stabilizes vital signs.
Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy* ; Blood Pressure ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Holistic Nursing ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Preoperative Period ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Vital Signs

Behcet's syndrome has been known as a disease which has the triple symptoms such as recurrent orogenital ulceration and eye inflammation. The syndrome is now recogninized as a multisystem disease involving mucocutaneaous, cardiovascular, central nervous system, renal, articular and gastrointestinal system. The vascular involvement in Behcet's disease has been reported since Mischima first described the case in 1961, four types of vascular lesion are recognized ; arterial occlusion ; aneurysm ; venous occlusion ; and varices. Venous occlusion are frequently observed, most commonly in the inferior or superior vena cava. We report a case of Behcet's disease manifested as superior vena cava syndrome due to thrombus on both brachiocephalic veins.
Aneurysm ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Brachiocephalic Veins ; Central Nervous System ; Inflammation ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome* ; Thrombosis ; Ulcer ; Varicose Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior*

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of stomach cancer patients. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non synchronized design. The data were collected during the period of October 2 to December 30, 2005 at H Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were 40 patients who were operated under general anesthesia for stomach cancer. State anxiety, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1 that the level of preoperative state anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.004). Hypothesis 2 the physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aroma-therapy is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy. CONCLUSION: According to these results, aromatherapy hand massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives anxiety of surgical patients and decreases the blood pressure level.
Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy* ; Blood Pressure ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Preoperative Period ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of stomach cancer patients. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non synchronized design. The data were collected during the period of October 2 to December 30, 2005 at H Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were 40 patients who were operated under general anesthesia for stomach cancer. State anxiety, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1 that the level of preoperative state anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.004). Hypothesis 2 the physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aroma-therapy is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy. CONCLUSION: According to these results, aromatherapy hand massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives anxiety of surgical patients and decreases the blood pressure level.
Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy* ; Blood Pressure ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Preoperative Period ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

Accessory ovaries are rare entities defined as small portions of ovarian tissue situated near, and connected to, the normally placed ovary. Tumors arising in accessory ovaries are extremely rare. In particular, a fibroma arising from an accessory ovary has not been reported in the literature. We describe such a case with a fibroma developing in an accessory ovary. A 53-year-old multiparous woman presented with abdominal pain for 2 months. Pelvic computed tomography revealed 11.0x8.0x6.0 cm sized cystic mass with a thick septal wall in right adnexa. The preoperative diagnosis was a borderline ovarian tumor. Furthermore, a laparotomy showed a cystic mass connected to the right ovary by stalk. The bilateral eutopic ovaries were completely normal. Histologically, an accessory ovary was replaced by a fibroma accompanied by extensive cystic change.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Middle Aged ; Ovary