OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether women with unexplained elevations of maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) at 14-20weeks gestation are at incresed risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: 661 pregnant women undergoing second trimester triple marker screening test for Down syndrome and neural tube defect and delivered at our hospital were reviewed. Of 656 pregnancies that did not have maternal serum alpha feto-protein> or =2.5 multiples of the median(MoM), risk for poor pregnancy outcomes include to preeclampsia, preterm delivery, preterm rupture of membrane(PROM), small for gestational age(SGA) and fetal distress was evaluated in women with elevated hCG(> or =2.0 MoM) compared with women without elevated hCG(<2.0 MoM). RESULTS: Pregnancies with elevated hCG levels were at increased risk for preeclampsia (risk ratio 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.5-7.6) but elevated hCG levels were not significantly associated with preterm delivery, PROM, and SGA and fetal ditress independent with preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: Pregnancies with elevated second-trimester hCG appear to be at higher risk of subsequent preeclampsia and this finding supports the theory that placental vascular changes that ultimately lead to preeclampsia begin at least by the second trimester. But further studies must be to determine how such information can be used to improve pregnany outcome.
Chorion ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Humans* ; Mass Screening ; Neural Tube Defects ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnant Women ; Rupture

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of the hypertension self-help program on knowledge, self-efficacy, self-management compliance, and physiological parameters for workers with hypertension. METHODS: The subjects of study were 54 patients with hypertension, divided into 28 of experimental group and 26 of control group, working in a general work place located in K city from June to September, 2009. Experiment treatment was a 12-week self-care program given for two hours, once a week. RESULTS: After conducting a self-help program, the experimental group showed significant increase in knowledge level, self-efficacy, self-management compliance, and physiological parameters including blood pressure, BMI, total cholesterol level, neutral fat, and LDL-cholesterol of blood lipids compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: This program is greatly recommended for workshops.
Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Compliance ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypogonadism ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Self Care ; Workplace

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in nutrient intake according to the level of self-perception of health status, aging status and life satisfaction of the rural elderly. The factors for the study were surveyed by interview method. The subjects were 270 people(71 male, 129 female) aged over 65 years(73.5 +/- 5.6ys) in the Ham-an area. The obtained results as follows : By evaluation of self-perception of health status, 57.5% of subjects answered they are in a bad health condition. The 91.5% of subjects had diseases(rheumatitis & arthritis 31.4%, cardiovascular disease 20.2%, gastric disease 10.2%). The women had more diseases than the men(p<0.01). The subjects took medical treatment in private hospital(40.5%) and public health centers(35.0%). The men showed better level of aging status(p<0.001) and life satisfaction index(p<0.01) than the worsen. Living with spouse influenced the aging status(p<0.05) and the more pocket money influenced life satisfaction(p<0.05) and aging status(p<0.05). The elderly who eat regularly 3 times a day(p<0.05) and have a good appetite(p<0.001) appeared to have positive effect on the self perception of health status and aging status. An increasing level of the self-perception of health status and regular exercise worked to improve aging status(p<0.001). The habits of smoking and alcohol drinking, however had no effect on any index. The self-perception of health status affected the nutrient intake, but only in female elderly. The aging status and the life satisfaction index related overall positively to the intake of nutrients. In conclusion, the study shows that gender did influence nutrient intake in the elderly. The women who live alone rated lowest in social resources and health condition therefore their nutrient intake was also extremely in deficit. For successful aging, a program for rural elderly is needed, i.e. actions to provide minimum economic life, food delivery and psychological/physical health care through regional public health centers.
Aged* ; Aging* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Arthritis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Humans ; Male ; Public Health ; Self Concept ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spouses ; Stomach Diseases

PURPOSE: This research was carried out to examine if music therapy is effective in decreasing elderly people's depression level and in increasing their life satisfaction level. METHODS: This study used the quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent control group and the pre-test and post-test design, and was conducted from the 26th of July to the 26th of September in 2004. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by Y.esavage et al. (1983) to measure depression level and one developed by Yoon (1982) to measure life satisfaction level. The subjects were 80 elderly people who were the members of an elderly welfare center in G city. The subjects were divided into an experimental group (n=40) and a control group (n=40). RESULTS: The first hypothesis' The depression level will be lowered in the experimental group who received music therapy' was supported (t=3.856, p=.000). The second hypothesis' The life satisfaction level will be raised in the experimental group who received music therapy' was supported (t=2.040, p=.045). The results above suggest that music therapy can be an effective nursing intervention for reducing the depression level and increasing the life satisfaction level of elderly people.
Aged* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Music ; Music Therapy* ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to exam differences in awareness and ethical attitudes associated with Do-Not- Resuscitate (DNR) among emergency department's team. METHOD: The participants in this study were 402 emergency department's team working in the 41 hospitals. The data was collected by using "awareness measuring tool" by Kang (2003) and "ethical attitudes measuring tool" by Ko (2004) from May 1 to September 15, 2009. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS WIN 14.0 program. RESULTS: 74.4% of subjects was responded that they had never been educated about DNR, but 73.9% of subjects was responded that they had experienced DNR in the emergency room. The majority of subjects responded that the patients and their families should make a decision about the DNR. There was a difference in an appropriate time for explanation of DNR among emergency department's team. There was a difference in ethical attitudes associated with Do-Not- Resuscitate among emergency department's team. CONCLUSION: For a professional and systematic approach to the problem, DNR guideline sufficient to elicit a social consensus is needed.
Consensus ; Emergencies ; Humans

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Mohs Surgery* ; Sutures*

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a health management program on body composition(body weight, body fat mass, body fat ratio, lean body mass, abdominal fat ratio), self-efficacy and health promotion behavior in middle-aged women. This 6-week long program containing exercise and health education was developed by researchers. The study design was one group pretest- posttest design. Data for the study was collected from August 1 to September 15, 2002. The participants consisted of 15 middle - aged women living in the community. The collected data was analyzed using Wilcoxon Matched - Signed - Ranks Test by SPSS/WIN program The results are as follows: 1. There was a significant difference in body composition at week 6 compared to week 1. The body weight, body fat mass and body fat ratio significantly decreased(Z= -2.533, p=. 011 ; Z= -2.023, p= .043; Z= -2.023, p= .043). But the lean body mass significantly increased(Z= -2.226, p= .026). 2.There was a significant improvement in self-efficacy at week 6 compared to week 1(Z= -3.434, p= .001). 3.There was a significant improvement in health promotion behavior at week 6 compared to week 1(Z = -3.305, p= .001). In conclusion, health management program promoting self - efficacy for middle-aged women was effective in improving health promotion behavior. Further study with a longer follow up period is necessary in order to test the long term effect of the program.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition* ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Education ; Health Promotion* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Groin* ; Vulvar Neoplasms*

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of preceptorship on On the Job Training of new nurses. The research design was a retrospective survey and one group pre-post test design. The subjects were 49 entry nurses and 49 preceptors. The data were collected from Feburary 1, 1998 to December 1, 1998. One questionnair applied in this study consisted of general characteristics, the responses of new entry nurses and their preceptors and their qualities. The other questionnair consisted of job satisfaction of new entry nurses and preceptors and their competencies. The data were analyzed for frequencies, mean score, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Preceptees's responses were that the nurses' affiliation of unit, cooperation of other nurses, and competencies of nursing skills improved after OJT applied preceptorship. 2) Preceptors's answers were that preceptor- ship had a positive effect on their continuing education. 3) While preceptees's job satisfaction scores were high in interaction, administration, and organization, they were low in autonomy and pay. 4) Pre-competency scores were the same as post-competency scores. 5) After preceptorship, preceptors responded that their nursing skill & communication competency increased, but their nursing administration competency decreased. 6) Finally, preceptorship's other effects were as follows: 1. Checklists for preceptee education at the nursing unit were developed separately. 2. It was proved that 'preceptor interview note' was effective on manage preceptorship. 3. We obtained duty overlap periods; medical- surgical units-1 month, 5 ICU-2 months, operation room-3 months. 4. We prepared a preceptor program based on the study results.
Checklist ; Education ; Education, Continuing ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Inservice Training ; Job Satisfaction ; Nursing ; Preceptorship* ; Research Design ; Retrospective Studies ; Ships

No abstract available.
Animals ; In Situ Hybridization* ; Linoleic Acid* ; Mice*