PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of hospital nurses' self-leadership, communication skill, and self-esteem on the quality of nursing service. METHODS: The participants, 230 nurses working at a general hospital in Seoul, completed a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire survey between January 17 and 28, 2014. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 19.0 program for descriptive statistics, t-test, one way & two way ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Nurses' self-esteem and communication skill had significant main effects on self-leadership and the quality of nursing service, but the interaction effect of the two independent variables was not significant. Variables that significantly influenced the quality of nursing service were self-leadership, communication skill, self-esteem, and career longevity. The explanatory power of these variables for the quality of nursing service was 54.4%. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a need for education programs for nurses which are designed to promote communication skill and enhance self-esteem and self-leadership skills which will in turn enhance the quality of nursing service.
Education ; Hospitals, General ; Longevity ; Nursing Services ; Seoul

PURPOSE: This study was a qualitative research study in which focus group interviews were used to collect data on the meaning of respite for family caregivers who are taking care of elders with dementia. METHODS: The focus group interviews and participants consisted of 2 family caregiver groups, for a total of 8 people taking care of their elders and 5 professional caregivers working in a geriatrics hospital or social welfare institutions. Content analysis was used and debriefing notes were referred in order to analyze the data. RESULTS: The meaning of respite in this research was measured using 4 main categories: 'Temporary break from routine', 'direct help', 'psychological comfort', 'valuables which cannot be taken easily' and 9 subcategories: 'Temporary diversion of attention', 'temporarily free from my duty', 'taking care of oneself', 'receiving economic help', 'empathize with others', 'comfort based on trust', 'resting together with the elder', 'no time to rest', 'cannot get out of one's obligatory duty'. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study show that rest means not only a temporary relief from caretaking, but also a real respite based on the patients' stable state and comfort. These results indicate a new meaning for respite, that the first step of respite program has to begin even when the caregivers do not recognize the need for respite.
Adult ; Aged ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Dementia/*nursing ; Family ; Female ; Geriatric Nursing ; Home Nursing ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nurse-Patient Relations ; *Respite Care

BACKGROUND: An epidemiologic study was performed after the outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) from December 2006 to May 2007. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed using the medical records of the patients. The case and control patients were compared for age, gender, total length of stay in MICU, prior carbapenem use, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACH II) score, presence of central line, effect of mechanical ventilation, and sputum suction. Environmental and hand-washing studies were performed during the outbreak. RESULTS: Ten CRAB-affected patients and 29 controls were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis showed that the age, total length of stay in MICU, presence of central line, and prior carbapenem use were associated with the CRAB outbreak. However, multivariate analysis showed that only prior carbapenem use was associated with the CRAB outbreak (odd ratio: 8.67, P=0.01). The outbreak disappeared after implementing a combined infection control strategy, including the sequential disinfection of MICU and strict compliance with cross-transmission prevention protocols. CONCLUSION: The use of carbapenem was associated with an increased risk of CRAB infection. This study suggests that the MICU contamination and infection transmission by health-care workers played a major role in the CRAB outbreak. Novel strategies such as restricted use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, strict hand hygiene, strict isolation of the patients, and MICU disinfection may be required to prevent the CRAB outbreak.
Acinetobacter ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; APACHE ; Case-Control Studies ; Compliance ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Disinfection ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; Suction

PURPOSE: To improve treatment modality and results by analysis of clinical characteristics. local control, survival and resurrence rate in limited stage small cell lung cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS : 26 patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer were treated with combined radiation and chemotherapy from Feb. 1986 to Dec. 1992 at the National Medical Center. We followed up on 21 patients (81%) , who were mostly irradiated with 4,000-5,000cGy (75% of all patients) in the results by the analysis retrospectively. Survival rate was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Mean survival of irradiated patients with limited small cell lung cancer was 12 months. 1-year and 2-year survival rate were 65.3% and 15.4%. Tumor response rate and median survival after combined chemotherapy and irradiation were the following ; 50% and 15 months of complete response, and 23% and 11 months of partial response respectively. Response rates by radiation dose were 66% for below 4,000cGy. 69% for between 4,000-5,000cGy and 86% for above 5,000cGy. 21 of all patients showed treatment failure(81%), which as appeared 9 of local failure.9 of distant failure and 3 of local and distant failure. CONCLUSION: Local response rate after induction chemotherapy alone in limited stage of small cell lung cancer was 54%. Furthermore it was increased to 73% after adding of radiation. We have to increase radiation dose above 5,000cGy and need to try new effective chemotherapy agents for the improvement of local control and survival rate and also will try concurrent chemoradiotherapy in near time.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Survival Rate*

This study has been focused on understandings for the problems of dietitian who perform nutrition service in the field of industry foodservice and then focused on using of its findings as basic material for smooth nutrition service performance through analyzing job satisfaction, job characteristic and its importance of dietitians' task in industry foodservice. A questionnaire survey of 120 nutritionists who have engaged themselves in industry foodservice-60 are under direct management and 60, held in trust-has been performed, and 95 responses (79%) have been collected and categorized, except some unfinished responses. The examined data have been classified statistically by using of SPSS, and then analyzed into frequency, percentage, mean value, standard deviation, and correlation among factors, according to questionnaires. The findings of the research can be summarized as following: The details of the surveyed dietitians were: 20~25 years old on an average; working less than two years; college graduates; mere employees; receiving monthly pay of 70~100 won on an average; working more than 52 hours weekly; and providing with four meals a day in a single menu. For job satisfaction and job characteristic, the service itself and the understanding of the service appear as main features. For the relative importance of the service, the findings show that the menu making, sanitation and cost control occupy an important position, while nutrition counseling, nutrition education and dietary control by ailments make up very low portion. For the cause of not enacting the nutrition service, the lack of counseling ability and the overburden of food service are at the top. The findings of this research, therefore, present the needs of the service capacity education and the reduction of excessive foodservice hours of dietitians in order to secure the efficient nutrition service in industry foodservice. To achieve this goal, first of all, there should be an intensive education course in school by using of practice hours. for enhancing practical service adaptability, and then the computerization of foodservice should be executed perfectly to reduce the excessive foodservice hours.
Cost Control ; Counseling ; Education ; Food Services ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction* ; Meals ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sanitation

The purpose of this study is to analyze the structural pattern of nurses' pain management with patients who experience pain. As a research method, the Q methodology, which is useful for an objective view of a highly abstract concept, was applied. The data collecting activity of this study was from August, 21st, 2000 to November, 24th 2000. The Q-population, the previous thesis and a literature review were done. Questions about pain management by the nurse on the patients, caregivers, nursing students, doctors, nurses, and others were asked in documentary work and in-depth interviews. In all, 223 units of the Q-population were formed, and the last 35 units of the Q-population were extracted. The data on the P-sample was collected from 41 nurses who worked in the medical and surgical units of a hospital that belonges to C university in Seoul. The research results were constituted in 3 types. Type I was the 'pattern of judging by objectivity'. The statement on which most of the people highly agreed for those patterns was shown by 'If patients said that they are suffering from pain, we sufficiently performed an assessment about the etiology, location, duration and degree'. For type I, the same pain was found in different locations according to the patients, so the etiology of the pain should be identified first place. Since ways of coping are different according to pain etiology, it was thought that it is important to assess sufficiently the pain etiology, location, duration, and degree. Therefore, when patients complain of pain, the pain etiology should be identified and assessed; according to the result, pain management should be performed systematically. Type II was the 'pattern of accepting by subjectivity'. The statement on which most of the people highly agreed for those patterns was shown as 'If patients said that they are suffering from pain, the medical treatment should be performed rapidly and speedily.' For type II, when the patient complains of pain, treatment should be performed quickly in order to prevent the condition getting worse, and it is thought that activity is a reasonable duty. Further, by trying to show empathy after pain is admitted and by understanding and coping rapidly with the pain of patients, an attitude which matched the altruistic morals of nurses is being shown. Type III was the 'pattern of worrying about', and the statement on which most of the people highly agreed for those patterns was shown is 'When there is a pain, to help patients to tolerate the pain to the highest degree.' In type III, the pain is a subjective expression, so there is a difference according to every individual. Therefore, actually if there is no measurement of pain, it could be exaggerated so nurses should help patients to tolerate it to the utmost. Even if there is a way to remove pain without an analgesic drug, nurses were reluctant to perform pain management as they possibly could. Through these research results, pain management of nurses was classified in 3 types, and structural characteristics in each type were discovered. Based upon the characteristics according to the type, an individualized pain management intervention strategy should be established and the follow up work performed.
Caregivers ; Empathy ; Humans ; Morals ; Pain Management* ; Seoul ; Students, Nursing

We reported the clinical and histopathologic review of 71 cases of primary and metastk malignant tumors of the eye and its adnexa for last 15 years at Department of Ophthalmology, Busan National University Hospital. The followings were summarized. 1. Malignant tumors of the eye and its adnexa were more frequent in man, their ratio of male and female revealed 47:25. Their occurrence by age were under 10 year-old, 5th, 6th, and 4th decades in order. 2. The frequency of occurrence of malignant tumors in the eye and its adnexa was retinobla stoma, primary squamous and basal cell carcinoma and secondary squamous cell carcinoma in order. 3. In primary malignant tumors of eyelid, it revealed same incidence of squamous and basal cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma was also relatively high incidence.
Adenocarcinoma ; Busan ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Child ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Ophthalmology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop video assisted education on bowel preparation for colonoscopy (VEBPC) and use a snartphone to evaluate effects of the VEBPC. METHODS: Adult patients who were scheduled for colonoscopy were recruited from a university general hospital and randomly assigned to three groups. Group 1 (n=30) watched the video using a computer set in the endoscope consulting room. Group 2 (n=29) watched it using a smartphone, and group 3, the control group (n=29) received education with existing instructions at the reservation- reception desk. Participants were evaluated on knowledge on taking bowel preparation agents and diet, compliance on taking bowel preparation agents and diet, satisfaction with education, and actual level of bowel preparation. RESULTS: Group 1 and 2 showed significantly (p<.001) higher scores for knowledge, compliance, and satisfaction compared to the control group. However, in post-hoc test analyses there were no significant differences in these variables between group 1 and 2. No significant difference was found in the actual level of bowel preparation among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study show that VEBPC using smartphone is a better option than existing educational methods. However, replication studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Adult ; Colonoscopy* ; Compliance ; Diet ; Education* ; Endoscopes ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Smartphone*

A nursing activity classification for hospitalized patients was performed based on an article review regarding nursing definition and nursing activity classification system. The study was conducted as follows: 1) Taxonomy was developed by the research team through the Delphi process and review article. The taxonomy consists of four nursing processes, (assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation) and twelve nursing activity domains space (resperation, nutrition, elimination, exercise/alignment maintenance, comfort, hygiene, safety, spiritual support, counseling/ education, medication, communication, patient and information management). 2) First, nursing activities of the intervention process were listed and then classified by the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation. The list consists of twelve nursing activity domains and 136 nursing activities. 3) A pilot study was conducted in two hospitals to verify validity and appropriateness of nursing activities. 4) The content validity index, which was calculated by 6 clinical practice experts, was 0.95. Also, a nursing activity classification system should also be developed in the department of community nursing and home health care nursing.
Classification* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Home Health Nursing ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Korea* ; Nursing Process ; Nursing* ; Pilot Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the most appropriate shelf life for sterilized products according to their packaging material. METHODS: Samples were prepared to target six nursing units in one general hospital in Seoul. After steam and E.O gas sterilization, sterilized product, samples were supplied to wards. Data collection was conducted for 3 months, after the expiration date of 3 months had passed for samples packaged with crepe paper and nonwoven wraps. For samples packaged with paper-plastic pouches, data collection conducted for 3 months when the expiration date of 9 months had passed. The sterilized products were collected and tested for microbial contamination. Identification of the storage environment was done as samples were collected. RESULTS: This study confirmed that the storage environment met international standards such as CDC, except for temperature. For steam sterilized crepe paper packaging samples and steam and E.O gas sterilized for nonwoven packaging samples no contamination in all products was found for 3 months past the expiration date. However, in the E.O gas sterilized paper-plastic pouch packaging sterile samples, Gram-positive bacilli were detected in one sample from a surgical intensive care unit at 45 weeks and another sample from an operating room at 47 weeks. Furthermore, the results did not show any microorganisms for up to 52 weeks in all products. CONCLUSION According to the results of this study, sterilized product packaging made with crepe paper and nonwoven wraps is better able an extended shelf life from 3 months to 6 months, reducing unnecessary costs.