PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to identify effects of oral care protocol on bacterial floras of the oral cavity and oral health status of intubated patients in an intensive care unit. METHODS: The participants were 60 intubated patients who were recruited from an intensive care unit of a university hospital from Dec. 28, 2010 to Mar. 25, 2011. The participants were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 20 patients according to the application time of oral care (1-minute oral care, 2-minute oral care, and 3-minute oral care groups). The numbers of bacterial flora colonies in the oral cavity was assessed before and after the oral care. Oral health status was assessed using a Korean version of the Oral Assessment Guide developed by Elier et al. originally. RESULTS: The numbers of bacterial flora colonies were less after oral care than those before the care, but there was no significant differences among the 3 groups after the care. Oral health status was better after the oral care than it was before the care, but there was also no significant differences among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: If well-trained nurses perform oral care for 1 minute using a chlorhexidine swab on intubated patients, the numbers of bacterial flora colonies will be reduced and healthy oral status will be maintained.
Chlorhexidine ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Mouth ; Oral Health* ; Oral Hygiene

BACKGROUND: Because passive smoking causes lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, and stroke in nonsmokers, implementation of policy to prevent workplace environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are deadly needed. Most of our hospital employees desire more strict smoke-free policy as shown in a questionnaire survey conducted in January 1999. This study was to investigate the short-term effect of a comprehensive smoke-free policy on hospital employees which prohibited any smoking within the hospital building since March 15, 1999. METHODS: The first survey was carried out on January 1999 including all the employees of Sanggye Paik Hospital as subjects. After two months a second round of survey was done to monitor the effects of the new regulation. Questions included in the survey were subjects' demographic characteristics, smoking history, perception and observance of no-smoking areas, and change in perception of ETS. Smokers were questioned about changes in smoking rate after the new policy. Statistical analysis was done using and paired t-test to detect if there was any statistical significance after enforcing the new smoke-free policy. RESULTS: Among total 1,026 employees, 621 subjects (men 146, women 475) in the first survey and 552 subjects (men 146, women 406) in the second survey were responded. There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics and occupation mix between the two surveys. Although the perception and observance of no-smoking areas were increased after the new policy, half of nonsmokers replied that the new policy was not well observed. 76.9% of subjects replied the exposure to cigarette smoke during work decreased. The question item asking the smokers of the amount of cigarettes smoked after the new policy adopted revealed a decrease in 2.83( 0.48) cigarettes during the working hours(p=0.0001), a decrease in 1.18( 0.29) cigarettes during the non-working hours(p=0.0002). However, 84.0% of nonsmokers agreed on total ban within the premises of hospital or more stringent regulation for violation of the policy. CONCLUSION: Despite several limitations, this study suggests that a comprehensive smoke-free policy in hospital has a positive impact on the reduction of smoker's cigarettes consumption as well as reduction of ETS exposure on the nonsmokers.
Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Occupations ; Smoke ; Smoke-Free Policy* ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Stroke ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: : This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and risk factors associated with pressure injuries related to medical devices among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).Method : A retrospective study analyzed data from 462 ICU patients. Statistical analyses, including independent t-tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and logistic regression were performed to analyze the data. Results: : Among the 154 subjects, there were a total of 198 medical device–related pressure injuries (MDRPI). Stage 2 and deep tissue pressure injuries were the most frequent. MDRPI occurred most frequently on the face, with nasogastric tubes being its leading cause, followed by endotracheal tubes. The risk factors for MDRPI included male sex (odds ratio [OR]=1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12-2.83), department at the time of ICU admission (OR=4.29, 95% CI=2.01-9.15), post-surgery ICU admission (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.25-0.73), application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines (OR=2.72, 95% CI=1.06-6.95), number of medical devices (OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.05-1.30), inotropic drug administration (OR=2.33, 95% CI=1.19-4.60), and sedative use (OR=2.53, 95% CI=1.17-5.45). Conclusion : These results enable the determination of the characteristics and risk factors associated with MDRPI. It is crucial to acknowledge the risk factors for MDRPI in ICU patients and establish a prevention strategy.

This study was designed to test the effects of a full body massage on uterine contraction, length of labor, type of delivery, and drug intervention for primipara during labor. Data were collected using a quasi-experiment method (nonequivalent control group, pre-post test design) from November 1, 2001 to July 31, 2002. The subjects of this experiment consisted of 28 women in the experimental group and 29 in the control group, out of 57 primipara hospitalized at the U OB & GYN hospital in Inchon. The experimental group was given a 20 minute full body massage for each of the three delivery phases (latent, active, and transition). The control group was given conventional delivery care. Three (3) parameters were analyzed in this experiment. (1) The interval, duration, and strength of uterine contraction, using an electric tocodynamometer (2) The elapsed time for stage 1 and stage 2 labor. (3) The types of deliveries and drug interventions, using postpartum medical records The data collected were analyzed using the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-test, and X(2) test of the SPSS program. The results of the experiment are as follows: 1) Uterine contraction interval was signifi- cantly reduced (F=3.210, p=.050). Duration of uterine contraction showed significant increase only during the transition phase (t=-2.319, p=.023). Strength of uterine contraction showed no significant difference. 2) Total length of labor was significantly shortened (t=-5.245, p=.000). The length of 1st stage labor was signifi- cantly shortened (t=-5.164, p=.000), with latent phase showing (t=-4.709, p=.000), active phase (t=-2.973, p=.005), and transition phase (t=-2.031, p=.047). The length of 2nd stage labor showed no significant difference. 3) The number of natural deliveries were significantly increased (X(2)=13.127, p=.004). 4) The number of drug interventions were significantly fewer (X(2)= 4.493, p=.034). In conclusion, this study shows that a full body massage has a significantly positive effect on uterine contraction interval, length of labor, type of delivery, and drug intervention. Therefore, this study suggests that a full body massage be used clinically to help primipara during labor.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Female ; Humans ; Incheon ; Massage* ; Medical Records ; Postpartum Period ; Uterine Contraction*

We experienced 450 cases of anesthesia for the operation of cleft lip and cleft palate. The observed results were as follows. 1) Anesthetics for the operation of cleft lip were 200 cases(44.4%), cleft palate were 248 cases(55.1%), naso-ocular fistula correction and oro-ocular correction was 1 case each. 2) Sex distribution was 298 males(66.2%) and 152 females(33.8%). 3) 292 cases(66%) were under 20kg of body weight. 4) The techniques of anesthesia were NRB with Jackson-Rees' modification in 297 cases (66%) and the semiclosed circle absorption system in 153 eases(34%). 5) The main anesthetics were halothane in 431 cases(95.8%) and Valium-Dmerol in 19 cases (0. 42%) 6) The mean blood loss in palatoplasty was 6.4 ml per kg of body weight but it was 10. 7 ml per kg in the 5~10 kg of body weight group, 9. 6 ml per kg in the 10-20 kg of body weight group, and 8. 5 ml per kg in the 20~30 kg of body weight group. 66 cases (14.7%) received blood transfusion. 7) Familial incidence was found in 4.7% (21 cases). 8) Incidence of cleft lip combined with cleft palate was 42.7%(192 cases among 450 cases), and 154 cases(51.7%) were males and 88 cases(25%) were females. 9) The most common type of cleft lip was incomplete left cleft lip(30%), and of cleft palate was complete median cleft palate(52%). 10) lntraoperative anesthetic complication occurred in 8 cases(1.8%).
Absorption ; Anesthesia* ; Anesthetics ; Blood Transfusion ; Body Weight ; Cleft Lip* ; Cleft Palate ; Female ; Fistula ; Halothane ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Sex Distribution

No abstract available.
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Prognosis*

Issues related to the elderly have been recognized in Korea and nursing scholars have tried to study there issues. It is hard to say which the direction we, are going or have to go, since there has been little systemic effort to establish gerontological nursing field yet. Therefore, it is necessary to find out the trend and the guidelines of gerontolotical nursing studies for the future. Dissertation and published articles related to the elderly in the nursing field from 1991 to the February of 1997 were are reviewed. Total 127 studies were analysed in terms of concept, design/methodology, and results, and the nature and issues of the geronotologic nursing studies in Korea were explored. The results are as follows: 1. There was no clear chronological definition of the elderly. 2. The most popular research design was an exploratory/descriptive study. 3. The major concepts studies were physical and mental health. 4. Among those studies using instrument which were developed and modified and /or translated by researchers, the reliability and validity were rarely reported. 5. Theory based studies were rare. We suggest the following issues for future studies : 1. The chronological and other criteria related to the definition of elderly is needed. 2. Physiopsychosocial characteristics of Korean elderly and their managements in terms of intervention studies need to be conducted more synthetically. 3. Social issues from the change of types and function of family such as single elderly family need to be studied. 4. Participation in and collaborate with other disciplines are needed. 5 Development and test of instruments to measure phenomena or concepts is needed. 6. Macroscopic approach such as policy also needed. 7. Theory based studies are needed.
Aged ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mental Health ; Nursing* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Research Design

OBJETIVE: To investigate the efficacy of high infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen on pregnancy in human embryo after freezing and thawing. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: 150 infertile patients underwent 162 consecutive thawing-ET cycles. In the high infusion frequency group (Group A), 47 patients (50 cycles) underwent cryopreservation with high infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen. In the low infusion frequency group (Group B), 103 patients (112 cycles) underwent cryopreservation with low infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, fertilization rates, development of embryo, good quality embryo ratio, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates between these two groups. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups with regard to clinical characteristics (mean age, infertility duration, infertility factors, hormone profile), mean number of oocyte retrieval, fertilization rates, and mean embryo number of transfers. The survival rates in group A was 64.9% (228 of 350 embryos), and among the 228 embryos 190 embryos (83.3%) which progressed to the two- to eight-cell stage. After thawing, the embryo numbers were 65 (34.2%), 29 (15.3%), 35 (18.4%), and 37 (19.5%) of grades 1, 2, 3, and above 4, respectively. The survival rates in group B was 63.8% (482 of 755 embryos), and among the 482 embryos 465 embryos (96.5%) which progressed to the two- to eight-cell stage. After thawing, the embryo numbers were 106 (22.8%), 94 (20.2%), 89 (19.1%), and 112 (24.1%) of grades 1, 2, 3, and above 4, respectively. There was no difference in embryo quality change after the freezing-thawing procedure between the groups. Implantation rates (31.1% vs. 34.3%) were not significant. However hCG positive rates in group A (40%) were higher than group B, but not statistically significant. Clinical pregnancy rate (26% vs. 25.9%), on going pregnancy rates (>20 weeks) were not significant (26% vs. 25%). CONCLUSION: We compared embryo quality change, survival rates, and pregnancy rates between high infusion frequency group and low infusion frequency group and the results were similar between the two groups. Therefore, high infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen for cryopreservation is a worthy method to preserve in human embryos.
Cryopreservation ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Freezing* ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Nitrogen* ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Occupational Health*