No abstract available.
Ascites* ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Pleural Effusion*

No abstract available.
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: To examine the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the adapted Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (a-IIRS). The a-IIRS is a modified version of the original IIRS that measures illness-disruptions to daily life in patients with diverse diagnoses. While the psychometric properties of the original IIRS have been validated, no study has been conducted to validate the Korean version of a-IIRS. METHODS: After translation and back-translation processes, the Korean version of a-IIRS was developed. A pilot test was conducted with 10 patients with chronic diseases. A convenience sample of 380 patients with diabetes, hypertension, and/or arthritis was used. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, known-group technique, hypothesized relationships, internal consistency, and item analysis were tested. RESULTS: Three factors were extracted from principal components analysis with varimax rotation: Relationships and Personal Development, Instrumental Life, and Intimacy. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the good fit of the three-factor model. Illness intrusiveness was significantly different among the study subjects categorized into three groups according to different health status: poor, fair and good. The instrument was positively correlated with the scales of fatigue and depression. The tool demonstrated high internal consistency with adequate item-total correlations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are consistent with previous study results on IIRS and support the reliability and validity of the Korean version of a-IIRS. The instrument is culturally relevant for Korean patients with chronic diseases. Health care professionals need to consider illness intrusiveness when caring for patients with chronic diseases and promote their quality of life.
Arthritis ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Weights and Measures ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was intended to examine the effects of providing nursing information about surgery in a surgical ward over a 50 day period from September, 1st to October 20th, 1998 in K University Hospital in Seoul. This quasiexperimental study used only a nonequivalent control group and an adopted post-test. A total of 54 patients were assigned to the control and experimental groups according to their admission dates to the hospital. Those who entered from September, 1st to 20th were selected as the control group, while those patients admitted from September 21th to October 20th were chosen as the experimental group. The experimental group consisted of 27 patients and received planned nursing information using a booklet. The twenty seven patients in the control group received the usual pre-operative (pre-op) care. The patient's satisfaction was measured on the 4th day after surgery with a post-operative (post-op) Satisfaction Scale. The scale was developed by Lee, Yoon Hee(1995) and modified by the present researchers. No significant general characteristic differences were found between the control and the experimental groups. The booklet included information on tests and treatment about the operation and preventive methods for post-op complications, such as deep breathing and coughing, position change, lower extremity exercise, early ambulation, aseptic technique, observation of bleeding, use of equipment, and proper food management. Data was analyzed using the x2-test, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient through an SPSS computer program. The results were as follows: 1. The hypothesis that the patients who were provided with planned nursing information would have a higher satisfaction level than those who received usual nursing care was supported(t=8.48, P=0.0004). 2. The mean score of the Satisfaction Scale was higher in experimental group than that of the control group. In particular, the experimental group was highly satisfied with the items such as 'nurse has patience' and 'skillful injection giving'. The control group showed the highest score with the item of 'nurse co-works treatment with medical team'. Both groups revealed the lowest score with the item of 'explanation about test results'. 3. No significant correlation was observed between the patients' satisfaction and their general characteristics. Those satisfaction scores measured before and after the operation did not correlate significantly (r=0.097, P=0.790). The above findings indicate that the provision of planned nursing information before surgery improved patient's satisfaction after abdominal surgery. Accordingly, nurses should provide information about the operation before surgery to increase patient's satisfaction, which in turn promotes the quality of their nursing care.
Cough ; Early Ambulation ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Pamphlets ; Patient Satisfaction ; Respiration ; Seoul

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intrauterine hypoxic effect in term small-for-date (SGA) neonates by comparing the umbilical venous erythropoietin (EPO) concentration between appropriately-grown (AGA) and SGA neonates at delivery and to determine the variables that correlate with the umbilical venous EPO concentration by multiple regression analysis. METHODS: 183 term singleton neonates (gestational weeks > OR =37) were enrolled and divided into 136 cases of AGA (10th-90th percentile of birth weight for the gestational age) and 47 cases of SGA (< 10th percentile of birth weight for the gestational age. At each delivery, blood gas values, concentration of EPO by radioimmunoassay and the number of nucleated erythrocytes (NRBC) per 100 white blood cells in smear of umbilical venous blood were obtained. The placentas were examined microscopically for presence of pathological infarct. Statistical analysis was done by Mann-Whitney U test, x2 test, and univariate and multiple regression analysis using SPSS statistical package (version 10). RESULTS: The median umbilical venous EPO concentration, fetal hemoglobin level were significantly higher in SGA neonates than those in AGA neonates. There was no difference in number of NRBC between AGA and SGA neonates. Multiple regression analysis model with level of NRBC, presence of placental infarct and SGA provided prediction of EPO level in umbilical venous blood at delivery (regression equation: EPO=-103.94+4.75NRBC+68.07placental infarct+36.40SGA F=15.57. r2=0.47). CONCLUSION: Term SGA neonates was considered to have compensatory, not pathological intrauterine hypoxic effect by showing increased level of EPO and normal level of NRBC in umbilical venous blood at delivery, compared with thoses of AGA. In the suspected cases of SGA antenatally, measurement of NRBC level and placental pathologic examination for infarct can be informative for estimating the extent and duration of intrauterine hypoxia.
Anoxia ; Birth Weight ; Erythroblasts ; Erythropoietin* ; Fetal Hemoglobin ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Leukocytes ; Placenta ; Pregnancy* ; Radioimmunoassay

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intrauterine hypoxic effect in term small-for-date (SGA) neonates by comparing the umbilical venous erythropoietin (EPO) concentration between appropriately-grown (AGA) and SGA neonates at delivery and to determine the variables that correlate with the umbilical venous EPO concentration by multiple regression analysis. METHODS: 183 term singleton neonates (gestational weeks > OR =37) were enrolled and divided into 136 cases of AGA (10th-90th percentile of birth weight for the gestational age) and 47 cases of SGA (< 10th percentile of birth weight for the gestational age. At each delivery, blood gas values, concentration of EPO by radioimmunoassay and the number of nucleated erythrocytes (NRBC) per 100 white blood cells in smear of umbilical venous blood were obtained. The placentas were examined microscopically for presence of pathological infarct. Statistical analysis was done by Mann-Whitney U test, x2 test, and univariate and multiple regression analysis using SPSS statistical package (version 10). RESULTS: The median umbilical venous EPO concentration, fetal hemoglobin level were significantly higher in SGA neonates than those in AGA neonates. There was no difference in number of NRBC between AGA and SGA neonates. Multiple regression analysis model with level of NRBC, presence of placental infarct and SGA provided prediction of EPO level in umbilical venous blood at delivery (regression equation: EPO=-103.94+4.75NRBC+68.07placental infarct+36.40SGA F=15.57. r2=0.47). CONCLUSION: Term SGA neonates was considered to have compensatory, not pathological intrauterine hypoxic effect by showing increased level of EPO and normal level of NRBC in umbilical venous blood at delivery, compared with thoses of AGA. In the suspected cases of SGA antenatally, measurement of NRBC level and placental pathologic examination for infarct can be informative for estimating the extent and duration of intrauterine hypoxia.
Anoxia ; Birth Weight ; Erythroblasts ; Erythropoietin* ; Fetal Hemoglobin ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Leukocytes ; Placenta ; Pregnancy* ; Radioimmunoassay

Midtrimester genetic amniocentesis has been a gold standard for prenatal diagnosis in antenatal care since last 25 years. After the triple serum marker test was introduced as a prenatal screening method for Down syndrome, the frequency of genetic amniocentesis was increased. OBJECTIVE: To determine the complication, risk of amniocentesis and detection rate of chromosomal abnormality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective clinical analysis of 1,064 midtrimester genetic amnicentesis in IL Sin Christian Hospital antenatal clinic from Jan 1995 to Dec 1997. Chi square test was used for the statistical analysis and p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Amnicentesis were significantly increased in the age of 35-39 yrs and 40yrs over. And also the incidence of chromosomal abnormality was higher than younger age group. The indications of amnicentesis were screen positive of triple marker test(43%), advanced maternal age(20.8%), abnormal beta-hCG level, past history of chromosome abnormality or malformed baby and abnormal alpha-FP level in order. Total number of chromosomal abnormalities was 30 and the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 2.8%(30/1,064). The complications were developed in 13 cases and fetal loss rate was 0.78%(9/1,064). CONCLUSION: The detection rate of chromosomal abnormality in midtrimester amnicentesis for prenatal diagnosis was high and relatively safe procedure but, we should be attention to more careful manipulation.
Amniocentesis ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the needs and importance of basic core competencies required for future society by dental hygienists’ viewpoints who are working in the clinical practices and to provide the fundamental data to develop the educational programs based on the competencies in the 21st century so as to enhance their working capability. Methods: A total of 38 questionnaires were used in this study, 3 questionnaires on the general characteristics (age, service years, main job functions) and those in 11 sub-factors of basic core competencies including 4 questionnaires on creativity, 3 on collaboration, 3 on communication, 3 on interpersonal relationship, 3 on problem-solving, 4 on resource control, 4 on selfcontrol and development, 2 on vocational ethics, 3 on knowledge information utilization, 3 on global mind, and 3 on emotional intelligence. Self-reported survey was conducted in the dental hygienists who were working in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and a total of 195 data were analyzed. Results: Vocational ethics, communication, and collaboration showed the highest on both importance and needs with 4.49 points and 4.34; 4.41 and 4.28; and 4.39 and 4.22, respectively, while global mind showed the lowest with 3.51 and 3.59. Upon Importance-Performance Analysis, 7 items were defined to require maintain the status including vocational ethics, communication, collaboration, interpersonal relationship, self-control, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving while 4 items with lower priority were resource control and development, knowledge information utilization, creativity, and global mind. Conclusion Based on this study results that suggested the basic core competencies of dental hygienists in alignment with their jobs in the future society, competitive dental hygienists should be developed with the educational programs applied with these competencies.

The purpose of this study was to develop a nutrition education website for children, especially those around the 4th-6th grade levels. Among the already existing websites providing nutritional information for children, 7 websites with comparable amounts of information were evaluated in terms of their topics, credibility, content, ease of use, and aesthetics. In addition, a survey was conducted to assess the need for nutrition information among 305 elementary students. The food pyramid was the topic offered most often on those websites. Information on nutrients, digestion, food safety, nutrition labeling, and healthy eating habits were available on the websites. Some of those websites also provided games or quizzes to attract the children's interest. However, seine of the websites did not give any information on the person responsible for providing the information, which is most important in determining the credibility of the website. Other problems were that some information was too difficult for children, and some of the websites did not provide a way to search for information. According to the survey results, the topics that children wanted to know about were 'desirable weight', 'cooking', 'correct food choice', 'weight control method', 'calories consumed during exercise' but, they did not have a high interest in 'asking questions', 'books with nutrition messages', 'under weight', 'negative effect of weight control' and 'helping hungry children'. Based on these results, we developed a new nutrition education web-site, ifood' (http://ifood.or.kr). We focused on helping children develop healthy eating habits by providing information which is easy and practical for children. However, we neither included the program to assess their dietary intake, nor provided entertaining background sounds, which children like. Also, the game section is composed mainly of quizzes. Therefore, we need to further develop exciting games to teach nutrition to children. In the near future, the newly developed website should be evaluated by children regarding understandability and coverage of the contents as well as usability and design, and then revised to improve the educational effect.
Child* ; Digestion ; Eating ; Education* ; Esthetics ; Food Labeling ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Internet

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore women caregivers' lived experiences in caring at home for a family member with dementia and to identify conditions that oppress women in the context of family caregiving. METHOD: This study was conducted within the feminist perspectives using qualitative secondary data. Ten secondary data conveying self reflective contents were selected from the 25 original data obtained in 1999 to 2000. RESULT: Six themes that emerged from the qualitative thematic content analysis were; androcentric view of family caregiving, undervalued family caregiving by the family members, Self rationalization in the context of family caregiving, family-centric care mechanism, exemplary caring within the family context, and inter-familial relationships among women. CONCLUSION: The main focus of feminist research is to provide empowerment for the women research participants and to bring about social change of oppressive constraint through some actions. On the basis of the research findings, therefore, action strategies from feminist perspectives were suggested in some aspects of health care delivery sectors, nursing education and research sectors, and administrative sectors.
Adult ; Attitude ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Dementia/*nursing/psychology ; *Family ; Family Relations ; Female ; Home Nursing ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Stress, Psychological