PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the factors that influence low back pain in nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). METHODS: A descriptive-correlational design was used, with a convenience sample of 116 nurses from one university hospital in Seoul. The data collected were processed using SPSS Window 17.0 Program for actual numbers and percentages, differences in the dependent variable according to general characteristics, and mean, standard deviations, correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The factor influencing low back pain in nurses in ICUs was functional ability (beta=.652). This one factor explained 41.9% of low back pain in nurses in ICUs. CONCLUSION: These results show that functional ability was related to nurses' low back pain in nurses in ICUs. These results further suggest that more research is needed to develop program involving functional ability to prevent and management of low back pain in nurses in ICUs.
Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Low Back Pain

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between level of professional autonomy and clinical decision making abilities in clinical nurses, and to provide basic information for promoting competency nurses in making independent decisions. METHOD: Data were collected from July 1 to July 18, 2008, and participants were 202 clinical nurses in general hospitals. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics: frequency and percentage and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS WIN 14.0 program. RESULTS: The professional autonomy index for the nurses was 159.63 points. The clinical decision making ability index was 119.79 points. The most highly ranked factor in clinical decision making was search for information and unbiased assimilation of new information. There was a statistically significant difference in professional autonomy according to age, clinical experience, and type of duty. Relation between level of professional autonomy and clinical decision making showed a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: As a results show a significant correlation between professional autonomy and clinical decision making in clinical nurses, improvement in professional autonomy of clinical nurses, would be promoted through continuous support and training.
Decision Making ; Hospitals, General ; Professional Autonomy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hand holding on self-esteem and assertiveness in women patients with depression. METHODS: This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 40 women patients who were hospitalized with depression. Twenty of the women patients with depression were assigned to the experimental group (hand holding), and twenty to the control group. For the experimental treatment group hand holding was done for 2 wks. RESULTS: The experimental group with hand holding showed an increase in self-esteem (t=3.99, p<.001), and assertiveness (t=5.37, p<.001) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Hand holding is effective for increasing self-esteem and assertiveness in women patients with depression. The simple contact of hand holding can also be regarded as an effective and accessible nursing intervention in the neuropsychiatry ward.
Assertiveness* ; Depression* ; Female ; Hand* ; Humans ; Neuropsychiatry ; Nursing ; Therapeutic Touch