PURPOSE: This study was conducted from January to March, 2004 to examine the effect of telephone follow-up on the performance of self-care in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and on role stress of family caregivers. METHOD: Research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. Seventy-two participants were assigned to either the experimental group (18 cancer patients, 18 family caregivers) or the control group (18 cancer patients, 18 family caregivers). Data were collected before and after the intervention and were analyzed with paired t-test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U Test & Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. RESULTS: Performance of self-care in the experimental group undergoing telephone follow-up was significantly higher than that of the control group (t=8.016, p=0.000). Role stress of family members in the experimental group was also significantly higher than that of the control group (t=2.133, p=0.042). CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the telephone follow-up is effective for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and their family caregivers. Telephone follow-up can be recommended as an effective nursing intervention for self-care performance in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and to reduce role stress of family caregivers.
Caregivers* ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Research Design ; Self Care* ; Telephone*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the effects of a multifaceted intervention for controlling a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) epidemic in an intensive care unit (ICU) with no restrictions on carbapenem use. METHODS: This study was conducted in a medical ICU between April 2012 and June 2016. The baseline infection control programs included surveillance cultures, contact precautions, and environmental cleaning. However, increases in the detection of CRAB isolates beginning in May 2013 led to the implementation of a new protocol, consisting of universal glove and gown use with daily chlorhexidine bathing for all patients in combination with baseline programs. The efficacy of the intervention was subjected to interrupted time series (ITS) analysis. RESULTS: The multifaceted intervention led to a decrease in the incidence of CRAB from 17.65 to 0.89 cases per 1,000 patient-days, during the study period (p < 0.001). ITS analysis revealed a significant change in the trend of CRAB incidence (–0.413, p < 0.001). Over this same period, mean monthly use of carbapenems increased from 143.54 ± 95.73 to 204.95 ± 78.43 doses per 1,000 patient-days (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Our multifaceted intervention reduced the incidence of CRAB acquisition in an ICU where carbapenem use was not restricted.
Acinetobacter baumannii* ; Acinetobacter* ; Baths ; Carbapenems ; Chlorhexidine ; Critical Care* ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units* ; Interrupted Time Series Analysis

PURPOSE: Data are lacking on the association between the allergic rhinitis (AR) phenotype and sensitization to specific allergens or bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in children. We here investigated risk factors and comorbidities, including sensitization to specific allergens and BHR, for the AR phenotype by AR and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classification in a general population-based birth cohort study. METHODS: We enrolled 606 children aged 7 years from the Panel Study of Korean Children. The AR phenotype was assigned in accordance with the ARIA classification in children. Skin prick tests and Provocholine provocation test were performed. Risk factors and comorbidities for AR phenotypes were then analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of mild and moderate to severe AR in our study cohort was 37.2% and 8.8%, respectively. Recent use of analgesics or antipyretics and current cat ownership were associated with the risk of mild persistent AR. Sensitizations to Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus (Der p), Japanese hop and cat were associated with moderate to severe persistent AR. Children with moderate to severe AR had a higher risk of current asthma and BHR compared to mild AR cases (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77–15.62). Moderate to severe AR with allergic sensitization was associated with the highest risk of BHR (aOR, 11.77; 95% CI, 3.40–40.74). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to severe-persistent AR is more closely related to respiratory comorbidities and sensitizations than mild AR. Stratifying the AR phenotype by ARIA classification may assist in disease management.
Allergens ; Analgesics ; Animals ; Antipyretics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; Cats ; Child ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Comorbidity ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Disease Management ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride ; Odds Ratio ; Ownership ; Parturition ; Phenotype ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Risk Factors ; Skin