PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the patient's perception of the nurse's behavior in protecting patient privacy and to make suggestions for medical facilities to increase protection of patient privacy. METHOD: The research was a survey study. The data on protection of privacy in primary nursing, for physical privacy, of patient information and in private conversations were collected in October 2005 from 187 patients in a university hospital. Frequencies, means, t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square-test were used to analyze the data. The SPSS 13.0 for Windows program was used. RESULTS: The mean score for patients' perception of nurse protection of their privacy was 3.33. There were significant differences in perception of protecting patients' privacy according to gender for private conversation, according to level of education for all but physical nursing and for number of admissions for total score and for primary nursing. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest the following: a) Institutional polices and nursing guideline should be clearly stated as to the nurses' duty to protect patient privacy. b) Medical facilities should be arranged in a way that allows for the protection of patients' medical information, and should focus on patient privacy. c) It is necessary of nurses to receive periodic in-service education on protecting patient privacy.
Education ; Humans ; Nursing ; Primary Nursing ; Privacy*

PURPOSE: Purpose of this research was to identify effects of application of a modified primary nursing system. METHODS: Measurement was done of direct nursing time and satisfaction of nurses and patients before and after one month of the modified primary nursing system in a surgery unit in C university hospital, Seoul. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between average for patient satisfaction (4.24) before and (4.11) after application of the modified primary nursing system. Total average for nurse satisfaction with the nursing delivery system was 2.89 before application and, 3.34 after, indicating some significant differences (t=-4.06, p<.001). The KPCS-1 was 10.19 before application of the modified primary nursing system and 9.52 after application. Recalculated into direct nursing time, the average direct nursing time for one patient was 92 minutes before application, and 85.98 minutes after, indicating no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Through this research an attempt was made to build and test a modified primary nursing system. Results indicate that the most important thing is to clearly regulate office work and safely implement the new system.
Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Models, Nursing ; Patient Satisfaction ; Primary Nursing

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify meaning and essential structure of the hospitalization of patients in nursing care integrated service wards of small and medium-size general hospitals. METHODS: Experiential data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 patients who had been hospitalized in nursing care integrated service wards of medium general hospitals. The main question was ‘Could you describe your hospitalization experience in nursing care integrated service wards of medium general hospitals?’, and collected data were analyzed using Colaizzi's Phenomenological Research Method. RESULTS: Four categories obtained were ‘Realize the system that is not established yet’, ‘Secure care services which are less of a psychological and financial burden’, ‘Thanks for care providers’, and ‘Confident of the hopeful system to desire to reuse in the future.’ CONCLUSION: Patients in nursing care integrated service wards of small and medium-size general hospitals were satisfied with the reduction of mental and financial burden caused by nursing and were thankful to nursing staff, who put a lot of efforts into nursing. But, at the same time, they were confused and inconvenienced by the services that were not yet completely established. To improve this situation, it is thought that institutional complements including development of a service standardization manual would be helpful.
Complement System Proteins ; Hope ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Methods ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Staff ; Nursing ; Primary Nursing ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relationship between perceived family support and quality of life in hospitalized patient with terminal cancer. METHOD: Study subjects were 104 patients with terminal cancer who were hospitalized and treated at K university hospital, in Busan. Perceived family support and quality of life were measured using the Kang's Revised Family Support Scale and Youn's Quality of Life scale for terminal patients. RESULTS: 1) The mean score of perceived family support was 4.23+/-0.61. The mean score of quality of life was 5.83+/-1.37. 2) The perceived family support was significantly different with primary care giver, food type, medical period after diagnosis. 3) The levels of quality of life was significantly different by number of children, effect of religion on the one' life, perceived state of disease and pain. 4) There was moderate positive correlation between perceived family support and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Increase in perceived family support was associated with increase in quality of life in hospitalized patients with terminal cancer. It is necessary that the development of nursing education program for family which help to support the patient with terminal cancer for increasing the quality of life of patient with terminal cancer.
Child ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Primary Health Care ; Quality of Life

This thesis explores the actual circumstances of Korean nursing by investigating its present situations. Ultimately, the intent of this study aims to establish a future direction of Korean Nursing. As such, the current conditions of Korean nursing is analyzed in he following categories: education, practice, research, nursing policy, expansion of nursing field, and entrepreneurship. In the final conclusion, an appropriate orientation of the future of Korean nursing is discussed. There are two primary Nursing programs, a three-year (63) and a four-year (53), in Korean Nursing education. Master's programs are available at 32 nursing schools or 32 professional graduate schools. A total of 15 nursing schools have a doctoral program in Korea. The ratio of graduates between the three-year and four year programs is 76: 24. Hence, it is highly encouraged to expand four-year nursing programs, because it will help raise the social status of nursing professionals as well as the quality of nursing. In the clinical nursing field, independency and self regulation are critical. As such, organizational change, implementation of a standardized nursing information system, appropriate workforce, and improvement of the reimbursement system in nursing is recommended. In community nursing, the following should be resolved to provide better nursing services: improvement of working condition and benefits, establishment of a law enforcing the hiring of nurses, and providing continuing education. The number of nursing research has increased and nursing studies are in great quantity. However, research in practices and theories are more in demanded. Hence, research that integrates theories and practices are very significant. Ultimately, it is critical to support nursing studies that will influence nursing policy. The Korean Nurses Associatio (KNA) is an organization that supervises the nation's nursing policy. The primary focus of KNA is to combine the three and four year undergraduate education systems into 4 years and to establish the Nursing Practice Act. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has adapted a system to educate and certify nurse specialists in 10 nursing areas in 21 nursing graduate schools expecting high-quality nursing services and a decrease of cost. The government also allowed nurses to operate facilities for health management or welfare agencies.
Education ; Education, Continuing ; Education, Nursing ; Entrepreneurship ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Nursing Research ; Nursing Services ; Nursing* ; Organizational Innovation ; Primary Nursing ; Schools, Nursing ; Self-Control ; Specialization

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the predictors between the early and late postpartum period in parturient women. METHODS: The Subjects were 399 healthy postpartum women who visited the obstetric clinic at 5 hospitals for a routine check up after childbirth. They were divided into two groups: one was in the early postpartum period, the first three weeks after childbirth (n=107), the other was in the late postpartum period, four to six weeks after childbirth (n=292). The data were collected by using a self-report questionnaire from July to September, 2006. The data were analyzed with the SPSS 12.0 Win program. RESULTS: There were significant statistical differences in age and parity between the two groups. Postpartum fatigue was significantly predicted by postpartum depression and age in the early period, and postpartum depression, sleep satisfaction, and childcare stress in the late period. The mean scores of childcare stress and perceived infant difficulty in the late period were significantly higher than those of the early postpartum period. CONCLUSION: Postpartum depression was the most important predictor of postpartum fatigue regardless of the postpartum period. In addition, especially in the late period, sleep satisfaction and childcare stress were significant predictors of postpartum fatigue. Based on these results, primary nursing interventions for reducing postpartum fatigue should focus on postpartum depression management, and nursing interventions for increasing sleep satisfaction and decreasing childcare stress would be helpful for management of postpartum fatigue in parturient women in the late period.
Depression ; Depression, Postpartum ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Nursing ; Parity ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period* ; Primary Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to estimate supply and demand for nursing workforce to provide community-based primary healthcare in the North Korean region to cost-efficiently narrow the health gap between the two Koreas in case of a Korean reunification. METHODS: To understand the nursing education system and current state of nursing workforce in North Korea, the authors interviewed six North Korean defectors who had worked as nurses in North Korea. Based on the interview results and literature review, the supply and demand for the primary healthcare nursing workforce that would be needed after Korean reunification were estimated RESULTS: Currently, a total of 2,100 to 2,700 North Korean nurses were estimated to have graduated from nursing schools with a 2 year curriculum or completed 6-month military nurse training courses every year. The projected number of nurses in demand to provide primary health care ranged from 84,160 to 105,200 and the shortage would be between 31,586 and 52,626. CONCLUSION: An active utilization of the North Korean nursing workforce to improve the health of North Koreans after reunification will be the best way to reduce the reunification cost which will be inflicted mainly on South Korea.
Curriculum ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Korea ; Military Personnel ; Nursing ; Primary Health Care ; Schools, Nursing

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the experience of nurse in comprehensive nursing care. METHODS: Experiential data collected from 9 nurses through in-depth interviews. Participants were selected from nurses working in the comprehensive nursing care unit at general hospital. The main question was “Can you describe your experience in the comprehensive nursing care unit?” All interviews were recorded and transcribed, then analyzed using Colaizzi's method. RESULTS: Nine themes were derived from the analysis: 'Practice nursing care', 'Feel thankful of the client', 'Difficulty in nursing due to absence of patients' guardian', 'Tired of over-demanding patient and distrust of guardian', 'Confusion regarding one's identity as a nurse', 'Not enough to support system','Insufficient pre-training for nurse and client', 'Requirement of work establishment for nurse and nurse aid', 'Concerns about low rewards and high safety accidents'. CONCLUSION: As a comprehensive nursing service, the nurses provided total patient care, and patient satisfaction and expression of appreciation increased. However, disadvantages were identified, such as patients' excessive needs, communication difficulties, lack of support systems, low compensation, and a high number of safety accidents. Therefore, systematic comprehensive nursing will be achieved if these shortcomings are addressed.
Compensation and Redress ; Health Policy ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Methods ; Nursing Care* ; Nursing Services ; Nursing* ; Patient Care ; Patient Satisfaction ; Primary Nursing ; Qualitative Research ; Reward

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify Russian inpatients' expectation and satisfaction with nursing service, and further, to analyze the relationship between these variables. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was used to survey for 81 Russian inpatients. The survey was conducted from January to June, 2014. RESULTS: Empathy and assurance significantly influenced nursing service expectation and satisfaction. Nursing service expectation was statistically significant for the number of visit to Korea, and nursing service satisfaction was statistically significant for gender, monthly income and primary care giver during hospitalization. Revisit intention was significantly different according to religion, medical department and primary care giver during hospitalization. There were positive correlations between nursing service expectation and satisfaction, and between nursing service satisfaction and intention to revisit the hospital. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the level satisfaction with nursing service influences Russian inpatients' intention continue using the hospital. Therefore, in order to increase the intention to revisit the hospital Korea hospital employees, especially nurses, need to develop nursing service strategies according to general characteristics, culture and nationality of foreign patients.
Empathy ; Ethnic Groups ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Intention* ; Korea ; Medical Tourism ; Nursing Services* ; Nursing* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Primary Health Care

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effect of electrical muscle stimulation therapy on chronic knee pain and depression for the aged. METHOD: Design was one-group pretest-posttest design. Samples were 32 elderly of 60 years old and above with chronic knee pain and depression. Measures were the S-F McGill Pain Questuionnaire for chronic knee pain and the Korean Elderly Depression Scale for depression. Electrical muscle stimulation therapy, experimental treatment, was applied for 12 weeks, 3 times/week, 15 min/time. Data were collected from January 2005 to May 2005. Data were analyzed using SPSS PC+ 12 version. RESULTS: After receiving electrical muscle stimulation therapy, chronic knee pain (t=-88.034, P=.000) and depression (t=-114.659, P=.000) were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Electrical muscle stimulation therapy can be a better effective primary nursing intervention on chronic knee pain and depression for community dwelling elders.
Aged ; Depression* ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Humans ; Knee* ; Middle Aged ; Primary Nursing ; Therapies, Investigational