PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to study the effects of the reeducation of core fundamental nursing skills on clinical stress, critical thinking disposition, and self-confidence in nursing skills of senior nursing students. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were recruited from two nursing colleges. The sample consisted of an intervention group (n=33) that participated in the educational program and a control group (n=32). The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Data analyses utilized χ²-test & t–test. RESULTS: After the reeducation of core fundamental nursing skills, senior nursing students had less clinical stress (t=-2.089, p=.041) and more self-confidence (t=1.008, p=.318) in nursing skills. However, it had no effect on critical thinking disposition (t=1.008, p=.318). CONCLUSION: Reeducation of core fundamental nursing skills is important to the nursing profession. Also, nurses who are self-confident in their nursing skills are less stressed about improving the quality of their work due to the reeducation of core fundamental nursing skills. Therefore, it is vital for nursing colleges to reeducate core fundamental nursing skills to their students before graduation.
Education ; Humans ; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Nursing* ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Nursing* ; Thinking*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived functional health patterns and recovery in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, to explore the magnitude of relationship between of these variables and influencing factors such as self-esteem, insight, therapeutic relationship, and social support. METHODS: Participants were 160 individuals from 16 Community Mental Health Centers in Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected from April 10 to June, 12, 2010. Analysis was done using descriptive data, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and canonical correlation coefficients with the SAS 9.1 program. RESULTS: The mean score for perceived functional health of participants was below the normal range and the mean for recovery was above the middle range. Functional health and recovery were positively correlated with all components. The magnitude of relationship between functional health pattern, recovery and influencing factors were high in order of self-esteem, social support, insight, and therapeutic relationship. CONCLUSION: Functional health is strongly associated with recovery and useful in promoting recovery. Development of recovery oriented training programs for professionals and interventions considering factors influencing recovery and functional health as identified in this study is recommended.
Community Mental Health Centers ; Phenothiazines ; Reference Values ; Schizophrenia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore status and level of communication ability, interpersonal relationships, anxiety, and depression in Korean soldiers and identify factors that influence depression. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was employed. The instruments were PCI (Primary Communication Inventory), RCS (Relationship Change Scale), STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and CES-D (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale). Data were collected from 961 soldiers from Gyeong-gi Province and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score for PCS, RCS were 87.0+/-11.43; and 98.8+/-14.17 respectfully and for STAI-I (state-anxiety), and STAI-II (trait-anxiety), 34.7+/-10.36; and 36.6+/-9.64 respectfully, and for CES-D, 11.2+/-7.0. Of the participants 22.2% were in the clinical group for depression. Major variables showing significant correlations were family intimacy, intimacy with friends or colleague, and inconvenience in not being able to use computer or internet. STAI-II, intimacy with friends or colleague, STAI-I accounted for 44.2double dagger of the variance in depression. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that a systemic approach needed to relieve soldiers' anxiety and depression. Development of program for communication training, activities for leisure and interpersonal relationship during military life could contribute to lessening depression and anxiety in solder.
Anxiety* ; Communication* ; Depression* ; Friends ; Humans ; Internet ; Leisure Activities ; Military Personnel*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of different isolation policies in reducing the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospital in-patients. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of an isolation policy on transmission of MRSA in the 745-beds hospital. First period, all patients with MRSA (March - July 2000) were not isolated Second period, strict isolation policies were performed (August 2000 - January 2002). All patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room, hand hygiene using alcohol handrub, gowning and g1oving, apply of MRSA notice sticker, criteria in isolation remove, separated disinfection and wastement. Third period, semi strict isolation policies were performed (February 2002 - August 2005). Some patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room and others were admitted in general ward for bed shortage. Only some practices were performed in hand washing and separated disinfection in general ward. RESULTS: The rates of MRSA nosocomial infection per patients during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.56, 0.23, and 0.42 (P<0.05). Patient-days rate of MRSA nosocomial infection during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.62, 0.27, and 0.38 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: With many different isolation policies, it was possible to reduce nosocomial infection of MRSA. In this study, strict isolation policies (2nd period) were the most effective practices in reducing MRSA infection.
Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Patients' Rooms ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: We analyzed climacteric symptoms, bone mineral density (BMD), serum estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to identify the health benefits of meridian massage in perimenopausal women. METHODS: There were 16 women in the experimental group and 17 people in the control group. Meridian massage was performed for 4 weeks, 3 times a week for 20 minutes each session. The data were collected pre-treatment, posttreatment and 4 weeks after treatment. SPSS/WIN 11.5 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: After meridian massage, there were significant differences in climacteric symptoms (U = 65.50, p = .011) and BMD (U = 65.50, p = .011) between the two groups. The E2 level showed a significant difference between the two groups pre- and posttreatment (U = 75.00, p = .028). FSH showed a significant increase when measured at 4 weeks after the treatment as compared with the amount when measured post-treatment within the control group (z = -2.249, p = .025), experimental group showed a stable change in FSH. but there was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, we confirmed the effects of Meridian massage in decreasing climacteric symptoms, inhibiting the decrease of BMD and stabilizing serum hormone in perimenopausal women. Therefore, it can be considered for use as a nursing intervention for health management in perimenopausal women.
Bone Density ; Climacteric ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Massage ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore levels of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation in maladjusted Korean soldiers and identify factors that influence suicidal ideation. METHODS: Instruments were the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), STAI (State Trait Anxiety Inventory), and SSI (Scale for Suicidal Ideation). The participants were 94 maladjusted soldiers from one army base in Gyeong-gi Province. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires, and analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: Mean scores were; for CES-D, 42.1+/-13.10, for STAI-I (state-anxiety) and STAI-II (trait-anxiety), 60.3+/-15.05 and 61.9+/-12.14 respectfully, and for SSI, 23.1+/-9.52. There were significant differences in suicidal ideation according the general characteristics of education, prospects for the future, and having someone to talk about troubles. Major variables showing significant correlations were prospects for the future, depression, trait anxiety, state anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Depression and prospect for future were significant predictors of suicidal ideation (Adjusted R2 65%). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, it is important to assess significant mental health problems at the clinical level and provide suicidal ideation prevention in maladjusted soldiers. Active input from experts such as nursing officers and intervention programs that focus on depression are needed.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Military Personnel ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Suicidal Ideation

PURPOSE: The relationship between perception of recovery by people with mental health problems and job satisfaction in community mental health professionals was examined in this study. METHODS: A correlational survey design was used. Data were collected from 176 community mental health professionals who worked in 29 community mental health centers in Gyeonggi Province. The perception of recovery was measured with the Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) by Bedregal, O'Connell & Davidson (2006) and job satisfaction was measured with Job Satisfaction Scale developed by Lee (2009). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire. The SPSS/WIN 12.0 program was used for descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: There was no correlation between perception of recovery and job satisfaction. But a statistically significant difference was found between the roles of self-definition and peers in recovery and the job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that community mental health professionals are still have a low level for perception of recovery. The results also suggest that health professionals' understanding of the concept of recovery is not sufficient. It is necessary to include recovery knowledge for community mental health professionals in education programs.
Community Mental Health Centers ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Job Satisfaction* ; Mental Health* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the level of military stress, stress coping, and mental health status and to identify the relationships among these variables in soldiers who need intensive care. METHODS: The participants were 113 perceived maladjusted soldiers who participated in Green-camp from one army base in Gyeong-gi Province. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed with the SPSS-WIN 20.0 program. The instruments were the Military Stress Inventory, Ways of Coping Checklist, and Symptoms Checklist- 90-Revision (SCL-90-R). RESULTS: The level of stress was 3.6+/-0.70, overall stress coping was 1.1+/-0.41, and mental health status was 1.5+/-0.93. There were significant differences in stress, stress coping, and mental health status according religion, economic status of family, prospects for the future, persons with whom one could talk about troubles. The group with higher emotion focused coping had significantly higher scores on mental health status. There were significant positive correlations among major variables. Military stress was a significant predictor of mental health status (Adjusted R2 21.0%). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, stress management and intervention programs focusing on depression are highly recommended to manage maladaptive problems in soldiers.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Checklist ; Depression ; Humans ; Critical Care* ; Mental Health* ; Military Personnel* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological

The mechanism of vasodilation induced by fentanyl was investigated using isolated rat thoracic aortic rings. Rings were contracted with norepinephrine(10(-7) M, NE) and potassium chloride(40 mM, KC1) with and without endothelium Fentanyl (10(-9)-10(-5) M) produced dose-dependent relaxation and had no significant effect from endothelium(intact and denuded rings, test with 3X10(-4) M LNAME, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester). Pretreatment of indomethacin(2.5X10(-3) M, inhibitor of cyclooxygenase) failed to influence of cumulative dose-response curves. RD(50)(50% relaxation dose) and KC1/NE ratio as potency difference of fentanyl, verapamil(10(-8)-10(-5) M, Ca2+ channel blocker), nitroglycerin(10(-10)-10(-5) M, activator of guanylate cyclase) were not similar. Fentanyl and control(distilled water) were not demonstrated any different contraction produced by incremental addition of Ca2+ to aortic rings exposed to Ca2+ free, K+ -depolarized(100 mM KCl) solution(extracellular Ca2+ influx). But fentanyl had effect on intracellular Ca2+ release elicited by caffeine(20 mM) and NE(10(-7) M) indicated by dose-dependent inhibition of contraction in Ca2+ free solution. We conclude that, in rat aorta, fentanyl-induced relaxation is endothelium-independent but mediated by inhibition of alpha-adrenoceptors operated intracellular Ca2+ release (inhibition of contraction by NE) and caffeine-induced Ca2+ release from store.
Animals ; Aorta* ; Endothelium ; Fentanyl* ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Relaxation* ; Vasodilation

THE NECESSITY AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Recently the number of patients with chronic diseases and the aged patients is increasing steadily. Furthermore, due to the expansion of health insurance system, the number of patients hospitalized in the general hospital is increasing at a surprising speed. However, hospitals urge the early discharge of the patients for the efficiencies of hospital administration, and therefore, the number of patients who must be taken care of in their home is also increasing. Homecare nursing is one of the health care service for the patients at home who require continual attention and care, and now increasing attentions are given to it as one of the professional nursing fields. However, it was almost impossible to find a study on the actual experiences of the homecare nurses written by their own language in Korea, that it also posed a great difficulty in understanding their diverse experience. Considering these situation, this study will help understanding of them, and provide the fundamental data on their experiences for making policies to develop homecare nursing. METHODS OF RESEARCH: Phenomenological research method was employed to analyze the lived experiences of homecare nurses fundamentally. DATA COLLECTION: Data were collected from August 1998 to December 1998 from ten homecare nurses who worked for patients under the homecare nursing setting as model cases designated by Seoul Nurses Association and who agreed to the purpose of this study after listening to and understanding the explanation completely. The in-depth interview was carried at the time which was convenient both for the researcher and participants for one or two hours, and recovered with the approval participants. The first interview covered diverse and broad areas like the situation of homecare nursing, and their feelings and thoughts over it, and in the second and third interviews, more specific questions are asked. DATA ANALYSIS: For the phenomenological analysis, contents analysis was employed. The data collected from the participants were analyzed into the following procedures according to Van Manen 's phenomenological analysis. 1) Reserve the preconception of the researcher by restricting it inside parenthesis. 2) Make a thorough observation of the lived experiences by insight process. 3) Analyze the contents (Find out the repetitive factors) 4) Interpret the essence found. 5) State the meaning of the interpretation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 1. Fear and expectation for the first visit. (unfamiliarity, awkwardness, anxiety, shivering) 2. Mingle with the family (feeling friendly with the family, becoming like a family member) 3. Being proud of her own know-how (learning the know-how, organizing alternatives, building up confidence) 4. Pity for the poor. (criticizing the current government, feeling ashamed, feeling anger) 5. Difficulty of constructing cooperative system with physicians (strenuousness, frustration) 6. Helplessness due to the lack of support system (difficulty to get supplies, annoyance, embarrassment by institutional restraints) 7. Anxiousness for heavy traffic and parking (annoyance, hastiness) 8. Ethical conflicts (pity for the patients and family, skepticism about lengthening life maintenance) 9. Burden for the possible accident (pressure, anxiety, conflict, physical exhaustion) 10. Establishment of identity as a professional (fulfillment, worth, joy) 11. Being distressed at other's ignorance
Anxiety ; Attention ; Chronic Disease ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Equipment and Supplies ; Hospital Administration ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic