PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relations of interpersonal attitude and communication competence of new community health nurses. METHODS: The research design was a correlational study. The data were collected from 136 visiting nurses using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The type of interpersonal attitude in subjects was I+U+ and the score of communication competence was 3.6. Among 15 sub-dimensions, the highest score was responsiveness and the lowest was assertiveness. There were no significant differences in communication competence by general characteristics. Factors influencing on communication competence in new visiting nurses were interpersonal attitude I+(I am OK) (beta=.34) and I-(I am not OK) (beta=-.28). CONCLUSION: Education program, stressing the self-awareness, is necessary to increase positive interpersonal attitude and communication competence for reemployment of community health nurses. Furthermore, in order to reinforce assertiveness, institutional support should be accompanied with the efforts of individual level.
Assertiveness ; Community Health Centers* ; Education ; Mental Competency* ; Nurses, Community Health* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Design

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the relationship among knowledge, attitudes and prevention behaviors (PB) on tuberculosis (Tb) infection in nursing students. METHODS: 268 subjects were recruited from two universities located in C·D cities of Korea and data were collected utilizing self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean scores of knowledge, attitudes and PB on Tb infection were 64.83, 3.18 and 2.97. The knowledge differed according to gender (t=-3.16, p=.002), grades (F=32.19, p<.001), educational experience about Tb (EETb) (F=10.59, p<.001), learning information about Tb (t=3.08, p=.002) and getting Tb: self or others (t=2.78, p=.006). The attitudes differed according to grades (F=7.71, p<.001) and EETb (F=2.68, p=.047). The PB differed according to grades (F=7.02, p<.001) and EETb (F=4.55, p=.004). Significant correlations were found between knowledge and PB (r=.20, p=001), attitudes and PB (r=.33, p<.001). The most significant factor influencing PB was attitudes with R2 value of 13.9% (F=11.81, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that knowledge and attitude adjustment may be necessary to improve PB for Tb infection in nursing students. Moreover further study is necessary to find out the ways to reinforce the level of attitudes. The results of the study can be utilized in educational programs for preventing Tb infection in nursing students.
Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing* ; Tuberculosis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the differences and relationships among knowledge, attitudes, skill, self-efficacy (SE), and Job satisfaction (JS) of healthcare managers (HMs) participated in the 4 kinds of continuing education. METHODS: The subjects were 152 HMs. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and partial correlation. RESULTS: There were significant differences in knowledge according to the amount of healthcare management experience (HME) and the training program level (TPL); in the attitudes according to gender, age, and the TPL; in the skill according to the amount of HME and the TPL; and in SE according to gender and the TPL. There was no significant difference in JS according to general characteristics. There were significant positive correlations among knowledge, attitudes, skill, SE, and JS. CONCLUSION: The TPL was identified as a significant common variable that affects all variables apart from JS. According to these results, knowledge, attitudes, skill, and SE are considered as intrapersonal constructs, whereas JS is considered as an organizational construct. Therefore, in order to improve the quality of healthcare management, organizational strategy to enhance job satisfaction of HMs are recommended.
Delivery of Health Care ; Job Satisfaction ; Quality of Health Care

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of case management (CM) for Medicaid on healthcare utilization considering the Medicaid system. METHODS: Data were extracted from survey data on "Healthcare utilization and health status of Medicaid beneficiaries" conducted in 2007 and 2008 by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. This study was designed to compare the effects on healthcare utilization between the CM group and the non-CM group. The subjects were 535 Type I Medicaid beneficiaries who utilized healthcare more than 365 days during 2006. RESULTS: The outpatient days and medication days of the CM group decreased significantly more than those of the non-CM group with the copayment system. There were no significant differences of healthcare utilization between the CM group and the non-CM group with the designated doctor system. CONCLUSION: CM worked effectively on Medicaid beneficiaries' outpatient healthcare utilization with the copayment system. However, its effects on hospitalization, which is a major cause increasing the total expense, were not observed. Therefore, future studies are needed to develop strategies to reduce hospitalization and Medicaid beneficiaries' outpatient healthcare utilization with the designated doctor system.
Case Management* ; Cost Sharing ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Medicaid* ; Outpatients

PURPOSE: This study examined change in healthcare utilization by disease severity after case management (CM) for Medicaid. METHODS: Data were extracted from survey data on "Healthcare utilization and health status of Medicaid beneficiaries" conducted in 2007 and 2008 by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. This study was designed to compare change in healthcare utilization between the CM group and the non-CM group. The subjects were 528 Type I Medicaid beneficiaries who utilized healthcare more than 365 days during 2006. RESULTS: In beneficiaries having fewer than 3 among the 11 notified diseases, the CM group showed a significantly larger decrease in outpatient day, outpatient expense, medication day, and medication expense than the non-CM group. In beneficiaries having 3 or more among the 11 notified diseases, however, there was no significant difference in healthcare utilization between the CM group and the non-CM group. CONCLUSION: CM worked effectively on Medicaid beneficiaries outpatient healthcare utilization for mild diseases. However, its effects on hospitalization, which is a major cause increasing the total expense, were not observed. Therefore, a future study is needed to develope strategies to reduce hospitalization and care for Medicaid beneficiaries with severe diseases.
Case Management* ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Medicaid* ; Outpatients

Until recently, the cervical pregnancy have been treated with surgery, usually hy- sterectomy, because of uncontrollable heavy vaginal bleeding. The development of sophisticated ultrasound which allows early diagnosis of cervical pregnancy and methotrexate chemotherapy opened up new therapeutic options in the management of this unusual but potentially life threatening complication of pregnancy which have been always a nightrnare for the gynecologist. We are reporting a case of cervical pregnancy diagnosed in 12 weeks of gestation. The patient was successfully treated with alternative administration of methotrexate (1 mg/kg, intramuscularly) and leucovorin (0.1 mg/kg, intramuscularly) without surgical intervention, in order to preserve both the uterus and fertility. Follow up was done with serum beta hCG and pelvic ultrasonography. Complete resolution of the cervical pregnancy was obtained at 50 days after starting methotrexate treatment. This case gave us the opportunity to review the recent literature on cervical pregnancy.
Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leucovorin* ; Methotrexate* ; Pregnancy* ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

No abstract available.
Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explain the role transition process to nurse case managers (NCMs) for Medical-aid beneficiaries in Korea. METHODS: Fourteen NCMs were interviewed regarding their experiences of becoming proficient in the new role of case manger. Data were analyzed through the application of grounded theory. RESULTS: 'Taking root in a barren land' was the core category explaining the role transition process of NCMs. They engaged in four stages: launching, trial and error, proficiency, and wait-and-see stages. NCMs showed not only fear but also passion for case management practice. Despite their passion and effort, NCMs went through a period of trial and error. After becoming skilled, NCMs went through a stage of wait-and-see often because of job insecurity related to temporary position or few opportunities for promotion. Factors influencing NCMs' role transition process included their understanding of client characteristics, belief in case management, and support from their colleagues and families. CONCLUSION: NCMs experience many challenges in the process of becoming proficient NCMs. To help with their role transition, there is a need for education programs, preceptorship programs, research on their roles and functions, and regulation for securing NCMs' employment and career stability.
Case Management ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Job Satisfaction ; Medical Assistance ; Nurses/*psychology ; Professional Role/psychology ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of interpersonal attitude (I+, I-, U+, U-) on communication competence in care workers for frail elderly. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey. The data were collected from 153 care workers for frail elderly using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The interpersonal attitude style of subjects was I+U+, and the score of communication competence was 3.53. There were significant differences in interpersonal attitude (I+, I-), and communication competence depending on age, education level, experience of personality type test (yes). Factors influencing on communication competence in care workers were interpersonal attitude (I+, I-, U+) and experience of personality type test with R2 value of 48.5% (F=23.47 p<.001). The most influencing factor was I+ (beta=.36), followed by I- (beta=-.22), U+ (beta=.20), and experience of personality type test (yes) (beta=.16). CONCLUSION: It is needed to maintain the interpersonal attitude style (I+U+) of care workers. Continuing education program is needed for increasing communication competence especially for those fifties and over, and experienced care workers. Giving an opportunity for personality test is helpful to increase communication competence in care workers.
Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Continuing ; Frail Elderly ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Personality Tests ; Surveys and Questionnaires