BACKGROUND: Urinary tract is the most common site of nosocomial infections, accounting for 35% of all nosocomial infections. About 80-90% of these urinary tract infections are associated with urethral catheter insertion. Recently, we experienced an outbreak of nosocomial UTI (urinary tract infection) caused by Candida spp. in the surgical ICU (SICU) and we investigated the cause of UTI outbreak. METHODS: We collected data from clinical records and observed the current methods of care of urethral catheters in the SlCU. During the outbreak, we investigated the current procedures and maintenance care of urethral catheter insertion and educated the staff on the correct methods of the catheter insertion and care. We performed surveillance cultures of unused new urine bags, RESULTS: Between May 2000 and June 2000, 17 Candida spp. strains were isolated from urines of 17 patients hospitalized in the SICU of National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital. All infections were attributed to the care of urethral catheter insertion and contaminated bags. We identified that routine bladder irrigation and emptying urine to a common urinal have been done incorrectly during the outbreak period. Rodotorula spp. was isolated from 4 urine bags (50% contamination rate) out of 8 unused new urine bags by surveillance cultures. CONCLUSION: The causes of the UTI outbreak caused by Candida spp. was terminated by outbreak investigation and change of contaminated urine bag.
Candida* ; Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Humans ; National Health Programs ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify changes in physical activity, sleep quality, and quality of life (QOL) during COVID-19 in adults by age group. Methods: An online survey was conducted on a total of 160 participants who were divided into three groups by age; young adults, middle-aged adults, and old adults. The participants responded to the self-reported assessment of the impact of social distancing during COVID-19, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation were used for data analysis. Results: There were significant differences between the three age groups in physical activity (p < 0.05) and PSQI (p < 0.01) and a post hoc analysis showed that the young adults’ group had significantly higher physical activity than the old adults’ group, while the old adults’ group had significantly lower scores of PSQI (better sleep quality) than the others. The young adults’ group showed a significant negative correlation between the stress from social distancing and QOL (r = -0.27, p < 0.05) and between PSQI and QOL (r = -0.48, p < 0.05). For the middle-aged adults’ group, there was a significant negative correlation between PSQI and QOL (r = -0.53, p < 0.05). The old adults’ group showed a significant negative correlation between the stress from social distancing and physical activity (r = -0.35, p < 0.05) and PSQI (r = -0.50, p < 0.05), while there was a significant positive correlation between physical activity and PSQI (r = 0.30, p < 0.05) and QOL (r = 0.30, p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study could be used as basic data for the promotion of physical and mental health in the post-COVID-19 era

Purpose: This study examined the effects of social distancing in COVID-19 on musculoskeletal problems and the quality of life. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five subjects participated in this study and responded to an online survey on stress from the social distancing in COVID-19, computer and smartphone usages, musculoskeletal pain, and quality of life. The stress from social distancing was assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) were provided to assess the musculoskeletal pain, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) was provided to assess the quality of life. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and independent t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Statistically significant, but low positive correlation stress from the social distancing (VAS) and NDI (r=0.19, p<0.05) and ODI (r=0.18, p<0.05), and negative correlation between stress from the social distancing (VAS) and SF-36 (r=-0.17, p<0.05). The NDI score was significantly greater in the group with high stress than in the group with low stress from social distancing (p<0.05). Conclusion This study is meaningful in that it evaluated, through the physical therapy approaches, the potential side-effects on physical and mental health in various social changes caused by COVID-19. The results of this study may be used as basic data in future studies related to COVID-19.

Purpose: This study examined the effects of social distancing in COVID-19 on musculoskeletal problems and the quality of life. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five subjects participated in this study and responded to an online survey on stress from the social distancing in COVID-19, computer and smartphone usages, musculoskeletal pain, and quality of life. The stress from social distancing was assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) were provided to assess the musculoskeletal pain, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) was provided to assess the quality of life. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and independent t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Statistically significant, but low positive correlation stress from the social distancing (VAS) and NDI (r=0.19, p<0.05) and ODI (r=0.18, p<0.05), and negative correlation between stress from the social distancing (VAS) and SF-36 (r=-0.17, p<0.05). The NDI score was significantly greater in the group with high stress than in the group with low stress from social distancing (p<0.05). Conclusion This study is meaningful in that it evaluated, through the physical therapy approaches, the potential side-effects on physical and mental health in various social changes caused by COVID-19. The results of this study may be used as basic data in future studies related to COVID-19.

Purpose: This study compared the subjective and objective sleep quality between subjects with and without thoracic hyper-kyphosis. Methods: Forty participants were divided into a hyper-kyphosis (n = 17) and normal group (n = 17) by thoracic spinal angle measurement. The subjective sleep quality was measured using PSQI, a self-report, and objective sleep quality was measured using an actigraphy that measures time according to sleep patterns. Results: The PSQI scores of subjects with thoracic hyper-kyphosis were significantly higher than those with normal thoracic curvature (p = 0.013). The total sleep time and real sleep time were less in subjects with hyper-kyphosis than in normal subjects (p = 0.006;p = 0.029). The light sleep time was less in subjects with excessive spondylolisthesis than in normal subjects (p = 0.010). Light sleep time was less in those with hyper-kyphosis, but deep sleep time was similar to the subjects with a normal thoracic curvature (p = 0.003;p = 0.140). Conclusion Subjects with thoracic hyper-kyphosis had a decrease in subjective sleep quality, such as sleep discomfort, and objective sleep quality, such as a decrease in sleep time compared to normal subjects.

We experienced a case of spondylothoracic dysplasia in a 1 day old male who has short neck with limitation of movement, asymmetric thorax, marked scoliosis and a systolic heart murmur. He was born with normal weight and full term. The history of his family and mother is not specific. On x-ray, multiple hemivertebrae in thorax, spina bifida and maldevelopmental thoacic cavity were detected. On echocardiogram, he had small ASD and PDA.
Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heart Murmurs ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Neck ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Dysraphism ; Thorax

Successful Weaning is very important to provide adequate nutrients for nomal growth and to induce a good diet habit. We conducted a survey on the Knowledge and attitudes of women who live in Taegu toward weaning in infants, to figure out how much they know about weaning diet for the infants, which source they prefer to get the information about weaning diet, whether their knowledge affect their practice about weaning in infants, and the most effective way to educate them. A survey was conducted with the prepared questionnaire on women who responded all the residential area and market place, and those who visited Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University hospital from July 25 to September 15, 1997. Statistical analysis was done with student t-test and ANOVA using SPSS program. Among total 303 responders, those who aged between 30 and 39 year were 37.2%. Scores for the six questions about weaning policy showed highest in the age group between30 and 39 years. Higher score was recorded in the more educated group, in those who get informations about weaning diet from books, magazines and pediatricians. The majority of the responders had wrong concepts, such as feeding weaning diet using bottle(69.1%), feeding mixed with formula in the same bottle(64.5%), addition of salt(68.4%), Those who had higher educational level preferred books, magazines rather than neighbors or mother to get informations about weaning diet. Those who preferred books or magazines started weaning, stopped bottle feeding, and used spoon earlier, and their children had unbalanced diet habits less frequently. Home-made food was most frequently, and commercial products were used less frequntly. Those who ewre employed preferred home-made good rather than commercial products, it may be caused by the difference of the educational backgrounds from those of the unemployed. In conclusion, most responders ask neighbors and mother to get informations about weaning, and the incorrect knowledge from them colud cause inadquate weaning practice and induced bad diet habit in their children. We have to find the reasons why they did not refer books or magazines frequently, and the way to resolve the problem.
Bottle Feeding ; Child ; Daegu* ; Diet* ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Infant* ; Mothers ; Pediatrics ; Periodicals as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weaning*

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study was designed to explore the relationship among social support, experienced stressful life events and health behaviors of Korean undergraduate students, and validate the mediator effect of social support. METHOD: One thousand four hundred fifty-three undergraduate students were randomly selected from five universities located in the middle area of Korea. RESULT: The health behaviors of Korean undergraduates tend to have unhealthy patterns. In the case of the students living without family, experiencing more stressful life events and perceiving lower social support, health behaviors are poor. The relationship between perceived social supports, the frequency of the experienced stressful life events and the score of health behavior patterns is statistically significant. After controlling the effect of social support, the correlation coefficient between the frequency of experienced stressful life events and the score of health behavior patterns was slightly lower. The score of health behaviors between the group with an extremely high score of social support and the group with an extremely low score were statistically significantly different. CONCLUSION: Future studies need to be pursued to develop various strategies such as a health education programs and counseling programs for health maintenance and health promotion of undergraduates.
Counseling ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Behavior* ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea

To obtain the low birth weight (LBW) rate, the very low birth weight (VLBW) rate, and gestational age (GA)-specific birth weight distribution based on a large population in Korea, we collected and analyzed the birth data of 108,486 live births with GA greater than 23 weeks for 1 yr from 1 January to 31 December 2001, from 75 hospitals and clinics located in Korea. These data included birth weight, GA, gender of the infants, delivery type, maternal age, and the presence of multiple pregnancy. The mean birth weight and GA of a crude population are 3,188 +/-518 g and 38.7+/-2.1 weeks, respectively. The LBW and the VLBW rates are 7.2% and 1.4%, respectively. The preterm birth rate (less than 37 completed weeks of gestation) is 8.4% and the very preterm birth rate (less than 32 completed weeks of gestation) is 0.7%. The mean birth weights for female infants, multiple births, and births delivered by cesarean section were lower than those for male, singletons, and births delivered vaginally. The risk of delivering LBW or VLBW infant was higher for the teenagers and the older women (aged 35 yr and more). We have also obtained the percentile distribution of GA-specific birth weight in infants over 23 weeks of gestation.
*Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; *Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Korea ; Male ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PURPOSE: A structural equation model was analysed to explore the determinants of health behaviors of university students in Korea. METNOD: Nine hundred sixty nine university students were selected by random cluster sampling from five universities located in the central area of Korea. DATA COLLECTION: The data was collected by questionnaires about demographic characteristics, stressful life events, perceived social support, perceived health status and health behaviors. RESULTS: 1. Gender showed indirect effect on health behaviors. 2. Living together with(out) family had a direct effecton health behaviors: students living with family showed more positive health behaviors. 3. Stressful life events had an indirect effect on health behaviors via perceived health status;a higher score of stressful life events was the predictor for negative health behaviors. 4. A higher score of perceived health status predicted positive health behaviors. RECOMMENDATION: Each university should be encouraged to develop a health behavior control program and health promotion program for their own university students. It would be more effective to develop health programs separately according to the demographic or social characteristics of the students. It is also necessary for the Ministry of Education to reform the School Health Act and school health policy to strengthen a health promotion program for university students. In conclusion, following studies should identify and promote the validity and reliability of perceived health status and health behaviors measurements.
Adult ; Attitude to Health ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Health Status ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Change Events ; Male ; Social Support ; *Students/psychology ; Universities