BACKGROUND: Job holders are groups that have suffered from chronic stressful condition. Nowadays, occupational stress are increasing due to Korean economic crisis. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the stress scores of several kinds of jobs, the relationship between the amount of stress and mental health status, factors associated with stress. METHODS: Among workers who had visited a medical college hospital, Taejeon, Korea, for regular health evaluation from April 1 to June 30 1998, we selected 50 clerks, 50 industrial workers, 50 professionals, 50 service or salesmen and 50 public servants in the survey. A total of 159 workers were evaluated as subjects excluding those who had answered in adequately to the questionnaire. Stress scores were measured by Korean-translated BEPSI(Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument) and Bae Jong Myun's 30-items SRRQ(Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire). Mental health status were checked by Korean-translated SCL-90-R(Symptom checklist-90-Revision). RESULTS: The average BEPSI score of workers was 2.07+/-0.72. The mean score of female workers was 2.27+/-.70 and it was obviously higher than male worker's score of 1.85+/-.66. 20-29 year age group and over 40 year age group's amount of stress were obviously higher than 30-39 year age group. The low education level group had higher stress score than those with high education level but the amount of stress showed no significant difference in the monthly income, job tenure, number of family members to support, hobby and religion. According to occupation, clerks, industrial workers, service or salesmen's stress scores were higher than those of professional or public servants. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation has showed that there is a correlation between the amount of job holder's stress and mental health including somatimtian, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychotism Therefore, we conclude that the best way to stay in good menta
Anxiety ; Daejeon ; Depression ; Education ; Female ; Hobbies ; Hostility ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mental Health* ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Repeat cesarean section is one of the leading causes to make increasing a rate of cesarean section. Trial of labor TOL after cesarean section is attempt to reduce the rate of repeat cesarean section. Trial of labor has been well established as a safe alternative in carefully selected women with transverse scars in the lower uterine segment. This study was based on 104 cases of delivery with prior cesarean birth at the Chonbuk National University Hospital from January, 1991 to June, 1997. The results were as follows: 1) Among 1400 cases with previous cesarean delivery, trial of labor was done in 104 cases (7.4%). Among 104 cases, vaginal birth was successfully completed in 96 cases (92.3%). 2) Among 28 cases with PGE2, vaginal tablet, vaginal delivery was done in 23 cases (82.1%). 3) Among 22 cases with more than 4 of Bishop score, vaginal delivery was done in 21 cases (95.5%), and among 6 cases with less than 3 of Bishop score, vaginal delivery was done only 2 cases (33.3%). 4) There was no matemal death or uterine rupture in the cases of trial of labor, But in 2 cases, uterine dehiscence was observed in 4 cases and postpartal bleeding (more than 400ml) was developed. 5) In the cases of cesarean section, mean of hospital day was 7 days and medical fee was about 400,000 won. In the cases of vaginal birth after cesarean section, mean of hospital day was 2.6 days and medical fee was about 100,000 won. In condusion, vaginal birth after cesarean section is safe and effective alternative to elective repeat cesarean section and also the use of PGE, vaginal tablet is so effective to increase success rate of vaginal delivery. After all, positive these trials might decrease cesarean rate and increase maternal health and quality of medical care.
Cesarean Section ; Cesarean Section, Repeat ; Cicatrix ; Dinoprostone ; Fees, Medical ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Maternal Health ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prostaglandins E ; Trial of Labor ; Uterine Rupture ; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean* ; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of self-care activities of stroke patients, the family burden, and the educational needs of primary caregivers. A descriptive survey research was conducted in 97 stroke patients and their respective primary caregivers. Data were collected the using 26th to by interviews a structure questionnare from July August 5th, 1999. NIH stroke status was 12.15+/-8.40, the degree of self-care activities of stroke patients was 26.85+/-9.39. The score of objective burden of primary caregivers was 31.24+/-4.81 and subjective burden was 24.30+/-6.99. The score of the educational needs was 89.78+/-9.99. We present several imformations about clients from these scores as follows: The patients were convalescent and their depentant level of self-care was middle range: The objective burden was higher than the subjective burden: And the educational needs of family caregivers were very high. The Elain Mattis Educational Wants of Family Caregivers of Disabled Adults Questionnaire was used to assess the educational needs of primary caregivers of stroke patients. The results of this research are offered to help nurses understand the feelings of uncertainty about the new and unexpected role that family caregivers face and to help nurses meet the needs of families preparing to care stroke survivors at home.
Adult ; Caregivers* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Care* ; Stroke* ; Survivors ; Uncertainty

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the effects of a Stress Management Program providing Cognitive Behavior Therapy on problem-focused coping, job stress, and depression. METHODS: The research design was a quasi-experimental research with a nonequivalent control group pre-posttest. Participants were recruited from two fire safety centers in D city, and the research was carried out from March 11 to April 2, 2011. To test the effects of the Stress Management Program participants were divided into two groups, an experimental group (21) and a control group (20). The research tools included problem-focused coping, job stress, and depression scales. The Stress Management Program was provided to the experiment group for 60 minutes/session twice a week, for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact probability test, chi2-test, t-test with the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program. RESULTS: After attending the Stress Management Program, significant differences were found in problem-focused coping scores and depression scores between the experimental group and the control group (t=4.70, p<.001; t=-3.16, p=.003). But there were no significant differences in job stress scores between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the Stress Management Program providing Cognitive Behavior Therapy is an effective nursing intervention for improving problem-focused coping and decreasing depression in firefighters.
Cognitive Therapy ; Depression ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Humans ; Research Design ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.

Background: Recent studies have shown that oral administration of probiotics may improve the immune imbalance caused by dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and immunological effects of Lactobacillus pentosus in children with mild to moderate AD. Methods: Children aged 2–13 years with AD were randomized to receive either 1.0 × 1010 colony-forming units of L. pentosus or placebo, daily, for 12 weeks. The clinical severity of AD and transepidermal water loss were evaluated. Blood eosinophil counts, serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and cytokine levels were measured. The diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were also analyzed. Results: Eighty-two children were recruited, and 41 were assigned to the probiotics intervention group. The mean scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) indices at baseline were 30.4 and 34.3 for the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively. At week 12, the mean indices were 23.6 and 23.1 for the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively. Clinical severity decreased significantly over time in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups. In both groups, there were no significant differences in cytokine levels, microbial diversity, or the relative abundance of the gut microbiota at week 12 compared with the corresponding baseline values. The mean subjective scores of SCORAD indices after intervention for the probiotics group were significantly lower than those for the placebo group in IgE sensitized AD (P = 0.019). Conclusion Our results show improved symptoms in the probiotics and placebo groups, and we could not find additional effects of L. pentosus in AD. However, the mean subjective scores of SCORAD indices for the probiotics group are significantly improved compared with those for the placebo group in allergen-sensitized AD.

We report a case of fatal fungal peripheral suppurative thrombophlebitis, caused by Candida albicans, which was disseminated to the blood, lungs, eyes, and spine. Clinical suspicion and aggressive management are important in managing fungal peripheral suppurative thrombophlebitis. Early clinical suspicion is important in managing fungal peripheral suppurative thrombophlebitis, and radical excision of the affected veins, recognition of metastatic foci, and use of systemic antifungal agents are essential to avoid septic shock and death.
Amphotericin B/therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Candida albicans ; Candidiasis/blood/*diagnosis/surgery ; Echocardiography ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Rectal Neoplasms/diagnosis/surgery ; Thrombophlebitis/*diagnosis/microbiology

This study was understand in order to examine the effect of hardness on stress-causing factors, defined in this study as burnout in nursing. The subjects were 248 nurses working in three general hospitals in Taejon. The instruments used for this study were a survey of general characteristics, modified Health-Related Hardiness Scale(HRHS) (25 items), job stress scale (63 items), and burnout scale(20 items). Analysis of data was done through the mean, percentage, Person correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression done with a SAS program. The results of this study are as follows. 1) The average item score for the job stress was high at 4.44. In the subcategories, the highest degree of stress was night duty(5.11), and work overload(4.70), responsibility for extra affairs(4.70), conflict in nurse-doctor relationships(4.69), and low reward (4.63) in that order. 2) In the stepwise multiple regression analysis, hardiness(11.55%) was a significant determinant of burnout along with job stress(17.24%) and job duration(12.94%). The results of this study show that hardiness has an effect on psychological distress caused by stress.
Daejeon ; Hardness ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Nursing ; Reward

We report a case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in a 63-year-old female, who had a painful deep ulceration on the left forearm for 2 months. Histopathological examination showed numerous encapsulated round spores in the dermis and subcutis. A tissue culture on Sabouraud's media without cycloheximide showed whitish creamy colonies and revealed budding yeast cells in lactophenol cotton blue preparations. The organism was identified as Cryptococcus neoformans. The lesion was successfully treated with oral fluconazole(400 mg/day) for 2 months combined with surgical debridement.
Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Cycloheximide ; Debridement ; Dermis ; Female ; Fluconazole* ; Forearm ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Saccharomycetales ; Spores ; Ulcer

Factitious fever has been a rare cause of fever of unknown origin. We herein report a case of a young soldier, who presented with persistent fever of unusual pattern and bullae on both palms. After numerous investigations had excluded organic diseases, factitious fever was diagnosed with measurement of the freshly voided urine temperatures and body temperatures while directly observed. Biopsy of skin lesions revealed friction blister. Early recognition of this cause of fever is needed to avoid the unnecessary investigation and prolonged hospitalization.
Biopsy ; Blister ; Body Temperature ; Factitious Disorders ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; Fever* ; Friction ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Skin