PURPOSE: This study was done to develop and to evaluate an integrative palliative care scale for cancer patients. METHODS: The process included construction of a conceptual framework, generation of initial items, verification of content validity, selection of secondary items, preliminary study, and extraction of final items. The participants were 173 cancer patients in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. Item analysis, factor analysis, criterion related validity, and internal consistency were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Eighteen items were selected for the final scale, and categorized into 3 factors explaining 58.3% of total variance. The factors were labeled as social/environmental palliative care (9 items), psychological palliative care (4 items), and physical palliative care (3 items), and spiritually palliative care (2 items). The scores for the scale were significantly correlated with the quality of life of cancer patients. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the 18 items was .88. CONCLUSION: The above findings indicate that the integrative palliative care scale has good validity and reliability when used for cancer patients.
Daegu ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Palliative Care* ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify factors affecting terminal care performance of clinical nurses. METHODS: The participants in this study were 175 nurses working in hospitals in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire and were analyzed with the IBM SPSS WIN 19.0 program. RESULTS: Nurses' terminal care performance was significantly related with suffering experience, empathy ability and caring behaviors. Significant predictors for terminal care performance were their department, empathy ability and caring behaviors. These factors explained 43.52% of the variance in terminal care performance of clinical nurses. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that terminal care performance of clinical nurses can be strengthened by improving empathy ability and caring behaviors.
Daegu ; Empathy* ; Nursing Care ; Terminal Care*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess clinical characteristics of induction of labor group in nulliparous women at term with a single fetus in cephalic presentation. METHODS: we reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 73 nulliparous women delivered between August 2004 and July 2006. The patients were classified as induction of labor group and spontaneous onset of labor group to compare of obstetrical data. Student t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact test were performed. RESULTS: Induction of labor group than spontaneous onset of labor group had higher < or =4 of Bishop score cervical status and time from admission to delivery was longer (p<0.05). The rate of cesarean delivery and meconium stained amniotic fluid were higher in induction of labor group (p<0.05). In case of Bishop score is higher than 4, normal vaginal delivery is higher than cesarean delivery (p=0.100). CONCLUSION: Induction of labor in nulliparous women is associated with low Bishop score and an increased risk of cesarean delivery. Success of vaginal delivery is tightly associated with favorable cervical status.
Amniotic Fluid ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Meconium ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies

One of the most important adverse effects of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor is the reactivation of tuberculosis. Most of them occur in the lung, but sometimes they can be found in other organs. Moreover, the proper management of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with anti-TNF-alpha associated tuberculosis is still in debate. We present the case of a seropositive RA patient who showed good response with rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, after developing splenic tuberuculosis, following treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitor. Confirming a diagnosis of splenic tuberculosis is difficult and can be delayed due to its nonspecific symptoms and rare occurrence. This case suggests that splenic tuberculosis should be doubted in RA patients treated with TNF-alpha inhibitor, and that rituximab may be considered as an alternative treatment option in RA patients with anti-TNF-alpha associated tuberculosis.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Humans ; Lung ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Splenic ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Rituximab

Sedative and antiemetic effect of hydroxyzine as a premedicant were studied and results were compared with a placebo and Talwin. Two hundred and fourty patients were evaluated. These patients were divided into 6 groups. There were fourty patients in each group. Group 1: Hydroxyzine 50mg. Group 2: Hydroxyzine 100mg. Group 3: Placebo. Group 4: Talwin 20mg. Group 5: Hydroxyzine 5pmg plus Talwie 20mg. Group 6: Hydroxyzine 100mg plus Talwin 20mg. The results were as follows; 1) Satisfactory sedation was ovtained in 75% with group I, in 92.5% with group 2, in 30% with group 3, in 40% with group 4, in 82. 5% With group 5, and in 97. 5% with group 6. Better results were obtained with hydroxyzine plus Talwin group than hydroxyzine anly. 2) The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in recovery room, 7. 5% wlth group 7. 5 % with group 3, 20% with group 4, 5%. with group 5. There was no case of nausea and vomiting in group 2 and group 6. We obtained a significant difference in antiemetic effect between Talwin only and the Talwin plus hydroxyzine group. 3) There was no adverse change on vital signs in all cases.
Antiemetics ; Humans ; Hydroxyzine* ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Pentazocine ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Recovery Room ; Vital Signs ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of familial mental retardation, attributable to (CGG)n expansion in the FMR1 gene. This study was undertaken to ascertain the distribution of FMR1 CGG repeat in the general Korean women and to identify ethnic difference in FMR1 CGG repeat number. Material and METHOD: Between January 1999 and December 1999, we evaluated 1,000 low risk women who visited Gachon Medical School Hospital. DNA samples were extracted from the venous bloods by routine methods, and G-C specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)s were performed to evaluate FMR1 CGG repeat number. RESULTS: Mean FMR1 CGG repeat number was 26.9 (6-50), single PCR bands were detected in 776 cases (77.7%). There were two more bands in 22.3% of the cases. Most of the cases are located between 21 and 35 repeats, especially 21-25 repeats. The pattern of distribution of CGG repeat is dispersed. In 13 cases, we could not obtain the PCR results. CONCLUSION: Low risk of transmission rate of the FRX in Korea can be expected.
Alleles* ; Blotting, Southern ; DNA ; Female ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schools, Medical

PURPOSE: To compare the causes and clinical manifestations of pediatric ocular injuries according to grade level. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 78 children, 15 years and younger, who had been hospitalized for pediatric ocular injuries, classified them into three groups according to grade level, and compared their clinical manifestations. RESULTS: Eighteen (23.1%) were preschoolers, 39 (50.0%) were elementary school students, and 21 (26.9%) were middle and high school students. The most common causes of injury included toys and household goods at home in the preschool group, toys and sporting activity at home and school in the elementary school group, and sporting activity at school in the middle and high school group. The incidence of ocular injury was higher in the 'without supervision group' (57.7%); however, in the preschool group, it was higher (72.2%) even in the 'supervision group' (P<0.05). In the preschool group, the incidence of perforating ocular injury (P<0.05) and the rate of surgical treatment (P<0.05) were higher than those of other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The causes and clinical manifestations of pediatric ocular injury were different according to school degree. The incidence of pediatric ocular injuries can be decreased more efficiently by recognizing these differences.
Child ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Organization and Administration ; Play and Playthings ; Retrospective Studies ; Sports

OBJECTIVE: To access the pregnancy tendency and delivery in women aged 40 years and older. METHODS: From January 1999 to June 2001, 7882 deliveries were in Gacheon Medical School. Among them we compared 95 cases of pregnant women aged 40 years and older with 94 cases of those aged under 40 years as a control group. RESULTS: The parity was higher in women aged older than 40 years compared to control group. Number of prenatal special studies was higher in women aged older than 40 years (n=82) compared to control group (n=14). In modes of delivery and indications for c/sec, there were no difference in two groups. There were no difference in prenatal complications between two groups. But, number of cases related to placenta previa, myoma and anemia were increased in women aged older than 40 years. In postpartum complications, uterine atony and hysterectomy, postpartum bleeding and placenta accreta were higher in women aged older than 40 years compared to control group. CONCLUSION: For pregnant women aged 40 years and older, a careful approach and appropriate management will be necessary for good pregnant outcome.
Anemia ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Myoma ; Parity ; Placenta Accreta ; Placenta Previa ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Schools, Medical ; Uterine Inertia

PURPOSE: Nursing is regarded as a female-dominated profession. However, the number of Korean males entering the field of nursing is increasing. This study examines which of the following factors influence professionalism in male and female student nurses: area of nursing, gender identity, gender stereotypes, satisfaction with the field, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal relationships. METHODS: In total, 133 male and 293 female student nurses were selected from four Korean provinces between July 2013 and February 2014 to participate in this study. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi2-tests of independence, and multiple regression analyses using SPSS/Win 20 software. RESULTS: In males, 47.4% of variance in nursing professionalism was accounted for by grades, interpersonal relationships, gender stereotypes, and satisfaction with the field. In females, 41.9% of variance in nursing professionalism was accounted for by satisfaction with the field, interpersonal relationships, area of nursing, age, emotional intelligence and grades. Common factors that influenced both genders included satisfaction with the field, interpersonal relationships and grades. CONCLUSION: Although males and females revealed no significant differences in overall mean scores of nursing professionalism, several factors influencing nursing professionalism did differ by gender. Therefore, gender-specific nursing educational and training programs may be necessary to promote professionalism among student nurses.
Education ; Emotional Intelligence ; Female ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of vaginal ultrasonographic cervical length in prediction of preterm delivery in patients with preterm labor. METHODS: One-hundred twenty-nine women in preterm labor at 24-34 weeks of gestation were studied retrospectively. Transvaginal ultrasonography for measurement of cervical length was performed at the time of admission. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, partial correlation coefficient, and multiple logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at admission was 30.2 +/- 2.5 weeks and the mean gestational age at delivery was 35.7 +/- 3.9 weeks. The median admission-to-delivery interval was 864 hours (24-2616). ROC curve analysis showed a significant relationship between cervical length and preterm delivery (area under the curve=0.82, p<0.001). The diagnostic indices of cervical length (cut-off value 2.5 cm) by ROC curve were sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 64%, and positive and negative predictive value of 54% and 90%. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that cervical length was an independent predictor of preterm delivery after adjustment of confounding factors (x2=0.326, p<0.01). Admission-to-delivery interval in patients with cervical length >or=2.5 cm was significantly shorter than that in patients with cervical length >2.5 cm. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length is a useful predictor of preterm delivery in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography