PURPOSE: The present study was designed to understand the conceptual definition and attributes of the clinical critical thinking ability(CCTA) in nursing and to grasp the characteristics of clinical critical thinking abilities. METHODS: The data were analyzed using the Hybrid model of Schwartz-Barcott and Kim(2000). RESULTS: Having the skills and dispositions to think critically, CCTA refers to something that implies the cognizant ability to interpret contextual meanings, analyze the relationships between materials or circumstances, draw out the best conclusions, predict things using relevant information and evaluate the reliability of information and the strength of inference on the one hand and the emphatic disposition to be curious, open-minded, intellectually integral, systematic and creative and to reflect on things in contextual terms on the other. CONCLUSION: CCTA is characterized by clinical circumstances, such as guessing the reasons for facts, predicting things, connecting theory to practice and approaching individual situation in total terms as well as by the Korean circumstances, such as taking another person's perspective. Hence, this study proposes developing the tools to measure the clinical critical thinking ability and the strategies to improve the clinical critical thinking ability and seeking to verify their validity, on the basis of the findings.
Chimera ; Clinical Competence ; Concept Formation ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Problem Solving ; Thinking

The purpose of this pilot study was to identify the effects of hand moxibustion therapy to decrease pain and relieve coldness of the body in women who had a hysterectomy. The conceptual framework of this study was derived from Ying-Yang, Khi and other corresponding theories. The data were collected from February to May 1997. A Graphic Rating scale was used to measure the degree of pain and Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I) was used to examine the degree of coldness. The subjects were women who resided in Seoul and had a hysterectomy within five years. An experimental group was composed of five women who received moxibustion and a control group was composed of five who did not. The research procedure began with having both the experimental group and control group describe their general characteristics and the degree of pain they perceived. Then, Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I) was conducted. Moxibustion was only given to the experimental group on both hands twice every day for a total of five weeks. Their perception of pain and D.I.T.I were examined weekly. The control group received no therapy. After finishing therapy, the perception of pain and D.I.T.I for both groups were also measured. According to this study, moxibustion therapy resulted in a change of body temperature on the right shoulder joint(p=0.00074), abdomen(p= 0.0047), waist(p=0.0068) and hands(p=0.0317) respectively. Also, the study results showed significant decrease (p=0.0001) in pain over time and significant improvement over body coldness.
Body Temperature ; Female ; Hand* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Moxibustion* ; Pilot Projects ; Seoul ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the tailored group exercise program on perceived health status, physical strength, depression and cognitive function in seniors. METHODS: The subjects were 42 seniors of the experimental group and 28 seniors of the control group. The exercise program tailored by physical fitness was carried out for 16 weeks. The dependent variables were measured by Perceived Health Status Scale, The Senior Fitness Test, MMSE-K, and GDS-K. The collected data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test and t-test, and ANCOVA using the SAS program. RESULTS: In terms of physical strength and depression there was significant difference among groups. Perceived health status and cognitive function were not significant different among groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, the tailored exercise program was effective and safe for the elderly, and resulted in improving physical and psychological health status in the elderly. This demonstrated that the tailored group exercises program on the basis of the subject's fitness, played an essential role in maintaining and improving the health.
Aged ; Depression ; Exercise ; Humans ; Phenothiazines ; Physical Fitness

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of insomnia and to compare sleep patterns, demographic characteristics, and obstacles for sleep between women with and without insomnia. METHODS: This was a descriptive study. Study participants were 1,679 Korean women aged over 20 years. Information on symptoms of insomnia, sleep patterns, and related factors was assessed by questionnaire. Symptoms of insomnia included difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep and early morning awakening. RESULTS: This study found that 32.0% of the study participants had insomnia, subjects with insomnia had bad sleep patterns compared to comparison group, lower educational level and menopause were closely related to insomnia, and noise, temperature, lighting, presence of bed partner, intake of caffeine, frequent urination, and pain or itching were associated with insomnia. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that insomnia is prevalent in women and closely associated with education level and menopausal status.
Caffeine ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Noise ; Prevalence* ; Pruritus ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* ; Urination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the using pattern of alternative therapies in the elderly. Method: 197 subjects, persons who were more than 60 years old, we interviewed. We modified and complemented Shin's(2000) instrument in accordance with purpose of this study. Data were analyzed statistically by using SAS program. RESULTS: 1. It was shown that 66.84% of subjects have utilized one or more types of alternative therapy. 2. It was shown that the most frequently used types are acupuncture (48.83%), and ethmoid bone therapy (42.75%). 3. Acupuncture was shown to be the most satisfactory type of therapy (14.50%). 4. There was a significant difference in the use ratio by sex; female 73.47% and male 60.20%. 5. Among users of alternative therapies, the most frequent responses to each question were as follows; 1. Motive of Use - "for complete cure of symptoms" (32.31%). 2. Side effects - "no side effects" (95.97%). CONCLUSION: We found that elderly persons used alternative therapies more frequently than others perpulations. Diet therapy and Hand therapy were most commonly used in older people. Although the elderly use alternative therapy, they cannot place confidence in its scientific reliability. Therefore, we need to examine the effects of alternative therapy.
Acupuncture ; Aged* ; Complement System Proteins ; Complementary Therapies ; Diet Therapy ; Ethmoid Bone ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the using pattern of alternative therapies in the elderly. Method: 197 subjects, persons who were more than 60 years old, we interviewed. We modified and complemented Shin's(2000) instrument in accordance with purpose of this study. Data were analyzed statistically by using SAS program. RESULTS: 1. It was shown that 66.84% of subjects have utilized one or more types of alternative therapy. 2. It was shown that the most frequently used types are acupuncture (48.83%), and ethmoid bone therapy (42.75%). 3. Acupuncture was shown to be the most satisfactory type of therapy (14.50%). 4. There was a significant difference in the use ratio by sex; female 73.47% and male 60.20%. 5. Among users of alternative therapies, the most frequent responses to each question were as follows; 1. Motive of Use - "for complete cure of symptoms" (32.31%). 2. Side effects - "no side effects" (95.97%). CONCLUSION: We found that elderly persons used alternative therapies more frequently than others perpulations. Diet therapy and Hand therapy were most commonly used in older people. Although the elderly use alternative therapy, they cannot place confidence in its scientific reliability. Therefore, we need to examine the effects of alternative therapy.
Acupuncture ; Aged* ; Complement System Proteins ; Complementary Therapies ; Diet Therapy ; Ethmoid Bone ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to examine the relationship of knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on osteoporosis. METHOD: The design of this study was a correlative design. The subjects were 1,615 Korean adults over the age of 20 registered in a new town and participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire developed by Kim, Horan & Gendler (1991), translated into Korean. RESULTS: 1) The subjects recorded an average score of 11.10 on osteoporosis knowledge. The average scores on the osteoporosis health beliefs was 15.68 for perceived susceptibility and the respondents recorded an average score of 40.40 for osteoporosis self-efficacy. 2) There were statistically significant differences in the degree of osteoporosis knowledge, self-efficacy and health belief according to gender, age, scholastic achievement, marital state, and jobs. 3) There were statistically significant positive correlations between osteoporosis knowledge and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: According to these results, an osteoporosis education program improving not only knowledge but also self-efficacy and health beliefs should be developed and applied to decrease the perception of barriers to exercise and intake of calcium.
*Self Efficacy ; Osteoporosis/*psychology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Female ; Educational Status ; Attitude to Health ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult ; Adolescent

PURPOSE: Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. RESULTS: The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Colon ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome in patients aged less than 55 years who underwent arthroscopic tenodesis and arthroscopic repair for type 2 superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions. METHODS: Between April 2008 and December 2014, surgery was performed on a total of 45 patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions. Arthroscopic repair was performed in 22 patients and arthroscopic tenodesis was performed in 23 patients. In both groups, the clinical outcomes at follow-ups were evaluated using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: In both groups, the VAS scores for pain had improved significantly throughout the postoperative follow-up period. The VAS score showed a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p<0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative results at 12 months (p>0.05). In both groups, the functional outcome was statistically improved postoperatively. In a comparison of the UCLA and ASES scores between the two groups, there was a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative results at 12 months (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this and other studies, patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions showed better short-term clinical outcome with tenodesis than with repair. However, there was no difference between the two groups at the final follow-up.
California ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Tenodesis*

The elbow is the most frequent area of complaint in children and adolescent baseball players. The physical stresses associated with repetitive throwing create extra-ordinary forces, which may affect the normal osteochondral and soft tissue developmental process and are the important factors causing the decrease of competitive power and shortening of life as a baseball player in adolescents. We surveyed the 114 baseball players of middle & high school in Taegu in order to evaluate the prevalance of symptoms and radiologic findings of the elbow and correlation of these findings to career & position of the baseball game. The results were as follows. 1. Of 114 players, 83 were non-pitchers and 31 were pitchers. The mean career was 3.8 years (7 months to 6 years). 2. The 77 players (67.7%) had the pain on their elbow during or after daily exercise. Other clinical symptoms were locking (30.7%), limitation of motion (18.4%), swelling (16.6%) and clicks on motion (10.5%). 3. On the radiogram of the elbow, hypertrophy or separation of medial epicondyle were seen in 34% of players, loose bodies in 17%, hypertrophy of the humerus in 12% and cystic change of the capitellum in 11%. 4. The mean career of symptomatic players was 4.4 years but non-symptomatics was 2.7 years. The mean career of players who had abnormal radiologic findings was 5.1 years but 3.1 years in players who had no abnormal radiologic fingings. 5. Symptoms and pathologic changes were more common in the elbow of pitcher' s group due to throwing frequency & pitching style. 6. Among the 77 players who had any kinds of problem of the elbow, 49 players of them had no experience of visiting hospital. 7. To prevent these injuries of the elbow, the following recommendations were made. First, restrict the number of innings pitched per game. Second, avoid throwing the curve ball in this age group. Third, ensue an adequate warm up period before exercise or rest after games. Fourth, inform parents and coaches of possible harmful nature of excessive throwing.
Adolescent* ; Baseball* ; Child ; Daegu ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypertrophy ; Parents