BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and characteristics of needlestick/sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students in Korea. METHODS: The study was based on a survey of questionnaires completed by 341 nursing students who had sustained at least one NSI during clinical practice in hospitals. RESULTS: The NSI incidence rate was 36.4%. Approximately half of the students reported two to four NSIs. Most (90.2%) of the NSIs occurred on the fingertips and were caused by a hollow-bore needle (46.8%) or lancet (45.8%). Some students were exposed to used needles contaminated with unknown pathogens (37.3%), HBs Ag (2.3%), Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) (0.8%), or HIV (0.6%). Students cited the reason for injury as carelessness, inexperience, hastiness, or recapping. Almost two-thirds of students who reported having experienced an NSI knew about post-exposure treatment. However, only one-third of the students with NSIs completed an official report. CONCLUSION: Korean nursing students lack knowledge about injury prevention, report procedures, and treatment after NSI. A revised educational approach with emphasis on occupational risk, skill development, and injury reporting is necessary to prevent NSI and to ensure that students obtain post-exposure prophylaxis.
Dietary Sucrose ; HIV ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Needles ; Needlestick Injuries ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Urography(IVU) is considered the best first investigation in patient with suspected urinary calculi, but recently ultrasonography(USG), combined with a plain film of the abdomen, has been suggested as an alternative. METHODS: We undertaken study to see if this approch can be used in emergency patients and outpatients by radiologists with different amounts of ultrasound experence. Some 192 patients with suspected urinary colic presenting to Koo Hospital Emergency Department and Youngnam Universith Hospital outward Department(IM, URO, FM) over 12-month period were studied. They had a plain abdominal film(KUB) and USG examination of the kidney, ureter, bladder following hydration and subsequently underwent IVU. Of these, 22 patients passed a stone before their IVU. The data analysis was performed on the remaining 170 patients. Urography was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: Some 170 patients subsequently underwent IVU at a mean interval of 1.8 days after the ultrasound examination. In 91 of 170 patients the IVU was positive. In 97 of 170 patients the combination of JUB plus USG was positive, leaving three false negative KUB plus USG. Thus the sensitivity of KUB plus USG was 97%, specificity was 89%, positive predictive value was 91%, and negative predictive value was 96%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings in this study suggest that in the hydrated patient the combination of KUB plus US is a very sensitive and relative specific screening test. Because of the high negative predictive value of KUB plus US, urography is not likely to be helpful when KUB plus US are negative. Urography is indicated only if KUB plus US findings are equivocal or if intervention is necessa.ry.
Abdomen ; Colic ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Statistics as Topic ; Ultrasonography* ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Calculi* ; Urography*

PURPOSE: This study is aimed at identifying the effects of telephone counseling as nursing support on distress, anxiety, depression, and adverse events in cancer patients undergoing their first chemotherapy. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial (pretest-posttest design). A total of 70 patients who showed 4 or higher distress scores were selected from the screening process. Four patients dropped out; therefore, 66 patients participated in this research. Thirty-two and 34 patients were randomly assigned to the experimental and the control group, respectively. After a preliminary survey, telephone counseling support was given to the experimental group at three time points. The post survey was done before the second cycle of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Regarding distress, both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in the scores: 3.4 for the experimental group and 1.8 for the control group (p=.002). Furthermore, the experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease relative to the control group. Anxiety and depression showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that nursing support through phone counseling is effective in decreasing distress in patients undergoing chemotherapy for the first time.
Anxiety* ; Counseling* ; Depression* ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nursing ; Telephone*

In order to obtain baseline data for the development of an educational program on breastfeeding, a survey was carried out to investigate infant feeding practices, the characteristics the subjects have in common, and the factors that influence the feeding methods among women in Seoul and the Chungbuk area. Subjects included 671 lactating mothers who visited public health centers or pediatric clinics between December 1999 and February 2000, and were interviewed using a questionnaire. The results were as follows : With respect to feeding methods, the incidence of breastfeeding, formula feeding, mixed feeding and formula feeding switched from breastfeeding was 20.6%, 29.8%, 11.6%, and 38.0%, respectively. With respect to the characteristics the subjects had in common, the incidence of women who planned their infants' feeding methods before pregnancy, during pregancy, and after delivery was 48.7%, 31.0%, and 20.3%, respectively. The incidence of women who started breastfeeding in the hospital after delivery was 38.8%. About seventy seven percet of the subjects had not previously attended an educational program on breastfeeding, and most of these wanted to participate in the future in an educational program to learn about breastfeeding. Some of the topics they were interested in were 'Nutritional Management for Sufficient Breast Milk' (60.3%), "Breast Care" (25.0%), and "Correct Nursing Positions" (9.8%). Most (88.2%) of the women who breastfeed suffered from physical discomforts including discomfort of the waist, and legs and discomfort due to cracked or sore nipples. "Insufficient breast milk" was the main reason for breastfeeding cessation or for switching to formula feeding. With respect to formula feeding practices, the main reasons for selecting a specific brand of formula were "the same brand the hospital used after delivery" (34.3%) and "an advertised brand" (23.3%). The strongest factor for promoting breastfeeding was "the support of husband or parents", next were "breastfeeding in the hospital after delivery" and "planning to breastfeed before pregnancy" in that order. The characteristics the subjects had in common relating to formula feeding were "mother's job", "high economic level", "Caesarian section" and "planning to breastfeed after delivery". In conclusion, it is recommended that breastfeeding be pro-moted, and educational programs be developed and offered as soon as possible to each group which had unfavorable attitudes toward breastfeeding. In addition, the monitoring and supervision of formula advertisements is required to protect consumers from the adverse effects of exaggerated advertising.
Breast ; Breast Feeding ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Leg ; Mothers ; Nipples ; Nursing ; Organization and Administration ; Pregnancy ; Public Health ; Seoul* ; Spouses ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the nursing needs of parturient women with those of nurses during the perinatal period. METHODS: The subjects of this study were in two groups, one of which was composed of 244 postpartum women (vaginal delivery) while the other was composed of 144 nurses. The data was collected using a self-report Questionnaire between July and November of 2007, and was analyzed using the SPSS Win12.0 program. RESULT: Statistically significant differences were found in nursing needs, specifically in the aspects of physical care, safety of delivery and newborn care between the nurse group and the parturient women group during the perinatal period. Furthermore, the nursing needs of parturient women were higher than those of nurses with regard to environmental needs, safety of delivery, newborn care, and especially among items such as routine examinations and the maintenance of hygiene during labor, as well as a desire for "kind and faithful" care. In addition, it was found that the nursing needs of parturient women in Women's hospitals were higher than those in University hospitals. CONCLUSION: This study showed that parturient women desire to be educated regarding Perinatal care for themselves and for their newborn.
Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Infant, Newborn ; Nursing Care ; Perinatal Care ; Postpartum Period ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Spinal epidural abscesses were evaluated using Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 19 surgically and clinically confirmed cases, including 13 with tuberculous spondylitis and 6 with pyogenic spondylitis. We observed rim enhancement patterns in 10 patients and diffuse enhancement patterns in 9 patients. The spread patterns were localized to ventral or dorsal epidural space and encircled entire epidural space. We conclude that rim enhancement indicates abscess and diffuse enhancement indicates granulation tissue and fibrosis. Tuberculous epidural abscess spreads to ventral epidural space and pyogenic epidural abscess encircles entire epidural space.
Abscess ; Epidural Abscess* ; Epidural Space ; Fibrosis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spondylitis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels in student nurse of knowledge, compliance and risk factor recognition for needlestick injuries. METHOD: Nine hundred and thirty eight(938) student nurse from 3 universities and 3 junior colleges participated in this study. Completed questionnaires were collected between October and November 2004. They were analyzed by using the descriptive statistics and chi2-test, t-test with the SAS program. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the general characteristics of participants between the two groups - Needlestick Injury(NSI) group and non-Needlestick Injury(non-NSI) group. The scores for knowledge levels of treatment after needlestick injuries and the risk factor recognition level were significantly higher in the NSI group. The scores for performance level as to handling and using needles after needlestick injuries were significantly higher in the non-NSI group. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop a preventive program to decrease the needlestick injury rate among student nurse.
Compliance* ; Humans ; Needles ; Needlestick Injuries* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors*

Aloe is one of the leading products used in phytomedicine. Several cases of aloe-induced toxic hepatitis have been reported in recent years. However, its toxicology has not yet been systematically described in the literature. A 21-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with acute hepatitis after taking an aloe vera preparation for four weeks. Her history, clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, and histological findings all led to the diagnosis of aloe vera-induced toxic hepatitis. We report herein on a case of acute toxic hepatitis induced by aloe vera.
Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase/blood ; Aloe/*chemistry/metabolism ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Extracts/*adverse effects/*chemistry ; Splenomegaly/diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of thrombolysis and to find optimal dose of urokinase and injection time by modified pulse-spray method with multiside-hole catheter in patients of arterriosclerosis obliterans of lower limbs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 2 month period, 5 cases of peripheral arterial occlusion of lower limbs were treated with 0.7--1.3 million unit of urokinase by modified pulse spray method. With antegrade puncture at the site of superficial femoral artery, the tip of modified pig tail catheter was initially placed approximately 2cm proximal to the distal end of the clot. The procedure started with the use of initial bolus dose of UK(100,000U) of lacing, and then small pulses of highly concentrated urokinase, which are forcefully sprayed throughout the thrombus at a rate of 20,000U/min. After the initial rapid period of deposition, the concentration of UK was reduced to 4,000U/min for residual thrombus. RESULTS: Complete clot lysis were achieved in 3 of 5 occlusions. Mean duration for completion of lysis was 140 min(40-180min) and initial recanalization of artery required 45min(20-90min). Total required dose of UK was 1,120,000U and mean dose for initial recanalization was 660,000U. No significant complications occurred except distal vasospasm in one case. CONCLUSION: Modified pulse spray method using ultrahigh and high dose urokinase is safe, reguires less time and has cost effectiveness in the management of peripheral arterial thrombolysis. Further study is warranted.
Arteries ; Catheters ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Punctures ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

BACKGROUND: Calcium channel blockers and volatile anesthetics have depressant effects on myocardial contractility by limiting Ca2+ entry and altering intracellular Ca2+ release. The aim of this study was to compare the direct cardiac effects of isoflurane, desflurane and new volatile anesthetics, sevoflurane, in combination with diltiazem on the isolated rat heart. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rat hearts (N = 60) were isolated and perfused with oxygenated modified Krebs solution at 55 mmHg with 0.5, 1, 2 MAC of isoflurane, desflurane or sevoflurane in combination with diltiazem 42 ng/ml (group 1) and 84 ng/ml (group 2). Isovolumetric left ventricular pressure (LVP), rate of change ventricular pressure (dP/dt), heart rate and coronary flow were measured. To examine the indirect metabolic effect due to autoregulation of coronary flow, O2 delivery (DO2), myocardial O2 consumption (MVO2) and percent O2 extraction (POE) were also monitored. RESULTS: Diltiazem plus volatile anesthetics depressed LVP and dP/dt and increased coronary flow dose-dependently. They also decreased heart rate. In the group 2, at 2 MAC of inhaled anesthetics heart rate was significantly decreased than group 1. There were no statistical significance between isoflurane, desflurane and sevoflurane on myocardial contractility and myocardial oxygenation. CONCLUSIONS: These in vitro RESULTS demonstrate that clinical dose of diltiazem plus isoflurane, desflurane or sevoflurane has similar effects on myocardial contractility and coronary flow.
Anesthetics ; Animals ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Diltiazem* ; Heart Rate ; Heart* ; Homeostasis ; Isoflurane ; Oxygen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Pressure