BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the practice effect of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) after providing the subjects with knowledge of the results (KR). METHODS: Sixteen subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis volunteered to participate in this study. The 6MWT was performed by having the subjects take repeated walks along a 20-m walkway for 6 minutes; and the maximum distance walked was recorded. Two trials of the 6MWT were conducted under three conditions: no-KR, immediate-KR (providing knowledge of the time taken to complete each 20-m distance), and summary-KR (providing knowledge of the time taken to complete 60 m). RESULTS: The practice effects of all 3 conditions were determined by using the paired t-test, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with <0.75, and the Bland-Altman plot. The findings of the paired t-test showed a significant difference under the immediate-KR condition only; however, no significant differences were noted under the no-KR and summary-KR conditions. In a data agreement analysis across the two trials using the ICC, none of the obtained values under the three conditions were in an acceptable range indicative of a practice effect. In the Bland-Altman plot, a greater data variation was observed under the immediate-KR condition than under the other two conditions. When comparing the conditions, the immediate-KR condition differed significantly from the no-KR condition. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not support the presence of a practice effect across the 6MWT. However, a practice effect seems to be clinically possible when the immediate-KR condition is incorporated into this test.
Gait ; Paresis ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe health problems and psychosocial adaptation in children with cancer and to determine the relationship between these two variables. METHOD: The data were collected from parents of 61 children with cancer, aged 4-11 years at one university hospital in Seoul. The instruments for this study were the Korea Child Behavior Check List (KCBCL) and a physical symptom checklist developed by the researchers. RESULT: The major health problems were coughing, sleeping disturbances, fatigue and weakness. The total behavior problem score for children in the cancer group was higher than the score for those in the norm group. The scores on the scales for withdrawal, somatic complaints, social immaturity, and internalizing problems were higher in the children with cancer compared to normative findings. Scores on social and school competence in the cancer group were lower than the norms for healthy children. The relationship between health problems and psychosocial adaptation was significant in the subscales of withdrawal, anxiety/depression, internalizing problems and social involvement in the off therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the various areas that need further study in caring for children with cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare psychosocial adjustment in children aged 4-11 years with cancer between on and off treatment. METHOD: The data was collected from parents of children with cancer through interviews with structured questionnaire at the pediatric outpatient department and inpatient ward of one university hospital located in Seoul. The instrument were the Child Behavior Check List(CBCL) developed by Achenbach(1991) and revised to standardize for Korean children by Oh et al(1997). RESULT: Total behavior problem score for children on treatment was greater than the score off treatment but there was no significant difference. Children on treatment reported higher levels of depression/anxiety, withdrawal, internalizing scores than children off treatment. Social competence score of children off treatment was greater than the score on treatment and the difference of school performance score of children between on and off treatment was not significant. The scores on the withdrawal, somatic complaints, social immaturity, internalizing scales in the cancer group including both on and off treatment was greater than normative findings in the general population. The scores on the school competence of children off treatment were lower than the norms for healthy children. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study support the importance of nursing interventions to facilitate the adjustment of children with cancer both on and off therapy.
Child Behavior ; Child* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mental Competency ; Nursing ; Outpatients ; Parents ; Seoul ; Weights and Measures ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Scrub Typhus*

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of stomach cancer patients. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non synchronized design. The data were collected during the period of October 2 to December 30, 2005 at H Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were 40 patients who were operated under general anesthesia for stomach cancer. State anxiety, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1 that the level of preoperative state anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.004). Hypothesis 2 the physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aroma-therapy is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy. CONCLUSION: According to these results, aromatherapy hand massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives anxiety of surgical patients and decreases the blood pressure level.
Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy* ; Blood Pressure ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Preoperative Period ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of stomach cancer patients. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non synchronized design. The data were collected during the period of October 2 to December 30, 2005 at H Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were 40 patients who were operated under general anesthesia for stomach cancer. State anxiety, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1 that the level of preoperative state anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.004). Hypothesis 2 the physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aroma-therapy is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy. CONCLUSION: According to these results, aromatherapy hand massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives anxiety of surgical patients and decreases the blood pressure level.
Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy* ; Blood Pressure ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Preoperative Period ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare work-related musculoskeletal symptoms, occupational stress and nursing work environments of nurses working in patient-sitter wards and general wards. METHODS: The study surveyed 240 nurses with more than one year of experience working in both patient-sitter wards and general wards. The collected data then was analyzed by SPSS statistics version 22. RESULTS: As for the musculoskeletal symptoms, the survey showed that 85.2% and 67.8% of the nurses had such symptoms respectively in patient-sitter wards and general wards. In terms of occupational stress, no significant difference was observed between the patient-sitter ward and the general ward (t=-0.23, p=.821). Lastly, the study showed that there is a significant difference in terms of work environment considering the scores recorded 2.65 and 2.55 points respectively in patient-sitter ward and general ward (t=2.53, p=.012). CONCLUSION: Follow-up research should look at ways to lower the rate of experiencing work-related musculoskeletal symptoms; analyze work performances and establish work standards to lower occupational stress; and devise measures to improve the work environment for the nurses working in patient-sitter wards.
Follow-Up Studies ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Nursing* ; Patients' Rooms*

No abstract available.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*

BACKGROUND: There is a legal obligation to explain the procedure and use of epidural analgesia in labor primarily due to the possibility of potential risks and associated complications. The present study details on the survey carried out to ascertain the current status of obtaining informed consent (IC) for explaining the epidural analgesia in labor. METHODS: The present study is based on a survey through a telephone questionnaire that covered all the hospitals in Korea where the anesthesiologists' belonged to and are registered with Korean Society of Anesthesiologists. The questionnaire included questions pertaining to administration of epidural analgesia to a parturient, information on different steps of obtaining an IC, whether patient status was evaluated, when the consent was obtained, and the reasons behind, if the consent had not being given. RESULTS: A total of 1,434 respondents took part in the survey, with a response rate of 97% (1,434/1,467). One hundred seventy-four hospitals had conducted epidural analgesia on the parturient. The overall rate of obtaining IC for epidural analgesia during labor was 85%, of which only 13% was conducted by anesthesiologists. The rate of evaluating preoperative patient status was 74%, of which 45% was conducted by anesthesiologists. Almost all of the consent was obtained prior to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of obtaining IC for epidural analgesia in labor is relatively high (85%) in Korea. However, it is necessary to discuss the content of the consent and the procedure followed for obtaining IC during the rapid progress of labor.
Analgesia, Epidural ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Labor Pain ; Pregnancy ; Telephone

BACKGROUND: The proper use of disinfectants has been a major issue in infection control programs. We performed a survey to evaluate the current usage of disinfectants in Korea. METHODS: A questionnaire was e-mailed to 95 hospitals that had infection control programs and data were collected between 10 and 28 October 2005. The questionnaire included questions about whether the hospital had official procedures for selection and use of disinfectants and an education program for proper use; also included were questions about the general characteristics of the hospitals. The types of disinfectants consisted of antiseptics and disinfectants for medical devices, endoscopes, and environments. The questionnaire was analyzed using SPSS 12.0 program. RESULTS: Thirty-nine (41.1%) of the 95 hospitals responded to the questionnaire. Thirty-six hospitals (84.6%) had an official decision making process in selecting disinfectants in their hospitals. Ten percent povidone iodine (PVI) (94.9% for central line) and alcohol (92.3% for peripheral line) were commonly used for skin preparation for intravenous catheterization. Most hospitals used 10% PVI for clean wound (97.4%), dirty/infected wound (94.8%) and sore wound (61.5%); 3% H2O2 (43.6%) for dirty/infected wound; and saline (25.6%) for sore wound. Waterless alcohol handrubs were used in general ward (92.3%), ICU (97.4%), and OR (43.6%). Over the 60% of the hospitals used sodium hypochlorites for cleansing the floors and bathrooms of patients' rooms. As a disinfectant for endoscopes, peracetic acid (40-60%) was used the most frequently, followed by orth-pthalaldehyde (25-36%), and superoxidized water (8-23%). Most hospital followed the manufactures' guidelines on the exposure time of gastroscopes to disinfectants such as orth-pthalaldehyde (100%) and peracetic acid (96%). But, some hospitals re-used peracetic acid (12.0%) and superoxidized water (28.6%) for a longer duration than was recommended by the manufacturers. Fifty to eighty percents of the hospitals used tap water for rinsing endoscopes after disinfection, and only about 80% of these dried with alcohol after rinsing. Most hospitals (84.6%) had teaching sessions for the proper use of disinfectants more than once a year. CONCLUSION: The current use of disinfectants has been improved since 1999 in its suitability and appropriateness Proper use of disinfectants ensures the safety of invasive and non-invasive medical processes; therefore, the current guidelines for disinfection should be strictly followed by the hospital. And continuous staff education will facilitate the correct use of disinfectants.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Decision Making ; Disinfectants* ; Disinfection ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Endoscopes ; Gastroscopes ; Infection Control ; Korea* ; Patients' Rooms ; Peracetic Acid ; Povidone-Iodine ; Skin ; Sodium ; Water ; Wounds and Injuries ; Surveys and Questionnaires