No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify occurrence of needle stick and sharp injuries(NSI) among students, level of faculty stress, and necessity of informed consent when students practice injection skills in fundamentals of nursing practice (FNP). METHODS: Data were collected using self-reporting questionnaires and 74 faculty members who teach FNP responded it. Questionnaires included general characteristics, experiences of NSI, stress level, and informed consent. Data were analyzed using frequency, percent and paired t-test. RESULTS: Of 74 faculty members, 51.4% experienced NSI 3~4 times or more during their FNP classes. Major procedures causing NSI during FNP were ‘ breaking the neck of ampules’, ‘ disposing of used items’, and ‘ inserting needles’. The stress level of faculty was higher and more than doubled when training with human beings compared to manikins. Most faculties (86.5%) agreed to the necessity of informed consent so that the safety of faculty and students could be protected and to provide enough information even though only 10.8% of faculty in this study got informed consent. CONCLUSION: Because there is high risk in every procedure of NSI, faculty has a high level of stress during injection practice in FNS. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a standard NSI precaution program for junior nursing students and discuss informed consent.
Humans ; Informed Consent* ; Manikins ; Neck ; Needles ; Needlestick Injuries* ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing

Cannabis or marijuana is the most commonly used recreational drug after alcohol in the world, and usage is generally recognized as having few serious adverse effects. However, usage is restricted in South Korea. The report of ischemic stroke associated with cannabis is rare in literature. We present a case of a 47-year-old female patient with no underlying disease presenting with acute ischemic stroke after smoking cannabis in South Korea. The result for synthetic cannabinoid metabolites (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) screening was positive. Absence of other vascular risk factors and drug screening results suggest a causal role of cannabis in this ischemic stroke case. The patient eventually progressed to brain death. The underlying mechanism, clinical manifestation, and imaging findings of cannabis-related stroke will be reviewed.
Brain Death ; Cannabis ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to develop directions for research on nursing practice education and also for standardization of contents of Fundamental Nursing Practice (FNP) by identifying and analyzing the present content and inconsistency in FNP textbooks. METHOD: Eleven FNP textbooks published between 2007 and 2013 were selected and itemized nursing contents were compared and analyzed. Nursing professors and practicingnurses prioritized contents identified from an actual condition survey based on theoretical reason and clinical guides for each item. RESULTS: Inconsistencies were found for 34 domains with 219 sub items and of them, 21 domains and 84 items needed to be standardized. Number of items that showed consistency between professors and nurses (ICC > or = .800) was 29 (34.5%) and for complete consistency (ICC=1), 4 (4.8%). Number of items that showed inconsistency between the groups (ICC< .600) was 30 (35.7%) and very low consistency (ICC=0), 10 (11.9%). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a difference between understood validity of content by professors and by nurses and technical differences among FNP textbooks. Therefore confirmation of the items needing to be standardized and differences in understanding content by professors and by nurses shows a need for standardization of practice education between course and clinical practice. These results provide basic data for developing standardized form of FNP education.
Education* ; Education, Nursing ; Nursing*

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of red-yeast-rice supplementation on cholesterol-lowering and glucose control in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFT) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We conducted a doubleblind, placebo-controlled study with 3 groups ; placebo, low dose group (red yeast rice 210.0 mg/capsule, 2.52 g/day)and high dose group (red yeast rice 420.0 mg/capsule, 5.04 g/day), which were randomly assigned to subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. We measured fasting serum concentrations of total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and 2 h oral glucose tolerence test (OGTT) before and after the supplementation. Both low dose and high dose groups had significant decrease in LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) compared with placebo group (p < 0.05). Additionally, total and HDL cholesterol improved significantly in high dose group compared with placebo group (p < 0.05). Fasting serum glucose decreased in test groups and increased in placebo group after intervention. However, it was not significant differences. In subjects which fasting blood glucose is more than 110 mg/dL, fasting glucose had a tendency to decrease in high dose group (p < 0.1) and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) had significant decrease in low dose group (p < 0.05), while insulin and HOMA-IR had a tendency to increase in placebo group after intervention. Mean changes of glucose related parameters (fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) compared with placebo group did not show significant differences. In conclusion, subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance were significantly improved in serum lipid profile by red yeast rice supplementation without serious side effects. These are more effective in the case of a high dose. The effects of red yeast rice supplementation on glucose control were insignificant.
Biological Agents ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hemoglobins ; Insulin ; Lovastatin ; Yeasts

This guideline aims to promote the prudent use of antibacterial agents for managing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections in clinical practice in Korea. The general section encompasses recommendations for the management of common CRE infections and diagnostics, whereas each specific section is structured with key questions that are focused on antibacterial agents and disease-specific approaches. This guideline covers both currently available and upcoming antibacterial agents in Korea.

This guideline aims to promote the prudent use of antibacterial agents for managing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections in clinical practice in Korea. The general section encompasses recommendations for the management of common CRE infections and diagnostics, whereas each specific section is structured with key questions that are focused on antibacterial agents and disease-specific approaches. This guideline covers both currently available and upcoming antibacterial agents in Korea.

This guideline aims to promote the prudent use of antibacterial agents for managing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections in clinical practice in Korea. The general section encompasses recommendations for the management of common CRE infections and diagnostics, whereas each specific section is structured with key questions that are focused on antibacterial agents and disease-specific approaches. This guideline covers both currently available and upcoming antibacterial agents in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Kt/V is an important index of adequacy of dialysis in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, it is difficult to prolong dialysis time in practice because of its economic impact and poor patient compliance. This study was performed to investigate the effect of increasing dialysis needle size on dialysis adequacy in HD patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 70 patients who received HD thrice weekly for more than 3 months using arteriovenous fistula or graft. The patients were divided into three groups according to the blood flow rate (200, 250, 300 mL/min). We first performed HD using 16 gauge needle. And then we increased needle size up to 15 gauge without change of any other dialysis conditions such as blood and dialysate flow rates, dialysis time, distance between needle insertion sites. RESULTS: Mean Kt/V at HD method using 15 gauge needle was increased, compared with HD method using 16 gauge needle (1.31+/-0.18 vs. 1.23+/-0.18, p<0.001). When comparing Kt/V according to the blood flow rate, increasing needle size from 16 gauge to 15 gauge significantly increased Kt/V at 250 mL/min and 300 mL/min. But there was no difference in Kt/V at 200 mL/min of blood flow rate. VDP at HD method using 15 gauge needle was decreased, compared with HD method using 16 gauge needle (88+/-23 mmHg vs. 118+/-28 mmHg, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that increasing dialysis needle size is safe and effective method in improving dialysis adequacy without increasing blood flow rate or dialysis time.
Arteriovenous Fistula ; Dialysis* ; Humans ; Needles* ; Patient Compliance ; Renal Dialysis* ; Transplants

Background: This study presents a framework for determining the allocation and distribution of the limited amount of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods: After analyzing the pandemic strategies of the major organizations and countries and with a literature review conducted by a core panel, a modified Delphi survey was administered to 13 experts in the fields of vaccination, infectious disease, and public health in the Republic of Korea. The following topics were discussed: 1) identifying the objectives of the vaccination strategy, 2) identifying allocation criteria, and 3) establishing a step-bystep vaccination framework and prioritization strategy based on the allocation criteria. Two rounds of surveys were conducted for each topic, with a structured questionnaire provided via e-mail in the first round. After analyzing the responses, a meeting with the experts was held to obtain consensus on how to prioritize the population groups. Results: The first objective of the vaccination strategy was maintenance of the integrity of the healthcare system and critical infrastructure, followed by reduction of morbidity and mortality and reduction of community transmission. In the initial phase, older adult residents in care homes, high-risk health and social care workers, and personal support workers who work in direct contact with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients would be prioritized. Expansion of vaccine supply would allow immunization of older adults not included in phase 1, followed by healthcare workers not previously included and individuals with comorbidities. Further widespread vaccine supply would ensure availability to the extended adult age groups (50–64 years old), critical workers outside the health sector, residents who cannot socially distance, and, eventually, the remaining populations. Conclusion This survey provides the much needed insight into the decision-making process for vaccine allocation at the national level. However, flexibility in adapting to strategies will be essential, as new information is constantly emerging.