PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify whether awareness and perceived ease in using parental leave influence job satisfaction of nurses in a public hospital. METHODS: The participants were 425 nurses working in a public hospital. A questionnaire was used to collect data from October 12 to October 25, 2016. The influence of the factors on job satisfaction of nurses was analyzed by multiple hierarchical regression. RESULTS: Nurses taking leave accounted for 46.8% (75 nurses) of 160 married nurses. They worried about adaptation after return to work (30.7%) and complained about disadvantages related to using parental leave (45.3%). The percentage of nurses on leave replaced by new full time nurses was 70.7%. Nurses' awareness (β=.16) of perceived ease of using parental leave (β=.32) influenced the nurses' job satisfaction (R2=.21). CONCLUSION: To improve job satisfaction for nurses, it is necessary to increase awareness and perceived ease of using parental leave. Public hospitals should replace nurses on leave with temporary nurses and help returning nurses adapt to their jobs as they return to work. Nursing managers should create a healthy climate in which it is easy for nurses to take parental leave.
Climate ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Nursing ; Parental Leave ; Parents ; Return to Work

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing job satisfaction among ambulatory care nurses. Methods: Data were collected through a self-evaluation survey of 129 nurses in one tertiary hospital. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Importance-Performance Analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean scores were: for importance, 3.18 out of 4, for performance, 2.24 out of 4, for professional self-concept, 2.92 out of 4, and for job satisfaction 2.77 out of 5. There were statistically significant positive correlations between professional self-concept and job satisfaction (r=.37, p<.001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that satisfaction with professional self-concept, clinical career, and age explained 47.0% of the job satisfaction of ambulatory care nurses (F=37.51, p<.001). Satisfaction with professional self-concept, clinical career, and age were statistically significant predictors of job satisfaction. Conclusion Findings indicate motivation programs according to clinical career would be useful to improve job satisfaction of ambulatory care nurses. Additionally, continuous education should be provided to strengthen the professional self-concept of nursing professionals in both undergraduate curricula and clinical fields.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the addition of Vit. D3 (1,25-Dihydroxychole calciferol D3) to the conventional postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density(BMD) DESIGN: A 2-year retrospective , randomized study Setting : Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Catholic university hospital Patients : 388 postmenopausal women were recruited and divided into 5 groups according to treatment regimen; A: conjugated estrogens only treated group(n=146), B : conjugated estrogens and progesterone treated group(n=103), C : conjugated estrogens and Vit.D3 treated group (n=36), D : conjugated estrogens, progesterone and Vit.D3 treated group (n=41), E : control group (n=60). METHODS: The bone mineral density of the lumbar spines and femoral neck were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) every 2 years. STATISTICS: The difference between before and after treatment was determined by paired t-test. The comparison among the groups were determined by one way ANOVA test and student's t-test. RESULTS: The addition of progesterone to estrogen showed insignificant increase in the lumbar and femoral neck BMD. The addition of Vit. D3 compared with conventional hormone replacement therapy insignificantly influened bone density in women with initially normal BMD, but definitely increase in women with initially osteopenic and osteoporotic BMD of femoral neck rather than lumar spine(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of Vit. D3 combined with postmenopausal estrogen replacement effects the increase of BMD in low bone density than normal bone density, especially femoral neck.
Bone Density* ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Gynecology ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; Progesterone ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Vitamins*

Background: To investigate the use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors as an initial drug treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Methods: From 2013 to 2015, patients with knee OA were identified from the Korean nationwide claims database. Among them, we extracted incident cases of knee OA to identify the initial drug treatment. Trends in the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including COX-2 inhibitors were analyzed during the first year after their diagnosis. Associated factors for COX-2 inhibitor use were examined using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: We identified 2,857,999 incident knee OA patients (955,259 in 2013, 981,314 in 2014, and 921,426 in 2015). The mean ± standard deviation age of patients was 64.2 ± 9.8 years. The frequency of COX-2 inhibitor use as initial treatment increased from 3.5% in 2013 to 7.2% in 2015 (P < 0.01). In patients taking the medication regularly for one year after diagnosis (medication possession ratio ≥ 50%), COX-2 inhibitor use also rapidly increased from 5.5% in 2013 to 11.1% in 2015 (P < 0.01). However, the frequencies of non-selective NSAID and analgesic use did not decrease remarkably. Factors associated with patients using COX-2 inhibitors on initial drug treatment were older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.08), female (OR, 1.24), and comorbidity (OR, 1.03). Type of institution, physician speciality, and insurance type of patients were also associated. Conclusion In Korea, COX-2 inhibitors have rapidly increased as an initial treatment for knee OA patients, but it has not appeared to reduce the use of non-selective NSAIDs and analgesics.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of microporous, spherical biphasic calcium phosphate(BCP) ceramics with a 60/40 hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate weight ratio for application as a bone graft substitute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microporous, spherical BCP granules(MGSB) were prepared and their basic characteristics were compared with commercially available BCP(MBCP; Biomatlante, France) and deproteinized bovine bone mineral(Bio-Oss; Geistlich-Pharma, Switzerland, BBP; Oscotec, Korea). Their physicochemical properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Cell viability and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells on different graft materials were evaluated. RESULTS: MGSB granules showed a chemical composition and crystallinity similar with those in MBCP, they showed surface structure characteristic of three dimensionally, well-interconnected micropores. The results of MTT assay showed increases in cell viablity with increasing incubation times. At 4d of incubation, MGSB, MBCP and BBP showed similar values in optical density, but Bio-Oss exhibited significantly lower optical density compared to other bone substitutes(p < 0.05). MGSB showed significantly greater cell number compared to other bone substitutes at 3, 5, and 7d of incubation(p < 0.05), which were similar with those in polystyrene culture plates. CONCLUSION: These results indicated the suitable physicochemical properties of MGSB granules for application as an effective bone graft substitute, which provided compatible environment for osteoblast cell growth. However, further detailed studies are needed to confirm its biological effects on bone formation in vivo.
Bone Substitutes ; Calcium* ; Cell Count ; Cell Survival ; Ceramics* ; Crystallins ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Plasma ; Polystyrenes ; Spectrum Analysis ; Switzerland ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: The scalp is the second most visible part of the anatomy next to the face. Thus, aesthetic considerations such as scars and alopecia are important when planning excision of a mass from the scalp. Aesthetic results have not been satisfactory due to scar widening and hair follicle injury. Many methods have been tried to improve these results, however, they require multiple procedures and longer operation time. METHODS: We evaluated a easy and time-saving V-shape incision for excising a scalp mass. This technique of simplified V-shape incision was performed in 32 patients with benign scalp masses treated from September 2011 to March 2013. The incisions were performed with a blade to make a V-shape margin and preserve deep hair follicles at the flap margins. The defect was closed by approximation of two edges. RESULTS: All tumors were benign and superficial. The size of the scalp masses was 0.4-2.0 cm in width and 1.0-5.0 cm in length. Many hairs from the deep hair follicles grew into the scar, making the scar line almost unnoticeable in all 32 patients. Although some scar widening was evident, the number of hairs per unit was high enough to camouflage the scars. CONCLUSIONS: The simplified V-shape incision was beneficial as a simple, mini-surgical, time-saving procedure. Although the scars were slightly wider, they were covered with penetrating hairs and became unnoticeable.
Alopecia ; Cicatrix ; Hair ; Hair Follicle* ; Humans ; Scalp

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic Ultrasonography(EUS), a combination of endoscopy and ultrasonography is one of the most useful tools for diagnosis of digestive system diseases. EUS is useful in staging the primary tumor invasion and regional lymph node metastasis because of its ability to image the gut wall and adjacent structures in unique detail. We performed a study preoperatively for assessing the accuracy and limitation of EUS in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: In 75 patients(Male 54, Female 21, Mean age 62.3 years) with a gastric carcinoma confirmed by endoscopic biopsy, we performed EUS preoperatively. The results were compared with the postoperative histopathologic staging. RESULTS: 1) In assessing the depth of tumor invasion, EUS accuracy on depth of invasion was 76.0% and overstaging and understaging were 14.7% and 9.3%, respectively. 2) In assessing the lymph node metastasis, the accuracy rate of EUS was 65.3%. A rate of false-positive diagnosis was 27.3%, and a rate of false-negative diagnosis was 24.5%.3) In assessing the incidence of lymph node metastasis for each T stage, the involve rate was 10.5% in pT1, 36.4% in pT2, 95.7% in pT3, 100% in pT4. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is the most accurate diagnostic methods presently available to determine tumor infiltration depth and lymph node metastasis.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Digestive System Diseases ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography* ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestines* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach* ; Ultrasonography

Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (MCD) is a relatively rare hereditary disease of the skeletal system, in which disproportionate dwarfism sparing the trunk is noted. Among the four subtypes of MCD, the Schmid type is relatively common and shows minimal clinical abnormalities. We report a boy, diagnosed to have MCD, Schmid type, and who was followed-up for 17 years until skeletal maturity, during this period he underwent proximal femoral valgus osteotomies as well as tibial deformity correction with lengthening and femoral lengthening procedures.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Dwarfism ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Humans ; Male ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the relationship of family function, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and general characteristics to loneliness in community dwelling Korean elders and identify factors affecting loneliness. METHOD: With a cross-sectional causal-relationship design and a convenience sample, 205 elders residing in three districts of the city of Seoul, S. Korea were recruited. Participants were assessed using the Family APGAR Score, Self-Esteem Scale, Life-Satisfaction Scale, and Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: The mean score for degree of loneliness (Mean=39.61, SD=10.09) was just below the mean for the scale (Possible range 20-80). Loneliness had significant negative correlations with family function (r= -.400, p<.001), self-esteem (r= -.399, p<.001), and life satisfaction (r= -.644, p<.001). Other general characteristics that had significant or nearly significant relationships with loneliness were perceived current financial and health status, whether doing any exercise or physical activities, degree of close relationship with family members, and length of living in current residence. Among variables, life satisfaction (Standardized beta = -.589, p<.001) and length of living in current residence (Standardized beta = -.136, p<.05) significantly predicted degree of loneliness. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study allow a comprehensive understanding of loneliness and related factors among community dwelling elders in Korea. However, further studies with a larger random sample from various living environments are necessary.
Apgar Score ; Humans ; Korea ; Loneliness* ; Motor Activity ; Seoul

Liquid-Based Uterine Cervicovaginal Cytology is known to be a sensitive and effective screening method for cervical neoplasm. MonoPrepTM, ThinPrepTM, and SurePathTM methods have been recently used as Liquid- Based Uterine Cervicovaginal Cytology techniques, and the SurePathTM method has been used in Sung-Yoon Reference Laboratory since 2003. The goal of Liquid-Based Uterine Cervicovaginal Cytology is to separate cervical epithelial cells from non-target cells, red blood cells and neutrophils. This report describes a study which evaluated cellularity, stainability, and cellular changes of epithelial cells in samples processed using a manual technique as compared to samples processed using SurePathTM automated method. The samples processed by means of a manual technique contained a cellularity of epithelial cells similar to that of the samples processed using the SurePathTM automated method. In addition, we compared variable density gradient reagents, including dextran, dextrose, and sucrose, to SurePathTM gradient media in order to evaluate cell fractionation and cellularity of epithelial cells. 10% dextran of gradient media shows good fractionation. The samples processed with 10% dextran demonstrated sufficient cellularity of epithelial cells and shows the fewest cellular changes. In conclusion, using a manual technique on these samples is easier to read than those results obtained using the SurePathTM automated method.
Cell Fractionation ; Cervix Uteri ; Dextrans ; Epithelial Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Glucose ; Indicators and Reagents ; Mass Screening ; Neutrophils ; Sucrose ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms