PURPOSE: The purpose was to compare operating room (OR) nurses and general ward nurses on their communication competence and interpersonal relationship ability within the medical team. METHODS: Participants were 276 nurses (OR 122, ward 154) working in one of 4 university hospitals located in I and K areas. Data were collected using a questionnaire and data collection was done in June, 2013. Comparisons between OR nurses and general ward nurses on communication competence and interpersonal relationship ability were analyzed using ANCOVA. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in communication competence (F=11.96, p=.001) with average score for OR nurses at 3.37 points and ward nurses at 3.53 points. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in interpersonal relationship ability (F=15.51, p<.001) with the average score for OR nurses at 3.30 points and ward nurses at 3.50 points. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to develop a variety of programs to promote communication competence in OR nurses and to enhance the openness of interpersonal relationship ability in human resource management.
Data Collection ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Mental Competency* ; Operating Rooms* ; Patients' Rooms* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The propose of this study was to identify fatigue, pain and coping of pain and to compare the variables between fibromyalgia and chronic arthritis. The sample consisted of 133 patients who visited H university hospital. Data were collected by questionnaire from May 1 to September 30, 1999. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics. chi-test. pearson correlation coefficient. and ANOVA. As a results, most of all patients felt fatigue and the mean score of the fatigue was above average. The mean score of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients on pain was higher than Osteoarthritis patients. and there was the statistically significant difference among three groups on pain(F=10.63. p=0.00). There was also the statistical difference among three groups on coping of pain(F=4.74, p=0.01). The mean score of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients on coping of pain was higher than Osteoarthritis patients. Fatigue showed positive relationship with pain(r= .262, p= .002). and pain showed positive relationship with coping of pain(r=.319. p=.000). According to this finding, fibromyalgia patients and rheumatoid arthritis patients felt high fatigue and pain, therefore the development of nursing intervention for relieving fatigue and pain would be needed.
Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Fatigue* ; Fibromyalgia* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Osteoarthritis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of Koryo Hand-Acupuncture on health status(pain, trunk flexion, IADL, depression) of patients with chronic low back pain. METHOD: This study used a quasi experimental pre-test and post-test design. Data were collected from December 1st, 2000 to December 20th, 2001. 63 chronic low back pain patients(35 experimental group, 28 control group) admitted to the Back-School and consented to this study. The experimental group participated in treatment : Koryo Hand-Acupuncture and AB-Bong. Two groups was homogeneity. After 4 weeks the effects of treatment on the health status was measured between experimental and control group. Data were analyzed using SPSSWIN 10.0 with crosstab, t-test, and paired t-test. RESULT: In the experimental group, pain(t=4.85, p=.000) and IADL difficulty(t=2.05, p=.045) was significantly lower than those in the control group. It makes no difference trunk flexion(t=-1.60, p=.114) and depression(t=1.50, p=.138) between experimental and control group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Koryo-Hand Acupuncture is an effective method for reducing pain and IADL difficulty in patients with chronic low back pain, and is considered as a independent nursing intervention for chronic low back pain.

This study was designed to offer descriptive data for nursing intervention for relief of fatigue and pain, and to distinguish by the characteristic difference and the symptoms such as fatigue and pain on Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Fibromyalgia(FM), and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) patients. The sample consisted of 92 patients(AS 29; FM 30; SLE 33) who visited H-University Rheumatism Hospital in Seoul. The data were collected by a structured questionnaire from May 1, 1999 to April 30, 2000. The results were as follows: Patients of 95% experienced fatigue in the last week and a fatigue score of three disease groups were above average. The fatigue score of FM patients was highest in the other disease, but which was not a statistically significant difference(F=1.417, p=.248). The mean score of AS and FM patients in pain was higher than the SLE patients, and there was the statistical significance among the three groups on pain (F=8.239, p=.001). There wasn't a statistical difference among three groups on coping wtih pain(F=1.451, p=.240). There wasn't any correlation between fatigue and pain in each disease (AS: r=.008, p=.966; FM: r=.328, p=.077; SLE: r=.237,p=.185). Therefore, morning stiffness and pain management during sleeping is needed through good body alignment in the AS patients. Adequate rest for fatigue and multiple coping strategies for pain maybe basic nursing intervention in FM and SLE. According to their fatigue rhythm, a regular exercise program is needed for rheumatic disease because they complained of fatigue above average and their fatigue was repeated better and worse only during the one week.
Fatigue* ; Fibromyalgia ; Humans ; Nursing ; Pain Management ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Seoul ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The amino acid L-glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in central nervous system of vertebrates. NMDA( n-methyl-d-aspartate) is one of the L-glutamate receptor subtypes. During a critical period of early postnatal development, the visual cortex is susceptible to experience-dependent modification of neuronal response. Recently, the activation of NMDA receptors has been supposed as an prerequisite for the induction of such modification We therefore investigated developmental changes of NMDA receptors in rat visual cortex and questioned whether they could be related to the visual development. We assessed the density of [3H] NMDA receptor in visual cortex of normally reared rats (Group I) and visually deprivated rats (Group II) using quantitative autoradiography. The density of [3H] NMDA receptor was increased rapidly by postnatal 1 week and decreased after postnatal 5 weeks, and was significantly lower in Group II than Group I during early postnatal period. These results suggest that NMDA receptors may have a role in neuronal development in visual cortex.
Animals ; Autoradiography ; Central Nervous System ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Glutamic Acid ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Rats* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate* ; Vertebrates ; Visual Cortex*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between decision-making factors(theoretical knowledge, expertise, empowerment, intuition) and participation in proportion to nurses's clinical experience. METHOD: Data was collected by quota sampling from July 10, 2001 to August 22, 2001 from 132 clinical nurses who work for 3 General hospitals. Data was analyzed using SPSSWIN 10.0 with crosstab, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULT: Expertise(F=34.347, p=.000), empowerment(F=29.316, p=.000), and participation(F=3.276, p=.041) were significantly different among 3 clinical experience groups. Clinical experience correlated with expertise(r=.551, p=.000) and empowerment(r=.492, p=.000), and Decision-making participation also correlated with expertise(r=.351, p=.000) and empowerment(r=.265, p=.002). Decision-making participation is effected by theoretical knowledge(under 3.00yr clinical experience), expertise(3.01-5.00yr), and empowerment(above 5.01yr). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that factors(theoretical knowledge, expertise, or empowerment) on decision-making participation varies as nurses's clinical experience differs. Therefore, decision-making needs bilateral agreement between staff nurses and nurse managers rather than the responsibility of one.
Adult ; *Decision Making ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Nurses/*psychology

The amino acid L-glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of vertebrates(1). NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) is one of the L-glutamate receptor subtypes(2). During a critical period of early postnatal development, the visual cortex is susceptible to experience-dependent modification of neuronal responses. Recently, the activation of NMDA receptors has been supposed as a prerequisite for the induction of such modification(3). We therefore investigated developmental changes of NMDA receptors in the rat visual cortex and questioned whether they could be related to the visual development. We assessed the density of [(3)H]-NMDA receptor in the visual cortex of normally reared rate (Group I) and visually deprived rats (Group II) using quantitative autoradiography(4). The density of [(3)H]-NMDA receptor was significantly lower in Group II than in group I during the early postnatal period, and increased rapidly by postnatal 1 week and, decreased after postnatal 5 weeks. These results suggested that NMDA receptors may play a role in neuronal development in the visual cortex during the early postnatal period.
Animals ; Autoradiography ; Dark Adaptation ; Eyelids/surgery ; Glutamates/metabolism ; Glutamic Acid ; Light ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/*metabolism ; Visual Cortex/growth & development/*metabolism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of interpersonal attitude (I+, I-, U+, U-) on communication competence in care workers for frail elderly. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey. The data were collected from 153 care workers for frail elderly using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The interpersonal attitude style of subjects was I+U+, and the score of communication competence was 3.53. There were significant differences in interpersonal attitude (I+, I-), and communication competence depending on age, education level, experience of personality type test (yes). Factors influencing on communication competence in care workers were interpersonal attitude (I+, I-, U+) and experience of personality type test with R2 value of 48.5% (F=23.47 p<.001). The most influencing factor was I+ (beta=.36), followed by I- (beta=-.22), U+ (beta=.20), and experience of personality type test (yes) (beta=.16). CONCLUSION: It is needed to maintain the interpersonal attitude style (I+U+) of care workers. Continuing education program is needed for increasing communication competence especially for those fifties and over, and experienced care workers. Giving an opportunity for personality test is helpful to increase communication competence in care workers.
Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Continuing ; Frail Elderly ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Personality Tests ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was carried out to assess the perception of decisional balance of Korean subjects about 4 health behaviors and to identify the influencing factor of decisional balance for exercise acquisition, smoking cessation, mammography screening and Kegel's exercise acquisition. All are representative health behaviors nurses can intervene in Korea based on the Transtheoretical model. Convenient samples of 2,484 subjects (191; exercise, 169; smoking cessation, 1903; mammography screening and 221; Kegel's exercise) were selected from cities and counties over 9 provinces throughout Korea, and the data was collected from January 1, 1999 to February 29, 2000. The research instrument were the Decisional Balance Measure for Exercise (Marcus & Owen., 1992), Smoking Cessation (Velicer et al., 1985), Mammography Screening (Rakowski et al.,1992) and Kegel Exercise (Lim, 1999) and Stage of Change Measure for Exercise (Marcus et al, 1992), Smoking Cessation (DiClemente et al., 1991), Mammography Screening (Rakowski et al.,1992) and Kegel's Exercise (Lim, 1999). The data was analyzed by the SAS Program. The results are as follows; 1. According to the stage of change measure, 2,484 subjects were distributed in each stage of change for four health behaviors: 1,233 subjects (49.8%), 745 subjects (30.2%), 113 subjects (4.7%), 156 subjects (6.5%), and 216 (8.7%) belonged to the pre- contemplation stage, contemplation stage, preparation stage, action stage and maintenance stage. They were all series of stages of change in their efforts to do health behavior. 2. Factor analysis identified 3 factors (1 of Pros, 2 of Cons) for the exercise, 4 factors for smoking cessation (2 of Pros, 2 of Cons), 2 factors (1 of Pros, 1 of Cons) for the mammogram screening and 2 factors (1 of Pros, 1 of Cons) for Kegel's exercise of decisional balance. 3. The analysis of variance and multiple comparison analysis showed that for all 4 samples, the Cons of changing the problem behaviors outweighed the Pros for subjects who were in the pre- contemplation stage, The opposite was true for subjects in action and maintenance stage. 4. Through the discriminant analysis, it was found that one factor of Pros for exercise, one factor of Cons for smoking cessation, 1 factor of Cons for mammogram screening and one factor of Cons for Kegel's exercise were the more influencing factors, than others in discriminating the stages of change. Results are consistent with the applications of the Transtheoretical model, which have been used to understand how people change health behaviors. This results provide some evidence that subject's report of his/her health behavior corresponds to beliefs about usefulness of related health behaviors. The results of this study have implications for patients' health education and health intervention strategies. The findings of this study give useful information for nursing educators for 4 health behaviors, especially the factors relating to decision making in the different stages of change.
Decision Making ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Korea* ; Mammography* ; Mass Screening* ; Nursing ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking*

The emergency arteriography have been performed in a total of 13 patiens with extermity trauma, including 9fractures, 3 blunting traumas, and 1 penetrating injury. over 17 months period. The indications were as follows:absent or diminishe pulse, swelling, sensory or motor deficit , and hypotension. Patients with an absent pulse,the most reliable indication of arterial injury, should have immediate arteriography. The superficial femoralartery was commonly injured especially with distal femoral shaft fracture. The most common arteriographic findingswas arterial occlusion.
Angiography ; Emergencies ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hypotension