PURPOSE: This study provides useful basic information about caring for elderly women. It also promotes understanding by confirming what can vitalize the women and improve quality of life in elderly women as they continue to become important in the society which is moving towards being an "aged society". METHOD: Grounded theory a qualitative research method, was use to develop new thesis regarding life's vitality in elderly women. Thirteen women participated in the research. They were women without any problems in perception or communication and who agreed to participate in the research. RESULT: The results, using analysis process of Strauss and Corbin (1990), showed that life's vitality in elderly women is to bring well-being through vitalization against weakness. CONCLUSION: Based on such these results, this study will be helpful to nursing mediation and policy development which will improve the quality of life of elderly women through better understanding and promotion of life's vitality.
Aged* ; Female ; Humans ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Policy Making ; Qualitative Research ; Quality of Life

The purpose of this study was to analyse the current adult nursing curriculum content in diploma and baccaleurate level nursing schools. The Study was initiated by the Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing and data were collected from these institutions from March 1997 to April 1998. The questionnaire was constructed after several meetings of researchers which included course description, objectives, conceptual framework, credits(theory and practicum), number of teaching staffs, content and hours for each content. The questionnaire was sent to all of the nursing schools(41 baccalaureate and 62 diploma) in the nation and the response rate were 53.7% in baccalaureate and 25.8% in diploma schools. Primary analysis was took place during summer workship of 1997 Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing. The second analysis was carried out after additional data of detailed content and hours in adult nursing course were obtained from the schools. The result of primary analysis were as below : 1) The consensus in philosophy of adult nursing was drawn. The client of adult nursing was defined as individual over 18 years who has psychological, physical, social and spiritual aspects and interacting with environment. The client is a member of family and community. The students who finished the course should be able to adapt nursing process to their clients, and improve quality of life. The client, nursing process and nursing were common concepts which included in their conceptual framework. 2) Theory credits ranged 9-18(mean 14.1), practicum credits ranged 5-12(mean 8.1). The number of teaching staffs ranged from 2-6(mean 3.2). 3) The content which most hours assigned to were neuro/endocrine(mean 30.8 hours) gastrointestinal(mean 28.4 hours), cardiovascular(mean 28.6 hours) and respiratory(mean 22.7 hours) systems. 4) Areas taught by other profession(mostly physician) were eye, ear, nose, throat integumentary, radiation therapy, neuromuscular, rehabilitation, respiratory physiology, male genitourinary, pathology and anesthesiology. 5) Contents overlap with other course content should be rearranged in each school curriculums. Improvement of RN national board examination is prerequsite in order to improve adult nursing education in Korea. The result of second analysis were as below : 1) Credits required for graduation were 130-175 in baccalaureate, 93-134 in diploma. Thirteen to Twenty-eight percent of total credits required for nursing major were credits of adult nursing. 2) Mean hours of total adult nursing lecture were 217 in baccalareuate and 212 in diploma. 3) Disease process occupied more hours than nursing process in adult nursing theory. It is suggested to include all nursing educational institutions in order to complete the survey, to delineate the core contents of adult nursing and rate of hours between theory and practise by Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing.
Adult* ; Anesthesiology ; Consensus ; Curriculum* ; Ear ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nose ; Nursing Process ; Nursing Theory ; Nursing* ; Pathology ; Pharynx ; Philosophy ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena ; Schools, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Candidiasis*

PURPOSE: To determine (1) the relationship between the cortical defects seen on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans and age, and (2) the presence and degree of vesicoureteral reflux, and then to depict the risk factors for cortical defects in children with acute urinary tract infection (UTI). Furthermore, to assess the diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting a defect on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 134 kidneys in 67 children aged 15 days-10 years (M:F=39:28) in whom symptomatic UTI was present. In all these children, both DMSA renal scans and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) were performed. Scanning took place within 7 days of diagnosis and VCUG was performed after one month of diagnosis. Scintigraphic findings were graded according to the extent and number of cortical defects. We evaluated the relationships between the cortical defects seen on DMSA scans and age, and the grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting cortical defects was analysed. Results: The prevalence of cortical defects was greater in patients older than two years (38/54, 70%) than in those aged less than two (38/80, 48%). The frequency of cortical defects was related to vesicoureteral reflux (p<0.05) and grade of reflux (p<0.05). As this latter increased, the extent of cortical defects also increased (p<0.05), and DMSA scans revealed the presence of these in 76 of the 134 kidneys (57%) with acute UTI. In 30 of these 76 (39.5%), VCUG demonstrated the presence of vesicoureteral reflex. On the other hand, vesi-coureteral reflex was found in 36 of the 134 kidneys (27%), and in 30 of these 36 (83%), cortical defects were noted. The sensitivity of VCUG in predicting cortical defect was 39.5%, while specificity was 89.7%. The positive predictive value for defects was 83.3%, and the negative predictive value was 53.1%. The relative risk of cortical defect in the presence of vesicoureteral reflux was 1.78. CONCLUSION: Renal cortical defects are significantly related to age and grade of vesicoureteral reflux. Risk factors for developing cortical defects were older age (> or =2yrs) at the time of acute UTI, and high grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The specificity of VCUG in predicting cortical defects is relatively high but the sensitivitiy is low, and a significant proportion of cortical defects therefore occurred in the absence of vesicoureteral reflux.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney ; Prevalence ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Reflex ; Risk Factors* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

The purpose of this study is to develop the standards of care in rehabilitation nurse specialist. This study was a descriptive survey. The data were collected 143 nurses who were worked in rehabilitation unit at 4 university hospital and 3 rehabilitation center in Korea from Aug. to Nov. 2000. The questionnaire was consisted of 78 items developed by the standards of care in rehabilitation nurse specialist in A.R.N. and the practice contents of care at rehabilitation unit in Korea. Collected data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, S.D. ANOVA The results are as follows 1. For the adequency of the practice contents of rehabilitation nursing, area of skin care is the highest score, and safety, elimination, emotion, respiration, was ordered. 2. The adequency of the practice contents of rehabilitation nursing according to age, educational level. position. clinical experience, clinical experience in rehabilitation unit were significant difference.
Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Rehabilitation Nursing ; Rehabilitation* ; Respiration ; Skin Care ; Specialization* ; Standard of Care*

We experienced chronic relapsing central corneal ulcer and chronic conjunctivitis with mucoid discharge. Both patients were transfered to our hospital because of no improvement with long term treatment of broad spectrum antibiotics topically and systemically Specimens from corneal scraping and conjunctival mucoid discharge were examined with calcofluor white staining method. We could find a narrow rim of light green colored cystic wall and orange red colored cytoplasm in dark field fluorescent microscopy in both cases, and those were diagnosed as Acnthamoebic cyst by pathologist. We couldn't find any report about ocular Aanthamoeba infections in Korea. To our knowledge, this is the first case report about ocular Acanthamoebic infections in Korea.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis* ; Acanthamoeba* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Citrus sinensis ; Conjunctivitis ; Corneal Ulcer ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Korea ; Methyl Green ; Microscopy

BACKGROUND: An exact ABO blood group is essential for prevention of transfusion accident and safe transfusion therapy. It is known that one of causes of ABO discrepancies is ABO subgroup caused by genetic polymorphism. Therefore, we analyzed ABO genotype of ABO discrepancies in blood donors and studied the distribution and cause of ABO discrepancies. METHODS: This study examined 118 samples showing ABO discrepancies of ABO blood typing between May 2003 and Dec 2003. ABO genotyping using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method was performed on 118 samples. Restriction enzymes including BssH II, Kpn I and Alu I were used for PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The genotypes of 118 cases were composed of 43 cases of A/B, 12 cases of A/O, 10 cases of B/O, 1 case of B/B, 37 cases of cis-AB/O, 4 cases of cis-AB/A, 11 cases of cis-AB/B. The genotype of cis-AB/O showed 32 cases with phenotype A2 B3 , 2 cases with phenotype A2 B, 2 cases with phenotype A1 B3 , 1 case with phenotype Ael B. The genotype of cis-AB/B showed 11 cases with phenotype A2 B, and cis-AB/A showed 2 cases with phenotype A2 B3 , 1 case with phenotype A1 Bx and 1 case with phenotype A1 Bel. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrated that the most frequent genotype of ABO discrepancies in our study is cis-AB. The most predominent phenotype of cis-AB/O is A2 B3 . ABO genotyping is useful in resolving ABO discrepancies, and determination of ABO subgroups.
Blood Donors* ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Genotype ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVES: The critical pathways provide high quality of medical services in a cost-effective manner. To investigate the decrease in length of hospital stay and increase of cost effectiveness by using critical pathways, we compared hospital stay, cost of treatment, and the patient's satisfaction before and after critical pathway use. METHODS: We made a critical pathway team, which consisted of obstetric staff members, a resident, two nurses, a pharmacist, two clerical staff members. We made critical pathways for the medical team and patients. A prospective evaluation of a critical pathway for cesarean section was used as a comparison for control patients. RESULTS: The data for 305 patients with a critical pathway were compared to those of 136 control patients. The mean hospital stay is shorter in critical pathway patients than control patients. The cost of treatment decreased and differences between DRG (Diagnosed Related Groups) and cost of treatment increased in critical pathway patients. CONCLUSIONS: Using critical pathways in cesarean section decreased the duration of hospital stay and increased cost effectivesess. The critical pathways were useful as a means to minimize cost while increasing patient satisfaction.
Cesarean Section* ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Critical Pathways* ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pharmacists ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies

Recently, the number of Korean travelers and workers to malaria-endemic regions has increased, and the number of patients with imported malaria cases has increased as well. In Korea, most cases of imported malaria infections are caused by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Only one report of imported P. malariae infection has been published thus far. Here, we describe a case of imported P. malariae infection that was confirmed by peripheral blood smear and nested PCR targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. A 53-yr-old man, who had stayed in the Republic of Guinea in tropical West Africa for about 40 days, experienced fever and headache for 3 days before admission. The results of rapid malaria test using the SD Malaria Antigen/Antibody Kit (Standard Diagnostics, Korea) were negative, but Wright-Giemsa stained peripheral blood smear revealed Plasmodium. To identify the Plasmodium species and to examine if the patient had a mixed infection, we performed nested PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene. P. malariae single infection was confirmed by nested PCR. Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene of P. malariae showed that the isolated P. malariae was P. malariae type 2. Thus, our findings suggest that when cases of imported malaria infection are suspected, infection with P. malariae as well as P. falciparum and P. vivax should be considered. For the accurate diagnosis and treatment of imported malaria cases, we should confirm infection with Plasmodium species by PCR as well as peripheral blood smear and rapid malaria antigen test.
Africa, Western ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Genes, rRNA ; Guinea* ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria ; Plasmodium ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Plasmodium malariae* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUND: This study was purposed to identify the knowledge and performance level of the infection control guidelines and to improve their performance level of infection control for those nurses who care patients directly. METHODS: This study was based on the survey questionnaires about infection control guidelines with the total 626 nurses in Seoul and Kyunggi areas for the period between May 26, 2003 and July 14, 2003. RESULTS: The average knowledge level of infection control was 0.84 +/-0.07 (score range 0-1) and the average performance level of the infection control was 4.44+/-10.27 (score range 0-5). The correlation between knowledge and performance of the infection control showed positive correlation (r=.39; P<.001). The knowledge and performance level of the 'Prevention of the central catheter infection' were higher than other infection control guidelines. The performance levels of the 'Prevention of the surgical site infection' were lower than other infection control guidelines. The correlation between knowledge and performance of the 'Prevention of the nosocomial pneumonia' (r=.389; P<.001). 'Prevention of the urinary tract infection' (r=.325; P<.001), 'Prevention of the central catheter infection (r=.290; P<.001) and 'Intravascular infection control' (r=.446; P<.001) showed positive correlation. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the nurses' knowledge and performance of infection control guidelines showed positive correlation. So the education on the infection control is required indispensably and it would contribute to reduce the hospital infection rate by performing the right treatment on the infection control with the basis of accurate knowledge.
Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Infection Control* ; Seoul ; Urinary Tract ; Surveys and Questionnaires