This study was a descriptive research in search of a nursing intervention scheme to improve stroke patients' quality of life by understanding the relationship of stroke patients' ADL. depression, self-efficacy and quality of life with various variables and identifying factors that affect their quality of life. Each subject was interviewed one to one based on a structured questionnaire. With regard to research tools, Modified Barthel Index (MBI: Fortinsky et al., 1981), which was translated by Choi, Hye-sook (996), was used in measuring ADL, Randloff's (1977) tool. which was translated by Choi, Soon-hee, was used in measuring depression, and the tool developed by Sherer et al. (1982), which is to measures self-efficacy under general conditions not limited to specific conditions, and modified by O, Bok-ja (1994) was used in measuring self-efficacy. The quality of life was measured using the scale of satisfaction of life developed by Diener et al.(1985). The results of this study were as follows: 1. The means of ADL of the subjects was 79.5+/-1.9, depression 26.8+/-0.4. self-efficacy 47.1+/-5.7, and the quality of life 12.3+/-.9. 2. The subjects' quality of life showed a statistically significant difference according to gender (t=7.9, p= .006), satisfaction with income (F= 5.8, p = .004), the burden of medical fee (F=3.7, p= .028) and the period of disease (F=2.8. p= .042). 3. With regard to relationship among ADL, depression, self-efficacy and the quality of life, ADL was in a relatively low positive correlation (r= .293, p= .003) with and the quality of life, depression in a high negative correlation (r=- .634. p= .000) with the quality of life. and self-efficacy in a positive correlation with the quality of life (r= .388. p= .000). 4. Factors that made a significant influence on the quality of life were depression (8=- .309. p= .001) and satisfaction with income (8=-2.611. p= .001). Based on these results, this study made following suggestions: 1. It is necessary to run rehabilitation programs to improve stroke patients' ADL, depression and self-efficacy. 2. It is necessary to perform research of monitoring stroke patients' quality of life in various areas using measuring tools.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Depression* ; Fees, Medical ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke*

Between December 1994 and December 1996, 42 patients underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair in our institute. Among them, 31 patients with a follow up more than one year were reviewed. Mean age was 24.4 years(range, 18-52 years) and mean interval between onset of symptom and opera- tion was 12.3 months(range, 3 days-6 years). The associated injuries were tibial plateau fracture(6 cases), anterior cruciate ligament injury(4 cases) and posterior cruciate ligament injury(2 cases). The type of tear were longitudinal in 28 cases(90%) and combined in 3 cases(10%). Most of the meniscal tear were encountered in posterior hom(12 cases, 39%) and middle portion(11 cases, 35%). Out side to in technique was used in anterior horn tears and inside to out technique in middle or posterior hom tears. In tibial plateau fractures, arthroscopic assisted reduction was performed with autogenous bone graft. Ligament reconstructions were performed in the cases of associated cruciate ligament injury. According to Ikeuchis grading system, the result was satisfactory(excellent or good) in 23 cases(74%), fair in 6 cases(19%) and poor in 2 cases(6%). But in the cases of isolated meniscal injury, the result was satisfactory in 95%. The result of arthroscopic repair in the meniscal tears associated with other intra-articular injuries seems to be worse than that of the isolated injuries.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Follow-Up Studies ; Horns ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Adolescent smoking is one of the most serious social problems. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the attitude of parent and school on smoking status and to help to reduce the smoke rate in high school students. METHODS: Data was collected by self-administered questionnaire between September and October 2002. The study subjects were 977 students of 7 high schools in the Nonsan area. The data was analysed by using the SPSS program which included t-test, X2-test and logistic regression test. RESULTS: The smoking rates were 18.1% of general school students and 20.8% of vocational school in males, while 2.6% of general school students and 7.9% of vocational school in females. The mean starting age for the first cigarette was 15.3+/-1.9 in males and 15.6+/-1.3 in females. The mean age for regular smoking was 16.0+/-1.3 in males and 16.2+/-1.3 in females. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the smoking rate increased in males (OR=2.75), early age for the first cigarette (OR=7.04), small family (OR=8.60), high family income (OR=1.95), colleagae smoking (OR=5.68), strict attitude by school (OR=0.28) and loss of one's parents (OR=2.58). Among smokers, 71.4% of male smokers and 75% of female smokers wanted to quit. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the strict attitude of parents on their children's smoking decreased the smoking rate, while the stern attitude of school on their students increased it. Therefore, in order to decrease smoking rate, the strict attitude of parents on smoking should be continued and the attitude of school will have to consider aspects of students' characteristics and their interests when they propose to practice a school-based education program. It may have an effect on smoking prevention and reduction of the smoking rate.
Adolescent ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Parents* ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking* ; Social Problems ; Tobacco Products ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare the effectiveness of web based learning versus traditional education for learning foley-catheterization in Basic Nursing. METHOD: This study was a quasi-experimental research. The participants were 60 students who were taking Basic Nursing at A nursing college (3 years) in G city. Thirty students each were assigned to the experimental or control group. Data were collected between October 20 and November 4, 2003. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANCOVA. RESULTS: The mean score for competence in foley-catheterization practice in the experimental group was 48.63 and in the control group, 44.67. This result was statistically significant (t=7.655, p=.001). The mean score for knowledge in the experimental group was 63.0, while for the control group, 64.0. This result was not statistically significant (t=-.330, p=.743). The mean score for confidence in learning in the experimental group was 26.70 for the pre-test and 30.73 for the post-test, and in the control group 27.93 and 28.37 respectively, but this result was not statistically significant (F=.858, p=.358). CONCLUSION: The Web based learning was found to be effective in nursing practice but not nursing knowledge. It is necessary to continue to develop approaches to teaching nursing and to evaluate these approaches with further research.
Education ; Education, Nursing* ; Humans ; Learning* ; Mental Competency* ; Nursing*

This experiment was performed to study the morphological responses of the thymic cortex of the mice after administration of BCG. Healthy adult mice weighing 25gm each were divided into normal and experimental groups. BCG[0.03X108-0.32X108 CFU] were injected subcutaneously to the animals every other day, and animals were sacrificed at 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 8 weeks following the first injection. Thymus were removed immediately after sacrifice and transferred to cold phosphate buffered 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solution[pH 7.3], and cut into small pieces. Tissue samples were fixed for 2-3 hours in the same fixative, postfixed with phosphate buffered 1% osmium tetroxide solution[pH 7.3], dehydrated in a graded series of alcohol, and embedded in araldite mixture. Ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with a JEM 100CX-II electron microscope. The observed results were as follow : 1. In the early BCG treated groups, a few eosinophile leucocytes were observed, but more eosinophils were observed in later groups. Some elongated and bar-shaped lysosomes with eletron lucent gap were often obserced in the macrophages. 2. Cortical population of thymocytes in the thymus were reduced, whereas territoris of the epithelial reticular cells were expanded especially in 2 weeks and 8 weeks groups. Some portion of the thymic cortex exhibited large intercellular spaces, and a few nuclear bodies filled with materials of medium density were observed in the epithelial reticular cells. 3. In the 8 weeks groups, macrophages, plasma cells and eosinopile leucocytes and developing eosinophile leucocytes were often observed in the thymic cortex. Distended cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticula and newly forming prosecretory granulses in the Golgi complex were ovserved in som plasma cells. From the above results, it was suggested that repeated treatment with BCG could induce disturb the maturation and differentiation of the T lymphocytes. In turn, BCG, if repeatedly injected, may disturb the immunological medchanism.
Adult ; Animals ; Citric Acid ; Eosinophils ; Extracellular Space ; Golgi Apparatus ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; Macrophages ; Mice* ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Osmium Tetroxide ; Plasma Cells ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

STUDY DESIGN: Research using radiographic findings. OBJECTIVES: To compare spinopelvic parameters in detail between normal subjects and those who had bilateral gonarthrosis with or without spondylosis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The relationship between knee joint flexion contracture and hypolordosis in the lumbar spine has been well established. However, spinopelvic parameters in subjects with gonarthrosis without flexion contracture have not been well described in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven male subjects in their 60s with bilateral gonarthrosis over Kellgren-Lawrence grade III were included. They were subdivided into the KS group (with spinal osteoarthritis, n=32) and the KN group (without spinal osteoarthritis, n=25). Normal asymptomatic subjects without disease in their back or leg were analyzed as the control group (NN; n=84). The following spinopelvic parameters were measured and compared; C7 plumbline (C7PL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI). RESULTS: In the KS group, the C7PL was significantly anteriorly displaced compared to the KN group (1.7±4.5 cm vs. −0.6±2.9 cm, p=0.031) and the NN group (1.7±4.5 cm vs. −0.5±2.9 cm, p=0.014). TK in the KN group was significantly smaller than in the NN group (25.4±8.8° vs. 30.1±8.3°, p=0.041). The KS group had the smallest value of LL, while the NN group had the largest value of LL (−23.2±48.7° vs. −44.9±33.8° vs. −57.3±8.5°, p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in PI, SS, or PT among the 3 groups. A strong correlation was found between LL and SS in the NN group (R=−0.776, p<0.01), while this correlation was moderate in the KN group (R=−0.355, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Overall balance was maintained in the subjects who had gonarthrosis without spinal osteoarthritis. Subjects with gonarthrosis showed less LL, especially if they had spinal osteoarthritis. Further studies are needed to characterize the differences in these pelvic parameters, and to evaluate changes in individuals with knee joint flexion contracture.
Animals ; Contracture ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Kyphosis ; Leg ; Lordosis ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Spine ; Spine ; Spondylosis

We report a case of premature constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus following maternal ingestion of a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor at 37 weeks' gestation. Fetal sonography at 38+2 weeks' gestation revealed tricuspid regurgitation, absent transpulmonary valve flow, right heart enlargement, and pericardial effusion. An immediate delivery resulted in a good postnatal outcome with dramatic improvement in the clinical and echocardiographic findings. Maternal exposure to Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially late in gestation, can cause premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus, heart failure, and fetal death. Therefore, the use of NSAIDs late in gestation should be considered in limited cases with close fetal heart monitoring.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Cardiomegaly ; Constriction ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Eating ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetal Heart ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Maternal Exposure ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pregnancy ; Sulfonamides ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of job satisfaction of hospital nurses. The focus was on work rewards. A causal model of job satisfaction of hospital nurses was constructed based on situational perspectives. METHODS: The sample for this study consisted of 505 nurses from 2 general hospitals located in Seoul and Kyeonggi Province, Korea. Data were collected with self-administrated questionnaires and analyzed by hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: All variables except workload were positively correlated with job satisfaction. It was found that three task reward variables (workload, meaning, and participation), two organizational reward variables (security and promotional chances) and one social reward variable (family support) had significant influence on nurses' job satisfaction. The explained variance for job satisfaction was 41.4%. The data further indicate that task rewards were the most significant determinants of nurse job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Theses findings provide strong empirical evidence for importance of task, organizational and social reward variables in explaining job satisfaction of nurses. The model used for this study will be useful for predicting nurse job satisfaction.
Attitude of Health Personnel ; Humans ; *Job Satisfaction ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/organization & administration/*psychology ; Questionnaires ; *Reward ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Social Support ; Workload

PURPOSE: Little is known with respect to changes in the segmental thoracic and thoracolumbar kyphosis, which are major parameters influencing sagittal balance of the spine. The authors investigated the detailed segmental changes of those parameters by ageing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 326 normal asymptomatic males were divided into 2 groups; group 1 (mean age, 21.2+/-1.7; n=175) and group 2 (mean age, 64.1+/-6.4; n=151). After taking a standing sagittal radiograph, the sagittal spinal and pelvic parameters were measured. Thoracic and thoracolumbar kyphosis were classified according to segments A, C7 UEP (upper end vertebra)-T5 UEP; B, T5 UEP-T10 UEP; C, T10 UEP-T12 LEP (lower end vertebra); and D, (T12 LEP-L2 LEP), and analyzed between 2 groups, respectively. RESULTS: Thoracic kyphosis (21.1degrees+/-7.7degrees vs. 30.0degrees+/-8.8degrees, p<0.001), segment B (15.8degrees+/-6.1degrees vs. 18.1degrees+/-7.9degrees, p=0.003), and segment C (5.3degrees+/-5.1degrees vs. 11.8degrees+/-6.5degrees, p<0.001) were increased in group 2. In group 2 segment A showed decreased kyphosis (12.1degrees+/-6.4degrees vs. 9.8degrees+/-6.4degrees, p=0.001). In segment D no significant difference was observed between groups. CONCLUSION: Increased thoracic kyphosis was observed in the middle and lower thoracic regions. The authors provided important references of sagittal parameters to determine the expected ranges of kyphosis for a normal asymptomatic male of a given age.
Humans ; Kyphosis* ; Male ; Spine ; Thoracic Vertebrae