BACKGROUND: Direct observation of healthcare workers is commonly used in hospitals to investigate hand hygiene compliance. However, the hand hygiene compliance rate may increase due to the Hawthorne effect, which is the modification of behavior simply because subjects become aware that they are being observed. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the Hawthorne effect when directly observing hand hygiene compliance in intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare personnel. METHODS: A total of 87 staff members from the coronary care unit and cardiac surgery ICU of a general hospital in Seoul were included in this study: 24 residents and interns, 55 nurses, and 8 nursing assistants. Both covert and overt observations, where subjects were either unaware or aware of any direct observation, were performed on separate occasions. RESULTS: A total of 1,052 covert and 1,336 overt observations were documented over 30 and 34 occasions, respectively. Overall hand hygiene compliance was significantly higher with overt observation than with covert observation (1,041/1,336, 77.9% vs. 659/1,052, 62.6%, P<0.001). The Hawthorne effect was present in all professions and behaviors, with the exception of nursing assistants, and prior to touching a patient. CONCLUSION: Direct observation of hand hygiene compliance was associated with the Hawthorne effect when observations were made overtly and this was likely to contribute to an overestimation of compliance rate.
Compliance ; Coronary Care Units* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic* ; Hand Hygiene* ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Thoracic Surgery*

PURPOSE: We studied to determine whether the degenerative spondylolisthesis has rotary deformity in addition to forward displacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have made an analysis of difference of rotary deformity between the 31 study groups of symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis and 31 control groups without any symptom,statistically. We also reviewed CT findings in 15 study groups. RESULTS: The mean rotary deformity in study groups was 6.1 degree(the standard deviation is 5.20), and the mean rotary deformity in control groups was 2.52 degree(the standard deviation is 2.16)(p <0.01) CONCLUSION: The rotary deformity can be accompanied with degenerative spondylolisthesis. We may consider the rotary deformity as a cause of symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis in case that any other cause is not detected.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Spondylolisthesis*

Head ; Lipoma ; Neck Muscles ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Shoulder ; Subcutaneous Tissue

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the absolute value of the root/crown ratio (R/C ratio) using panoramic radiographs (PRGs) in a healthy Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 99 patient radiographs (of 50 males and 49 females subjects; aged 16 to 24 years old) were examined, and 2,770 teeth were analyzed. Crown lengths and root lengths were measured with modified Lind's measurements using PACS tools by two examiners in two separate sessions two months apart. All data were analyzed using SPSS. The independent t-test was used to assess for gender differences, and the paired t-test was used to compare both arches with a significance level of P<.05. RESULTS: The mean R/C ratios varied from 1.29 to 1.89 (male: 1.28-1.84; females: 1.31-1.94). The highest R/C ratios were recorded for the mandibular canines (1.89), followed by the maxillary canines (1.79). The lowest R/C ratios were recorded for the maxillary second molars (1.31). In comparison with the maxillary teeth (1.29-1.78), the mandibular teeth yielded the higher R/C ratio (1.47-1.89), and this difference was significant in the females (P<.05). The difference between the genders was not statistically significant, except for the maxillary central incisors, mandibular canines and mandibular first premolars. CONCLUSION: These data may enhance the understanding of the clinical R/C ratio as a useful guideline for determining the status of teeth and the ethnic difference.
Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Molar ; Tooth*

Occupational infection is a human disease caused by work-associated exposure to microbial agents through human and environmental contact. According to the literature, occupational infection was the third leading cause of occupational disease (861 cases, 8.0%), and health care, agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers were risk groups in Korea. In addition, most high-risk groups have not been protected by workers' compensation, which could lead to underestimation of the exact spectrum and magnitude of the problem, and may also result in a lack of development and implementation of occupational infection management. Through a review of national guidelines and documentations on prevention and control of occupational infection, a management strategy would promote adherence to worker safety regulations if it is explicit with regard to the agent and mode of infection in each of the high-risk groups.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacterial Infections/*epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses/*epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects ; Occupational Health/legislation & jurisprudence ; Protozoan Infections/*epidemiology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Virus Diseases/*epidemiology ; Workers' Compensation

Neurofibromatosis type I is one of the most common neurocutaneous syndrome which is inherited by autosomal dominant manner, characterized by cafe au-lait spots, axillary freckling, Lisch nodules in iris, multiple neurofibromas and bone involvement with pseudoarthrosis, bowing of the long bone. And Moyamoya disease is a specific disease characterized by progressive idiopathic stenosis and eventual occlusion of the large cerebral arteries at the circle of Willis. In response to the stenosis, an abnormal network of small collateral vessels develops, creating the "puff of smoke". Intracranial lesions associated with Neurofibromatosis type I include optic glioma, sphenoid wing dysplasia, "unidentified bright objects" and cerebrovascular lesions such as Moyamoya syndrome and aneurysm. Moyamoya syndrome is an uncommon association of neurofibromatosis type 1 and lung mass has not frequently been found with neurofibromatosis and moyamoya syndrome. We report a case with Neurofibromatosis type I with Moyamoya syndrome and ganglioneuroma in lung with reviewing literatures.
Aneurysm ; Cerebral Arteries ; Circle of Willis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Ganglioneuroma ; Iris ; Lung ; Moyamoya Disease ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Optic Nerve Glioma ; Pseudarthrosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop syllabuses of basic nursing science subjects (Structure and Function of Human Body, Pathogenic Microbiology, Pathophysiology, and Mechanisms and Effects of Drug) based on learning outcomes. METHODS: We developed a 3-phase plan to develop the syllabuses. In the first phase, The Korean Society of Biological Nursing Science (KSBNS) held a workshop in May, 2013 in which professors who are in charge of basic nursing science subjects shared opinions about learning outcomes. As a result, initial prototype syllabuses came out. In the second phase, revised syllabuses based on learning outcomes were presented and discussed in the conference held by KSBNS in November, 2013. In the last phase, a research team who taught basic nursing science subjects finalized the syllabuses during the meetings. RESULTS: Syllabuses of 4 basic nursing science subjects were developed. CONCLUSION: These syllabuses of 4 subjects need to be disseminated throughout nursing colleges. Further revision needs to be made according to the circumstances and context of each school.
Education ; Human Body* ; Humans* ; Learning* ; Nursing*

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to shorten the KPCS-1 (Korean Patient Classification System-1) for predicting nursing care need level and to explore whether the patients can be clustered by their acuity and dependency. Methods: The participants were inpatients in two surgical wards and two internal medicine wards at a teritory hospital during 14 days investigations. The KPCS-1 was evaluated once a day for all inpatients and 2,082 cases of data from a total of 411 patients were analyzed. Results: The items were reducted from 50 items to 26 items by partial least squares analysis and expert review. Through factor analysis, it was confirmed that hygiene, diet, elimination, and exercise were categorized as dependence factors. Patients were clustered with low acuity/low dependency (average score: 7.68±2.81/1.05±1.33), high acuity/low dependency (average score: 17.20±4.15/1.94±2.40), medium acuity/high dependency (average score: 13.56±5.30/9.66±2.64) through cluster analysis. The total score of the three groups for their nursing care needs was 8.73±3.36, 19.14±5.74, and 23.24±6.31 in order, and the results showed a statistically significant difference (F=1712.12, p<.001). Conclusion The shortening of the KPCS-1 and the new criteria for categorizing patients according to acuity and dependence will increase clinical utility and be useful for manpower assignment criteria in detail.

Respiratory infections, which are caused by airborne pathogens, are the most common disease of all ages worldwide. This study was conducted to characterize the airborne respiratory pathogens in the public facilities in Busan, South Korea. A total of 260 public facilities were investigated in 2017, 52 seasonal indoor air from 2 hospitals and 208 indoor air samples from 208 randomly selected daycare centers. Among respiratory pathogen, 8 viral pathogens including human adenovirus (HAdV), human bocavirus (HBoV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human coronavirus (HCoV) and influenza virus (IFV), and 3 bacterial pathogens including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae, were investigated by multiplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Pathogens were detected in 9 cases (3.4%). Among 9 positive samples, 6 (2.3%) cases were positive for HBoV and 3 (1.2%) cases were positive for IFV. All the positive cases were detected in daycare centers. Additionally, the concentration of HBoV was determined. In HBoV-positive samples, the cycle threshold (Ct) values of HBoV were 29.73~36.84, which are corresponding to the viral concentration of 4.91 × 10⁰ ~ 9.57 × 10² copies/ml. Serotype distribution of isolated HBoV was analyzed by sequencing of VP1/VP2 gene. All of the HBoV isolates were identified as HBoV type 1 with a high similarity among the isolates (>97%). No bacterial pathogen was identified in indoor air samples. Although virus concentration was not high in public facilities (daycare center), the presence of respiratory viral pathogens has been identified. Effective ventilation and air purification strategies are needed to reduce the indoor concentration of respiratory pathogens. A long-term and ongoing surveillance plan for respiratory pathogen management should be established.
Adenoviruses, Human ; Bordetella pertussis ; Busan ; Chlamydial Pneumonia ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; Coronavirus ; Human bocavirus ; Humans ; Korea ; Metapneumovirus ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Public Facilities* ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Reverse Transcription ; Rhinovirus ; Seasons ; Serogroup ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: Amendment to the Act on Decisions on Life-sustaining Treatment was recently enacted to designate long-term care hospitals as providers of hospice and palliative care. Despite its benefit of providing improved accessibility to end-of-life care, the amendment has raised concerns about its effect on quality of service. This study aimed to use information obtained from an expert group interview and previous studies to compare how cancer patients, family caregivers, physicians, and the general Korean population perceive the potential benefits and risks of this amendment.METHODS: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study from July to October 2016. The included participants answered a structured questionnaire regarding the extent to which they agree or disagree with the questionnaire items indicating the potential benefits and risks of the amendment. Chi-square tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.RESULTS: Compared with the general population, physicians agreed more that long-term care hospitals are currently not adequately equipped to provide quality hospice and palliative care. Family caregivers found improved access to long-term care hospitals more favorable but were more likely to agree that these hospitals might prioritize profits, thereby threatening the philosophy of hospice care, and that families might cease to fulfill filial responsibilities. Compared with the general population, cancer patients were more concerned about the potentially decreased service quality in this setting.CONCLUSION: Although potential service beneficiaries and providers expected improved accessibility of hospice and palliative care services, they were also concerned whether the system can provide adequate quality of end-of-life care.
Caregivers ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Personnel ; Hospice Care ; Hospices ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Logistic Models ; Long-Term Care ; Palliative Care ; Philosophy ; Risk Assessment ; Terminal Care