Purpose: The study aimed to classify patient safety accident and nursing malpractice types through a content analysis of litigation cases in which nurses were found guilty. Methods: Data on malpractice cases were collected from the official website of the Korean judiciary. This analysis was conducted in stages according to the systematic content analysis method. A total of 46 cases consisting of 14 criminal cases and 32 civil cases were selected for analysis, and classified based on the types of safety accident and nursing malpractice. Results: Eleven categories and 14 subcategories of accidents were extracted from 71 significant statements. The 11 categories of accidents consisted of falls, medication, burns, treatment, diet, medical equipment, delivery, exams, surgery, infection, and suicide. Five categories and 14 subcategories of nursing malpractice were extracted from 71 significant statements. The five categories of malpractice were as follows: failure to take affirmative action to prevent accidents, monitor, follow guidelines, use equipment properly, and reports. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of nurses’ independent roles as patients’ safety managers. It can be used as primary data to develop organizational and educational support for nurses seeking to perform their professional roles in ensuring patient safety.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to develop and test a mastery learning program of nursing skills for undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: In this methodological study, first, the preliminary draft of a mastery learning program to provide training for nursing skills was developed based on Bloom's framework for mastery learning. Second, to test the developed program, a single-blinded, nonequivalent control group nonsynchronized study was conducted on 50 senior nursing students in a University selected by convenient sampling. Thirteen students were assigned to a control group; 13, 12, and 13 of them were assigned to intravenous therapy, transfusion, and patient transfer groups, respectively. The achievement levels and performance scores of the selected nursing skills were measured before and after the completion of the program in all the groups. Lastly, the final program was confirmed based on the results of the program testing. RESULTS: Intravenous therapy, transfusion, and patient transfer were selected as essential nursing skills for the program based on the priorities rated by clinical instructors and staff nurses. The achievement levels of selected nursing skills were determined by Angoff scores. After participating in the program, the proportion of passers and performance scores of the nursing skills in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. The final program was confirmed which included a diagnostic test, enrichment activities for the passers and three repetitions of corrective activities and formative assessments for non-passers. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a mastery learning program for undergraduate students can lead to better improvement and performance of essential nursing skills.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Learning* ; Methods ; Nursing* ; Patient Transfer ; Program Development ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of an education program on safety perception, safety control, autonomy and accountability in clinical nurses. Precedent cases related to patient safety were used in the education program. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measures was used. Participants in the study, 72 nurses in the experimental group, 71 nurses in the control group, were enrolled for 3 months. The education program was composed of the 20 precedent cases related to patient safety from home and foreign countries. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were as follows: Safety perception (p=.000), Safety control (p=.000), attitude toward autonomy (p=.000), and attitude toward accountability (p=.000) improved after the education program. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study indicate that an education program using precedent cases is an efficient method to improve behavior and change attitudes towards protecting patients' safety and preventing malpractice claims against nurses.
Humans ; Malpractice ; Patient Safety ; Social Responsibility

BACKGROUND: Modifying risk factors and improving stroke awareness in the general community have been emphasized for preventing stroke. This study aimed to explore modifiable lifestyle risk factors and the awareness of stroke and to compare scores for stroke knowledge according to lifestyle risk factors and recognition of important indicators among adults in urban areas. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 196 participants aged 40 to 65 selected by a convenient sampling of community cultural centers, churches, and recreational groups. Participants completed a structured questionnaire including general characteristics, risk factors of stroke, and awareness of stroke including general knowledge, risk factors, reactions to warning symptoms, and knowledge on personal risk factors of stroke such as body weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol level. RESULTS: Less than 30% of the participants engaged in regular physical activity and low fat diet and 33% of the participants were classified as having 'higher' level of knowledge on stroke. Knowledge on their personal risk factors of stroke were generally poor. Scores for knowledge on stroke were not different for lifestyle risk factors and knowing whether their body weight and blood pressure level were within normal limits. Meanwhile, scores for knowledge on stroke were significantly higher among those knowing whether their blood sugar and cholesterol level were within normal limits. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve stroke awareness among community adults by providing more targeted information on warning symptoms, risk factors of stroke, and important indicators of major conditions related to stroke and their contribution to stroke prevention.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Humans ; Life Style ; Motor Activity ; Primary Prevention ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate effects of foot massage and supportive communication provided by hospice volunteers on depression, anxiety, and mood of cancer patients who are going under intravenous chemotherapy at out patient department (OPD). METHODS: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. Sixty-four participants were recruited from out-patients setting in a university hospital by a convenient sampling. Two trained-hospice volunteers first provided regular hospice volunteer service to 34 patients in the control group. Subsequently, foot massage and supportive communication were provided to 30 participants in the experimental group. After the intervention, all participants answered the structured questionnaire with visual analog scales on depression, anxiety, and mood including general characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, two sample t-test, and paired t-test by PASW 17. RESULTS: After the intervention, changes in negative moods, i.e. strain and powerlessness in the experimental group were significantly different from those in control group; strain and powerlessness in the experimental group were significantly decreased by foot massage and supportive communication provided by hospice volunteers. CONCLUSION: The current findings provide an empirical evidence of a brief and efficacious intervention for cancer patients. Further studies are warranted with larger sample size to validate the effectiveness of foot massage and supportive communication as a solid intervention for cancer patients who are undergoing intravenous chemotherapy at OPD.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Foot ; Hospice Care ; Hospices ; Humans ; Massage ; Outpatients ; Sample Size ; Sprains and Strains ; Voluntary Workers ; Weights and Measures ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop an integrated breast health program for prevention and early detection of breast cancer, integrating primary and secondary prevention factors using cognitive-behavioral strategies. METHODS: This methodological study conducted as follows; Selection of components for the program through a literature review, survey to identify women's knowledge and risk perception of breast cancer and diet, and building prototype for the program using discussion based on findings. Using structured questionnaires, interviews were done with 130 women aged 40-59 who lived in a rural area. RESULTS: Primary prevention (diet pattern, knowledge about breast cancer, and risk perception) and secondary prevention (early detection behaviors) factors were identified through the literature review. The survey showed that women lack knowledge and awareness about the risks of breast cancer, and have a low compliance rate for early detection behavior. Based on these results, a program was developed utilizing counseling and models to provide education and practice related to diet, breast cancer, and early detection behaviors. CONCLUSION: Use of this integrated and tailored breast health program with women at risk will contribute to better breast health, but further study is needed to verify the effects.
Aged ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Compliance ; Counseling ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Primary Prevention ; Program Development ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Secondary Prevention

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the difference in cancer screening with mammography and Papanicolaou smear according to Body Mass Index (BMI). METHODS: The participants in this study were 5,912 women ages 40 to 69 yr, selected from the Korean Genomic Regional Cohort in Kangwon province. Mammography and Papanicolaou smear were assessed by questionnaire and body weight (kg) and height (m) measured to calculate BMI. RESULTS: The distribution of BMI was as follows: low weight (1.5%), normal weight (31.1%), over weight (24.6%), mildly obese (36.4%) and severely obese (6.3%). After adjusting for age, education and monthly income, compared with normal weight women, overweight women (odds ratio [OR]=1.283, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.089-1.513) and mildly obese women (OR=1.214, 95% CI=1.048-1.406) were less likely to have had mammography. In contrast to mammography, cancer screening with Papanicolaou smear was not significantly different by BMI. CONCLUSION: Obese women in rural areas are less likely to screen for breast cancer by using mammography than non obese women. To ensure regular screening for breast cancer, health care providers need to give scrupulous care to obese women and remove barriers originated from obesity. Also, educational and clinical implications are considered to increase the Papanicolaou smear rate.
Adult ; Aged ; *Body Mass Index ; Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control/*radiography ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; *Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/psychology ; Republic of Korea ; Rural Population ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*pathology/prevention & control ; *Vaginal Smears ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 2-week somatosensory stimulation program on cognitive function and ADL of patients with brain damage. METHODS: The sample consisted of two groups of patients with stroke: 10 patients with a mean age of 59.0 years who were treated with somatosensory stimulation, and 9 patients with a mean age of 51.78 years, who were not treated with somatosensory intervention. A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was used to assess the functional recovery after stroke. Instruments used in this study were MMSE-K for cognitive function and FIM for ADL. RESULTS: The hypothesis 1 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher MMSE-K score than that of the non-treatment group" was supported(Z = -2.390, p = .017). The hypothesis 2 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher FIM score than that of the non-treatment group", however, was partially supported(social cognition: Z = -2.204, p = .045). CONCLUSION: Somatosensory stimulation was effective to patients with stroke in improving their cognitive function. These findings suggest that somatosensory input can be adopted to nursing intervention for functional recovery after stroke.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain ; Humans ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 2-week somatosensory stimulation program on cognitive function and ADL of patients with brain damage. METHODS: The sample consisted of two groups of patients with stroke: 10 patients with a mean age of 59.0 years who were treated with somatosensory stimulation, and 9 patients with a mean age of 51.78 years, who were not treated with somatosensory intervention. A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was used to assess the functional recovery after stroke. Instruments used in this study were MMSE-K for cognitive function and FIM for ADL. RESULTS: The hypothesis 1 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher MMSE-K score than that of the non-treatment group" was supported(Z = -2.390, p = .017). The hypothesis 2 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher FIM score than that of the non-treatment group", however, was partially supported(social cognition: Z = -2.204, p = .045). CONCLUSION: Somatosensory stimulation was effective to patients with stroke in improving their cognitive function. These findings suggest that somatosensory input can be adopted to nursing intervention for functional recovery after stroke.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain ; Humans ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge, facilitators, and barriers of breast self -examination(BSE) in Korean couples for developing a continuous regular BSE promotion program. METHOD: This descriptive study was undertaken with a focus group methodology including 27 couples of husbands and wives recruited by convenience-sampling. Data transcribed from audiotapes was analyzed to identify common themes. RESULTS: Knowledge of breast cancer and BSE included 'the risk factors of breast cancer', 'prevention of breast cancer', and 'how to do BSE'. Facilitators to BSE included 'self, health professional, and spouse-facilitating factors'. Barriers to BSE included 'cognitive, psychological, informational, and physical barriers'. CONCLUSION: To promote compliance with BSE among women, tailored programs according to the stage of change of BSE adoption are crucial, not only reflecting the specific needs of the individual by the stage of change, but also utilizing husbands as facilitators.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Breast* ; Compliance* ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Spouses ; Tape Recording