• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.43-54
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of education, using a relocation information guidebook, on the family caregivers of patients who were scheduled to be transferred from a neurosurgical intensive care unit to a general ward. Methods: They were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 20). A relocation information guidebook was created based on a literature review and an interview with five family caregivers about how to satisfy their needs. The collected data were analyzed with a ${\chi}^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, and t-test. Results: The effect of education, using the relocation information guidebook, on the family caregivers of patients who were relocated to a general ward from the neurosurgical intensive care unit was not significant for relocation stress (t = 0.94p, = .352) or anxiety (t = 1.25, p = .217), but was significant for education satisfaction (t = -2.50, p = .017). Conclusion: There were no differences in relocation stress and anxiety scores between the control and experimental groups. However, several methodological issues were highlighted that must be considered in future research, including the timing and measurement of transfer anxiety, and the intervention itself.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

This study was conducted to examine the relationship among the error risk of high-alert medication, attitudes to single-person checking of medication, and medication safety activities. The participants were 60 nurses working in the intensive care unit. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The mean scores of the knowledge and certainty of high-alert medication were $0.71{\pm}0.11$ and $2.74{\pm}0.59$, respectively. The mean score of the error risk of high-alert medication was $1.63{\pm}0.24$ and that of attitudes to single checking medication was $3.32{\pm}0.49$. The error risk of high-alert medication had a positive correlation with nurses' attitudes to single checking medication (r = .258, p = .047), which is correlated with the scores for certainty of knowledge (r = .284, p = .028). Based on the results of this study, continuing education for high-alert medication and the development of an accurate protocol for single checking medication are needed to improve the stability of high-alert medication.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.58-67
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the nursing work environment and family satisfaction in Korean intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: The study participants were 190 critical care nurses and 133 family members of ICU patients who were randomly chosen from four of the hospitals located in B city. The Korean Nursing Work Environment Scale was used to assess the work environment of critical care nurses. Family satisfaction was measured with the Korean version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory. Results: Critical care nurses reported moderate satisfaction with their work environment. The mean score for family satisfaction was 3.59 on a 5-point scale, and satisfaction with information provision received the highest score. Family satisfaction was higher in hospitals where the critical care nurses evaluated their work environment positively. Conclusion: This study revealed that the work environment of nurses affects family satisfaction in ICUs. Therefore, it is necessary to explore various methods of improving the critical care nursing work environment in order to provide the highest possible level of nursing care.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.14-23
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle. Methods: This was a retrospective study that was carried out between June 2010 and October 2015. In this study, 3,224 intubated patients were included. The VAP bundle which was applied to Group 1 patients (n=470) included head-of-bed elevation to 30 degrees, cuff pressure monitorization, prophylaxis of peptic ulcer, and prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis. The VAP bundle for Group 2 patients (n=1,914) included all the elements of the VAP bundle for Group 1 patients and one additional element which was oral care with 0.12% chlorhexidine. The VAP bundle for Group 3 patients (n=870) added sedative interruption and assessment of readiness to extubate to the VAP bundle for Group 2. Results: The numbers and incidences of VAP were significantly different among the three groups. Moreover, there were significant differences among groups in ICU length of stay and mortality. Conclusion: Three different VAP prevention bundles made different effects in patient outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2009

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Although postoperative AF is regarded as benign, transient and self-limited, it has been associated with increased morbidity, thromboembolic events and an increased duration and cost of hospitalization. Material and Method: From January 1994 to December 2007, 190 patients that had isolated CABG surgery were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=139) involved those who had postoperative atrial fibrillation, and group 2 (n=51) did not have any such events. We reviewed the medical records retrospectively including the incidence of postoperative AF, patient characteristics, surgery related factors and the outcome of the patients with postoperative AF. Result: The frequency of postoperative AF was 26.8%, the conversion rate to regular sinus rhythm before discharge was 82.4%; 82.4% of the AF developed within the first three postoperative days. Although the postoperative AF group was significantly older and had a prolonged postoperative Intensive care unit (ICU) stay, there was no difference in the aortic crossclamp time or duration of hospitalization. No spontaneous defibrillation at declamping, and longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass were significantly related to the development of postoperative AF. However, postoperative treatment with a beta blocker was associated with a decreased incidence of postoperative AF. The multivariate analysis showed that age and ICU stay were significantly associated with the development of POAF. Spontaneous defibrillation and postoperative beta blocker treatment were significantly associated with a decreased frequency of POAF. Conclusion: AF after CABG surgery is a common complication associated with increased morbidity and a longer ICU stay. Therefore, various strategies aimed at reducing AF, and its complications, such as postoperative treatment with a beta blocker should be considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2008

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common organism associated with nosocomial infections. MRSA infections are becoming increasing important because they have emerged no only as healthcare-associated (HA) infections but also as community-associated (CA) ones. This study examined the moleculo-epidemiology of MRSA, which was isolated from nasal swabs in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Konyang University Hospital. MRSA are classified into HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA. Methods: From June to September 2006, 353 patients who were admitted to the ICU in Konyang University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Single nasal swabs were obtained for culture in the ICU on the 1st day. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and the antimicrobial resistant patterns were analyzed between HA- and CA-MRSA. An antimicrobial sensitivity test was also performed. Results: Forty two strains of MRSA were isolated from 353 patients (11.9%). Among the 42 isolates, HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA were found in 33 (78.6%), and 9 (21.4%), respectively. Eleven different PFGE types (type A to K) were identified. Types A (n=9) and B (n=7) were the most common for HA-MRSA, and types A (n=2) and B (n=2) were identified in CA-MRSA. The proportion of types A and B in CA-MRSA (44.4%) was similar to that in HA-MRSA (48.5%). The rates of resistance rates to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin were higher in HA-MRSA than in CA-MRSA. Conclusion: The rate of isolation of MRSA in an ICU setting was 11.9%. HA-MRSA was isolated more frequently than CA-MRSA. The rate of resistance of HA-MRSA to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin was higher than that of CA-MRSA. Despite the small number of subjects, the main isolates (type A and B) of CA-MRSA were similar to those of HA-MRSA.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.155-166
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• 2002

This study was performed to figure out the level of anxiety and relating factors of ICU patients as the hospitalization in ICU grows more recently. Data collection was conducted from July 1st to August 31st, 2001. The subjects of this study were consisted of 101 ICU patients who were selected according to the criteria in S hospital, C city. The instruments of the research were consisted of 14 questions of general characteristics, 20 items of STAI, VAS, 24 questions for the anxiety relating factors. And data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and pearson correlation for group difference and correlation with SPSS Win 10.0 program. The followings were the results of the study: 1. In the anxiety level, mean score on STAI was 53.7(item mean $2.69{\pm}.83$), and mean score on VAS was 5.23. It means that the anxiety level of ICU patients was moderate. 2. Among the relating factors of anxiety, the most highest scores were 'by seeing other patient's emergency situation' and 'by seeing other patient's death' figured 3.85 and 3.79 each. And the lowest marks were 'by the unkind behavior of doctors and nurses'(2.13) and 'nurses' or doctors' indifferent actions'(2.21). And the anxiety according to the environmental factor was the highest (3.17) and the anxiety regarding to the human relationship was the lowest (2.53). 3. In the anxiety level STAI according to the general characteristics, the patients who didn't have to take care of their family showed more anxiety than who had to take care of their family(t=-2.38, p=.02). And the variables that shows a significant difference on VAS was sex and women's anxiety was higher than men's level (t=-2.56, p=.01). 4. When the physical anxiety level was compared, the patients who had to take care of their family showed more anxiety than the people who didn't have to take care of their family(t=-1.95, p=.05). In the level of anxiety relating the human relationship, the patients who had religion showed more anxiety than patients who didn't(t=2.43 p=.02). And the married patients(t=2.43, p=.01) and more educated people(F=3.77, p=.01) showed more anxiety. Even though environmental anxiety was the highest factor, it was not significant with general characteristics. 5. The anxiety and relating factors showed positive significant relationship, and physical anxiety factor showed the strongest relation with STAI(r=.21, p<.01). And VAS level showed stronger relation with every factor of the anxiety than STAI. When the VAS level became higher, the anxiety relating to physical factor(r=.72, p<.01), human relationship(r=.63, P<.01), and environment became higher. According to the above result, the environmental anxiety was the highest level than other factors in ICU patient and thus the environmental nursing intervention becomes very important in ICU. Also nurses in ICU have to support the patients who showed higher level of anxiety in this study and try to develop the nursing intervention to relieve the anxiety of patients. And it is recommended that VAS is convenient and practical instrument for measuring the anxiety level in ICU patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of study was to estimate the hand hygiene (HH) compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) in a children's hospital. Methods: This study was conducted in a hospital which is a tertiary and educational children's hospital with 313 beds and 533 HCWs. Data were collected by direct observation methods from November 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. Results: A total of 2,999 opportunities for HH were observed, and the overall HH rate was 95.3%. HH rate of the registered nurse, physicians and transferer was 97.7%, 89.2%, and 72.1%, respectively (P<0.001). Among physicians, HH rate of the fellows, professors, residents and interns was 97.5%, 93.9%, 89.7%, and 80.9%, respectively (P<0.001). HH rate in the emergency room, operation room, outpatient department (OPD), and the intensive care unit (ICU) was 97.2%, 97.2%, 95.4%, and 92.5%, respectively (P<0.001). Hand rubbing was the most frequently used (81.1%), and hand washing was frequently used in the case of 'after body fluids exposure risk' (37.7%) and 'after touching patient surroundings' (28.5%). HH methods were not statistically different from each departments (P =0.083), however, they were significantly different according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 5 Moments (P<0.001). Distributions in WHO 5 Moments by the job titles were significantly different (P<0.001). The odds ratio of physicians, ICU and OPD was 0.353 (95% CI, 0.241-0.519), 0.291 (95% CI, 0.174-0.487), and 0.484 (95% CI, 0.281-0.834), respectively. Conclusions: Compliance of HH was different by the job titles and departments. Effective custom-tailored HH programs for each job title and department need to be developed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2007

Object : This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of delirium in liver transplanted patients in a hospital in Korea. Method : We reviewed the medical records of 29 liver transplanted patients who were confirmed as delirium by psychiatrists with DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. We estimated the correlation between delirium and clinical conditions of liver transplantations. Result : Post-operative delirium duration was significantly correlated with frequency of hepatic encephalopathy, pre-operative mental status, and stay of intensive care unit. Conclusion : Although there were many limitations of this study, it seemed that pre-operative hepatic encephalopathy affected post liver transplantation delirium.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.581-585
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• 1998

Postoperative autotransfusion is known as an effective method for blood conservation. We tried to examine whether the autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood in patients with unstable angina would be valuable for reducing postoperative homologous transfusion by observing the hourly tendency of bleeding and transfusion. Between August and October, 1997, 26 patients with unstable angina underwent coronary arterial bypass surgery by a single surgeon at Asan Medical Center. In retrospective analysis, we found 90% of the patients received homologous transfusions and 85% of them were in the intensive care unit at the same day after operation. In many patients, the cause of transfusion was not anemia but volume replacement. Mean bleeding through the chest tubes was 340 cc for the first 5 hours and 69%(18 pts) showed more than 200 cc of bleeding, the amount generally considered as a initiating point for autotransfusion. Despite the adoption of multiple methods for blood conservation, 90% of the patients needed homologous transfusion. Moreover, many of them had received unnecessary transfusions. We conclude that some kind of blood for transfusion is needed during the immediate postoperative period, and the adoption of postoperative autotransfusion may help in reducing homologous transfusion.