• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 1970

This study is designed to find out proper nursing activities for the needs of the colostomy patients, i.e., mental and psychological as well as physical needs for rapid recovery, and to help them build up the follow-up care for proper social adjustment. The study is based on 268 cases out of 381 colostomy patient's records kept in Ewha Womans University Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center, and National Medical Center in between the period from Jan. 1953 to Jan. 1970. The items of study are mainly on etiology, sex, age, duration of hospitalization, mortality rate, seasonal frequency, time from the onset of illness to the admission of the hospital, signs and symptoms. 1. Frequency of onset by etiology: Neoplastic disease 112 cases (42%), Inflammatory disease 33 cases (12%), Congenital malformation 30 cases (11%), Intussusception 25 cases (9.3%), Trauma 24 cases (9%), Volvulus 17 cases (6.3%), and Crohn's disease 6 cases (2.2%). 2. By sex: male 167 cases (62.9%), and female 101 cases (37.1%). So the ratio of portion of male and female 2:1. 3. By age: under 1·year·old 27 cases (10.1%) highest, 41-50 yrs 54 cases (20.2%), 51-60 yrs 42 cases (15.5%), above 71 yrs 5 cases (1.9%). 4. Duration of hospitalization: the shortest is 2-days and the longest is 470 days. 1-20-days 52%, 40-60 days 14%. 5. Mortality rate: Under the 10-days-admission 19.5%, and the beyond 30-days-admission 3.9%. 6. Seasonal frequency: Higher in summer (32% ). 7. Signs and symptoms: abdominal pain (56%), abdominal distention (54%), vomiting (40%), bloody mucoid diarrhea (38%) , pain of anal region (18%), abdominal tenderness, anorexia, indigestion, constipation, disuria, tenesmus, high fever and chilling sensation, bile tingled vomiting. Nursing activities for the patient's physical needs are as follows: Skin care for colostomy region, Prevention of colostomy constriction and depression, Removal of an offensive odor, The use of colostomy bag-selection for, and demonstration of the use of inexpensive colostomy irrigation equipment, Personal hygiene, general skin care, care of hair, finger nails and toe-nails, Oral hygiene, sleep and rest, aquate, Daily activities, etc. Measures for regulation of bowl movement. Keeping the instruction of taking food, Preparing the meal and help for anorexia, Constipation and it's solution, Prevention of diarrhea, helping the removal of mucous, and stretch constricted steam as needed. Nursing activities for pt's socio-psychological needs are as follows; Help the patient to make decision for the operation, Remove pt's anxiety toward operation and anesthesia, To meet the pt's spiritual needs at his death bed, Help to establish family and friends cooperation, Help to reduce anxiety at the time of admission and it's solution, Help to meet religious need, Help to remove pt's anxiety for loosing his job and family maintenance, Follow-up studies for 7 cases have been done to implement the present thesis. The items of the personal interviews with the patients are as follows: Acceptability for artificial anus, The most anxious thing they had in mind at the time of discharge, The most anxious thing they hat·e in mind at present, Their friends and family's attitudes toward the patient after operation, Relations with other colostomy patients, Emotional damage from the operation, Physical problem of enema, irrigation, Control of diet, Skin care, Control of offensive odor, Patient's suggestions to nurses during hospital stay and after discharge. In conclusion, the follow-up care for colostomy patients shares equal weight or perhaps more than the post-operative care. The follow-up care should include the spiritual care for moral support of the patient, to drag him out of isolation and estrangement, and make him fully participate in social activities. It is suggested that the following measures would help to rehabilitate the colostomy patients (1) mutual acquaintance with other colostomy patients if possible form a sort of club for the colostomy patient to exchange their experiences in care (2) through the team work of doctor, nurse and rehabilitation specialists, to have a sort of concerted effort for betterment of the patient.

• Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2018

Objective As aging progresses, clinical characteristics of elderly patients in the emergency department (ED) vary by age. We aimed to study differences among elderly patients in the ED by age group. Methods For 2 years, patients aged 65 and older were enrolled in the study and classified into three groups: youngest-old, ages 65 to 74 years; middle-old, 75 to 84 years; and oldest-old, ${\geq}85years$. Participants' sex, reason for ED visit, transfer from another hospital, results of treatment, type of admission, admission department and length of stay were recorded. Results During the study period, a total 64,287 patients visited the ED; 11,236 (17.5%) were aged 65 and older, of whom 14.4% were 85 and older. With increased age, the female ratio (51.5% vs. 54.9% vs. 69.1%, P<0.001), medical causes (79.5% vs. 81.3% vs. 81.7%, P=0.045), and admission rate (35.3% vs. 42.8% vs. 48.5%, P<0.001) increased. Admissions to internal medicine (57.5% vs. 59.3% vs. 64.7%, P<0.001) and orthopedic surgery (8.5% vs. 11.6% vs. 13.8%, P<0.001) also increased. The ratio of admission to intensive care unit showed no statistical significance (P=0.545). Patients over age 85 years had longer stays in the ED (330.9 vs. 378.9 vs. 407.2 minutes, P<0.001), were discharged home less (84.4% vs. 78.9% vs. 71.5%, P<0.001), and died more frequently (6.3% vs. 10.4% vs. 13.0%, P<0.001). Conclusion With increased age, the proportion of female patients and medical causes increased. Rates of admission and death increased with age and older patients had longer ED and hospital stays.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the variables associated with length of stay (LOS), hospital costs, intensive care unit (ICU) use, and treatment outcomes in patients hospitalized for maxillofacial infections at a tertiary medical center in South Korea. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted for treatment of maxillofacial infections at Dankook University Hospital from January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2020. A total of 390 patient charts were reviewed and included in the final statistical analyses. Results: Average LOS and hospital bill per patient of this study was 11.47 days, and ₩4,710,017.25 ($4,216.67), respectively. Of the 390 subjects, 97.3% were discharged routinely following complete recovery, 1.0% expired following treatment, and 0.8% were transferred to another hospital. In multivariate linear regression analyses to determine variables associated with LOS, admission year, infection side, Flynn score, deep neck infection, cardiovascular disease, admission C-reactive protein (CRP) and glucose levels, number and length of surgical interventions, tracheostomy, time elapsed from admission to first surgery, and length of ICU stay accounted for 85.8% of the variation. With regard to the total hospital bill, significantly associated variables were age, type of insurance, Flynn score, number of comorbidities, admission CRP, white blood cell, and glucose levels, admission temperature, peak temperature, surgical intervention, the length, type, and location of surgery, tracheostomy, time elapsed from admission to first surgery, and length of ICU use, which accounted for 90.4% of the variation. Age and ICU use were the only variables significantly associated with unfavorable discharge outcomes in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: For successful and cost-effective management of maxillofacial infections, clinicians to be vigilant about the decision to admit patients with maxillofacial infections, perform appropriate surgery at an adequate time, and admit them to the ICU.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.196-208
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• 2018

Purpose: To identify the characteristics and health-care needs of high-risk pregnant women in maternal-fetal intensive care units (MFICU). Methods: A mixed-methods design was adopted. Data were collected from 78 high-risk pregnant women admitted to the MFICU. Qualitative data included ten participants' experiences with hospitalization and childbirth, which were analyzed using mixed content analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using at-test and one-way ANOVA testing. Results: The average score for pregnancy and childbirth health-care needs was 3.54 points. Average score by area was before-admission health care (3.70), health care of baby (3.67), health of childbirth (3.61), postpartum health (3.51), and pregnancy health care during hospitalization (3.48). Qualitative results showed diverse feelings and experiences of high-risk pregnant women and their need for health care, which was expressed in three themes and 11 sub-themes. Conclusion: Nurses should recognize high-risk mothers' feelings and needs for pregnancy and childbirth-focused health care to help patients accept their vulnerability and cope positively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2016

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of Charlson's weighted index of comorbidities (WIC) in patients with prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (PAMV, ventilator care ${\geq}96$ hours). Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 299 Korean PAMV patients who were admitted in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital between 2008 and 2013. Survivors were defined as patients who survived for 60 days after ICU admission. Results: The patients' mean age was $65.1{\pm}14.1$ years and 70.6% were male. The mean ICU and hospital length of stay was $21.9{\pm}19.7$ and $39.4{\pm}39.1$ days, respectively. In addition, the 60-day mortality rate after ICU admission was 35.5%. The mean WIC was $2.3{\pm}1.8$, with significant differences between nonsurvivors and survivors ($2.7{\pm}2.1$ vs. $2.1{\pm}1.7$, p<0.05). The area under the curve of receiver-operating-characteristics curve for WIC was 0.593 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.523-0.661; p<0.05). Based on Kaplan-Meier curves of 60-day survival, WIC ${\geq}5$ had statistically lower survival than WIC <5 (logrank test, p<0.05). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, WIC ${\geq}5$ was associated with poor prognosis (hazard ratio, 1.901; 95% CI, 1.140-3.171; p<0.05). The mortality rate of patients with WIC ${\geq}5$ was 54.2%. Conclusion: Our study showed a WIC score ${\geq}5$ might be helpful in predicting 60-day mortality in PAMV patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2011

Background: Although patients with tuberculous-destroyed lung (TDL) account for a significant proportion of those with chronic airflow obstruction, it is difficult to distinguish patients with airway obstruction due to TDL from patients with pure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on initial presentation with dyspnea. We investigated clinical features differing between (i) patients with TDL and airway obstruction and (ii) those with COPD admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to dyspnea. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with TDL who had a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) of <70% on a pulmonary function test (PFT; best value closest to admission) and patients with COPD without a history of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) who were admitted to the ICU. Ultimately, 16 patients with TDL and 16 with COPD were compared, excluding patients with co-morbidities. Results: The mean ages of the patients with TDL and COPD were 63.7 and 71.2 years, respectively. Mean FVC% (50.4% vs. 71.9%; p<0.01) and mean FEV1% (39.1% vs. 58.4%; p<0.01) were significantly lower in the TDL group than in the COPD group. More frequent consolidation with TB (68.8% vs. 31.3%; p=0.03) and more tracheostomies (50.0% vs. 0.0%; p=0.02) were observed in the TDL than in the COPD group. Conclusion: Upon ICU admission, patients with TDL had TB pneumonia more frequently, more diminished PFT results, and more tracheostomies than patients with COPD.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2001

To estimate total burden of hospital admission over patient of gamily, we need to know the unofficial private expenses in addition to explicit hospital admission fees. This study was conducted from June 29, 2,000 to August 10, 2,000. Subjects were 104 patient at university hospital located at chungnam province. After thorough explanation of purpose and procedures, notebooks are given to each patient or guardian. They are requested to recorded all relevant expenditures occurred during hospital stay. Incomplete records were filled-up by direct personal contact or phones. Datas were summarized and analyzed using SAS statistical package. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. The results of the study are as follows: 1. In 96.1% of the patient, guardians stayed at hospital to take care of patients. In 38,8% one of the family members get work-leave or temporary resting from job. Average date of leave was 7.5days. 2. Average informal cost burden per patient was 204,467 won (14,330 won${\sim}$1,594,870 won). Average hospital cost paid by the patient was 1,061,807 won. The ratio of informal cost burden to hospital cost paid by the patient was 0.327. 3. According to the regression analysis, the relevant factors affection informal cost burdens were distance from home to hospital(p=0.018), and duration of hospitalization(p=0.0001). 4. Informal cost burden was composed of expenses for personal expense of care giver (126, 720 won/patient), meal (86,924 won/patient), transportation (77,648 won/patient), necessaries of life (18,789 won/patient), tests and treatments not covered by insurance (17,289 won/patient), medical supplies not covered by insurance (15,280 won/patient), treat for visitors (14,757 won/patient), TV coin (8,247 won/patient), and others (7,582 won/patient). In addition to the hospital cost paid by the patient for hospital admission, the informal cost burdens should be recognised explicitly because it is not small. Significant proportion of informal cost burden is composed of care-giver's personal expense, transportation, meal. It is suggested that some polices are to be devised and implemented enabling that this portion of informal expenses be directed to formal professional nursing care. Thus we can improve the quality of care and decrease discomfort of patient's relatives.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.235-241
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• 2017

Purpose: The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is a widely used prognostic tool in patients with advanced cancer. This study examines the association between changes in PPS score and survival in patients with advanced cancer. Methods: We identified a cohort of 606 inpatients who died at a Korean university hospital's hospice/palliative care center. For each patient, the PPS score was measured twice according to a standard procedure: 1) upon admission, and 2) three days after admission (D3). "Change on D3" was defined as a difference between initial PPS and PPS on D3. We used a Cox regression modeling approach to explore the association between this score change and survival. Results: The changes in scores were associated with survival. A score change of >30% yielded a hazard ratio for death of 2.66 (95% CI 2.19~3.22), compared to a score change of ${\leq}30%$. PPS of ${\leq}30$ on D3 also independently predicted survival, with a hazard ratio of 1.67 (95% CI 1.38~2.02) compared to PPS of >30. Conclusion: A change of over 30% in PPS appears to predict survival in hospitalized patients with terminal cancer, even after adjustment for confounders. Changes in PPS may be a more sensitive indicator of impending death than a single PPS measured on the day of admission in terminal cancer patients. Further prospective study is needed to examine this important finding in other populations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.5-24
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• 1984

There has been an immense need for elaborate studies on the complications and the neuological sequelae generated by acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning which is highly prevalent in Korea due to widespread adoption of the anthracite coal briquette as domestic fuel for heating and for cooking. For this epidemiological study, a total of 444 subjects who received hospital emergency care for acute CO poisoning during the period of March 1982 to February 1983 were randomly selected from the emergency patients's lists of 13 general hospitals in Seoul area. Informations on the neurological sequelae were elucidated by means of home visiting with prearranged questionnaire consisting questions and concise neurological examination. The findings obtained were summarized as follows; 1. The complications were found in 18% of the surveyed and acute decubitus was comprised 67.5% of the complications. 2. The total cumulative incidence of the neurological sequelae was 41.2 per 100 patients and the absolute incidence rate regardless of the duration after poisoning was 40.8%. 3. The incidence of the neurological sequelae was higher in the older age than in the younger and also higher in female than in male. Twice higher incidence was observed in the admitted patients than in the non-admitted patients and the incidence became higher in proportion to the duration of CO exposure, coma and admission. The poorer the consciousness level of patients found, at emergency room and at discharge, the higher the incidence. The incidence of the neurological sequelae by emergency care was higher in hyperbaric oxygen therapy group(51.9%) than in 100% $O_2$ group(38.0%) 4. A total of five variables significantly associated with the occurrence of the neurological sequelae were selected by the stepwise discriminant analysis. The variables were following course of emergency care, age, consciousness level at discharge, admission duration, and consciousness level at emergency room in their sequence of discriminant power. Eight variables were selected as those associated with the degree of the neurological sequelae through the stepwise multiple regression analysis. Of these variables, the acute decubitus alone explained 21.1% of the total variation ana all the eight variables could explain 36.5% of the same. The remaining seven variables listed in the order of their relative importance were: age, consciousness level at discharge, admission duration, coma duration and consciousness level at emergency room. 5. It was postulated that unexpectedly high incidence of the neurological sequelae of the CO poisoning in this epidemiological study was mainly due to the inadequate emergency care and the lack of efficient and sophisticated treatment measure. In the effort to minimize the incidence of grave neurological sequelae of acute CO poisoning, new guidelines for the emergency care and treatment should be pursued with efficient ways.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.36-47
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to determine ICU nurses noncompliance of critical care nursing standards in order to provide basic data for education aimed at improvement in practice and evaluation of quality of nursing care in ICU. Methods: Data was collected from 150 nurses who work for three educational hospitals which have more than 800 beds and located in Gyeonggi province using questionnaires from September 2007 to October 2007. Results: The highest categories of noncompliance of critical care nursing standards were admission care($2.71\pm.60$) and infection control($2.31\pm.70$). The main causes of noncompliance critical care nursing standards that nurses regarded as causes were lack of attention(80.7%). ICU nurses mainly reported their noncompliance to charge nurses(89.3%) within 30minutes (84.7%). The reasons they reported were to solve problems rapidly and correctly, to reduce a harm to patients, and to prevent making noncompliance again. The reasons they didn't report were that they thought it might be not a problem and there was no change of patients conditions. Conclusion: ICU nurses noncompliance of critical care nursing standards was determined, therefore it can be used for prevention of further noncompliance.