• Title/Summary/Keyword: Family Care

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Gender Differences in Pain in Cancer Patients (성별에 따른 암환자의 통증 차이)

  • Kim, Hyun-Sook;Lee, So-Woo;Yun, Young-Ho;Yu, Su-Jeong;Heo, Dae-Seog
    • Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.14-25
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    • 2001
  • Purpose : To determine whether there exist gender differences in pain in Korean cancer patients and whether the depression and performance that are often expressed differently between men and women with cancer interact with pain. Method : The results of survey were collected from 140 in- and out-patients (78 male and 62 female) who had cancer treatment at one of the university hospital in Seoul for four months from February of 1999. The severity and interference of pain were examined with the self-reported survey based on Korean version of Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-K). Demographic and clinical information for all patient were compiled by reviewing their medical records, and the level of depression was examined with the Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-K). Usual statistical methods, e.g., frequences, means and SDs were used to characterize the sample. The chi-square tests for categorical data and t-test for numerical data were used for group comparison. And the correlation between variables were performed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Resuts : 1) The mean scores of the worst pain for last 24-hours measured with the pain severity of BPI-K were 5.77 in male and 6.45 in female. The pain interference of BPI-K in men was in the order of mood (5.49), enjoy (5.36), and work (5.00), and in women were work (7.48), enjoy (7.16), and mood (6.53). 2) In pain severity, significant difference was found between men and women in the average pain for last 24-hours (t=-2.130, P=.035). In pain interference, significant difference was found between men and women in activity (t=-2.450, P=.015), mood (t=-2,321, P=.022), walk (t=-2.762, P=.007), work (t=-4.946, P=.000), relate (t=-2.595, P=.010), sleep (t=-2.071, P=.040), enjoy (t=-3.198, P=.001). 3) It was found that the items of pain and depression are significantly correlated in men but not in women. Men also exhibited higher correlation in the items of pain and performance status than women. Conclusions : Women report significantly greater average pain for last 24-hours and for all items of pain interference than men. Pain and depression are significantly correlated in men. The results of this study suggest that gender differences in pain should be considered for planning effective pain management program.

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Prevalence and Related Factors of Knee Osteoarthritis in Rural Women (농촌여성의 무릎 골관절염 유병률 및 관련요인)

  • Seo, Joong-Hwan;Kang, Pock-Soo;Lee, Kyeong-Soo;Yun, Sung-Ho;Hwang, Tae-Yoon;Park, Jong-Seo
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.167-182
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    • 2005
  • Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis according to the criteria of diagnosing knee osteoarthritis in rural women and the factors related with this disease. Methods: The data obtained from 200 women older than 40 years of age residing in 5 Ri's in Goryeong-gun. Gyeongsanbuk-do by random cluster sampling from September to October 2002. Knee osteoarthritis was determined positive according to the Kellgren and Lawrence classification and knee pain. Results: Among these subjects, 71.0% showed more than grade 2 in radiologic finding and the rate of knee pain according to the survey was 67.0%. The rate of subjects meeting the criteria of knee osteoarthritis was 54.0%. According to univariate analysis, the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis increased with age and those farming people and people working in household industry was significantly high at 58.9% compared with others. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis showed a significant relationship with the family history and past history of knee injury and knee surgery(p<0.01), and diabetes mellitus(p<0.05). The score of ADL was significantly different in the subjects with knee osteoarthritis compared with normal group(p<0.05). When the presence of knee osteoarthritis and the period of the life style of seating down on the floor were compared, a significant difference was present between the osteoarthritis group and normal group. As for metabolic factors, the blood sugar level, bone density, and body mass index(BMI) were significantly different in the osteoarthritis group compared with normal group. When multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with the presence of knee osteoarthritis as the dependent variable, the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was significantly affected by older age, subjects farming or working in household industry, the history of knee injury, the history of surgery, higher blood sugar level, and higher BMI. Conclusions: These subjects need an intervention through self-care programs such as exercise for preventing osteoarthritis, weight control programs, other exercise programs strengthening knee joints, and guidelines when working in vinyl houses.

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Mother's Emotional Expressivity, Young Children's Self-regulation and Peer Competency (어머니의 정서표현성과 유아의 자기조절능력 및 또래 유능성)

  • Lee, Young Soon;Chong, Young Sook;Lee, Ki Young
    • Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.41-63
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    • 2006
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences among mother's feeling expression, children's self-regulation, and children's peer competency by socio-demographic background and provide a basic material to develop the parents' education for mother's promosing emotional environment to help development of children by understanding the correlation among mother's feeling expression children's self-regulation, and children's peer competency. The research objects were 361 of 4 to 6-year-old children and their mothers. The tool adapted by Woo Sookyong(2002) was used for Mother's emotional expressivity, and the tool of Lee Jeongran(2003) for the of self regulation and the tool of park Joohee and Lee Eunhae for the children's peer competency. Data analysis was performed with population, percentage, t-test, Cronbach $\alpha$, F-test, and co-relation of LSD posteriori test. The summary of this study are as follows; First, the more negative expressivity was shown as mother's academic career was higher and the more positive one was appeared as family income was greater according to the background of socio-demography. Female children showed the higher self-regulation, and the self-decision and action control were greater as their age was higher. Children's peer competency was higher as they were social and friendly personality. Second, there was the strong relationship among the mother's feeling expressivity, children's self-regulation and peer competency one. Mother's positive expressivity had the relationship with children's self-regulation and peer competency one while weak expressivity had it with self-decision, regulation and children's peer competency. But the strong negative heartstrings' expressivity was an improper co-relation with action control and no relation with similar age competent ability. A definitive relation existed between all low level area except the emotion of self-regulation and children's peer competency. Form the above study, it was Known that there was the relationship among the mother's feeling expressivity, children's self-regulation and peer competency. In particular, there was strong relationship between positive and weak positive expressivity, and children's self-regulation and peer competency. These results could be reflected to parents' heartstrings education by knowing the impact of a positive emotional expressivity and weak-negative one.

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A Study on Health of High School Students (남(男)·여(女) 고등학생(高等學生)들의 건강(健康)에 관(關)한 연구 - 일부 청소년들의 건강상태와 건강행위를 중심으로 -)

  • Kim, Hak-Soon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.89-100
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    • 1993
  • This study intended to examine closely the reasons which influence the health status and to health behavior of teenagers and plan the development of the school health education. The subject of this study was the boys, and girls' high school students in Chonguy city. The number of them was totally 632 and the period was from July 9 to 14, 1990. 1. The Health Status of Teenagers. I have examined closely the health status of teenagers. They answered they continued to go to school. ever though the majority of teenagers had troubles in their sleeping and felt sick As for one's health, most of teenagers were in a good condition and were sometimes worrying about their health condition. 2. The Degree of Interest and Responsibilities of Teenagers for Their Own Health. In the responsibility of teenagers for their own health the answer, 'my health depends on my taking care of it', had the highest grade, 4.67. And the answer, 'I am in a good health condition because I have taken of my health very well', had the lowest average, 4.1. In the degree of interest of teenagers for their own health, the problem of studying had the highest degree, 4.48 and the use of drugs, the smoking behavior, masturbation, the drinking behavior and the birth control were the lowest degree. 3. The Health Behavior of Teenagers. In this part, teenagers performed about 64 percent's health behavior on the point of 3.37. 4. The Comparison of the Health Behavior, the Health Responsibility and the Health Interest of the Subject According to the General Characteristics. The results were as follows: 1) There are significantly different in the health behavior according to sex (t=6.23, p<.001), smoking experience (t=5.33, p<.001), living place (t=5.09, p<.001), ranking of brothers (F=4.19, p<.01), economic situation(F=6.57, p<.001). 2) There is significantly different in the health responsibility according to sex(t=2.31, p<.05), experiencd by disease(t= 1.92, p<.05). 3) There are significantly different in the health interest according to the chronic disease experience of family (t=3.29, p<.001), smoking experience(t=2.71, p<.01). 5. The Correlation of the Health Behavior, the Health Responsibility, the Health Interest and the Health Locus of Control of the Subject. The health behavior showed the positive correlation with the health responsibility (r=.2906, p<.001), and the health responsibility showed the positive correlation with the health interest (r=.0938, p<.01). Also the health behavior showed the positive correlation with powerful others health locus of control (r=.2606, p<.001), and internal health locus of control (r=.2023, p<.001), the health responsibility showed the positive correlation with internal health locus of control (r=.4541, p<.001), and chance health locus of control(r=.1352, p<.001), and the health interest showed the positive correlation with internal health locus of ccntrol (r=.0920, p<.001), powerful others health iocus of control (r=.1907, p<.001 chance health locus of control (r=.1191, p<.01). On the basis of the above result, we can find the fact that the interest of teenagers for their own health is increasing. And so, it is necessary for the school health management to establish the new curriculum which strengthens the health education for the planning of one's desirable health management. Besides we need efforts to develop the standard scale through the analysis of all reasons which influences the tenagers' health status and health behavior.

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The Hospital Life of the Patient with Femoral Neck Fracture (대퇴경부 골절 환자의 입원 생활)

  • Kim, Kyung-Ja;Chi, Sung-Ai
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.35-56
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    • 1996
  • Nowerdays, the increase of traffic accidents and old age population make the Femoral Neck Fracture(FNF) patients increase. By the improvement of education and standard of living the patients demand better medical service than before. This study is designed to give practical help for the FNF patients by observing their hospital life and establish practical nursing strategies for the FNF patients. For these purposes the Ethnographic Participant Observation was adopted. By this study is focused on the hospital life patient's view. For this end, the field study adopted orthopedic ward in the C University Hospital with 400 beds in Seoul. The object patients of the study were twelve patients. The patients experienced five stages : Embarrassment, Conflict, Stability, Independent, and Extension Stage. The findings and prepared nursing strategies are stated as follows. First, in the Embarrassment Stage they suffered embarrassment, anxiety, pain, they could not do ordinary things. The patients who accidental fractures had anxiety from unfamiliar tests and from hospitalization itself. They lamented that they could not ordinary things, and do nothing but obeying the hospital, and endure the pain. They recognized the changed environment and resigned themselves to life in the ward. In this stage, full openness by the nurses is needed. Second, the attribute of the Conflict Stage were conflict, fear, curiosity, belief, reflection. When they sign the consentment form, they experience conflicts about the possibility of complication, fear of recovery from anesthesia, curiosity about the operation procedure, post - operation state, reflection on their past life, and promise to care for their family members after discharge and keep their religious life faithfully. And they accepted the operation depending on God, believing in modern medicine, and the surgeon. Asking for their changed informations, they expected positive results from the operation. In this stage, an empathic attitude by the nurses is needed. Third, the attribute of the Stability Stage were relief, gratitude, difficulty with excretion, and pain. When they awoke from anesthesia, they felt relief because of a the end of the operation, but they experienced extreme pain, difficulty of excretion in bed. They accepted the changed environment and expected recovery. In this stage, support by the nurses is needed. Fourth, the attributes of the Independence Stage were freedom, exercise, nurturing, anxiety, and discomfort. When they ambulated and exercised, they experienced freedom. They showed exhibited weakness of the digestive organs and discomfort hospital's space, structure, and facilities, the delay of medical certificate issue the lack of prompt response by the medical agents. They ate nurturious food and felt anxiety on the end of hospital life and returning to their ordinary life. They showed the independence of overcoming their environment by increasing exercise and expected their discharges. In this stage, respect by the nurses is needed for the patients to, overcome their environment and prepare for their independence. Fifth, the attributes of the Extension Stage were pessimism, isolation, dissatisfaction, and pain. Accompanied injury and old age made their ward life extend to over seven weeks. They exhibited weariness, melancholy, skeptisis, general pessimistic feeling, and desperation caused by their isolated life. They experienced the digestive discomfort caused by the prolonged medication and psycological pain caused by long-time hospitalization. As a, result, their dissatisfaction on the human, physical, and systematic environments had been increased. They acquired critical power and sought for something to do spending their time. They expected vaguely about the returning of their ordinary life. In this stage, counseling is needed by the nurse to overcome positively their psychological, social, and physical problems. The process of the FNF patient's ward life starts from the dependent state, when they are hospitalized, and gradually progresses to self-fulfillment in order to keep independent life. As a result, the FNF patients showed "Response in Challenge" or "Adaptation in Conflict" through their experiences of social, physical, and psychological difficulties.

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Identification and Measurement of Hospital-Related Fears in Hospitalized School-Aged Children (학령기 입원아동의 병원관련 공포에 관한 탐색연구)

  • 문영임
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.61-79
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    • 1995
  • When children are admitted to hospital, they have to adapt to new and unfamiliar stimuli. Children may respond with fear to stimuli such as pain or unfamiliar experiences. One goal of nursing is to help hospitalized children to adapt effectively to their hospital experience. Accordingly, nurses need to assess childrens' fears of their hospital experience to contribute to the planning of care to alleviate these fears. The problem addressed by this study was to identify and measure hospital-related fears(hereafter called HRF) in hospitalized school-aged children. The study was conceptualized with Roy's model. A descriptive qualitative approach was used first, followed by a quantitative approach. This study was conducted from November 30, 1989 to January 12, 1991. The sample consisted of 395 hospitalized school-aged children selected through an allocated sampling technique in nine general hospitals. The HRF questionnaire (three point likert scale ) was developed by a delphi technique. The data were analyzed by an SAS program. Factor analysis was used for the examination of component factors. Differences in the HRF related to demographic variables were examined by t-test, analysis of variance and the Scheffe test. The crude scores of the HRF scale were transformed into T- scores to calculate the standard scores. The results included the following : 1. Forty-four items were derived from 188 statements identifying the childrens' hospital-re-lated fears. These items clustered into 14 factors, fear of injections, operations, bodily harm others' pain, medical rounds, physical examinations, medical staff, disease process, blood and X-rays, drugs and cockroaches, tests, harsh discipline from parents or staff, being absent from school, and separation from family. The 14 factors was classified into four categories,'pain','the unfamiliar','the un-known' and 'separation'. 2. The reliability of the HRF instruments was .92(Cronbach's alpha). In the factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the 14 factors ranged from .84 to .86 and Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the four categories ranged from .70 to .84. Pearson correlation coefficient scores for relationships among the 14 factors ranged from ,11 to .50, and among the four categories, from ,44 to ,63, indicating their relative independence. 3. The total group HRF score ranged from 45 to 130 in a possible range of H to 132, with a mean of 74.51. The fears identified by the children were, in order, injections, harsh discipline by parents or staff, bodily harm, operations, medical staff, disease process, and medical rounds ; the least feared was others' pain. The fear item with the highest mean score was surgery and the lowest was examination by a doctor. HRF scores were higher for girls than for boys, and for grade 1 students than for grade 6 students. HRF scores were lower for children whose fathers were over 40 than for those whose fathers were in the 30 to 39 age group, and whose mothers were over 35 than for those whose mothers were in the 20 to 34 age group. HRF scores were lower when the mother rather than any other person stayed with the child. The expressed fear of pain, the unfamiliar, the un-known and of separation directs nurses' concern to the threat felt by hospitalized children to their concept of self. This study contributes to the assessment of fears of hospitalized children and of stimuli impinging on those fears. Accordingly, nursing practice will be directed to the alleviation of pain, pre-admission orientation to the hospital setting and routines, initiation of information about procedures and experiences and arrangments for mothers to stay with their children. Recommendations were made for further research in different settings and for development and testing of the instrument.

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Development of Practical Problem-focused teaching plans for Teenagers' 'Preparation for Successful aging' in the 'Family life in old age' unit (고등학생의 '성공적인 노후생활 준비교육'을 위한 실천적 문제 중심 가정과 수업의 교수 설계와 개발)

  • Lee, Jong-Hui;Cho, Byung-Eun
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.161-183
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    • 2011
  • This study aims to design, develop the impact of a high school course in practical problem- focused teaching plan which will enable students to deal with an aging society, and prepare well for the aging by looking at issues the elderly face. This study set a target of analyzing the 2007 revised curriculum manual to develop instructor-led teaching and learning plans for 'Successful aging preparation'. Five common subjects were reframed on a practical problem basis through factor analysis of preliminary research regarding aging education for teenagers and the 2007 revised curriculum and textbooks of Technology Home Economics, and Human Development. The practical problem was 'What do we need to do to Successfully live an independent life in aging?', and the subjects studied to answer this question were the aging society and population changes. the nature of the elderly, aging preparation, care of the elderly, and welfare services for the elderly. These five subjects were grouped under the main categories of The Aging Society. Understanding the Elderly, and aging Preparation. The ultimate objective of the lessons was, through critical reasoning, to inquire into the causes of current problems the elderly face so that teenagers can understand aging societies and the elderly, and prepare for a Successful aging. Another objective was to seek reasonable alternatives for teenagers as they prepare for Successful and independent aging, and increase their problem-solving abilities in choosing the best course of action by considering the ripple effect of consequences of each of those alternatives. The practical problem-teaching lesson plans consisted of five classes on practical reasoning instruction. This study suggests that new high school curricula should include lessons on preparation for aging so that students can deal successfully with our aging society.

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A Study on the Actual Conditions of Smoking in Middle and High School Students in One Region (일 지역 중·고등학생의 흡연실태)

  • Kim, Hyeon-Ok
    • Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.149-167
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    • 1999
  • To investigate the actual conditions of smoking in middle and high school students in Chinan County, I used a sturctured questionnaire for 1,579 students attending twelve middle-high schools from December 1, 1998 to December 20, 1998. I collected and data correlated the using an $SPSS-PC^+$ 1. The smoking rate of middle-high schoo1 students in Chinan County was 17.9%, relatively high. This smoking rate was different according to the gender, grade, religion, and economic situation. In mals, high school students, non-religious, students low income family students, the smoking rate was higher. The smoking rate of high school students was almost the same as the smoking rate of adults, generally higher than that of foreign teenagers. Because the smoking rat of studinets in the third grade of middle school and in the first grade of high School was six times higher, increased education should be conducted during this time in an attempt to curb the sudden increase of the smoking rate. The smoking rate of girl students was 5.0%; this has increased mor than three times from ten years ago. Consequently, counter measures should be taken against the smoking of female students as well as juvenile smoking in general. In addition, the smoking rate of middle-high school students showed interesting differences when correnated with enviornmental factors. Students with low grades, who are not satisfied with school life, who don't have both parents, who have uncaring parents who nare too strict or too arbitary, who have smoking parents, or who have experienced smoking commonly smoked. Therefore, to lower the smoking rate we should improve the school environment, improve a student's interest in school life. And parents or siblings should lead by example and quit smoking at home. Schools should educate students more effectively concerning the harmful effects of smoking and create an accurate understanding of its dancers. From the beginning, we should teach students never ever to touch cigaretts. 2. The surve discovered that most students started out of curiosity, or solicitantion from friends or elders at middle school, and had been smoking one to five cigarettes for more than a year. They obtained cigarettes at stores and most of them have friends who smoke. As a result anti-smoking education should be conducted at elementary schools prior to middle school. More than 95% of the teenagers who smoke had friends who smote and smoked out of curiosity or the recommendation of elders. Thus, we must focus on teenagers who smoke in group, rather than individually. Fuyrthermore, the strict application of the regulation of tobacco sales as well as tobacco cooperation from retailers are needed. While students did not show any mood or academic achievement difference after beginning smoking, 58.1% of the students a health situdation that was worse. Juvenile smoking is more harmful to the juvenile than adult smoking is to the adult. This should be focused on in an anti-smoking campaign. 3. Students who smoke hada more positive attitude toward smoking than students who don't smoke. Students who smoke had a tendency to have a nuetral position and are not concerned about smoking compared to non-smoking students. The survey showed that the great number of students had a nuetral position. Because this nuetrality may increase Juvenile smoking, education that provides an exact understanding of smoking should be performed to build the correct attidude toward smoking. 4. Middle school students smoke when angry, gloomy, anxious, a lone and when they have some problems to solve, on when they feel inconveniened in other wores, they smoke to reliver stress. They also smok due to addiction. Because smoking is not a praetical method to relieve stress, a program which helps to acquire positive relief stress should be provided to help reduce smoking. 5. About 65% of students who smoke want to quit smoking because of health problem, 78% of them have tried mor than once to quit but failed due to weak will power and peer pressure from friends who smoke. Juvenile smoking is group, oriented. Thus, the program that advances less smoking will be the one that focuseds on groups. 6. As for advice to students who want to quit smoking, "persuasion" was used most commonly, followed by a "presentation on how to quit smoking". Another method were severe punishment. About 70% of the students wanted the anti-smoking guide at school. 7. Most students (73.5%) had a position that more anti-smoking education at school is needed. Obriously, then, anti-smoking education at middle-high schools should be reinfoced. Although the education which explains the harmful influence of tobacco is known as an efficient way prevent smoking; it does not influence students who already smoke. Therefore, for students who smoke, multi-dimensional approaches must be attempted that include physical training, phychokogical approache, consultation and discussion, medical chek-ups, audio-visual education technigues, and professonal instructors, in addition, because smoking students have more negative on lukewarm attitude to anti-smoking education anti-smoking education should be conducted through a communicative style by dedicated teachers who care about students. In order to increase the effectiveness of this program.

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Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (단독관상동맥우회로술 후 발생한 심방세동)

  • Suh, Jong-Hui;Park, Chan Beom;Moon, Mi-Hyoung;Kweon, Jong Bum;Kim, Young-Du;Jin, Ung;Moon, Seok-Whan;Kim, Chi-Kyung
    • 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.

Impact of fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease on parents (선천성 심질환의 산전 진단이 보호자의 임신 유지 결정에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Eun Young;Lee, Chang Hoon;Yoon, Myung Ja;Han, Eun Sook;Hong, Joon Suk;Jung, Yun Sook;Choi, Jung Yun
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.49 no.10
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    • pp.1073-1078
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    • 2006
  • Purpose : This study was performed to assess how a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease affects parents, as regards pregnancy management and care of infants after birth. Methods : Database search to find out abnormal fetal echocardiography performed at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from July 1988 to June 2003 revealed 370 examinations. After excluding both arrhythmias without structural cardiac disease and multiple pregnancies, 299 pregnancies remained and this data formed the basis of this analysis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records with special attention to pregnancy outcomes and also tried to find out factors influencing parental decisions on whether to continue or terminate pregnancy. Results : In this study, the mean gestation age at diagnosis was $28{\pm}6.0weeks$. The mean age of mothers was $30{\pm}3.9$ years old. Younger gestational ages at diagnosis(P=0.000), more severe grades of fetal heart disease(P=0.002) and younger mothers(P=0.014) correlated with terminations of pregnanies. But the grades of fetal status, the grades of associated anomaly, whether in-vitro-fertilization was carried out or not and numbers of previous children were not significant. Conclusion : This study found that the earlier gestational ages at diagnosis, younger maternal age and higher grades of fetal heart disease tended to lead parent to select abortions. Fetal echocardiographies were performed too late. Moreover Koreans have a biased view that malformation is a something incurable and a tragedy not only to oneself, but also to a family. So parents select terminations of pregnancy, even in curable cases. This is very unethical.