• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.208-218
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing on practice of healthcare-associated infection control among clinical nurses. Methods: The subject of this study were 118 nurses who worked in medical surgical ward and ICU of 2 general hospital in Gwangju city. Data were collected with a questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheff$\acute{e}$ test, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: The major findings of this study were as follow: There were significant positive correlation between knowledge, recognition, empowerment and practice of healthcare-associated infection control. The significant factors influencing practice of healthcare-associated infection control were recognition and empowerment, which explained 68.8% of the practice of healthcare-associated infection control. Conclusion: These results indicate that recognition on healthcare-associated infection control and empowerment among clinical nurses should be reinforcement via consistent education, administrative and organizational support at the level of hospital.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify influencing factors on the performance of healthcare-associated infection control and microbiological hand contamination among caregivers at a tertiary hospital. Methods: The participants of this study were 59 caregivers woring at a tertiary hospital. Data were collected from July 1 to 30, 2018. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression by SPSS 23.0 Win program. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that factors influencing performance of healthcare-associated infection control were awareness (β=.63, p<.001) and the experience of infection-related education (β=-3.40, p=.042). Regression equations describing the performance of healthcare-related infection control were found to be appropriate (F=27.29, p<.001) and accounted for 68% of variance. Factors affecting the degree of microbiological hand contamination were work experience (β=-0.28, p=.026) and healthcare-related infection performance (β=-0.28, p=.029). A regression equation describing the microbiological hand contamination was appropriate (F=6.10, p=.004) and accounted for 42% of variance. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that it is necessary to increase performance of healthcare-associated infection control by caregivers. Also, educations for preventing healthcare-associated infection and guidelines for increasing compliance with healthcare-associated infection control are recommended to improve performance of healthcare-associated infection control.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1589-1593
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• 2016

Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) liver flukes are common parasites found in central and southern Laos and constitute a major public health problem in the country. Laos people continue to have the habit of extensively consuming raw or half-cooked fish which are intermediate hosts. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with OV infection in the population of Thakek district, Khammouane Province. This cross-sectional analytic study covered 237 subjects who filled out structured questionnaires. Fecal examination for OV infection was performed by Kato's thick smear method. Data analysis was carried out using STATA Version 10.0. Multiple logistic regression was applied. The results showed that the infection rate of OV was 54.8%. Factors associated with OV infections were gender, a habit of defecation in fields and raw fish (goi bplaa dip) consumption. Opisthorchiasis and associated cholangiocarcinoma development thus appear to remain as important concerns in Laos.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.372-377
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• 2020

Infection risks of handling specimens associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by public health laboratory services teams were assessed to scrutinize the potential hazards arising from the work procedures. Through risk assessments of all work sequences, laboratory equipment, and workplace environments, no aerosol-generating procedures could be identified except the procedures (mixing and transfer steps) inside biological safety cabinets. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks, protective gowns, face shields/safety goggles, and disposable gloves, together with pertinent safety training, was provided for laboratory work. Proper disinfection and good hand hygiene practices could minimize the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection at work. All residual risk levels of the potential hazards identified were within the acceptable level. Contamination by gloved hands was considered as a major exposure route for SARS-CoV-2 when compared with eye protection equipment. Competence in proper donning and doffing of PPE accompanied by hand washing techniques was of utmost importance for infection control.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and associated factors among married women in northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey (n=657) was conducted from April 1 to 15, 2020, in Metema District, northwest Ethiopia, in four randomly selected kebele administrations (the lowest level of local government). The inclusion criteria were married women aged ≥18 years residing with their husbands. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with married women's vulnerability to HIV infection. Results: Participants were on average 33.70±9.50 years and nearly one-fourth (n=148, 22.5%) were identified as vulnerable to HIV infection (i.e., experienced sexually transmitted disease symptoms or an extramarital affair of either spouse within the past 12 months). Only 18.9% reported sexual communication with their husband. Respondents who did not discuss the risk of HIV infection with their husbands had fivefold odds of vulnerability (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-17.5). Those who did not have premarital sex (AOR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05-0.77) had no worries about HIV infection (AOR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08-0.94), sufficient income (AOR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.16-0.86), and less than four children (AOR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.97) had decreased odds of being vulnerable to HIV than their counterparts. Conclusion: Not discussing risk of HIV infection with husband was a major factor of vulnerability to HIV infection as was premarital sex, worry about HIV, income, and number of children. Measures to strengthen couple's sexual communication and support economical stability is important for decreasing HIV vulnerability.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.303-313
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' knowledge, health beliefs, and performance regarding the infection control of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and to identify factors affecting their infection control performance of the CAUTI. Methods: The subjects were 166 nurses at three hospitals with less than 300 beds in urban areas.Data were collected using structured questionnaires about knowledge, health beliefs, and performance regarding the infection control of the CAUTI. Statistical analysis included t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation Coefficients, Multiple regression analysis. Results: The factors affecting the infection control performance of CAUTI were knowledge (β=.18, p=.010), perceived seriousness (β=.25, p=.001), perceived barriers (β=.41, p<.001), and cues to action (β=.15, p=.030), and these factors explained 28.7% of the variance for the infection control performance of the CAUTI. Conclusion: In this study, higher levels of knowledge, perceived seriousness and, cues to action, and lower perceived barriers resulted in a corresponding higher performance in the infection control of CAUTI. Based on these findings, providing intervention programs enhancing the health beliefs of nurses is necessary to ensure their infection control performance of the CAUTI.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2016

Purpose: Infection management is important for physical therapists in order to protect patients and themselves since they often provide patient care and have physical contact with patients. This study examined the performance of infection control and associated factors among physical therapists. Methods: The study subjects were 174 physical therapists working in the G metropolitan city. The performance of infection control according to general characteristics, job-related characteristics, and infection-related characteristics were compared using t-test and ANOVA. Associations between awareness and performance of infection control were tested by correlation. Finally, multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with performance of infection control. Results: Overall performance scores for personal and therapy room were $87.47{\pm}11.70$ and $70.08{\pm}13.68$, respectively. Both personal and therapy room infection control were lower for the degree of performance than the degree of awareness. In multiple linear regression analysis, the degree of performance at a personal level was related to current smoking status, type of charge therapy, supply of protection equipment, and awareness of personal infection control. The degree of performance of therapy room was related to injury experience in the workplace, supply of protection equipment, and awareness of therapy room infection control. Conclusion: Performance of therapy room infection control was lower than that of personal infection control. The performance was associated with the supply of protection equipment and awareness. Therefore, the degree of performance for infection control will be increased with proper supply of protection equipment in the hospital and increase the degree of awareness with adequate prevention education.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3413-3418
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• 2015

Background: Liver fluke infection caused by the parasite Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini), a human carcinogen, is endemic in north-eastern Thailand and remains a major health problem. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to (1) resurvey the prevalence of O. viverrini infection in a field site from the Khon Kaen Cohort Study (in newly recruited subjects as well as previous cohort subjects surveyed in 1992); (2) investigate how subjects' lifestyle habits and their exposure to health promotion initiatives influence changes in prevalence of O. viverrini infection. Materials and Methods: The prevalence of O. viverrini infection in the cohort subjects (as well as new subjects) was investigated using faecal egg counts. Information on demographic factors, lifestyle and awareness of health promotion initiatives were obtained through questionnaires. Results: O. viverrini infection rates in the same individuals of the cohort were lower in 2006 than in 1992. Also, by studying the period effect, the current 35-44 year olds had a 12.4% (95% CI 3.9% to 20.9%) lower prevalence of O. viverrini infection than the 35-44 year olds in 1992 (24.2% versus 11.8%). Lifestyle choices showed that smoking and alcohol consumption were associated with an increased chance of acquiring O. viverrini infection with adjusted odds ratios of 10.1 (95%CI 2.4-41.6) and 5.3 (95%CI 1.2-23.0), respectively. Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated that although the prevalence of O. viverrini infection over a 14-year period has decreased, unhealthy lifestyle was common with smoking and alcohol consumption being associated with increased chances of infection, emphasising the double burden of disease which developing countries are facing.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.312-327
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• 2021

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) to manage healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) has emerged as one of the most significant public health issues in Korea. The purpose of this study is to draw implications in IPC policies by analyzing the context, process, and major actors in policy development and comparatively analyzing IPC policy contents of Korea with three other countries. Additionally, IPC policies were analyzed in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to provide implications for future pandemics and HCAI events. Methods: This study incorporates a qualitative approach based on document and content analysis, applying codes and thematic categorization. IPC policy contents are comparatively analyzed by adopting the concept model, developed by the World Health Organization, which consists of core components of IPC structure at the national and facility level. Results: National IPC policies were developed within a complex social and political context, through the involvement of various stakeholders. IPC policies in Korea place a high emphasis on establishing IPC programs and built environments in healthcare facilities, whereas there were potentials for improvement in policies involving patients and promoting a safety culture. IPC policies, which currently focus on general hospitals and certain functions of hospitals, should further be expanded to target all healthcare facilities and functions, to ensure more efficient and sustainable IPC responses in the current and future disease outbreaks. Conclusion: IPC is a complex policy arena and lessons learned from the analysis of existing policies in the context of COVID-19 should provide valuable strategic implications for future policies.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2009