• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.314-322
• /
• 2008

Purpose: It is widely recognized that good quality control (QC) program is essential for adequate imaging diagnosis using gamma camera. The purpose of this study is to survey the current status of QC of gamma cameras in Republic of Korea for implementing appropriate nationwide quality control guidelines and programs. Methods: A collection of data is done for personnel, equipment and appropriateness of each nuclear medicine imaging laboratory's quality control practice. This survey is done by collection of formatted questionnaire by mails, emails or interviews. We also reviewed the current recommendations concerning quality assurance by international societies. Results: This survey revealed that practice of quality control is irregular and not satisfactory. The irregularity of the QC practice seems due partly to the lack of trained personnel, equipment, budget, time and hand-on guidelines. Conclusion: The implementation of QC program may cause additional burden to the hospitals, patients and nuclear medicine laboratories. However, the benefit of a good QC program is obvious that the hospitals can provide good quality nuclear medicine imaging studies to the patients. It is important to use least cumbersome QC protocol, to educate the nuclear medicine and hospital administrative personnel concerning QC, and to establish national QC guidelines to help each individual nuclear medicine laboratory.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.89-104
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The authors reviewed researches related to performance appraisal(32 researches), in order to identify the direction for future research and to establish a credible performance appraisal system. Method: Almost all of the theses and research published in 9 major journals of nursing in korea were reviewed. Results: Most of research(84.4%) were theses and all researches were used to non-experimental design; survey 81.3%, methodological research 15.6%, review 3.1%. The major subjects of study were appraisees and appraisers. Psychosocial data collection which only used questionnaire were 81.3% and carried out interview(12.5%) and delphi-method(3.1%). Data analysis methods were used frequency 78.1%, t-test 62.5%, mean/SD 59.4%, Pearson's correlation 50%, and Cronbach α 50%. Appraisal tool used or developed in studies was graphic rating scales in nine studies and ran parallel with forced distribution in 2. Also, MBO and BSC were developed. Total number of korean terms in performance measurement were 11, and english terms 15. The tendency of the terms was toward performance appraisal or evaluation. Conclusion: In the light of results, we expect development of corporate appraisal tool that can evaluate nurse competence and performance. Total performance management system also should be established.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.281-286
• /
• 1995

Objects : Manic phase of bipolar disorder is treated with a combination of mood stabilizer and antipsychotic drug, especially in the acute phase. Such combined treatment is often required for the clinical management of manic symptoms until therapeutic effects of mood stabilizer become evident. The present study was the first open trial to evaluate the efficacy of risperidone, and safety of the combination of mood stabilizer and risperidone in the treatment of acute manic patients. Method : This study was performed as an open clinical study. The subjects of this study were 42 patients who had been admitted with first manifestations or acute exacerbations of illness were selected, using DSM-III-R criteria for bipolar disorder, manic episode. Patients were rated using the the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale(ESRS). Other adverse events were assessed by a symptom checklist and by observation by medical personnel. Vital signs were monitored in a standard way and electrocardiography, routine laboratory analysis were performed. Results : Thirty patients(67%) completed the 12-week trial period. The CGI showed a good therapeutic effect with a minimal incidence or severity of side effects. The majority of patients showed a continuos reduction in their BPRS scores. The extrapyramidal symptoms assessed on ESRS generally showed mild to moderate degree. laboratory porameters showed no significant changes during the course of treatment. Conclusion : The results of the study showed a good efficacy of the risperidone in manic patients and further controlled studies are warranted.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.86-96
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine and compare satisfaction with Korean health care services for Americans, Chinese and Russians who resided in Korea. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 252 participants (81 Americans, 89 Chinese, 82 Russians). Three focus group interviews were subsequently conducted in order to obtain a greater understanding of participants' experience and perspectives. Results: The average satisfaction score was 3.09, with Americans and Russians showing significantly higher scores than Chinese. Overall, participants reported higher satisfaction in 'Facility', 'Quality of care' and 'Nursing services' as opposed to 'Information/education'. 'Care with cultural respect' as well as communication related services. Data from the focus group interviews were categorized into 12 sub-categories, 7 categories and 2 themes. The two themes were common experience and contrasting experience. Common experience included 4 categories, 'Quality of care', 'Hospital facility and health care system', 'Language barrier' and 'Information and education'. Contrasting experience included 3 categories, 'Medical cost', 'Health care personnel' and 'Accessibility'. Conclusion: Results of this study provide basic knowledge on foreign residents' satisfaction and experience with Korean health care services. Further research is needed with foreigners from different cultural backgrounds. Administrative and educational efforts are required to improve communication skills and cultural competency.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.1219-1229
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to describe and understand how diabetics dealt with the result of the various changes of lifestyle. The grounded theory approach of qualitative research methods was used for building a substantive theory about that. The subjects of this study were 10 clients who experienced diabetes from 4 to 30 years. The data was collected from August 1999 to November 1999 through in-depth interviews utilizing home visitation and telephone interview technique then it was and analyzed simultaneously by a constant comparative method in which the new data was continuously coded into categories and properties according to Strauss & Corbin,s methodology. One hundred six concepts were found and they were grouped into 35 categories and then into 14 categories. The results were as follows difficulty, unable to overcome the changes, disposition, disease process, tiredness, supportive environment, perception, handling, concent- ration, mastering, endurance, avoidance, giving up and tailoring. The core phenomenon was 'tiredness' and these categories were synthesized into one core concept, the process of tailoring. The process of tailoring in diabetics consisted of : 1) going through difficulty of disease management 2) experiencing tiredness from the difficulty of disease management 3) perception of disease from tiredness 4) undergoing various self-management 5) controlling the process of tailoring by one's own method. Six hypotheses were derived from the relation of these concepts and four types were from intensity of tiredness, direction of disposition, type of disease process and the level of supportive environment and perception. This study offers better understanding on diabetic experiences and may facilitate more appropriate interventive strategies to provide support, information and knowledge. The nurses should utilize the results to help diabetics enjoy their lives without any trouble and must continuously develop nursing knowledges and skills.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.2611-2617
• /
• 2016

Background: Medication errors are common but most often preventable events in any health care setup. Studies on medication errors involving chemotherapeutic drugs are limited. Objective: We studied three aspects of medication errors - prescription, transcription and administration errors in 500 cancer patients who received ambulatory cancer chemotherapy at a resource limited setting government hospital attached cancer centre in South India. The frequency of medication errors, their types and the possible reasons for their occurrence were analysed. Design and Methods: Cross-sectional study using direct observation and chart review in anmbulatory day care unit of a Regional Cancer Centre in South India. Prescription charts of 500 patients during a three month time period were studied and errors analysed. Transcription errors were estimated from the nurses records for these 500 patients who were prescribed anticancer medications or premedication to be administered in the day care centre, direct observations were made during drug administration and administration errors analysed. Medical oncologists prescribing anticancer medications and nurses administering medications also participated. Results: A total of 500 patient observations were made and 41.6% medication errors were detected. Among the total observed errors, 114 (54.8%) were prescription errors, 51(24.5%) were transcribing errors and 43 (20.7%) were administration errors. The majority of the prescription errors were due to missing information (45.5%) and administration errors were mainly due to errors in drug reconstitution (55.8%). There were no life threatening events during the observation period since most of the errors were either intercepted before reaching the patient or were trivial. Conclusions: A high rate of potentially harmful medication errors were intercepted at the ambulatory day care unit of our regional cancer centre. Suggestions have been made to reduce errors in the future by adoption of computerised prescriptions and periodic sensitisation of the responsible health personnel.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.124-140
• /
• 1995

Cardiac cathererization has become a routine diagnostic procedure indicated for evaluation of a wide varity of cardiac conditions. Patients are admitted to the coronary care unit after cardiac catheterization. These conscious patients report feeling uncomfortable in the CCU, but no studies have been done on the effects of bed rest, sand bags on the femoral puncture site and restricted mobility for 4 to 12 hours or longer postprocedure. The main objective of this thesis is to provide basic data to nursing on interventions which de-crease the uncomfortableness experienced by patients in the CCU following cardiac catheterization. In this phenomenological study, the various discomforts felt by the patients were collected and classified. The study subjects were a convenience sample of 29 patients who were admitted to the CCU of a general hospital in Inchon following cardiac catheterization. They were conscious, so they were able to communicate without difficulty. The data were collected over an U days period from July 21, to October 14, 1994. The subjects were interviewed using unstructured open questions and the interviews were tape recorded with the patient's permission The data were analyzed using the Van Kaams phenomenological method. Reliability and validity were exammed by two professor of nursing science, one head nurse, one staff nurse and one cardiologist. The results of the study are summarized as follows ; 1. The 129 descriptive statements by the postcardiac catheterization patients of discomfort were organized into 19 themes. 2. The 19 themes were divided into 3 categories ; physical, psychological, and environmental aspects. 3. The problems concerning the physical aspect were the discomfort of restriction of movement, dysuria, medical devices, pain in the puncture site, symptom is related to the procedure of cardiac catheterization, headache and dizziness, leg painand tingling sensation, and chest pain. The problems concerning the psychological aspect were regret resulting from dependency, economic burden, dissatisfaction with medical personnel, dissatisfaction with medical service system, anxiety about the result of the procedure, concern about the prognosis, loneliness, and concern over treatment procedure. The problems concerning the environmental aspect were influence from neighboring patients, noise, and maladaptation to environmental change. The necessity for holistic care which satisfies physical, psychological, and environmental need must be emphasized in order to solve these discomforts.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.226-245
• /
• 1997

The practical apprenticeship training is important and takes part in one fourth of the curriculum in university(college) nursing education. The quality and quantity of practical training influence the quality of nursing student ability. This study have planed to find out actual condition of practical apprenticeship training for university(college) nursing education and develop the reform measure in Korea. The questionnaires were sent for directors of nursing department in university(college) and the directors of nursing in hospitals which were chosen by systemic sampling and have over 500 beds. The response rate was 48.4% in total. The results were as follow : 1. There were 2 kinds of training system ;subject training and comprehensive training. The comprehensive training was done frequently in college education. There were gaps of subject between the lecture and the practical training education for professor, part time lecturler and assitant. 2. There was the shortage of training fields especially in college education. 3. The training content by university(college) personnel were care conference, orientation, ward rounding. The content by hospital nursing pernnels were bedside nursing skills and nursing process application. The headnurse acted the important role in training education. For improving the actual condition of training apprenticeship in university(college) nursing education, it is necessary that the Ministry of Education should make the accreditation system on the preparation of training hospitals for university(college) nursing education. The Academy Society for Nursing Education can do the central and coordination role to improve the training apprenticeship for nursing education in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.31 no.9_10
• /
• pp.1408-1417
• /
• 2007

In Korea, to deal with the housing needs of the elderly, the government operates free nursing homes and residential homes. And to deal with the needs for daily necessities, imported products or products for the disabled have been supplied for the elderly. The government has recognized the importance of silver industry in this rapidly aging society and has established strategies to vitalize industries related to seniors to deal with the seniors' need for food, clothing, and shelter. This study examined the necessity of nursing home gowns, and the development of nursing home gowns that are environmentally friendly, beautiful and functional for the new silver generation. For this study, literature review and Internet search were conducted regarding the status of silver fashion, necessity of nursing home gowns, emergence of new silver generation and change in lifestyle, and value and utilization of natural dye and traditional patterns. To produce nursing home gowns, fabric was dyed using fermented indigo dying, and 3 styles of nursing home gowns for each gender were designed in consideration of seasons. Lastly, these gowns were evaluated by fashion experts, medical personnel, hospital gown and silver wear experts, and natural dye experts. The results showed that the traditional Korean designs developed in this study were excellent and the fermented indigo dye was appropriate for the nursing home gowns. The development of nursing home gowns in this study will be utilized as basic material for the development of silver wear and nursing home gowns to improve the quality of life for the seniors.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2018

When using a mobile X-ray unit, primary radiation creates medical images and secondary radiation scatters in many directions, which reduces image quality and causes exposure to patients, care givers and medical personnel. The purpose of this study was to develop a radiation shielding system for effectively shielding secondary radiation and evaluate its effectiveness. Using a mobile X-ray unit, spatial dose according to presence of human equivalent phantom and spatial dose using the developed shielding device were measured, and the phantom at 80 cm equidistance from center of X-ray was compared with spatial dose according to use of a shield. Measurements were taken at intervals of 10 cm every $30^{\circ}$ from the head direction($-90^{\circ}$) to the body direction($+90^{\circ}$). In the spatial dose measurement with and without the phantom, when the human equivalent Phantom was used, the spatial dose was increased by 40% in all directions from 40 cm to 100 cm from the central X-ray, and about 88% of the space dose was reduced when using the developed shields with the phantom. The equidistance dose at 80 cm from the central X-ray was increased by 39% from $5.1{\pm}0.26{\mu}Gy$ to $7.1{\pm}0.15{\mu}Gy$ when the human equivalent phantom was used, and when phantom was used and shielding was used, the spatial dose was reduced by about 90% from $7.1{\pm}0.15{\mu}Gy$ to $0.7{\pm}0.07{\mu}Gy$. The spatial dose of natural radiation was measured to be about $0.2{\pm}0.04{\mu}Gy$ when using the developed shielding with Phantom at a distance of 1 m or more. It is expected that by using the developed shielding system, it will be possible to effectively reduce secondary radiation dose received in all directions and to ensure safe imaging.