• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was done to describe utilization status of emergency medical service for children at one university affiliated hospital located in Seoul. Data were obtained from the medical records of patients under 13 years of age who visited the ER from January 1 to December 31, 2006. Method: Medical records missing the time of discharge were excluded in the analysis of waiting time, which resulted in 19,766 cases. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 14.0 version. Result: There were slightly more boys (58.4%), average age of the children was 3.97 years of age. More children at the aged 1 to 3 years (51.3%) visited the ER. Fever was the most frequent complaint: 5,180 cases (24.38%). The other complaints were head or facial laceration (10.55%), vomiting (9.63%), abdominal pain (8.06%), cough (7.67%), and painful limb swelling (6.34%). Average waiting time before the first medical examination was 17 minutes, and average ER stay time was 3 hours and 23 minutes. Conclusion: The results suggest the need to assign a nurse specialist for pediatric ER to provide more efficient care for the children. Also, extra staff assignment during the evening shift or extending office hours of local pediatricians should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify non-psychiatric nurses' difficulties in caring for patients with mental illness. Methods: Data were collected from eighteen general medical-surgical nurses working at a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. This study involved two focus group discussions and three in-depth individual interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: General medical-surgical nurses experienced difficulties in 3 categories, 9 subcategories, 27 codes. The three categories were 'nurse' related factors, 'patient' related factors, 'resource' related factors. The nine categories were 'unpreparedness', 'nursing barriers due to stigma', 'undervaluing and avoidance of psychiatric nursing', 'eroding into the trap of a vicious cycle', 'facing unapproachable patients', 'dealing with unhelpful family members', 'burdening already overburdened staff', 'obstructive environment', and 'isolation of staff with heavy responsibilities'. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the need to develop psychiatric mental health education programs for non-psychiatric nurses. Education about psychiatric mental health and support from institutions for non-psychiatric nurses can reduce their negative attitude toward psychiatric patients and difficulties in caring for psychiatric patients.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.44.1-44.11
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• 2023

Background: A series of breast cancer cases were recently reported in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Nurses are generally exposed to risk factors for breast cancer such as night shift work, antineoplastic agents, and job strain. However, the epidemiological evidence of excess incidence among nurses remains lacking. This study aims to investigate the excess incidence of breast cancer among nurses in a tertiary university hospital and provide epidemiological evidence of occupational risk factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort was developed using personnel records of female workers in the nursing department who worked from January 2011 to June 2021 in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Sick leave records were used to identify cases of breast cancer. The standardized incidence ratio of breast cancer among nurses was compared to the general population. Results: A total of 5,509 nurses were followed up for 30,404 person-years, and 26 breast cancer cases were identified. This study revealed a significantly increased breast cancer incidence among all included nurses, with a standardized incidence ratio of 1.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.41), compared to the general population. Workers, who handle antineoplastic agents in their representative department and current and/or former department, had significantly elevated breast cancer standardized incidence ratios of 2.73 (95% CI: 1.008-5.94) and 3.39 (95% CI: 1.46-6.68), respectively. Conclusions: This study provides significant evidence of increased breast cancer risk among nursing staff in a hospital setting, particularly those who handle antineoplastic drugs. Measures that reduce exposure to risk factors should be implemented, especially anticancer drugs, to protect healthcare professionals. Further research at a national level that focuses on healthcare workers is necessary to validate breast cancer incidence and its contributing factors.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.381-392
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• 2002

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the degrees of turnover intention among Korean staff nurses(N=175) and to identify discriminating factors of their turnover intention. Method : The data were driven from a larger study and staff nurses who had worked more than 1 year as nurses were included in the analyses. The original data were collected from May 1999 to March 2000. Descriptive and discriminant analyses were utilized. Results : 87% of the participants reported turnover intention. Nurses were grouped into three group(GP)s depending on the frequencies of turnover intention: Never GP(N=23), Sometimes GP(N=107), Frequent GP(N=43). With three GPs, two functions were produced and only function 1 was significant that significantly discriminated Never and Frequent GPs. Additional discriminant analysis with only Never and Frequent GPs produced function classified 93% of the participants correctly into two GPs. Sub-dimensions of work satisfaction were significant discriminating factors. Nurses who are satisfied with doctor and nurse relationship, pay, and hospital administration tend to report no intention in turnover. Conclusion : Based on the findings of this study, possible managemental intervention for increasing interpersonal skills and assertiveness of nurses, inviting medical residents in ward team meeting, increasing incentives or baseline adjustment of annual income for registered nurses were suggested.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.79-91
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• 2020

Objectives: The objective of this study is to present the basic data required for effective communication by identifying the effects of communication within the hospital organization on organizational conflict and organizational performance. Methods: For this study 298 medical workers and general administrative staff working in small and medium hospitals were selected. Results: Upward and downward communication had a negative effect on individual conflict and on upward, and horizontal communication between individuals. Likewise, horizontal communication had a negative effect on conflict between groups. Upward, downward, and horizontal communication are defined based on organizational performance. It has been shown to affect. Conclusions: In order to improve conflict management and performance within hospital organizations, effective communication plans appropriate to the situation and targets have to be developed.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.256-265
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• 2016

Purpose: This study examined differences in nursing care activity, work performance outcomes, and job satisfaction associated with upgrading nurse staffing of a nurse-to-patients ratio. Methods: Descriptive design was used in this study. In total, 148 medical and surgical nurses were recruited from one university hospital. Three instruments were used for data collection: Scale of Nursing Care Activity, Nurses' Work Performance Outcome Measurement Scale and Nurses' Job Satisfaction Scale. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and paired t-test. Results: There were significant differences in nursing care activity (t=-5.06, p<.001), in work performance outcomes (t=-5.46, p<.001) and in job satisfaction (t=4.61, p<.001) when the grading for the nursing staff was changed from three to two indicating increasing number of nurses. Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that there were more nursing care activities, better work performance outcomes, and higher job satisfaction when numbers of nurses were increased. The changes in the scale to evaluate nursing staff influence nursing activities, work performance and job satisfaction.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2012

Objectives: While there have recently been efforts to improve public health service at a governmental level, there is actually insufficient research on awareness of the roles related to public health service among hospital employees. This study examined role perception and function performance related to public health service among the medical staff in a national hospital. Methods: 15% were randomly sampled from each type of occupation among the medical staff in a national university hospital, a survey was conducted in 323 persons, and there were a total of 265 participants (80.2%): 103 doctors(38.9%), 98 nurses (37.0%), and 64 others (24.1%). Results: The hospital employees had insufficient awareness of their roles as public health service providers in terms of six required items for public health service: 1) services for supporting establishment, implementation, and assessment of public health service policies, 2) participation in the health service activities and support services by central or local governments, 3) technological support and educational services for private health service institutions, 4) health service for unprivileged brackets, 5) health service that requires association with other areas dealing with geriatric, disabled, and mentally-disordered people, and 6) health service for children and mothers. Conclusions: In general, since the hospital employees had insufficient awareness of their roles and responsibilities as public health service providers, it is necessary to secure manpower exclusively in charge of public health service and provide education about strategic public health service.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.2-15
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the development of the most appropriate and effective educational materials for patients and their caregivers through the educational experiences of patient safety officer. Methods: This study is a qualitative analysis that involves using the focus group interview to understand the patient safety education experience of the patient safety officer. Results: The patient safety education experience of the patient safety officer is divided into four topics: (1) patient safety education content (2) patient safety education method (3) patient safety education status (4) activation and improvement of patient safety education. Additionally, the study incorporated twelve subtopics: (a) falls (b) speak up (c) patient safety campaign (d) patient safety rounding and a one on one training (e) education through medical staff (f) education using broadcast, video, post, among others (g) a lot of education in patient (h) patients not interested in patient safety education (i) patient safety education is less effective (j) human and medical expenses support (k) provision of standardized educational materials (l) patient safety culture for patient participation. Conclusions: This study indicate that education for patients and the caregivers should be inclusive and protective of stakeholders from the risks involved in patient safety events. The experience of patient safety officer is necessary for patient safety education for both patients and the caregivers since it is the source of basic data for the future development of patient safety education.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2017

Purpose: The regional trauma center should be a trauma treatment center equipped with facilities, equipment, and manpower capable of providing optimal treatment such as emergency surgery to a severely traumatized patient upon arrival at the hospital. In order to establish a medical system for effective severe diseases, it is necessary to prepare architectural planning guidelines for the regional trauma centers. Methods:: Analyze the spatial configuration, and the area composition of the regional trauma center, And to provide basic data for building a more efficient regional trauma center. The spatial composition analysis divides the space into initial care, resuscitation, patient area, nursing area, diagnostic test, staff training, staff support, public, and analyzes the area and interconnection of each space. Results: The area that must be included in the regional trauma center is the resuscitation area, the patient area, the diagnostic examination area, architectural planning should be designed to enhance the interconnection of the areas. IIn addition, a regional trauma center should be planned as a separate from the existing facility so that it can be installed and operated independently. Implications: A regional trauma center should be built as a stand alone operation and the space should be planned as a more efficient route.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.516-539
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• 1998

The objective of this study is to identify the difference in attitude toward medical care between patients who visited a university hospital or an oriental medical hospital of oriental medical college, and physicians who engaged in the same hospitals. The subjects of this study were 397 cases who agreed to respond the prepared questionnaire, including 288 patients(146 university hospital utilizers and 142 utilzers for an oriental medical hospital) and 109 physicians(76 physicians and 33 oriental medical doctors). The attitude toward medical care was measured by the structured questionnaire developed for this study, which had high validity and reliability according to factor analysis, item discriminant validity, and Cronbach's $\alpha$ coefficients. On the criteria of mean value of care and cure score, the attitude toward medical care was classified into 4 groups encompassing a group with dependent attitude on medical care, a group with skeptical attitude toward it, a group with cure-oriented attitude, and a group with care-preferred attitude. The results of chi-square test, discriminant analysis, and logistic regression analysis were as follows; patients who visited a univisity hospital, patients who visited an oriental hospital, physicians, and oriental medical doctors included in the group with dependent attitude, the group with cure-oriented attitude, the group with skeptical attitude, and the group with care-preferred attitude, retrospectively. Among the subdomains of care and cure domains, which classified in reference to the result of factor analysis on pilot study, those that patients ranked more importantly than physicians were 'the importance of medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment', 'authority of physician, 'aggressiveness of treatment', 'information giving', 'personal interest' in the case of western medicine. In the case of oriental medicine, those were 'the importance of equipment for diagnosis and treatment', 'aggressiveness of treatment', 'amenities and accessibility', 'coordination of medical staff'. Both physicans and patients put the subdomain, 'physicians' medical knowledge and skillfulness' on the highest rank. The differences in ranking the important attributes of medical care between patients and physicians were apparent in the area of an 'importance of medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment' and so on. It meant that patient had over-expectation on medical care and suggested that the policy on demanad side such as the developement and dissemination of an evidence-based recommendation protocol for health care consumers might be important in Korea. In addition, regarding the attitude of physicians, during the medical education and training it may be neccessary to emphasize the aspect of 'care' of medical care rather than 'cure'. In planning on heath care delivery system, it should be considered that there is a difference in the attitude toward medical care between western medicine and oriental medicine as well as between health care providers and consumers. We expect that more valid measurement tool be developed in this area, which may be major limitation of this study and that this kind of research be expanded into the non-academic settings.