• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.384-394
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• 2014

Purpose: To improve professional intensive care by analyzing admission causes, causes of death, disease conditions, and treatment processes in patients with hematological malignancies admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in South Korea. Methods: This was a retrospective study approved by IRB, and conducted on admission with 559 adults, in the hematology ICU of a hospital located in Seoul. The study was carried out from April 2009 to March 2012. Data were analyzed using SAS. Results: Pneumonia was the most frequent cause of ICU admission and death, followed by sepsis. The condition at discharge was death (53.6%), recovery (39.9%), or hopeless (5.1%). Mortality of patients in states of incomplete remission was higher than that of patients with complete remission and of patients with multiple myeloma, severe aplastic anemia, and lymphoma. Conclusion: Results show that pneumonia and sepsis are the most frequent causes of ICU admission and for the death of patients with hematological malignancies. The most frequent status at discharge of patients with hematological malignancies was death (53.6%), with mortality of patients at Incomplete Remission status, of mechanically ventilated patients, and of patients on continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) being higher than others.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.113-126
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to revise the KPCS-1 and to standardize the three patient classification systems for general ward, ICU and NICU. The actual utilization of the KPCS-1 score and each nursing activity was evaluated and the relationships between KPCS-1 score and nursing related variables were reviewed. Methods: The 47,711 KPCS-1 scores of 6,931 patients who discharged from $1^{st}$ to $30^{th}$ April 2017 were analyzed and the statistical significance between KPCS-1 score and nursing related variables was reviewed by Generalized Estimating Equation. The revision of the KPCS-1 was carried out by Partial Least Square model. The 3 patient classification systems (KPCS-1,KPCSC and KPCSN) were standardized by professional reviews. Results: KPCS-1 was a valid instrument to express nursing condition adequately and was revised as a new version which has 34 nursing activity items. The names and terminologies of pre-existing 3 patient classification systems developed by KHNA were standardized as KPCS-GW, KPCS-ICU, KPCS-NICU. Conclusion: KPCS-1 was a valid instrument to represent diverse nursing conditions precisely and was revised as a 34-item KPCS-GW. The terminologies of the other patient classification systems by KHNA were standardized as KPCS-ICU and KPCS-NICU.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.264-272
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• 2015

Background: The over-prescription of acid-suppressive therapy for the provision of stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) in hospitalized patients has been identified in a proceeding study. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate clinicians' beliefs, knowledge and other factors that influence the over-prescribing of SUP in low-risk, non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) patients. Method: A cross-sectional survey consisting of multiple-choice queries and close-ended questions was distributed to healthcare personnel at a major teaching hospital in Korea. Results: More than half of total respondents reported that they would continue SUP following patients discharge from the ICU (77.8%, 43.5%, and 39.7% in the physician, pharmacist, and nurse groups, respectively). Over 55% of physicians would also initiate non-ICU patients on SUP upon hospital admission, and 42.6% of physicians would even continue prophylaxis post hospital discharge. The mean knowledge score regarding SUP indications and side effects was higher in pharmacists compared to physicians and nurses (12.44, 7.40, and 7.28, respectively; p<0.001). High-prescribing behavior was associated with a prescriber's belief that SUP is effective for preventing bleeding (odds ratio 7.40; 95% confidence interval 1.57 to 31.94; p=0.012). Low knowledge score and computerized order set also showed statistically significant association with the overutilization of SUP.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.691-700
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was done to analyze variations in unit staffing and recommend policies to improve nursing staffing levels in intensive care units (ICUS). Method: A cross-sectional study design was used, employing survey data from the Health Insurance Review Agency conducted from June-July, 2003. Unitstaffing was measured using two indicators; bed-to-nurse (B/N) ratio (number of beds per nurse), and patient-to-nurse (P/N) ratio (number of average daily patients per nurse). Staffing levels were compared according to hospital and ICU characteristics. Result: A total of 414 institutions were operating 569 adult and 86 neonatal ICUs. Tertiary hospitals (n=42) had the lowest mean B/N (0.82) and P/N (0.76) ratios in adult ICUs, followed by general hospitals (B/N: 1.34, P/N: 0.97). Those ratios indicated that a nurse took care of 3 to 5 patients per shift. Neonatal ICUs had worse staffing and had greater variations in stafnng ratios than adult ICUs. About 17% of adult and 26% of neonatal ICUs were staffed only by adjunct nurses who had responsibility for a general ward as well as the ICU Conclusion: Stratification of nurse staffing levels and differentiation of ICU utilization fees based on staffing grades are recommended as a policy tool to improve nurse staffing in ICUs.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.262-274
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• 2011

Purpose: To identify the effects of clinical practicum reinforcement program on nursing student's clinical competency and satisfaction in the ICU. Methods: The study utilized a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest research design. The participant was 76 senior nursing students, who were engaged in two week-long clinical practicum in ICU at the C university hospital in a G city, Korea. The clinical practicum reinforcement program was applied to the experimental group (n=39), while the control group (n=37) was involved in the conventional practicum program. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, $x^2$/Fisher's exact test, and t-test, ANCOVA with SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: After 2 weeks' clinical practicum, the experimental group showed a statistically significant increase in the clinical performance abilities by self evaluation, when compared to the control group. Clinical instructor's evaluation on the student's clinical performance revealed that the experimental group showed higher level in nursing activity than that of the control group (p<.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the satisfaction on the clinical practicum program except the learning guidance and the evaluation. Conclusion: The clinical practicum reinforcement program is an effective one for improving the student's clinical competency.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.183-193
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• 2000

This main purpose of this study was to assess the effects of two different types of ethics education on the moral judgement of clinical nurses. One type was free discussions among nurses with given specific moral issues and the other type was discussions guided by experts on specific moral issues. The study employed a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent pre test-post test design using two different control groups. The conceptual framework of the study was derived from the Kohlberg′s Moral Development Theory (1969) and the Greipp′s Ethical Decision-Making Model (1992). The data was collected during the period of October 14 through December 15, 1998. Sample consists of 32 nurses working in the ICU who met research criteria. 16 nurses were assigned to the free discussion group and 16 nurses to the group for the guided discussion with experts group. For the pre-test, the DIT which was developed by Rest (1984) and JAND by Ketefian (1998) were used with some modification by the author. After the education, only JAND was used to assess the changes in moral judgement. The collected data was analysed using SPSS PC program. The findings are as follows: 1. There was no significant difference between two groups in their general characteristics. Only difference which was statistically significant between two groups was that realistic score on Case 3/Medical Research and Autopsy was higher in the free discussion group. 2. Hypothesis 1: "There will be a difference on the moral judgement of nurses before and after they receive an ethics education". This hypothesis was supported partially. Those who had low scores on moral judgement before the education tended to have higher scores after the education on the same issues. And, after the education, the nurses tend to give lower scores on the dilemmas they had experienced frequently at work; while giving higher scores on those dilemmas they had no prior experience. 3. Hypothesis 2: "The effect of education may differ depended upon the moral development index [P(%)] score of nurses". The effect of education was different depend on moral development level. The group who′s P(%) scores was low at the pretest has higher scores in realistic moral judgement after the education, while the groups with middle or high P(%) scores went down after the education. These changes were statistically significant in some cases, thus, the Hypothesis 2 was partially supported 4. Hypothesis 3: "The method of ethics education will have different effects on the moral judgement of nurses". Even though several nurses attended the guided discussion stated that the education program broadend their perspectives the difference between two groups was not significant and this hypothesis was not supported. In conclusion, both types of ethics education had helped the nurses to acquire the skills to deal some nursing dilemmas. The effects of ethics education may differ according to the moral development index - P(%) score. However, because of some of the limitations of this study, mainly small sample size, short term education, unable to control other variables which may affect moral judgement of nurses, further research is warranted.er research is warranted.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to develop a factor-type patient classification system for general nursing unit based on nursing needs (KPCS; Korean patient classification system for nurses). Method: We reviewed workload management system for nurses(WMSN) of Walter Reed Medical Center, Korean patient classification system for ICU, and nursing activities in nursing records and developed the first version of KPCS. The final version KPCS was evaluated via validity and reliability verifications based on panel discussions and data from 800 patient classifications. Content validity was performed by Delphi method and concurrent validity was verified by the correlation of two tools (r=.71). Construct validity was also tested by medical department (p<.001), patient type (p<.001), and nurse intuition (p<.001). These verifications were performed from April to October, 2008. Results: The KPCS has 75 items in classifying 50 nursing activities, and categorized into 12 different nursing area (measuring vital sign, monitoring, respiratory treatment, hygiene, diet, excretion, movement, examination, medication, treatment, special treatment, and education/emotional support). Conclusion: The findings of the study showed sound reliability and validity of KPCS based on nursing needs. Further study is mandated to refine the system and to develop index score to estimate the necessary number of nurses for adequate care.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.2691-2703
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• 2015

This research aims to provide basic materials for assisting DNR patient cares by understanding ICU nurses' awareness and ethical attitude regarding DNR. A total of 154 results were analyzed which were collected from Aug. 1st to Sep. 5th in 2014 by surveying nurses working in ICU (from 1 advanced general hospital in G metropolitan city and other general hospitals of more than 700 beds in Cheolla provinces). (1) For the decision attitudes of DNR, there were both consent and objection. Consent for the patient's opinion of rejecting further treatment and life extension despite of bad prognosis. And objection for no conducting DNR in the case of the patient's wish, treatment requested by the guardian, and CPR for the patient who has no chance. (2) Objection for artificial respirator and other treatment requested by the patient's family and the entrance of guardians into ICU. Consent for the passive use of artificial respirator by the doctor and the decrease of basic care to stabilize patients physically and mentally. No specific opinion for treatment not following aseptic techniques. Objection for frequent reports to primary care physician requested by the family. (3) Acknowledging less interest by the doctor, while supporting the health care team in the case of the guardian's complaint, objection for the DNR decision mede by the primary care physician. Objection for the DNR decision by the guideline. Objection or neutrality for straightforward explanation to the patient of bad prognosis. Objection for straightforward explanation of the patient's status (even near to death) to the patient him/herself or the guardian. In conclusion, the subject of DNR is the patient and the patient's opinion should be fully reflected. The conflict arising from the scope of medical practice and decision processes should be minimized. The standard and guideline for DNR decision is required for the ethical decision making for the patient along with agreements based on full explanations.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.641-652
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• 1995

Working as nurses, authors found that some patients were not content with their hospital life. Some patients wanted to move to another ward, and others complained about their ward atmosphere. In spite of patients' discomfort, nurses didn't know what made some patients complain about their ward. So, authors tried to find factors that influence atmosphere of hospital wards of the neurosurgery patients. To know the atmosphere of wards, authors selected five neurosurgery ward of a university hospital in Seoul. Observation took a month. An author observed using molar approach, in the morning, in the day time, and in evening time. Authors used concealment /no intervention technique. An author checked condition of people in the wards, and observed their verbal and nonverbal communication behavior their activities and environmental characteristics, and interpreted their meaning through ethnographic research methodology by Spradly. Authors found there was an important factors that influence the atmosphere of ward. It was a human and his attitude. At least one person who was willing to help others made ward atmosphere better. Helping others physically whenever needed, sup-porting the depressed emotionally, offering foods, or talking to others friendly brought good atmosphere. On the contrary, if everyone was indiffernt to others, the atmosphere became cold. Self-centered or selfish behaviors such as occupying too much area, using the toilet too long, covering other's suction bottle without permission and seeing others delicate or urinate were hurtful. In addition to the attitude of patients and their families, unkindness of medical teams including nurses and doctors and tasteless meal caused bad ward atmosphere. Based on this research finding, authors suggest the followings. A For the better atmosphere of ward 1. Nurses should try to make the ward atmosphere better by introducing new patient to older ones. 2. Every ward should have dividing curtains to keep patient's privacy. 3. All hospital personnel should be kind enough to make patients feel that they are repected. 4. Hospital should serve high quality meals to patients. 5. Patients had better stay with those in the similar condition. B. For the future studies 1. Repeated researches are necessary to check reliability of this results. 2. Researches for patients in different area such as ICU, or hemodialysis unit are necessary.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of nurses staffing level on patient health outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs) in Korea. Methods: The study was retrospective in nature. Information on patients and their outcomes, as well as nurse cohort data, were obtained from Korea's National Health Insurance Service Database. The observation period was from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2018, and data for 2,964,991 patients were analyzed. Independent variables included patient' age and sex and hospital type, intensivist, and nurses staffing level. Results: The mortality rate in ICUs was significantly higher at tertiary hospitals with a level 3~4 (HR, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.19~1.22) or level 5~9 nurse staffing (HR, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.27~1.34) compare to that of tertiary hospitals with a 1~2 level. 28-day mortality rate was also higher at general hospitals with a level 3~4 (HR, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.12~1.14), level 5~6 (HR. 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.32~1.36), level 7~9 nurse staffing (HR, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.38~1.42), using level 1~2 as reference. Conclusion: Nurses staffing level is a key determinant of healthcare-associated mortality in critically ICUs patients. Policies to achieve adequate nurse staffing levels are therefore required to enhance patient outcomes.