• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.435-445
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to examine whether VRE infection control strategies have an effect on the decrease in incidence rates for VRE acquisition and VRE nosocomial infection in ICU. Methods: All the patients were examined for VRE carriers on ICU admission. Among them, patients hospitalized for over 48 hours were investigated for VRE acquisition rates and VRE nosocomial infection rate using VRE infection control strategies in ICU for the experimental group from September 2007 to April 2008. Before that, incidence of VRE acquisition and VRE nosocomial infection for the control group without Intervention were investigated from May to August 2007 retrospectively. Results: VRE acquisition rate in clinical specimens was 0.6% in the experimental group, that was significantly lower when compared to the control group. VRE carrier rate at admission to ICU was 15.4%. Out of 182 VRE carriers, 180 patients were identified by the active surveillance culture. Conclusion: These results suggested that active surveillance culture at admission was considered to be an essential measure for detection of VRE carrier. But without strict isolation and adherence rating after each intervention, hand washing and contact isolation alone did not significantly decrease VRE nosocomial infection, although it did significantly decrease incidence of VRE acquired from clinical specimen.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of prior information about ICU environment on the anxiety and environmental stress of cardiac surgery ICU patients. Methods: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized quasi-experimental research design was used. Participants were 60 (control 30, experimental 30) patients who had been admitted to ICU. Prior information about the ICU environment was provided to the experimental group. The anxiety level of subjects was measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the stress level of subjects was measured by the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor Scale (ICUESS). Data were analyzed using a Chi-square test or a Fisher's exact test, independent samples t-test, and paired samples t-test. Results: There was no difference in Anxiety (t=-0.58, p=.563), but there was a significant difference in environmental stress (t=10.46, p<.001). Conclusion: Providing prior information would be an effective nursing intervention to reduce environmental stress.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an information protocol for anxiety and nursing satisfaction of family caregivers. The caregivers were caring for a family member who had a CVA (cerebrovascular accident) and who had been admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit). Method: The research design was a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Data were collected from April 1 to October 31, 2005 at D hospital in Busan City The participants were 40 family caregivers of patients with a CVA admitted to the ICU. Caregivers in the experimental group participated in the information protocol for 30 min. Both groups were pre-tested before the intervention for two variables, anxiety and nursing needs. The post-test of both groups included anxiety and nursing satisfaction. The instruments used in this study were the Spielberger's state anxiety inventory (1976) and the nursing satisfaction scale developed by Molter (1979). Results: Anxiety scores were significantly lower and nursing satisfaction scores were significantly higher for caregivers in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: The information protocol was effective in reducing anxiety and increasing the level of nursing satisfaction of family caregivers caring for an ICU patients with a CVA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2005

Background : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in hospital-acquired infection, and is prevalent in intensive care units (ICU). The MRSA colonization rates of the nares and throat were examined in both the ICU and general ward. This study was performed to investigate the MRSA rate and necessity for MRSA screening cultures in patients admitted to ICU. Methods : Between June and September 2004, those patients admitted to both the medical ICU and general ward participated in this study. Bacterial cultures were performed on swabs of the nares and throat taken within 24 hours of admission. Clinical data were also collected. Results : One hundred and twenty one patients and 84 patients, admitted to the medical ICU and medical general ward, respectively, were investigated. The numbers of nasal MRSA colonization in the ICU and general ward were 3 (2.5%) and 3 (3.6%), respectively. There were 2 (1.7%) cases of throat MRSA colonization in the ICU, but none in the general ward. The MRSA colonization rates of the nares and throat were no different between the ICU and general ward. There were no significant differences in the previous admission, operation history and admission route between the ICU and general ward groups. Conclusion : The MRSA colonization rates of the nares and throat were 3.3 and 3.6% in the ICU and the general ward, respectively. The MRSA screening test does not appear to be required in all patients admitted to the ICU, but further studies, including high-risk patients, are recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the variables associated with length of stay (LOS), hospital costs, intensive care unit (ICU) use, and treatment outcomes in patients hospitalized for maxillofacial infections at a tertiary medical center in South Korea. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted for treatment of maxillofacial infections at Dankook University Hospital from January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2020. A total of 390 patient charts were reviewed and included in the final statistical analyses. Results: Average LOS and hospital bill per patient of this study was 11.47 days, and ₩4,710,017.25 ($4,216.67), respectively. Of the 390 subjects, 97.3% were discharged routinely following complete recovery, 1.0% expired following treatment, and 0.8% were transferred to another hospital. In multivariate linear regression analyses to determine variables associated with LOS, admission year, infection side, Flynn score, deep neck infection, cardiovascular disease, admission C-reactive protein (CRP) and glucose levels, number and length of surgical interventions, tracheostomy, time elapsed from admission to first surgery, and length of ICU stay accounted for 85.8% of the variation. With regard to the total hospital bill, significantly associated variables were age, type of insurance, Flynn score, number of comorbidities, admission CRP, white blood cell, and glucose levels, admission temperature, peak temperature, surgical intervention, the length, type, and location of surgery, tracheostomy, time elapsed from admission to first surgery, and length of ICU use, which accounted for 90.4% of the variation. Age and ICU use were the only variables significantly associated with unfavorable discharge outcomes in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: For successful and cost-effective management of maxillofacial infections, clinicians to be vigilant about the decision to admit patients with maxillofacial infections, perform appropriate surgery at an adequate time, and admit them to the ICU.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of meatal care with 10% betadine or with normal saline on the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) for elderly patients with indwelling urinary catheter in the ICU. Method: A quasi experimental design with non-equivalent control group was used. The 37 patients who participated in this study were 65-year-old or older. Patients in the saline group (n=20) received meatal care with normal saline and those in the betadine group (n=17) received meatal care with 10% betadine once a day for 6 days. Urine cultures were done on the 7th day for both groups to detect UTIs. Results: No difference was observed in the incidence of urinary tract infection between the two groups, regardless of patients' gender, ability to communicate or history of operation. Conclusion: The results indicated that use of saline which is cheap and does not irritate the mucous membrane is effective in preventing UTI within the first 7 days, and can be used instead of betadine for meatal care for elderly patients with indwelling urinary catheter in the ICU.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.421-432
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the sleep patterns and the factors related to sleep disturbance in mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Sleep patterns in this study included both quality and quantity of sleep. Methods: Forty-four subjects were recruited in ICUs at a tertiary university hospital in D city. Data were collected using questionnaires, observation, and medical record from June, 2008 to May, 2009. Results: The total mean of sleep quality was $1.99{\pm}1.68$. The mean of total sleep time per 24-hour period was $3.75{\pm}1.94$hour (range 1-7.25) in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. The main sleep disturbance factors were listed as frequent nursing activities, attachment of medical appliances, and noise. All these factors were also significantly related to the sleep quality. Conclusion: These results indicated that mechanically ventilated patients were both qualitatively and quantitatively deprived of sleep far more than other ICU patients. In summary, a deeper understanding of sleep characteristics in mechanically ventilated ICU patients could help nurses to improve sleep derangements and patient outcome.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.36-47
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to determine ICU nurses noncompliance of critical care nursing standards in order to provide basic data for education aimed at improvement in practice and evaluation of quality of nursing care in ICU. Methods: Data was collected from 150 nurses who work for three educational hospitals which have more than 800 beds and located in Gyeonggi province using questionnaires from September 2007 to October 2007. Results: The highest categories of noncompliance of critical care nursing standards were admission care($2.71\pm.60$) and infection control($2.31\pm.70$). The main causes of noncompliance critical care nursing standards that nurses regarded as causes were lack of attention(80.7%). ICU nurses mainly reported their noncompliance to charge nurses(89.3%) within 30minutes (84.7%). The reasons they reported were to solve problems rapidly and correctly, to reduce a harm to patients, and to prevent making noncompliance again. The reasons they didn't report were that they thought it might be not a problem and there was no change of patients conditions. Conclusion: ICU nurses noncompliance of critical care nursing standards was determined, therefore it can be used for prevention of further noncompliance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.524-531
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• 2024

Background: Endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) reflects endothelial dysfunction or damage. Because endothelial dysfunction is one of the key mechanisms, a few studies have shown the clinical usefulness of original and age-adjusted EASIX (age-EASIX) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of age-EASIX in predicting intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19 in South Korea. Methods: Secondary analysis was performed using clinical data retrospectively collected from 22 nationwide hospitals in South Korea between January 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021. Patients were at least 19 years old and admitted to the ICU for severe COVID-19, demanding at least high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. EASIX [lactate dehydrogenase (U/L)×creatinine (mg/dL)/platelet count (10⁹ cells/L)] and age-EASIX (EASIX×age) were calculated and log₂-transformed. Results: The mean age of 908 critically ill patients with COVID-19 was 67.4 years with 59.7% male sex. The mean log₂ age-EASIX was 7.38±1.45. Non-survivors (n=222, 24.4%) in the ICU had a significantly higher log₂ age-EASIX than of survivors (8.2±1.52 vs. 7.1±1.32, p<0.001). Log₂ age-EASIX was significantly associated with ICU mortality (odds ratio, 1.541; 95% confidence interval, 1.322 to 1.796; p<0.001) and had a better area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score in predicting ICU mortality (0.730 vs. 0.660, p=0.001). Conclusion: Age-EASIX is significantly associated with ICU mortality and has better discriminatory ability than the SOFA score in predicting ICU mortality.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.115-127
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• 2022

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate sleep parameters and to identify differences according to respiratory support therapy, sedation, and pain medication in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods : In this observational study, sleep parameters were measured using actigraphy. We observed 45 sleep events in 30 ICU patients receiving respiratory support therapy. We measured the sleep parameters, time, efficiency, and wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO). The differences in sleep parameters according to the respiratory support therapy were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results : The average daily sleep time of the participants was 776.66±276.71 minutes, of which more than 60% accounted for daytime sleep. During night sleep, the duration of WASO was 156.93±107.91 minutes, and the frequency of WASO was 26.02±25.82 times. The high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) group had a significantly shorter night sleep time (𝑥²=7.86, p =.049), a greater number of WASO (𝑥²=5.69, p =.128), and a longer WASO duration (𝑥²=8.75, p =.033) than groups of other respiratory therapies. Conclusion : ICU patients on respiratory support therapy experienced sleep disturbances such as disrupted circadian rhythm and sleep fragmentation. Among respiratory support regimens, HFNC was associated with poor sleep parameters, which appears to be associated with the insufficient use of analgesics. The results of this study warrant the development of interventions that can improve sleep in ICU patients receiving respiratory support, including HFNC.