• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.172-182
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships among attitudes towards death, perceptions of hospice care, and hospice care needs as perceived by family members of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 114 participating families in the ICU at Dong-A University Hospital, from October 10 to November 1, 2019. The data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, and mean and standard deviation. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients were also conducted. Results: Perceptions of hospice care showed significant differences according to age (F=3.06, P=0.031) and marital status (t=3.55, P=0.001). However, no significant differences in attitudes towards death or hospice care needs were found. A significant positive correlation was found between perceptions of hospice care and hospice care needs (r=0.49, P<0.001). Conclusion: In order for families to recognize the need for hospice care and to receive high-quality palliative care at the appropriate time, it is necessary to increase public awareness of hospice care through various educational and awareness-raising efforts, thereby providing opportunities for families of terminally ill patients to request hospice care.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2016

Purpose: This article provides an overview of current knowledge on the impact of caregiving on the psychological and physical health of family caregivers of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and suggestions for future research. Methods: Review of selected papers published in English between January 2000 and October 2015 reporting psychological and physical health outcomes in family caregivers of ICU survivors. Results: In family caregivers of ICU survivors followed up to five years after patients' discharge from an ICU, psychological symptoms, manifested as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, were highly prevalent. Poor self-care, sleep disturbances and fatigue were identified as common physical health problems in family caregivers. Studies to date are mainly descriptive; few interventions have targeted family caregivers. Further, studies that elicit unique needs of families from diverse cultures are lacking. Conclusion: Studies to date have described the impact of caregiving on the psychological and physical health in family caregivers of ICU survivors. Few studies have tested interventions to support unique needs in this population. Therefore, evidence for best strategies is lacking. Future research is needed to identify ICU caregivers at greatest risk for distress, time points to target interventions with maximal efficacy, needs of those from diverse cultures and test interventions to mitigate family caregivers' burden.

• Acute and Critical Care
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.230-237
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• 2018

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is closely associated with health outcomes, including mortality in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). However, research regarding this issue is lacking, especially in countries where the National Health Insurance System is mainly responsible for health care. This study aimed to investigate how the SES of ICU patients in South Korea is associated with mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of adult patients aged ${\geq}20$ years admitted to ICU. Associations between SES-related factors recorded at the time of ICU admission and 30-day and 1-year mortalities were analyzed using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Results: A total of 6,008 patients were included. Of these, 394 (6.6%) died within 30 days of ICU admission, and 1,125 (18.7%) died within 1 year. Multivariable Cox regression analysis found no significant associations between 30-day mortality after ICU admission and SES factors (P>0.05). However, occupation was significantly associated with 1-year mortality after ICU admission. Conclusions: Our study shows that 30-day mortality after ICU admission is not associated with SES in the National Health Insurance coverage setting. However, occupation was associated with 1-year mortality after ICU admission.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.531-538
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection control among nurses in intensive care units. Method: Data were collected from August 15 to October 14, 2007 from 188 nurses working in intensive care units. The nurses answered a 26 item-questionnaire, which included management of the cohort (14 items), hand washing (6 items) and management of the environment (6 items). Descriptive statistics, t or F test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used with SPSS PC+ 14.0 to analyze the data. Results: The participant's level of awareness of Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection control was 3.87; that of compliance was 3.74. Significant factors influencing the level of compliance with Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection control were'the level of the awareness' and 'the type of intensive care unit'. These two variables accounted for 21.0% of variance for compliance with the Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection control among the participants. Conclusion: In order to develop a strategy to increase the compliance with Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection control, it is necessary to be concerned about 'the level of the awareness', 'the type of intensive care unit;', and 'experiences of caring for patients with Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus'.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

Invasive Candida infections (ICI) have become the third most common cause of late-onset infection among premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Risk factors include birth weight less than 1,000 g, exposure to more than two antimicrobials, third generation cephalosporin exposure, parenteral nutrition including lipid emulsion, central venous catheter, and abdominal surgery. Candida colonization of the skin and gastrointestinal tract is an important first step in the pathogenesis of invasive disease. Strict infection control measures against the infection should be done in the NICU. The following practices are likely to contribute to reducing the rate of ICI: (1) restriction of broad-spectrum antibiotics, antacids and steroid; (2) introduction of early feeding and promoting breast milk. Fluconazole prophylaxis may be an effective control measure to prevent Candida colonization and infections in individual units with high incidence of fungal infection. In addition, there is a need of further data including the development of resistant strains and the effect on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants exposed to drugs before the initiation of routine application of antifungal prophylaxis in the NICU.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2004

Recently the hospital infection with misappropriation of the antibiotic and absence of knowledge is aincreaseing trend. For this, medical treatment is confronting infection management guide. But so far there is no accurate standard or countermeasures. Since early 1990 Nosocomial Infection has not been looked over, although there is serious problem. After 90's understanding seriousness of Nosocomial Infection, many investigations have been done, but the relations of medical facilities were hardly investigated. This thesis shows the relation between facilities and Nosocomial Infection by documental references and the direction for intensive care unit through survey the recent general hospitals.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.226-240
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• 2018

Neuroprotection or prevention of neuronal loss is a complicated molecular process that is mediated by various cellular pathways. Use of different pharmacological agents as neuroprotectants has been reported especially in the last decades. These neuroprotective agents act through inhibition of inflammatory processes and apoptosis, attenuation of oxidative stress and reduction of free radicals. Control of this injurious molecular process is essential to the reduction of neuronal injuries and is associated with improved functional outcomes and recovery of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit. This study reviews neuroprotective agents and their mechanisms of action against central nervous system damages.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.603-613
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and identify the role adaptation processes of family caregivers with patients transferred from intensive care unit to general ward. Methods: Using a grounded theory methodology, in-depth individual interviews were conducted. Data were collected from 11 participants. The participants were asked about their experiences of role adaptation considering situational contexts and interactional strategies. Transcribed data and field notes were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Results: The core category was 'becoming almost a nurse with hope and fear'. The identified phenomena by the participants were the joy of being alive, having hope for a full recovery, anxiety and fear of uncertain future, feeling burdensome on a given role. The results included both role adaptation and mal-adaptation of caregivers. Conclusion: The role adaptation processes of family caregiver with patients transferred from intensive care unit to general ward can be explained as becoming almost a nurse with hope and fear. The findings of the study provided fundamental information for developing programs to support the given family caregivers for successful role adaptation.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.187-198
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to compare and examine the factors influencing burden of primary family caregivers according to the severity of illness of elderly patients admitted in an intensive care unit. Methods: Subjects were the families of elderly patients in intensive care units of K, S and Y hospitals in Seoul. Data were collected from March to October 2007. Subjects were 108 persons over age 65. Data were analyzed by SAS statistics. Results: First, groups 5 and 3 showed higher burden than that of group 4. Second, high correlation was found between stress and burden, stress and anxiety, and burden and anxiety. Third, factors influencing family burden were found to be stress for group 5, stress, anxiety, and monthly income for group 4, and stress and patient age for group 3. Conclusion: Specific nursing interventions to decrease the stress of primary family caregivers of serious ill elderly patients in an intensive care unit are needed. Additionally, more effective and systematic activation of a long-term medical insurance system for seriously ill seniors is considered necessary to mediate the burden of primary family caregivers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.413-422
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the nutrition-related factors influencing the prevalence of pressure ulcers among patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Methods: Research participants were 112 patients who were admitted to the ICU of a university hospital. Data were collected through questionnaires which included general characteristics, diet-related characteristics, nutritional status, and pressure ulcer status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent factors association with prevalence of pressure ulcer Results: The prevalence of pressure ulcers was 58 patients (51.8%) at 10th day after ICU admission. In multivariate analysis, prevalence of pressure ulcers at 10th day in ICU was significantly higher in the nutritional risk group (OR=6.43), malnutrition group (OR=88.02), and deceased serum albumin group (OR=28.83). Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that scores on MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment) and serum albumin were significant predictors of pressure ulcer prevalence in ICU patients. Therefore, regular MNA-SF and albumin checkups are needed to identify risk for pressure ulcer for ICU patients. In the case of decreased MNA-SF scores and serum albumin levels, more intensive pressure ulcer care is needed for ICU patients.