• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.97-101
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• 2012

Objective: With the background of aging population in China and advances in clinical medicine, the amount of operations on old patients increases correspondingly, which imposes increasing challenges to critical care medicine and geriatrics. The study was designed to describe information on the length of ICU stay from a single institution experience of old critically ill gastric cancer patients after surgery and the framework of incorporating data-mining techniques into the prediction. Methods: A retrospective design was adopted to collect the consecutive data about patients aged 60 or over with a gastric cancer diagnosis after surgery in an adult intensive care unit in a medical university hospital in Shenyang, China, from January 2010 to March 2011. Characteristics of patients and the length their ICU stay were gathered for analysis by univariate and multivariate Cox regression to examine the relationship with potential candidate factors. A regression tree was constructed to predict the length of ICU stay and explore the important indicators. Results: Multivariate Cox analysis found that shock and nutrition support need were statistically significant risk factors for prolonged length of ICU stay. Altogether, eight variables entered the regression model, including age, APACHE II score, SOFA score, shock, respiratory system dysfunction, circulation system dysfunction, diabetes and nutrition support need. The regression tree indicated comorbidity of two or more kinds of shock as the most important factor for prolonged length of ICU stay in the studied sample. Conclusions: Comorbidity of two or more kinds of shock is the most important factor of length of ICU stay in the studied sample. Since there are differences of ICU patient characteristics between wards and hospitals, consideration of the data-mining technique should be given by the intensivists as a length of ICU stay prediction tool.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.9
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• pp.361-367
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• 2020

Background: Length of stay is a significant indicator of care effectiveness and hospital performance. Owing to the limited number of healthcare centers and facilities, it is important to optimize length of stay and associated factors. Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate factors associated with neonatal length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using parametric and semiparametric models and compare model fitness according to Akaike information criterion (AIC) between 2016 and 2018. Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed 600 medical records of infants admitted to the NICU of Bandar Abbas Hospital. Samples were identified using census sampling. Factors associated with NICU length of stay were investigated based on semiparametric Cox model and 4 parametric models including Weibull, exponential, log-logistic, and log-normal to determine the best fitted model. The data analysis was conducted using R software. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The study findings suggest that breastfeeding, phototherapy, acute renal failure, presence of mechanical ventilation, and availability of central venous catheter were commonly identified as factors associated with NICU length of stay in all 5 models (P<0.05). Parametric models showed better fitness than the Cox model in this study. Conclusion: Breastfeeding and availability of central venous catheter had protective effects against length of stay, whereas phototherapy, acute renal failure, and mechanical ventilation increased length of stay in NICU. Therefore, the identification of factors associated with NICU length of stay can help establish effective interventions aimed at decreasing the length of stay among infants.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.138-144
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• 2015

Objective: It is to evaluate the drug interaction monitoring program as a pilot project to develop a pharmaceutical care model in a medical intensive care unit and to analyze the influencing factors of drug interactions. Method: Electronic medical records were retrospectively investigated for 116 patients who had been hospitalized in a medical intensive care unit from October to December in 2014. The prevalence of adverse reaction with risk rating higher than 'D' was investigated by Lexi-$Comp^{(R)}$ Online database. The factors related with potential drug interaction and with treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: The number of patients with a potential interaction of drug combination was 92 (79.3%). Average ages, the length of stay in the intensive care unit and the numbers of prescription drugs showed significant differences between drug interaction group and non-drug interaction group. Opioids (14.4%), antibiotics (7.2%), and diuretics (7.2%) were most responsible drug classes for drug interactions and the individual medications included furosemide (6.4%), tramadol (4.9%), and remifentanil (4.5%). There were 950 cases with a risk rating of 'C' (84.6%), 142 cases with a risk rating of 'D' (12.6%), and 31 cases with a risk rating of 'X' (avoid combination) (2.8%). The factors affecting drug interactions were the number of drugs prescribed (p < 0.0001) and the length of stay at intensive care unit (p < 0.01). The patients in intensive care unit showed a high incidence of adverse reactions related to potential drug interaction. Therefore, drug interaction monitoring program as a one of pharmaceutical care services was successfully piloted and it showed to prevent adverse reaction and to improve therapeutic outcomes. Conclusion: Active participation of a pharmacist in the drug management at the intensive care unit should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.296-311
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors related to the workload of intensive care unit nurses through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to provide basic data to explore the direction of development of nursing staffing standards. Methods: This study involved quantitative studies about nurses working in intensive care units related to nursing workload published in English or Korean since 2000. Search terms included 'intensive care unit', 'nursing workload', and their variations. Databases such as RISS, DBpia, MEDLINE(PubMed), CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were utilized. Quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. JAMOVI software facilitated the analysis of effect sizes, employing a meta-analysis approach for 7 studies with correlational or regression data. Results: From 16 studies on the workload of intensive care unit nurses, a total of 20 patient and nurse-related factors were identified. Patient-related factors included severity of illness, length of stay, and age. Meta-analysis was conducted for three patient-related factors: age, severity of illness measured by SAPS 3, and length of stay. Only severity of illness measured by SAPS 3 was significantly associated with nurse workload (Zr=0.16, p<.001, 95% CI=0.09-0.24). Conclusion: In previous studies, the characteristics of intensive care units and patients varied across studies, and a variety of scales for measuring workload and severity of illness were also used. Sustained research reflecting domestic intensive care unit work environments and assessing the workload of intensive care unit nurses should be imperative.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.265-274
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors contributed to unplanned readmission to intensive care unit (ICU) and to investigate the prediction model of unplanned readmission. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records which included the data of 3,903 patients who had discharged from ICUs in a university hospital in Seoul from January 2011 to April 2012. Results: The unplanned readmission rate was 4.8% (n=186). The nine variables were significantly different between the unplanned readmission and no readmission groups: age, clinical department, length of stay at 1st ICU, operation, use of ventilator during 24 hours a day, APACHE II score at ICU admission and discharge, direct nursing care hours and Glasgow coma scale total score at 1st ICU discharge. The clinical department, length of stay at 1st ICU, operation and APACHE II score at ICU admission were the significant predictors of unplanned ICU readmission. The predictive model's area under the curve was .802 (p<.001). Conclusion: We identified the risk factors and the prediction model associated with unplanned ICU readmission. Better patient assessment tools and knowledge about risk factors could contribute to reduce unplanned ICU readmission rate and mortality.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2008

Purpose: Supraventricular arrhythmia is a well-known complication of cardiothoracic surgery, and is common in patients wirth underlying cardiovascular disease. Also, it's treatment and prognosis are well known. However the incidence, the contributing factors, and the prognosis for supraventricular arrhythmias in noncardiothoracic surgical patients are less well known. This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence, the clinical presentation, the prognosis, and the factors comtributing to the prognosis for supraventricular arrhythmia in the surgical intensive care unit. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 34 patients with newly developed or aggravated supraventricular arrhythmias in the surgical intensive care unit between March 2004 and February 2005. The incidence, the risk factors, and the prognosis of supraventricular arrhythmias were analyzed. Results: During a 12month period, the incidence of supraventricular arrhythmia was 1.79% (34/1896). Most patients had pre-existing cardiovascular disease and sepsis. The mortality rate was 29.4%, and the most common cause of death was multiple organ failure due to septic shock. The mean value of the APACHE II score was 20.9, and the surgical intensive care unit and the hospital lengths of stay were 9.9 days and 25.8 days, respectively. The APACHE II score measured when the arrhythmia developed was a significant factor in predicting mortality, Conclusion: Supraventricular arrhythmias result in increased mortality and increased length of stay in both the surgical intensive care unit and the hospital. The arrhythmia itself did not cause death, but a high APACHE II score incicated a poor prognosis. This may reflect the severity of the illness rather than an independent contributor to mortality.

• Acute and Critical Care
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.252-259
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using a systematic approach to tracheostomy care by a clinical nurse specialist and surgical intensivists for patients with a tracheostomy who were transferred from the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) to the general ward. Methods: In this retrospective study, subjects were limited to SICU patients with a tracheostomy who were transferred to the general ward. The study period was divided into a preintervention period (January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2010) and a postintervention period (January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014), and electronic medical records were used to analyze and compare patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and readmission to the SICU. Results: The analysis included 44 patients in the preintervention group and 96 patients in the postintervention group. Decannulation time ($26.7{\pm}25.1$ vs. $12.1{\pm}16.0days$, P=0.003), length of stay in the general ward ($70.6{\pm}89.1$ vs. $40.5{\pm}42.2days$, P=0.008), length of total hospital stay ($107.5{\pm}95.6$ vs. $74.7{\pm}51.2days$, P=0.009), and readmission rate of SICU decreased due to T-cannula occlusion (58.8% vs. 5.9%, P=0.010). Conclusions: Using a systematic approach to tracheostomy care in the general ward led to reduction in decannulation time through professional management, which resulted in a shorter hospital stay. It also lowered SICU readmission by solving problems related to direct T-cannula.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aims to investigate the status of delirium intervention in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and the perception of this delirium by medical staff. Methods : This retrospective study involves 185 patients, whereas, a descriptive survey is conducted with 197 medical staff members. Results : The delirium group includes 100 patients (54.1%). The incidence of delirium is 64.9% in the medical ICU, 65.9% in the surgical ICU, 42.4% in the neuro ICU, and 46.5% in the cardiac ICU. The percentages of delirium prevention intervention differs between the two groups: 65.0% in the delirium group and 95.3% in the non-delirium group. The medical staff recognize that delirium is a common problem in the ICU (100.0%) and requires active medical intervention (98.5%). Conclusion : The length of stay at the ICU is longer in the delirium group than in the non-delirium group. It is necessary to standardize delirium prevention and treatment protocols to be equally applicable to all ICU patients.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.525-536
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing ICU (intensive care units) length of stay of adult patients with critical illness. Methods: This study was adopted descriptive design. 270 patients who were admitted to ICU in general hospital, Seoul were analyzed. Results: A total of 270 patients, 116 (43%) patients had stayed more than 5 days. The length of stay of intensive care unit was significant positive correlation with the FCI(Functional Comobidity Index) score(r=0.33, p<.001) and APACHE(Aacute Physiology and Chronic Health Evlauaion) II(r=0.19, p=.001). In multiple logistic regression, the predictors of ICU length of stay were admission route (p=0.013), FCI score (p<0.001), APACHE II(p=0.012). Conclusions: Heatlh care providers in ICU should be aware that patients who admit to emergency departments and have higher disease severity are more considered to reduce their ICU length of stays.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.193-201
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the immediate postoperative nutritional status and calorie adequacy on clinical outcomes in liver transplant recipients. Methods: A total number of 99 patients who received liver transplants were recruited from a tertiary university hospital. Demography, subjective global assessment, clinical outcomes and calorie adequacy were evaluated through personal interviews, electronic medical records and dietary records. Anthropometric measures, body mass index and percent of ideal body weight were also obtained. Results: At admission to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), the triceps skinfold thickness and mid-arm muscle circumference were significantly lower in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished group (p<.05, respectively). In the clinical outcomes, transfusion of red blood cells, mechanically ventilated hours, length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), length of stay in the hospital, and prothrombin time were significantly higher in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished group (p<.05, respectively). The mechanically ventilated hour was significantly higher in the group with less than 50% of their required energy intake (p<.05). Conclusion: Therefore, it is important to assess the nutritional status of immediate postoperative patients. Furthermore, studies on nutritional interventions are urgently needed to provide adequate nutritional care for patients in ICUs.