• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.70-81
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on developmental positioning (EPDP) for nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: The study utilized a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Sixty NICU nurses were recruited from two university hospitals in Daejeon, South Korea. The EPDP consisted of a 7-week program: 3 weeks of education and practice, followed by 4 weeks of encouragement messages using social networking services. Developmental positioning (DP) posters and DP aids were also provided during the intervention period. The intervention group (n=30) received the EPDP, but not the control group. The data were analyzed using the 𝜒² test, the Fisher exact test, the independent t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Participants' knowledge (t=7.49, p<.001), attitudes (t=1.99, p=.001), self-efficacy (t=2.99, p=.004), performance of DP (t=2.98, p=.004) and Infant Positioning Assessment Tool (IPAT) scores (F=29.50, p<.001) were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusion: The EPDP can be an effective and useful program for improving the performance of DP among NICU nurses by increasing their knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of DP. However, further research involving various NICU settings is needed to gather more empirical evidence.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.158-162
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• 2011

Preterm infants with oligohydramnios after preterm premature rupture of membranes can present with severe respiratory distress immediately after birth, and the most common cause is pulmonary hypoplasia. Unlike infants with pulmonary hypoplasia, some cases have shown dramatic improvement with aggressive ventilatory support during the initial 1-2 days of distress: those patients have been defined as having dry lung syndrome. It is assumed that oligohydramnios leads to functional pulmonary hypoplasia by compression of the fetal lungs: some of the improvement in dry lung syndrome may thus have resulted from inflation of compressed lung tissue and increase of lung compliance. We report two incidences of dry lung syndrome that were treated successfully with high inflation pressure and inhaled nitric oxide (NO): these are the first dry lung syndrome cases to be reported in Korean infants.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2002

Inguinal hernia is a major surgical disease in pediatric surgery, occurring in 3.5% to 5% of all mature newborns and 9% to 11% of all premature babies. The objective of this study is to analyze the predisposing factors in association with recurrences of inguinal hernias in infants and children. In the period from January 1995 to September 2001, 1,575 infants and children who had primary inguinal hernias or recurrent inguinal hernias operated on at the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Seoul National University Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. We evaluated the data by medical records and by telephone interview. The sex, age, location of hernia, comorbidity, prematurity, incarceration, interval to operation after incarceration, postoperative complications were analyzed as predisposing factors in associated with hernia recurrence. Operative findings of recurrent inguinal hernia were reviewed. The data were statistically analyzed with Pearson Chi-Square test and Fisher-exact test. A total of eighteen (1.14%) out of 1,575 patients underwent an operation due to recurrent inguinal hernia. In 5 (27.8%) out of 18 recurred patients, institution of the primary herniorrhaphy was our hospital and in the other 13 (72.2%) was outside hospital. No impact on the development of recurrences was seen for sex, age, interval to operation after incarceration, and postoperative complications. The significant predisposing factors of recurrent inguinal hernias were left inguinal hernias (p=0.002), comorbidity (p=0.002), prematurity (p=0.006), incarceration (p=0.017) and technical error of first herniorrhaphy. We expect that knowledge for predisposing factors of recurrent inguinal hernias and experienced skill of pediatric surgeons will decrease recurrence rate in primary inguinal hernia.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently, the incidence of preterm and low birth weight infants (LBWI) is increasing, even though the birth rate is continuously low in Korea. Despite that change, there continues to be a deficit of beds in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study is based on the 2009 Korean Statistical Information Service that examined the development of a Korean NICU service and the survival rate of preterm infants by regionally analyzing the rate of total live births, preterm infants, LBWI, and NICU beds in Korea. Methods: Data were obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and Korean Statistical Information Service. We confirmed the regional total live birth rate, number of LBWI, and preterm infants and NICU numbers, and all of the results were compared to the average value to determine deficient areas of NICU beds. Results: There were 25,374 (5.7%) preterm infants and 21,954 (4.9%) LBWI in the total number of live births (444,849) in 2009, and regions of high proportion compared to the mean value were Busan, Daegu, and Ulsan. Total NICU beds totaled 1,284, and regions of high rates preterm infants and LBWI per 1 NICU bed compared to the mean value were Incheon, Daegu, Ulsan, etc. The NICU holding rate was 87.5% (1,284/1,468), which was increased from 2005. However, there were still shortages of 184 NICU beds (12.5%), especially in Gyeonggi-do, which lacked 157 beds. Conclusion: High risk neonates difficult to transfer, and they need immediate and continuous treatment. As a result, a foundation of well-balanced, national NICU regionalization is necessary. This study suggested that more NICU facilities must be implemented, and clinicians should realize the continuing deficiency of NICU beds in cities and provinces.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2010

Purpose : Because infants who have been hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are usually ill or premature, they are hospitalized repeatedly after their discharge. We intended to survey the frequencies and the medical costs of those rehospitalizations. Methods : The NICUs of 7 major hospitals were included. The subjects were 3,451 infants that were admitted to the NICU from July 2005 to June 2006, and discharged to home. The frequency, causes, mean cost and distribution and proportion of National Health Insurance coverage and non covered costs were analyzed. Results : The rate of rehospitalization after discharge from the NICU over 1 year was 14.8%. If multiple cases are considered as individual cases, it is 21.7%. The major causes of admission were pneumonia (15.8%), bronchiolitis (14.5%), gastroenteritis (10.4%), urinary tract infection (6.3%) and sepsis (6.3%). The mean cost for each admission was 1,652 thousand won. The mean cost of National Health Insurance coverage was 1,170 thousand won and non covered coat were 472 thousand won 70.9% and 28.6% respectively. Conclusion : The ratio of rehospitalization of infants after their discharge from the NICU over 1 year was approximately 20% and it means that follow-up management of these infants is very important and meticulous concerns after discharge should be given. However the rehospitalization and the non-coverage proportion of National Health Insurance cost is considerably high. It strongly implies that National Health Insurance should cover much more proportion, and personal cost exemption should be proceeded in case of rehospitalization of infants after discharge from the NICU.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2001

Purpose: The fecal acid steatocrit is an improved steatocrit method for the evaluation of fecal fat. The present study was set up in order to define the normal range of acid steatocrit values during the first 3 months of life. Methods: Fecal acid steatocrit values were determined in 78 healthy full term and in 21 healthy prematurely born infants between May 1998 and April 2000. The acid steatocrit method was performed in these babies during the first 3 months of life. Results: Steatorrhea occurs during the first month and then decreases, as shown by the fall in the acid steatocrit curve from 1st to 3rd month in our subject. Very high acid steatocrit results (above 90%) were found in all full term and premature infants during the first month of age. Acid steatocrit results of human milk-fed infants were significantly lower than those of formula-fed infants (p=0.0018). Conclusion: We conclude that high acid steatocrit results during the first 1 month of age can be due to physiologic steatorrhea. The acid steatocrit micromethod can be used for the evaluation of milk fat absorption in infants and monitoring steatorrhea instead of other more cumbersome methods.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.531-535
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• 2007

Purpose : Indomethacin treatment is successful in about 90% of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants, but in some, repeated administration or surgical closure is required. The object of the present study is to determine the factors affecting the efficacy of indomethacin treatment and to predict the treatment result. Method : The 29 preterm neonates, admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Kyunghee university medical center and Eulji university hospital between September 2002 and April 2006 were diagnosed of PDA and treated with indomethacin. The risk factors that might affect the efficacy of treatment were studied retrospectively. Results : The single-administered group was 19 patients out of 29 (65.5%) and among the repeated-administered group, 5 patients (17.2%) had repeated indomethacin administration and the other 5 patients (17.2%) underwent surgery due to reopening of the duct after repeated medical treatment. In repeated-administered group, the diameter of PDA was significantly larger ($3.66{\pm}0.8mm$ vs $2.55{\pm}0.8mm$, P<0.01), especially when larger than 3.5 mm (sensitivity: 70%, specificity: 89%). Also, the mean postnatal age of the first indomethacin administration was significantly delayed in repeated-administered group (19.7 days vs 12.5 days, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in gestational age (32 wk 5 days vs 30 wk 8 days) and in birth weight (1598.9 g vs 1750.5 g). There were no significant differences in associated morbidities. Conclusion : In patients with larger diameter of PDA (>3.5 mm) and older postnatal age (>7 days), the effect of indomethacin was decreased. Therefore in such cases, repeated dose of indomethacin or surgical ligation should be considered earlier.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.599-610
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• 2016

This paper reports the results of a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis research to compare the effect of Kangaroo care, targeting mothers and premature infants. A randomized clinical trial study was performed until February 2015. The domestic literature contained the non-randomized clinical trial research without restriction according to the level of the study design. A search of the Ovid-Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and KoreaMed, the National Library of KOREA, the National Assembly Library, NDSL, KISS and RISS. Through the KMbase we searched and combined the main term ((kangaroo OR KC OR skin-to-skin) AND (care OR contact)) AND (infant OR preterm OR Low Birth Weight OR LBW), ((kangaroo OR kangaroo OR kangaroo) AND (care OR nursing care OR management OR skin contact)) was made; these were all combined with a keywords search through the selection process. They were excluded in the final 25 studies (n=3051). A methodology checklist for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed by SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) was utilized to assess the risk of bias. The overall risk of bias was regarded as low. In 16 studies that were evaluated as a grade of "++", 9 studies were evaluated as a grade of "+". As a result of meta-analysis, kangaroo care regarding the effects of premature mortality, severe infection/sepsis had an insignificant effect. Hyperthermia incidence, growth and development (height and weight), mother-infant attachment, hypothermia incidence, length of hospital days, breast feeding rate, sleeping, anxiety, confidence, and gratification of mothering role were considered significant. In satisfaction of the role performance, depression and stress presented contradictory research results for individual studies showing overall significant difference. This study has some limitations due to the few RCTs comparing kangaroo care in the country. Therefore, further RCTs comparing kangaroo care should be conducted.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 2011

Purpose: Although infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are at risk of developing secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, little has been reported about the incidence, clinical course and prognosis of PH secondary to BPD in premature infants. This study was done to investigate the incidence, risk factors, clinical course, and the ultimate prognosis of PH developed secondary to BPD in very low birth weight infants (<1,500 g). Methods: Medical records of very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) admitted to Samsung Medical Center NICU from January 2000 to July 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. BPD was defined by Jobe's classification. The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was established as velocity of tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) ${\geq}$3 m/s and a flattening of the intraventricular septum by conducting Doppler echocardiography. Results: The incidence of pulmonary hypertension was 6% in VLBWI with BPD and it developed in moderate to severe BPD. The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was made on postnatal 133 days (range 40-224 days) and the risk factors related to developing pulmonary hypertension were severe BPD, small for gestational age and outborn infants. The mortality rate was 57% and especially higher in severe BPD (70%). The time to recovery spent 3 months (range 1-10 months) in survived patients. Conclusion: Based on the results of this research, pulmonary hypertension secondary to BPD in VLBWI related to severity of BPD and had a poor prognosis. We expect that regular long-term echocardiography may be helpful in treating reversible in VLBWI with moderate to severe BPD.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to determine the predictors of failed closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) following the first course of indomethacin in symptomatic preterm infants. Methods : Forty three of 43 preterm infants, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit diagnosed with PDA and treated with indomethacin at the Korea University Medical Center between January 1990 and October 2007, ware studied. The perinatal risk factors affecting the failed closure of PDA were retrospectively assessed. Results : The failed PDA closure group included 16 (37%) out of 43 infants three of whom underwent surgery. The closure group included 27 (63%) out of 43 infants. In the failed closure group, the Apgar scores (1 min, 5 min) were significantly higher (P<0.05) and antenatal steroid administration was significantly lower (P<0.05). In addition, dopamine administration was significantly lower (P<0.05) and the mean postnatal age at diagnosis was significantly lower (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression for the prediction of failed PDA closure found only antenatal steroid administration (OR 0.092, CI 0,010-0.826, P=0.0331) as an associated factor. Conclusion : In patients with antenatal steroid administration the failed PDA closure rate was significantly lower. Therefore, antenatal steroid administration can be considered as an important factor for the closure of PDA in preterm pregnancies.