• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2012

This study aims to examine the outdoor environment of a geriatric hospital and explore its stress-relief impact upon those who utilize it. Post Occupancy Evaluation is employed to assess the effectiveness of a healthcare setting. This study is based on survey questionnaire including the users' perception of outdoor environment, their perceived restorativeness, and quality of life. A total of one hundred and sixty individuals including patients, families and visitors, and healthcare staffs. As a result, it turns out that the therapeutic outdoor environment and its users' health outcomes, such as reststroativeness and quality of life are significantly correlated. In conclusion, the finding of this research seems to demonstrate the potential that the therapeutic outdoor environment has for the improvement of its users' health by enhancing.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.58-62
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• 2020

Many studies have demonstrated the Quality of Life to oral health of the periodic dental visitors. Despite of the theoretical importance, a critical determinants of oral health concern have not yet been identified by intuition. The purpose of the present study is : (1) to analyze the relationship between clinical oral health status and subjective oral health concern(self-rated); (2) use them as basic data to efficiently operate oral health management programs specializing in prevention. The distribution of oral health concerns differed depending only on whether or not oral health care was performed periodically (P<0.05, Table 1).

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.209-222
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• 2001

The environment in the ICU leads to negative changes in a patient's usual sleep pattern and so contributes negatively to the patient's health condition as compared to patients in general wards. Therefore, it is thought that an important nursing intervention would be to identify the relation between noise and sleep patterns which play an important role in illness recovery. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between noise in the ICU and the sleep pattern of patients admitted to the ICU. A descriptive correlation design was used to examine the relationship. Thirty-four subjects were recruited from a Medical ICU (MICU), Surgical ICU (SICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at a large university hospital in Suwon. Data were collected from September 28 to October 31 in 1999. In the present study, noise was categorized into noise level and patients' perception of noise. The objective noise level was measured using the A-Weighted Sound Level Meter. The patients' preception of noise was measured using a self-reported questionnaire developed by the researcher. Sleep patterns in this study includes both quantity and quality of sleep. These were measured using open ended questionnaires and the 'Korean Sleep Scale A' developed by Oh, Song, Kim(1998). The data was analyzed using the SPSS-WIN to test the research question, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was run. Ancillary analysis were conducted with demographic variables to determine their relation to the main study variables. For the ancillary analysis, t-test and one-way ANOVAs were performed. The results of the present study are summerized as follows : 1. The total mean of objective noise level (10pm-6am) was 56.2dB. The means for night time noise level in individual ICUs for the SICU, MICU and CCU, were 58.7dB, 58.6dB and 48.3dB, respectively. The total mean for patients' noise perception was 42.8 out of a maximum possible score of 76. For item means of noise perception, the one ranked highest was "conversations between doctors and nurses" (3.2). The one ranked lowest was "noise from the radio" (1.2). Regarding the degree of perception for each type of noise source, the one ranked highest was "equipment noise" (2.6), the second was "conversation between medical staff" (2.4), the third was "conversation between patients, caregivers and visitors" (2.3), and the one ranked lowest was "environment noise" (1.8). 2. Looking at quantity of sleep of ICU patients, the mean nocturnal sleep time was found to be 4.9 hours. The total mean of sleep quality for ICU patients was 21.0 out of a maximum possible score of 40. 3. The relationship between perception of noise and quantity of sleep was statistically significant(r= - .41, p<.05). The relationship between perception of noise and quality of sleep was also statistically significant(r= - .47, p<.01). The results of the study indicate that personal perception of noise is related to sleep patterns. Therefore, it is suggested that nursing interventions be developed to reduce the degree of personal perception of noise and, thus, decrease sleep pattern disturbances in patients in the ICU.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.6 no.11
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• pp.59-70
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• 2000

Nowadays, according as hospitals are not only large and sprawling, but also they are continually being remodeled and expanded, their architectural spaces are becoming more complex. In the face of the development of the medical technology and the present focus of administrators who have showed much interests on reducing health care cost, the human need of patients and visitors is often forgotten. Recently, wayfinding and healing environment is proposed as a general concept in the hospital architecture. The purpose of this study is to find out the design guideline for hospital, focusing on the characteristics of wayfinding at the general hospital outpatient department.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2002

Purpose: This is a clinical experimental study aimed to provide basic data to ensure quality care. The purpose of this study is to increase nurses hand washing behavior and decrease respiratory isolation rate of MRSA. Method: This study was conducted in Kangnam St. Marys hospital. The subjects included 5 nurses working at the NS ICU and 165 specimen for nasal swabs and 46 specimen for sputum cultures from 106 patients admitted to the NS ICU. The data were collected from June to September 2000. Results: 1.The percentage of the nurses hand washing was 15.6percent but was improved to 46.5 percent after the educational intervention. In particular, hand washing behavior was increased in situations such as after suctioning, before parenteral nutrition, and after providing hygiene care. 2. Results of nasal swab showed that MRSA isolation rate was reduced from 42.8 percent before the education to 18.6percent after the education. The sputum culture results also showed that the MRSA rate was reduced from 40.7percent before the education to 34.6percent after the education. Conclusion: The findings showed the nurses' strict hand washing behavior and use of disposable gloves and paper towers as well as use of hand sterilization spray by visitors or families can decrease the MRSA isolation rate in the NS ICU patients. Since the NS ICU patients may have respiratory complications due to long-term hospitalization, the nurses regular hand washing is important enough to be emphasized. Future research should be focused on the impact of nurses' hand washing behavior on the incidence of pneumonia, an iatrogenic infection.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2013

Purpose: It seems obvious that the hospital structures become more large-sized and tall-risen in Korea today. Nothing is more influential than the vertical core plan on the movements of various people in such large-tall hospitals. The present paper, therefore, aims to study on the efficient hospital core space paying first attention to patients by analysing the data on relations between/among department layouts of vertical and horizontal movements. Methods: This study sampled representative 14 hospitals and drew their degrees of data importance on the basis of precedented relative studies. This study also analysed their placements on the blueprint and made confirmations of their arrangements through their homepage on line. Actual visits were made to make sure of the spacial connections between/among departments in the hospitals as well. Results: Even in emergency case in need for vertical movements, the central main core spaces are usually used, which is because special vertical transportation systems are not provided. In these cases, the main core spaces are very important for those who have to move vertically and/or horizontally according to the locations and types of main cores. While special lifts or dumbwaiters are prepared to install for the important articles, such as samples of pathology department, most patients should share with regular visitors the elevators not separated visually and spatially from them. Implications: Vertical core plans are greatly dependent on the ward types and hospital styles. This study is hopefully expected to contribute itself to the standard setting-up of comfortable and quick vertical core system operations for patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.165-169
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• 2014

Purpose: Trauma is one of the most common and lethal causes of death in Korea, especially in people under the age of 40. However, a considerable percentage of trauma patients are lost each year due to the scarce resources of the trauma system. The purpose of this study was to determine the recognition of trauma and trauma system. Methods: From April 8th to 22nd, 2014, visitors and in-patients in our medical center were interviewed and surveyed with a questionnaire, which included 28 questions regarding the trauma system, such as the most common cause of death, the locations of trauma centers, the importance of trauma centers, and consent for supporting trauma centers financially. Results: The majority of the respondents recognized trauma as a common cause of death; this was particularly true for people younger than 40. Most respondents' expectancy for the optimal time for trauma patient transport was high, recognizing that major trauma patients should receive urgent care. The respondents felt that trauma centers are important and needed, just as much as police stations and libraries are. Among 178 respondents, 140 (80.5%) were willing to financially support the trauma system. Conclusion: The respondents were aware of the seriousness of trauma and generally agreed on the need for trauma centers. In order to meet the needs and the demands of the people, and to reduce preventable death rate, the trauma system should be improved not only in quality but also in quantity with better and more facilities and manpower, with the aid of publicity from trauma organizations and funding from the government.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 1976

Contemper nursing literature place much importance on human- centered and individualized care. Nursing research has related stress during hospitalization of adolescent patients to adaptation to a new environment, isolation from friends, limitation due to illness, over protection of parents and communication with member of the medical team. The investigator conducted this study in the hope that an understanding of adolescents responses to hospitalization, their perceptions, the kinds and levels of stress, and the relationships between stressors and individual characteristics would contribute to the improvement of adolescent patient care. The objective of the study was to obtain informations related to the adolescents psychological stress experience during hospitalization, specifically stress from interpersonal relationships and communication, isolation from the family, social or economic problems, illness and from the treatment environment and nursing care. An interview schedule adopted from Holmes and Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale and selected items from Voicer's instrument on stress-producing events was used with 120 adolescent inpatients aged 13 to 18 years three general hospitals in Seoul during Aug. 10, to Sep. 30, 1975. 1. The sample consisted of 66 male and 54 female patients. Sixty-six percent were late adolescents, aged 16 to 18 years: 4% were early adolescents, aged 13 to 15 years. The primary cause for hospitalization was for orthopedic problems (35.8%). More than half of these (54.4%) were due to injury or accident. 2. Stress eclated to illness revealed the highest score (4.97), followed by stress related to treatment environment and nursing care (4.34) , isolation from family and social or economic problems (4.01) and interpersonal relationships and communication (3.96). 3. The perceived indifference of doctors and nurses was a serious cause of stress (mean=4.83). Fellow patients and visitors caused least stress (mean=2.06). 4. Discontinuation of education or unemployment were major stressful events (mean=4.71). Least stressful was isolation from the family (mean=3.47). 5. More than 94% of the respondents expressed fears related to body image (mean=4.97) 6. Within the category of treatment environment and nursing care, items related to restrictions because of treatment, discomfort because of treatment, inadequate explanation from nurses about procedures were rated as severe stress events (mean=4.6). Items related to the ward environment and to having a relative stay with them were seen by the group as less serious events (mean=3.7). 7. Stress related to interpersonal relationships and communication was correlated positively with female patients and those preferring passive activities. (P〈0.05) 8. Stress related to family problems was positively related to female and early adolescent patients (P< 0.05). Stress related to social problems was positively , elated to students and those preferring active pursuits (P< 0.05). 9. There were no correlation between the high stress related to disease and any of the characteristic items. (P> 0.05) 10. Stress related to treatment environment and nursing care was positively related of early adolescent and female and student patients. (P< 0.05) This group of hospitalized adolescents reported high level of stress related to treatment environment and nursing care, due to lack of consideration of normal growth and development and individual characteristics. The findings have important implications for the planning of effective, individualized, comprehensive nursing care of adolescents during hospitalization.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2010

Purpose: There are an insignificant number of studies done on the demographics of intoxication patients and on the characteristics of toxic exposure on a long term basis in Korea. The objective of our survey is to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of intoxication in a metropolitan emergency department in order to more efficiently manage intoxication patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of intoxication patients who visited the emergency department of a high end medical facility between January, 1998 and June, 2009. We investigated the trend of the substances people became intoxicated with during the study period and we analyzed the age, gender, year and distribution of patients and the outcome of the patients. Results: There were 1544 cases of intoxication during the study period, and the cases made up 0.37% of the total visitors to our emergency department, which is a high end medical facility located in the city. Most of the patients were female (70%) in their twenties and thirties. The most commonly ingested intoxication substances were sedatives, analgesics and pesticides. Unlike in the province, antidepressant abuse is on the rise while pesticide abuse is falling. The overall admission rate was 24.8% and the mortality rate was 1.6%. Pesticides intoxication was the most common cause of death (76%). Pesticides intoxication, a male gender and old age were the most significant fatality-related factors. Conclusion: We think that there is a need to investigate the actual conditions of drug intoxication in the city and prepare measures to prevent drug intoxication.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to verify the influence of a massive hydrofluoric acid spill on community health through patients who claimed to have been exposed. Methods: We analyzed 2459 patients who visited our emergency department with the claim of exposure to hydrofluoric acid, and retrospective analyses were performed. We analyzed changes in numbers of visitors per day from the day of the accidental hydrofluoric acid spill, symptoms presented by the 1924 patients, and general characteristics. Comparisons of symptoms and hematologic characteristics were made between the initially set evacuation zone(1.3 km radius parameters from the spill) and the outer zone. Results: A total of 2,459 patients who claimed exposure visited our ED from 27 September 2012 to 23 October 2012, and there was a significant increase in the number of visiting patients from day 8 of the hydrofluoric acid spill. The most common complaints were a sore throat, 729(37.9%) and no specific symptom with health concern, 547 (28.4%). Statistically significant findings were pulmonary symptoms (p=0.001), nasal symptoms (p=0.001), diarrhea (p=0.023), and skin symptoms (p=0.007). In hematologic study, a statistically significant difference was observed in white blood cell count (p=0.018), creatine phosphokinase (p<0.001), erythrocyte sediment rate (p=0.013), and phosphorus (p<0.001). Conclusion: A significant increase in the number of patients was observed one week after the accidental spill of hydrofluoric acid. The most frequent symptoms were sore throat, headache, cough, and sputum. Statistically significant increase in creatine phosphokinase level and decrease in phosphorus level were noted in patients within the evacuation zone.