• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.561-570
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• 2010

Purpose: This was a cross sectional descriptive study to introduce the Infants Coma Scale (ICS), describe mental status of high risk infants using ICS and explore the relationships between ICS and clinical variables in infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in Korea. Methods: After ICS was developed and tested by the authors, a research nurse evaluated the mental status of the infants using the English version of ICS and obtained clinical information on the infants from their medical records. Results: Data from 88 infants were analyzed. About 60% were male, 90% were preterm births, and 40% had pathologic abnormalities. Their mean gestational age was 32.4 (${\pm}3.50$) weeks and the mean birth weight was 1,842 (${\pm}728.6$) grams. The Cronbach's alpha for the ICS was .78. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between ICS total score and five clinical variables including gestational age, birth weight, 1 and 5 min Apgar scores and respiration status. Conclusion: Mental status is an important parameter in nursing assessment. ICS is a valid and reliable instrument, which clinicians can easily use to evaluate the mental status of high risk infants.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2000

The role of the neonatal nurse specialist has been well established over the past decade and now reform in 21st century. Neonatal nurse specialists responsibilities in caring for critically and long-term chronically ill infants and their families are very important. Neonatal nurse specialists have a two fold responsibility in caring for these infants. First, through acquiring advanced practice education in complex neonatal care and diagnostic skills, neonatal nurse specialists meet the physiologic needs of the infant. Second, neonatal nurse specialists provide a more holistic approach to their care through evaluating the family in treatment plans and involving the family in discharge planning for the infant. In some institutions, neonatal nurse specialists are directly involved in institutional and/or home follow-up care and case management also. It is the neonatal nurse specialists responsibility to function collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team in managing critically or chronically ill infants from admission to discharge. The role of the neonatal nurse specialist case manager can be described as one that focuses on individualized care of the infant, while providing continuity of care to both the infant and family. The neonatal nurse specialist's role will vary depending on the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). Therefore, the multidisciplinary collaborative approach to long-term management of infants in the NICU is extremely important to provide successful transition to home or to long-term rehabilitative care facilities because care for the chronically ill infant is complex and multifaceted. I suggest the role of neonatal nurse specialist in 21st century are as follows. 1. Diagnostic/patient assessment 2. Management of patient health/illness 3. Administering/monitoring therapeutic interventions and regimens 4. Monitoring/ensuring quality of health care practices 5. Organization and work role 6. Helping role 7. Teaching/coaching role 8. Management of rapidly changing situations 9. Consulting role The advanced practice nursing model of care delivered by neonatal nurse specialist's in the NICU incorporates medical and nursing role functions and emphasizes holism, caring, and a health perspective for critically and chronically ill neonates and their families.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.401-411
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the use of oral hygiene products in infants. Methods: From October 2015 to December 2015, astructured questionnaire survey was conducted for infants and parents about the infants' oral hygiene product use from 0 to 4 years of age in Seoul and other metropolitan areas. Results: The use of oral tissues for infants and children was more frequent in infants, with less than four uses of oral tissues per 10 infants. The overall amount of toothpaste usage among infants was lower than those of infants whose parents are high school or college graduates. The number of oral tissues used per infant per week was less among infants who sucked less than 4 times per 10 infants. The frequency of use of infant mouthwash per week in every 10 infants was less than those who swallow mouthwash less than once. The number of mouth rinses after the use of oral tissues for infants was high in boys, and the number of infants who sucked oral tissues was less than 4 times when used 10 times. The number of mouth rinses after the use of toothpaste was less for infants with college-graduate parents. The factors affecting the number of mouth rinsings after using oral tissues for infants were gender and sucking frequency. Conclusions: In this study, the oral hygiene products for infants were found to differ and affect the usage, the frequency of use, and the number of mouth rinses according to the general characteristics of infants' and parents and the use of oral hygiene products.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.27-36
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• 2001

This study aims to provide space organization of the Postpartum Care Center and basic data for architectural planning in the reasonable size. Nurturing method of infants at independent Postpartum Care Center combines rooming-in and non rooming-in and space organization is planned accordingly. Types of the existing floor plans are classified as a type centered on maternity protection room, a type of the separate space for multipurpose, a near type to the infants' room. New types of plane are presented as follows a core type concentrate upon nurse room, the infants' room and the same environmental and balanced corridors between the both. When an average capacity of 20 at Postpartum Care Center is planned, proper suitable floor space of Postpartum Care Center is above $753.9m^2$ and $37.69m^2$ per postpartum woman is required. It is indicated that an average floor space per postpartum woman of the reviewed facilities is smaller than one of the Postpartum Care Center in a plan and plane distributed by function too lack in nursing space. Expansion of space for the Postpartum Care Center is generally required, also the enlargement of nursing space is necessary to be harmonized with the management of a medical facilities and those mutual cooperation.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.59-76
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• 2010

This study examine the employment and childcare choices of mothers of infants. Study participants were 543 mothers, with infants younger than 40 months, in Suncheon. The results were as follows. First, mothers' employment beliefs, regardless of whether they worked outside the home, showed more positive scores regarding employment when they had jobs and/or higher educational levels. Second, mothers' use of child-care was more likely to begin when their children were at younger ages when the mothers worked outside the home, had higher educational levels and/or perceived their employment circumstances as including the ideas "Always have internal conflicts over whether to quit the job or not" and/or "Have never thought of quitting the job". Third, we examined how the features of the childcare environment and childcare type affected the mothers.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to determine the factors that affect the breastfeeding of late preterm infants (gestation age 34⁺⁰~36⁺⁶) in South Korea. Method: A cross-sectional and questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 178 mothers of 209 late preterm infants discharged from a university hospital. We collected data on participants' demographics, breastfeeding-related characteristics and current status of breastfeeding and analyzed them using SPSS. Results: Breastfeeding duration varied significantly according to the number of babies born (t=3.691, p<.001), birth order (F=6.416, p=.002), type of feeding planned (F=8.691, p<.001), planned breastfeeding period(F=24.779, p<.001), previous baby's breastfeeding type(F= 8.510, p<.001), previous baby's breastfeeding duration(F=10.589, p<.001). The mothers with incomes of 3-5 million won a month were less likely to continue breastfeeding than those with incomes over 5 million won (CI: 0.049-0.086: p=0.035). Conclusion: Our results are meaningful in that we revealed that mother's monthly income influenced breastfeeding continuation, first-time mothers and mothers of multiples were at risk of breastfeeding difficulties. Interventions for helping late preterm infants' mothers establish breastfeeding and maintain an adequate milk supply are vital.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.230-237
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• 2011

Purpose: To identify the perception and practices of kangaroo care in nurses and doctors working in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Korea. Methods: One hundred forty-nine nurses and nineteen doctors working in the NICU from six university hospitals completed a survey questionnaire. Results: Most agreed that Kangaroo care promoted attachment and parental confidence as well as physical health of the infant. However, nurses and doctors showed a negative perception in providing kangaroo care for premature infants under 1,000 grams or within several hours after birth. Major barriers for kangaroo care were worrying about extubation and safety problems of premature infants. Married or senior nurses showed a more positive perception than others. Also nurses who worked in hospitals where kangaroo care was provided had a lower barrier perception than other nurses. Conclusion: Nurses and doctors working in NICU worried about adverse effects of kangaroo care even though they perceived positive effects. Standard education programs and manuals should be developed before dissemination of kangaroo care in Korea.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.407-415
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how child development knowledge, child rearing knowledge, and use of healthcare services after discharge affect maternal confidence among mothers of premature infants. Methods: Participants in this study were 55 mothers who were involved in internet communities for mothers with premature infants and 30 mothers who visited hospitals for follow up care after having their babies discharged from Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in South Korea. Results: Presence of operation history, child development and rearing knowledge, and use of healthcare service explained 12.2% of maternal confidence. Presence of operation history (${\beta}=.32$, p<.05) and child development knowledge (${\beta}=.52$, p<.05) were significant predictors for maternal confidence. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that mothers with premature infants need further education especially on motor development, developmental knowledge, and knowledge related to operations for mothers whose child had surgery in the NICU. Also information about services provided from community health services for premature infants need to be advertised and distributed.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2009

Purpose: This study, using a pre-post test design of non-equivalence comparative group, was done to determine effects of Kangaroo care (KC) on growth in premature infants and on maternal attachment (MA). Methods: Fifty-three premature infants were assigned to the KC (24) or control group (CG) (29). Data were collected from July 2007 to June 2008. KC was given for 60 min at a time, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 10 times. Weight, height, and head circumference (HC) of premature infants were checked before the program started. Following the initial measurement, the program was given and measurements were taken again at the end of the program. For measurement of attachment between mother and infant, data collection was done using structured self-reported questionnaires. Results: KC group had a higher weight (t=2.565, p=.013), height (t=2.182, p=.034) and HC (t=2.468, p=.017) than the CG. Compared to the CG, the KC had significantly higher scores in MA (t=2.026, p=.048). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the practice of KC in the nursing environment might actively promote attachment between mother and infant as well as acceleration of growth for premature infants as one of the most efficient nursing intervention.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.417-424
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate partnerships with nurses, social support and readiness for discharge among mothers of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to examine the factors associated with readiness for discharge. Methods: A survey was conducted among 85 mothers of premature infants hospitalized in a NICU in Seoul, Korea. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson' correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The results of the regression analysis showed that partnerships with nurses (${\beta}=.32$, p=.011) and parenting experience (${\beta}=.32$, p=.001) were significantly associated with readiness for discharge. Conclusion: To improve the readiness for discharge among mothers of premature infants, developing strategies to strengthen their partnership with nurses and to provide family-centered care will be needed.