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THE CURRENT STATUS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING IN THE USA

  • Webster, John G.
    • Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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    • v.1992 no.05
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    • pp.27-47
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    • 1992
  • Engineers have developed new instruments that aid in diagnosis and therapy Ultrasonic imaging has provided a nondamaging method of imaging internal organs. A complex transducer emits ultrasonic waves at many angles and reconstructs a map of internal anatomy and also velocities of blood in vessels. Fast computed tomography permits reconstruction of the 3-dimensional anatomy and perfusion of the heart at 20-Hz rates. Positron emission tomography uses certain isotopes that produce positrons that react with electrons to simultaneously emit two gamma rays in opposite directions. It locates the region of origin by using a ring of discrete scintillation detectors, each in electronic coincidence with an opposing detector. In magnetic resonance imaging, the patient is placed in a very strong magnetic field. The precessing of the hydrogen atoms is perturbed by an interrogating field to yield two-dimensional images of soft tissue having exceptional clarity. As an alternative to radiology image processing, film archiving, and retrieval, picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are being implemented. Images from computed radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasound are digitized, transmitted, and stored in computers for retrieval at distributed work stations. In electrical impedance tomography, electrodes are placed around the thorax. 50-kHz current is injected between two electrodes and voltages are measured on all other electrodes. A computer processes the data to yield an image of the resistivity of a 2-dimensional slice of the thorax. During fetal monitoring, a corkscrew electrode is screwed into the fetal scalp to measure the fetal electrocardiogram. Correlations with uterine contractions yield information on the status of the fetus during delivery To measure cardiac output by thermodilution, cold saline is injected into the right atrium. A thermistor in the right pulmonary artery yields temperature measurements, from which we can calculate cardiac output. In impedance cardiography, we measure the changes in electrical impedance as the heart ejects blood into the arteries. Motion artifacts are large, so signal averaging is useful during monitoring. An intraarterial blood gas monitoring system permits monitoring in real time. Light is sent down optical fibers inserted into the radial artery, where it is absorbed by dyes, which reemit the light at a different wavelength. The emitted light travels up optical fibers where an external instrument determines O2, CO2, and pH. Therapeutic devices include the electrosurgical unit. A high-frequency electric arc is drawn between the knife and the tissue. The arc cuts and the heat coagulates, thus preventing blood loss. Hyperthermia has demonstrated antitumor effects in patients in whom all conventional modes of therapy have failed. Methods of raising tumor temperature include focused ultrasound, radio-frequency power through needles, or microwaves. When the heart stops pumping, we use the defibrillator to restore normal pumping. A brief, high-current pulse through the heart synchronizes all cardiac fibers to restore normal rhythm. When the cardiac rhythm is too slow, we implant the cardiac pacemaker. An electrode within the heart stimulates the cardiac muscle to contract at the normal rate. When the cardiac valves are narrowed or leak, we implant an artificial valve. Silicone rubber and Teflon are used for biocompatibility. Artificial hearts powered by pneumatic hoses have been implanted in humans. However, the quality of life gradually degrades, and death ensues. When kidney stones develop, lithotripsy is used. A spark creates a pressure wave, which is focused on the stone and fragments it. The pieces pass out normally. When kidneys fail, the blood is cleansed during hemodialysis. Urea passes through a porous membrane to a dialysate bath to lower its concentration in the blood. The blind are able to read by scanning the Optacon with their fingertips. A camera scans letters and converts them to an array of vibrating pins. The deaf are able to hear using a cochlear implant. A microphone detects sound and divides it into frequency bands. 22 electrodes within the cochlea stimulate the acoustic the acoustic nerve to provide sound patterns. For those who have lost muscle function in the limbs, researchers are implanting electrodes to stimulate the muscle. Sensors in the legs and arms feed back signals to a computer that coordinates the stimulators to provide limb motion. For those with high spinal cord injury, a puff and sip switch can control a computer and permit the disabled person operate the computer and communicate with the outside world.

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TEC VARIATIONS OVER KOREAN PENINSULA DURING MAGNETIC STORM (남쪽방향 행성간 자기장에 의해 발생한 자기 폭풍 동안 한반도 상공의 총 전자수 함유량 변화)

  • Ji, E.Y.;Choi, B.K.;Kim, K.H.;Lee, D.H.;Cho, J.H.;Chung, J.K.;Park, J.U.
    • Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.33-42
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    • 2008
  • By analyzing the observations from a number of ground- and space-based instruments, including ionosonde, magnetometers, and ACE interplanetary data, we examine the response of the ionospheric TEC over Korea during 2003 magnetic storms. We found that the variation of vertical TEC is correlated with the southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field $B_z$. It is suggested that the electric fields produced by the dynamo process in the high-latitude region and the prompt penetration in the low- latitude region are responsible for TEC increases. During the June 16 event, dayside TEC values increase more than 15%. And the ionospheric F2-layer peak height (hmF2) was ${\sim}300km$ higher and the vertical $E{\times}B$ drift (estimated from ground-based magnetometer equatorial electrojet delta H) showed downward drift, which may be due to the ionospheric disturbance dynamo electric field produced by the large amount of energy dissipation into high-latitude regions. In contrast, during November 20 event, the nightside TEC increases may be due to the prompt penetration westward electric field. The ionospheric F2-layer peak height was below 200km and the vertical $E{\times}B$ drift showed downward drift. Also, a strong correlation is observed between enhanced vertical TEC and enhaaced interplanetary electric field. It is shown that, even though TEC increases are caused by the different processes, the electric field disturbances in the ionosphere play an important role in the variation of TEC over Korea.

Long-term Results of Thoracoscopic T2 Sympathicotomy for Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis in Woman (여성의 안면 다한증에 대한 제2흉부 교감신경 차단술 후 장기결과)

  • 조덕곤;조민섭;박찬범;왕영필;이선희;조규도
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.37 no.7
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    • pp.591-596
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    • 2004
  • Recently, thoracic sympathicotomy for craniofacial hyperhidrosis (FH) is increasingly avoided contrast to palmar hyperhidrosis. We recently demonstrated that selective T2 sympathicotomy for FH in woman might be recommended because of differences of the postoperative satisfaction between man and woman. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the postoperative long term results, evaluate the effectiveness of T2 sympathicotomy and establish the new strategy in treatment of FH in woman. Material and Method: From May 1998 to July 2001, 27 cases of FH in woman that were performed T2 sympathicotomy and minimum 2 years have passed since then at the follow up period. Among them, 20 cases were evaluated by telephone review and medical record. Bilateral sympathetic trunks were severed on the 2nd rib with 2mm thoracoscopic instruments. 7 patients combined with gustatory sweating (GS). Ages ranged from 25 to 62 (mean age, 46.4 years). Result: All patients were relieved of symptom immediately after operation. At postoperative 1 week, all patients were satisfied: 15 patients, “very satisfaction” and 5 patients, “relatively satisfaction”. However, during long term follow up period (from 25 to 63 months postoperatively), 9 patients (45%) were relatively satisfied, 8 patients (40%) complained that there was no difference of postoperative satisfaction and 3 patients (15%) complained of non satisfactory results (regret for surgery). 16 patients (80%) had complaint of uncomfortable feeling because of postoperative GS. Some degree of compensatory sweating (CS) had occurred in all patients: severe 10 patients (50%), severe but acceptable 6 patients (30%), and just conventional 4 patients (20%). The sites of CS were trunk, back, axilla and extremities. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy is relatively considerable method for FH in woman and the postoperative satisfaction depends on GS and the degree of individual adaptation for CS. Therefore, it is required that the prediction of preoperative risk factors for GS and CS and then careful selection of patients to increase the postoperative satisfaction, and the development of acceptable new treatment modalities.

Screening of yeast for alcoholic fermentation of no sugar-added tomato concentrate (토마토 농축액을 이용한 무가당 알코올 발효를 위한 효모의 선발)

  • Kim, Dong-Hwan;Moon, Jae-Nam;Lee, Seul;Lee, Soo-Won;Moon, Hey-Kyung;Kim, Gwi-Young
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.591-598
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    • 2016
  • The purpose of this study was to screen desirable yeast strains for alcoholic fermentation of tomato paste without sugar addition. The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, ash, and soluble nitrogen contents of the tomato paste ($25^{\circ}Brix$) were found to be 67.33%, 1.90%, 0.03%, 0.02%, and 30.72%, respectively. Free sugars found in the paste were fructose and glucose. Most abundant free amino acids of the paste were glutamic, aspartic, and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acids. Total seven yeast strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae KDH (TWA), S. cerevisiae Lalvin ICVD-47 (TWB), S. cerevisiae Lalvin RC-212 (TWC), S. cerevisiae Lalvin K1-V1116 (TWD), S. bayanus Lalvin EC-1118 (TWE), S. cerevisiae Enoferm (TWF), and S. cerevisiae DJ97(KCTC8842P) (TWG)) were tasted for alcohol fermentation of the tomato paste. The highest alcohol content (8.2%) and the lowest residual sugar content ($13.25^{\circ}Brix$) were observed in the tomato paste fermented using the S. cerevisiae Lalvin ICVD-47 strain (TWB) after 3 day and 4 day of fermentation, respectively. Sugar and reducing sugar contents, and pH of the tomato paste were not remarkably affected by the difference in yeast strains used, showing $13.25{\sim}13.45^{\circ}Brix$, 28.37~28.48 mg/mL, and 4.43~4.54, respectively, after 4 day of fermentation. Color and total acid content were significantly affected by the types of yeast strains and fermentation time, but the numerical changes were negligible. These results indicate that TWB would be the suitable strain for alcoholic fermentatiom of tomato paste based on its highest alcohol production and the lowest residual sugar content produced during fermentation.

A Study of the Effect, Safety and Saving Expense by Reusing Hemodialyzer (재사용(再使用) 투석기(透析器)의 효과(效果) ${\cdot}$ 안정성(安定性) 및 비용절감(費用節減)에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Jung, Ha-Chung
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.93-106
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    • 1997
  • By the increase of the rate of existence of the hemodialyzing patients, they were required the long run treatment. Regardless of medical insurance expansion, hemodialyzing cost much expenses so that hospital has been considering the reuse of hemodialyzer and flowing euqipments along with the diverse study and progress of the ways of hemodialyzing and medical instruments. This study was aimed to provide the basic materials regarding the reuse of hemodialyzer which is used for the patients of chronic renal disease. The reusing program in the artificial kidney center of K hospital has been used for this study from 50 patients aften one year result from Sep. 1995 through Aug. 1996. Automatic equipment of DRS-4 made by Seratronic Co., was used as the equipment and it was retreated with the function test simultaneously. Compliaction and confirmation of the infection were by the records of the hemodialysis of the patients. SPSS was used for the analysis of the materials by computerization. The character of the patients and the rate of removal was by mistake and percentage, function test and rate of complication by Ftest(ANOVA) and the rate of complication per items by ${\chi}^2$ and Ftest. As the post test the Duncan's test was used for the statistically significant different variables in the standard of p<.05 after Ftest. The followings are the summary of the result : 1) In the function test of the new hemodialyzer and the reused one, and in all of CA110 and CF15.11, the dialyzer ultrafiltration coeffient(KUf) was appeared to have been higher in the reusing groups than the first use ones. This has been the normal limit showing no troubles with them. 2) In the function test of the new and reused hemodialyzer, in all of CA110 and CF15.11, the total blood volume was appeared to have been the less value in the reuse groups than the new ones. This was the price within 80% of the first price that both showed possible for use. 3) The result of reuse hemodialyzer of CA110 was $29.48{\pm}7.83$ in average in the test of leak test while $17.3{\pm}7.96$ in reuse of CF15.11. The normal limit of <60 was the leak test result. So both of the hemodialyzer was normal for reuse. 4) The rate of removal of Blood Urea Nitrogen(BUN) was 72.25% in CA110 hemodialyzer by reusing 16-20 times as the highest rate showing the better result in the reuse hemodialyzer, while in CF15.11 hemodialyzer showed 71.16% by highest rate in the first use by the highest rate with no difference from the reuse. 5) The rate of removal of serum creatinine of CA110 was 64.08% by highest rate in reuse of 1-5 times by showing better result in reuse hemodialyzer. While in CF15.11 66.47% the highest by reuse of 16-20 times showing no difference from each other. 6) No patients were admitted or precribed by antibiotics in relation with reuse dialyzer and no reports were shown about hepatitis $B{\cdot}C$. AIDS in fection. 7) Of the total 248 episods of complication due to the hemodialyzing, 86 by first use, 73 by 1-5 times, 35 by 6-10 times, 35 by 11-15 times and 19 by 16-20 times have been shown which have had no significant difference between the groups. 8) In the comparison of the expense for the hemodialyzer, there was the effect of saving 11,597.6 Won between the first and reuse hemodialyzer. And by decreasing the extracted materials, they did the great role of disposing the waste matters.

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The Correlation between Depression and Physical Health in the Elderly (노인의 신체적 건강과 우울과의 관계)

  • Kim, Hyo-Jung
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.193-203
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between depression and physical health of the elderly and to provide fundamental data for programs which improve the health of this population. The subjects were 168 elderly people(55 years and older) who resided at home in Taegu. They were surveyed by interview using a closed- ended questionnaire. The survey was done from September 16 to October 16 in 2000. The instruments used in this study were general characteristics, Short form Geriatric Depression Scale(SGDS), Barthel Index, Muscular skeletal symptoms scale, Northern Illinois University's Health Self Rating Scale. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, multiple regression with SPSS PC 10.0 version for Windows. The findings were as follows: 1. As compared 65-74 years elderly group, 75-84 years group was significantly higher score for depression(F=3.17, p=.026). As compared elderly group who has own spouse, the group who has no own spouse was significantly higher score for depression(t=- 2.44, p=.016). 2. The aged who have more limitation of Activities of Daily Living(ADL)(t=3.93, p=.000), pain of muscular skeletal symptoms(F=5.33, p=.002) and poor perceived health state(F=17.04, p=.000) showed the higher severity of depression than the aged who have not. 3. ADL correlated negatively with depression(r=- .293, p=.000), pain of muscular skeletal symptoms correlated positively(r=.251, p=.001), perceived health status correlated negatively(r=-.522, p=.000). 4. The combination of perceived health status and ADL explained 29.1% of the varience of depression. On the basis of the above findings the following recommendations are made; 1. Developing health programs is needed considering ADL, pain of muscular skeletal symptoms, perceived health status, demographic variables (age, spouse status) which have an significant effects on depression of the elderly. 2. In the following study, the use of the various scale is needed which reflects physical status of the elderly in home.

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A Study on the Performance & Job Satisfaction of Visiting Nurses of district health centers in Seoul (서울시 각 구 보건소간호사의 방문간호 업무수행과 직무만족에 관한 연구)

  • Yang, Mi-Jin
    • Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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    • v.4
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    • pp.30-40
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    • 1997
  • The change in health care environment increases the importance of Visiting Nursing Services Program. It has been performed by nurses of district health centers in Seoul since 1991. The Achievement of Visiting Nursing Services Program will be dependent upon their activities. The purpose of this study was to identify the Performance of Visiting Nurses and Job satisfaction of district health centers in Seoul. Therefore, it was to provide the fundamental data development of Visiting Nursing Services Program. The subjects were 214 Visiting Nurses of district health centers in Seoul. The data was collected by self reporting questionnaire from April 15 to April 30, 1997. Their performances and various supportive factors were measured with the instruments developed by the researcher. Job satisfaction were also measured by the instrument developed by Slavitt et al. (1978) was used. The data were, analyzed by Cronbach Alpha, mean, standard deviation, percentage, t -test, ANOVA Duncan test, Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise Multiple Regression with SAS program. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The average of budget of Visiting Nursing Services Program of district health centers was 0.9% and the average of visiting nursing services personnel of district health centers was 10.1%. 2. With regard to the job satisfaction of Visiting Nurses the mean score was 2.92 out of 5. While the level of Job prestige / status presented as a mean score of 3.48 which was the largest among the 7 components of job satisfaction, the level of administration was the lowest showing 2.57 scores respectively. There were significant differences in the job satisfaction by age, working career of health centers(p<0.01, 0.001). 3. The average of the performance level of Visiting Nurses variables was 2.29; The variable with highest degree of performance was the teaching & consultation, establishment of performance plan, whereas the on with the lowest degree was the directive nursing services. The significant difference was found in performance level according to age, structure type of visiting nursing services, working career of health centers and working career of visiting nursing services(p<0.05). 4. With regard to the perception of the performance expertise by the Visiting Nurses the mean score was 2.37 : The variable with highest degree of performance expertise was the teaching & consultation, establishment of performance plan, whereas the on with the lowest degree was management of home-environment. The significant difference was found in performance expertise according to working career outside of health centers(p<0.05). 5. With regard to the perception of the performance necessity by the Visiting Nurses the mean was 2. 40 : the variable with highest degree of performance necessity was the teaching & consultation, establishment of performance plan, whereas the on with the lowest degree was directive nursing services. The significant difference was found in performance necessity according to working career of visiting nursing services(p<0.05). 6. A positive correlation was found between job satisfaction and performance level(r=.3731, P<0.001). Also, a weak positive correlation was found between the components of job satisfaction and performance level. 7. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor was the variance of job satisfaction(R=.3557, $R^2$=.1265). Structure type of visiting nursing services and working career of visiting nursing services accounted for 19.0% of the variance in performance level in nurses. In conclusion, Job satisfaction, Structure type of visiting nursing services and Working career of visiting nursing services variables had influenced on performance level in health centers. Further research is required to confirm these findings.

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A Structural Equation Modeling on Quality of Social Roles and Health for Married Working Mothers (유배우 취업모의 사회적 역할의 질과 건강에 대한 구조모형)

  • Park, Eun-Ok
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.450-458
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    • 2001
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish a structural equation model on social roles and health for married working mothers. to determine the effects of social roles on Korean women's health and to explore the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between social roles qualities and health. Method Data were collected from 323 employed women with partner and children. lived in Seoul and near Seoul. Response rate was 62.3%. The instruments for measurements were Role Quality Scale developed by Park et al. (1999). Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. and 31 items from SF-36 developed by Ware & Sherboune(l992). Results: The effect of marital role quality on self-esteem and the effect of parental role quality on health were not significant. Modification model fitted with the collected data very well. as evidenced by the small chi-square(0.58), the very high goodness-of-fit(GFI = 1.00), and adjusted goodness-of-fit (AGFI = 0.99), and very small root mean square residual(RMSR=0.0072), and the slope of Q-plot is over 1. 41% of the variance in self-esteem and 21% of the variance in health were accounted for by these variables. Conclusion: Further research concerned with the mediating effects of self-esteem in the role and health relationship should be covered the issue of various role combinations. And it is necessary to examine the influence of subfactor of quality of social roles on health.

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A Survey of the Image Conveyed by Different Types of Nurses따 Uniforms (간호사의 복장 형태에 따른 간호사 이미지에 대한 조사 연구)

  • 김조자;이원희;허혜경;김창희;홍성경
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.631-648
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    • 1993
  • This study is a descriptive study to provide basic data related to types of uniforms worn by nurses. Nurses, other medical center personnel, patients and their famillies were asked for their opinion on changing nurses’ uniforms and how the image of nurses is 1 elated to the type of uniform worn by the nurses. The data for this study were collected during the period from Feb. 25, 1993 to Mar. 26, 1993 at Y-University Medical Center from 132 nurses, 137 other medical center personnel, 117 patients and their families. The instruments used for this study were the Nurses’ Image Scale(NIS) developed by Bown(1986), and an instrument to measure opinions of uniform and cap using photographs of nurses’ uniforms that was developed by the researcher through a literture review. Data were analyzed using the SPPS / PC package, Statistics used for analysis were frequencies, percentages, paired t -test, and oneway ANOVA The results of this study are summarized as follows ; 1. Of the nurses, 84.3%, along with, 51.5% of the medical center personnel, 39.1% of the patients and their families agreed to a change in the color of nurses uniforms. 2. Similarly, 87.4% of the nurses,27.7% of the medical center personnel, 19.3% of the patients and their families were in favor of nurses not wearing caps. 3. Only 11.8% of nurses answered that a white uniform was important to the professional image of nursing. Only 2.4% of the nurses answered that a cap was very important to the professional image of nursing. 4. Only 1.6% of the nurses answered that a white uniform and cap were important to show the role of nurses in the twenty first century. 5. About 1/3, 36.5%, of the medical center personnel, the patient and their families answered that changing the color of the nurses' uniform will make a change in the image of nurses. 6. A White uniform and cap were seen as being im-portant in distinguishing nurses from other medical personnel in the hospital by 76.5% of the medical personnel, the patients and their families. 7. Nurses gave high marks to the idea of no cap regardless of the color of the uniform which would still portray the symbol of the nurses’ role, identity and would differentiate the role from other jobs. The patients and their families gave high marks to a white uniform with cap. 8. Generally, nurses, medical center personnel and patients and their families thought that a colored uniform with cap presented a good image of nurses. 9. There was a significant difference in the response among the three groups(F=24.65, P〈.001) to the figure in a white uniform with a cap, and the patients and their families thought it was the best portrayal of the image of nurses. There was a significant difference among the three groups(F=9.03, P〈.001) to the figure in a white uniform with no cap and the nurses indicated that it was the beat portrayed of the image of nurses. There was no significant difference among the three groups to the figure in a colored uniform with cap. There was a significant difference(F=17.50, P〈. 001) to the figure in a colored uniform with no cap, and the nurses indicated that it was the best portrayal of the image of nurses. In summary, the nurses wanted to change the color of uniform and not to wear a cap. But many of the medical center personnel, patients and their families indicated they did not agree with this idea. Therefore, changing the type of uniform worn by nurses should be done only after consideration has been given to the relation of the change to the professional role of nurses and the image of nurses held people in general. Suggestions arising from this study are as follows : 1. The relation between the role of nurses and their uniform was surveyed, and these results can be used as data when considering a change in uniforms. 2. A change in uniforms should be tried based on the norm established about uniforms. 3. The nurses did not want to wear a cap, but before a decision is definitely made it is necessary to study the philosophy related to the symbol of the cap because the figure of a nurse with a cap portrayed a positive image of the nurses. If the cap is kept, the symbol of the cap should be redefined. 4. In this study, only the image related to the uniform was examined, but in future studies it will be necessary to examine the practicality of various types of uniforms.

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The Effect of Supportive Nursing Care on Depression, Mood and Satisfaction in Military Patients with Low Back Pain (지지간호가 군 요통환자의 우울ㆍ기분ㆍ만족에 미치는 영향)

  • 김정아
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.324-340
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    • 1990
  • Support has always been considered an important nursing concept. However, there is no agreement among nurse researchers as to a conceptual definition of supportive nursing or meaningful supportive behaviors. Clarification of the concept, support in nursing, is necessary to promote communication among nurses on nursing behaviors that are effective in providing support and on understanding the relevant properties and charcteristics of the concept, supportive nursing care. The objectives of the study were : 1. to analyse the concept, support in nursing, in order to provide a definition of supportive nursing care, and 2. to operationalize the definition of supportive nursing care and use it as an experimental nursing intervention for patients with low back pain. The first part of the study used the concept analysis approach developed by Walker and Avant(1983) to define the concept of supportive nursing care. The properties of supportive nursing care, defined by this analysis, included perception of supportive need, reciprocal interaction(Transaction), listening, providing empathy and information related to health, and confirmation of the patient's verbal and non - verbal response. The second part, the experimental part of the study, was done using King's(1970) Interpersonal Theory for Nursing. The concept, supportive nursing care, as defined in the concept analysis was operationalized and used as the experimental intervention. The experiment tested the effectiveness of the independent variable, supportive nursing care on the dependent variables, depression, mood and patient satisfaction, in the patients with low back pain in army hospitals. The instruments used to measure the dependent variables were Zung's(1965) Self- Rating Depression Scale, Ryman and Colleagues'(1974) Mood Questionnaire and LaMonica and Colleagues'(1986) Patient Satisfaction Scale. The experimental design used for this study was a Solomon 4 group experimental design. This design has the strength of allowing for observation of the main effects of supportive nursing care and pretesting, and for observation of the interaction effects of pretesting and supportive nursing care. The design includes one experimental group and three control groups. The Subjects of this study were 150 young male patients with low back pain on Neuro - Surgical Wards in three general army hospitals. There were 35 in the experimental group, 39 in the pre - posttest control group, 36 in the treatment - posttest control group and 40 in the posttest only control group. Supportive nursing care, as operationalized by the researcher according to the concept analysis, was given to the patients in the experimental group and the treatment -posttest control group, individually for 30 minute sessions, every other day for 5 days. Data collection was done using a questionnaire. The data were collected in a pretest one week before the supportive nursing care sessions, a posttest immediately after the sessions and follow- up test one week later. Hypotheses testing was done using 2×2 factorial analysis of variance and Meta analysis(Stouffer's Z method). The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Hypothesis Ⅰ, “There will be a difference on depression level between the patients with low back pain who receive supportive nursing care and those who do not receive supportive nursing care”, was supported (F=8.49, p<.05). 2. Hypothesis Ⅱ, “There will be a difference on mood level between the patients with low back pain who receive supportive nursing care and those who to not receive supportive nursing care”, was supported (Z meta=2.17, p<.05). 3. Hypothesis Ⅲ, “There will be a difference on satisfaction level between the patients with low back pain who receive supportive nursing care and those who do not receive supportive nursing care”, was supported (F=13.67, p<.05). 4. ANOVA, done to examine the interaction effect of history and maturation, showed no significant difference on the dependent variables between the observations of the pretest scores of the experimental group, the pretest scores of the pre- posttest control group and the posttest score of the posttest only control group. 5. To test for continuing effect of supportive nursing care, paired t-test was done to compare the scores for the dependent variables at the posttest and at the one week later follow-up test. No significant difference on the scores for the dependent variables was found between the posttest scores and the follow-up test scores for the two groups that received supportive nursing care, the experimental group and the treatment-posttest control group. In conclusion, it was found that in the case of young soldiers with low back pain in army hospitals, their depression level was decreased, their mood state was changed positively and their satisfaction level was increased by receiving supportive nursing care. Further, the effectiveness of the supportive nursing care lasted for at least one week in this study. The significance of this study to nursing is in the analysis of the concept of supportive nursing care and the demonstration of the effectiveness of supportive nursing care as an intervention within the limits of the study.

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