Factors Influencing Nurses' Job Satisfaction in Integrated Nursing and Care Services Unit: Focused on Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction and Communication Efficacy / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE@#This study aimed to examine the levels of compassion fatigue/satisfaction, communication efficacy, and job satisfaction among integrated nursing and care services (INCS) units, and to analyze the factors affecting their job satisfaction.@*METHODS@#This descriptive study was conducted between January 1 and February 15, 2019 with 174 nurses working at INCS units. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson`s correlation coefficient, and hierarchial multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 23.0.@*RESULTS@#Job satisfaction was significantly different according to age, marital status, monthly income, total clinical career, and job position. Job satisfaction was positively correlated with compassion satisfaction (r=.72, p<.001) and communication efficacy (r=.52, p<.001) and showed a negative correlation with compassion fatigue (r=.-25, p<.001). Factors affecting job satisfaction were compassion satisfaction (β=.61, p<.001) and communication efficacy (β=.18, p=.004). Overall, approximately 58.9% of the variability in job satisfaction was explained by these two variables in this study.@*CONCLUSION@#Compassion satisfaction has the effect of maintaining an emotional balance in the nurse's interprofessional relationships. High communication efficacy among professionals in the INCS ward is a necessary factor to increase nurses' job satisfaction. These results suggest that programs to improve compassion satisfaction and communication efficacy are needed to enhance nurses' job satisfaction.

Evaluation of the Efficacies of Rapid Antigen Test, Multiplex PCR, and Real-time PCR for the Detection of a Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: In April 2009, a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus was detected in the US, and at the time of conducting this study, H1N1 infection had reached pandemic proportions. In Korea, rapid antigen tests and PCR assays have been developed to detect the H1N1 virus. We evaluated the efficacies of rapid antigen test, multiplex PCR, and real-time PCR for detecting the H1N1 virus. METHODS: From August to September 2009, we tested 734 samples obtained from nasopharyngeal swab or nasal swab using rapid antigen test (SD Influenza Antigen, Standard Diagnostics, Inc., Korea) and multiplex PCR (Seeplex FluA ACE Subtyping, Seegene, Korea). We also tested 224 samples using the AdvanSure real-time PCR (LG Life Sciences, Korea) to compare the results obtained using real-time PCR with those obtained using multiplex PCR. Furthermore, 99 samples were tested using the AdvanSure real-time PCR and the AccuPower real-time PCR (Bioneer, Korea). RESULTS: In comparison with the results of multiplex PCR, the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid antigen test were 48.0% and 99.8%, respectively. The concordance rate for multiplex PCR and the AdvanSure real-time PCR was 99.6% (kappa=0.991, P=0.000), and that for the AdvanSure real-time PCR and the AccuPower real-time PCR was 97.0% (kappa=0.936, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The rapid antigen test is significantly less sensitive than PCR assay; therefore, it is not useful for H1N1 detection; however multiplex PCR, the AdvanSure real-time PCR, and the Accu-Power real-time PCR can be useful for H1N1 detection.

Mitotic Index and Band Resolution According to the Different KCl Concentration for Chromosome Analysis of Peripheral Blood / 임상검사와정도관리

BACKGROUND: The KCl hypotonic treatment is important for swelling the cells and adequate spreading of chromosomes on the slide. Cytogenetic laboratory usually use 0.075M KCl solution. Sometimes, it is difficult to obtain enough and good quality of metaphase cells, because of inadequate hypotonic treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mitotic index and band resolution according to the different KCl concentration. METHODS: The group I included blood specimens obtained from 14 newborns (median age 1 day, range 1-8 days) and 4 cord blood. The group II included 16 persons whose median age was 28 years (1-37 years). The blood was cultured in RPMI 1640 medium with fetal calf serum and phytohemagglutinin for 72 hours. Mitosis was arrested by adding colcemid (100 ng/mL). The hypotonic treatment was done by adding different KCl concentration such as 0.075M, 0.068M and 0.057M for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C. The mitotic index was calculated as the number of metaphase cells per total 1,000 cells. The band resolution was evaluated by 2 persons independently. RESULTS: For group I, the mitotic index was not different according to the KCl concentration; 0.075M, 18.8 (5.5~31.5); 0.068M, 22.3 (11~32.5); 0.057M, 20.5 (2.5~29), (P=0.137). The proportion of cells with 400 or more band resolution was significantly higher in specimens treated with 0.068M KCl than those treated with 0.075M KCl; 0.075M, 67.8% (56~92.5); 0.068M, 73.6% (46.1~84.6); 0.057M, 71.6% (63~89.2), (P=0.027). For group II, the results were similar to those of group I. The mitotic index was as follows; 0.075M, 22.3 (5~28); 0.068M, 26 (4~34.5); 0.057M, 21.5 (2.5~36.5), (P=0.568). The proportion of cells with 400 or more band resolution was as follows; 0.075M, 66.6% (42.8~83.3); 0.068M, 69.7% (54.3~87.5); 0.057M, 68.2% (50~78.6) (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: For 0.068M or 0.057M KCl treatment, band resolution was improved, while the mitotic index was similar to that of 0.075M KCl. We suggest use of 0.068M or 0.057M KCl hypotonic treatment in addition to 0.075M KCl for chromosome preparation of peripheral blood.