ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study examined the effect of the smartphone-based intervention program using laughter therapy on psychological and biological factors of the middle aged and older adults living alone. @*Methods@#Data collection was conducted by a structured questionnaire about depression, loneliness, life satisfaction, and biological factors including general characteristics for the subjects residing in Cheonan, Korea. The collected data were analyzed by x2 test, t-test using SPSS/WIN ver. 26.0. There were 28 experimental and 31 control subjects. @*Results@#The experimental group received laughter therapy for 4 weeks along with usual care. The control group received usual care only. After 4 weeks, there was a statistically significant difference in depression (t=-3.28, p=.002), life satisfaction (t=-2.89, p=.006), and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) (t=-2.36, p=.021) between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#This study presents growing evidence for the diverse applications and benefits of laughter and humor. When using laughter as a complementary method to enhance health, it will be more effective to tailor the program to the specific needs of the individual.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing care workers’ intention of hand hygiene implementation in long-term care hospitals. @*Methods@#A total of 180 care workers working at long-term care hospitals were recruited. Data collection was done from July 22 to September 7, 2018. @*Results@#The significant TPB variables influencing the intention of hand hygiene implementation were perceived behavior control (β=.41, p<.001), normative belief (β=.28, p<.001) and attitude toward behavior (β=.15, p=.014). These factors explain 39% of care workers’ intension of implementing hand hygiene in long-term care hospitals. @*Conclusion@#In order to strengthen the commitment of hand hygiene, it is necessary to have a positive attitude toward hand hygiene by eliminating the obstacles to hand hygiene.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing care workers’ intention of hand hygiene implementation in long-term care hospitals. @*Methods@#A total of 180 care workers working at long-term care hospitals were recruited. Data collection was done from July 22 to September 7, 2018. @*Results@#The significant TPB variables influencing the intention of hand hygiene implementation were perceived behavior control (β=.41, p<.001), normative belief (β=.28, p<.001) and attitude toward behavior (β=.15, p=.014). These factors explain 39% of care workers’ intension of implementing hand hygiene in long-term care hospitals. @*Conclusion@#In order to strengthen the commitment of hand hygiene, it is necessary to have a positive attitude toward hand hygiene by eliminating the obstacles to hand hygiene.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the continuous abstinence rates from smoking at 12-month after a hospital-based smoking cessation program was applied for smokers hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Among those who are hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction from January 2012 to December 2013, ninety-eight smokers agreed to quit smoking were eligible for follow up to 12 months. Each of them underwent six consecutive sessions (first during admission, the other 5 sessions after discharge) of behavioral modification, counseling for withdrawal symptoms, and anti-smoking advices by a trained nurse. Exhaled carbon monoxide measurements less than 6 ppm were used to confirm the smoking cessation status of each participant. RESULTS: Mean age of all participants was 55.2±10.8 years old, and their continuous abstinence rates at 1, 3, 6, 12 months were 63.3%, 49.0%, 43.9%, and 37.8% for each. The continuous abstinence rate from smoking after 12 months was 69.7% and significantly higher in those who completed the 6 sessions than 21.5% in those who completed 5 sessions or less (P<0.001). After adjustment for general and smoking-related characteristics, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that full participation relative to 5 or less participation was significantly associated with higher continuous abstinence rate from smoking at 12 months (odds ratio: 7.96; 95% confidence interval: 2.07-30.55). CONCLUSIONS: The consistency of participating in a hospital-based smoking cessation program, described herein, significantly improved success rates of smoking cessation in patients discharged after acute myocardial infarction. Hospital-based smoking cessation program based on education and counseling should be included as an important part of patient management for acute myocardial infarction.