Effect of Auricular Acupressure Therapy on Decreasing Smoking rates, Desire for Smoking, and Exhaled Carbon Monoxide in Male College Students / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of auricular acupressure therapy on decreasing smoking rates, desire for smoking, and exhaled carbon monoxide in male college students. METHODS: The quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used in this study. The participants (n=56) were assigned to the experimental group (n=29) that received auricular acupressure therapy or the control group (n=27) that received placebo therapy. The therapy was applied for 5 days followed by 1 or 2 days of rest. The therapy was repeated 2 times. To identify the effect of the experimental treatments, assessments of smoking rates, desire for smoking and exhaled carbon monoxide were measured. Data were analyzed using chi2 test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and Repeated measure ANOVA with the SPSS version 21.0 program. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significantly lower smoking rates (t=6.60, p<.001), desire for smoking (t=3.37, p=.002) and exhaled carbon monoxide levels (t=6.22, p<.001) after application of the therapy. Significant groupxtime interaction effect was found in exhaled carbon monoxide levels between the experimental group and the control group (F=8.73, p=.001). CONCLUSION: Auricular acupressure therapy was considered to likely be useful as a therapeutic intervention for smoking cessation in male young adults.

Effects of a Robot Pet-assisted Program for Elderly People with Dementia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects on the cognitive function, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), mood, social behaviors, and problematic behaviors of robot pet-assisted program for elderly people with dementia. METHODS: This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 32 elders with dementia. Seventeen were assigned to the experimental group and 15 to the control group. The intervention was conducted twice a week for 6 weeks. RESULTS: 1) After the program, cognitive function, ADL, and social behaviors did not show significant differences. 2) After the program, mood of experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group. 3) After the program, problematic behaviors of the experimental group were significantly more diminished than those of control group. 4) As a result of analyzing the response, robot pet-assisted program was effective such as inducing a positive emotional state and increasing communication and interaction. CONCLUSION: The robot pet-assisted program was effective in changing the mood and diminishing problematic behaviors and had positive effects such as increasing communication and interaction for elders with dementia. Therefore, this program should be considered as a positive program for physical and emotional support for elders with dementia.

Cognitive Function, Mood, Problematic Behavior and Response to Interaction with Robot Pet by Elders with Dementia / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects on cognitive function, mood, problematic behaviors and response to interaction with robot pet by elderly people with dementia. METHOD: A methodological triangulation design with quantitative and qualitative methods was used. The participants were 9 elderly people with dementia. The intervention was conducted twice a week for 4 weeks. Qualitative data were collected by interviews and video-taping for analysis of the responses of participants. RESULTS: 1) Cognitive function, mood and problematic behaviors did not show any significantly differences after the program. 2) Analysis of the responses showed increases in verbal communication and positive action. CONCLUSION: The robot pet program had positive effects such as increasing communication and interaction. Therefore, this program could be considered as an effective program for emotional support for elderly people with dementia. However further repetitive study is need to validate the result

Frequency and Importance of Nursing Practice between Novice Nurses and Student Nurses / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare frequency and importance of nursing practice in novice nurses and student nurses. METHOD: A descriptive design was used with convenience sampling of 292 novice nurses in 2 hospitals with 500 beds and 214 student nurses from 4 universities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: 1) The total score for frequency of nursing practice was 2.58+/-0.41 and for the importance of nursing practice was 3.03+/-0.36 in novice nurses and in student nurses the frequency score was 2.66+/-0.69 and the total score for importance was 3.24+/-0.35. 2) The total score for frequency was not different between novice and student nurses, but 9 of the top 10 categories in order of frequency were significantly different. 3) The score for importance between novice nurses and student nurses was significantly different with the student nurses having higher scores than the novice nurses. 4) Frequency scores were not different for students in universities compared to students in community colleges. CONCLUSION: Novice nurses perform skills associated with medication, but student nurses do not and therefore do not recognize the importance of these skills. Education in nursing needs to identify strategies to strengthen practice in this vulnerable area.

Delphi Study on Introduction of Practical Skills Test in National Examination for Nursing Licensure / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the plan to introduce a practical skills test as part of the national examination for nursing licensure. METHOD: The delphi method was used. The first set of data was collected by open questionnaire from universities and hospitals nationally. The second and third were collected by structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The biggest problem for clinical practice in nursing education was reported as the lack of opportunities for direct nursing practice. The biggest performance problem in job duties for novice nurses was reported as the lack of integrated problem solving skills in a clinical situation. The biggest problem with the current national examination was reported as the use memorizing solutions to test questions. It was suggested that the best plan to resolve problems with the national examination would be to develop test questions representative of the clinical setting and increase personnel in clinical education. About the introduction of a practical skills test as part of the national examination, 56.9% were in agreement and 38.5% disagreed. CONCLUSION: The current national examination has many problems when it comes to testing clinical competency. So, a practical skills test must be deferred to a future time. There are also many difficulties in presenting a real situation, therefore further research is needed in preparation for the introduction of a practical skills test.