Family Functioning and Quality of Life of the Family Care-giver in Cancer Patients / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship among quality of life, family coherence, family hardiness, and family resources of the family care-giver caring for a cancer patient. METHOD: Data was collected by questionnaires from 137 families with a cancer patient at a General Hospital and Government Cancer Hospital. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The score of quality of life showed a significant positive correlation with the score of the level of family sense of coherence, family hardiness, and family resources. The most powerful predictor of quality of life was sense of coherence and the variance was 30%. A combination of sense of coherence and family resources account for 34 % of the variance in quality of life of the family care-giver caring for a cancer patient. CONCLUSION: The results showed that family sense of coherence, hardiness, and family resources were significant influencing factors on the quality of life of the family care-giver caring for a cancer patient.

Influencing Factors on Symptoms of Stress among Hospital Staff Nurses / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing Symptoms of Stress among hospital staff nurses. METHOD: Data was collected by questionnaires from 249 hospital staff nurses in three General Hospital. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The score of the symptoms of stress showed a significantly positive correlation with the score of work stress(r=.22, p=.00). The symptoms of stress showed a significantly negative correlation with the score of social support(r=-.28, p=.00), self efficacy(r=-.31, p=.00), and hardiness(r=-.24, p=.00). The most powerful predictor of symptoms of stress was social support and the variance explained was 16%. A combination of social support, ways of coping, and work stress account for 32% of the variance in symptoms of stress among hospital staff nurses. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that social support, ways of coping, self efficacy, hardiness, and work stress are significantly influencing factors on symptoms of stress among hospital staff nurses.

Colonization Rate, Risk Factor for Acquisition and Genetic Diversity of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Isolated from Rectal Culture of Patients in Intensvie Care Units from Ten Large Hospitals in Korea / 감염

BACKGROUND: VRE have become an emerging nosocomial pathogen in Korea, but there has not been nationwide study on the colonization of VRE among high risk groups of hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of rectal colonization of VRE among patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU), to study the risk factors for nosocomial acquisition of VRE among those patients, to define the genetic diversity of VRE strains in major hospitals in Korea. METHODS: Between January the 20th and 30th of 2000, a point surveillance study was conducted in the ICU of the ten large hospitals, which were located nationwide. Surveillance rectal swab cultures for detecting VRE were obtained among 214 patients admitted to the ICU during the study period. To isolate VRE, rectal swab cultures were performed on Enterococcosel(R) agar that containing 6 microgram/mL of vancomycin. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of vancomycin and teicoplanin were determined by agar dilution method. For the genotyping of VRE isolates, the detection of vanA, vanB, vanC1 and vanC2 gene by polymerase chain reaction was done. Pulsed-field gel electrophoreis (PFGE) was used for elucidating the genetic relatedness of VRE isolates. To identify the risk factors for rectal VRE colonization, patients harboring VRE were compared to patients who were not colonized with this organism. RESULTS: The rectal colonization rate of VRE was variable from 9.7% to 51.9% according to hospital. 64 VRE strains which were isolated from 63 patients included 37 E. feacium. 26 E. gallinarum and 1 E. casseliflavus isolates. Therefore the colonization rate of clinically significant vanA type VRE was 17.3% (37/ 214). 37 E. feacium. 26 E. gallinarum and 1 E. casseliflavus isolates were presented as vanA, vanC1 and vanC2 genotypes, respectively. Risk factors for rectal VRE colonization included the presence of chronic illness, previous use of broad spectrum antibioitcs es-pecillay vancomycin, and prolonged stay in ICU. Various PFGE patterns are noted among vanA type VRE isolates, so individual acquisition of VRE during stay in the majority of ICUs were suggested. But there is some evidence of focal VRE spread within the ICU and between hospitals. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the high rectal colonization rate (17.3%) of clinically significant vanA type VRE among patients admitted to the ICUs of ten large hospitals located nation-widely. This study suggested that practicing HICPAC guidelines, restricted vancomycin usage and periodic surveillance cultures in patients with high risk factors are important in preventing the emergence and spread of VRE infection among ICU patients.