Development and Evaluation of an Education Program for Professional Palliative Care Nursing

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a "Palliative Care Professional" education program and evaluate its effects on the recognition of good death, palliative care, and the meaning of life for nurses. METHODS: It was developed based on the hospice care program for volunteers being used in the Hospice Palliative Care Research Center of S University in Seoul. It was also based on the studies which investigated the educational needs of nurses in palliative care. This program consisted of 5 sessions and 16 content items for 2 weeks. A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design was utilized and participants were assigned to the experimental group (n=42) or the control group (n=44). RESULTS: The recognition of a good death (F=11.44, p=.001), palliative care (F=4.15, p=.045), and the meaning of life (F=5.12, p=.026) increased more significantly for participants in the experimental group than in the control group. Participants felt that they gained further knowledge in palliative patient management and refined their clinical practice. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that this program could serve as a practical program for palliative care nursing in the nursing field and suggests that more attention should be directed to the diverse educational needs of nurses.

Knowledge of human papillomavirus infection and acceptability of vaccination among adult women in Korea / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The HPV vaccination target adolescents, and may be influenced by opinion of parents and other family member. For implementation of HPV vaccine, we measured knowledge of HPV infection and acceptability of vaccination among adults in Korea. METHODS: From August 2006 to November 2007, we provided a written questionnaire to females (above 19 years- olds) who visited Il-sin Christian hospital for prenatal care or gynecological examination. The questionnaire was built using elements of The Health Belief Model. We measured (1) awareness of HPV (2) perceived susceptibility (3) perceived seriousness (4) perceived benefit of vaccination (5) perceived barriers (6) cues to action. RESULTS: Total 975 females answered the questionnaire, and the mean age was 40 years. Only 23.8% knew the fact cervical cancer is related to HPV infection. 78.3% of respondents were willing to accept HPV vaccination after they understood HPV vaccination can prevent cervical cancer. Financial burden and possible side effect were barriers to vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Despite of low awareness of HPV infection, most (78.3%) adults favored having HPV vaccination. But the vaccine was more likely to be accepted if it is recommended by a physician and reasonably priced.

Task Analysis of Korean Geriatric Care Managers / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to create a job description for Korean geriatric care managers and examine performance frequency, importance, and difficulty of task elements. METHOD: The sample consisted of 38 geriatric care managers and professors who performed duties related to geriatric care management at community based-facilities in Korea. A survey method was used, and the questionnaire included frequency, importance, and difficulty of task elements in job descriptions using the DACUM method. Using SPSS WIN 10.0, descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, means, and standard deviation were conducted to examine the subject's general characteristics, frequency, importance, and difficulties of task performance. RESULT: The job descri ption of geriatric care managers revealed 10 duties, 34 tasks, and 105 task elements. On all ten duties, the average performance frequency, importance, and difficulty was 2.55, 2.21 and 2.43 respectively. CONCLUSION: The job description of geriatric care managers includes duty, task, and task elements and the definition of a completed job. Thus we recommend a data based trial to confirm and validate the information gathered.

A Case of Tetrasomy 12p Diagnosed Prenatally / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Tetrasomy for the short arm of chromosome 12 (Pallister-Killian syndrome) is an uncommon mosaic aneuploidy, which may present in the prenatal period with an ultrasonographically detected fetal abnormalities or following karyotyping for maternal age and other causes. In this syndrome the chromosome abnormalities, isochromosome is present in amniocyte with a much greater percentage than fetal lymphocyte. The most consistent reported prenatal ultrasound findings for tetrasomy 12p include polyhydramnios with short femurs and a diaphragmatic hernia. We report a case identified by prenatal karyotyping diagnosis.

Conservative Management of Intramural Pregnancy Implanting in The Cesarean Section Scar / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate of safety and effectiveness of conservative treatment of previous cesarean section scar pregnancy. METHODS: Ten patients with previous cesarean section scar pregnancy were treated systemic methotrexate or intra-amnionic methotrexate injection. After treatment, patients were measured for the levels of serum beta-hCG and underwent ultrasound. According to the results, additional dose of methotrexate or curettage were done. Serum beta-hCG and ultrasound were checked several times until the level of serum beta-hCG and the finding of ultrasound had been normalized. RESULTS: Two patients showed normal serum beta-hCG levels and ultrasound findings after intra-amnionic methotrexate injection only. Two patients showed normal serum beta-hCG levels and ultrasound findings after systemic methotrexate/folinic acid therapy followed by dilatation and curettage. Six patients showed normal serum beta-hCG levels and ultrasound findings after intra-amnionic methotrexate injection followed dilatation and curettage. Two patients were transfused due to massive bleeding and other patients were not experienced severe complications. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that systemic or intra-amnionic methotrexate therapy with or without dilatation and curettage is safe and effective as a primary therapy for intramural pregnancy implanting in the cesarean section scar.