Effects of Qi Hand Reflexology on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Physical Resistance to Stress in Inpatients / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the effects of Qi hand reflexology on autonomic nerve activity in patients admitted to hospital. METHOD: A non-equivalent control group and quasi-experimental research with pre/post test design were used and 59 patients on a medical ward were assigned to either the experimental group (32) or the control group (27). The study variables included vital signs, autonomic nerve activities (ALF (absolute low frequency), AHF (absolute high frequency), nLF (normalized low frequency), nHF (normalized high frequency), SDNN (standard deviation of all normal-normal intervals)) and were evaluated using the QECG-3 system. The experimental group was treated with Qi hand reflexology for 10 minutes per day, for 3days. RESULTS: Skin temperature and systolic blood pressure in the experimental decreased with treatment. ALF, AHF and SDNN for the experimental group increased with regulating proportion (nLF: nHF=6:4) and a significant difference between the groups was observed. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that application of Qi hand reflexology for patients in the hospital is effective in regulating the autonomic nervous system activation. Implication of finding should be useful for future research.

The Effect of Disinfection and the MRSA Isolation from Hand Disinfectant in ICU Nurses / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was a within subject repeated pretest-posttest design done to compare the effect of disinfection and the degree of MRSA(Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) isolation from hand disinfectant in ICU nurses. METHOD: Out of the total internal medicine/surgery ICU nurses at a university hospital in Seoul, 29 female nurses who were participating in direct patient care were participants in this study. After collection of samples, Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA were isolated from the palms, nails and nasal cavities of the nurses according to disinfectants (soap and beta-scrub). RESULTS: The effect of disinfection was greater in the beta-scrub group than in the soap group, and the effect of disinfection on palms was higher in the beta-scrub group than in the soap group. As for the degree of MRSA isolation, there was more isolation in palms in the soap group than in the beta-scrub group but there was no difference in the degree of MRSA isolation from the hand disinfectant in nails and nasal cavities. CONCLUSION: Beta-scrub showed a superior prolonged effect against transient bacteria compared with soap. Further, to reduce MRSA infection, we recommend interventions focused on these aspects.

Attitudes and Knowledge toward Koryo Hand Therapy(KHT) by the Experienced People / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the current attitudes and knowledge toward Koryo Hand Therapy(KHT) by the experienced people. METHOD: The Subjects for this study included 3,351 people living in Korea who experienced KHT. The data were collected from April 6 to November 25, 2004 using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed through the SAS 8.1 Windows Program using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results of the study are as follows: 1) Families and relatives were a main source of information about Koryo Hand Therapy. The subjects were very satisfied with therapeutic and preventive effects of the therapy. Sujichim was the most preferable choice in the KHT. Most of the subjects thought that KHT could be applied to modern medicine. 2) Those who experienced KHT had a high level of knowledge and very positive attitudes toward KHT. 3) There were statistically significant differences in the attitude toward KHT according to age, gender, educational level, religion, income, place of residence, marital status and experience which studied KHT. 4) There were significant differences in the knowledge of KHT according to age, educational level, income, marital status and experience which studied KHT. 5) The data showed positive correlation between attitude and knowledge. CONCLUSION: According to the above findings, it can be concluded that KHT needs to be actively informed and more easily approached by general peoples. Nursing protocols of KHT needed to be developed.

Effects of Hand Reflexology on Physiological Emotional Responses and Immunity in the Patients with Chronic illness; Chronic renal failure patients and Cancer patients / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of hand reflexology on the physiological?emotional responses and immunity of the patients with chronic illness. This study looked specifically at patients with chronic renal failure(CRF) and cancer patients. METHOD: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group pre and post test. Subjects were 54 patients who received dialysis and chemotherapy in one hospital. Thirty-one patients were assigned to the experimental group and 23 to the control group. The hand reflexology was applied to both hands of the experiment group for ten minutes each time, 5 times during three days. For data collection, physiological lab levels, immune cells of blood and questionnaires for emotional responses were measured before and after the program. RESULT: BT of the experiment group was decreased significantly on both of the 1st and the 5th application. PR and BP were decreased significantly on the 1st times, but not 5th times. Hb levels of the experimental group were significantly increased. And emotional responses, vigor and mood scores of the experiment group were significantly increased. B cell and CD19 were increased significantly on the experiment group. Suppressor T cell and NK cell showed significant decrease after the program, but no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: We have found that the hand reflexology helps the chronic patients to improve physiological emotional responses and the immune reaction. Through this result, the hand reflexology is effective as a intervention of psychoneuroimmunologic function.