Effects of Social Support and Class Cohesiveness on Health-related Quality of Life in Middle School Students / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important outcome for middle school students. This study was designed to illustrate the effect of social support and class cohesiveness associated on HRQoL. METHODS: The subjects comprised 516 students from three middle schools in Daegu, South Korea that responded to a self-administered questionnaire in February 2014. The purposes of the questionnaire were explained to the subjects. RESULTS: The total mean of HRQoL was 81.1+/-15.3. Social functioning showed the highest score of 87.1+/-15.3 and emotional functioning showed the lowest score of 73.8+/-21.5. Teacher support (B=3.185, p=0.001) had a significant effect on the physical health summary scores. Class cohesiveness (B=2.237, p=0.022), friendships (B=5.102, p<0.001) and teacher support (B=2.498, p=0.006) had a significant effect on the psychosocial health summary scores. Finally, class cohesiveness (B=2.137, p=0.016), friendships (B=4.133, p<0.001) and teacher support (B=2.670, p=0.001) had a significant effect on the overall scores. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a basis for the development of strategies to improve health-related quality of life for middle school students, namely that relevant programs should be based on the improvement of social support and class cohesiveness.

Impact of 12-hour Shifts on Job Satisfaction, Quality of Life, Hospital Incident Reporting, and Overtime Hours in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare job satisfaction, quality of life (QOL), incident report rate and overtime hours for 12-hour shifts and for 8-hour shifts in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 36 staff nurses from a PICU in a regional hospital in Korea. Data were collected using self-administrated questionnaires regarding job satisfaction and QOL at 6 months before and after the beginning of 12-hour shifts. Incident report rate and overtime hours for both 12-hour and 8-hour shifts were compared. Comparisons were made using chi2-test, paired t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: After 12-hour shifts were initiated, job satisfaction significantly increased (t=3.93, p<.001) and QOL was higher for nurses on 12-hour shifts compared to 8-hour (t=7.83, p<.001). There was no statistically significant change in incident report rate (chi2=0.15, p=.720). The overtimes decreased from 36.3+/-34.7 to 17.3+/-34.9 minutes (Z=-8.91, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence that 12-hour shifts can be an effective ways of scheduling for staff nurses to increase job satisfaction and quality of life without increasing patient safety incidents or prolonged overtime work hours.

Successful Heart Transplantation after Dobutamine, Glucose-insulin-potassium, and Hormone Therapy in a Hemodynamically Unstable Cadaveric Heart Donor: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

The major limitation to heart transplantation is the shortage of donor organs. In order to increase the cardiac donor pool, it is important to maintain stable hemodynamics and closely monitor cardiac function in cadaveric organ donors or potent donors. Recently, management of a potential cardiac donor pool has focused on aggressive hemodynamic management protocols and dobutamine stress echocardiography. In our case, management with low dose dobutamine, glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK), and hormone therapy reversed heart failure following brain death and the heart was successfully transplanted. We suggest that aggressive hemodynamic management with low-dose dobutamine, GIK, and hormone therapy can result in the recruitment of more cadaveric hearts in marginal conditions.