Identifying Minimum Data Sets of Oral Mucous Integrity Assessment for Documentation Systematization / 중환자간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify minimum data sets for oral mucous integrity-related documentation and to analyze nursing records for oral care.METHODS: To identify minimum data sets for oral status, the authors reviewed 26 assessment tools and a practical guideline for oral care. The content validity of the minimum data sets was assessed by three nurse specialists. To map the minimum data sets to nursing records, the authors examined 107 nursing records derived from 44 patients who received chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in one tertiary hospital.RESULTS: The minimum data sets were 10 elements such as location, mucositis grade, pain, hygiene, dysphagia, exudate, inflammation, difficulty speaking, and moisture. Inflammation contained two value sets: type and color. Mucositis grade, pain, dysphagia and inflammation were recorded well, accounting for a complete mapping rate of 100%. Hygiene (100%) was incompletely mapped, and there were no records for exudate (83.2%), difficulty speaking (99.1%), or moisture (88.8%).CONCLUSION: This study found that nursing records on oral mucous integrity were not sufficient and could be improved by adopting minimum data sets as identified in this study.

Item Analysis using Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory, Validity and Reliability of the Korean version of a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Knowledge

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to perform items analysis using the classical test theory (CTT) and the item response theory (IRT), and to establish the validity and reliability of the Korean version of pressure ulcer prevention knowledge. METHODS: The 26-item pressure ulcer prevention knowledge instrument was translated into Korean, and the item analysis of the 22 items having an adequate content validity index (CVI), was conducted. A total of 240 registered nurses in 2 university hospitals completed the questionnaire. Each item was analyzed applying CTT and IRT according to 2-parameter logistic model. Response alternatives quality, item difficulty and item discrimination were evaluated. For testing validity and reliability, Pearson correlation coefficient and Kuder Richardson-20 (KR-20) were used. RESULTS: Scale CVI was .90 (Item-CVI range=.75–1.00). The total correct answer rate for this study population was relatively low as 52.5%. The quality of response alternatives was found to be relatively good (range=.02–.83). The item difficulty of the questions ranged form .10 to .86 according to CTT and −12.19 to 29.92 according to the IRT. This instrument had 12-low, 2-medium and 8-high item difficulty applying IRT. The values for the item discrimination ranged .04–.57 applying CTT and .00–1.47 applying IRT. And overall internal consistency (KR-20) was .62 and stability (test-retest) was .82. CONCLUSION: The instrument had relatively weak construct validity, item discrimination according to the IRT. Therefore, the cautious usage of a Korean version of this instrument would be recommended for discrimination because there are so many attractive response alternatives and low internal consistency.

The Effect of Assertiveness Training on Communication Related Factors and Personnel Turnover Rate among Hospital Nurses / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of assertiveness training on nurses' assertive behaviors, interpersonal relations, communication conflicts, conflict management style and personnel turnover rate. METHOD: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used in this study. Nurses were assigned into the experimental or control groups, each consisting of 39 nurses. Data was collected between January to March 2004. An 'Assertiveness Training Program' for Nurses developed by Park was used for the study. To emphasize assertiveness practice, 5 practice sessions utilizing ABCDE principles were added to Park's program. To examine the effects of the program, differences between the two groups in assertive behaviors, interpersonal relations, communication conflicts, conflict management style and personnel turnover rate were analyzed using ANCOVA. RESULTS: The assertiveness training was effective in improving the nurses' assertiveness behaviors, but was not effective in improving interpersonal relations, reducing the subjects' communication conflicts, changing the conflict management style or reducing their personnel turnover rate. CONCLUSION: There have been many studies about factors affecting nurses' personnel turnover rates, but few have been done about methods of intervention to reduce the personnel turnover rate. Thus, this study provides a significant contribution in attempting such an intervention from nursing management perspectives.

The Effects of Mouth Care on the Relief of Oral Discomfort Undergoing Rediation Therapy Patients / 성인간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mouth care on the relief of oral discomfort undergoing radiation therapy patients. The nonequivalent control group time series design was used for this experimental study. The subjects were 32 patients who were receiving radiation therapy at P, D, G, hospital in Pusan from July 1, 1996 to August 31 1996. Among 32 subjects, 16 were placed in the experimental group and 16 in the control group. The subjects were contacted at the hospital, given an explanation of the study, and asked them to participate. The experimental group was educated according to oral care protocol. The data were collected through interviews, observations, and the health care records of the patients. The instruments were the "Perceived Oral Symptoms Assessment" by Chung, C. W. and "Oral Assessment Guide(OAG)" by Elers, Berger, & Petersen. SPSS PC+ was used to analyze the collected data. The general characteristics were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviations. The homogeneties between the experimental groups and control groups were tested by t-test and chi-square test. Perceived oral symptoms & OAG were tested by mean and standard deviations. The results of this research can summarized as follows : 1. Between two groups, the differences of perceived oral symptoms were not statistically significant (t=.0035, p=.9634). 2. In time series analysis the differences of perceived oral symptoms between two groups in the 7th week were only significant(t=5.0123, p=.0491). 3. The comparisons of each item in perceived oral symptoms, the differences between two groups were observed but they were not statistically significant. 4. Between two groups, the differences of OAG were not significant statistically(t=.0221, p=.8827). 5. In time series analysis, the differences of OAG between two groups were no statistically significant. 6. The comparisons of each item in OAG, the differences between two groups were observed but they were not statistically significant. In conclusion, this study could be utilized in patients care with radiation therapy although the results of the experiment were not accepted statistically.