The Work Performance of Infection Control Nurses in General Hospitals during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic / 정신간호학회지

Purpose@#This study was conducted to understand the meaning of the work performance of infection control nurses (ICNs) in general hospitals during the early COVID-19 pandemic. @*Methods@#This was a qualitative study to explore and describe the implications of the work performance of ICNs during the early COVID-19 pandemic through a phenomenological approach. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted with ICNs who had been working since before the COVID-19 pandemic in the infection control department. @*Results@#The topics brought up by the participants were categorized into five themes. The themes included “confusion caused by the early COVID-19 pandemic,” “exhaustion due to an explosion of work related to COVID-19,” “active response as an ICN,” “emphasis on the importance of infection control,” and “overcoming the early COVID-19 pandemic”. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to strengthen the competence of ICNs as experts and establish a career management system to overcome the confusion and physical and psychological difficulties experienced by ICNs.

Factors Associated with Intention to Comply with Infection Control Guidelines in Physicians and Nurses: An Analysis Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior / 기본간호학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to identify factors affecting physicians and nurses’ intention to comply with healthcare-associated infection control guidelines, based on the theory of planned behavior. @*Methods@#This study was a cross-sectional, descriptive survey. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from 169 doctors and nurses at a tertiary hospital. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the factors influencing intention to comply with healthcare-associated infection control guidelines. @*Results@#The mean score of intention to comply with infection control guidelines was 17.17±2.60 points (possible range 3-21 points). The intention to comply with infection control guidelines was positively associated with subjective norms and perceived behavioral control over compliance with healthcare-associated infection control guidelines. In the multiple regression analysis, perceived behavioral control was the only significant predictor of intention to comply with healthcare-associated infection control guidelines. @*Conclusion@#In order to encourage doctors and nurses to comply with infection control guidelines, it is necessary to provide resources, enhance the work environment, and utilize strategies to increase perceived behavioral control over compliance with infection control guidelines.

Sexual Health Care Attitudes and Practices of Nurses Caring for Patients with Cancer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' sexual health care attitude and practice while caring for cancer patients. METHODS: Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 236 nurses caring for patients with cancer from June 30, 2014 to July 6, 2014 at a University Hospital in Daegu, Korea. RESULTS: The mean score for sexual health care attitude of nurses caring for patients with cancer was 27.75+/-6.45 of a possible range 17 to 51 and the mean score for a sexual health care practice of nurses was 3.67+/-3.30 of a possible range 0 to 21. The scores of a sexual health care attitude and practice were significantly different by age, education, department, experience in gynecology or urology departments, and position. Sexual health care attitude and practice had a significantly positive correlation (r=.16, p=.015). CONCLUSION: The nurses caring for patients with cancer recognize the importance of sexual health care, but their sexual health care practice rate was very low. Therefore specific and differentiated nurse education programs designed to increase sexual health care practice are required for young nurses and staff nurses that are not practicing sexual health care often.