Relationships among Gratitude, Depression, and Psychological Well-being in Clinical Nurses / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the relations among gratitude, depression, and psychological well-being among clinical nurses. METHODS: The participants were 411 clinical nurses, working in U city. Data were collected during the four months, April to June, 2012. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The mean scores for gratitude and psychological well-being were above average. The mean score for depression presented a probable depression level. Psychological well-being in clinical nurses was significantly correlated with gratitude (r=.55, p<.001) and depression (r=-.62, p<.001). The significant predictors of psychological well-being for clinical nurses were depression (beta=-.47, p<.001) and gratitude (beta=.34, p<.001), which explained 48.0% of the variance in psychological well-being. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that it is necessary to develop depression reduction and gratitude enhancement programs to improve the psychological well-being of clinical nurses.

Factors Influencing on Fatigue in Operating Room Nurses / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the fatigue of operating room nurses and examine factors contributing to their fatigue. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 115 nurses who worked in operating rooms of three hospitals. Data were collected from September 15, 2009 to September 30, 2009. Fatigue and job stress were measured by using the Symptom's Fatigue Scale and the job stress measurement tools in operating room nurses. RESULTS: The mean score of fatigue level was 3.10+/-0.61. We analyzed fatigue according to characteristics of subjects and found that there were significant differences in marital status, number of children and sleeping hours in general characteristics. Career, daily participation hours in the surgery relating to job related characteristics. Significant positive correlations were found between job stress and fatigue(r=.233, p=.012). Three significant variables influencing fatigue of operation rooms nurses were job stress, daily participation hours in the surgery, and sleeping hours (Adj. R2=0.284, F=4.773, p<.001). CONCLUSION: An integrative care program that takes job stress, daily participation hours in the surgery and sleeping hours into consideration is essential to reduce fatigue in operating room nurses.

Evaluation of Driving Ability of Stroke Patients Using Cognitive Behavioral Driver's Inventory

OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the driving ability of stroke patients using Cognitive Behavioral Driver's Inventory (CBDI), Psychological Software Service, U.S.A. to find out whether it is helpful in predicting the outcome of driving rehabilitation. METHOD: Subjects were 18 stroke patients who had driven a car before the stroke. Each patient was evaluated with CBDI and got a driving test. We compared driving test results with CBDI scores. RESULTS: Average CBDI score was 63.0 +/- 19.3. There was no significant difference according to lesion sides or types of stroke. Average score of driving test was 85.3 +/- 10.9. Twelve of 18 subjects passed the driving test and six subjects failed. Average score among right hemiplegics was significantly higher than that of left hemiplegics (p<0.05). Average CBDI score of the subjects who passed the driving test was 52.3 +/- 4.7, while that of the failed subjects was 84.7 +/- 19.6. There was significant difference in CBDI score between 2 groups (p<0.05). Among the 28 items of CBDI, 11 items including brake reaction time, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Picture Completion showed significant correlation with the total score of the driving test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CBDI can be used as a useful tool for predicting driving ability of stroke patients.

Effects of Gabapentin (Neurontin(R)) in the Post-Stroke Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of gabapentin in post-stroke reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). METHOD: To 20 RSD patients after stroke, gabapentin was administrated. We started medication with 300 mg per day and increased dosage by 300 mg per two days up to maximum 900~1,200 mg. We evaluated RSD symptom severities with hand pain, hand swelling and shoulder pain before gabapentin administration. Severity of each symptoms was graded and scored (0: no pain/swelling, 1: mild, 2: moderate, 3: severe). Severities of RSD symptoms were reevaluated on every dose increasing and on 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks later after administrating maximum dosage. We defined as no effect group didn't have any improvement in symptom severity score in comparison with baseline score. Medications other than gabapentin were administrated in no effect group. RESULTS: Among 19 subjects whom we could follow-up, 4 subjects were defined as no effect group. 15 (78.9%) subjects showed improvement in symptom severity score. Statistically significant symptom improvements were observed after 4 weeks in comparison with baseline in hand pain and shoulder pain (p=0.000). From gabapentin 300~600 mg dosage, hand and shoulder pain showed significant pain decrease. Improvement of hand edema was observed after 4 weeks, but it was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: We conclude the gabapentin is effective for RSD pain, however further control study is required.

Evaluating Driving Ability of Brain Damaged Subjects with MMSE and MVPT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and Motor Free Visual Perception Test (MVPT) to predict driving outcome in subject with brain damage. METHOD: Fifteen brain damaged subjects were administered for this study. Fourteen subjects had brain damage due to stroke and only one subject had traumatic brain injury. All subjects were evaluated with MMSE and MVPT. We used total score for each tests. Subjects were also evaluated in driving simulator that measured their operational responses to filmed driving situation. Correlation between neuropsy chological tests score and driving simulator score were analyzed. RESULTS: 1) By average score, MMSE score was 26.6 and MVPT score was 23.7. Driving simulator score was average 30.1. 2) There was good correlation between MVPT score and driving simulator score (r=0.675, p<0.01). 3) There were no correlation between MMSE and driving simulator score nor between MMSE and MVPT score. CONCLUSION: MVPT can be used as screening test for identifying person who are not ready to drive after getting brain damage

Age-Related Differences in Rehabilitation Outcome in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Patients

BACKGROUND: The growing number of spinal cord injured individuals facing old age makes the understanding of age related limitations increasingly important. This study was to investigate the age-related differences in rehabilitation outcome according to the level of cervical spinal cord injury and each category of activity of daily living(ADL). METHODS: Subjects were 79 adults with tetraplegia all of whom were admitted in National Rehabilitation Hospital. The level of injury was classified into upper cervical(C4, C5), mid-cervical(C6), and lower cervical(C7, C8) spinal cord injury. Eight ADL categories including feeding, grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting, bed-transfer, toilet/tub transfer, and indoor mobility were assessed using the scale of Spinal Cord Independence Measure. Age related differences were examined by separating the sample into two age groups(> or =40 and <40 years) RESULTS: There was no age related difference in rehabilitation outcome in upper cervical cord injury patients. In mid-cervical cord injury level, ADL capacities differed only in the feeding and grooming activities. In lower cervical cord injury level, older patients showed lower rehabilitation outcome than younger counterparts in all ADL categories examined. CONCLUSION: Along with injury level, age should be considered when formulating rehabilitation plans and functional prognostic statements in tetraplegic patients.