Employment Experiences of Nurses Caring for Foreign Patients / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify employment experiences of nurses caring for hospitalized foreign patients. METHODS: For this study, 10 nurses caring for foreign patients for more than 6 months were chosen purposively. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews from July to September 2013 and analyzed in terms of Giorgi's phenomenological methodology. RESULTS: Five themes-clusters were identified from fifteen themes; 1) Awesome challenges; 2) Laborious dealing with barriers; 3) Acceptance of cultural differences; 4) Complete concentration of personal energy; 5) Taking a powerful step towards tomorrow. CONCLUSION: Results of this study reveal the significance of nurses' experiences in caring for foreign patients for the first time in Korea. The following are suggested: First, facilitation and training is necessary for language proficiency, communication skills and ability to understand cultural traits of foreign patients. Second, manuals and international guidelines for caring for foreign patients should be systematically developed to improve quality of healthcare services.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Comparison of the Efficacies and Feasibilities of Regional and General Anesthesia

PURPOSE: To compare surgical outcomes and complications after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) under regional or general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and one patients who underwent PCNL as a first-line treatment for kidney calculi between June 2004 and June 2013 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were classified into two groups by anesthetic method: 77 were allocated to the regional anesthesia group and 24 to the general anesthesia group. Patient general characteristics, stone features, surgical outcomes, and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of mean age and stone size, number, and type. Furthermore, they did not differ significantly in terms of general characteristics, treatment outcomes, or complications excluding postoperative fever. However, mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the regional anesthesia group than in the general anesthesia group (8.9+/-3.2 days vs. 11.5+/-6.9 days, respectively, p=0.025). Also, the postoperative fever rate was significantly higher in the general anesthesia group (53.2% vs. 83.3%, respectively, p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Regional anesthesia is as effective as general anesthesia during percutaneous nephrolithotomy and is associated with shorter hospital stays and lower rates of postoperative fever.

A STUDY ON THE MARGINAL FIDELITIES AND FRACTURE STRENGTH OF IPS EMPRESS 2(R)CERAMIC CROWNS / 대한치과보철학회지

The purpose of this study was to measure the marginal fidelities and the fracture strength of IPS Empress 2. and In-Ceram. ceramic crowns. After constructed of 12 experimental dies for each group, ceramic crowns were fabricated on the metal master dies prepared on the maxillary right premolar. Marginal gaps were measured on the specimen between the margin of each crown and finishing line of the metal master die by using stereo-microscope(SZ-ST. Olympus, Japan) and all specimens were cemented on the metal master die with Bistite II.(Tokuyama soda Co, LTD., Japan) resin cement. Finally, marginal gaps were measured again. To measure of the fracture strength, buccal incline on the functional cusp of specimens were loaded until the catastrophic failure occurred by using the AGS-1000 D.(Shimadzu, Japan). The result of marginal fidelities and fracture strength were statistically analyzed with the SPSS version 8.0 programs. The results of this study were as follows : 1. No significant difference was found in the mean marginal fidelities and fracture strength between the IPS Empress 2. and In-Ceram. 2. In comparison of marginal fidelities between before and after cementation, there was significant difference(P<0.05). The IPS Empress 2 system was shown in this study that had good marginal fidelities and fracture strength compared to In-Ceram ceramics. Although this system was acceptable to clinical applications, the system still has to be considered long-term researches about marginal fidelities and fracture strength due to the lack of data about the clinical researches.