The Factors related to Mothers' Intention to Vaccinate against Hepatitis A: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior

PURPOSE: This study was conducted using the theory of planned behavior to analyze factors influencing mothers' intention to vaccinate their children against hepatitis A (HA). METHODS: This descriptive study used a questionnaire. The participants were 100 mothers with children under 19 years. The collected data were analyzed by the t-test, analysis of variance, and the Mann-Whitney U test. The Pearson's correlation was used to test the correlations among variables. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify factors related to HA vaccination intention. RESULTS: The attitude of mothers with children under 19 to HA vaccination were quite positive (6.2 of 7), and their perceived behavioral control (5.73 of 7), subjective norm (5.54 of 7), and vaccination intention (5.96 of 7) were relatively high. Attitude toward HA vaccination was the strongest influencing factor, followed by subjective norm. The explanatory power of attitude and subjective norm for HA vaccination was 84%. CONCLUSION: HA vaccination is very important for preventing HA. Mothers' positive attitudes toward HA vaccination were an important factor influencing their children's HA vaccination. Providing education on the benefits of HA vaccination and the vaccination schedule may foster positive attitude toward vaccination.

The Level of Successful Aging and Influencing Factors of the Community Elderly

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to understand the level of successful aging and to analyze the factors that affect successful aging. METHODS: This study was a descriptive study. The data collection of this study using questionnaires was from October 1, 2017 to December 30, 2017, and the 169 elderly people living in Chungcheongnam-do were surveyed. RESULTS: The mean level of successful aging of the subjects was 3.57 (±0.58), which was higher than the median, it was significantly different among the presence of religion, participation in senior facility, regular exercise, pain, and subjective health status. Regression analysis showed that the factors that have the greatest influence on the successful aging of the subjects were the participation in senior facility (β=0.24, P<0.001), self-esteem support (β=0.20, P=0.024), emotional support (β=0.19, P=0.048), regular exercise (β=0.19, P=0.002), and pain (β=−0.14. P=0.029). The explanatory power of these variables on successful aging was 53% (F=20.37, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that emotional support and support for self-esteem were important in successful aging, and that pain, which was not considered in previous studies, was an important factor.

The Level of Successful Aging and Influencing Factors of the Community Elderly

BACKGROUND@#The purpose of this study was to understand the level of successful aging and to analyze the factors that affect successful aging.@*METHODS@#This study was a descriptive study. The data collection of this study using questionnaires was from October 1, 2017 to December 30, 2017, and the 169 elderly people living in Chungcheongnam-do were surveyed.@*RESULTS@#The mean level of successful aging of the subjects was 3.57 (±0.58), which was higher than the median, it was significantly different among the presence of religion, participation in senior facility, regular exercise, pain, and subjective health status. Regression analysis showed that the factors that have the greatest influence on the successful aging of the subjects were the participation in senior facility (β=0.24, P<0.001), self-esteem support (β=0.20, P=0.024), emotional support (β=0.19, P=0.048), regular exercise (β=0.19, P=0.002), and pain (β=−0.14. P=0.029). The explanatory power of these variables on successful aging was 53% (F=20.37, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study showed that emotional support and support for self-esteem were important in successful aging, and that pain, which was not considered in previous studies, was an important factor.

A Survey of Nurses' Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Perception and Hand Hygiene Performance Rate / 중환자간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, perception and hand hygiene performance rate of hospital nurses and to identify any correlation between them.METHOD: Data were collected from 205 nurses working in a university hospital in Chungcheong-do. A self-report survey method was utilized. Participants completed the hand hygiene knowledge questionnaire.RESULTS: The average knowledge of hand hygiene was 11.76 (out of 18 points), and the average perception of hand hygiene was 35.55 (out of 96). The hand hygiene performance rate was 85.62%. Knowledge of hand hygiene showed significant differences according to age (F = 75.821, p < .001), gender (t = 25.049, p < .001) and working period (F = 24.843, p < .001). The most important explanatory factor in hand hygiene performance was hand hygiene perception (β= .26), followed by working period (β= .14). These variables accounted for 10.0% of subjects' hand hygiene performance.CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that continuous and effective education is needed to strengthen knowledge and perception of the importance of hand hygiene practice for nurses to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

The Effect of the Weight of a Sandbag on the Sheath Region after a Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization / 중환자간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the differences in exudate and bleeding incidence and the changes in back pain and discomfort based on the weight of a sand bag applied to the femoral puncture site after hepatic transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.METHODS: This quasi-experimental study comprised 82 patients randomly divided into three different groups. Experimental group 1 patients had a 600g sandbag, experimental group 2 patients an 800g sandbag, and control group patients a 1900g sandbag, on femoral access sites post procedure. The three groups of patients were assessed on level of exudate and bleeding and asked about back pain and discomfort at 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes after the procedure.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in exudate and bleeding between the three groups before and after application of the sandbag post procedure. Both back pain and discomfort were significantly lower in the experimental groups than in the control group.CONCLUSION: There was no significant effect on bleeding and exudation due to the weight of the sandbag. The lowest level of back pain and discomfort was found in the group with the lightest weight (600 g). Therefore, the use of lighter-weight sandbags to prevent post procedure vascular complications is proposed.

Factors Affecting Subjective Well-Being in Nursing Students / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the factors that affect subjective well-being in nursing students. METHODS: A total of 236 nursing students participated in the study. Data was collected from November through December 2013 using a self-reporting questionnaire that surveyed the level of gratitude, interpersonal relationship ability, subjective happiness, and life satisfaction. Data was analyzed by descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: Subjective happiness positively correlated with gratitude (r=.41, p<.001) and interpersonal relationship ability (r=.55, p<.001). Life satisfaction positively correlated with gratitude (r=.53, p<.001) and interpersonal relationship ability (r=.37, p<.001). Significant predictors of subjective happiness included gratitude (beta=.38, p<.001), interpersonal relationship ability (beta=.28, p<.001) and major satisfaction (beta=.17, p=.002). The regression model explained 39.3% of subjective happiness. Significant predictors of life satisfaction included gratitude (beta=.42, p<.001), academic achievement (beta=.15, p=.006), interpersonal relationship ability (beta=.16, p=.008) and major satisfaction (beta=.12, p=.035). The regression model explained 35.3% of life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: To improve subjective well-being among nursing students, nurse educators should develop educational intervention programs to promote gratitude and interpersonal relationships.

Awareness and Attitudes Towards Violence and Abuse among Emergency Nurses

PURPOSE: This study identifies degree of awareness and legal knowledge about overall abuse and violence, and investigates attitudes towards domestic violence in emergency nurses. METHODS: The data collection period was between August and December 2012 for 131 nurses who worked in the emergency center of five hospitals in South Korea. This study surveyed emergency nurses about the recognition of abuse and violence, the legal knowledge of abuse and violence, and the attitudes towards domestic violence. RESULTS: This study showed that approximately 60.0% of participants experienced incidents of suspected abuse or violence, but the reporting rates were low. Of all the participants, 70.2% knew that they must report the discovery of abuse or violent incidents, but 45.0% did not know that if someone who had duty to report but did not report that he/she had a legal responsibility. Most emergency nurses agreed that "even if the domestic violence is severe it should not be suggested to victims that they run away, leaving children at home", and "perpetrators are patients who need treatment." CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate awareness about abuse and violence, and systematic education are required for emergency nurses so that they can provide appropriate interventions.

Factors Influencing Post-traumatic Stress in Korean Forensic Science Investigators

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand factors that influence post-traumatic stress (PTS) in Korean forensic science investigators. METHODS: A total of 111 forensic science investigators were recruited in Korea. PTS was measured using the tool modified by Choi (2001) from the original developed by Foa, Riggs, Dancu, and Rothbaum (1993) based on DSM-IV. Factors influencing PTS included demographic and job-related characteristics, emotional intelligence, and death anxiety. RESULTS: PTS scores were positively correlated with personality type, fatigue from work, and death anxiety. PTS scores were negatively correlated with length of career as a forensic science investigator and emotional intelligence. The factors that had the greatest influence on PTS were death anxiety, years spent as a forensic science investigator, personality type, emotional intelligence, fatigue, and homicide experience. The explanatory power of these six factors was 44.0%. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is necessary to regularly evaluate the mental health of those who are vulnerable to PTS. Based on these results, various interventions could be implemented for promoting overall health of the forensic science investigators.

Stress and Coping Strategies of Breast Cancer Patients and their Spouses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the stress and the coping strategies in breast cancer patients and their spouses. METHODS: The stress level was measured by the Stress Questionnaire of Andersson & Albertsson (2000). The coping strategies were measured by the modified Lazarus & Folkman's Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The data were collected by a survey sampling 49 couples from one hospital in Seoul. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and paired t-test. RESULTS: There was no significant differences between the stress level of breast cancer patients and their spouses. The problem-focused coping of breast cancer patients was significant higher than their spouses. The cancer patients and their spouses used problem-focused coping mode more than emotion-focused coping mode. In the problem-focused coping mode, breast cancer patients used two coping strategies - 'seeking information' and 'cognitive reconstruction' - significantly more than their spouses. In emotion-focused coping mode, the breast cancer patients used one coping strategy, 'emotional expression', significantly more than the their spouses. CONCLUSION: Further study needs to attempt to develop nursing interventions that could improve positive coping strategies.

Endotracheal Colonization and Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Mechanically Ventilated Patients according to Type of Endotracheal Suction System

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify endotracheal colonization and the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia related to the type of endotracheal suction system. METHODS: The participants in this study were ICU patients hospitalized between October 2009 to March 2010 who used ventilators for over 48 hr with closed (CSS, n=30) or open (OSS, n=32) suction systems. To standardize the pre-intervention suction system, a suctioning protocol was taught to the ICU nurses. Collected data were analyzed using chi2-test, Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank sums test, Wilcoxon test, Log-rank test and Poisson regression. RESULTS: Endotracheal colonization was higher in OSS than CSS from day 1 to day 8 while using a ventilator and there was a significant difference between the two groups. The CSS reached 50% of endotracheal colonization by the 4th day, whereas for the OSS, it was the 2nd day (p=.04). The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: For patients with a high risk of pneumonia, CSS must be used to lower endotracheal colonization.

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infections in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) after craniotomy. METHODS: This study was a retrospective case-control study of 103 patients who had craniotomies between March 2007 and December 2008. A retrospective review of prospectively collected databases of consecutive patients who underwent craniotomy was done. SSIs were defined by using the Centers for Disease Control criteria. Twenty-six cases (infection) and 77 controls (no infection) were matched for age, gender and time of surgery. Descriptive analysis, t-test, chi-square-test and logistic regression analyses were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The statistical difference between cases and controls was significant for hospital length of stay (>14 days), intensive care unit stay more than 15 days, Glasgrow Coma Scale (GCS) score (< or =7 days), extra-ventricular drainage and coexistent infection. Risk factors were identified by logistic regression and included hospital length of stay of more than 14 days (odds ratio [OR]=23.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.53-216.11) and GCS score (< or =7 scores) (OR=4.71, 95% CI=1.64-13.50). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that patients are at high risk for infection when they have a low level of consciousness or their length hospital stay is long term. Nurses have to take an active and continuous approach to infection control to help with patients having these risk factors.

Pseudo-Outbreak of Bloodstream Infections by Serratia mercescens / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: Serratia marcescens proliferates well in a humid environment or soil and is recently considered as an important pathogen for the severe nosocomial infections. this organism is spreads easily by hand-to-hand transmission, and contaminates medical equipment used for invasive procedures, working environment, medications, and soap. METHODS: We investigated the source of an outbreak of bloodstream infections by S. marcescens isolated that occurred during the period from July to December, 2004, at a university hospital in Gyeonggi Province and attempted to intervene in the outbreak and control it. RESULTS: From July to December, 2004, S. marcescens grew from 296 blood culture from 283 patients. The medical charts of the patients were reviewed, and surveillance cultures were taken to identify the outbreak of nosocomial infections and risk factors. Only four cases of infection were identified and all remaining positive blood cultures were due to contamination. Nine isolates randomly selected from the 296 S. marcescens showed an identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern. To identify the source of infection, environmental culture and hand cultures of the related medical workers were carried out, but S. marcescens was not isolated. CONCLUSION: As the result of aggressive infection control activities, such as re-education on environmental management methods, hand washing techniques, and blood culture sampling techniques, no more S. marcescens had been grown in blood culture since January, 2005.

The Level of Physical Function and Psychological Well-Being of Postmenopausal Middle-aged Korean Women according to Bone Health Status

OBJECTIVE: This study is to examine the physical function, psychological well-being, and subjective symptom of postmenopausal osteoporotic women. METHODS: Data used for this study was collected from 397 women who had experienced one years or longer menopause and visited a hospital in Seoul, Korea during the period from May to December 2005. RESULTS: The level of physical function of the fracture osteoporosis group was significantly lower than the other three groups. The psychological well-being of the fracture osteoporosis group was significantly lower than the other three groups. Subjective symptom of the fracture osteoporosis group was significantly higher than the other three groups. The level of physical function was positively correlated with psychological well-being and negatively with subjective symptom. Psychological well-being was also negatively correlated with the level of subjective symptom. Based on the results, it is recommended that the prevention of vertebral fracture in osteoporotic woman is important, and nursing intervention is necessary for the physical function, psychological well-being, and subjective symptom care.

Healthcare Workers' Knowledge and Attitude about Influenza Vaccination at the University Hospital / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: The influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The primary target groups recommended for annual vaccination are healthcare workers and households which have frequent contact with persons at high risk and can transmit influenza to those persons at high risk. Members of these groups should be vaccinated against the flu so that they can avoid getting infected with continuously mutating influenza viruses. We assessed healthcare workers' knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccination in order to help promote the vaccination rate. METHODS: This survey was carried out in two hospitals affiliated with the Catholic University School of Medicine, from December 2004 to January 2005. Of the 3,023 questionnaires distributed, 2,023 could be evaluated. RESULTS: The most frequently cited reason for receiving influenza vaccine was self-protection against influenza (55.4%). The most common reasons for not receiving influenza vaccine are personal health problems such as concurrent flu, pregnancy or breast-feeding (29.2%). There is no significant difference in the frequency of side effect between two groups receiving and not receiving vaccine. The most frequent side effect of influenza vaccination is flu-like syndrome; People receiving vaccine have more significant knowledge than those people not receiving vaccine about efficacy of flu vaccination, risk of influenza infection of healthcare workers and their need of flu vaccination. CONCLUSION: In order to promote the vaccination rate, education targeting people at high risk need to keep continuous and facilitate access to vaccination.

Knowledge and Performance of Infection Control Guidelines / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: This study was purposed to identify the knowledge and performance level of the infection control guidelines and to improve their performance level of infection control for those nurses who care patients directly. METHODS: This study was based on the survey questionnaires about infection control guidelines with the total 626 nurses in Seoul and Kyunggi areas for the period between May 26, 2003 and July 14, 2003. RESULTS: The average knowledge level of infection control was 0.84 +/-0.07 (score range 0-1) and the average performance level of the infection control was 4.44+/-10.27 (score range 0-5). The correlation between knowledge and performance of the infection control showed positive correlation (r=.39; P<.001). The knowledge and performance level of the 'Prevention of the central catheter infection' were higher than other infection control guidelines. The performance levels of the 'Prevention of the surgical site infection' were lower than other infection control guidelines. The correlation between knowledge and performance of the 'Prevention of the nosocomial pneumonia' (r=.389; P<.001). 'Prevention of the urinary tract infection' (r=.325; P<.001), 'Prevention of the central catheter infection (r=.290; P<.001) and 'Intravascular infection control' (r=.446; P<.001) showed positive correlation. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the nurses' knowledge and performance of infection control guidelines showed positive correlation. So the education on the infection control is required indispensably and it would contribute to reduce the hospital infection rate by performing the right treatment on the infection control with the basis of accurate knowledge.