The Changed Parenting Experiences of Mothers of Elementary School Students in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose@#The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the changed parenting experiences of mothers of elementary school kids living in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea. Methods: From July to August in 2020, 10 mothers parenting elementary school students under the COVID-19 were interviewed in depth. For data analysis, a phenomenological research methodology suggested by Colaizzi was used. @*Results@#According to the analysis, the experiences of mothers consisted of four categories: the ‘pain from the uncontrollable COVID-19’, ‘the problem of family relations due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation’, ‘standing firm against the drastic changes’, and ‘accepting the world changed by the COVID-19’. @*Conclusion@#The findings in this study vividly represent the parenting experiences of mothers of elementary school students after the outbreak of COVID-19. As the pandemic persists, mothers parenting elementary school students feel complex emotions and experience exhaustion, but in the process, they found family members growing positively and trying to adjust to each other to overcome the crisis. To support positive adaptation to catastrophic situations, an institutional and political foundation is needed to develop a systematic crisis management program customized for mothers and families of elementary school students. The results of this study can be used as basic data when establishing national policies and support systems so that mothers parenting elementary school students can better adapt to and overcome crisis situations.

The mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between communication skills and practices of preventing infectious diseases among daycare center teachers in South Korea

Purpose@#This study investigated the practices of preventing infectious diseases by daycare center teachers. The focus was on the mediating effects of self-efficacy in the relationship between communication skills and practices of preventing infectious diseases. @*Methods@#This study used a descriptive correlational design. The participants were 164 daycare center teachers. Hierarchical regression was used to test the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between communication skills and practices of preventing infectious diseases. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression. The mediation effect was analyzed using an SPSS Macro program, PROCESS. @*Results@#Significant relationships were found between communication skills and practices of preventing infectious diseases (β=.19, p<.001), self-efficacy and practices of preventing infectious diseases (β=.59, p<.001), and communication skills and self-efficacy (β=.27, p<.001). Self-efficacy had a significant mediating effect (β=.17, 95% confidence interval=0.07~0.29) on practices of preventing infectious diseases. @*Conclusion@#In order to improve practices of preventing infectious diseases among daycare teachers, it is necessary to develop and apply interventions and methods that can increase effective communication skills and self-efficacy.

Expected Family Involvement of Family of Elderly Residents in Nursing Homes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expected family involvement of family members of elderly residents in nursing homes. METHODS: This study utilized a descriptive design with a survey research method. Data were collected using the Expect Family Involvement Questionnaire Scale, which was completed by 112 family caregivers of older adults in nursing homes in Seoul and Gyeong-gi Province. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Responses to the questionnaire indicated the highest value was recorded for the item, ‘use of a room for family privacy’ with 2.41±0.43 points, followed by the item, ‘staff calling family for advice with resident problems’ with 2.38±0.38 points and ‘education about nursing home programs’ with 2.32±0.42 points. CONCLUSION: In order to promote family involvement in long-term care facilities, various approaches, interventions, and government supports with the respective of the family are required. The nursing home placement process should include understanding discuss on the importance of the role of family, and should help promote positive relationships between the elderly residents and their families. Staffs and administrators of nursing home are to consider the family as a partner rather than visitor.

Validity and Reliability of the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool in Long-term Care Facilities in Korea

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT). METHODS: The English P-CAT was translated into Korean with forward and backward translation. Survey data were collected from 458 staff in 17 long-term care facilities in Korea. Construct validity and criterion related validity were evaluated. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess reliability. RESULTS: The Korean version of P-CAT was shown to be valid homogeneously by factor, item and content analysis. Internal consistency reliability was satisfactory in which the values of factor 1, factor 2 and the total scale were .84, .77 and .86 respectively. Exploratory factor analysis supported the construct validity with a two-factor solution. Factor loadings of the 13 items ranged in .34~.80. Criterion validity to the Person-centered Climate Questionnaire-staff (PCQ-S) was .74 (p<.001). CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the P-CAT was found to be an applicable instrument with satisfactory reliability and validity for further use in measuring successful person-centered care in long-term care facilities for older persons.

Effects of Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy on Refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Children

PURPOSE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is one of the most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The clinical course is typically self-limited and benign; however, rare cases of severe pneumonia can develop despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. We studied the effects of methylprednisolone pulse therapy on severe refractory M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children. METHODS: The clinical effects of methylprednisolone therapy were evaluated retrospectively in 12 children with severe refractory M. pneumoniae pneumonia, which was diagnosed serologically. All patients developed respiratory distress, high fever, and initial lobar pneumonic consolidation based on radiological findings. All clinical symptoms deteriorated despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. Thus, children were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy in addition to antibiotics. RESULTS: The average febrile period before admission was 4.9+/-1.7 days, and fever persisted in all children until steroid administration. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy (30 mg/kg) was given 5.4+/-2.5 days after admission. After methylprednisolone pulse therapy, clinical symptoms improved in all patients without adverse events. The fever subsided 0-2 h after initiation of corticosteroid therapy. The abnormal radiological findings resolved within 2.6+/-1.3 days, and the high C-reactive protein levels (6.7+/-5.9 mg/dL) on admission decreased to 1.3+/-1.7 mg/dL within 3.0+/-1.1 days after starting corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Three-day methylprednisolone pulse therapy could be applied to treatment of refractory M. pneumoniae pneumonia despite appropriate antibiotic therapy and appeared to be efficacious and well-tolerated.

Clinical Characteristics of Children with Lobar Pneumonia Caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of lobar pneumonia in children caused by Mycoplasma pneumonia and to find a diagnostic tool for identifying M. pneumoniae infection in children. METHODS: We analyzed medical records of 78 children between March 2010 and December 2011, who were admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with lobar pneumonia on the basis of chest X-rays. White blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), specific antibodies to M. pneuomoniae, and cold agglutinin (CA) were measured at the time of admission. Children were divided into 2 groups: those with M. pneuomoniae infection (group A) and those without infection (group B). Group A children were also subdivided into 2 categories: those with increased CA (group 1) and those without (group 2). RESULTS: The prevalence of lobar pneumonia was higher in the year 2011 than in 2010. M. pneuomoniae infection usually occurs in summer and autumn. Group A children accounted for 75.6% (59/78) of all the cases. The onset ages was higher in group A than in group B (P=0.016). WBC counts and PCT values were higher in group B than in group A.(P=0.015 and P=0.011, respectively) Radiologic findings showed that the lower lobe was most commonly involved without predilection for either side and pleural effusion was present in 13.6% of all the cases. The duration of fever before admission was longer in group 1 than in group 2.(P=0.019) CONCLUSION: It is concluded that lobar pneumonia caused by M. pneuomoniae can be more accurately diagnosed using serum PCT values than using CRP values.

Significance of Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Severe Hyperbilirubinemia / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: We evaluated the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and significance in newborns with severe hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: This study included 60 newborns with severe hyperbilirubinemia at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Chungnam National University Hospital from January 2006 to April 2011. The patients were grouped according to with or without high signal intensities in the globus pallidus (GP) on T1-weighted MRI. We compared the clinical characteristics and neurodevelopmental outcomes between the groups. RESULTS: Thirty-seven of the 60 newborns (62%) showed symmetric high signal intensities in the GP on T1-weighted MRI or intracranial hemorrhage. The group that had high signal intensities in the GP on T1-weighted MRI showed a higher tendency of hemolysis, anemia and exchange transfusion. Demographic characteristics and neurodevelopmental outcomes were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the GP involvement in severe hyperbilirubinemia of newborn is described as high signal intensities on T1-weighted MRI in the early stage but this lesion is a transient phenomenon that have relatively good long-term prognosis.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis is an unknown etiology of destructive skin disorder, characterized by progressive painful ulceration. It begins as a erythematous areola or pustule and rapidly progress into a deep ulceration with a discrete and violaceous edge. Early diagnosis followed with non-compressive moist dressing, topical application and systemic immunosuppressants are cornerstone in treating this disease. We report a case of pyoderma gangrenosum exacerbated with incision and drainage in a 15 year old girl with ulcerative colitis. This case emphasizes the importance of early consideration of pyoderma gangrenosum in patient with a background of related systemic disease and minimal traumatized wound care.