• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2024

The consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are particularly severe in older adults with a disproportionate number of severe and fatal outcomes. Therefore, this integrative review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and prognosis of older patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Common clinical presentations in older patients include fever, cough, and dyspnea. Additionally, preexisting comorbidities, especially diabetes and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, were frequently observed and associated with adverse outcomes. Management strategies varied, however, early diagnosis, vigilant monitoring, and multidisciplinary care were identified as key factors for enhancing patient outcomes. Nonetheless, the prognosis remains guarded for older patients, with increased rates of hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and mortality. However, timely therapeutic interventions, especially antiviral and supportive treatments, have demonstrated some efficacy in mitigating the severe consequences in this age group. In conclusion, while older adults remain highly susceptible to severe outcomes from COVID-19, early intervention, rigorous monitoring, and comprehensive care can play a pivotal role in improving their clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was aimed to understand and describe the Korean critical care advanced practice nurses' work experience. Methods: Data was collected through 2 focus group interviews that were held in two different university hospitals in Seoul, Korea. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data were analysed using modified qualitative content analysis. Results: Ten themes were drawn from data analysis. They are "Various and complex tasks", "Excellency of advanced nursing practice", "Pressure and responsibility accompanied with pride", "Role identity confusion", "Role conflict", "Leaping and evolving role", "Gap between role and outcome evaluation", "Underestimated outcomes", "Where are my outcomes?" "Searching for outcomes: publicize the role". Conclusion: The results of this study help to understand the role of Korean critical care advanced practice nurses and to guide to outcome evaluation of their role effectiveness. Developing qualitative outcome indicators, cost-effectiveness ananlysis of Korean critical care advanced practice nurses' role, and accumulation of evidences through researches on outcome evaluation will be needed to successfully settle down advanced practice nursing in Korea.

• Acute and Critical Care
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2018

Background: Infection by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens leads to poor patient outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs). Contact precautions are necessary to reduce the transmission of MDR pathogens. However, the importance of the surrounding environment is not well known. We studied the effects of ICU relocation on MDR respiratory pathogen detection rates and patient outcomes. Methods: Patients admitted to the ICU before and after the relocation were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline patient characteristics, types of respiratory pathogens detected, antibiotics used, and patient outcomes were measured. Results: A total of 463 adult patients admitted to the ICU, 4 months before and after the relocation, were included. Of them, 234 were admitted to the ICU before the relocation and 229 afterward. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, and underlying comorbidities, did not differ between the two groups. After the relocation, the incidence rate of MDR respiratory pathogen detection decreased from 90.0 to 68.8 cases per 1,000 patient-days, but that difference was statistically insignificant. The use of colistin was significantly reduced from 53.5 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3 to 86.7 days) to 18.7 days (95% CI, 5.6 to 31.7 days). Furthermore, the duration of hospital stay was significantly reduced from a median of 29 days (interquartile range [IQR], 14 to 50 days) to 21 days (IQR, 11 to 39 days). Conclusions: Incidence rates of MDR respiratory pathogen detection were not significantly different before and after ICU relocation. However, ICU relocation could be helpful in reducing the use of antibiotics against MDR pathogens and improving patient outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2024

Purpose: Ankle fracture fixation is the gold standard of treatment but it does have its own complications. There is inadequate data regarding the comparative effectiveness of early vs. delayed fixation for open ankle fracture outcomes. This study compares the clinical and functional outcomes of open ankle fractures treated by early or delayed definitive fixation and identifies the limitations of both methods. Materials and Methods: All 73 patients enrolled in the study underwent surgical intervention within 24 hours of injury. The early fixation group (group A) consisting of 39 patients underwent definitive fixation as an index procedure, while the delayed fixation group (group B) consisted of 34 patients who underwent debridement and external fixator application as an index procedure and definitive fixation when soft tissue condition was conducive. All patients were evaluated at 2, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively and then three monthly for a year. Results: Enneking and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores were markedly higher in the early fixation group at 6 months postoperatively (p-values <0.001 and 0.011, respectively). However, no discernible intergroup difference was evident at 12 months postoperatively. Between 6 and 12 months, group functional outcome scores were significantly different. At 6 months, there was a substantial difference in dorsiflexion between the two groups (p-values 0.001 and <0.001, respectively), but no difference was observed at 12 months postoperatively. At 6 and 12 months, group average plantar flexions were non-significantly different. Conclusion: Early definitive fixation of complex ankle fractures using a targeted approach produced promising results for lower grade open fractures (grades 1 and 2), and delayed definitive fixation, after initial external fixation to allow for soft tissue stabilization, produced promising results for higher grade open fractures (grades 3A and 3B). At 12-month follow-ups, clinical and functional outcomes achieved using these strategies were equivalent.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.1
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• pp.6-9
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• 2010

Background: The efficacious use of interventional bronchoscope for patients with central airway obstruction due to malignant or benign lesions has been proven. Among many therapeutic bronchoscopic procedures, endobronchial cryotherapy is an established recanalization method for the obstruction of the respiratory tract. Recently, the use of this procedure has been increasing in Korea. However, limited data are available in the literature regarding its efficacy in Korea. Methods: Thirty patients, who had been treated with a flexible cryoprobe for cryotherapy were enrolled; clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were analyzed. The patients had been treated with the technique using nitrous oxide as a cryogen under local anesthesia. Objective outcomes were 3 different degrees of therapeutic success by use of follow-up bronchoscopic findings as follows: successful, partially successful, and unsuccessful response. Subjective outcomes were evaluated as an improvement in symptoms. Results: The mean age of enrolled patients was $59{\pm}11$ years and there was a male (22/30) dominance. Twenty-three patients had malignant tumor and 7 patients had benign lesions with central airway obstruction. Successful recanalization was achieved in 11 (37%) patients, and partially successful response was achieved in 15 (50%) patients. Dyspnea was improved in 84.2% (16/19) of patients. At least one respiratory symptom was resolved in 91.3% (21/23) patients. Seven patients (23.3%) needed additional bronchoscopic electrocautery because of the bleeding as a complication of cryotherapy. Conclusion: Endobronchial cryotherapy is an effective and less expensive procedure for the management of central airway obstruction. However, the procedure should be performed under the preparing for an emergency situation, such as massive bleeding.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.37-48
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate how advanced practice nurses (APNs) recognized their work by analyzing nursing outcomes. The ultimate goal was to examine the utility of APNs by connecting their work to the outcomes. Methods: Cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect the data from 59 APNs in a tertiary hospital lovated in Seoul, Korea. The questionnaire with 84 outcome indicators for advanced practice nurses was used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Among 84 outcome indicators, 11 indicators were associated with the work of APNs. Majority of these findings were included in the categories of clinical results and satisfaction. Items identified to be associated with the work of APNs were different among oncology nursing area, surgical speciality area, emergency care area, and critical care area. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the works of APNs were relevant to education/counseling/training and interpersonal relationship with other health professionals. The results of the study could be helpful to delineate the work characteristics of APNs and increase the utility of APNs in Korea where roles of APNs are not yet clearly delineated in most clinical settings.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.237-247
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to systematically review the effectiveness of nursing interventions for patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). As the use of ECMO increases in critical care settings, it is important to understand how nursing interventions affect patient outcomes, survival, and complication rates. Methods : This systematic review followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines. A literature search was performed using terms related to ECMO and nursing interventions in several international electronic databases including CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Studies were screened and selected according to predefined eligibility criteria, focusing on those that evaluated the impact of nursing interventions on adult. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were independently performed by two researchers. Results : A total of 647 studies were identified, and seven met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. The included studies demonstrated that high-quality nursing care significantly improves clinical outcomes and reduces complications in patients receiving ECMO. Effective nursing interventions included prone positioning combined with ECMO for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, meticulous infection control, comprehensive and continuous nursing protocols, skilled nursing, and multidisciplinary management. These interventions have been shown to improve oxygenation, reduce complications, such as bleeding, manage blood pressure, and enhance overall clinical outcomes. Conclusion : High-quality nursing interventions are critical to improve survival and reduce complications in patients receiving ECMO. Implementing a multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive nursing protocols, including infection control and psychological support, is essential for the effective management of these patients. The findings of this study provide a foundation for the development of practical guidelines and educational programs to improve the quality of care for patients undergoing ECMO, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of ECMO treatment and patient outcomes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2020

Background: The burden of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease (PD) is increasing globally. To understand the treatment outcomes and prognosis of NTM-PD, a unified registry is needed. In this project, we aim to construct a multicenter prospective observational cohort with NTM-PD in South Korea (NTM-KOREA). Methods: The primary objective of this study is to analyze treatment outcomes according to the species. In addition, recurrence rate, adverse events, the impact of each drug on treatment outcomes as well as the impact of characteristics of mycobacteriology will be analyzed. The inclusion criteria for the study are as follows: fulfilling the criteria for NTM-PD having one of the following etiologic organisms: Mycobacterium avium complex, M. abscessus subspecies abscessus, M. abscessus subspecies massiliense, or M. kansasii; receiving the first treatment for NTM-PD after enrollment; age >20 years; and consenting to participate in the study. Seven institutions will participate in patient enrollment and about 500 patients are expected to be enrolled. Participants will be recruited from 1 March 2020 until 19 March 2024 and will be observed through 19 March 2029. During the follow-up period, participants' clinical course will be tracked and their clinical data as well as NTM isolates will be collected. Conclusion: NTM-KOREA will be the first nationwide observational cohort for NTM-PD in South Korea. It will provide the information to optimize treatment modalities and will contribute to deeper understanding of the treatment outcomes and long-term prognosis of patients with NTM-PD in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the learning outcomes of simulation-based practice on emergency care for patients with dyspnea in nursing students. Methods: One group pre-post experimental design with 28 nursing students was used. Simulation-based practice on the basis of SimMan Human Patient Simulator including academic lectures, simulation lab exercises and debriefing was applied for four and half hours. The learning outcomes were assessed by measuring knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving process of cognitive skills, self-confidence and learning attitudes of affective domain. Furthermore, self reported clinical performance ability of psychomotor skills was examined. Results: After the completion of simulation-based practice, there was a significant increase in the mean of following measured variables: knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving process of cognitive skills, self-confidence, learning attitudes of affective domain and clinical performance ability of psychomotor skills. Significant positive relationships were found among learning outcome measurement variables. Conclusion: Simulation-based practice is an effective method to improve cognitive skills, affective domain and psychomotor skills of nursing students. Hence, Simulation-based practice should be applied for improving current limited emergency care training for nursing students and enhancing students' competency in clinical situations.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.202-205
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• 2024