• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4131-4136
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• 2016

Background: The population in northeast Thailand continues to present with hepatobiliary abnormalities, particularly periductal fibrosis (PDF) which is the result of chronic infection with liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverini; OV) and may lead to the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Although the prevalence of OV infection has been decreased due to a liver fluke control program over decades, the prevalence of PDF remains high. This study aimed to investigate demographic factors associated with PDF risk based on ultrasonography (US) screening. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study is part of the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP), a prospective cohort study. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results: In 55,246 subjects, the overall prevalence of PDF was 33.0% (95%CI: 32.6 - 33.4). Males (33.9 %) were at higher risk for developing PDF than females (32.2 %) (ORcrude = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.89 - 0.96; p-value < 0.001). Factors associated with an increased PDF risk, in addition to OV infection, included old age (${\geq}70$ years) (ORadj = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14 - 1.44, p < 0.001) and hepatitis B infection (ORadj = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11 - 1.55, p = 0.001). In contrast, number of praziquantel treatments (> 2 times) (ORadj = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.47 - 0.63, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (ORadj = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.49 - 0.65, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a decreased PDF risk. Conclusions: Future US screening should closely examine older people and hepatitis B subjects for the purpose of PDF surveillance among high risk groups for CCA. However, the results of inverse associations require further investigation in order to confirm our findings.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2011

After an outbreak of H1N1 influenza A virus infection in Mexico in late March 2009, the World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level to phase 6, and to the highest level in June 2009. The pandemic H1N1/A influenza was caused by an H1N1 influenza A virus that represents a quadruple reassortment of two swine strains, one human strain, and one avian strain of influenza. After the first case report of H1N1/A infection in early May 2009, South Korea was overwhelmed by this new kind of influenza H1N1/A pandemic, which resulted in a total of 700,000 formally reported cases and 252 deaths. In this article, clinical characteristics of victims of H1N1/A influenza infection, especially those who developed pneumonia and those who were cared for in the intensive care unit, are described. In addition, guidelines for the treatment of H1N1/A influenza virus infection victims in the ICU, which was suggested by the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine, are introduced.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 2001

Background : The Clostridium difficile is the most important identifiable cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea and colitis, which lengthens hospital stay. Recently incidence of C. difficile has been increasing in an university hospital, and an intervention for prevention and control of C. difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) was in prompt need. Methods : Subjects were the patients in the neurosurgical intensive care unit(NCU) where C. difficile was most frequently isolated. To increase participation of various departments, we used the CQI method, because management of CDAD requires a wholistic approach including control of antibiotics, barrier precaution and environmental cleaning and disinfection. Duration of the CQI activities was 9 months from April to December 1999. Results : The identified problems were misuse and overuse of antibiotics, lack of consciousness of medical personnels and the possibility of transmission from the contaminated environment and tube feeding. Education for proper use of antibiotics and management of C. difficile infection, use of precaution stickers, supplement of handwashing equipments, emphasis on environmental disinfection, and the change of the process of tube feeding were done. The CDAD rate in NCU was significantly decreased after the CQI program (8.6 case per 1,000 patient days from January to April 1999 vs 4.8 from May to December 1999). The distribution of neurosurgical wards including NCU among the total number of isolated C. difficile from the clinical specimens dropped from 49.4% in January to April to 33,7% in May to December. The average hospital stay of the neurosurgical department changed from 19.6 days to 15.2 days. Also, the effect of the CQI activities for C. difficile may have affected the incidence of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE). Duration and dosage of certain antibiotics used in the NS department were decreased. The distribution of neurosurgical department in the number of VRE isolated patients declined from 18.4% to 11.1%. Conclusion : Infection control of resistant organisms such as C. difficile is likely to be successful when management of environmental contamination an collaborative efforts of decreasing the patients' risk factors such as antibiotics management and decreasing the length of hospital stay come simultaneously. For this work, related departments need to actively participate in the entire process under a common target through discussions for identifying problems and bringing up solutions. In this respect, making use of a CQI team is an efficient method of infection control for gathering participation and cooperation of related departments.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.413-423
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was aimed to identify NANDA-NOC-NIC linkage in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This study was a descriptive study conducted in three steps. First, nursing diagnoses were identified from the electronic nursing records. Second, content validity of nursing diagnoses and outcomes were evaluated. Third, major nursing interventions associated with expected nursing outcomes were collected from 97 nurses who worked in the oncology unit. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Four major nursing diagnoses were identified: acute pain, knowledge deficit, health seeking behaviors, and ineffective protection. Associated with each respective diagnosis, 3 major outcomes (pain level, pain control, and comfort state) for acute pain, 8 major nursing outcomes (diet, disease process, treatment regimen, illness, ostomy care, prescribed activity, health behavior, and infection management) for knowledge deficit, 4 major outcomes (health promoting behavior, health promotion, health belief, and knowledge: health resource) for health seeking behaviors, and 3 major outcomes (fatigue level, immune status, and nutritional status) for ineffective protection were identified. In addition, nursing interventions frequently used in clinical practice for each major nursing outcome were identified. Conclusion: The identified NANDA-NOC-NIC linkage can contribute to improving the applications of nursing process and care plans.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2018

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a lung infection that develops in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. VAP contributes to about 50% of hospital-acquired pneumonia in ICU settings. One of the recommendation of the Institute of for Healthcare Improvement ventilator bundle is HOB elevation. HOB elevation affects shearing forces and makes higher risk for pressure injury development. Pressure injury (PI) is localized damage to the skin over a bony prominence. PI prevention guidelines recommend that HOB positioning should be lower to reduce risk for PI development which contradicts VAP prevention guidelines for the HOB between 30 and 45 degrees for ICU patients. This presents a care dilemma and tension. The purpose of this study was to perform a secondary data analysis using cumulative electronic health record data in order to determine the association of HOB elevation with VAP and PI in ICU patients. A secondary data analysis was conducted to determine whether HOB elevation is associated with VAP and PI. HOB elevation was not likely to be associated with VAP prevention whereas it was likely to be related to PI development. This is somewhat contrary to popular data and publications. Prospective cohort study is desired to inform us in an evidence-based fashion what actually is optimal HOB elevation for ventilated patients in ICU settings.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.178-185
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• 2021

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to explore the risk factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in patients receiving home care nursing. Methods: A total of 117 participants registered for home care nursing provided by the University of C hospital in Seoul were included in the study. Data were based on a survey and urine examination results from June to July 2018. Results: Asymptomatic bacteriuria was identified in 96 (82%) patients. Age, sex, activity, diabetes mellitus, mental status, presence of other diseases, catheter material type, catheter size and fixation, hand washing (care giver), gloving (care giver), perineal care, and bladder irrigation were not recognized as risk factors for CAUTI. Age and catheterization duration were associated with CAUTI. Conclusions: Old age was found to be a risk factor for CAUTI (p=0.048). CAUTI incidence decreased as catheter use exceeded 70 months (p=0.028).

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. The sample included 114 patients in a gastroenterology outpatient department at one hospital located in G city. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from June to December 2009. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 15.0. Results: Health-related quality of life was most strongly related to age, sex, income, occupation, and the care provider. Old age, female gender, lower income, not having an occupation and having a non-medical person were associated with lower HRQOL ($R^2$=.03~.22, p=.041~<.001). Conclusion: CHB infection had a negative impact on HRQOL among the older, female gender, low socioeconomic status and not having medically knowledgeable care givers. Interventions beyond nursing care may be needed to improve the quality of health for patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.6160-6168
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• 2015

Hand hygiene(HH)of the health care personnels(HCPs) was the most effective method to prevent the transmission of healthcare associated infections. This study was conducted to measure and analysis the status of the HH compliance of HCPs. Data were collected by the direct observation methods of the World Health Organizations(WHO) using WHO's HH monitoring tool kits from 25th October to 31th December, 2010. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, cross analysis, multiple logistic analysis using the SPSS/PC 21 program. A total of 8,644 opportunities for HH were observed, and the overall HH compliance rate was 94.1%. HH rates of physicians was lowest(83.4%; OR: 0.209, 95%CI:0.174-0.252). HH rates were statistically different by the job titles(p<0.001), WHO's 5 moments(p<0.001). HH rates in registered nurses(p=0.003), and medical technicians(p<0.001) were statistically different by the WHO 5Moments. Jobs specific HH strategies and WHO 5Moments should be developed to increase the HH compliances of the HCPs.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.383-397
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• 2012

The incidence of zoonoses in Korea has recently increased. But the study for high risk group such as pig farmers to zoonoses has not been conducted in Korea. Thus we reviewed the articles in order to obtain basic data for zoonoses among pig farmers, especially in rural communities. Pigs are one of the most important domestic livestock in Korea not only from economic standpoint but also from standpoint of food. Pigs also represent a potential reservoir for many novel pathogens, therefore may transmit these to humans via direct contact, vectors such as mosquitos, or contaminated meat. The zoonoses associated with pigs can be classified into bacterial pathogen, viruses and so on. Bacterial zoonoses include brucellosis, leptospirosis, listeriosis, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection, pasteurellosis, salmonellosis, yersiniosis, tuberculosis, anthrax, necrobacillosis, swine erysipelas, erysipeloid, melioidosis, Streptococcus suis infection, Clostrium difficile infection, and campylobactor infection. Viral zoonoses consist of Japanese encephalitis, swine influenza, Nipah virus, Reston ebolavirus, and hepatitis E virus infection. Other type of zoonoses include actinomycosis, toxoplasmosis and Taenia solium infection. These zoonoses were important in Korean health policy but lately they have been overlooked. For effective health policy, we need to study zoonoses associated with pigs, and clinicians and veterinarians must care deeply about these zoonoses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2013

Background: We investigated the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the health care workers (HCWs) and analyzed its risk factors in South Korea. Methods: A standard questionnaire regarding the baseline demographics and risk factors for LTBI was given to each participant and tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay, and chest radiography were performed. Results: A total of 493 participants, 152 (30.8%) doctors and 341 (69.2%) nurses were enrolled in eight tertiary referral hospitals. The mean age of the subjects was 30.6 years old, and 383 (77.7%) were female. Of the 152 doctors, 63 (41.4%) and 36 (23.7%) were positive by TST and by QTF-GIT, respectively, and among the 341 nurses, 119 (34.9%) and 49 (14.4%) had positive TST and QFT-GIT results, respectively. Overall, the agreement between the two tests was 0.22 by the chance corrected proportional agreement rate (kappa coefficient) in 493 subjects. Experience of working in tuberculosis (TB)-related departments was significantly associated with positive LTBI test results by QFT-GIT assay, not by TST. In multivariate analysis, only age was independently associated with increased risk of a positive TST result, while age and experience of working in TB-related departments (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.12) were independently associated with increased risk of a positive QFT-GIT result. Conclusion: A high prevalence of LTBI was found among South Korean HCWs. Considering the association between the experience of working in TB-related departments and high risk of LTBI, QFT-GIT may be a better diagnostic test for LTBI than TST in HCWs.