• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2000

The study was done by applying a phenomenological study, which is qualitative research methods, in order to understand the meaning of the lived experiences, to confirm and describe the meaning structure, and to prepare nursing interventive strategies centering around the meanings of the inpatients' families in the intensive care units. In the study, the family members were the main important nursing providers for in the inpatients' who were admitted in the neurosurgical intensive care unit in K-university hospital and who agreed to participate in the study after being given on explanation about the purpose of the study. The data were collected from the seven participants who had feelings of trust and intimacy favorable toward the researcher as they were families of patients who had been cared for by the researcher in the ICU where the researcher has been assigned. The data were collected from April to October, 1999. The participants described their experiences as candidly as possible. The researcher described closely the lived experiences with their own words and the observations of the researcher. A tape recorder was used with the consent of the participants to prevent nursing information and communication. The analysis of the data was made through the phenomenological analytic method suggested by Giorgi; as an unit of description, which include the participants' expressions and the researcher's observations, the analysis was used based on the data described from the expressions of the participants and the details of observations of the researcher. The conclusions of the study were as follows : The meanings of the lived experience of the inpatients' families in the ICU was confirmed by indepth interviews and observations including these of the participatants : (1) Psychological impact: confusion, impatience, surprise, insensibility; (2) Physical suffering: fatigue, discomfort, indigestion; (3) Psychological suffering: heartbreaking emotion, anxiety, annoyance, fear, compassion, grief; (4) Economical suffering: economical difficulties; (5) Psychological disagreement: escape from reality, personnel avoidance, grudge, powerlessness, carefulness, transposition of life-tract, abandonment, role-crisis, hope, lack of understanding, regret, feeling of ambivalence(progressive process, medical personnel interest); (6) Psychological dependency; self-reliance group support, family support, religious support; (7) Psychological acceptance; acquaintance, gratitude, reassurance; The study will offer better understanding of experiences therefore, based on the experiences confirmed by the study, it may facilitate more appropriate nursing interventive strategies for health maintenance and to prevent occurrence of possible problems with the inpatients' families in the ICUs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.157-169
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• 1993

The most effective modality for cold application and the length of the application have not been determined despite many studies about the use of cold. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to examine the most effective modality among three methods of cold application, the most effective length of time for the application and the continuing effect after each type of cold application. Thirty adult patients admitted to medical and neurosurgical unit and with high fever (above 38.2 ℃) were assigned randomly to each of three cold ap-plication methods : (a) ice bag: (b) cold compress; and (c) tepid water sponge bath. Each method was applied to the whole anterior surface except the face and neck with the patient in the supine pos-ition. Rectal temperatures and skin temperatures (mid chest, upper arm, thigh and leg) were measured be-fore each application and every 10 minutes during ,each application for a period of 60 minutes. They were also measured every 10 minutes for 30 minutes after each cold application was finished. The experiments were carried out from Dec. 22. 1992 through Feb. 26, 1993. The data were analysed using means, ANCOVA Sheffe test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. The results of this study are as follows : 1. There were no significant differences among the three cold application methods in the reduction of body temperature, 2. Among the ice bag, cold compress and tepid water sponge bath groups, the ice bag proved to be the most effective method for lowering skin temperature while the cold compress was least effective. 3. Both rectal and skin temperature continued to decrease during the 60 minutes of cold application, but the hunting phenomena was not observed at any of the cold application sites. 4. There were no significant correlations between mean rectal and skin temperatures. 5. Skin temperatures according to the cold application sites decreased to a range of 3.46℃ to 5.20℃ (mid chest), a range of 4.48℃ 4.96℃ (upper arm), a range of 3.86℃ to 5.05℃ (thigh), and a range of 5.42℃ -7.12℃ (leg ). 6. In continuing effect after the cold applications were finished, rectal temperatures according to ice bag, cold compress and tepid sponge bath decreased to 0.29℃, 0.23℃ and 0.09℃ respectively, while the mean skin temperatures increased to 2.39℃ , 2.04℃ and 2.22℃ respectively. In this experiment the ice bag was the most effective modality for lowering skin temperature. when-ever cold is applied for systemic effect, the continuing effect of cold should be considered. The determination of the most effective length of time for cold application needs further study.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of tooth-brushing oral care on oral health and ventilator-associated pneumonia of patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: A total of 74 participants were recruited from a medical, surgical, or neurosurgical ICU at S Hospital in Seoul, Korea, from September of 2010 to January of 2011. An experimental group (n= 36) received oral care with tooth-brushing while a control group (n=38) received oral care with cotton ball and gauze. In both group, the oral care was done three times a day at least one minute for 7 days. Oral health was examined by the Modified Oral Assessment Guide before the intervention and each night. Results: There is no difference between the groups in aspect of passage of time (p = .603), interaction between time and intervention (p =.300), the performance intervention (p = .766), and the incidence of VAP (p = .486). Conclusion: The effect of oral care with tooth-brushing on oral health and VAP was not different from that of usual oral care in ICU. However, further study is necessary due to high attrition in this study.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.97-115
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the observed behaviors of subjects who suffered from low back pain with spinal diseases, Thirty two low back pain patients admitted on the neurosurgical unit in an army hospital were compared with 30 normal controls belonged to an army unit, by means of matching the age, hight and weight. Observed pain behaviors were developed by the researcher on the bases of literature and patient observation. This tool consists of 18 behaviors seperated into two major groups : mutually exclusive and concomittent behaviors. The mutually exclusive behaviors included coding cathegories for 6. body motions assumed by the subjects during the observation session. These 6 standardized motions consisted of sitting from standing first, and serially tying down, reclining, sitting again, and then standing, 6 steps walking. Concomittent behaviors consisted of 12 observable patterns that can be observed systematically from the face, grimacing, bracing, rubbing, walking with arms fixed, support with hands on sitting or standing, guarded movement, limping, unbalaced weightbearing, stopped movement from tying position to sitting, sighing and graoning. Subjects were videotrecorded as they performed a 6-standardized sequence of motions, simultanously researcher measured the time spent performing each motion and step length. Patients were asked torate their subjective pain score on the 10 mm graphic rating scale ranging from 'no pain' to 'sever pain'. For scoring of the pain behaviors, two trained nursing officiers independently and simutanously viewwd each videorecording and checked subject 'pain behaviors at the observational item checklist. The result of the study are summarized as follows : 1. Reability of the observational tool was a=.845. 2. Spearman's rho and percentage agreement were p=.97 and 81.7 persent respectively, that indicate adequate interrater reability of this tool. 3. The sensitivity rate of the tool was .875 while specificity rate .866 for differentiating patient from the normal. 4. When difference in the objective pain indices between patient group and control were compared, there was significant difference of all indices, such as pain behavior(t=7.71, p=.0001). spent time performing motion(t=14.2, p=.0001), step length (t=-10.72, p=.0001). 5. There were differences in the objective indices the subjective pain subgroups (low, medium, high). Differences in the mean score of objective pain behavior (F=6.376. p=.005) and spent time for moyion(F=4.631, p=.018). But there were no significant differences in the step length among the subgroups(F=.667, p=.521). 6. Highly correlated pain behavior items wiyh subjective pain score were 'stopped movement from lying position to sitting', 'limping', 'support with hands on sitting or standing', 'bracing', 'guarding' and 'walking with arms fixed'. In summary, although some of rho behavior items such as sighing and groaning in this study could not be observed because of videotaped datd, the reliability and validity of the over all observation method were satifactory. Thus, the results of the present study demonstrate rye potetional utility of the tool in assessing objective pain complementing self-reported pain in low back pain patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2008

Purpose : We evaluated clinical presentations of brain abscesses, including predisposing factors, causative organisms, and mortality rate in neonates and children. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of neonates and children with brain abscesses treated at Severance Hospital from January 1997 through December 2006. Results : Among 27 neonates and children with brain abscesses, overall mortality was 22 % and 38% of survivors developed neurologic sequelae. The mortality rate was 38% in 8 infants with brain abscesses. The most common location of brain abscesses were frontal and parietal lobes, followed by temporal lobe. There were 7 cases with multiple brain abscesses. Streptococci (33%), Staphylococci (27%), and Gram-negative enterics (20%) were commonly isolated. The common predisposing conditions were neurosurgical procedure (30 %), cyanotic congenital heart disease (15%), and sinusitis/otitis (7%). Fever (74%), headache (37%), nausea/vomiting (33%), and altered mental status (33%) occurred commonly. Compared with children older than 1 year of age, infants were associated with multiple brain abscesses (63%, P=0.011) and high rates of death or neurologic sequelae (88%, P= 0.033). Conclusion : We should have a high index of suspicion in order to recognize the condition as early as possible, especially in infancy with brain abscesses who presents vague or nonspecific symptoms and signs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1210-1219
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• 2001

Introduction : The purpose of this study was to analyze the safety, pullout strength and radiographic characteristics of unicortical and bicortical screws of cervical facet within cadaveric specimens and evaluate the influence of level of training on the positioning of these screws. Methods : Twenty-one cadavers, mean 78.9 years of age, underwent bilateral placement of 3.5mm AO lateral mass screw from C3-C6(n=168) using a slight variation of the Magerl technique. Intraoperative imaging was not used. The right side(unicortical) utilized only 14mm screws(effective length of 11mm) while on the left side to determine the length of the screw after the ventral cortex had been drilled. Three spine surgeons(attending, fellow, chief resident) with varying levels of spine training performed the procedure on seven cadavers each. All spines were harvested and lateral radiographs were taken. Individual cervical vertebrae were carefully dissected and then axial radiographs were taken. The screws were evaluated clinically and radiographically for their safety. Screws were graded clinically for their safety with respect to the spinal cord, facet joint, nerve root and vertebral artery. The grades consisted of the following categories : "satisfactory", "at risk" and "direct injury". Each screw was also graded according to its zone placement. Screw position was quantified by measuring a sagittal angle from the lateral radiograph and an axial angle from the axial radiograph. Pull-out force was determined for all screws using a material testing machine. Results : Dissection revealed that fifteen screws on the left side actually had only unicortical and not bicortical purchase as intended. The majority of screws(92.8%) were satisfactory in terms of safety. There were no injuries to the spinal cord. On the right side(unicortical), 98.9% of the screws were "satisfactory" and on the left side(bicortical) 68.1% were "satisfactory". There was a 5.8% incidence of direct arterial injury and a 17.4% incidence of direct nerve root injury with the bicortical screws. There were no "direct injuries" with the unicortical screws for the nerve root or vertebral artery. The unicortical screws had a 21.4% incidence of direct injury of the facet joint, while the bicortical screws had a 21.7% incidence. The majority of "direct injury" of bicortical screws were placed by the surgeon with the least experience. The performance of the resident surgeon was significantly different from the attending or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the nerve root and vertebral artery. The attending's performance was significantly better than the resident or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the facet joint. There was no relationship between the safety of a screw and its zone placement. The axial deviation angle measured $23.5{\pm}6.6$ degrees and $19.8{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The resident surgeon had a significantly lower angle than the attending or fellow(p<0.05). The sagittal angle measured $66.3{\pm}7.0$ degrees and $62.3{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The attending had a significantly lower sagittal angle than the fellow or resident(p<0.05). Thirty-three screws that entered the facet joint were tested for pull-out strength but excluded from the data because they were not lateral mass screws per-se and had deviated substantially from the intended final trajectory. The mean pull-out force for all screws was $542.9{\pm}296.6N$. There was no statistically significant difference between the pull-out force for unicortical($519.9{\pm}286.9N$) and bicortical($565.2{\pm}306N$) screws. There was no significant difference in pull-out strengths with respect to zone placement. Conclusion : It is our belief that the risk associated with bicortical purchase mandates formal spine training if it is to be done safely and accurately. Unicortical screws are safer regardless of level of training. It is apparent that 14mm lateral mass screws placed in a supero-lateral trajectory in the adult cervical spine provide an equivalent strength with a much lower risk of injury than the longer bicortical screws placed in a similar orientation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.197-210
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• 1988

The purposes of this study were : 1) to assess the level of pain and to identity the varieties and the degree of pain-related behavior, 2) to measure the level of correlation between the level of pain and the degree of pain- related behavior, 3) to test the correlation between the Korean Pain Rating Scale (KPRS) and Graphic Rating Scale(GRS), and 4) to gather data relevant to the Socio-demographic status of the subjects. The level of pain was measured by KPRS and GRS developed by the researchers. The KPRS consists of three dimensions ; the sensory, the affective and the miscellaneous and the GRS of two separate scales ; the intensity scale and the unpleasantness scale. Of the 2, 025 who had visited orthopedic and neurosurgical out-patients department of 11 university hospitals in various districts of Korea with the episode of Joint pain, 405 subjects were self-selected by responding to the data gathering tools and questionaires mailed. The results are summaried as follows : 1. Maale(217, 53.6%) exceeded female patients(188, 46.4%) in number and the onset of joint pain was more prevalent in the age groups of the 20s and the 30s. 160(39.5%) had been hospitalized for the treatment of, and 87(21.5%) had retired because of the joint pain. 2. Mean pain score measured by KPRS was 128.31 (range; 0-1.344.8) ; mean sensory score was 43.23(range ; 0-645.88%), mean affective score was 46.09(range ; 0- 356.72), and mean miscellaneous score was 39.99(range ; 0-341.68). Mean pain scores measured by GRS were ; sensory intensity score ; 109.1(range ; 0-200) and distress score ; 99.1 (range ; 0-200). 3. The prevalent sites of joint pain revealed to be the right knee joint(203; 50.1%), left knee joint(181(44.7%), left ilium(147, 36.3%), lumbar region (106; 26.2%), hip joint(92; 22.7%) and the ankle(84; 20.7%). 4. The average sleep hour was 6.8hours per day and the average rest hour during the day hours was 3.3hours (range 0-20). 5. The average duration of suffering from joint pain was 49.1 months. 6. Most of the subjects(298; 73.6%) used some sorts of pain relieving practices ; the most prevalent pain relieving practice was the compliance with the physician prescribed treatments(34.4%). 7. The level of discomfort in carrying out the ADL(activities of daily living was 101.16(38.83) and the level of needs for aid in carrying out the ADL was 76.62(31.79). 8. The interrelation between KPRS total score and GRS sensory intensity score(.4438), as well as that of GRS distress score(r＝.4446) were not highly correlated, however, sensory and affective dimension within KPRS (.7547) and pain intensity and distress score of GRS(.6975) revealed moderate intercorrelation. 9. Pain-related behaviors such as discomfort in carrying out ADL, the need for aids in carrying out ADL, frequency of pain relieving practices, varieties of pain sites and length of rest hours during the day hours revealed to be highly correlated with the level of pain measured by KPRS, GRS sensory intensity scale and GRS distress scale. The following are recommended ; 1. Test for the correlation of KPRS total score and the summated score of GRS ; sensory intensity and distress scores. 2. Possibilities of utilization of the pain-related behaviors which revealed high correlation as indirect assessment tool for measuring the level of pain.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.50-63
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• 1997

Background : A pressure sore was defined as any skin lesion caused by unrelieved pressure and resulting in damage to underlying tissue. The health care institutions in the United States were reported the incident rate of pressure sores ranging from 6 to 14 %. Intensive Care Unit needed highest quality of care has been found over 40% incidence rate of pressure sore. Also, Annual expenditures for the care of pressure sores in patients in the United States have been estimated to be $7.5 billion; furthermore, 50 percent more nursing time is required to care for patients with pressure sore in comparison to the time needed to implement preventive measures against pressure sore formation. However, In Korea, there were little reliable reports, or researches, about incidence rates of pressure sore in health care institution including intensive care unit and about the integrated approach like CQI action team for risk assessment, prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Therefore, this study was to develop pressure sore risk assessment tool and the protocol for prevention of pressure sore formation through CQI action team activities, to monitor incident rate of pressure sore and the length of sore formation for patients at high risk, and to approximately estimate nursing time for sore dressing during research period as the effect of CQI action team. Method : CQI action team in intensive care unit, launched since early 1996, reviewed the literature for the standardized risk assessment tool, developed the pressure sore assessment tool based on the Braden Scale, tested its validity, compared on statistics including incidence rate of pressure sore for patients at high risk. Throughout these activities, CQI action team was developed the protocol, called as St. Marys hospital Intensive Care Unit Pressure Sore Protocol, shifted the emphasis from wound treatment to wound prevention. After applied the protocol to patients at high risk, the incident rate and the period of prevention against pressure development were tested with those for patients who received care before implementation of protocol by Chi-square and Kaplan-Meier Method of Survival Analysis. Result : The CQI action team found that these was significant difference of in incidence rate of pressure sores between patients at high risk (control group) who received care before implementation of protocol and those (experimental group) who received it after implementation of protocol (p<.05). 25% possibility of pressure sore formation was shown for the patients with 6th hospital day in ICU in control group. In experimental group, the patients with 10th hospital day had 10% possibility of pressure sore. Therefore, there was significant difference(p<.05) in survival rate between two groups. Also, nursing time for dressing on pressure sore in experimental group was decreased as much as 50% of it in control group. Conclusion : The collaborative team effort led to reduced incidence, increased the length of prevention against pressure sore, and declined nursing care times for sore dressing. However, there have had several suggestions for future study. The preventive care system for pressure sore should be applied to patients at moderate, or low risk throughout continuous CQI team activities based on Bed Sore Indicator Fact Sheet. Hospital-wide supports, such as incentives, would be offered to participants for keeping strong commitment to CQI team. Also, Quality Information System monitoring incidents and estimating cost of poor quality, like workload (full time equivalence) or financial loss, regularly in a hospital has to be developed first for supporting CQI team activities as well as empowering hospital-wide QI implementation. Being several limitations, this study would be one of the report cards for the CQI team activities in intensive care unit of an acute hospital and a trial of quality improvement of health care in Korea.