• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the sleep/activity patterns of premature babies. Method: The subjects were 55 premature babies who were hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of one University Hospital in Daejeon from September 1, 2004 to March 31, 2006. The sleep/activity patterns of the premature babies were observed for 24 hours a day for 7 days. The observations were made and recorded by the researcher and 5 trained research assistants using NCASA records developed by Barnard et al. (1979). For statistical analysis, frequency, average, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used. Results: The infants slept more and had less awake periods during daytime than full-term infants. As the hospital stay of the premature babies increased, the amount of daytime sleep and total daily sleep decreased, and the amount of daytime awake periods increased. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the level of physical and physiological maturity of premature babies is one of the major variables that affect their sleep/activity patterns. Furthermore, the findings of this study will provide information about the sleep/activity patterns of premature babies, and present baseline data to develop the nursing intervention programs which support optimum development for the premature babies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.8
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• pp.351-356
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• 2014

Purpose: Among the many factors associated with acute intestinal mucosal infection, numerous studies have proposed the usefulness of fecal calprotectin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fecal calprotectin in the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Methods: We collected 154 stool samples from 16 very low birth weight and premature newborns at the Konyang University Hospital neonatal intensive care unit or neonatal nursery. The stool samples were collected using the Calprest device, and the fecal calprotectin level was measured with the $B\ddot{U}HLMANN$ Calprotectin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: Fecal calprotectin levels were significantly higher in the NEC group than in the non-NEC group (P=0.02). There was a significant positive linear relationship between the fecal calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.00) in the gestational age <26 weeks group. There was a significant negative linear relationship between the calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.03) in the gestational age ${\geq}26$ weeks and <30 weeks group. There was no difference in the calprotectin levels according to the type and method of feeding between the NEC and non-NEC groups. Conclusion: Fecal calprotectin levels were significantly increased in premature infants with NEC. The fecal calprotectin test is a noninvasive, easy, and useful tool for the diagnosis of NEC.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.170-177
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• 2018

Purpose: Preterm infants frequently require red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Storage RBCs undergo many changes during storage periods. We aimed to compare the hemoglobin (Hb) correction effect according to the period of RBC storage and investigate the factors influencing Hb correction. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 289 patients who received RBC transfusion more than once in the NICU of Kosin University Gospel Hospital between February 2006 and March 2016. The subjects were classified into two storage groups: short-term (${\leq}7days$, n=88) and long-term (>7 days, n=201), according to the period of RBC storage. We checked Hb levels by complete blood cell count tests conducted within 2 days before and 5 to 9 days after the first transfusion. We compared the Hb difference between the two groups and analyzed the factors influencing Hb correction. Results: Excluding the use of an invasive ventilator, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinical characteristics. There was no significant difference in the Hb correction effect between the two groups (P=0.537). Birth weight greater than 1,500 g, higher weight at transfusion, and larger volume of transfusion were significant prognostic factors affecting greater changes in Hb. In addition, surgery experience, higher Hb level at transfusion, and additional blood tests were found to be significantly associated with less changes in Hb. Conclusion: The RBC storage period did not affect the Hb correction effect. The Hb correction effect may be diminished in infants with lower birth weight and lower weight at transfusion under unstable clinical conditions.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.257-266
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the themes involved in a nursing experience of caring for extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: Interviews with 6 nurses in various positions and observations in a level III NICU were conducted. The transcribed interview contents and observational notes were reviewed to analyze the data and conceptualize major themes. Results: Three major themes were identified: the fears expressed by the nurses regarding taking care of ELBWIs, reasons for persistent fears, and overcoming fears and gaining intuition. Nurses were afraid of the following factors: the physical fragility of the infants; the possibility of developing disabilities in the future; and the rapid changes in infants' physical condition. These fears were reduced when nurses had developed intuition and confidence in taking care of ELBWIs through various situational experiences. Conclusion: NICU nurses may benefit from obtaining more opportunities to participate in various learning experiences with simulated nursing situations in a variety of patient groups. Applying knowledge and skills into various nursing situations in an integrative way may contribute to enhancing nurses' confidence in nursing practice.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences according to the hospitals of antenatal care in premature infants. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of premature infants with gestational ages <37 weeks and very low birth weights who were admitted immediately after birth to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital between March 2007 and February 2009. The hospitals of antenatal care were divided into two levels (primary antenatal care hospital: hospitals with less than a level 2 NICU, secondary antenatal care hospital: hospitals with a level 3 NICU) based on the level of NICU in hospitals. In addition, total infants were divided into two groups (Immediate group: infants born within 24 hours of maternal admission, Delayed group: infants born after 24 hours of maternal admission). The differences between maternal and neonatal variables in each groups were studied. Results: Neonates in secondary antenatal care hospitals comprised 11.0% of the study neonates (10 of 91). We compared with two groups (primary antenatal care hospital and secondary antenatal care hospital), but there were no differences in all subjects. However, the 1 minute Apgar score ($\leq3$) was lower in the immediate group than the delayed group. Conclusion: Shorter duration of maternal admission to delivery was associated with a lower 1 minute Apgar score of neonates. These findings suggest that if maintenance of pregnancy is difficult when high-risk gravidas are transferred, clinicians must prepare for emergencies of neonates.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2004

This study aimed to determine the association of maternal oxidative stress and adverse pregnancy outcome with serum vitamin C concentration and a myeloperoxidase (MPO) genetic polymorphism during pregnancy. We investigated 450 pregnant women who visited Ewha Womans University Hospital for prenatal care during gestational weeks 24～28. During the second trimester, we measured serum vitamin C levels and urinary 8-hydroxyde-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidative stress biomarker. We determined the presence of a maternal MPO polymorphism (G-to-A substitution at nucleotide 463) using a PCR-RFLP assay. We compared the level of oxidative stress and birth weight with the vitamin C concentration and the presence of the MPO polymorphism. The mean level of maternal oxidative stress tended to be higher and the birth weight lower for MPO type A/A than for types A/G and G/G. Vitamin C levels above the 75 percentiles were associated with reduced concentrations of urinary MDA and 8-OHdG but increased birth weight. Our data demonstrate that oxidative stress and neonatal birth weight are associated with the MPO genetic polymorphism, with the association modified by the maternal vita-min C levels.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.37-50
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• 2022

Purpose : This study aimed to examine the item characteristics of the Korean version of the intensive care experience questionnaire (K-ICEQ) using the Rasch analysis model of the item response theory. Methods : In this methodological study, the validity of the scale was examined, and a secondary analysis was conducted using cohort data of patients who were discharged from the intensive care units (ICU). Data from 891 patients who responded to the K-ICEQ upon ICU discharge were analyzed. The WINSTEP program was used to analyze item characteristics, including item difficulty, fit indices, appropriateness scale, and separation reliability. Results : The difficulty level of all 26 items of the K-ICEQ was appropriate, and the fit indices of the 25 items, except for item 18, were good. The 5-point scale of the K-ICEQ was not appropriate in the three subscales. The item separation reliability was good in all subscales, but did not meet the criteria in terms of respondents. Conclusion : The results of examining the item characteristics of the K-ICEQ revealed a good degree of difficulty, fitness, and item separation reliability. To increase the validity of the K-ICEQ, we suggest the rearrangement of the overall item order, modification of the item description of the "recall of experience" subscale, and reduction of the scale response level.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.865-878
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• 1999

With advances in neonatal medicine, smaller and sicker infants are surviving premature birth. As these tiny patients battle for their lives, their parents also struggle with psychological consequences of an unexpected role. The birth of a sick infants has long been documented as stressful events for the parents. High stress levels may alter parents' interaction with their baby and impair their communication with health professionals, which can in turn affect parents' participation in care planning and decision making. Nursing interventions aimed at reducing the parental stress and anxiety levels during this crisis may have a positive impact on their ability to form an attatchment to their baby and make prudent decisions about his care. The planning of such interventions would be inhanced if the contributions of various factors to increased parental stress levels were identified. This descriptive study was conducted to understand the contents and degree of parental stress in the NICU during their premature's hospitalization, and to give a baseline data in developing nursing intervention program. Subjects were the 60 mother of hospitalized newborn in NICU of 2 University Hospital in Taejon City from April 1st, 1999 to June 30th, 1999, who agreed to take part in this study. The instrument used in this study were Parental Stressor Scales:NICU(PSS:NICU) developed by Miles et al.. and validated by 3 NICU practitioners and 3 child health nursing faculties. The questionnaire has 4 dimensions and 45 items; sight and sounds of NICU(5 items), babies' appearance and behavior nursing intervention(19 items), parental role alteration and relationship with their baby(10 items), health team communication(11 items). The questionnaire asks parents to rate each item on a five-point Likert type scale that ranges from "not stressful" (1) to "extremely stressfu1"(5). Total scores representing overall stress from the NICU environment are calculated by summing response to each item. A high score indicates high stress. A subscale score is calculated by summing the responses to each item in the subscale. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficients were .93. The data was analyzed as average, Frequency, Standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient by use of SPSS/PC+. The results of this study is summarized as follows ; 1. The total perceived stress level score of mothers of premature baby was slightly high($3.66{\pm}1.1$). The highest scored dimension was 'relationship with their baby and parental role change'($4.21{\pm}0.9$), and next were 'appearance and behavior of the baby'($3.92{\pm}1.1$), 'communication with health team'($3.32{\pm}1.3$), 'sight and sounds of NICU'($3.30{\pm}1.1$). 2. There were statistically significant correlation noted ; mother's perceived severity of the baby's condition(F=8.0012, P= .0125) and baby's gestational age(r = -.4724, P = .0500). In summary, information about physical environment of NICU, the mother's perceived severity of premature baby's state, maternal role change related variables and the knowledge of characteristics of premature baby must be included in nursing intervention program of mother's of premature baby in reducing the parental stress and anxiety level. It is suggested that each NICU needs to develop a nurse managed supportive care program for parents of premature baby. Also, it is suggested that there need to investigate the coping mechanism of mother of premature baby.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.35-55
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• 2001

Recently attention has been focused on the effects of early intervention, or its lack, on both normal and preterm infants. Particularly numerous studies suggest that premature infants are not necessarily understimulated but instead are subjected to inappropriate stimulation. Developmental support and sensory stimulation have become clinical opportunities in which nursing practice can impact on the neurobehavioral outcome of premature infants. Developmental care has been widely accepted and implemented in neonatal intensive care units across the country. Increasingly, attention and concern in caring for low-birth-weight infants and premature infants has led clinicians in the field to explore the effects of a complex of interventions designed to create and maintain a developmentally supportive environment; to provide age-appropriate sensory input; and to protect the infant from inappropriate, excessive and stressful stimulation. The components of developmental care include modifications of the macro-environment to reduce NICU light and sound levels, care clustering, nonnutritive sucking, and containment strategies, such as flexed positioning or swaddling. Sensory stimulation of the premature infants is presented to standardize the modification of a developmental intervention based on physiologic and behavioral cues. The most appropriate type of stimuli are those that are sensitive to infant cues. Evaluation of infant physiological and behavioral responds to specific intervention stimuli may help to identify more appropriate interventions based on infants' cues. A critical question confronting the clinician is that of determining when the evidence supporting a change in practice is sufficient to justify making that change. There are acknowledged limitations in the current studies. Many of the studies examined had small sample sizes; used nonprobability sampling; and used a phase lag design, which introduces the possibility of threats to internal validity and limits the generalizability of the results. Although many issues regarding the effects of developmental interventions remain unresolved, the available research base documents significant benefits of developmental care for LBW infants in consistent outcomes, without significant adverse effects. Particularly, although the individual studies vary somewhat in the definition of specific outcomes measured, instrumentation used, time and method of data collection, and preparaion of the care providers, in all studies, infants receiving the full protocol of individualized developmentally supportive care had improvements in some aspect of four areas of infant functioning: level of respiratory or oxygen support, the establishment of oral feeding; length of hospital stay, and infant behavioral regulation. In summary, based on the available literature, individualized developmental intervention should be incorporated into standard practice in neonatal intensive care. And this implementation needs to be coupled with ongoing research to evaluate the impact of an individualized developmental care programs on the short- and long-tenn health outcomes of LBW infants.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.405-420
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• 2001

The main purpose of this study was to identify the effect of phone counseling carried out to promote the role of the primiperous mothers. The data were collected from march 20 to may 30, 1998. The subjects for the study were the mothers of 60 first bon neonates admitted to and discharged from Sam-sung Medical Center's neonatal ward. Thirty subjects were assigned to the experimental group and thirty to the control group. A measure of maternal identity as well as level of self confidence in taking care of an infant after giving birth was taken. Informational supportive nursing was then provided to the mothers through phone counseling for a total of four times at 2~3 days, 7~8days, 12∼13days and 18∼1days after discharged. The level of self confidence in taking care of an infant was then remeasured. The control group was not provided with supportive nursing through phone counseling instead the level of confidence in taking care of an infant was measured at 3 weeks. Taking previous study documentary evidence into consideration the researcher developed a supportive nursing telephone counseling program that provided both informational and emotional support suitable to primiperous mothers. A semantic differential scale developed according to Osgood and translated and adapted by Koh Hyo-Jung was used as the maternal self identity measurement tool. The tool used to measure self confidence in taking care of infant was the developed by Bak Mi Suk which includes 13 items from Pharis's self confidence scale The data were analyzed using χ²-test, t-test and paired t-test. The result of the study are as follows 1. First hypothesis The level of self confidence in taking care of an infant for the group of primiparas who received phone counseling in the postpartum period would be higher than that of the primiparas who did not receive phone counselling : As the experimental group's level of self confidence in taking care infants was significantly higher than that of the control group this hypothesis is accepted 2. Second hypothesis The level of maternal identity will be higher for the group of primiparas who received phone counseling than that of primiparas who did not received phone counseling As the experimental group's level of maternal identity was significantly higher than that of the control group this hypothesis is accepted In looking at the results of the study as a whole, it can be concluded that emotional and informational nursing support provided through phone counselling is an effective strategy in promoting the role of new mothers.