• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.86-96
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• 1998

Newborn period is a transitional stage for independent adaptation from intrauterine to extrauterine life by maintaining respiration, temperature and nutrition. In general, the adaptability of the newborn is proportional to the gestational age(GA), so knowing the accurate GA is critical to develop nursing process in the newborn nursery. A newborn ma turity rating, a Ballard examination, has been used to measure GA by assessing the maturity of new-born. It consists a total of 12 items, which is the 6 items for the neuromuscular maturity and the 6 items for the physical maturity A total of 75 new-born were assessed for the maturity and GA using the Ballard examination. The results are follows : 1) The score of each item of Ballard examination is propotional to GA using the Ballard examination as well as LMP. 2) There was a greater positive relationship between neuromuscular, physical and total maturity, and the GA measured by Ballard examination, than the GA measured by LMP. 3) Any stressful environment to the newborn could influence to the maturity of newborn. In summary, the study showed the Ballard examination Is more reliable and clincially feasible method to measure the accurate G4 compared to the GA by LMP. Therefore, it suggests the application of Ballard examination to measure the new born maturity and GA is beneficial in developing nursing process. The expansion of the study with the variety of the subject characteristics nil on hance the clinical applicability of the examination.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2002

Purpose: Knowing the accurate gestational age(GA) is critical in nursing care of premature infants. A descriptive study was performed to examine the reliability and clinical applicability of the New Ballard examination(NBE) in premature infants. Method: A NBE was performed to measure GA by assessing the neuromuscular and physical maturity in the course of physical examination of a convenient sample of 74 premature infants. Result: 1. The highest item of NBE score was posture (mean=2.82) and the lowest item was breast (mean=1.84). 2. There was a highly correlation between both the GA by LMP(GA-LMP) and GA by NBE (GA-NBE)(r=.844, p=.000). 3. There was a greater positive relationship in neuromuscular maturity than physical maturity in the GA-NBE of the premature infants(r=.786 vs r=.933). 4. There was a positive correlation between neuromuscular, physical, total maturity, GA-LMP and GA-NBE in the birth weight, length, 1, 5 minute apgar score. 5. There was no significant difference neuromuscular, physical, total maturity in NBE by delivery history. Conclusion: The study supports the reliability a clinical relevance of NBE in assessment of the accurate GA in premature infants.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.176-185
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• 2002

Knowing the accurate GA is critical in nursing care of high-risk newborns. A descriptive study was performed to examine the reliability and clinical applicability of the new Ballard examination (NBE) in high-risk infants. Method: A NBE was performed to measure GA by assessing the neuromuscular and physical maturity in the course of physical examination of a convenient sample of 50 high-risk infants. Results: 1) There was a highly correlation between both the GA by LMP (GA-LMP) and GA by NBE (GA-NBE) (r = .894, p = .000) 2) There was a greater positive relationship in neuromuscular maturity than physical maturity in the GA-NBE of the high-risk newborn (r = .657 versus r = .915, p <. 05). 3) The high-risk infants were thoes with congenital anomalies, prematurity, and RDS(Respiratory Distress Syndrome). Male infants showed a higher neuromuscular maturity, compared to female infants. 4) There was a positive correlation between neuromuscular, physical, total maturity, GA-LMP and GA-NBE in the birth weight, 1 minute Apgar score. Conclusion: The study supports the reliability an clinical relevance of NBE in assessment of the accurate GA in high-risk infants.

• 아동간호학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.12a
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• pp.4-13
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• 1999