• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a nursing handoff protocol for intensive care units and test its relevance. Methods: This is a methodological research to develop a protocol. A preliminary protocol was developed by composing items and testing content validity through literature review and experts' review. We revised and complemented the preliminary protocol following practical relevance assessment of 38 intensive care unit nurses at a university hospital to test content validity and to assess practical relevance of the final protocol. Results: On the basis of the content validity test for the final protocol, 40 items were adopted. The scores for the practical relevance of the final protocol increased significantly for items such as accuracy of handoff, reduction of handoff-related errors, convenience in using the protocol, reduction in handoff time, and simplification of handoff. Conclusions: The nursing handoff protocol for intensive care units in this study is expected to improve nursing performance with a standardized handoff in intensive care units, promote patient safety, and improve communication among the medical staff.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was aimed to develop the multicomponent intervention for preventing delirium among postoperative patients in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Methods: Using a quasi-experimental pre & post-test design with a non-equivalent control group, a total of 88 hospitalized patients in a SICU participated in this study. The 44 patients were allocated in each experimental and control group. The experimental group received the multicomponent intervention for delirium prevention including a delirium assessment and nursing intervention using a checklist, whereas the control group was provided with a standard care. The primary outcome of this study was the delirium incidence during the course of hospitalization. Results: There were no significant differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics between the two groups. The delirium occurred in 19.2% in the experimental group, whereas 38.6% in the control group ($x^2=4.526$, p<.05). Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated an effect of the multicomponent delirium prevention intervention in decreasing the delirium incidence rate over the standard care among the patients in SICU.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2008

Purpose: Supraventricular arrhythmia is a well-known complication of cardiothoracic surgery, and is common in patients wirth underlying cardiovascular disease. Also, it's treatment and prognosis are well known. However the incidence, the contributing factors, and the prognosis for supraventricular arrhythmias in noncardiothoracic surgical patients are less well known. This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence, the clinical presentation, the prognosis, and the factors comtributing to the prognosis for supraventricular arrhythmia in the surgical intensive care unit. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 34 patients with newly developed or aggravated supraventricular arrhythmias in the surgical intensive care unit between March 2004 and February 2005. The incidence, the risk factors, and the prognosis of supraventricular arrhythmias were analyzed. Results: During a 12month period, the incidence of supraventricular arrhythmia was 1.79% (34/1896). Most patients had pre-existing cardiovascular disease and sepsis. The mortality rate was 29.4%, and the most common cause of death was multiple organ failure due to septic shock. The mean value of the APACHE II score was 20.9, and the surgical intensive care unit and the hospital lengths of stay were 9.9 days and 25.8 days, respectively. The APACHE II score measured when the arrhythmia developed was a significant factor in predicting mortality, Conclusion: Supraventricular arrhythmias result in increased mortality and increased length of stay in both the surgical intensive care unit and the hospital. The arrhythmia itself did not cause death, but a high APACHE II score incicated a poor prognosis. This may reflect the severity of the illness rather than an independent contributor to mortality.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aims to investigate the status of delirium intervention in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and the perception of this delirium by medical staff. Methods : This retrospective study involves 185 patients, whereas, a descriptive survey is conducted with 197 medical staff members. Results : The delirium group includes 100 patients (54.1%). The incidence of delirium is 64.9% in the medical ICU, 65.9% in the surgical ICU, 42.4% in the neuro ICU, and 46.5% in the cardiac ICU. The percentages of delirium prevention intervention differs between the two groups: 65.0% in the delirium group and 95.3% in the non-delirium group. The medical staff recognize that delirium is a common problem in the ICU (100.0%) and requires active medical intervention (98.5%). Conclusion : The length of stay at the ICU is longer in the delirium group than in the non-delirium group. It is necessary to standardize delirium prevention and treatment protocols to be equally applicable to all ICU patients.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to understand the essence of experiences of patients and family members during flexible visiting in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This is a qualitative study using interviews with open ended questions. We used Colaizzi's method of phenomenological interpretation. Results: Flexible visiting in the ICU impacted the patients and their families in various ways. The following categories were extracted from the patients' experiences with flexible visiting: 1) the opportunity to feel the presence of the family and 2) the burden of unrestricted visiting. The following categories were extracted from the families' experiences with flexible visiting: 1) psychological comfort by convenience 2) being aware of health care professionals and critical care nursing in the intensive care unit, and 3) double trouble. Conclusions: These results showed that flexible visiting in the ICU affected the patients and their families positively and negatively. Therefore, nursing staff need to design psychological and social interventions that address the needs of patients and their families.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.31-40
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• 2017

Purpose : This study examined the prevalence of delirium-related factors in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Methods : This retrospective study enrolled 73 patients who were admitted to an SICU from October 1, 2016 to March 20, 2017 and who had been hospitalized for more than 72 hours. Data was collected by reviewing electronic medical records. Results : Delirium occurred in 46 (63.0%) patients. Its related factors were age, education, mechanical ventilator, sleep, narcotics, physical restraint, and central line catheters. Conclusion : The results indicate that sleep and physical restraint are significant factors related to delirium occurrence. The results of this study can help in developing guidelines for the prevention of delirium.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-66
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to systematically review the instruments utilized to assess physical impairment in post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors. Method : Online databases searched were MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase. Studies that met the following criteria were included: 1) the study population exclusively had experience with ICU admission; 2) the study assessed pulmonary, neuromuscular, and physical functions; and 3) the study was published in English language journals after 2007. Results : A total of 56 instruments (2 pulmonary, 25 neuromuscular, 29 physical function) from 94 studies were reviewed. They were classified into self-report, observation, and measurement according to the type of assessment. No instrument measured all 3 areas of physical impairment. Five instruments were originally developed for the ICU patients. The most frequently applied instruments were the Medical Research Council and the 36-item Short Form Survey (physical component summary), which were used in 23 studies each. Only 13.8% of reviewed studies reported the reliability or validity of the instruments. Conclusion : Our results suggest that the appropriateness of instruments assessing physical impairment in PICS cannot be guaranteed. Despite the multidimensional concept of physical disabilities, most studies measured only one area, and studies that reported psychometric properties were limited. Accordingly, we propose to develop a unique and multifaceted instrument for ICU survivors.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2018

This study investigates the effect of a combination of homeopathic medicine and electro- acupuncture in two patients with breast cancer and severe liver disease who could not receive standard anaesthesia therapy due to liver problems. Specifically, measurable and quantifiable parameters were used to evaluate whether an integrated approach-consisting of electro- acupuncture and a homeopathic medicine diluted above Avogadro's limit (that is, above a potency of 12CH) during the pre-surgical, surgical and post-surgical phases -can improve general well-being of a patient undergoing breast cancer surgery. In breast cancer surgery, we employed an integrated approach consisting of induction with hypnotics and muscle relaxants, followed by maintenance with anaesthetic gas, combined with a homeopathic treatment (Arnica montana 15CH and Apis mellifica 15CH) before and after surgery and an electro- acupuncture treatment performed in the pre- and post-surgical phases without any analgesic/pain relieving medications. Both of the patients treated with the integrated approach improved their overall condition without need for other common pain relieving medicines. Additionally, thanks to their rapid awakening, the patients were not relocated to a protected area and the hospitalization was shorter. A multidisciplinary approach incorporating homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture can be a solution for patients who need or ask about a different and/or safer alternative to the standard treatment. This approach can offer a safe, much less expensive, non-invasive and viable alternative for such cases. Moreover it can be useful for an opioids free anesthesia.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2018

Purpose : Nurses' knowledge regarding advance directives may affect their administration of and confidence towards end of life care. This study aimed to describe the relationships of knowledge, confidence, and learning needs with advance directives among hospital nurses. Method : This cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary university hospital in Seoul between September 25 and October 14, 2017. Convenience sampling was used to recruit nurses who provided bedside care and had at least 1 year of clinical experience. We used a validated self-report questionnaire. Results : The mean score of knowledge, confidence and learning needs were $5.00{\pm}1.73$, $29.81{\pm}7.52$, and $64.54{\pm}8.48$ respectively. Hospital nurses' knowledge, confidence and learning needs were significantly different according to age, job position, educational level and perceived advance directives. Knowledge regarding advance directives was significantly associated with confidence (r = .27, p < .001) and learning needs (r = .16, p = .005). Conclusion : Knowledge regarding advance directives was relatively low compared to the findings of previous studies. Therefore, nurses should be knowledgeable and encouraged to initiate advance directives. It is necessary to develop a standardized educational program regarding advance directives based on Korean cultures.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after upper or lower abdominal digestive tract surgery. Methods: Participants in this retrospective observational study had undergone upper or lower digestive tract surgery and entered the surgical intensive care unit between March 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017. Data were collected from the medical records, operative records, results of laboratory test, and the nursing records of the hospitals. Results: Of the patients, 544 patients were enrolled in the study and PPCs -developed in 335 (61.6%) patients. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, significant risk factors of PPCs were identified: BMI (Body Mass Index; $kg/m^2$), preoperative serum BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen; mg/dL), abdominal open surgery, or blood transfusion during operation. Conclusion: These risk factors could be used to help identify patients at risk for PPCs and then appropriate nursing interventions could be provided for patients at risk of PPCs.