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Summary Purpose The purpose of this study was to test a predictive model that could predict and explain work effectiveness among staff nurses at local hospitals. Methods Between April 1 and May 15, 2009, 340 nurses were recruited from two hospitals (one in Ulsan and one in Yangsan). Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results A modified model was retained, as the final path model showed a very good fit with the data. Job characteristics and compensation justice were found to have direct and positive effects on empowerment. Job characteristics, transformational leadership, and empowerment were found to directly and positively affect work effectiveness. In addition, job characteristics were found to have a greater effect on empowerment and work effectiveness than other factors do. Conclusion This structural equation model was used to test the relationships between these factors and work effectiveness. Empowerment mediated the relationship between job characteristics, transformational leadership, and work effectiveness. Findings from this study can be used to design the strategies for increasing work effectiveness in Korean nurses.

Goals and background Premedication with pronase, dimethylpolysiloxane, and sodium bicarbonate improves visibility during upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy. However, the optimal time for this combination to take effect is unknown. We investigated the optimal time of pre-UGI endoscopy medication. Study A randomized, investigator-blind, controlled trial. The 300 patients who were to receive premedication were randomized into 3 groups according to the following medication time before UGI endoscopy: 10 minutes (group A, n=98), 10 to 30 minutes (group B, n=97), and 30 minutes premedication (group C, n=99). Visibility scores (range, 1 to 4, with lower scores indicating better gastric mucosal visibility) were assessed for the antrum, lower body, upper body, and fundus and compared, including the sum of the scores, between the 3 groups. Results Group B had significantly lower visibility scores for the lower body, upper body, and fundus than group C (P=0.001, 0.009, and 0.002, respectively). Group A obtained significantly lower scores for the antrum and lower body than group C (P=0.007 and 0.005, respectively). The total visibility scores of groups A and B were significantly lower compared with those of group C (P=0.001, 0.003, respectively). Conclusions Administration of pronase, dimethylpolysiloxane, and sodium bicarbonate within 30 minutes before UGI endoscopy significantly improved endoscopic visualization. However, the optimal time to achieve the best visibility was between 10 to 30 minutes before UGI endoscopy.

Measures are very useful tools for comparing the shape variability in statistical shape analysis. For examples, the Procrustes statistic(PS) is isolated measure, and the mean Procrustes statistic(MPS) and the root mean square measure(RMS) are overall measures. But these measures are very subjective, complicated and moreover these measures are not statistical for comparing the shape variability. Therefore we need to study some tests. It is well known that the Hotelling`s T2 test is used for testing shape variability of two independent samples. And for testing shape variabilities of several independent samples, instead of the Hotelling`s T2 test, one way analysis of variance(ANOVA) can be applied. In fact, this one way ANOVA is based on the balanced samples of equal size which is called as BANOVA. However, If we have unbalanced samples with unequal size, we can not use BANOVA. Therefore we propose the unbalanced analysis of variance(UNBANOVA) for testing shape variabilities of several independent samples of unequal size.

Biplots are the multivariate analogue of scatter plots. They are useful for giving a graphical description of the data matrix, for detecting patterns and for displaying results found by more formal methods of analysis. Nevertheless, when some values are missing in data matrix, most biplots are not directly applicable. In particular, we are interested in the shape variability of principal component biplot which is the most popular in biplots with missing values. For this, we estimate the missing data using the EM algorithm and mean imputation according to missing rates. Even though we estimate missing values of biplot of incomplete data, we have different shapes of biplots according to the imputation methods and missing rates. Therefore we propose a RMS(root mean square) for measuring and comparing the shape variability between the original biplots and the estimated biplots.

Background/Aims.The preparation-to-colonoscopy (PC) interval is one of several important factors for the bowel preparation. Short message service (SMS) reminder from a cellular phone has been suggested to improve compliance in various medical situations. We evaluated the effectiveness of SMS reminders to assure the PC interval for colonoscopy.Methodology.This prospective randomized study was investigator blinded. In the No-SMS group, patients took the first 2 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) between 6 and 8 PM on the day before colonoscopy and the second 2 L PEG approximately 6 hours before the colonoscopy without SMS. In the SMS group, patients took first 2 L PEG in the same manner as the No-SMS group and the second 2 L PEG after receiving an SMS 6 hours before the colonoscopy.Results.The SMS group had a lower score than the No-SMS group, according to the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale(P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compliance with diet instructions (odds ratio (OR) 2.109; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–3.99,P=0.022) and intervention using SMS ((OR) 2.329; 95% (CI), 1.34–4.02,P=0.002) were the independent significant factors for satisfactory bowel preparation.Conclusions.An SMS reminder to assure PC interval improved the bowel preparation quality for colonoscopy with bowel preparation.

Rising anti-Americanism in the winter of 2002 despite the increasing security threats from North Korea, has led some to call the situation a crisis in the ROK-U.S. alliance. However, the opinion polls from June 2003 and February 2004 show that anti-Americanism in South Korea has substantially waned The main aim of this paper is to examine whether the recent wave of anti-Americanism has the content and intensity to threaten the legitimacy of the ROK-U.S. alliance. By analyzing the changes in public attitude and perception towards the U.S. over the past two years based on three survey data, this paper argues that anti-Americanism in South Korea has not posed any real threat to the alliance. However, the polarized public opinion towards the U.S. remains a potentially serious threat to the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance.

New democracies face the arduous task of determining how to deal with gross human rights violations committed during their authoritarian pasts, or the “torturer problem,” to quote Samuel P. Huntington (1991). A new democracy can enhance its legitimacy if it brings human rights violators to justice, thus demonstrating the supremacy of democratic values, including the rule of law. By ensuring that no wrongdoer will go unpunished, the democratic regime prevents the danger of a future military coup d'état and future human rights abuses. Equally critical, it strengthens the power base of democratic forces by delegitimizing or even occasioning a purge of key authoritarian leaders, who often wield influence within the institutions of power, including the military, even after democratic transition. Punishing past wrongdoings constitutes an act of preempting a democratic reversal. In this sense, the question of the past becomes a struggle over power with today's authoritarian forces and for the future of third-wave democracy.

Background/Aims: Currently, a split-dose of polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the mainstay of bowel preparation due to its tolerability, bowel-cleansing action, and safety. However, bowel preparation with PEG is suboptimal because residual fluid reduces the polyp detection rate and requires a more thorough colon inspection. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the efficacy of a sufficient dose of prokinetics on bowel cleansing together with split-dose PEG. Methods: A prospective endoscopist-blinded study was conducted. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: prokinetic with split-dose PEG or split-dose PEG alone. A prokinetic [100 mg itopride (Itomed®)], was administered twice simultaneously with each split-dose of PEG. Bowel-cleansing efficacy was measured by endoscopists using the Ottawa scale and the segmental fluidity scale score. Each participant completed a bowel preparation survey. Mean scores from the Ottawa scale, segmental fluid scale, and rate of poor preparation were compared between both groups. Results: Patients in the prokinetics with split-dose PEG group showed significantly lower total Ottawa and segmental fluid scores compared with patients in the split-dose of PEG alone group. Conclusion: A sufficient dose of prokinetics with a split-dose of PEG showed efficacy in bowel cleansing for morning colonoscopy, largely due to the reduction in colonic fluid.

Nye’s seminal work1 and subsequent studies of soft power2 have improved our understanding of the nature of the changing world in the post—cold war era. It is true, however, that the meaning of the popular term “soft power” still remains controversial, and only limited empirical studies based on systematic measurement of its magnitude have been produced. Prior studies on soft power in East Asia are no exception, despite the region’s increasing strategic importance.

Purpose: It has been attempted to support mother of premature infants by providing information of premature infant care using e-learning because premature infants need continuous care from birth to after discharge. Method: The e-Learning Program for mother of premature was developed with Xpert, Namo web editor, Adobe Photoshop, and PowerPoint and applied for 4 weeks from 4 to 30 September 2006. Result: 1) We found that the contents of information which premature infants’need when being in the hospital and after discharge were the definition of a premature infant, orientation of NICU, care of premature infants, care of premature infants’common diseases, the connection of healthcare resources, exchange of information, and the management of rearing stress. 2) The program content consisted of cause of premature birth, comparison to full-term baby, physiology character, orientation of NICU, common health problems, follow up care, infection control, feeding, normal development physically and mentally, weaning method, and vaccination. Conclusion: Considering the results, this program for mother of premature is a useful means to provide premature-care information to mothers. This information can be readily accessible and can be varied and complex enough to be able to help mothers to the information and assistance they require.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to describe the essence of the experiences of patients in an ICU, and to understand them from the patients' point of view. METHODS Participants in this study were six patients in P hospital. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews and an observation method done from January to April in 2005. The method was analysis using the phenomenological method proposed by Colaizzi(1978). RESULTS The themes were classified into eight theme clusters. The eight theme clusters were finally grouped into four categories, 'shock', 'pain', 'gratefulness' and 'pleasure of revival'. CONCLUSION The ICU patients had negative experiences in physical.mental critical situations, but also positive experiences in consolation and nurses and families' encouragement. Therefore, ICU nurses must support patients and their families to minimize the negative experiences and maximize the positive experiences.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of mental health hospital workers. METHODS Participants in the study were a total of 8 mental health hospital workers who consisted of nurses, social welfare workers and health managers. To prevent them from being omitted, the interviews were all recorded under the participants prior agreement. The method was analysis using the phenomenological method proposed by Colaizzi(1978). RESULTS The experiences of the participants of this study were classified into 15 significant areas, from which 10 subjects hard work, conflicts, heavy feeling, irritability, getting familiar, changes of recognition, aptitude determination, feeling of achievement and sense of pride were drawn out. These subjects were then grouped into 5 themes. These five themes were finally grouped into 5 categories, negative emotion, depressive emotion, changes of thinking, delight and value discovery. CONCLUSIONS The study tried to analyze the experiences of key informants like nurses, social welfare workers and health managers all of whom were serving at mental health hospitals, contribute to social recognition about the special medical establishment, promote qualitative mental health nursing and further provide educational information necessary for understanding mental health hospital workers.

Purpose: The aim in this study was to identify head nurses’ nursing performance according to their managerial competencies and professional nurse autonomy. Methods: From January 15 to January 31, 2013 a survey was distributed to 200 head nurses working in 5 tertiary hospitals in B city and J city. The response rate was 80% (160 responses). The survey content included the Managerial Competencies Scale (MCS), Schutzenhofer professional nurse autonomy Scale (SPNA), and Nursing Performance Scale (SPNA). Results: The score for MCS was 4.53, for SPNA, 177.05, and for SPNA, 4.62. Nursing performance was related to managerial competencies (β=0.741; p

Background and Objectives: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is associated with chronic inflammation, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level is elevated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the impacts of CRP and AF on carotid atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke in patients with suspected ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Subjects and Methods: One-hundred forty patients (78 males) with suspected ischemic cerebrovascular disease underwent carotid ultrasonography. The mean common carotid artery IMT, mean internal carotid artery (ICA) IMT, and plaque score were measured. Patients were divided into four groups according to the presence of AF and elevated CRP level {n=46 for AF(-)CRP(-), n=38 for AF(-)CRP(+), n=43 for AF(+)CRP(-), and n=13 for AF(+)CRP(+)}. Results: Common carotid artery IMT was significantly higher in the AF(-)CRP(+) (0.98±0.51 mm) and AF(+)CRP(+) (0.96±0.27 mm) groups compared to the AF(-)CRP(-) (0.80±0.32 mm) and AF(+)CRP(-) (0.77±0.19 mm) groups (p=0.027). Although there was no significant difference in mean ICA IMT among the groups, plaque score was the highest in the AF(+)CRP(+) (4.18±3.84 mm) group, followed by AF(-)CRP(+) (3.87±2.78 mm), AF(+)CRP(-) (1.34±2.61 mm), and AF(-)CRP(-) (1.17±2.02 mm) (p

Purpose:Thepurpose of this study was to examine theeffects of knowledgeabout the harmfulness of smoking and attitude toward smoking temptation for middle school students. Methods: A survey was conducted in this study on 745 students from 12 middle schools in the Y City. Data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 12.0 using descriptive statistics, t test, ANCOVA, Scheffe - s test and multiple regression analysis. Results: There was statistically significant difference in knowledge about the harmfulness of smoking (F=2.88, p

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive data about the characteristics of pediatric patients and nursing interventions in Regional Emergency Medical Centers (REMC). Methods: A retrospective design was used to examine the medical records of 4,310 children. The clinical data and nursing terminologies of REMC were analyzed using the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC). Results: Male toddlers dominated the sample. The mean age of the children was 3.51 yr. In more than half of the visits, patients arrived between from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., on a weekday. There were only 189 ambulance transports to REMC, (4.4% of visits). The most frequent injuries were due to falls (28.0%) and contusions (27.3%), but the most common reasons for visits were non-injury (73.4%): fever, cough/shortness of breath, seizures, and abdominal pain. Of the 4,310 visits, 27.8% spent 6-24 hr in the REMC, while 33% resulted in hospital admission and 2.1% in transfer to another hospital. Of the 17,929 nursing interventions, 17,909 elements (99.9%) were classified under NIC. All the listed NIC interventions, however, were not reflected in the level of practice demonstrated by REMC nurses. Conclusion: These results can enhance the understanding of pediatric emergency nursing interventions and can make NIC more applicable.