International journal of nursing studies
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This 18-month study used a structured questionnaire to explore the roles of nursing care on the occurrence and consequences of unplanned endotracheal extubation (UEE) in intensive care units in Taiwan. Experiencing UEE were 225/1176 (22.5%) intubated patients: 91.7% were self-extubations and 8.3% were accidental. ⋯ Accidental extubations occurred most frequently in patients undergoing routine nursing procedures, usually required immediate re-intubation and were associated with more complications. An appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio, better working procedures and continual nursing education programs might help reduce occurrence and complications of UEE.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers number approximately 200 million people around the world. In Korea, there is no accurate statistical information, but 1-2% of the total population have been estimated to be suffering from RA. Current research studies related to RA have been limited to quantitative approaches. ⋯ The results of this study identified 8 major theme clusters, which were 'severe pain', 'self-esteem', 'negative feelings', 'reflect the past life', 'concentrate on recovery from disease', 'a comfortable mind in pain', 'support of family and others', and 'new life'. These results may provide important information to establish effective interventions for women with RA, their families, and health providers through understanding various aspects of the lived experience of women with RA. The implications for nursing practice in this area of chronic illness such as RA, should be how patients can be empowered to believe they can take control of their disease and their lives.
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The purpose of this study was to identify and analyse Korean health professionals' attitudes and knowledge of organ donation and transplantation. An exploratory study using semi-structured interviews with nine key informants from three major hospitals which provide transplant services in Seoul was conducted. ⋯ It was also found that the participants' attitudes were mixed and somewhat negative, as they did not regard brain death as true death. In addition, a majority demonstrated a contradiction when it became a more personal issue.