Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing the readmission of heart transplant recipients through survival analysis. Methods: We collected data from heart transplant recipients who were discharged after surgery between November 2005 and September 2020 from the electronic medical records of Y University Hospital in Seoul. The Kaplan-Meier estimation was utilized to calculate the survival rate, and Cox's proportional hazards model was employed to determine the factors influencing readmission within 1 year. Results: Out of 150 heart transplant recipients, 81 (54.0%) were readmitted within one year. The median time to readmission was 231 days. An increased duration of postoperative days was associated with a higher risk of readmission (p=.016). Groups with abnormal sodium levels (p<.001), those requiring postoperative hemodialysis (p=.013), patients with chronic kidney disease (p=.002), dyslipidemia (p=.040), or diabetes mellitus (p=.045) also faced higher readmission risks. In the final model, sodium levels (hazard ratio [HR]=2.31, p<.001) and chronic kidney disease (HR=1.67, p=.045) were significant risk factors for readmission (x² =31.90, p<.001). Conclusion: Interventions to improve kidney function and a multidisciplinary approach are needed to reduce readmission of heart transplant recipients.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the degree of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and determine the effect of Urinary Incontinence (UI) on HRQoL in patients after prostatectomy.
METHODS
The participants were 110 adults who had undergone radical prostatectomies at Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea. The data of this cross-sectional study were collected between April 10, 2015, and June 12, 2015. The questionnaire included demographic and disease-related characteristics, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used.
RESULTS
The mean age was 66.27±7.24 years. The mean score of HRQoL was 47.37 (range 0~100). The lowest-ranked domains were “physical limitations” (M=51.21) and “role limitations” (M=49.85). The HRQoL was significantly different according to the number of post-operative day. HRQoL was significantly correlated with UI, and was affected by UI. The regression model of this study accounted for 70% of the HRQoL.
CONCLUSION
UI might influence HRQoL in patients after prostatectomy. Nursing interventions with special consideration of UI are needed to improve their HRQoL.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and its influencing factors in Koreans with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).
METHODS
One hundred and four participants were recruited from Severance hospital in Seoul, Korea. A PAD-specific quality of life questionnaire was used to measure HRQoL. The relevant knowledge, social support, and demographic and clinical characteristics were also measured. Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed.
RESULTS
The mean scores of PAD-related knowledge and social support were high, while those of the HRQoL were low. The HRQoL was significantly higher among university graduates than those who had completed only middle school, and among those with coronary artery disease. The HRQoL in patients with PAD was significantly correlated with duration of diagnosis, the Rutherford classification, rest pain, walking pain, medical staff support, and family support. It was significantly affected by walking pain, duration of diagnosis, medical staff support, and rest pain. The regression model accounted for 38.4% of the HRQoL in this study.
CONCLUSION
Pain and medical staff support might influence HRQoL among patients with PAD. Understanding the characteristics of HRQoL may be important in developing tailored management strategies to improve HRQoL among Koreans with PAD.

Citations

• The Relationships between Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, Hopelessness, and Illness Acceptance Levels Diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease and Related Factors
  Dilara Şahan, Yakup Akyüz, Fatma Güneyi, Damla Coşar
  Annals of Vascular Surgery.2025; 115: 117.     CrossRef
• Health Literacy and Disease Knowledge of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease or Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Scoping Review
  Goudje L. van Leeuwen, Maria-Annette Kooijman, Richte C.L. Schuurmann, Barbara L. van Leeuwen, Barbara C. van Munster, Hanneke van der Wal-Huisman, Jean-Paul P.M. de Vries
  European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.2024; 67(6): 935.     CrossRef
• A Scoping Review of Measurement Tools Evaluating Awareness and Disease-Related Knowledge in Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients
  Carolina Machado de Melo Felix, Danielle Aparecida Gomes Pereira, Maureen Pakosh, Lilian Pinto da Silva, Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2023; 13(1): 107.     CrossRef
• Relationship between Uncertainty and Health-related Quality of Life in Elderly Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: The Mediating Effects of Sense of Coherence and Social Support
  Min-Yi Song, Min-Jeong Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2022; 29(3): 284.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify effects of a self-management program on self-efficacy and compliance in patients with CHF. Hypothesis: 1) Patients with CHF who are provided with a self-management program will show higher self-efficacy scores than a control group. 2) Patients who are provided with a self-management program will show higher compliance scores than a control group. METHOD: This study was designed as a nonequivalent non-synchronized pre-posttest control group. There were eight patients in the experimental group, and twelve in the control group. According to NYHA classification, all patients belonged under the classesl to lV. Data were collected using the instruments developed by the researchers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Mann Whitney U test. RESULT: There were significant differences in self-efficacy scores and compliance scores between the experimental and control group. CONCLUSION: By utilizing the program, patients were able to monitor their symptoms routinely, comply with therapeutic regimen, and feel better able to positively influence their disease. Therefore, better compliance means fewer readmissions of patients with CHF.

The purpose of this study was to develop Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and discharge criteria that would lead to the appropriate utilization of ICU resources and nursing services. For this study, a conceptual framework was developed through a review of the literature. Then in order to identify the overall health condition of patients in the ICU, and to draw up preliminary criteria, the medical records of 58 patients who were admitted to the ICU of Y Medical Center in Seoul between March, 1999 to February, 2000 of were analyzed. Two expert validity tests were done for the preliminary criteria for admission and discharge with 21 patients over 18 years of age who were admitted patients and for 12 patients who were discharged between May 30, 2000 and June 5, 2000 a clinical validity test was also done. After this process, the final admission and discharge criteria were developed. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. After a review of the literature, there were 9 categories for admission criteria cardiologic, gastrointestinal, neurologic, endocrine, post-op care of major surgery, vital signs, laboratory values, and a category of miscellaneous items. Discharge criteria had 3 categories which were vital signs, laboratory values, and a category of miscellaneous items. 2. From the medical records of the 58 patients who were admitted to the ICU, 45 items for preliminary criteria for admission and 17 for discharge were identified. 3. The two expert validity tests showed that of the 45 items 29 admission items received over 75 percent agreement. The 16 admission items which received less than 75 percent agreement were revised or deleted from the admission criteria. Of the 17 discharge items, 11 had over 75 percent agreement and 6 less then 75 percent agreement. These were revised or deleted from the discharge criteria. 4. In the clinical validity test, 14 admission items showed more than 75 percent agreement and 11 discharge items more than 83 percent agreement. 5. The final criteria consisted of 29 items for admission and 11 items for discharge. Since patients being considered for admission to the ICU have complex problems, there is a need to make the decision based on more than a single issue. This tool will insure that the ICU nursing care and treatment resources are appropriately used by allowing a multi-professional health team to make admission and discharge decisions.

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of situational, clinical and psychsoical factors on treatment-seeking behavior among those with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). This study used a retrospective, descriptive design. The sample consisted of 72 patients aged over 30 and who were diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction at two large university-affiliated medical centers from July 1, 1998 to March 30, 2000. But of 72, patients 5 who were an outlier in treatment-seeking time were deleted. Data were collected by using questionnaires, which included demographic data, situational, clinical and psychosocial data. Also patient interviews and chart review were used to obtain information related to treatment-seeking time. The results of this study were summarized as follows; 1. Mean time from the onset of AMI symptoms to arrival at the hospital was 12.09 +/- 11.44 hours; 2. Treatment-seeking time was not significantly different by age, gender, or education; 3. Most(44 or 65.78%) patients were at home when they began having AMI symptoms. The remaining patients were either in a public area, workplace or in a car. Patients at home delayed longer than those who had their first symptoms elsewhere, but not significantly different. Also, most patients were with another person when they began to experience AMI symptoms: a spouse(25 or 37.3%), other family member(31 or 46.3%); the remaining 11 were alone. There were no significant differences in treatment-seeking time based on whether alone or with others. Most patients(46 or 68.7%) used an ambulance rather than taking private transportation, and patients who used an ambulance were delayed longer than those who used private transportation, but there were no significant differences; 4. Time to treatment-seeking was not significantly different by blood pressure, heart rate on admission and the peak CK-MB, CPK and Cholesterol level, Killips class; 5. There were no significant statistical differences in treament-seeking times by anxiety level, mood status or control ability.