ABSTRACT
This report examines the influence of a conducting polymer on the crystal growth of labile green rust (GR) through hybridization with polypyrrole. All hybrids used in this study were prepared via one-pot co-precipitation at neutral pH, with specific stoichiometric ratios among all chemical species. The role of the conducting polymer and the effective stoichiometric ratio were demonstrated to facilitate the crystal growth of GR.
ABSTRACT
Blood sampling for a newborn screening test is necessary for all neonates in South Korea. During the heel stick, an appropriate intervention should be implemented to reduce neonatal pain. This study was conducted to identify the effectiveness of kangaroo care (KC), skin contact with the mother, on pain relief during the neonatal heel stick. Twenty-six neonates undergoing KC and 30 control neonates at a university hospital participated in this study. Physiological responses of neonates, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, duration of crying and Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores were measured and compared before, during and 1 min and 2 min after heel sticks. The heart rate of KC neonates was lower at both 1 and 2 min after sampling than those of the control group. Also, PIPP scores of KC neonates were significantly lower both during and after sampling. The duration of crying for KC neonates was around 10% of the duration of the control group. In conclusion, KC might be an effective intervention in a full-term nursery for neonatal pain management.
Subject(s)
Blood Specimen Collection/adverse effects , Infant Care/methods , Intensive Care, Neonatal/methods , Pain Management/methods , Touch , Case-Control Studies , Crying , Female , Heart Rate , Heel/blood supply , Humans , Infant Behavior , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature , Male , Mothers , Pain/diagnosis , Pain/prevention & control , Pain Measurement , Republic of KoreaABSTRACT
Cancer is a potential life-threatening illness that engenders considerable psychologic distress, requiring persistent coping for the treatment procedures. In this cross-sectional descriptive study stress levels and coping strategies of 257 cancer patients residing in South Korea are addressed. Lazarus and Folkman's theory of stress and coping was used as the theoretical framework. The data were collected from November 1999 to March 2000 by face-to-face interviews. Study participants were primarily male (62.6%) and married (91.4%). Cancer of the gastrointestinal system was the most prevalent type of cancer (31.3%). Women and the patients in the third-stage of cancer showed higher stress but less coping than other groups. Stress was negatively correlated with both problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. Korean patients with cancer used emotion-focused coping strategies more than problem-focused coping strategies.