BackgroundA systematic review is used to investigate the best available evidence of clinical safety and effectiveness of healthcare intervention. This requires methodological rigor in order to minimize bias and random error. The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of systematic reviews or meta-analyses for nursing interventions conducted by Korean researchers.MethodsWe searched electronic databases from 1950 to July 2010, including ovidMEDLINE, ovidEMBASE, and Korean databases, including KoreaMed, Korean Medical Database, and Korean studies Information Service System etc. Two reviewers independently screened and selected all references, and assessed the quality of systematic reviews or meta-analyses using the “Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews" (AMSTAR) tool.ResultsTwenty two systematic reviews or meta-analyses were included in this study. The median overall score (out of 11) for included reviews was 5 (range 2–11) and the mean overall score for AMSTAR was 4.7 (95% confidence interval 3.8-5.7). Nine out of 22 reviews were rated as low quality (AMSTAR score 0–4), 11 were rated as moderate quality (AMSTAR score 5–8), and two reviews were categorized as high quality (AMSTAR score 9–11).ConclusionsThe methodological quality of published reviews on nursing interventions conducted by Korean reviewers was assessed as low to moderate. In order to use the best available evidence in clinical decision making, reviewers should conduct systematic reviews or meta- analyses using rigorous research methods.

Assessing end-stage cancer patients' quality of life helps to identify each patient's condition and aspects that could benefit from nursing care. We anticipate that the K-MQOL will be useful for patient assessment in clinical and community settings.

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The purpose of this study was to measure breast discomfort, breast pumping time, and breast milk compositions, specially lipid, calorie, and creamatocrit, after Oketani breast massage program. This study is a single group pretest-posttest design. Seventeen mothers who have preterm babies were received Oketani breast massage program. To evaluate the effects of Oketani massage program, data were measured the breast discomfort by the visual analogue scale, breast pumping time, and breast milk lipid, calorie, creamatocrit by a Creamatocrit plus machine, the standard centrifuge with digital calipers. The breast discomfort was significantly reduced after two Oketani breast massage programs(p<.05). In terms of composition of breast milk, lipid, calorie, and crematocrit were significantly increased after second Oketani massage program(p<.05). The Oketani breast massage program applied to mothers who have preterm babies could reduce breast discomfort and increase lipid, calorie, and creamatocrit of breast milk.

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