We aimed to identify the severity of the Coronavirus disease 2019 specifically according to the SARS-CoV-2 variant in the Republic of Korea by describing the number of severe/critical cases and deaths, case severity rate (CSR) and case fatality rate (CFR). A total of 23,496,849 confirmed cases were reported during January 20, 2020 to September 3, 2022. 26,472 (0.11%) cases were considered severe/critical and 27,471 (0.12%) resulted in death. The omicron BA.1/BA.2 period showed most severe/critical cases and deaths accounting for 40.7% (10,772 patients) and 66.4% (18,252 patients), respectively. In the omicron variant dominant period, the proportion of the age 80 and over saw on increase in severe/critical cases and deaths by 26.4%p, 7.4%p, respectively, than those in the delta dominant period. The CSR and CFR were 0.20% and 0.12% over that period. The CSR decreased from 2.98% in the pre-delta dominant period to 2.14% in the delta dominant period, and 0.14% in the omicron BA.1/BA.2 period. CFR was also highest at 1.15% in the pre-delta dominant period and decreased to 0.95% in the delta dominant period, 0.10% in the omicron BA.1/BA.2 period. Despite the increase in severity of the delta variant, overall severity decreased in the delta dominant period showing continuous decrease in the omicron dominant period. In the omicron dominant period, the proportion of the elderly of severe/critical and fatal condition increased which suggests the importance of focusing on the response strategy of the elderly.

The purpose of this study was to identify the extent to which intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' perceptions of life-sustaining treatment decisions and "a good death" affect attitudes toward terminal care. Method : Participants included 109 ICU nurses from three university hospitals. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, and collected data were analyzed using a t-test, ANOVA, the Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and a multiple regression analysis (SPSS 24.0 program). Results : Perceptions of life-sustaining treatment decisions and a sense of closeness (a constituent for the awareness of "a good death") were positively correlated with terminal care attitudes. The factors affecting terminal care attitudes were a clinical career in ICU (β=.20, p =.035), a sense of closeness(β=.19, p =.041), and the perception of a lifesustaining treatment decision (β=.22, p =.017). This finding indicates that more than 10 years of experience in ICU, a greater sense of closeness, and a higher view of life-sustaining treatment decisions results in more positive attitudes toward terminal care. The explanatory power of these variables on terminal care attitudes was 14% (F=6.84, p < .001, Adj R 2 =.140). Conclusion : A sense of closeness and the perception of life-sustaining treatment decisions were identified as the factors affecting terminal care attitudes. Thus, various programs must be developed to raise awareness among ICU nurses of "a good death" and perceptions of life-sustaining treatment decisions.

No abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two single chest physiotherapies mechanically ventilated patients with acute lung injury. Method : Participants were 30 ICU patients depending entirely on ventilators without self-respiration. Each patients received two single chest physiotherapiesvibration palm cup percussion at hour intervals. Data were analyzed one-way ANOVA and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Statistical significance was accepted at a p value less than .05. Results : ibration therapy, dynamic compliance and statics compliance demonstrated a significant increase immediately and remained increased until 30 minutes after chest physiotherapy. palm cum percussion therapy saturation showed a significant increase immediately chest physiotherapyut there were no significant differences in tidal volume, dynamic compliance and statics compliance. Conclusion : In this study, we analyzed the effects of oscillation method and palm cup percussion method separately for each type of chest physiotherapy. Nursing interventions that actively utilize vibration methods should be provided to patients with respiratory diseases.

No abstract