Background
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic recurrent gastrointestinal disorder that may deteriorate life quality significantly. There is no specific way of curing IBS but to rely on symptomatic and supportive treatment as well as changes in lifestyle. Previous studies have suggested that physical exercise might be effective for improving IBS symptoms. However, evidence does not exist for Korean population. This study was performed to evaluate the association of physical activity with IBS. Methods: A total of 706 women nurses with shift work in a university affiliated tertiary hospital were surveyed with a self-administered questionnaire asking IBS symptoms (Rome III criteria), depression (Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale), anxiety (Goldberg's Short Screening Scale for Anxiety, GAS), stress (Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument), demographic characteristics, and health behavior. The association between IBS and physical activity was examined using chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of IBS was 37.5% and the most common subtype of IBS was mixed constipation and diarrhea (70.6%). Neither physical activity nor regular exercise was not associated with IBS. IBS was independently associated with higher level of anxiety (GAS score ≥ 5), tolerable dysmenorrhea, and troublesome dysmenorrhea with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 2.10 (1.37-3.22), 2.83 (1.39-5.75), and 2.56 (1.21-5.40), respectively. Conclusion: In Korean women nurses with shift work, IBS was not associated with physical activity. However, the higher level of anxiety and dysmenorrhea were independently associated with increased risk of IBS.

Citations

• Systematic review with meta‐analysis: the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
  Mohammad Zamani, Shaghayegh Alizadeh‐Tabari, Vahid Zamani
  Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.2019; 50(2): 132.     CrossRef
• Shift Work and Health Problems
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2017; 38(2): 49.     CrossRef
• Impacts of Daily Habits, Health Status, and Health Promoting Behavior on Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome among Female Adolescents
  Hye Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing.2016; 22(2): 96.     CrossRef
• Association Between Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dietary Habits of the Elderly Aged Over 65
  Sam Cheol Kim, Hyung Ho Choi
  Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society.2016; 20(2): 94.     CrossRef

Background
: This study investigated the handwashing in clinical nurses for prevention and control of nosocomial infection.

Methods : The subjects were 192 nurses at a university hospital in Busan. The data were collected using questionnaires, which included items to measure the method, application time, and frequency of handwashing related to nursing intervention activities, and were analyzed using the mean score, frequency and percentage.

Results : Each day, the nurses had an average of 10.5 times of hand washing. 34.9% of nurses had evaluated "not enough" concerning their handwashing performance. Nurses indicated that the performance of handwashing had interrupted by overwork, lack of facilities, skin irritation with itching, etc. 19.4% of nurses had not received education program about handwashing. Some nurses did not strictly follow a handwashing protocol allowing potential chances of nosocomial infection to occur. The rate of handwashing performance increased after the activities of nursing intervention than before activities related to respiration, nutrition, elimination, hygiene, medication, etc.

Conclusion : These findings suggest that hospital administrators must develop education programs and policies for the prevention of nosocomial infection. We recommend that nurses participate in education to search for practical methods to improve the management of nosocomial infection such as handwashing performance.