This study was performed to investigate the quantities of three neo-maternal exposures; visiting frequency, auditory contact and physical contact, and to examine the relationship between the quantities of each exposure and maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression in 40 mothers of NICU babies during the first week in the NICU.

Each neo-maternal exposure was counted at every mother's visit to the newborn and maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression were measured using the maternal attachment inventory, the maternal self-report inventory and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) on the first and seventh day in the NICU.

The Mean of each neo-maternal exposure was 8.77(2.81) for the visiting frequency, 5.82(3.66) for the auditory contact and 5.60(2.89) for the physical contact during 7 days in the NICU. No significant changes were found in the scores of maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression between the first and the seventh day in the NICU. The quantities of neo-maternal exposures were positively related to the scores of maternal attachment and maternal self-esteem but not related to postpartum depression.

The results of the study suggest the lack of early neo-maternal exposure in cases of NICU hospitalization negate its beneficial effects on maternal psychological well-being in increasing maternal attachment and self-esteem. More efforts are neededfor the neo-maternal interaction and the reevaluation of NICU visitation hours in order to promote maternal-infant interaction.

A quasi-experimental study was performed to investigate the effects of a home visiting discharge education program on the maternal self-esteem, attachment, postpartum depression and family function in 35 mothers of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants.

Twenty-three mothers in the intervention group received the home visiting discharge education while 12 mothers in the control group received the routine, hospital discharge education. Baseline data was collected in both groups one day after delivery. The intervention group received the home visiting discharge education while the control group did the routine hospital-based discharge education. The questionnaire including the data on maternal self-esteem, attachment, postpartum depression and family function were collected within 1week after the discharge by mail.

The scores of maternal self-esteem, and attachment were significantly increased, and the postpartum depression and the family function score were decreased after the home visiting discharge education in intervention group. There were no changes in these variables before and after the routine hospital-based discharge education in control group.

These results support the beneficial effects of home visiting discharge education on the maternal role adaptation and family function of the mothers of NICU infants.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between total serum bilirubin(TSB) and transcutaneous bilirubinometry(TcB) in neonates with jaundice.

TcB from various sites(forehead, sternum, abdomen, buttock, hand, dorsalis-pedia) was measured using a JM-102 in a total of 102 neonate, 42 female and 60 male, with the mean 37.5 gestational week and the mean 2,903 gram of birth weight, as well as TSB from capillary punctures.

The mean bilirubin was 11.73 in serum, 20.55 on the forehead, 17.23 on the sternum, 16.19 on the abdomen, 18.22 on the buttock, 15.83 on the hand and 15.49 on the dorsalis-pedia. The relationship between TSB and TcBs were formulated by simple regression with 0.406 < r < 0.668(p < .000). A higher relationship was revealed between TSB and TCB at the forehead in infants of full-term, ABO incompatibility, and Hb greater than 16 mg/dl(r = 0.725, 0.790, and 0.717, retrospectively). Phototherapy altered the measurement of TcB per site.

TcB on the forehead is a reliable, noninvasive and convenient measurement of TSB in normal infants(Institutions need to establish quantitative equations representing the specific relationship between TSB and TCB according to the hemodynamic problems of infants such as ABO incompatibility, or low Hb).

This study was conducted to investigate the clear concept of patient safety and obtain theoretical evidences.

Research was conducted using Walker & Avant's conceptual analysis process.

Patient safety was defined as an activity that minimizes and removes possible errors and injuries to patients. It includes a basic desire to secure the patient's right to safety, and the legal regulations and duties of medical teams. The results of the establishment of a safety culture are patient-centered medical treatment and caring. Antecedents were found to be open and clear communications, continuous education and training for health care personnel, sufficient allocation of qualified personnel, cooperation among departments, improvements in the recognition of patient safety. Consequences were found to be the provision of high quality medical care and treatment, and increase in patient satisfaction.

Patient safety as defined by the results of this study will contribute to the foundation of institutionalization of the pursuit of patient safety and creation of a hospital culture focusing on patient safety as a first priority.