Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between self-care agency and quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy. Design: The study used a correlational research design with cancer patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy at a medical facility. Methods: The subjects of the study were cancer patients from Facility A undergoing outpatient chemotherapy. A self-report survey form was distributed to subjects and responses were returned by mail. The main variables of interest consisted of (1) Honjo's (2001) SCAQ to test chronic patients' self-care agency and (2) Cella's (1993) FACT-G for QOL. Findings: The average age of subjects was 58.4, and the leading cancer types were breast cancer (38%) and lymphoma malignum (20%). The mean score (±SD) for each scale was 124.02 ± 13.56 on the SCAQ and 72.91 ± 17.04 on the FACT-G. A significant correlation was found between the scores on these two scales (r= .245, p≤ .05). Conclusions: People with greater self-care agency have a higher level of QOL. The results suggest the importance of nurses' support in helping to cultivate patients' self-care agency.

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Objectives: To clarify the factors related to repeated incidents and accidents caused by nursing professionals. Methods: We prepared a questionnaire for incidents and accidents referring to questionnaire items reported in previous studies, and conducted an anonymous self-administrative questionnaire survey for 689 nursing professionals in an acute-care hospital. Survey correspondents were divided into 3 groups by frequencies of incidents and accidents they reported (0 time, 1-2 times, more than 3 times) during the last 6 months, and mean scores in each item that related to incidents and accidents were compared between the groups. Results: Valid responses were obtained from 461 respondents (92.9%). Mean scores in 8 items for anxiety and tension, confusion, depression, obedience, lack of judgement, lack of cooperation, harsh working condition, and pressure of business were significantly higher in the group of nursing professionals reporting incidents and accidents more than 3 times than in the other 2 groups (p<0.05-0.001). Conclusion: Frequencies of incidents and accidents reported by nursing professionals were correlated with above mentioned 8 questionnaire items. The results suggest that these items can be utilized as tools to understand the risks for incidents and accidents.

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The ileosigmoid knot (ISK) is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in which the ileum wraps around the base of the sigmoid colon and forms a pseudo-knot of the intestine. Herein, we report a case of 76-year-old female with schizophrenia who presented with pan-peritonitis and shock. A 76-year-old female with shock was brought to our hospital. She had a history of schizophrenia and a yearlong stay in a mental hospital before this admission. She was diagnosed with strangulation ileus by computed tomography (CT). The CT scan specifically showed that a loop of ileum was wrapped around the base of the sigmoid colon in anticlockwise direction, leading to the formation of a knot. The patient underwent emergent laparotomy soon after admission. Gangrenous portions of the ileum and sigmoid colon were resected, and an end-to-end anastomosis with a covering stoma was performed. We report a case of ileosigmoid knot in which the patient had schizophrenia, and discuss the relationship between psychiatric disorder and dietary habits which may be associated with the patient's led to the development of the ISK.

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