title: Use of hands-free technique among operating room nurses in the Republic of Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The recently introduced concept of hands-free technique (HFT) currently has no recommendations or formal educational program for use in the Republic of Korea. This study evaluated the level of HFT use and investigated factors related to HFT use among Korean operating room nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire from 158 operating room nurses in 7 general hospitals in Busan, Republic of Korea, in April and May 2006. The questionnaire elicited information on demographics, exposure to education on HFT, attitude toward the need for HFT, concerns about exposure to bloodborne pathogens, and experience with HTF use. Multilevel multiple logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations was used, and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 56% of the participants had used HFT, and 50% had received education on HFT. The use of HFT had a significant association with both education on HFT (OR = 12.02; 95% CI = 7.50 to 19.25) and attitude toward the need for HFT (OR = 4.22; 95% CI = 2.43 to 7.35).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing education about HFT could be the most important approach to increasing the use of HFT among Korean operating room nurses. Thus, routine teaching about HFT should be provided to these nurses.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea. jeongis@pusan.ac.kr
authors.forename: Ihn Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sunmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D009726:Nurses; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult