Body mass index, menstruation, acne, and hirsutism of polycystic ovary syndrome in women: A cross-sectional study.

We examined to compare menstruation and body mass index (BMI) in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to explore the effects of BMI on menstruation, facial acne, and hirsutism in women with PCOS of child-bearing age. Data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study were analyzed. The effect of BMI on irregularity of menstruation, acne, and hirsutism in the PCOS group was analyzed by logistic regression. The prevalence of PCOS was 7.1% among 11,866 participants. We found that BMI affects menstrual irregularity, facial acne, and hirsutism in PCOS women. Healthcare providers should consider weight control to improve irregularity of menstruation and hirsutism in PCOS women.

Korean nurses' adherence to safety guidelines for chemotherapy administration.

PURPOSE: Nurses are at risk from handling chemotherapeutic agents. This study aimed to determine adherence to safety guidelines for chemotherapy administration by Korean nurses and to examine the relationship between the hospital safety climate and nurses' adherence to safety guidelines. METHOD: A descriptive, correlational design with a cross-sectional survey using data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study. For this study, participants included 872 female nurses who had administered chemotherapeutic agents to patients in the last 30 days. RESULTS: Only a quarter of the participants had high adherence to the safety guidelines, while the majority had moderate to low adherence. The absence of job hindrances and feedback/training - two sub-factors of the hospital safety climate - enhanced the likeliness for nurses to comply with the safety guidelines by almost 1.3 and 1.7 times, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results imply that the hospital safety climate, particularly feedback/training, and the absence of job hindrances are significantly correlated with adherence to the safety guidelines for chemotherapy administration. Therefore, organisational and policy support is needed to improve the hospital safety climate.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and its related factors among women of reproductive age: Korea Nurses' Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of patients diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has increased in Korea. Risk factors of GERD include age, sex, medication use, lack of physical exercise, increased psychological stress, low or high body mass index (BMI), unhealthy eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking. However, few studies examined the major factors affecting GERD in women of childbearing age. Therefore, this study assessed the risk factors of GERD among 20,613 female nurses of reproductive age using data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study. METHODS: Participants were recruited from July 2013 to November 2014. They provided their history of GERD 1 year prior to data collection, along with information on their demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, diet, medical history, and physical and psychological factors. Of the total sample, 1184 individuals with GERD diagnosed in the year prior to the study were identified. Propensity score matching was used for analysis. RESULTS: Cigarette smoking, increased alcohol consumption, low or high BMI, depression, and increased psychosocial stress were associated with the prevalence of GERD among Korean young women. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed significant positive relationships between GERD and being a former smoker; having a low (< 18.5 kg/m2) or high BMI (> 23 kg/m2); and having mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, BMI, and depression were associated with GERD. To reduce this risk among female nurses, intervention strategies are required to help nurses maintain a normal weight and manage their depression.

Weight change and risk of uterine leiomyomas: Korea Nurses' Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the associations between anthropometric measures and uterine leiomyomas. METHODS: This study included a total of 5,062 women (median age of 35.5 years) who had experienced pregnancy and, of these women, 210 reported a diagnosis of uterine leiomyomas within the past 2 years prior to baseline in the Korea Nurses' Health Study. Participants were asked about their anthropometric factors. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.8 kg/m2 among non-cases. An increase in weight from the age of 18 years to the present was associated with increased risk of uterine leiomyomas (p for trend = .002); compared to women whose weight remained stable, the multivariate ORs (95% CIs) were 1.84 (1.22-2.76) for weight gain of 5-10 kg and 2.00 (1.25-3.20) for weight gain of more than 10 kg since age 18. A similar pattern was observed when the analysis was limited to women with a BMI of 18.5-25 kg/m2. Current weight was associated with higher odds of uterine leiomyomas. No associations were found for body size in childhood or in adolescence, weight at age 18, current BMI, or current body size. CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain in adulthood was associated with increased risk of uterine leiomyomas in Korean women, even in those with normal weight.

Radiation safety education and compliance with safety procedures-The Korea Nurses' Health Study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the current state of radiation safety education and its influence on nurses' compliance with safety procedures. BACKGROUND: Use of radiation in therapy and diagnosis has prolonged and improved millions of lives, but it presents potential hazards for healthcare professionals. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. METHODS: Participants included 1,672 female nurses of childbearing age who had recently been exposed to radiation-emitting generators or radiation. Quantitative data were taken from the Korea Nurses' Health Study, the Korean version of the Nurses' Health Study conducted in the USA. Confounding variables included sociodemographic factors, duration of employment in a department where work involved radiation, hospital's geographical location, bed size and hospital safety climate. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation coefficients and multivariable ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: Half (50.3%) of nurses received no safety training, whereas the other half received some safety training as follows: only once (14.4%), irregularly (10.2%) and regularly (25.1%). Of the six radioactive safety compliance questionnaires, 29.4%, 20.2%, 30.7% and 19.7% complied to none, one, two and more than three, respectively. After controlling for confounding variables, relative to that observed with no safety education, irregular education that occurred more than twice (OR = 1.597, CI = 1.177-2.164) and regular education (OR = 2.223, CI = 1.770-2.792) increased the likelihood that nurses would comply with safety procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of safety education and adherence raise critical concerns regarding nurses' well-being. As routine safety education increases safety adherence, healthcare managers and policymakers should emphasise regular safety education. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Radiation safety education for nurses and their compliance with safety procedures have seldom been discussed in South Korea. However, as nurses' safety is directly related to the quality of patient care, additional safety education should be provided for hospital nurses to minimise their occupational exposure to harmful radioactive substances in clinical settings.