Medical education program implementation experience in an elective course: a case study in South Korea / 한국의학교육

Purpose@#This study was conducted to examine the results of designing and implementing a teaching program for medical education as the elective course for 4th-year students of medical course. @*Methods@#In order to design the teaching program for medical education as an elective course, we conducted literature review, five medical education experts were interviewed, and the literature required in the design process was reviewed. A developing teaching program was implemented as an elective course in a medical school of Korea, and 4th-year students of medical course participated in the program. @*Results@#In the elective course, the medical education program process competencies were derived into three categories: theoretical educational knowledge, teaching competency, and research competency for education. Moreover, instructional materials were developed to help students achieve these competencies. And project-based learning strategy was selected and implemented for 4th-year students in medical course, and positive satisfaction was confirmed. @*Conclusion@#As a study designed and implemented in a medical education program in a medical school in Korea, it is expected to be helpful when introducing medical education to undergraduate students or developing a medical education program to strengthen the teaching capacity of residents.

Validation of the Korean version of the Reflective Practice Questionnaire in clinical clerkship of Korean medical students / 한국의학교육

Purpose@#This study aims to verify whether the Reflective Practice Questionnaire (RPQ) developed by Priddis and Rogers is valid in the Korean context to identify the level of reflection of medical students in clinical practice. @*Methods@#A total of 202 third- and fourth-year medical students from seven universities participated in the study. After receiving approval for use from the authors, a survey was conducted on the students through an adaptation process. The original scale consists of 10 factors with 40 items. The Self-efficacy in Clinical Performance Scale (SECP), Korean Self-reflection and Insight Scale (K-SRIS), and Reflection-in-Learning Scale (RinLS) were used to validate the scale. Exploratory factor, confirmatory factor, correlation, and reliability analyses were used for data analysis. @*Results@#As a result of exploratory factor analysis, 10 subfactors were extracted (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin=0.856, Bartlett’s test: χ 2 =5,044.337, degrees of freedom=780, p<0.001). Among the 40 items, one that showed a high overlapping load for other factors was excluded. As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, the 10-factor structure model was found suitable (χ 2 =1.980, comparative fit index=0.859, Tucker-Lewis index=0.841, root mean square error of approximation=0.070). As a result of the criterion validity test, most of the subfactors of the Korean version of the RPQ (K-RPQ) showed a positive correlation with K-SRIS, RinLS, and SECP. The reliability of 10 subfactors was satisfactory, ranging from 0.666 to 0.919. @*Conclusion@#The K-RPQ was confirmed to be a reliable and valid tool to evaluate the level of reflection among Korean medical students in clinical clerkship. This scale can be used as a tool to provide feedback on each student’s level of reflection in clinical clerkship.

Study on the Learning Environment of Medical Students in the COVID-19 / 계명의대학술지

In Korea, the COVID-19 pandemic began and the situation was very serious due to the rapid increase in confirmed cases. In this study, we conducted a study that included the online class environment, learning environment including living environment, and overall life of medical students who are experiencing sudden changes in environment due to COVID-19, to help medical students' academic and school life, and to provide medical services. We want to help improve the quality of education. The subjects of the study are 6 grades from the 1st year of pre-medical school to the 4th year of the medical department attending a medical school in the Daegu area in the 2021 school year, and a total of 450 are studied. In addition, a survey was conducted on students who agreed to the study, and it consisted about the online learning environment and overall living conditions. As a result of the study, there were no gender differences in the online learning environment and overall life amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There were differences between pre-medical and medical students in the online learning environment, and overall life. Due to the sudden COVID-19 pandemic, medical students were faced with an online learning environment that they could not choose. They took care of the physical resources provided by the school on their own and learned the importance of this.

Differences in Clinical Professors’ Work-Life Balance by Position in Medical Schools / 의학교육논단

We investigated the work-life balance of clinical professors in charge of patient care, research, and education at medical schools and the demand for work-life balance support according to position (professor, associate professor, or assistant professor). In total, 163 clinical professors completed the consent form and participated in the study. They filled out an online survey consisting of questions about essential characteristics, a work-life balance test, stress, burnout, work-life satisfaction, and work-life balance support needs. We analyzed the results by analysis of variance and cross-tabulation using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0. Differences were found in work-life balance, stress, burnout, and satisfaction with life and work by position. The requirements for support for work-life balance also varied by professional status. Professors had a higher balance between life and work than associate professors or assistant professors. The specific requirements for work-life balance support were also slightly different for each position. Overall, there was a high demand for work process simplification and efficiency for work support, flexible working hours and sabbatical years for family and leisure, and career management consulting and training support for growth. Assistant professors and associate professors had a lower level of work-life balance than professors, as well as higher levels of stress and burnout. Professors' job satisfaction was also higher than that of the other groups. Based on the results of this study, we hope that a healthy work environment can be established through work-life balance support suitable for clinical professors’ positions.

Results of Carotid Doppler and Lipid Profiles in Patients with Ocular Ischemic Disease

PURPOSE: To analyze the findings of carotid Doppler and lipid profiles in patients with ischemic ocular disease and as well as the risk and correlation between cardiovascular and ischemic ocular diseases. METHODS: We analyzed the intima-media thickness (IMT) and existence of vascular stenosis using carotid Doppler and blood lipid profiles of the study patients diagnosed with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION group, n = 45), central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO group, n = 34), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO group, n = 23), or ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS group, n = 27). The study patients who visited Chonbuk National University Hospital from January, 2010 to June, 2013 were compared with healthy control (control group, n = 107). RESULTS: The average age of the study patients was 60.0 +/- 14.1 years and 56.1 +/- 9.1 years for the controls. Ipsilateral common carotid artery-IMT was thicker in the OIS and CRAO groups than the control group (p < 0.01 and <0.01, respectively). The number of patients with carotid stenosis was highest in the OIS group (n = 17, 62.9%) followed by the CRAO group (n = 5, 21.7%), CRVO group (n = 2, 5.9%), and AION group (n = 1, 2.2%). No significant stenosis was found in the control group. Total blood cholesterol was not significantly different between the study patients and controls. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher in every patient group than the control group (p < 0.01, <0.01, <0.05 and <0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The ischemic ocular disease likely precedes carotid artery disease and dyslipidemia. Therefore, general examinations such as carotid Doppler, lipid profile and risk factor evaluations are needed in patients with ischemic ocular disease.

Mediating Effect of Therapeutic Relationship with Mental Health Professionals in the Relation between Hope and Recovery of Community Dwelling Patients with a Mental Illness / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the association among therapeutic relationship with mental health professionals, hope, and recovery, and to explore the mediation of therapeutic relationship with mental health professionals in the relation between hope and recovery in South Korean patients with a mental illness. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed. Eligible participants were 99 people with a mental illness who were enrolled as members at two Community Mental Health Centers in Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected from October, 4 to 14, 2011. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Hope was positively correlated with recovery, and therapeutic relationship with mental health professionals was also positively associated with recovery. The mediating effect of therapeutic relationship with mental health professionals was found in the relation between hope and recovery. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that therapeutic relationship with mental health professionals plays an important role in promoting recovery of the patients with a mental illness. Therefore, mental health professionals should focus on developing a therapeutic relationship with their clients and also consider these recovery-related factors for persons who have a mental illness.

The Effect of Resilience on Depression and Life Satisfaction in Patients with Hemodialysis / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resilience on depression and life satisfaction in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on Hemodialysis. METHODS: Fifty ESRD patients, aged 18 or older, on hemodialysis visiting the hemodialysis room at Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital were included in this study. All patients were divided into two groups based on a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview : ESRD patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and ESRD patients without MDD. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale were used for assessment of the severity of depression symptoms. The Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Index of Well-being were used for measurement of resilience and life satisfaction, respectively. RESULTS: Sixteen (32%) patients were included in the MDD group, and 34 (68%) patients were included in the non-MDD group. The MDD group had significantly lower CD-RISC (p<0.005) and Index of well-being scores (p<0.005). The CD-RISC score showed a significant negative correlation with HAM-D-17 (r=-0.36, p<0.05) score and a positive correlation with Index of well-being score (r=0.37, p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed a significant relation of CD-RISC score with HAM-D-17 (beta=-0.36, p<0.05) and well-being score (beta=-0.56, p<0.005). CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that ESRD patients with higher resilience might be less depressed and have higher life satisfaction. Therefore, identification of clinical approaches that could increase resilience of ESRD patients might be important to prevention of depression and enhancement of life quality in ESRD patients on hemodialysis.