Effectiveness of a natural wellness group program using interactive real-time video for unmarried mothers: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Unmarried mothers who raise their children alone in South Korea experience various difficulties in maintaining their health. Improving the health of unmarried mothers, who are socioeconomically vulnerable, is important not only for them but also for the healthy growth and development of their children. We aimed to implement a natural wellness group program using an interactive real-time video platform for unmarried mothers and to verify its effects. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study utilized a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. The participants were unmarried mothers raising children aged 0-6 years. The quantitative data collection occurred from August to November 2021. For the qualitative data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants from the experimental group. The experimental group received eight 90-minute weekly online sessions, whereas the control group received no intervention. The outcome variables were physical and mental health, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and parenting stress. RESULTS: A total of 42 unmarried mothers (21 experimental, 21 control) participated. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant post-intervention differences in mental health, depression, and self-esteem in the experimental group. Moreover, a generalized estimating equation analysis revealed significant differences in self-esteem levels between the experimental and control groups. Four themes identified through qualitative analysis revealed that the natural wellness group program using interactive real-time video not only increased mothers' vitality and relaxation but also improved depression and anxiety, and had a positive effect on parenting stress. CONCLUSIONS: Natural wellness group programs using interactive real-time videos can help improve the psychological health of unmarried mothers with young children, a group that tends to be socially and psychologically marginalized.

Health-related quality of life in children with epilepsy: a concept analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to conduct a concept analysis of health-related quality of life in children with epilepsy to promote conceptual clarification and facilitate mutual understanding of the concept. METHODS: Walker and Avant's concept analysis method was adopted. RESULTS: Health-related quality of life in children with epilepsy consists of six attributes: health status, inner strength, close relationships, resource-rich community, social acceptance, and changeability. According to the ecological system paradigm, these attributes are structured into five dimensions: organism, microsystem, macrosystem, exosystem, and chronosystem. These dimensions provide a comprehensive approach to the relationship between children with epilepsy and their environment. Epilepsy and interactions with multilevel ecological systems that are directly and indirectly related to children with epilepsy precede the concept, followed by positive and negative affective responses. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study may support effective communication in various practice settings, thereby contributing to the health and well-being of children with epilepsy, as well as the development and expansion of interventions to improve their health-related quality of life.

eHealth Literacy, Awareness of Pandemic Infectious Diseases, and Healthy Lifestyle in Middle School Students.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis worldwide. This pandemic has led to the spread of online misinformation, closure of schools, postponement of re-opening of schools, and restrictions on healthy outdoor activities. These, in turn, have caused a disruption in the daily life of middle school students. This study aimed to identify the relationships between eHealth literacy, awareness of pandemic infectious diseases, and healthy lifestyle in middle school students. For this purpose, we conducted a descriptive, correlational study in two cities in the capital of South Korea. A total of 138 middle school students completed self-reported questionnaires about eHealth literacy, awareness of pandemic infectious diseases, and healthy lifestyle. Middle school students displayed moderate levels of eHealth literacy (3.72 ± 0.97), awareness of pandemic infectious diseases (3.33 ± 0.92), and healthy lifestyle (2.98 ± 0.72). Positive correlations were found between eHealth literacy and awareness of pandemic infectious diseases (r = 0.44, p < 0.001), between eHealth literacy and healthy lifestyle (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), and between awareness of pandemic infectious diseases and healthy lifestyle (r = 0.38, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that eHealth literacy may be an important aspect of increasing the awareness about pandemic infectious diseases and forming healthy lifestyle habits in Korean middle school students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Development of a Health Promotion Program for Unmarried Mothers Living in Residential Facilities Using Urban Forests: An Intervention Mapping Approach Based on the Transtheoretical Model.

Unmarried mothers living in residential facilities (UMLFs) in Korea face complex and challenging physical, psychological, and socioeconomic issues. This study developed a physical and mental health promotion program using urban forests for UMLFs based on the transtheoretical model and evidence. We utilized an intervention mapping approach (IMA) and assessed the needs of UMLFs by analyzing previous quantitative studies. Moreover, we conducted a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study involving nine participants. Based on the needs assessment, important and changeable determinants were identified; further, the program performance and change objectives were classified to achieve the program goals and establish the intervention strategy. We found that physical activity using forests, self-reflection using metaphors, five-sense activities, achievement activities using natural objects, building interpersonal relationships in the forest, and designing future plans, are desirable methods for improving the health of UMLFs. The IMA was deemed appropriate for the systematic development of health promotion programs for UMLFs through clear links among change objectives, theoretical methods, and practice strategies. These results should be applied to future intervention studies.