The Need for and Perceptions of Interprofessional Education and Collaboration Among Undergraduate Students in Nursing and Medicine in South Korea.

Purpose: Interprofessional education (IPE) for undergraduate students in the healthcare disciplines facilitates the acquisition of skills required for interprofessional collaboration, which is critical for patient care. This study assesses the need for and perceptions of IPE and interprofessional collaboration among undergraduate students in nursing and medicine in South Korea. Participants and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of undergraduate students in nursing (n = 130) and medicine (n = 68), who had never been exposed to IPE, using a convenience sampling method. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) (19 items), Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) (12 items), and Interprofessional Education and Collaborative (IPEC) Competency Self-Assessment Scale (16 items) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ 2 test, and independent sample t-test. Results: Students in both schools almost equally indicated the need for IPE and practice-based IPE in their clinical rotations, focusing on patients in general wards, and wanted to learn teamwork. The mean RIPLS scores were 68.5 ± 5.62 in nursing students and 67.5 ± 6.53 in medical students, and those of the IEPS were 57.0 ± 7.03 in nursing students and 58.7 ± 7.08 in medical students, without significant differences. Nursing students scored significantly higher on the positive professional identity subscale of the RIPLS, whereas medical students scored higher on the competency and autonomy and perceived need for cooperation subscales of the IEPS. The total scale scores on the IPEC Competency Self-Assessment Scale were 65.2 ± 3.35 for nursing students and 67.4 ± 2.96 for medical students, the latter having a significantly higher score. Conclusion: This study revealed differences in needs and perceptions regarding IPE and interprofessional collaboration between schools. These findings warrant further research to design IPE program goals and strategies that are reflective of students' needs.

Psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Adapted Index of Self-Efficacy (PRAISE) for individuals with COPD.

PURPOSE: Self-efficacy is related to the emotional functioning and coping skills of an individual and is thought to be a predictor of health behaviors, which are particularly important for pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). To our knowledge, no measure of self-efficacy has been validated to explore behavior changes in the context of PR for patients with COPD in Korea. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Adapted Index of Self-Efficacy (PRAISE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The original scale, developed and validated by Vincent et al was translated into Korean through a process involving forward and back translation of the original scale, and transcultural adaptation was performed following the structured procedure. Content validity was assessed by a panel of 6 expert judges. In a convenience sample of 118 patients with COPD, exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring, followed by oblique rotation was conducted to identify construct validity, and the concurrent validity was evaluated by testing correlations between the PRAISE and 6-minute walking distance test and the PRAISE and Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire results. Internal consistency was examined by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the 2-dimensional structure of the scale constructed from the original 15-item scale. The final scale was composed of 14 items that cumulatively explained 60.3% of the total variance. The 2 factors in the scale were named "general self-efficacy" and "exercise self-efficacy." Significant correlations between the PRAISE, and 6-minute walking distance test and Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire showed the concurrent validity of the PRAISE. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the PRAISE was 0.93. CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the PRAISE showed adequate construct validity and reliability. These results suggest that the PRAISE is suitable for use in clinical settings as a predictor of PR behavior in Korean patients with COPD.

[Development and Testing of a Mastery Learning Program of Nursing Skills for Undergraduate Nursing Students].

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to develop and test a mastery learning program of nursing skills for undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: In this methodological study, first, the preliminary draft of a mastery learning program to provide training for nursing skills was developed based on Bloom's framework for mastery learning. Second, to test the developed program, a single-blinded, nonequivalent control group nonsynchronized study was conducted on 50 senior nursing students in a University selected by convenient sampling. Thirteen students were assigned to a control group; 13, 12, and 13 of them were assigned to intravenous therapy, transfusion, and patient transfer groups, respectively. The achievement levels and performance scores of the selected nursing skills were measured before and after the completion of the program in all the groups. Lastly, the final program was confirmed based on the results of the program testing. RESULTS: Intravenous therapy, transfusion, and patient transfer were selected as essential nursing skills for the program based on the priorities rated by clinical instructors and staff nurses. The achievement levels of selected nursing skills were determined by Angoff scores. After participating in the program, the proportion of passers and performance scores of the nursing skills in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. The final program was confirmed which included a diagnostic test, enrichment activities for the passers and three repetitions of corrective activities and formative assessments for non-passers. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a mastery learning program for undergraduate students can lead to better improvement and performance of essential nursing skills.

Effectiveness of a Stroke Risk Self-Management Intervention for Adults with Prehypertension.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based intervention for prehypertensive adults, to enhance stroke risk awareness and to adopt a preventive lifestyle for primary stroke prevention. METHODS: This was a single-blinded, repeated measures quasi-experimental study with 47 participants (23 in the experimental group and 24 in the control group) recruited through convenience sampling from two urban areas. The stroke risk self-management intervention consisted of three weekly, 2-hour, face-to-face sessions and two booster telephone sessions, utilizing strategies to enhance motivation for behavioral changes based on the Self-Determination Theory. All participants completed a pretest, a 1-month and a 3-month post test of stroke risk awareness and preventive lifestyle including blood pressure self-monitoring, healthy diet, and regular physical activity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, two sample t test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Friedman test with PASW Statistics 18.0. RESULTS: After the intervention, significant improvements were found in the experimental group for stroke risk awareness, blood pressure self-monitoring and regular physical activity, and were sustained over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results indicate that the stroke risk self-management intervention is feasible and associated with improvement in self-management of stroke risk factors for primary stroke prevention among a prehypertensive population.

Effectiveness of a brief self-care support intervention for pulmonary rehabilitation among the elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea.

PURPOSE: This study assessed effects of a brief self-care support intervention (SCSI) to promote health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-care adherence among elderly patients with COPD in Korea. DESIGN: A single-blinded, randomized pre-/posttest design METHODS: A total of 40 participants were consecutively recruited from eligible patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD to a department of pulmonology at a university hospital. Twenty participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received an SCSI utilizing a motivational interview. All participants were assessed with peak expiratory flow rate and 6-minute walking distance test, and answered Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and a questionnaire on self-care adherence at pre-intervention and 2 months postintervention. FINDINGS: After the intervention, SGRQ scores for symptom, activity, impact, and total were significantly lower and self-care adherence scores of medication and exercise were significantly higher in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the short-tem effectiveness of a nurse-led self-management intervention for pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life and self-care adherence among elderly patients with COPD. Further studies are warranted to verify effective strategies to improve exercise capacity for this population. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest a brief intervention for rehabilitation nursing with more retainable, feasible, and cost-effective strategies to enhance self-management among the elderly patients with COPD.

Coping strategies, physical function, and social adjustment in people with spinal cord injury.

This descriptive study examined the role of coping strategies as predictors of physical function and social adjustment in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). A sample of 128 community-residing individuals with SCI completed the structured questionnaire that included demographic characteristics and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Social Adjustment Scale (SAS) to measure participants' coping, physical function, and social adjustment, respectively. Among the eight factors of the WCQ, planful problem solving was used most frequently by the participants. The remaining coping strategies, except escape-avoidance, were positively correlated with social adjustment, whereas no significant correlations were found between coping and physical function. Positive reappraisal, accepting responsibility, and distancing accounted for 33.5% of the social adjustment for people with SCI. Results highlight the importance of considering coping strategies in designing interventions to facilitate social adjustment and rehabilitation in this population.

Effects of a cognition-oriented breast self-examination intervention for Korean women and their spouses.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a cognition-oriented breast self-examination (BSE) intervention program that is based on the Transtheoretical Model and reflects individual characteristics according to BSE stage among Korean women and their spouses. DESIGN: A time-series nonequivalent control group design was used. SAMPLE AND MEASUREMENT: Twenty-four couples in each of 2 groups completed a preintervention test and were evaluated 1, 3, and 6 months later for their knowledge of breast cancer and BSE, spousal encouragement for BSE, perceived confidence in BSE methods, change in BSE stage, and perceived benefits and barriers to BSE. The intervention involved husbands as well as women, and consisted of lectures on breast cancer and BSE, demonstrations and practice with models while being videotaped, and feedback. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the control and experimental groups for all variables. Change of BSE stage in experimental group showed significantly advancement over time. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention program was effective in promoting regular BSE practice and in enhancing confidence in BSE. The intervention also raised awareness among husbands of the importance of breast health for their wives. Educational interventions for breast cancer prevention should be specified to an individual's stage of BSE.

Modeling social reintegration in persons with spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to identify and develop a model of the factors related to social reintegration in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHOD: A convenience sample of 145 persons with SCI living in two cities in South Korea anonymously completed a questionnaire that comprised the assessment of social reintegration, a tool developed to measure the degree of adjustment to community living in persons with SCI. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of self-esteem, social barriers, physical function, family support, informational support, perceived stress, emotion-focused coping (EFC), and problem-focused coping (PFC) on social reintegration. RESULTS: The model explained 65% of the variance in social reintegration in persons with SCI. The results indicated that the social integration of persons with SCI was influenced most by EFC. Family support, informational support, perceived stress and social barriers were also significantly related to social reintegration. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest implications for developing the interventions at various levels including family and community and specific to individual coping strategies to enhance social reintegration in persons with SCI.

[Content analysis of the experience of preceptors in clinical education for senior student nurses].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify experiences of nurses who served as preceptors in clinical education for senior student nurses in a college of medicine in Wonju city. METHOD: Data was collected from 20 preceptors instructing senior student nurses in 2001 using a self-completion questionnaire. To analyze data, content analysis was done using an analysis scheme developed by the investigators. RESULT: The analysis scheme consisted of 7 categories and 25 subcategories. 135 significant statements were analyzed and categorized. Preceptors indicated that they were role models, socialization facilitators and educators while instructing students in the clinical practicum. In performing the preceptors' role, preceptors reported that their most important change was self-enhancement,and positive experience was a constructive work atmosphere. The most important factor facilitating the preceptors' role performance was support from head nurses, and the most discouraging factor was work loads. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that interventions for encouragement and socialization of preceptors should be developed to promote clinical education for senior student nurses.