Analyzing Korean Public Health Centers' Infectious Disease Disaster Response Experiences with a Focus on Business Continuity.

Objective: This study aims to provide basic data for establishing strategies to maintain the core functions of health centers, and enable an effective response to emergency tasks in the event of future infectious disease disasters. Methods: The participants were 41 workers from two public health centers in Seoul. They all had prior experience in responding to the early and middle stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions, and then analyzed using the deductive method of content analysis. Results: The participants' experiences during the infectious disease disaster crisis were examined through ten categories: governance and coordination, information management, human resources, essential medical supplies and equipment, infrastructure, administration, finance and logistics, community engagement and risk communication, delivery of essential services, security, and additional considerations for vulnerable populations. The analysis of the results made it apparent that new systems and policies were imperative for responding appropriately to the concerns and experiences of the public healthcare center staff, and for improving the response to future epidemics. Conclusion: We found that to prepare for infectious disaster situations in the future, it is necessary for health centers to establish a mid- to long-term business continuity plan to ensure the continuation and stability of their operations. Additionally, it was found that health professionals in public health centers also believe in the necessity of education and training programs on disaster preparedness, based on Business Continuity Planning proposed by the World Health Organization. They deem these essential to sustain routine tasks for the management of the health of local community residents during outbreaks of novel infectious diseases in the future.

Identifying patterns of lifestyle behaviours linked to sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions among young adults in South Korea.

AIMS: To identify specific patterns of lifestyle behaviours among young adults and examine the relationships of the patterns to sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions (hypertension, diabetes and obesity). DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational study. METHODS: Data from a nationally representative sample of 4562 young adults aged 19-39, who participated in the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, were analysed. Latent class analysis was used to identify the patterns of lifestyle behaviours, including smoking, alcohol use, physical activity and vaccination. Generalized linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationships among lifestyle behaviour patterns, sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions. RESULTS: Three patterns of lifestyle behaviours were identified: physically active (6.9%), high risk (21.5%) and passive (71.6%). The membership of these three patterns was significantly associated with sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, education level, occupation and living arrangement). Among the three groups, young adults in the high-risk group were found to be significantly associated with all three health conditions (hypertension, diabetes and obesity) while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that young adults are likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviours that are related to individual socioeconomic conditions, which could negatively affect their health conditions. IMPACT: This study provides insights into the lifestyle behaviours among young adults who have been recognized to be socially disadvantaged. This could help develop education and prevention programmes tailored to specific patterns of lifestyle behaviours for improving health while considering their socioeconomic contexts. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This applies to this research as the focus was on young adults in South Korea only.

[Topic Modeling and Keyword Network Analysis of News Articles Related to Nurses before and after "the Thanks to You Challenge" during the COVID-19 Pandemic].

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess public awareness and policy challenges faced by practicing nurses. METHODS: After collecting nurse-related news articles published before and after 'the Thanks to You Challenge' campaign (between December 31, 2019, and July 15, 2020), keywords were extracted via preprocessing. A three-step method keyword analysis, latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling, and keyword network analysis was used to examine the text and the structure of the selected news articles. RESULTS: Top 30 keywords with similar occurrences were collected before and after the campaign. The five dominant topics before the campaign were: pandemic, infection of medical staff, local transmission, medical resources, and return of overseas Koreans. After the campaign, the topics 'infection of medical staff' and 'return of overseas Koreans' disappeared, but 'the Thanks to You Challenge' emerged as a dominant topic. A keyword network analysis revealed that the word of nurse was linked with keywords like thanks and campaign, through the word of sacrifice. These words formed interrelated domains of 'the Thanks to You Challenge' topic. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study can provide useful information for understanding various issues and social perspectives on COVID-19 nursing. The major themes of news reports lagged behind the real problems faced by nurses in COVID-19 crisis. While the press tends to focus on heroism and whole society, issues and policies mutually beneficial to public and nursing need to be further explored and enhanced by nurses.

[An Exploratory Study on the Policy for Facilitating of Health Behaviors Related to Particulate Matter: Using Topic and Semantic Network Analysis of Media Text].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the mass and social media contents and structures related to particulate matter before and after the policy enforcement of the comprehensive countermeasures for particulate matter, derive nursing implications, and provide a basis for designing health policies. METHODS: After crawling online news articles and posts on social networking sites before and after policy enforcement with particulate matter as keywords, we conducted topic and semantic network analysis using TEXTOM, R, and UCINET 6. RESULTS: In topic analysis, behavior tips was the common main topic in both media before and after the policy enforcement. After the policy enforcement, influence on health disappeared from the main topics due to increased reports about reduction measures and government in mass media, whereas influence on health appeared as the main topic in social media. However semantic network analysis confirmed that social media had much number of nodes and links and lower centrality than mass media, leaving substantial information that was not organically connected and unstructured. CONCLUSION: Understanding of particulate matter policy and implications influence health, as well as gaps in the needs and use of health information, should be integrated with leadership and supports in the nurses' care of vulnerable patients and public health promotion.

A transformative service research for healthy transition to adulthood of young people living alone in Korea.

This study was conducted to explore phenomena related to the physical, psychological and social health vulnerabilities of young people who lived alone and to establish strategy for service implementation to facilitate their healthy transition to adulthood. In accordance with the double diamond process of service design, five workshops involving 12 participants and 9 experts were held from July to November 2018 in the D-district of Seoul, Korea. As a result, the participants were identified as a difficult group to engage in health management because of their features: unconcern for health, inevitable neglect for health or fixation of lifestyle far from health. They were also a special group that was undergoing a double transition: the transition to adulthood and from living with their parents to living alone. Therefore, the strategy for them was derived that had to be in an indirectly and incidentally effective for health through the settlement of independent life and habit formation by transitional care as part of a nudge effect. The findings of this study can provide a basis for health and social care strategies and policies concerning young people who live alone. A follow-up study is proposed, which will involve the actualisation and application of a program based on the intervention strategy derived from these findings.

Effects of Trait Anger and Anger Expression on Job Satisfaction and Burnout in Preceptor Nurses and Newly Graduated Nurses: A Dyadic Analysis.

PURPOSE: The preceptor-newly graduated nurse (NGN) relationship is integral to the successful experience of clinical teaching and learning and new nurses' transition. However, interpersonal conflicts between them are common. Little is known whether their anger contributes to their level of job satisfaction and burnout. This study aimed to examine the effects of each nurse's anger on job satisfaction and burnout in preceptor-NGN dyads. METHODS: A cross-sectional, correlational survey design was used. This study involved 121 preceptor-newly graduate nurse dyads in two hospitals in South Korea. Nurses completed a questionnaire about demographics, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-Korean version, a job satisfaction measure, and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. This study adopted the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to handle dyadic data. RESULTS: Preceptor nurses reported higher frequencies of feeling anger than did new nurses and appear to have higher levels of trait anger, anger-out, and burnout. Both the preceptors' and NGNs' trait anger was positively associated with preceptors' burnout. Suppressing anger was closely related to the nurses' own job satisfaction and burnout. Preceptors with a higher level of anger-control had higher job satisfaction, and NGNs with a higher level of anger-control had less burnout. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that preceptors and new nurses appear to experience significant anger, which is closely associated with their job satisfaction and burnout during their preceptorship. Anger management training programs geared toward educating both preceptors and new nurses about appropriate anger expression in the workplace should be developed to retain valuable nurses.

Development and Evaluation of a Quick Response Code-Based Nursing Education Program for Operating and Recovery Room Nurses.

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a quick response code-based nursing education program to improve the competence of operation and recovery room nurses. An experimental methodological design was used to develop a quick response code-based nursing educational program and analyze its effects and nurses' satisfaction with its use. The quick response code-based nursing education program was developed in five steps based on the ADDIE model: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The program was built on smartphones, and a Web site was linked to it. After testing the program for 40 days, nurses' attitudes toward various medical devices were significantly less negative. Nurses were able to use a large number of medical devices and were highly satisfied and willing to engage with the quick response code-based nursing educational program. In the context of nursing education, introducing educational content using quick response codes helps to improve nurses' knowledge and competence in providing high-quality nursing care and medical services.

Factors influencing blood pressure classification for adults: Gender differences.

AIM: Hypertension is a common condition contributing to many diseases. Factors influencing blood pressure (BP) classification for adults have changed over time. This study aimed to identify factors influencing BP classification according to gender. METHODS: Data from the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014) were used in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. Participants were 1555 adults (589 men, 966 women). Measures included demographic, health-related, and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Compared with the male normal BP group, in the male prehypertension group, body mass index, problem drinking, and reduced sleep duration were higher; and in the male hypertension group, age, poor subjective health status, body mass index, diabetes, problem drinking, smoking, and sodium intake were higher. Compared with the female normal BP group, age, and body mass index were higher in the female prehypertension group; and age, poor subjective health status, body mass index, menopause, and diabetes were higher in the female hypertension group. CONCLUSION: Hypertension and prehypertension prevention interventions for adults should be distinguished according to gender.

Longitudinal Effects of Body Mass Index and Self-Esteem on Adjustment From Early to Late Adolescence: A Latent Growth Model.

BACKGROUND: Mental and physical development during adolescence is a factor that may affect quality of life in adulthood. PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to investigate the developmental trajectories of body mass index (BMI), self-esteem, and adjustment among students from early to late adolescence and to examine the longitudinal relationships among these variables. METHODS: Data from 2006 to 2012 were collected from the Korean Welfare Panel Study. Of the initial sample of 521 students, 487 completed a validated questionnaire measuring BMI, self-esteem, and adjustment. Latent growth curve modeling analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among the variables. RESULTS: Univariate linear growth models showed a significant increase in BMI and significant declines in both self-esteem and adjustment across three time points from childhood to adolescence. The goodness of fit of the multivariate conditioned model supported the validity of the proposed longitudinal model (comparative fit index = .93, root mean square error of approximation = .08). Change in BMI was significantly linked with change in adjustment (ß = .18, p < .05) but not with change in self-esteem, whereas change in self-esteem exerted a statistically significant effect on change in adjustment (ß = .47, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings indicate that BMI and self-esteem are key determinants of student adjustment in school settings. Therefore, future health education interventions should focus on enhancing the positive physical and mental self-concepts of students, which should improve health and social behavior among students and subsequently afford a better quality of life for these students in adulthood.

[Development and Analysis of System Dynamics Model for Predicting on the Effect of Patient Transfer Counseling with Nurses].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to construct a management model for patient transfer in a multilevel healthcare system and to predict the effect of counseling with nurses on the patient transfer process. METHODS: Data were collected from the electronic medical records of 20,400 patients using the referral system in a tertiary hospital in Seoul from May 2015 to April 2017. The data were analyzed using system dynamics methodology. RESULTS: The rates of patients who were referred to a tertiary hospital, continued treatment, and were terminated treatment at a tertiary hospital were affected by the management fee and nursing staffing in a referral center that provided patient transfer counseling. Nursing staffing in a referral center had direct influence on the range of increase or decrease in the rates, whereas the management fee had direct influence on time. They were nonlinear relations that converged the value within a certain period. CONCLUSION: The management fee and nursing staffing in a referral center affect patient transfer counseling, and can improve the patient transfer process. Our findings suggest that nurses play an important role in ensuring smooth transitions between clinics and hospitals.

A Dyadic Approach to Infertility Stress, Marital Adjustment, and Depression on Quality of Life in Infertile Couples.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the level of infertility stress, marital adjustment, depression, and quality of life in infertile couples and assess the actor and partner effects in these areas using the actor-partner interdependence model. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHOD: Participants were 121 infertile couples. After pilot study, data were collected from November 2012 to March 2013 using the following questionnaires: the Fertility Quality of Life, Fertility Problem Inventory, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. FINDINGS: There was a gender difference in infertility stress, depression, and quality of life. Infertility stress had actor and partner effects on the quality of life. Marital adjustment had an actor effect on the quality of life for the wives. Depression had actor and partner effects on quality of life for the wives, but only an actor effect for the husbands. CONCLUSION: This study found that there were actor and partner effects of infertility stress, marital adjustment, and depression on the quality of life in infertile couples. These findings may help nurses be aware of such effects and can be used as a baseline data in the development of nursing interventions for infertile couples.

Effects of a System Thinking-Based Simulation Program for Congestive Heart Failure.

This study evaluated a system thinking-based simulation program for the care of patients with congestive heart failure. Participants were 67 undergraduate nursing students from a nursing college in Seoul, South Korea. The experimental group was given a 4-hour system-thinking program and a 2-hour simulation program, whereas the control group had a 4-hour case study and a 2-hour simulation program. There were significant improvements in critical thinking in both groups, but no significant group differences between educational methods (F = 3.26, P = .076). Problem-solving ability in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (F = 5.04, P = .028). Clinical competency skills in the experimental group were higher than in the control group (t = 2.12, P = .038). A system thinking-based simulation program is a more effective learning method in terms of problem-solving ability and clinical competency skills compared to the existing simulation program. Further research using a longitudinal study is needed to test the long-term effect of the intervention and apply it to the nursing curriculum.

Effects of stress appraisal on the quality of life of adult patients with multiple myeloma and their primary family caregivers in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Modern treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) has improved disease control and prolonged survival; thus, maintenance of quality of life (QoL) is considered a great concern for MM patients and their caregivers. The purpose of this study was to identify dyadic associations between stress appraisal and the QoL of patients with MM and their caregivers in Korea. METHODS: A total of 102 MM patient-caregiver dyads participated in this study. They independently reported their stress appraisal and QoL. The study was guided by a transactional model of stress and coping, and analyzed by using the actor-partner interdependence model. RESULTS: The results revealed good data adjustment with acceptable indices: χ2  = 6.211 (df = 6), CFI = 0.999, TLI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.019, and SRMR = 0.043. MM patients' QoL were significantly correlated with caregivers' QoL. The stress appraisals of patients and caregivers mutually influenced each other's QoL. The patients' illness perception and the caregivers' burden were strong predictors for their QoL. The self-efficacy of patients and caregivers was also associated with their QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the way patients and caregivers perceive and respond to stress plays a significant role in their QoL during the treatment experience. Interventions designed to reconstruct negative perspectives and improve self-efficacy may help both patients and caregivers to improve their QoL.

The Effects of Tonsillectomy Education Using Smartphone Text Message for Mothers and Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy is the most common type of surgical procedure performed in preschool children. Due to short period of hospitalization, mothers are expected to manage their children's care at home. However, they are rarely provided with sufficient information about postoperative management. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of providing caregivers with information on tonsillectomy care by smartphone text messaging in increasing their mothers' knowledge, reducing the anxiety, and improving the sick-role behavior of pediatric tonsillectomy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 61 pediatric patients and their mothers was recruited. Participants were randomly assigned into either the experimental group (n = 27) or the control group (n = 34). The control group was given information about the tonsillectomy by conventional textual and verbal means, whereas the experimental group received the same information in the form of 10 text messages during the period from hospitalization to their first follow-up visits. RESULTS: Results of mixed design, two-way analysis of variance indicated significant interaction effects between time points and groups for mothers' knowledge (F = 4.26, p = 0.043) and children's anxiety (F = 3.32; p = 0.037). Thus, the results do support the effectiveness of tonsillectomy education using smartphone text messaging in increasing mothers' knowledge and reducing children's anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: These results can be applied to preoperative and postoperative interventions for children not only for tonsillectomy but also for many other operations. The development of various educational programs using smartphone text messaging for postoperative patient management would also be valuable.

[Non-linear System Dynamics Simulation Modeling of Adolescent Obesity: Using Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a system dynamics model for adolescent obesity in Korea that could be used for obesity policy analysis. METHODS: On the basis of the casual loop diagram, a model was developed by converting to stock and flow diagram. The Vensim DSS 5.0 program was used in the model development. We simulated method of moments to the calibration of this model with data from The Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey 2005 to 2013. We ran the scenario simulation. RESULTS: This model can be used to understand the current adolescent obesity rate, predict the future obesity rate, and be utilized as a tool for controlling the risk factors. The results of the model simulation match well with the data. It was identified that a proper model, able to predict obesity probability, was established. CONCLUSION: These results of stock and flow diagram modeling in adolescent obesity can be helpful in development of obesity by policy planners and other stakeholders to better anticipate the multiple effects of interventions in both the short and the long term. In the future we suggest the development of an expanded model based on this adolescent obesity model.

A retrospective analysis to identify the factors affecting infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: This study compares the performance of the logistic regression and decision tree analysis methods for assessing the risk factors for infection in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: The subjects were 732 cancer patients who were receiving chemotherapy at K university hospital in Seoul, Korea. The data were collected between March 2011 and February 2013 and were processed for descriptive analysis, logistic regression and decision tree analysis using the IBM SPSS Statistics 19 and Modeler 15.1 programs. RESULTS: The most common risk factors for infection in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were identified as alkylating agents, vinca alkaloid and underlying diabetes mellitus. The logistic regression explained 66.7% of the variation in the data in terms of sensitivity and 88.9% in terms of specificity. The decision tree analysis accounted for 55.0% of the variation in the data in terms of sensitivity and 89.0% in terms of specificity. As for the overall classification accuracy, the logistic regression explained 88.0% and the decision tree analysis explained 87.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The logistic regression analysis showed a higher degree of sensitivity and classification accuracy. Therefore, logistic regression analysis is concluded to be the more effective and useful method for establishing an infection prediction model for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

[Model for unplanned self extubation of ICU patients using system dynamics approach].

PURPOSE: In this study a system dynamics methodology was used to identify correlation and nonlinear feedback structure among factors affecting unplanned extubation (UE) of ICU patients and to construct and verify a simulation model. METHODS: Factors affecting UE were identified through a theoretical background established by reviewing literature and preceding studies and referencing various statistical data. Related variables were decided through verification of content validity by an expert group. A causal loop diagram (CLD) was made based on the variables. Stock & Flow modeling using Vensim PLE Plus Version 6.0 b was performed to establish a model for UE. RESULTS: Based on the literature review and expert verification, 18 variables associated with UE were identified and CLD was prepared. From the prepared CLD, a model was developed by converting to the Stock & Flow Diagram. Results of the simulation showed that patient stress, patient in an agitated state, restraint application, patient movability, and individual intensive nursing were variables giving the greatest effect to UE probability. To verify agreement of the UE model with real situations, simulation with 5 cases was performed. Equation check and sensitivity analysis on TIME STEP were executed to validate model integrity. CONCLUSION: Results show that identification of a proper model enables prediction of UE probability. This prediction allows for adjustment of related factors, and provides basic data do develop nursing interventions to decrease UE.

The effect of laughter therapy on radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer: a single-blind prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: There have not yet been any published studies on the effects of laughter therapy on radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy (RT). We assessed the effectiveness of laughter therapy in preventing radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Eighteen patients were assigned to the experimental group and the other 19 patients were assigned to the control group. The patients who were assigned to the experimental group received laughter therapy during RT. Laughter therapy was started at the onset of RT and was provided twice a week until completion of RT. The patients who were assigned to the control group only received RT without laughter therapy. The grade of radiation dermatitis was scored by a radiation oncologist who was blinded to subject assignment. The patients' evaluation of pain within the RT field was also assessed. RESULTS: In the experimental group, radiation dermatitis of grade 3, 2, and 1 developed in five (33.3%), five (33.3%), and five patients (33.3%), respectively. In comparison, in the control group, radiation dermatitis of grade 3, 2, 1, and 0 developed in seven (36.8%), nine (47.4%), two (10.5%), and one patient (5.3%), respectively. The experimental group exhibited a lower incidence of grade 2 or worse radiation dermatitis than the control group (33.3% versus 47.4%). The mean maximal pain scores in the experimental and control group were 2.53 and 3.95, respectively. The experimental group complained of less severe pain than the control group during RT. However, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that laughter therapy can have a beneficial role in preventing radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer. To confirm the results of our study, well-designed randomized studies with large sample sizes are required.

[A development and evaluation of nursing KMS using QFD in outpatient departments].

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop and implement the Nursing KMS (knowledge management system) in order to improve knowledge sharing and creation among clinical nurses in outpatient departments. METHODS: This study was a methodological research using the 'System Development Life Cycle': consisting of planning, analyzing, design, implementation, and evaluation. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) was applied to establish nurse requirements and to identify important design requirements. Participants were 32 nurses and for evaluation data were collected pre and post intervention at K Hospital in Seoul, a tertiary hospital with over 1,000 beds. RESULTS: The Nursing KMS was built using a Linux-based operating system, Oracle DBMS, and Java 1.6 web programming tools. The system was implemented as a sub-system of the hospital information system. There was statistically significant differences in the sharing of knowledge but creating of knowledge was no statistically meaningful difference observed. In terms of satisfaction with the system, system efficiency ranked first followed by system convenience, information suitability and information usefulness. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the use of Nursing KMS increases nurses' knowledge sharing and can contribute to increased quality of nursing knowledge and provide more opportunities for nurses to gain expertise from knowledge shared among nurses.

[Comparison of the factors influencing young adolescents' aggression according to family structure].

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study was done to compare factors influencing young adolescents' aggression according to family structure. METHODS: Participants were 680 young adolescents aged 11 to 15 years (113 in single father families, 136 in single mother families, 49 in grandparent families, and 382 in both-parent families). All measures were self-administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program and factors affecting young adolescents' aggression were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Levels of young adolescents' aggression and all variables were significantly different among the four family structure groups. Factors influencing young adolescents' aggression were also different according to these 4 groups. For single father families, depression-anxiety and family hardiness significantly predicted the level of young adolescents' aggression (adjusted R square=.37, p<.001). For single mother families, depression-anxiety, gender, and friends' support significantly predicted the level of young adolescents' aggression (adjusted R square=.58, p<.001). For grandparent families, depression-anxiety and family support significantly predicted the level of young adolescents' aggression (adjusted R square=.58, p<.001). For both-parent families, depression-anxiety, family hardiness, and friends' support significantly predicted the level of young adolescents' aggression (adjusted R square=.48, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Nurses working with young adolescents should consider family structure-specific factors influencing aggression in this population.