Associations of anxiety and fatigue with hazardous occupational conditions of Korean nurses in early pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To identify occupational conditions associated with anxiety and fatigue among Korean nurses in early pregnancy. BACKGROUND: Pregnant nurses, like non-pregnant hospital nurses, are exposed to dangerous and stressful work environments, which can affect fatigue and anxiety. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 1490 nurses who participated in the early pregnancy module in the Korea Nurses' Health Study between 2014 and 2020. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to identify the factors associated with anxiety and fatigue among nurses in early pregnancy. RESULTS: One-fifth of participants were working night shifts, and more than two-thirds were working overtime. When using antineoplastic drugs and disinfectants, the rate of use of protective equipment varied depending on the size of the hospital. Working overtime and lifting heavy objects were associated with increased anxiety and fatigue among nurses. CONCLUSION: Overtime work was associated with both anxiety and fatigue among pregnant nurses. Pregnant hospital nurses were exposed to both night shift and overtime work. Therefore, hospital managers should improve hazardous working environments to protect the health of nurses in early pregnancy and their fetuses.

Impact of workplace violence on South Korean nurses' turnover intention: Mediating and moderating roles of depressive symptoms.

AIM: To identify the mediating and moderating roles of depressive symptoms in the relationship between workplace violence and nurses' turnover intention in South Korea. BACKGROUND: Workplace violence and depressive symptoms are known to influence turnover intentionsof employees. INTRODUCTION: Among healthcare workers, nurses may be at the greatest risk of exposure to workplace violence because they have frequent contact with patients and families of patients. Depressive symptoms reported to be related to workplace violence are one set of factors affecting turnover intention. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed and employed to investigate mediation and moderation roles of depressive symptoms between workplace violence and turnover intention. RESULTS: Verbal violence and sexual harassment increased depressive symptoms, which in turn increased turnover intentions in a sample of Korean nurses. Depressive symptoms showed partial mediation effects between verbal violence and sexual harassment and turnover intention. Depressive symptoms showed moderating effects on sexual harassment and turnover intention. DISCUSSION: It is necessary to reduce turnover intention not only by preventing violence but also by managing depressive symptoms in nurses who have experienced verbal violence and sexual harassment. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms were shown to have a mediating and moderation roles on the relationship between WPV and turnover intention. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Hospital managers such as hospital and nursing directors should provide effective policies to prevent verbal violence and sexual harassment to reduce turnover intention in the workplace. It is needed to educate patients and patient caregivers about the importance of preventing violence against nurses. Policies should be established to provide regular check-ups for depressive symptoms and psychological support for nurses who have experienced WPV.

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.

Factors affecting frontline Korean nurses' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: To identify the factors affecting fear, anxiety and depressive symptoms among frontline nurses working with COVID-19 patients or are in charge of COVID-19 screening in Korea. BACKGROUND: Nurses are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection because they are in closer, longer-duration contact with patients. These situations can negatively affect the mental health of nurses. METHODS: This study analysed data from COVID-19 module in the Korean Nurses' Health Study. Data from 906 participants were analysed. To identify the factors influencing mental health, descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Caring for patients who are COVID-19-positive increased levels of fear, anxiety and depressive symptoms of nurses. The hospital safety climate influenced mental well-being among nurses. CONCLUSION: Caring for patients with COVID-19 had a negative impact on fear, anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, the higher was the perceived hospital safety climate, the lower were the nurses' psychological symptoms. Further research on the mental health of nurses is warranted. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Institutions should manage human resources to enable periodic rotation of nurses' work and working periods related to COVID-19. In addition, hospital managers should provide sufficient personal protective equipment, related education, and safety climate.

Migraine incidence and coffee consumption among child-bearing age women: the Korea Nurses' Health Study.

This longitudinal study aimed to identify factors that influence migraines in Korean women nurses using data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study. Among those who participated in Survey 1 (2013-2014) and the follow-up survey (2015-2019), we selected 2605 participants for Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, 521 participants who were newly diagnosed with migraine and 2084 controls using a 1:4 incidence density sampling approach. Consuming coffee (≥ 3 cups: RR = 1.666; 95% CI = 1.175-2.362, < 3 cups: RR = 1.439; 95% CI = 1.053-1.966), being obese (BMI ≥ 25: RR = 1.341, 95% CI = 1.003-1.793), and engaging in vigorous physical activity (RR = 1.010; 95% CI = 1.000-1.019) increased the risk of developing a migraine. Nurses with an annual salary greater than $3500 were less likely to develop migraines (RR = 0.786, 95% CI = 0.631-0.979). The results imply that lifestyle factors, such as the amount of coffee consumption, BMI level, and degree of physical activity could be considered when formulating treatment plans for women who have newly developed migraines.

Experiences of Advanced Health Assessment Simulation Based on the Education Needs of Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Students.

There is an insufficient exploration of how simulation educational approaches improve the job performance of students in gerontological nurse practitioner (GNP) courses. To increase the effectiveness of simulation education in GNP courses, it is necessary to explore the advanced health assessment simulation curriculum. This study aimed to investigate GNP students' educational experiences with the advanced health assessment simulation program by reflecting the needs of GNPs. A qualitative study design was employed for this study; focus group interviews were conducted among eight GNP students who participated in this simulation program. The focus group interview identified three theme clusters: 'a high-fidelity simulator that reproduces a real-life setting', 'experience with standardized patients as a reference for normal older people', and 'application in the clinical field'. Through simulation education, GNP students were able to safely demonstrate knowledge and use what they learned for clinical practice. The development and utilization of simulation education for the GNP program would help to enhance the clinical competency of students.

Experience of Elderly Korean Women with Diabetes and Multimorbidity in Elderly Couple Households: A Qualitative Study.

Elderly women with multimorbidity in elderly couple households face the double burden of managing their diseases while fulfilling their gender roles. This study aimed to investigate the daily life experiences of elderly women with diabetes and multimorbidity living as part of couple households in Korea. Ten women aged 65 or more with diabetes and multimorbidity and living as part of elderly couple households participated in this phenomenological qualitative study. The data were analyzed with van Manen's method of study of analytical phenomena. Four essential themes were identified. Participants regarded diabetes and multimorbidity as a part of the aging process and continued to function as caregivers for their husbands and themselves, avoiding becoming a burden to their adult children. The findings of this study could help healthcare providers better understand elderly women with diabetes and multimorbidity and assist in improving the health of such women.

Influencing Factors of Subjective Cognitive Impairment in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting subjective cognitive impairment. We analyzed data from the 2019 Korea Community Health Survey and enrolled 68,546 middle-aged adults, aged 50 to 64 years, and 74,547 older adults, aged 65 years and older, in this study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing subjective cognitive impairment. Of the participants, 11,926 (17.4%) middle-aged and 21,880 (29.4%) older adults living in the community reported subjective cognitive impairment. Major factors that influenced subjective cognitive impairment in both middle-aged and older adults were gender, subjective stress, depressive symptoms, and alcohol drinking. In contrast to middle-aged adults, the marital status of older adults affected subjective cognitive impairment. Therefore, the factors affecting subjective cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults need to be considered for screening and management to prevent cognitive impairment and dementia. In particular, it is necessary to evaluate and manage stress and depressive symptoms from middle age to prevent subjective cognitive impairment.

Gender Differences in Factors Affecting Life Satisfaction of the Elderly with Multimorbidity in Korea.

To enhance the life satisfaction of the elderly with multimorbidity, it is necessary to investigate the relevant factors and to examine the differences in factors according to gender. The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting life satisfaction of the elderly with multimorbidity in the community by gender in Korea. We analyzed data from 2140 participants with multimorbidity who were aged 65 or older and participated in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) in 2016. A multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors affecting life satisfaction among male and female older participants with multimorbidity. The most common pattern of multimorbidity of women was hypertension and arthritis/rheumatism, while that of men was hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Some factors, such as depression, exercise, and number of chronic diseases, affected both male and female participants, but others related to life satisfaction varied by gender. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of multiple chronic diseases, and policy support should be provided in consideration of gender differences to improve the life satisfaction of the elderly.

Depressive symptom trajectories and their relation to body mass index in women of child-bearing age: The Korea Nurses' Health Study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the sub-trajectory groups of depressive symptoms in women of child-bearing age and the factors impacting latent class membership. Moreover, differences in body mass index (BMI) as an outcome variable were identified among the sub-trajectory groups. METHODS: Data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study (KNHS) were analyzed, comprising that from 6,918 participants who filled out surveys during modules 1, 5, and 7. The growth mixture model with individually varying observation times was used to identify latent subgroups of depressive symptom trajectories. RESULTS: Three classes of depressive symptom trajectories were identified: increasing over time, stable/low, and decreasing over time. Older participants had a higher probability of belonging to the stable/low class. Married participants were more likely to belong to the stable/low class than to the increasing over time class or decreasing over time class. Participants who worked shifts had a higher chance of belonging to the decreasing over time class than the stable/low class. There was a significant difference between mean BMI across latent classes in module 1 (χ2(df=2,N=6918)=155.16, p<0.001) and in module 7 (χ2(df=2,N=6918)=149.68, p<0.001). LIMITATIONS: The findings of this study should not be generalized to all women of childbearing age, because the study population only included nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that interventions designed to manage depressive symptoms in women who are younger, unmarried, and who perform shift work may be beneficial. This study identified a relationship between increasing severity of depressive symptoms and increasing BMI.

Factors Affecting Physical and Mental Fatigue among Female Hospital Nurses: The Korea Nurses' Health Study.

Nurses often experience work-related physical and mental fatigue. This study sought to identify the levels of physical and mental fatigue present among Korean female nurses and discern factors influencing their onset. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study (KNHS). A total of 14,839 hospital nurses were assessed by hierarchical regression analysis. The mean scores of physical and mental fatigue were 12.57 and 5.79 points, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, the work department had a significant influence on both physical and mental fatigue, that is, nurses working in special care units experienced greater degrees of both physical and mental fatigue than those working in general units. Nurse fatigue is an important consideration to monitor to ensure nurses' continued wellbeing as well as good patient safety levels. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a strategy to mitigate nursing fatigue while considering the characteristics of specific departments. In nursing practice, the introduction of a counseling program and guarantee of rest time that can alleviate the mental and physical fatigue of nurses working in special care units should be considered.

Effects of Gender and Age on Dietary Intake and Body Mass Index in Hypertensive Patients: Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination.

Controlling weight and dietary intake are important for hypertensive patients to manage their blood pressure. However, the interaction effect of gender and age on weight and dietary intake is not well known. The aim of this study was to examine the main and interaction effects of age and gender on body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake in hypertensive patients. We analyzed data from 4287 participants with hypertension (1600 participants 45-64 years old and 2687 participants 65 years or older) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2016). Two-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine the main and interaction effects of age and gender on BMI and dietary intake. Gender and age had significant main effects on BMI, intake of energy, cholesterol, sodium, and potassium. However, both gender and age illustrated interaction effects on BMI (F = 8.398, p = 0.004), energy intake (F = 12.882, p < 0.001), and cholesterol intake (F = 6.107, p = 0.014), while not showing any significant interaction effects on sodium (F = 3.547, p = 0.060) and potassium (F = 3.396, p = 0.066). Compared to the middle-aged group, BMI, energy intake, and cholesterol intake decreased in the older-aged group. However, the declines were steeper in men than in women. Therefore, both gender and age need to be considered for weight and dietary intake management for hypertensive patients.

Association between Dietary Habits, Shift Work, and the Metabolic Syndrome: The Korea Nurses' Health Study.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important public health problem, and unhealthy dietary habits and shift work are considered major factors that increase the prevalence of MetS. The purpose of this study was to examine whether dietary habits, alcohol drinking, and shift-working were associated with development of MetS in shift-working female nurses. This study analyzed cross-sectional survey data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study (KNHS). Of the 1638 nurses, 403 participants were selected based on the propensity score matching method (PSM). These participants had either no or more than three MetS determinant factors. Analysis was conducted by using multivariable logistic regression to confirm the factors influencing MetS. The prevalence of MetS in this group (1638 participants) was 5.6% (92 participants). Consumption of over 50% of daily calorie intake after 7 p.m., consumption of carbonated drinks, family history of diabetes, and non-shift work were significant factors influencing MetS. Nurses are one of the at-risk groups for unhealthy dietary habits due to the nature of their work. Therefore, nurse managers should include regular dietary education for nurses and continue their policy efforts to resolve health problems that may arise in connection with nurses' work.