Survey on caregiver competency and retraining needs.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated caregivers' job image, abilities, and educational needs, which are rapidly increasing owing to an aging society. DESIGN: A self-administered written survey was conducted at 12 general hospitals in Korea from February 1, 2022 to March 15, 2023. SAMPLE: A total of 451 caregivers participated in the survey as subjects of analysis, and 560 nurses participated as external observers. MEASUREMENTS: The caregivers' self-assessment results regarding job performance, educational needs, and retraining needs were compared with those of external observers. RESULTS: Caregivers evaluated themselves significantly higher in all areas of job performance compared to the evaluations of external observers. In particular, the caregivers' self-evaluation of their abilities in "Recording and Reporting," "Basic Resuscitation," "Safety and Infection Control," and "Understanding Major Illnesses" was different from the evaluation of nurses. Both the caregivers and external observers agreed on the need for caregiver retraining, with 1-2 hours of supplementary training every 12 months being the most preferred amount of retraining. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant difference between caregivers' self-evaluations of their capabilities and the external observers' evaluations. Therefore, systematic professional caregiver retraining is necessary.

Clinical and Laboratory Differences Between Early-Onset and Late-Onset Adult Atopic Dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults is not uncommon, and its prevalence has been increasing in the recent decades. However, there is a paucity of data about the differences between early-onset and late-onset adult AD. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of adult AD, focusing on the differences between early-onset and late-onset adult AD. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and clinical photos of 214 adult AD patients (≥18 years of age) over a 3-year period. We classified the patients into 2 groups: early-onset (first onset of AD before 12 years of age) and late-onset (first onset of AD at 12 years of age or later). RESULTS: Among 214 patients, 151 patients (70.6%) belonged to the early-onset group (mean age 24.5 years), while 63 patients belonged to the late-onset group (mean age 29.5 years). An association with allergic asthma or rhinitis, a family history of atopic disease, elevated total serum IgE, and sensitivity to food allergens were more commonly seen in the early-onset group. The late-onset group had a significant likelihood of nonflexural involvement (38.1% vs 13.2%). There was no significant difference in the mean eczema area severity index score, eosinophil count, and sensitivity to aeroallergens between 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Adult AD shows different clinical and laboratory characteristics depending on the age of onset. This study could help to create awareness about the heterogeneity of AD in adulthood and encourage further studies on clinical outcomes and different therapeutic methods depending on the age of onset.

Factors associated with long-term smoking relapse in those who succeeded in smoking cessation using regional smoking cessation programs.

It is known that approximately 10% of successful quitters relapse annually. This study aimed to investigate the factors related to long-term smoking relapse in individuals who succeeded in maintaining smoking cessation for 6 months after attending a regional smoking cessation program. This study enrolled 943 individuals registered for the regional smoking cessation program at the Busan Smoking Cessation Center in 2018-2019 who maintained smoking cessation for 6 months. A survey was conducted using a smartphone link or through phone calls, and the data for 305 participants who finally completed the survey were analyzed. The questionnaire addressed individual, inter-individual, organizational, and community-level factors related to smoking relapse. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors associated with smoking relapse by period. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for the factors associated with smoking relapse for the entire period. The smoking relapse rate at the time of the survey was 25.4%. In the analysis of smoking relapse by period, relapse was associated with the belief that smoking relieves stress, the number of single-person households, and poor subjective health status. In the analysis of smoking relapse during the entire period, we observed a significant association with the belief that smoking relieves stress (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52-4.61), single-person households (HR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.16-3.26), and high levels of emotional stress (HR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.04-2.85). Long-term follow-up is necessary to prevent smoking relapse in single-person households, individuals who believe that smoking relieves stress, and those experiencing high levels of subjective emotional stress. Interventional therapies for stress relief and awareness improvement in smokers need to be developed.

A prodrug approach to COX-2 inhibitors with methylsulfone.

2,2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-5-[4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl]-3(2H)furanone derivatives, 3 and 6, were shown to be effectively transformed in vivo into the corresponding methylsulfone derivatives 1 and 4, when orally administered to rats. Pharmacological implications for use of sulfoxide analogues 3 and 6 are discussed as prodrugs to potent selective COX-2 inhibitors 1 and 4.