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Purpose: This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the electronic Compassion Competence Scale (e-CCS). Methods: A cross-sectional, randomized, two-period crossover design was used. Nursing students from four South Korean universities were surveyed between June 2017 and April 2018. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups-paper/paper, electronic/electronic, and paper/electronic or electronic/paper-and a test-retest procedure was implemented. The reliability and validity of the e-CCS were evaluated using linear weighted kappa coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Internal consistency reliability was verified using linear weighted kappa coefficients and ICCs. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the initial test and retest scores were all statistically significant. Results: The newly developed e-CCS was found to have good reliability and validity. We suggest that future research should increase sample heterogeneity by recruiting diverse age groups, nurses working in different nursing fields, and students from multiple colleges. Conclusion: This electronic instrument will help determine the differences in the level of compassion competence and devise interventions to improve compassion competence in nurses and nursing students. Further studies on enhancing compassion competence among nurses and nursing students may rely on the use of this electronic format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of uncoated paper on skin moisture, pressure injury risk and pressure injury incidence in neurological intensive care unit patients. Methods: A randomized controlled design was used. The experimental group (n = 68) received usual care (repositioning every 2 h and use of an air mattress) and application of uncoated paper on the sacral area for 5 days, whereas the control group (n = 67) received only usual care. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine changes in the skin moisture and risk of pressure injury between the groups. A chi‐squared test was used to determine the change in the incidence of pressure injuries for sacral area. Data were collected from 20 October 2017 to 6 March 2018. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the skin moisture and risk of pressure injuries between the experimental and control groups. However, a significant difference was not observed in the incidence of pressure injuries between the groups. Conclusion: The use of uncoated paper may be a valid nursing intervention for the prevention of pressure injuries in neurological intensive care unit patients. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The neurological intensive care unit patients with motor deficits, loss or deterioration of sensory function and decreased consciousness have high risk of pressure injuries.Although various guidelines consider excessive skin moisture as an important cause of pressure injuries, few targeted interventions exist to manage excessive skin moisture. What this paper adds? The uncoated paper application was effective in reducing skin moisture in neurologic intensive care unit patients.In addition, application of uncoated paper application has an effect on risk of pressure injury in neurologic intensive care unit patients. The implications of this paper: The use of uncoated paper may be a valid nursing intervention for the prevention of pressure injuries in neurological intensive care unit patients.Nurses should recognize that pressure injuries are potentially preventable adverse events and use various preventive interventions including skin moisture management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like all organisations, good governance is a fundamental requirement for the responsible and accountable management of universities in general and open universities in particular. This is to ensure that these (open) universities remain relevant to their mission of facilitating unfettered access to higher education for citizens and at the same time continue being reliable contributors to personal and institutional developments, the vital ingredients to maintaining sustained national development. While several studies have, in the past, been conducted on governance of universities, almost all of them have centred around conventional, face-to-face institutions. Not much published literature is in evidence on the governance of Open Universities. This paper, drawing from a study on the governance of a few open universities in Asia, tries to discuss the nature of their challenges, and the lessons that can be drawn from their practices and experience. The study focused on aspects relating to institutional autonomies such as curriculum, budgeting and financial management, admission standards, conferment of qualifications, academic staff appointments, development and promotions and research policies. Our findings indicate that, similar to conventional systems, the state plays a crucial role in many aspects of governance both in publicly funded and privately supported institutions. Recent attempts at governance transformation towards greater institutional autonomies is beginning to show limited changes in some but not all jurisdictions studied.

Professional manpower education and training on research equipment handling are very important for the efficient management, utilization, and operation of research equipment, which in turn is essential for obtaining excellent research results. The government-level efforts to offer such are an essential ingredient of a successful national R&D strategy and are needed for the construction of new and enhancement of the existing national research facility and equipment on a national level. Such education and training program is also needed for human resource development and for the creation of new jobs in the field of science and technology. In this paper, the results of an analysis that was done of the effectiveness of professional manpower education and training on research equipment handling, the first such analysis that was done, are presented and discussed. The policy implications of the analysis results, which have academic originality and value, are also presented. It is expected that the results of this research will help promote professional manpower education and training on research equipment handling and will contribute to the program development for such.

Employee mental health is a central issue in today's global workplace. This paper analyzes the effect of high performance work systems (HPWSs) on employee mental health. We integrate HPWS concepts with job demands‐resources (JD‐R) theory to examine competing theoretical perspectives—a positive HPWS influence and a negative HPWS influence on employee mental health. We examine employees' perceptions of psychological empowerment as an indicator of the motivational pathway of the JD‐R and work‐role overload as an indicator of the strain pathway to explain the differential effect of HPWSs on mental health. We also incorporate organizational identification theory to demonstrate how one's identification with the organization can either accentuate or attenuate feelings of both psychological empowerment and work‐role overload. Findings from a study of 999 employees in 174 South Korean organizations indicate that HPWSs are positively associated with employee mental health via employee perceptions of empowerment and that HPWSs are negatively associated with employee mental health through perceptions of work‐role overload. Furthermore, the study finds that organizational identification attenuates the relationship between HPWS and both empowerment and overload. Practice‐level post hoc analyses also reveal that the job design characteristics, pay level, and participative decision‐making are linked to empowerment. In addition, participative decision‐making is most strongly associated with work overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the factors on the determinants of research productivity. In addition, this study uncovers the relationships between research productivity and various explanatory variables, and between explanatory variables. As for research productivity, 3 indices were used such as the number of papers, patents, and a combination of them. The data is the 3-year average from 2010-2012 by 1,383 researchers from 6 disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, mechanical engineering, electricity and electronics, and chemical engineering, reported to the National Research Foundation of Korea. Personal factors such as sex, age, academic rank and location of affiliation show the group difference for productivity. In addition, most resource factors such as the number of graduate students and research funds showed the same result with personal factors. As for the determinants, master and doctoral students and government funds are the most powerful factors for research productivity, but industry funds for patent and overall productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to examine five theses from major journals concerning Korea's Library and Information Science, published from 1970 to 2018, so as to diagnose the current stage of International Research collaboration in the field of Korea's Library and Information Science which researchers from two or more different nations jointly conducted. Furthermore, it proposed measures for activating International Research collaboration in the field of Korea's Library and Information Science. First, related conferences should be held and education need to be offered in terms of elevating the awareness of the need and importance of international research collaboration. Second, relevant policies need to be developed and projects should be implemented to strengthen the practical international research collaboration. Third, collaboration with various countries should be pursued in the area of detailed majors of library and information science of greater diversity than now in terms of the detailed majors and countries. Fourth, a research environment supporting the collaboration with various research institutions overseas moving forward will need to be created around the universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among patient safety competency, systems thinking and missed nursing care. Background: Patient safety competency and systems thinking are important nurse attributes that promote patient safety. Missed nursing care is known to negatively impact patient safety. However, how nurses' patient safety competency and systems thinking relate to missed nursing care is unknown. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey design was used to collect data from nurses practicing in two general hospitals in South Korea. Data were collected between 3 March and 17 April 2020. Questionnaires were distributed to nurses providing direct care in general and specialty units. Patient safety competency, systems thinking and missed nursing care were measured using reliable and valid instruments. A total of 432 complete sets of data were used in final analysis. Results: Higher patient safety competency of nurses was associated with lower missed nursing care. Systems thinking partially mediated the relationship between knowledge of patient safety competency and missed nursing care, and attitudes of patient safety competency and missed nursing care. Conclusions: The knowledge, skills and attitudes sub‐scales of patient safety competency showed somewhat different effects in the relationship between missed nursing care and systems thinking, suggesting that each attribute may tap into a separate aspect of patient safety. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Patient safety can be threatened when nurses are not competent to provide safe care to patients.Systems thinking is an essential nurse attribute that enhances patient safety competency.Greater missed nursing care has been associated with negative patient outcomes including adverse events such as medication error, fall with injury and patient mortality. What this paper adds? Higher patient safety competency of nurses was associated with less missed nursing care.Nurses' systems thinking had a mediating effect on the relationship between the patient safety knowledge and attitude competencies and missing nursing care.Nurses' systems thinking had the effect of reducing missed nursing care, but only when nurses exhibited patient safety knowledge and attitude competencies. The implications of this paper: By enhancing patient safety competency, missed nursing care can be reduced and negative patient outcomes may decrease accordingly.Strategies to increase systems thinking should be applied as a way to reduce missed care and increase patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study investigated experiences of traumatic perinatal events, the provision of related education, and educational needs of nurses working in the labor and delivery room (LDR). Methods: Nurses working in the LDRs of six institutions and two nurse portal sites were invited to participate in the survey, delivered on paper or online. The data were collected from October 1 to November 25, 2022. Data from 129 nurses were analyzed using frequency, the chi-square test, the Fisher exact test, the t-test, and analysis of variance. Results: Virtually all participants (98.6%) reported having experienced at least one traumatic perinatal event (dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, neonatal congenital anomalies, severe maternal or neonatal injury, stillbirth, and maternal or neonatal death) while working in the LDR. The most shocking traumatic perinatal event experienced was the maternal or neonatal death (40.3%), but 24.8% of participants did not recall ever receiving education on the topic. About 63% of participants experienced traumatic perinatal events within a year of working in the LDR. The average score for education needs regarding traumatic perinatal events was 3.67±0.37 out of 4, and participants preferred simulation education as the most effective educational method. Conclusion: Since most of the participants had experienced various traumatic perinatal events in the early stages of working in the LDR and expressed a high level of need for education on traumatic perinatal events, it is necessary to provide more effective stimulation education programs in the early period of work in the LDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore how heads in South Korean workplace perceive the retirement preparation of older Korean workers and their roles in accordance with life design perspective. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative in-person interviews were conducted with top leaders of 15 corporations in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and analyzed by using a conventional content analysis. Findings: Top leaders in corporations consider that older Korean workers whose retirement preparation is their own responsibility have not been actively preparing for their postretirement life. Nevertheless, some of these heads are attempting to assist with career development or career transition. Some believe that older workers should work as long as they are capable and should be retained after the official retirement age. Research limitations/implications: These exploratory findings are preliminary, and the top-down mechanism might work differently in a specific sector. Future research merits a large-scale investigation of each specific business. Practical implications: It is implied that policy initiatives should support SMEs with subsidy programs for older workers' employment, empowering longer working as healthy pathways to postretirement. Originality/value: This pilot study indicates some degree of possible roles of top corporate leaders for workers' retirement preparation in terms of career development and career transition and retainment of older workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore themes that emerged while reading "How does one recognize contextual mitigating factors (CMFs) as a basis to understand and arrive at better approaches to research designs" (Gallard Martínez et al. this issue). Specifically, we consider the potential for the CMF analysis method to help researchers be more critical about how their ontological–epistemological–axiological (OEA) stance informs their tactical understandings about CMFs and how these understandings shape research questions and design. We discuss the value of autobiographical reflection for becoming aware of contextual constructs and situated phenomena and consider the importance of engaging in the practice of radical doubt to question unexamined assumptions in the research we produce and consume. In presenting this discussion of Gallard Martínez et al. (this issue), we raise questions about methodological affordances and limitations of the CMF approach and draw implications for individual and collective responsibility for both disseminating scholarship in channels that support scholars to attend to CMFs in their work and for rethinking what kinds of research we choose to consume and be informed by. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immersive VR is still rarely used as an intervention for meeting the affective end goals of student learning despite its positive impact on affection. Also, studies regarding the use of immersive VR as an intervention for affective achievement in broader educational contexts are still lacking. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of immersive VR and perspective‐taking on presence and empathy. Methods: A total of 148 pre‐service teachers participated in experiments, using either a head‐mounted display or a flat screen device to view two VR videos with different perspective‐taking affordances. This study used a mixed design with one between‐subject variable of immersion level and one within‐subject variable of perspective‐taking to explore how immersive VR experiences influenced participants' perceived level of presence and empathy. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that the level of immersion affects perceived presence, but it was the type of perspective‐taking that affects empathetic reactions. We also found an interaction effect between immersion levels and perspective‐taking. The direct embodiment in VR combined with high immersion produced stronger empathy than with low immersion, while the perspective of an observer was better in evoking empathy when experienced with low immersion. Implications: This study gives a guidance on how to take advantage of this new technology in educational settings, and apply it to instructional activities to enhance students' empathy. In addition, it could serve as a reference when developing or introducing educational contents with respect to the types of contents that are more effective in educational settings. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: The use of immersive virtual reality (VR) has gained increasing attention for its potential to increase students' engagement, interest, and motivation in education.The use of head‐mounted displays (HMDs) increases the level of perceived presence.Perspective‐taking promotes the development of empathy.The importance of empathy has been recently emphasized more in education. What this paper adds: The high immersive VR with an HMD increased the level of perceived presence among pre‐service teachers.The type of perspective‐taking provided in VR content affects the level of empathic reactions.The direct embodiment in VR combined with high immersion produced stronger empathy than with low immersionThe perspective of an observer was better in evoking empathy when experienced with the low immersive VR. Implications for practice and/or policy: Immersive VR when integrated into instructional practices would help students to develop empathy.It is important to select appropriate VR devices and content for designing interventions and maximizing educational benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Alternative metrics (altmetrics) are non-traditional metrics to measure the social impact of research results, which were unable to be assessed by the previous methods, by calculating how research results are reflected in various social media. The purpose of this paper is to measure and compare the impact of Korean study results in four fields that were published in international journals using altmetrics.Design/methodology/approach This study analysed the impact of 383 Korean research articles published by international journals in the field of medical science, engineering, social science and arts and humanities through altmetrics and compared it with bibliometrics.Findings As a result, the frequency of research articles which are “discussed” through social media such as Twitter was shown to be highest in the medical science than in other fields. In addition, the frequency of research articles which were “saved” through reference management tool such as Mendeley was shown to be higher in the social science and the arts and humanities than in other fields. Furthermore, as a result of a correlation analysis between altmetrics and bibliometrics, it is found that there exists a positive correlation between the number of articles which were “saved” in Mendeley and “cited” in follow-up studies.Originality/value This study examined the impact of the articles originating in non-English-speaking nations; it could be referred by other non-English-speaking nations that are trying to identify invisible impact of their research output on global society. By finding the academic field which are receiving special attention from global community using altmetrics, researchers could prospect country’s overall research impact and utilize it to make a future R&D plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias is increasing; therefore, identifying individuals at risk for dementia is crucial. Traditional neuropsychological assessments are expensive and time-consuming; however, computerized cognitive testing is becoming popular in clinical and research settings, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the computerized cognitive test, Inbrain cognitive screening test (CST), and the traditional neuropsychological battery, the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer’s disease assessment packet (CERAD-K). Methods: We enrolled 166 participants from five districts in Republic of Korea, including cognitively unimpaired individuals and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosed by experienced neurologists. We used the Inbrain CST and CERAD-K to evaluate the cognitive function of the participants, and the scores of each subtest of the Inbrain CST and CERAD-K were compared. Results: A significant correlation was found between the Inbrain CST and CERADK subtests. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed a significant correlation between the Inbrain CST and the CERAD-K test pairs after adjusting for age, educational level, and sex. Discussion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the Inbrain CST is a reliable tool for detecting cognitive impairment in cognitively unimpaired individuals and patients with MCI, because it has a high correlation and agreement with CERAD-K. Therefore, the Inbrain CST can be a useful, time-efficient, and cost-effective computer-based cognitive test for individuals at risk for cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Topic modeling is a text mining technique that extracts concepts from textual data and uncovers semantic structures and potential knowledge frameworks within context. This study aimed to identify major keywords and network structures for each major topic to discern research trends in women's health nursing published in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN) using text network analysis and topic modeling. Methods: The study targeted papers with English abstracts among 373 articles published in KJWHN from January 2011 to December 2021. Text network analysis and topic modeling were employed, and the analysis consisted of five steps: (1) data collection, (2) word extraction and refinement, (3) extraction of keywords and creation of networks, (4) network centrality analysis and key topic selection, and (5) topic modeling. Results: Six major keywords, each corresponding to a topic, were extracted through topic modeling analysis: "gynecologic neoplasms," "menopausal health," "health behavior," "infertility," "women's health in transition," and "nursing education for women." Conclusion: The latent topics from the target studies primarily focused on the health of women across all age groups. Research related to women's health is evolving with changing times and warrants further progress in the future. Future research on women's health nursing should explore various topics that reflect changes in social trends, and research methods should be diversified accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Basic Science Research Promotion Act, enacted in 1989, is evaluated as the first legal device used to support basic science research in Korea. Before the law was enacted, basic scientists and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) had to go through a period of mediation over the definitions of basic science and the targets of support. This paper seeks to reveal the meaning and dynamics contained by this law by tracing the demands of the basic scientists and the developments of related policies, and analyzing the actual process of enacting the bill. I would like to make the following arguments: First, the 1987 democratization movement was behind MOST's change of its policy to establish the Basic Science Research Institute to build a basic science support research center. Second, the enactment of the Basic Science Research Promotion Act is a result of more reflection on the MOST's plan, which expanded the scope of basic research and emphasized its connection with industrial developments. Third, the rhetoric of basic scientists who set the ultimate goal of basic science as industrial technology development forced themselves to follow MOST's intentions in the legislation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between Korean fathers' work-family strains and gains and marital satisfaction and to validate the mediating effect of parenting stress in the relationship. Methods: This study used the 14th-year survey data of the Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE), the latest available data. The PSKC is a longitudinal study of children's growth and development from birth in the Republic of Korea. After excluding datasets containing missing values from the data collected from 2150 respondents, the data were extracted from the survey responses collected from 1130 respondents, and descriptive statistical analysis, path analysis, and mediating effect analysis were conducted. Results: First, Korean fathers' work-family strains had a positive (+) influence on parenting stress (β = 0.658, p < 0.001). Second, Korean fathers' work-family strains had a negative (−) influence on marital satisfaction (β = −0.185, p < 0.001). Third, Korean fathers' work-family gains did not have a statistically significant influence on parenting stress (β = 0.016, p = 0.632). Fourth, Korean fathers' work-family gains had a positive (+) influence on marital satisfaction (β = 0.381, p < 0.001). Fifth, Korean fathers' parenting stress did not have a statistically significant influence on marital satisfaction (β = 0.011, p = 0.783). Sixth, the indirect effect of work-family strains on marital satisfaction via parenting stress (β = 0.013, 95% Bias-corrected CI = −0.042∼0.075) was statistically significant, and specifically, it had a partial mediating effect. Seventh, the indirect effect of work-family gains on marital satisfaction via parenting stress (β = 0.028, 95% Bias-corrected CI = 0.005∼0.051) was statistically significant, and specifically, it had a partial mediating effect. Conclusions: This study aims to provide the basic data for various family support policies for fathers by understanding the current status of work-family balance for fathers in modern society, as well as by examining the effects of parenting stress in the relationship with marital satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive decline is often considered an inevitable aspect of aging; however, recent research has identified a subset of older adults known as "superagers" who maintain cognitive abilities comparable to those of younger individuals. Investigating the neurobiological characteristics associated with superior cognitive function in superagers is essential for understanding "successful aging." Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays a key role in brain function, forming a bidirectional communication network known as the microbiome-gut-brain axis. Alterations in the gut microbiome have been linked to cognitive aging markers such as oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aims to investigate the unique patterns of the gut microbiome in superagers and to develop machine learning-based predictive models to differentiate superagers from typical agers. Methods: We recruited 161 cognitively unimpaired, community-dwelling volunteers aged 60 years or from dementia prevention centers in Seoul, South Korea. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 115 participants were included in the study. Following the removal of microbiome data outliers, 102 participants, comprising 57 superagers and 45 typical agers, were finally analyzed. Superagers were defined based on memory performance at or above average normative values of middle-aged adults. Gut microbiome data were collected from stool samples, and microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced. Relative abundances of bacterial genera were used as features for model development. We employed the LightGBM algorithm to build predictive models and utilized SHAP analysis for feature importance and interpretability. Results: The predictive model achieved an AUC of 0.832 and accuracy of 0.764 in the training dataset, and an AUC of 0.861 and accuracy of 0.762 in the test dataset. Significant microbiome features for distinguishing superagers included Alistipes, PAC001137_g, PAC001138_g, Leuconostoc, and PAC001115_g. SHAP analysis revealed that higher abundances of certain genera, such as PAC001138_g and PAC001115_g, positively influenced the likelihood of being classified as superagers. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the machine learning-based predictive models using gut-microbiome features can differentiate superagers from typical agers with a reasonable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Just as in the field of general education, scholars within the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) have also struggled to come to a consensus as to how reflective practice should be operationalized with many different approaches suggesting a retrospective approach to questioning about practice. As a result, many of these approaches have led to a type of routinization of reflection. Worried about such routinization of reflection, Farrell developed a more holistic approach to reflective practice that recognizes the spiritual, moral, and emotional aspects of reflection, as well as the usual retrospective questions about practice. This paper outlines a case study of the reflections of one experienced TESOL teacher teaching in South Korea using Farrell's framework for reflecting on practice that included reflections on his philosophy, principles, theory, practice, and beyond practice. The results revealed three common themes of approachability, art-oriented conceptions, and curiosity that emerged in all aspects of his reflection as uniquely influential parts of a larger whole. Thus, Farrell's holistic framework for teacher reflection employed in this study provided multiple filters through which these various parts could be viewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to investigate the effects of smartphone use by college students on their perceived academic performance. Using five hypotheses derived from the literature related to smartphone use, the initial model was set up for path analysis to reveal the relationships among variables regarding college students' smartphone use in the academic setting. Moreover, multiple group analyses were additionally conducted to verify whether students exhibited different relationships in the hypothesized model depending on their majors. The results from path analyses showed that all path coefficients were positive and statistically significant, which indicated that all five hypothesized paths were supported. Above all, the results from multiple group analysis showed that one path (from Behavioural Intention to Use Smartphone to Academic Performance) differed significantly across groups. The findings from the current study provide educational policymakers and educators with information on how smartphone utilization in learning activities influences students' academic performance. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Smartphones foster interaction with people and multitasking.College students use smartphones as learning aids in e‐learning and web‐based learning.College students have high smartphone self‐efficacy.Smartphones have both positive and negative effects on academic performance.What this paper adds: College students' interaction competency influences behavioural intention for using smartphones for academic activities.College students' smartphone self‐efficacy has positive impacts on their behavioural intention for using smartphones for academic purposes.College students' behavioural intention to use smartphones positively influences perceived academic performances.Students' behavioural intention to use smartphones presents distinct impacts on academic performances depending on their major fields: natural science and humanities.Implications for practice and/or policy: Educational policymakers and educators may benefit information on how smartphone utilization in learning activities influences students' academic performances.The instrument developed in the present study could be used for future studies on smartphone use and students' psychological factors such as self‐efficacy and behavioural intention to use smartphones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of breast cancer recurrence by comparing the risk factors and lifestyle patterns related to breast cancer in Korean women with and without recurrence. Methods: This cross-sectional survey comprised 241 Korean women diagnosed with breast cancer who had received follow-up treatment. Participants were recruited from a university hospital in Seoul and an online social media platform for breast cancer patients. Data were collected either via online or a paper survey, using a structured questionnaire that included general and disease-related characteristics and lifestyle behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and logistic regression. Results: Recurrence of breast cancer was influenced by four factors; childbirth experience, consumption of green/yellow vegetables, drinking behavior, and recovery from fatigue after sleep. Prevalence of recurrent breast cancer was associated with no childbirth experience (OR=2.29, p=.010), fewer green/yellow vegetables (OR=0.71, p=.008), drinking behavior (OR=0.24, p=.001), and a lower level of recovery from fatigue after sleep (OR=0.51, p<.001). Conclusion: Aside from having experienced childbirth, this study identified several modifiable factors that influence breast cancer recurrence. Increasing green/ yellow vegetable intake, alleviating fatigue, and reducing alcohol intake are important. Intervention strategies in clinical research and practice can be applied to address risk factors and reduce the prevalence of recurrent breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study identified the mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between job stress and the professional quality of life of hospice and palliative care nurses. Methods: The participants included 136 hospice and palliative care nurses from 13 inpatient hospice and palliative care wards at a tertiary hospital in a metropolitan city in South Korea. Data were collected from February 2022 to March 2022. Hayes' PROCESS macro 3.5 was used to test the significance of the parameter's indirect effects. Professional quality of life was divided into three subdomains: compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Results: As a mediator, resilience had both direct and indirect effects on the relationship between job stress and the compassion satisfaction of hospice and palliative care nurses. Furthermore, there were both direct and indirect effects on the relationship between job stress and secondary traumatic stress. Finally, although there was no direct effect on the relationship between job stress and burnout, there was an indirect mediating effect. Conclusion: This study confirmed the direct effect of compassion satisfaction on job stress and the professional quality of life of hospice and palliative care nurses, as well as the mediating effect of resilience on job stress and burnout. To improve the professional quality of life of hospice and palliative care nurses, it is necessary to develop and apply programs that enhance resilience in order to promote its mediating effects on compassion satisfaction and burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a tool to evaluate slow nursing performance for older adults in long-term care hospitals. Methods: The search period was set from March 2013, when the term "slow nursing" was first used in the literature, to October 2021. A slow nursing tool was developed in two phases: development and verification. In the tool development phase, 29 items were developed through an extensive literature review and in-depth interviews with seven long-term care hospital nurses. Construct validity testing was performed by a 10-member expert panel, and a pilot survey was conducted on long-term care hospital nurses. In the tool validation phase, the construct validity, criterion validity, and reliability of the tool were tested by applying it to 181 nurses in long-term care hospitals . Results: The final tool comprised five factors and 23 items, with an overall explanatory power of 56.8%. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis, and the model fit was good. Known-group validity was established by the observation of a significant difference in the slow nursing score between intensive care unit and long-term care hospital nurses, and criterion validity was established by a significant correlation between the slow nursing and person-centered assessment scores. Internal consistency reliability was shown by a Cronbach's α coefficient of .781. Conclusion: The concept of slow nursing has been clarified, improving the understanding and implementation of slow nursing care by nurses in long-term care hospitals. The Slow Nursing Tool for Long-term Care Hospital Nurses (SNT-LCHN) is expected to increase interest in and contribute to the effectiveness of slow nursing practices. It will serve as a valuable tool for improving nursing performance in these settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine pathways from child abuse to school adjustment and the roles of self-control and academic stress on the link among North Korean adolescent refugees living in South Korea and native South Korean adolescents. A total of 610 students (adolescents from South Korea = 325 and adolescents from North Korea = 285) living in South Korea, from juniors in middle schools to seniors in high schools, were interviewed in 2017. Multigroup structural equation modeling was used to examine differences in the country of origin on the pathways from abuse to school adjustment via self-control and academic stress. North Korean adolescent refugees were less likely to adjust to their school life than South Korean adolescents. Academic stress was found as a significant mediator between self-control and school adjustment in both South Korean and North Korean adolescents. Child abuse was associated with self-control of South Korean adolescents. Childhood abuse from parents can have an overall influence on individual characteristics and school life for adolescents. By paying attention to this process, comprehensive solutions are urgently required not only to intervene in the problem of abusive parenting behaviors but also to block the path of the expanding negative consequences among both groups of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supporting early-stage nurses to adapt to the field and become proficient in nursing is important to improve the quality of patient care. This study aimed to determine the effects of the nursing work environment, nursing practice readiness, and optimism on the field adaptation of early-stage nurses. A descriptive survey was conducted among 209 early-stage nurses with ≤3 years of work experience at hospitals. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and regression analysis with the SPSS Program. The participating nurses' mean field adaptation score was 2.90 ± 0.40 (total score = 5) and a significant positive correlation was found between nursing work environment (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), nursing practice readiness (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), and optimism (r = 0.26, p < 0.001). The regression analysis revealed that the nursing work environment (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), job satisfaction (β = 0.33, p < 0.001), nursing practice readiness (β = 0.24, p < 0.001), and turnover intention (β = 0.17, p = 0.001) significantly affect the field adaptation of early stage nurses; the explanatory power was 56.1% (F = 27.55, p < 0.001). The results suggest that to facilitate the field adaptation of early-stage nurses, the nursing work environment, job satisfaction, and nursing practice readiness should be improved. Improvement in the nursing work environment and the development of additional training for field adaptation would enhance the ability of early-stage nurses to adapt to the field and, consequently, improve the quality of nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines Indian and South Korean mechanical engineering research output on several parameters including growth, research communication in core journals, and geographical distribution of publications, share of international collaborative publications at the national level as well as across subjects and characteristics of high productivity institutions, authors and cited papers. The study focuses on the articles published by India and South Korea, and indexed in Science Citation Index - Web of Science for the period 2011 to 2015. India has produced 11,041 papers in the mechanical engineering field, and received 44,307 citations and South Korea produced 8,585 papers and received 34,437 citations in the field during the period 2011 to 2015. The study suggests the need to increase the pace of Indian and South Korean scientific research and improve their quality. It also suggests to build competence and knowledge base to help bridge the scientific and technological gap with leading countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To examine Korean registered nurses' level of perceived knowledge and practice of venous thromboembolism risk assessment as well as prevention, self-efficacy in venous thromboembolism care and actual knowledge of venous thromboembolism. Background For hospitalised patients, venous thromboembolism is a preventable clinical disorder. Caring for venous thromboembolism patients requires coordination across multiple providers and settings. Clinical nurses can play a major role in improving venous thromboembolism prevention care, assessing venous thromboembolism risks and providing appropriate prophylactic measures to those who are at risk for venous thromboembolism. Design A cross-sectional descriptive study. Methods Anonymous paper-based surveys were conducted for a convenience sample of registered nurses' ( n = 452) from two university-affiliated hospitals in South Korea. Results The majority of participants indicated that their overall self-rated venous thromboembolism knowledge was 'fair', while only 2·4% rated it as 'very good' or 'excellent'. The overall mean score of the venous thromboembolism knowledge questions was 50·9 (±13·0) of a possible score of 100. The mean score of self-efficacy in practising venous thromboembolism prevention/prophylaxis was 3·0 (based on a one to five Likert scale). The self-reported venous thromboembolism assessment performance on patients varied among clinical units. Only 9·3% of participants reported having received in-service venous thromboembolism education from their hospital. Conclusions The findings showed that overall venous thromboembolism knowledge and self-efficacy in venous thromboembolism prevention practices of Korean registered nurses' were not highly rated. Korean nurses demonstrated a lack of knowledge about venous thromboembolism, particularly in the areas of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis measures and venous thromboembolism diagnosis methods. Relevance to clinical practice Focused education on venous thromboembolism prevention and risk assessment should be considered a component of continuing education for Korean nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Despite the importance of vaccination against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in cancer patients, general vaccine uptake rates among cancer patients are known to be low. Here, we tried to investigate the attitude and acceptance rates for COVID-19 vaccine in cancer patients and identify predictive factors for vaccination that could be modified to promote vaccine uptake rates. Between February and April 2021, a total of 1001 cancer patients from five institutions participated in a paper-based survey, consisting of 58 items over six domains. Among the respondents, 61.8% were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Along with the previously reported predictors for COVID-19 vaccination, including male gender, older age, and influenza vaccination history, we distinctively found that patient's disease status and health status (absence of cancer recurrence, time since cancer diagnosis over 5 years, and higher EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale scores) were associated with higher acceptance rates of vaccination. Furthermore, physician's recommendations effectively reduced patient's vaccine hesitancy. Considering the high morbidity and mortality of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with malignancy, they are regarded as a priority for COVID-19 vaccination. However, general vaccine uptake rates among cancer patients are known to be lower than in their healthy counterparts. Thus, we aimed to investigate the attitude and acceptance rates for the COVID-19 vaccine in cancer patients and identify predictive factors for vaccination that could be modified to increase vaccine uptake rates, via a paper-based survey (58 items over six domains). A total of 1001 cancer patients participated in this nationwide, multicenter survey between February and April 2021. We observed that 61.8% of respondents were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Positive predictive factors found to be independently associated with vaccination were male gender, older age, obesity, previous influenza vaccination history, absence of cancer recurrence, time since cancer diagnosis over 5 years, and higher EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale scores. Along with the well-known factors that are positively correlated with vaccination, here, we report that patients' disease status and current health status were also associated with their acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, 91.2% of cancer patients were willing to be vaccinated if their attending physicians recommend it, indicating that almost 30% could change their decision upon physicians' recommendation. Unlike other factors, which are unmodifiable, physicians' recommendation is the single modifiable factor that could change patients' behavior. In conclusion, we firstly report that Korean cancer patients' acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccination was 61.8% and associated with disease status and current health status. Physicians should play a major role in aiding cancer patients' decision-making concerning COVID-19 vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience a variety of symptoms. This descriptive correlational study aimed to determine the prevalence of symptoms and the physiological and situational factors associated with these symptoms in ICU patients. Methods: We analyzed the Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) of 1,214 cases admitted to and discharged from the ICUs of a university hospital in Seoul over a 1-year period from June to September 2022. This analysis utilized standardized instruments embedded in EMRs and a natural language analysis framework developed by the researchers. Descriptive statistics, the x2 test, the Fisher exact test, and multivariate logistic regression were employed to identify common symptoms and their related factors. Results: In total, 85.7% of the cases had at least one symptom during their ICU stay, and 36.6% experienced 2 symptoms. Pain was the most frequently experienced symptom, affecting 69.5% of cases, followed by agitation (29.7%), dyspnea (29.7%), and delirium (4.8%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the length of ICU stay influenced pain (odds ratio [OR]=1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02~1.06; p<.001), delirium (OR=1.08; 95% CI, 1.06~1.11; p<.001), agitation (OR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.05~1.10; p<.001), and dyspnea (OR=1.19; 95% CI, 1.13~1.26; p<.001). Conclusion: Pain, agitation, and dyspnea are common in ICU patients and are associated with the length of their ICU stay. Our study identifies factors related to these symptoms that could be targeted to manage and reduce their occurrence, providing a foundation for future research on various symptom assessment tools and natural language transcripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The medical pricing system strongly influences physicians' job satisfaction and patient health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the current relative value unit (RVU)-based pricing and utility of patients in commonly performed surgical procedures in South Korea. Methods: Fifteen common surgical procedures were selected from OECD statistics, and three additional orthopedic procedures were examined. The current pricing of each surgical procedure was retrieved from the Korea National Health Insurance Service, and the corresponding utilities were obtained as quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains from previous studies. The relationship between the current prices (RVUs) and the patients' utility (incremental QALY gains/year) was analyzed. Subgroup analysis was performed between fatal and non-fatal procedures and between orthopedic and non-orthopedic procedures. Results: A significant negative correlation (r = − 0.558, p < 0.001) was observed between RVU and incremental QALY among all 18 procedures. The fatal subgroup had a significantly higher RVU than the non-fatal subgroup (p < 0.05), while the former had a significantly lower incremental QALY than the latter (p < 0.001). Orthopedic procedures showed higher incremental QALY values than non-orthopedic procedures, but they did not show higher prices (RVU). Conclusions: This paradoxical relationship between current prices and patient utility is attributed to the higher pricing of surgical procedures for fatal and urgent conditions. Orthopedic surgery has been found to be a cost-effective treatment strategy. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of the potential role of incremental QALY in pursuing value-based purchasing or reasonable modification of the current medical fee schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore how the characteristics of patients and caregivers affect self‐care in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Design: A multicentre cross‐sectional study. Method: We followed the STROBE checklist. Parkinson's disease patients aged 50 years and older and their caregivers were recruited from two tertiary hospitals and the Korean Parkinson's Disease Association website. Patient characteristics, including social support, relationship quality with caregivers, self‐care efficacy and self‐care, were analysed. Caregiver characteristics were also evaluated, including caregiving duration, social support, relationship quality with patients, contribution to patients' self‐care efficacy and contribution to patients' self‐care. Results: The characteristics of patients and caregivers (103 pairs) were hierarchically regressed into patient self‐care domains (maintenance, monitoring and management). Most patients and caregivers gave a self‐care efficacy and self‐care management rating of moderate. In three regression models, patient self‐care efficacy was positively related to three domains of patient self‐care. Self‐care maintenance decreased as patients' disease duration increased. Self‐care monitoring was positively related to the education level of patients and caregiving duration. Self‐care management showed an inverse relationship with caregiving duration and a positive relationship with caregiver contribution. Conclusion: Self‐care efficacy was important in promoting PD patients' self‐care maintenance, monitoring and management. The contributions of caregivers were also critical in increasing PD patients' self‐care management. Implications for the profession and patient care: To increase patients' self‐care efficacy and self‐care, educational interventions containing information about the disease, symptom management, and problem‐solving should be implemented. Since caregivers are deeply involved in patients' self‐care, educational interventions for caregivers should also be provided. Impact: This study closed the literature gap by examining the self‐care efficacy and self‐care of Korean PD patients. Findings demonstrated the importance of caregiver roles on patients' self‐care and health. Patient or public contribution: Two tertiary hospitals and the Korean Parkinson's Disease Association assisted during the recruitment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loneliness was found to be a commonly experienced feeling among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and is considered to be a high-risk factor for depressive symptoms. Maintaining meaning in life has been found to be a protective resource for mental health among older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effects of an individual's meaning in life in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms among older Korean adults. Methods: The data were obtained from a sample of 213 community-dwelling older adults aged over 65. The instruments were the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Results: Loneliness was positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively associated with the presence of and search for meaning among older adults. The presence of meaning mediated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms but the search for meaning did not. The search for meaning mediated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms through the presence of meaning. Conclusions: Our study findings suggest that efforts to reduce loneliness and improve meaning in life should be undertaken to prevent depressive symptoms among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many complex factors contribute to suicide in older adults. The suicidal ideation that precedes suicide is an especially direct predictor of suicide. This study aimed to identify the effects between variables affecting suicidal ideation among older adults using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model and understand the causal relationships to systematize complex factors. Methods: This study used data from 9920 community-dwelling older adults who completed a national survey in 2020 to classify predictors of suicidal ideation (e.g., depression, subjective health status, sociodemographic factors, health factors, social support, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and social participation) by using the ICF model. To determine the causal relationship between variables, this study examined significance based on the critical ratio (C.R.) and squared multiple correlation (SMC) by using a path model. Results: Gender, education level, economic level, age, IADL, relationship satisfaction with a child, depression, and the number of chronic diseases significantly affected suicidal ideation, while age, employment status, participation in social groups, formal and informal support, satisfaction with a friend/neighbor relationship, and subjective health status did not significantly influence it. Moreover, depression mediated the relationship between each of these variables and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: It was found that depression was the most direct and mediating factor in suicidal ideation among many factors affecting the suicidal ideation of community-dwelling older adults. Additional studies should be conducted to develop community-level strategies based on these factors and understand causal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to determine whether self-regulation acts as a mediating factor in the relationship between obesity-related stress and weight control behavior, targeting Korean female college students. Obesity-related stress and weight control behaviors are important factors affecting an individual's health and well-being, and self-control, a psychological trait, can play a pivotal role in regulating how individuals respond to stress and engage in weight management behaviors. Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. A total of 109 female college students with overweight and obesity participated in the study. We used a self-report questionnaire to measure obesity-related stress, self-control, and degree of weight control behavior. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, and bootstrapping using Hayes' PROCESS macro for mediation. Results: Significant relationships between obesity-related stress and weight control behavior (r = 0.25, p < 0.001), obesity-related stress and self-control (r = −0.36, p < 0.001), and weight control behavior and self-control (r = 0.26, p < 0.001) were observed. Self-control showed an indirect mediating effect on the relationship between obesity-related stress and weight control behavior (Β = 0.37, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Through the research results, it was confirmed that self-control is a factor that has a mediating effect in the relationship between obesity-related stress and weight control behavior among female college students with overweight and obesity. These results underscore the importance of addressing self-control strategies in interventions aimed at promoting healthy weight management among female college students with overweight or obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the research trends of quality of life (QOL) after gastrectomy among gastric cancer patients in Korea and to make suggestions for future studies. Methods: A literature search was done using Pubmed, CINHAL, and Korean databases in Korean and English. Results: A total of 53 studies from 1993 to 2015 were analyzed. Of 53 papers, 6 (11.3%) were doctoral dissertations and master's theses, and 47 (88.7%) were from academic journals. All of the studies (100%) used quantitative research designs. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 were mostly used to evaluate QOL in the studies. The main research issues were varied, in particular, the most common subjects of studies were QOL related to the evaluation of treatment methods. Conclusion: Further studies about QOL after gastrectomy with gastric cancer patients need to be done with various approaches such as intervention studies to improve QOL, qualitative studies, and multidisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the research trends of nursing researches done on cancer patients' nutrition in Korea and to make suggestions for future studies. Methods: A total of 100 studies from 1989 to 2015 were analyzed. 22 nursing studies were selected for analysis the based on keywords ‘nutrition', ‘cancer' and ‘patients'. Results: Of 100 papers, 27 were doctoral dissertation and master's theses, 73 were from academic journals, 3 were thesis studies, and 19 were reported research in academic journal in nursing fields. Quantitative researches accounted for 92.0% while 20% among them were nursing researches, and other types of studies were 2%. The most frequently used research type was non-experimental 65.0%, while the ratio of experimental researches was 27.0%. The most frequently used research subjects were cancer patients without diagnostic classification with 37.0%. The most common issue of qualitative studies was the patient's nutrition condition. Conclusion: The further studies about cancer patients' nutrition condition need to be done with various approaches such as concept or tool development study, multi-disciplinary research, qualitative study and education program development study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analysis the manuscripts rejected for publication in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration during the last three years six months (2012~2015 Jun). Methods: Seventy eight rejected manuscripts were analyzed focusing on manuscripts characteristics, such as rejection rates, year of submission, occupation of first author and corresponding author, number of authors, funding, thesis or dissertation, article type, study participants, number of reviews prior to rejection, and 3rd reviewer. Also reviewers' quantitative evaluation scores and subjective comments were analyzed. Reviewers' subjective comments were analyzed using content analysis methodology. Results: The mean rate for manuscript rejection was 28.9% and for quantitative research, qualitative research, and review papers the quantitative evaluation scores were 2.54±0.70, 2.39±0.69, and 2.39±0.69 out of 5 points, respectively. The most frequent subjective comment on rejected manuscripts was ‘lack of rationale for research need'. Conclusion: In this study the characteristics and the reasons for rejecting manuscripts were identified. These findings can be used in developing effective strategies for researchers, reviewers and editors to improve the quality of research and research reviews of nursing administration research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Basic research' is based on epistemological and intentional criteria. In terms of science policy, however, these criteria imply contradictory views on investment in 'basic research'. The former espouses the linear model of innovation and encourages policy-makers concerned with economic problems to expand investment on basic research. However, the latter can collide with the policy norm of policy-makers and discourage investment in 'basic research' in an institutional setting where the nation-state prevails over scientists, as in South Korea. Emphasizing policy ideas and policy learning, this paper empirically shows that changes in investment priority and the emergence of new concepts about 'basic research' are co-products of a policy paradigm of the linear model and a policy norm of industrial competitiveness in Korea. Specifically, emphasis was placed on the balance between pure and oriented basic research, but moved on to 'oriented basic research', 'basic engineering', and to 'basic research' coupled with 'woncheon-technology'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a model that quantifies the causal relations among safety variables (latent variables) and workers' safety behavior (indicator) using statistical data and hypotheses obtained from construction workers and existing literatures, respectively. The safety variables that affect workers' safety behaviors are identified from existing studies and operationalized to measure their causal relations with the workers' behaviors. The model identifies the directions and degrees of the effect of every latent variable on the other latent variables and the indicator. Survey questionnaires were administered to construction workers in South Korea. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach's α and structural equation modeling were performed to test the causal hypotheses using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. This study provides the theoretical model that predicts construction workers' safety behavior on construction sites using path diagram and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop and validate a scale for measuring the therapeutic communication of nursing students. The scale development and evaluation study was conducted based on the scale development guidelines of DeVellis. A 47-item instrument was developed based on a review of the literature and interviews with 16 experts. Content validity was evaluated by ten nursing scholars, and the number of items was reduced to 35. The scale was administered to 352 nursing students from three regions in South Korea in 2022. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed on the scale items. Convergent validity, discriminant validity, and internal consistency reliability of the scale were evaluated. The factor analysis resulted in 15 items and two factors: relationship building and problem solving. Confirmatory factor analysis and evaluation of convergent and discriminant validity provided support for the validity of the two-factor Therapeutic Communication Scale in nursing students. The total scale demonstrated good internal consistency, with a McDonald's omega (ω) of 0.89. The Therapeutic Communication Scale is a reliable and valid measure that can be used to assess nursing students' therapeutic communication competence related to patient-centered nursing and provide foundational data to improve such skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rehabilitation addresses not only children's disabilities but also their physical, psychological, social, and cultural impairments. Hence, pediatric rehabilitation adopts a multidisciplinary approach; it encompasses the vital role of not only physicians and rehabilitation therapists, but also of nurses. This study conducts a content analysis of the experiences of healthcare professionals specializing in pediatric rehabilitation to explore the roles nurses working on pediatric rehabilitation units are expected to perform. After analyzing the interviews with 12 experts in pediatric rehabilitation, the roles of pediatric rehabilitation nurses were broadly categorized into five areas (caregivers, team members, counselors, researchers, and educators) with eight sub-groups and 24 specific roles. This study is significant because it provides profound insights into the roles of pediatric rehabilitation nurses in Korea. These insights can serve as foundational data for formulating policies for healthcare personnel in pediatric rehabilitation, and provide evidence for establishing a much-needed system for certified rehabilitation nurses in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate and understand various aspects related to participants' experiences in peer support activities, with a particular focus on their personal growth and the influence of these activities on their lives. In this qualitative study, peer support workers with mental illness were the main subjects, and they were recruited from G Metropolitan City, South Korea. The study used purposive sampling, guided by recommendations from peer support worker support organizations. A total of five participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure maximum variability in the sample. Data collection involved semi-structured individual interviews, and data analysis was conducted using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method. Following the IPA procedure for data analysis, the study revealed six themes that encapsulated the recovery experiences of peer support workers with mental illness: (1) Facing confusion and challenges, (2) Rising and refining myself, (3) Navigating the paths of relationships, (4) Gazing at the desired horizons, (5) Awakening the inner hero, and (6) Standing as a person who cherishes life. This research underscores the positive impact of peer support activities on individuals who have faced mental health challenges. It emphasizes the significance of self-discovery, the development of supportive relationships, and the aspiration for a brighter future. These findings contribute to the expanding body of knowledge regarding the benefits of peer support in the context of mental health recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students' perceived parental child-rearing attitude, ego identity, and college adjustment in Korea and explore factors that influence college adjustment. Methods: This study surveyed 224 nursing students enrolled in universities located in two regions within South Korea. Data were collected from October 14 to November 31, 2019. Perceived parental child-rearing attitude (paternal emotional warmth, paternal rejection, paternal overprotection, maternal emotional warmth, maternal rejection, and maternal overprotection) and ego identity of nursing students were used as independent variables on college adjustment. Collected data were subjected to correlation analysis using SPSS version 26.0 for Windows. Further, regression analysis was performed on the influence of parental child-rearing attitude and ego identity on college adjustment. Results: Among the parental child-rearing attitudes, paternal emotional warmth (r =.30, p <.001), maternal emotional warmth (r =.38, p <.001), and ego identity (r =.71, p <.001) were positively correlated with nursing students' college adjustment, whereas maternal rejection was negatively correlated with ego identity (r = −.28, p <.001) and college adjustment (r = −.15, p =.025). Regression analysis of the effects of nursing students' perceived parental child-rearing attitude and ego identity on college adjustment, with grade as a control variable, revealed that ego identity (p <.001) had a significant effect on college adjustment, and the higher the ego identity (β = 0.712), the higher the college adjustment. Further, the explanatory power of explaining college adjustment was high at 49.9%. Conclusions: The nursing students' perceived paternal emotional warmth, maternal emotional warmth, and ego identity were positively correlated with college adjustment. Additionally, ego identity was found as the influencing factor in Korean nursing students' college adjustment. Therefore, programs to strengthen ego identity should be developed and implemented for college adjustment among nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study develops a chatbot for school violence prevention (C-SVP) among elementary school students. Methods: Among the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) models, ADD phases were applied to develop a C-SVP. Students' learning needs were identified by constructing content with a design that attracted their attention. Subsequently, a formative evaluation was conducted on the developed C-SVP to test its applicability by ten elementary school students targeting the 5th and 6th grades. Results: The chatbot was designed using KakaoTalk and named "School Guardian Angel." The formative evaluation revealed that the developed C-SVP was easily accessible and useful for elementary school students. Conclusion: The developed C-SVP is expected to be effective in preventing violence among elementary school students. However, further research involving children of various age groups is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient safety (PS) education must be provided to medical personnel who deal with life and death situations. This study aimed to examine the current state of PS education and to investigate the factors affecting the willingness of undergraduate nursing students to participate in PS. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive correlational survey. In this study, an online survey targeting members of an online café in South Korea that prepares nursing students was conducted from 19–21 April 2023. In total, 296 undergraduate nursing students in their fourth grade at 132 nursing colleges across the country participated. The results showed that 94.6% (280 students) had experience in PS education and 45.6% (135 students) had witnessed a PS incident in clinical practice. Most students (90.9%) responded that PS education was necessary and that 'clinical practice at the hospital' was the most effective method of PS education. PS perception increased as PS knowledge increased, and it was confirmed that an increase in PS perception increased the willingness to participate in PS. Factors that increased nursing students' willingness to participate in PS were high satisfaction with clinical practice, high PS education needs, and high PS perception scores. To increase nursing students' willingness to participate in PS, it is important to improve their PS perception and ensure that they have a variety of PS education experiences, which requires the development of a standardized PS education program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research for the development of nursing education strategies to enhance the competency of the nursing students on disaster safety are needed. This study aimed to identify the types of perceptions on disaster safety in nursing students, and to analyze and describe the characteristics of each type of disaster safety perception of nursing students in South Korea. Methods: An exploratory study design applying Q methodology, a research method designed to study subjectivity. Participants were 30 nursing students in their 20s who are living in C city. This P-set was selected to best reveal the disaster safety awareness of nursing students. Participants provided their subjective viewpoints by sorting 30 statements into a grid. Analyses involved correlation and factor analysis. The study was carried out from June to December, 2020. Results: In this study, four types of disaster safety awareness of nursing students were uncovered. The characteristics of each type were confirmed as follows: Type 1 was national responsibility, type 2 was individual responsibility, type 3 was preparedness-oriented, and type 4 was education-oriented. Conclusion: This study shows that the types of perceptions on disaster safety in Korean nursing students were national responsibility, individual responsibility, preparedness-oriented, and education-oriented. The findings from this study can be implied as fundamental data in nursing education of disaster safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocational identity develops through the complex and dynamic interactions of the subdimensions of identity. A four-wave longitudinal study was conducted to investigate how each subdimension (in-breadth exploration, in-depth exploration, commitment-making, identification with commitment, career flexibility, career self-doubt) of each of the three processes of vocational identity (exploration, commitment, reconsideration) interacts across time during the emerging adulthood. The participants were full-time college students in South Korea—248 at T1, 194 at T2, 159 at T3, and 115 at T4. They rated the Vocational Identity Status Assessment four times at 6-month intervals. The results of the autoregressive cross-lagged path analysis indicated that an increase in in-breadth exploration led to a decrease in career self-doubt, which subsequently led to an increase in the subdimensions of commitment. These findings suggest a specific short-term interaction pattern for the relationship between the subdimensions of vocational identity, known only as a complex interaction. Implications, limitations, and directions for future studies are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This descriptive, exploratory, correlational analysis investigated patients with type 2 diabetes and their diabetes knowledge, depression, diabetes‐management self‐efficacy, and social support and sought to determine the effects of these factors on psychological insulin resistance among type 2 diabetes patients in South Korea. Methods: This descriptive cross‐sectional study included 136 patients with type 2 diabetes who visited an endocrinology clinic. A structured questionnaire and electronic medical records were used to collect data regarding demographic and disease‐related characteristics as well as scores on the Diabetes Knowledge Tests, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Diabetes Management Self‐efficacy Scale, Social Support Scale, and Psychological Insulin Resistance Scale, between September and December 2017. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t‐tests, a one‐way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The total score for psychological insulin resistance was 60.92 ± 14.75 of a maximum of 90. Stepwise multiple regression showed that diabetes knowledge, diabetes‐management self‐efficacy, social support, absence of diabetes complications, and depression explained 38.6% of the variance in psychological insulin resistance. Conclusion: Diabetes knowledge was found to have the largest influence on psychological insulin resistance, followed by social support, absence of complications, depression, and diabetes‐management self‐efficacy. Development of interventions that consider all these factors is required, and the effects of such interventions should be tested through further research. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Patients with diabetes in Korea have been reported to have relatively high levels of psychological resistance to insulin therapy compared with their counterparts in the West.Previous studies on factors associated with psychological insulin resistance have considered only a limited number of factors and have simply analysed the association between these factors. The full range of disease‐related factors that can affect psychological insulin resistance has not been considered.Research on the psychological insulin resistance of patients with type 2 diabetes, and the factors that affect it, is currently lacking in Korea. What this paper adds? The level of psychological insulin resistance of Korean patients with type 2 diabetes was found to be higher than that of patients from other countries.Diabetes knowledge was found to have the most significant influence on the psychological insulin resistance in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes, followed by social support, absence of diabetes complications, depression, and diabetes‐management self‐efficacy. The implications of this paper: Levels of psychological insulin resistance among patients with type 2 diabetes should be monitored, and nursing education programs should be developed that are tailored to patients' level of psychological insulin resistance.Diabetes knowledge, social support, diabetes complications, depression, and diabetes‐management self‐efficacy should be systematically monitored to reduce the level of psychological insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Development of detailed interventions that consider these factors may be helpful, and their effectiveness should be tested through further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Digital addiction has been a global concern, with college students becoming increasingly vulnerable to it. The detrimental psycho-physiological effects of digital addiction have raised concerns regarding college students' health. This descriptive correlational study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of digital addiction and identify influencing factors among college students, such as body shape satisfaction, time management, and psychological health. (2) Methods: Data were collected from 199 students at a university in Seoul, South Korea, from 30 May to 13 June 2023. The Digital Addiction Scale (DAS), Time Structure Questionnaire (TSQ), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) were used for the assessment. Data (N = 199) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. (3) Results: The mean score for digital addiction was 54 ± 12, with scores ranging from 23.0 to 89.0. Digital addiction had a significant positive correlation with body shape satisfaction (r = 0.156, p = 0.028) and a negative correlation with time management (r = −0.500, p < 0.001). In the stepwise multiple regression model of digital addiction (adjusted R 2 = 0.285, p < 0.001), subfactors of body shape satisfaction (fear of fatness β = −0.280, body dissatisfaction β = 0.401) and time management (effective organization β = −0.211, persistence β = −0.209, past orientation β = −0.165) were statistically significant. (4) Conclusions: Body shape satisfaction and time management are important factors influencing digital addiction among college students. However, it does not establish a direct causal relationship. The findings indicate that there is a statistical association or connection between these factors, but they do not definitively state that body shape satisfaction or time management directly cause digital addiction. To decrease digital addiction in this population, interventions should aim to improve body shape satisfaction and time management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]