Chung Yul Lee

Comparison of the clinical practice satisfaction of nursing students in Korea and the USA

The objective of this research was to compare the clinical practice satisfaction of nursing students in South Korea and the United States. A self-report questionnaire on ‘Satisfaction of clinical nursing practice of undergraduate students’ was used to survey 131 nursing students of the Yonsei University in South Korea and 109 nursing students of the Colorado Christian University in the USA. Findings indicate that American nursing students had significantly higher clinical practice satisfaction levels than the Korean students. Two factors were identified to explain the differences. One is the different motivation for choosing a nursing major and the second is the different clinical practice environment. Although different countries utilize clinical practice differently, it is beneficial to understand the factors that influence students’ satisfaction levels by comparing countries’ nursing education system.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Unmet Healthcare Needs of Married Immigrant Women

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the unmet healthcare needs of married immigrant women. METHODS This study was a secondary data analysis using data from the 2009 National Survey of Multicultural Families. Data collected from 58,735 married immigrant women who had spouses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and logistic regression. RESULTS Overall, 9.9% of married immigrant women have unmet healthcare needs. The significant predictors related to unmet healthcare needs were young age, high level of education, employed, country of origin, long period of residence, low income, uninsured, urban area, low level of subjective health status, and illness experience over past two weeks. In particular, four variables (long period of residence, low income, subjective health status, and illness experience over past two weeks) significantly predicted unmet healthcare needs for women from all countries of origin. CONCLUSION The results of the study indicate that common predictors related to unmet healthcare needs of married immigrant women are a long period of residence, low income, subjective health status, and illness experience over past two weeks. Therefore intervention strategies to decrease unmet healthcare needs should focus on these significant predictors.

Validation of self-report on smoking among university students in Korea.

OBJECTIVE To validate the self-reported smoking status of Korean university students. METHODS Subjects included 322 Korean university in Korea, who participated in an annual health screening. Data on smoking were collected through a self-reported questionnaire and urine test. The data were analyzed by the McNemar test. RESULTS In the consistency test for males, the results from the questionnaire and the urine test were in agreement, but for females, there was a significant difference between the results reported by the 2 tests (P=.001). CONCLUSIONS The findings showed that Korean female university students considerably underreported their smoking behavior.

Effect of psychosocial factors on metabolic syndrome in male and female blue-collar workers.

AIM The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between psychosocial factors and metabolic syndrome among male and female blue-collar workers, and which factors influence their metabolic syndrome by sex. METHODS A cross-sectional study was completed of 154 men and 80 women working at small companies in Korea. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire, blood test, and anthropometric and blood pressure measure. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed from the results of blood test and the measurements of waist circumference and blood pressure. RESULTS The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among male and female blue-collar workers was 24.0% and 7.5%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors of metabolic syndrome associated with sex. After controlling for age, marital status, smoking, alcohol drinking, shift work, overtime work, and physical exercise, job stress (odds ratio [OR] = 3.10, P = 0.005) and risk perception (OR = 1.12, P = 0.016) were influencing factors for men, and low job stress (OR = 0.05, P = 0.04), low social support (OR = 1.51, P = 0.009), and risk perception (OR = 1.27, P = 0.023) for women. CONCLUSION Metabolic syndrome among blue-collar workers is closely related to psychosocial factors, such as job stress, social support, and risk perception, with the effect of job stress a point of difference between men and women. Occupational health nurses should be cognizant of the importance of assessing the effect of psychosocial factors on cardiovascular risk for blue-collar workers.

Self‐management program for obesity control among middle‐aged women in Korea: A pilot study

AIM The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 12 week self-management intervention program, as compared to a structured exercise intervention, for obesity control among middle-aged women in Korea. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 27 women in a self-management group and 24 in a structured exercise group for 12 weeks. The self-management group received interventions that included walking at a convenient time and place, keeping healthy dietary habits, group workshops, phone counseling, and mobile phone short message services. The structured exercise group received a structured exercise intervention, which involved three 1 h walking classes per week at the health center. Both groups received baseline assessments before starting the interventions and at 12 weeks. The data were analyzed by using two sample t-tests, a paired t-test, and the χ(2) -test. RESULTS After 12 weeks, there were significant changes in the health behavior, amount of body fat, and blood pressure of the participants in both intervention groups, but there was no significant difference in their body composition, blood profile, or blood pressure. CONCLUSION Both the self-management and the structured exercise programs were effective in controlling obesity in middle-aged obese women in Korea. However, considering the chronic nature of obesity, the self-management program would be more beneficial, compared to the structured exercise program, as it allows people to exercise at a convenient time and place and to learn how to cope with their lifestyle barriers.

Factors that Influence Sexual Intercourse among Middle School Students: Using Data from the 8th (2012) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influence sexual intercourse among middle school students in South Korea. METHODS Using statistics from the 8th (2012) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted. The study sample comprised 37,297 middle school students aged primarily 12 to 15. RESULTS The significant predictors of sexual intercourse were grade, ever smoking, ever drinking, habitual or purposeful drug use, economic status, weekly allowance, cohabitation with family, and type of school. CONCLUSION The results suggest that intensified sex education is needed not only in the 1st grade of middle school, but also in the upper grades of elementary school. Sexual health interventions for high-risk groups may be needed, given the factors predicting sexual intercourse.

Comparison of the Hospice Systems in the United States, Japan and Taiwan

PURPOSE The aim of hospice care is to provide the best possible quality of life both for people approaching the end of life and for their families and carers. The Korean government has been implementing a pilot project for hospital hospice services and trying to develop the national hospice system. To assist in the development of the Korean hospice system, the Korean government supported the present study comparing the hospice systems of three countries, United States, Japan, and Taiwan, which currently have a developed hospice system. METHODS Data from three countries were collected in the following ways: reviewing hospice related literature, searching government documents on the Internet, collecting government hospice data, surveying six hospice institutions in each country, and conducting an international workshop. RESULTS The hospice system was evaluated by comparing hospice management systems and hospice cost systems. The comparison of the hospice management system included five items of hospice infra structures and four items of hospice services. The hospice cost system included four items: funding source, hospital hospice cost, day care hospice cost, and home hospice cost. CONCLUSIONS Based on the comparison of three countries, the most interesting thing was that home hospice care accounted for more than 90% of all hospice services in the United States and Taiwan. The results of this study will aid the countries that are in the process of developing a hospice system including Korea, which has been implementing a pilot project only for hospital hospice services.

Assessing Correlates of Physical Activity Levels in Female University Students

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to examine the level of physical activity and influencing factors in female college students. Method: Cross-sectional survey data including physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, social influences on physical activity, and perceived health status were collected from 213 subjects. Data from 204 subjects were analyzed. Results: The mean level of physical activity was 2,750.97 MET-min/week. Physical activity showed a positive association with exercise self-efficacy as well as social influences, and a negative association with age. Stepwise multiple regressions showed that physical activity among female college students was predicted by type of leisure activity, relative health status, social influences, and age. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a program for improvement of physical activity in female college students should include interesting and dynamic leisure activities and strategies for performing together with friends should be developed.

Ecological Risk Factors of Childhood Obesity in Korean Elementary School Students

The purpose of this study was to examine ecological correlates of obesity among Korean children. Cross-sectional data, including measurements of height and weight, were collected by questionnaire from 1,644 children in the fifth and sixth grades. A multiple logistic regression model incorporating individual- and school-level variables determined factors of childhood obesity. Intrapersonal factors associated with obesity included gender, computer use, and dissatisfaction with body image; significant interpersonal factors included low level of the father’s education and encouragement to engage in physical activity. School-level factors that were significant predictors included location in Gyeonggi province, having two or more school exercise facilities, physical-education classes of 2 hr per week, higher fat content of school lunch, and higher number of classes in the school. The findings indicate that multifaceted, multilevel prevention strategies to manage and prevent childhood obesity should include behavioral modification, familial support, and improvement of school environments.

Evaluation of a Community Health Practitioner Self - care Program for Rural Korean Patients with Osteoarthritis

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate a self-care program for elders with osteoarthritis managed by primary health care workers, Community Health Practitioners (CHPs), in rural Korea. METHODS The self-care program, consisting of 7 areas, was evaluated with a randomized experimental study for patients over age 60 with osteoarthritis in which 150 participants in the experimental group and 140 in the control group were compared. The self-care program was implemented for six weeks, 2 hours per week, at community health posts by CHPs. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire given by the CHPs and laboratory tests before and after the intervention for both groups. Propensity score matching analysis was done to test effectiveness after controlling for confounding variables. RESULTS The intervention group showed a significant decrease in the number of painful joints (p<.001) and a significant increase in self-care ability (p<.05) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION Study results indicate that training and utilizing primary health care workers in rural areas is valuable in increasing the generalization and continuity of intervention programs. As arthritis should be managed life-long, CHP directed self-care programs are useful interventions for rural elders with arthritis to learn self-care management.