GyeongAe Seomun

Development and validation of an instrument to measure nurses' compassion competence

AIM To develop and psychometrically validate the Compassion Competence Scale. BACKGROUND Compassion is a vital asset in the nursing profession; thus, it is necessary to develop a suitable instrument for assessment. METHODS The 49-item preliminary instrument was developed using concept analysis (hybrid model). Content and face validity were confirmed by 10 experts and 10 nurses, respectively, and the number of items was reduced to 18. The tool was tested on 660 nurses working at three tertiary hospitals in South Korea in 2013. RESULTS We selected 17 items for the final scale and extracted three factors (variance explained: 55.9%): communication, sensitivity, and insight. Correlations with the Emotional Competence Scale (.68), Compassionate Love Scale (.62), and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (.41) supported the scales convergent validity. The reliability (Cronbachs α and test-retest reliability) was acceptable. CONCLUSIONS The Compassion Competence Scale is a simple, effective screening tool for identifying compassion competence among nurses.

Gender Disparity in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korea: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012

Objectives: To evaluate gender specific characteristics in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and abnormalities in Korean population using the 2009 Joint Interim Statement of the International Diabetes Federation. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data based on the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). MetS prevalence was calculated for 5,935 Korean adults (≥ 20 years of age) by sex and age group. Incidence rates of five MetS risk factors were also assessed. Results: The prevalence of MetS among Koreans was 21.7% (22.9% for men, 20.6% for women). Elderly women after menopause had the highest prevalence of MetS and all five risk factors. Young and middle-aged men had higher prevalence and risk factors of MetS than similarly-aged women, but the rate of MetS in women surged significantly from age 50 and surpassed that of men thereafter. Women had a higher prevalence of low HDL cholesterol than men in all age groups. Of the five MetS risk factors, the prevalence of hypertension was highest (36.0%). About one-third of Korean have hypertension as a main risk factor. Conclusion: We observed a mounting gender disparity with age due to an increase in the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in female. Preventive strategies including lifestyle interventions and health education about MetS need to be implemented pre-menopausal women and middle-aged men. Therapeutic strategies including drug intervention should be employed for elderly women. In 2012, more than one-fifth of Korean have MetS. These results indicate that MetS is an imperative public health issue that needs to be managed at the national level. Reducing the rates of hypertension and dyslipidemia will be critical to controlling MetS. This study provides not only the latest information but also target population and high risk factors for controlling MetS.

Health Effects of Digital Textbooks on School-Age Children A Grounded Theory Approach

This qualitative study used the grounded theory approach to analyze digital textbook-related health experiences of school-age children. In-depth interviews were held with 40 elementary school students who had used digital textbooks for at least a year. Data analysis revealed a total of 56 concepts, 20 subcategories, and 11 categories related to digital textbook health issues, the central phenomena being “health-related experiences.” Students’ health-related experiences were classified into “physical” and “psychological” symptoms. Adverse health effects related to digital textbook usage were addressed via both “student-led” and “instructor-led” coping strategies. Students’ coping strategies were often inefficient, but instructor-led strategies seemed to prevent health problems. When health issues were well managed, students tended to accept digital textbooks as educational tools. Our findings suggest that students can form healthy computer habits if digital textbook usage is directed in a positive manner.

Compassion Competence in Nurses.

The purpose of study was to identify the attributes of the concept of compassion competence for nurses. A hybrid model was used to develop the concept, which included fieldwork performed. The concept of compassion competence was found to possess 3 dimensions: (a) acquisition of a wealth of knowledge; (b) development of skills of emotional communication, sensitivity, insight, and self-regulation; and (c) development of attitudes of respect and empathy, and maintenance of occupational distance. Compassion competence could be useful for developing ways to enhance the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for nurses to provide compassionate care in various nursing practices.

Development of a Standardized Job Description for Healthcare Managers of Metabolic Syndrome Management Programs in Korean Community Health Centers

PURPOSE This study aimed to develop a job description for healthcare managers of metabolic syndrome management programs using task analysis. METHODS Exploratory research was performed by using the Developing a Curriculum method, the Intervention Wheel model, and focus group discussions. Subsequently, we conducted a survey of 215 healthcare workers from 25 community health centers to verify that the job description we created was accurate. RESULTS We defined the role of healthcare managers. Next, we elucidated the tasks of healthcare managers and performed needs analysis to examine the frequency, importance, and difficulty of each of their duties. Finally, we verified that our job description was accurate. Based on the 8 duties, 30 tasks, and 44 task elements assigned to healthcare managers, we found that the healthcare managers functioned both as team coordinators responsible for providing multidisciplinary health services and nurse specialists providing health promotion services. In terms of importance and difficulty of tasks performed by the healthcare managers, which were measured using a determinant coefficient, the highest-ranked task was planning social marketing (15.4), while the lowest-ranked task was managing human resources (9.9). CONCLUSION A job description for healthcare managers may provide basic data essential for the development of a job training program for healthcare managers working in community health promotion programs.

Factors Influencing VDT syndrome among male adolescents with risk of digital addiction

The purpose of this study was to determine the influential factors associated with video display terminal (VDT) syndrome of male adolescents with digital device addition. The study design was cross-sectional descriptive survey. The study participants were 169 male middle school students in Seoul. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and data were analyzed using the SPSS program. The factors most influential for the subjective symptoms of VDT were smartphone addiction, computer use time during the week, computer use environment. These factors accounted for 28.1% of the variance in subjective symptoms of VDT. In order to prevent the occurrence of VDT syndrome in students, we suggest to establish a preventive intervention against the digital addiction.

Impact of Unit-level Nurse Practice Environment on Nurse Turnover Intention

The purpose of this study was to conduct the impact of unit-level nurse practice environment on turnover intention among nurses in a tertiary hospital. A cross-sectional study was carried out using questionnaires with 267 nurses in 24 nursing units of hospital in Seoul. Data were collected in November 2013 and were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. The results of the study indicate that nurse turnover intention is associated with the nurse practice environment at the unit level. In addition, the model including age, unit-level nurse practice environment explained 23.0% of the variance for nurse turnover intention. Hospital can improve nurse retention and lower turnover intention by changing the nurse practice environment of unit, such as nurse participation in hospital affairs, improvement of the nurse manager leadership and nurse-physician collaborative relationships.

Development and Application of a Performance Prediction Model for Home Care Nursing Based on a Balanced Scorecard using the Bayesian Belief Network

PURPOSE This study was conducted to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) for home care nursing (HCN) based on a balanced scorecard, and to construct a performance prediction model of strategic objectives using the Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). METHODS This methodological study included four steps: establishment of KPIs, performance prediction modeling, development of a performance prediction model using BBN, and simulation of a suggested nursing management strategy. An HCN expert group and a staff group participated. The content validity index was analyzed using STATA 13.0, and BBN was analyzed using HUGIN 8.0. RESULTS We generated a list of KPIs composed of 4 perspectives, 10 strategic objectives, and 31 KPIs. In the validity test of the performance prediction model, the factor with the greatest variance for increasing profit was maximum cost reduction of HCN services. The factor with the smallest variance for increasing profit was a minimum image improvement for HCN. During sensitivity analysis, the probability of the expert group did not affect the sensitivity. Furthermore, simulation of a 10% image improvement predicted the most effective way to increase profit. CONCLUSION KPIs of HCN can estimate financial and non-financial performance. The performance prediction model for HCN will be useful to improve performance.

Descriptive Study of Electromagnetic Wave Distribution for Various Seating Positions Using Digital Textbooks

To better understand environmental electromagnetic wave exposure during the use of digital textbooks by elementary school students, we measured numeric values of the electromagnetic fields produced by tablet personal computers (TPCs). Specifically, we examined the distribution of the electromagnetic waves for various students’ seating positions in an elementary school that uses digital textbooks. Electric and magnetic fields from TPCs were measured using the HI-3603 Visual Display Terminal/ Very Low Frequency (VDT/VLF) radiation measurement system. Electromagnetic field values from TPCs measured at a student’s seat and at a teacher’s computer were deemed not harmful to health. However, electromagnetic field values varied based on the distance between students, other electronic devices such as a desktop computers, and student posture while using a TPC. Based on these results, it is necessary to guide students to observe proper posture and to arrange seats at an appropriate distance in the classroom.

Evaluating Web-Based Nursing Education’s Effects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether using web-based nursing educational programs increases a participant’s knowledge and clinical performance. We performed a meta-analysis of studies published between January 2000 and July 2016 and identified through RISS, CINAHL, ProQuest Central, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and PubMed. Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion in this analysis. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated significant differences not only for the overall effect but also specifically for blended programs and short (2 weeks or 4 weeks) intervention periods. To present more evidence supporting the effectiveness of web-based nursing educational programs, further research is warranted.