Jeong Sil Choi

Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge, preventive behaviours and risk perception among nursing students during outbreak

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to survey nursing students’ Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge, preventive behaviours and risk perception to examine the correlations among the variables during a Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak. Background Middle East respiratory syndrome is a new viral respiratory illness. Nursing students who engage in clinical practice at hospitals may have been exposed to Middle East respiratory syndrome infection during the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak. Design This study was a descriptive cross‐sectional survey. Methods Participants (n = 249) were nursing students in their third or fourth year of the programme who were engaged in clinical practice for eight hours per day at the tertiary hospitals with Middle East respiratory syndrome patients. Knowledge, preventive behaviours and risk perception related to Middle East respiratory syndrome were measured using scales developed through a preliminary survey and validity testing. Results The subjects’ knowledge level of Middle East respiratory syndrome was 84·4%; their practice of preventive behaviours was rated at 44·5%; and their risk perception rating was 2·4 out of 5. Middle East respiratory syndrome–related risk perception was significantly different according to gender and Middle East respiratory syndrome education. Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge was significantly correlated with preventive behaviours and risk perception. Conclusion Considering the low scores for items regarding knowledge and preventive behaviours, it is necessary to develop effective and systematic publicity and education programmes for nursing students. Enhancing Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge by considering cooperation between hospitals and universities will sharpen nursing students’ risk perception of the disease and effectively increase their preventive behaviours. Relevance to clinical practice Similar to other emerging infectious diseases, Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreaks may occur in other countries. The results of this study can be used to develop and apply efficient and feasible Middle East respiratory syndrome education programmes for nursing students during Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreaks.

Predictors of hepatitis A vaccine coverage among university students in Korea.

AIM To investigate the status of hepatitis A vaccination, knowledge, and health beliefs among university students in Korea and identify factors influencing their hepatitis A vaccination rate. METHODS A self-reporting survey was conducted with 367 university students in Korea via descriptive survey. Data were collected on demographics, status of hepatitis A vaccination, knowledge, and health beliefs. RESULTS The hepatitis A vaccination rate was 23.4%. The hepatitis A vaccination rate was significantly higher in those who had a general awareness about the hepatitis A (odds ratio [OR] = 3.56, P = 0.003), those with some overseas travel experience (OR = 2.64, P = 0.025), those perceiving the benefits of hepatitis A vaccination (OR = 1.66, P = 0.023), and those perceiving barriers (inversed) to hepatitis A vaccination (OR = 1.95, P = 0.011). CONCLUSION To promote hepatitis A vaccination among university students, information and education should be provided to improve their health beliefs. In addition, this demographic should be a major target population for hepatitis A vaccination. This studys results suggest that the development of national promotional campaigns and hepatitis A vaccination programs based on predictors of the vaccination rate are needed.

A study on the predictors of Korean male students' intention to receive human papillomavirus vaccination.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The objective was to survey the current state of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and the predictors of vaccination intention among Korean male students of high school (ages 15-19) and university (ages 17-27). BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infectious agent causing uterine cervical, anal, and/or penile cancer and genital warts in males and females. Infection rate of human papillomavirus increases from the age when sexual intercourse first occurs. Therefore, motivation to receive human papillomavirus vaccination is needed to protect infection. DESIGN Cross-sectional descriptive survey was performed only in male students. They are less aware of human papillomavirus than females, because human papillomavirus vaccination has been targeted on females for preventing cervical cancer in Korea. METHODS Data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire for male high school and university students sampled from a city in Korea. Human papillomavirus vaccine-related knowledge, health beliefs, demographic, and sexual history information variables relating to intentions to vaccinate were assessed. RESULTS The human papillomavirus vaccination rate was very low and the levels of knowledge and health beliefs were low. The significant predictors that raised the intention of human papillomavirus vaccination were a university student, experience of sexual intercourse and perceiving the benefits of human papillomavirus vaccination. CONCLUSIONS To promote human papillomavirus vaccination, educational programming targeting males should include health beliefs and knowledge, emphasising that vaccination is important to prevent uterine cervical cancer and to role as a preventative measure against common male diseases. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Male high school students should be included as a major target population for school human papillomavirus education programmes, as they are at the age of commencing sexual intercourse. In addition, public health policies including human papillomavirus vaccination in the national immunisation programme are warranted.

Factors Affecting Attitudes and Preventive Practice of Pressure Ulcer among Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate attitudes and preventive practice of pressure ulcer among hospital nurses and identify factors affecting their preventive practice of pressure ulcer. Methods: Data were collected at April, 2011 in a university hospital in Korea. A total of 140 hospital nurses completed a questionnaire including attitudes and preventive practice of pressure ulcer. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Spearmans rho, and stepwise multiple regression via SPSS/WIN 20.0. Results: Levels of attitudes and preventive practice of pressure ulcer were average 3.65 out of 5 and 2.19 out of 3 respectively. There was significant difference in preventive practice of pressure ulcer by area of practice (

Infection-control knowledge, attitude, practice, and risk perception of occupational exposure to Zika virus among nursing students in Korea: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background As the number of patients with Zika virus infection increases worldwide, nursing students who conduct clinical practice in hospitals tend to at risk of Zika virus infection. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perceptions of infection prevention related to occupational exposure to Zika virus infection, and to identify correlations among the related variables. Methods This cross-sectional study included 249 nursing students from 3 nursing colleges located in 3 Korean cities, with experience in hospital clinical practice. A questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perceptions of Zika virus infection was developed through a literature review and was subjected to pilot testing and validation. Results The level of infection-control knowledge for Zika virus was 54.5 of 100 points, and that of practice was 4.5 of 5 points. The infection-prevention attitude score was 4.4 of 5 points, and the risk-perception score was 2.3 of 5 points. Significant differences emerged in infection-prevention attitude toward Zika virus based on Zika virus vaccination intention. Additionally, practice and risk-perception scores differed significantly based on gender and Zika virus vaccination intention. Knowledge significantly correlated with attitude and attitude toward preventive behavior. Conclusion Improvement in infection-control knowledge for Zika virus can help improve nurses’ related attitudes, which in turn could promote effective practice. Considering the characteristics of nursing students, it is necessary to develop and apply an effective and viable education program related to the prevention of Zika virus infection.

Influencing factors on preventive health behaviors for Zika virus in pregnant women and their partners

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To identify Zika virus-related knowledge, attitudes to Zika virus and health motivations of pregnant women, women preparing for pregnancy and their partners, and to identify factors that influence preventive health behaviours for Zika virus infection. BACKGROUND Prevention of Zika virus infection is becoming a major worldwide public health effort. The high-risk group for Zika virus infection comprises women who are pregnant or preparing for pregnancy. Few studies have addressed preventive health behaviours for Zika virus infection by gender. DESIGN This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. METHODS Participants (112 males and 147 females) were selected by convenience sampling from three obstetric clinics located in South Korea. Women and their partners who visited obstetric clinics during pregnancy or preparing for pregnancy were included as subjects. RESULTS Factors associated with preventive health behaviours for Zika virus were checking infection status of Zika virus on destinations when planning a trip and attitudes to Zika virus in males and age, educational level, intention to travel to Zika virus endemic countries, attitudes to Zika virus and health motivation in females. CONCLUSIONS Factors that influence preventive health behaviours for Zika virus were different by gender. However, attitudes to Zika virus were influential to both genders. Gender differences should be considered in development of health policies to improve preventive health behaviours for Zika virus. Younger and less educated women are to be targeted, and health management programmes should be developed to promote health motivation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Pregnant women, women preparing for pregnancy and their partners need education and public health promotion to improve self-management during travel to places where Zika virus is endemic. Health policies and health management programmes considering age and educational background should be developed to promote health motivation in women of childbearing age.

Differences in Vaccination Status and Awareness between Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations in the Elderly

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in vaccination status and awareness between influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in the elderly. Methods: This cross-sectional study was used with a questionnaire. Data were collected from 107 older people over 65 years registered at one community center in December, 2012. The data were analysed with Chi-square, Fishers exact-test, Wilcoxon Signed rank sum test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskall-Wallis test. Results: There were significant differences in the experiences of vaccination and reason for unvaccination by vaccine types. The mean scores for awareness of vaccination were 1.81 (range 0~3) in influenza and 1.50 in pneumococcus (range

Awareness and practice of wound disinfection among wound care nurses in Korea.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and practice of wound disinfection among Korean wound care nurses. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The target sample comprised 100 members of the Korea Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Association. Seventy-eight wound care nurses responded to the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 78%. METHODS: Potential respondents were contacted via e-mail and asked to complete a questionnaire designed for this study. RESULTS: Pressure ulcers were the most common wound type managed by WOC nurses, followed by surgical wounds. The mean score of items measuring awareness of wound disinfection practice and reported wound disinfection practice were 3.38 on a scale of 0 to 4 scale, and 3.14 on a scale of 0 to 4, respectively. Scores among items that queried awareness and practice in various methods for disinfecting a chronic wound disinfection were highest (3.74 and 3.67 out of 4, respectively) and scores of items querying disinfection with sodium hypochlorite were lowest (2.80 and 2.05 out of 4, respectively). There were significant differences between all items of awareness and reported practice except for disinfection with alcohol. Awareness of wound disinfection significantly correlated with reported practice. CONCLUSIONS: Developing an effective educational program to enhance awareness is necessary to improve practice of wound disinfection.