Kasil Oh

Quality of life in low income Korean aged

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the quality of life and its predictors in low income Korean aged. METHODS This was a predictive correlational study. An accessible sample from the population of people who were 65 and over and were supported by the basic livelihood security system was 1,040. Quota sampling with strata of state division in the nation was chosen. Quality of life and its predictors in the subjects were measured. RESULTS The mean quality of life in the subjects was 47.0+/-10.7. Predictors of this study significantly explained 54.3% of the total variance of quality of life. Depression was the most significant predictor of quality of life. Health problems, district, social support, leisure activity, and health behavior had effects on quality of life. CONCLUSION This finding indicates that quality of life in lower income Korean aged is different from other populations by economic status. Demographics, health status and social status were predictors of quality of life in the aged with a small income.

A study on Korean nursing students' educational outcomes

The purpose of this study was to describe outcome indicators of nursing education including critical thinking, professionalism, leadership, and communication and to evaluate differences among nursing programs and academic years. A descriptive research design was employed. A total of 454 students from four year baccalaureate (BS) nursing programs and two three-year associate degree (AD) programs consented to complete self-administered questionnaires. The variables were critical thinking, professionalism, leadership and communication. Descriptive statistics, χ2-test, t-tests, ANOVA, and the Tukey test were utilized for the data analysis. All the mean scores of the variables were above average for the test instruments utilized. Among the BS students, those in the upper classes tended to attain higher scores, but this tendency was not identified in AD students. There were significant differences between BS students and AD students for the mean scores of leadership and communication. These findings suggested the need for further research to define properties of nursing educational outcomes, and to develop standardized instruments for research replication and verification.

Psychometric evaluation of the korean social support questionnaire

PURPOSE Research related to social support in Korea has been hampered by paucity of measurement tools reflecting Korean culture. The aim of the study was to develop Korean social support questionnaire (KSSQ) based on the Korean social support pyramid and to test psychometric properties of the KSSQ. METHODS The questionnaire was administered to 701 subjects and 658 college students. Psychometric analyses included factor analyses, expert validity, criterion-related validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. RESULTS A principal components analysis support for construct validity, eliciting a three factor solution accounting for 65.46% of variance in scores. Concurrent and discriminant validity supported criterion-related validity. Internal consistency of reliability was support with Cronbachs alpha of .97-.98 for the entire scale. Test-retest reliability was .76. CONCLUSION This initial testing of KSSQ to measure Korean social support demonstrates evidence of reliability and validity. Assessment of known-group validity and norm establishment of KSSQ are suggested to provide further sound psychometric properties and practical measurement tools.

A Study on Evaluation of an RN-BSN Program in a Nursing School

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall RN-BSN program, current curriculum, and student outcomes in one nursing college. Method: A cross- sectional survey was used for current students (n

Quality Evaluation of Randomized Controlled Trials on Complementary and Alternative Medicine

PURPOSE This study aims to describe the research characteristics and analyze the methodological quality of randomized clinical trials on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). METHODS A total of 76 studies using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CAM (16 by Koreans, 60 by internationals) published in the 6 years from 2000 to 2005 were reviewed systematically and analyzed with assessment criteria developed by the researchers on the basis of Jadad guidelines. RESULTS Most of the studies were carried out in the area of medicine, nursing and CAM. More than 80% of the study subjects were patients. CAM modalities for independent variables were mainly on energy medicine, mind-body medicine and manipulative and body-based practices, while dependent variables were mostly physiological and psychological indexes. Most of the studies utilized randomization (93.4%) and identified the dropout rate (90.8%), whereas allocation concealment (49.3%) and double-blinding (18.9%) were specified in a small number of studies. The overall quality of RCTs based on the assessment criteria of this study was satisfactory. However, the quality score of the Korean studies (2.87) was lower than that of the international studies (3.37). CONCLUSION The methodological objectivity of CAM studies has been improving in spite of controversy over the scientific bases of CAM. More Korean studies with rigorous experimental design are needed to build up the evidence-based practice of CAM.