Youngmi Kang

Recognizing bioethical issues and ethical qualification in nursing students and faculty in South Korea

The role of nursing faculty members in charge of ethics education is important. Although all nursing students receive the same bioethics education, their experiences differ, related to ethical qualification, which depends on the personal socialization process. This Korean study aimed to provide nursing faculty members with the basic data to help them develop as bioethics experts and provide nursing students with knowledge to improve their ethical decision-making abilities. We used a survey design to assess recognition of bioethical issues and ethical qualification in nursing students and faculty members. A total of 1225 undergraduate students and 140 faculty members participated in this study. The results revealed that nursing students and nursing faculty members generally understood the seriousness of various bioethical issues and both considered the most serious issue to concern abortion. Ethical behavior can be improved by education, and accordingly, nursing ethics should be a mandatory subject, rather than an elective one.

Bioethics education of nursing curriculum in Korea: A national study*

The aim of this study is to examine the current profile of bioethics education in the nursing curriculum as perceived by nursing students and faculty in Korea. A convenience sampling method was used for recruiting 1223 undergraduate nursing students and 140 nursing faculty in Korea. Experience of Bioethics Education, Quality of Bioethics Education, and Demand for Bioethics Education Scales were developed. The Experience of Bioethics Education Scale showed that the nursing curriculum in Korea does not provide adequate bioethics education. The Quality of Bioethics Education Scale revealed that the topics of human nature and human rights were relatively well taught compared to other topics. The Demand for Bioethics Education Scale determined that the majority of the participants believed that bioethics education should be a major requirement in the nursing curriculum. The findings of this study suggest that bioethics should be systemically incorporated into nursing courses, clinical practice during the program, and during continuing education.

Gender Differences in Sexual Behaviors in Korean Adolescents

Purpose The purposes of this study were to identify whether there are gender differences in sexual behaviors among Korean adolescents and to explore the factors that influence safe sex practices across both sexes. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted using nationally representative data obtained from the 2014 Youth Risk Behavior Web‐based Survey. Sample consisted of 3,210 adolescents who had experience of sexual intercourse. The dependent variable in this study was practicing safe sex. The independent variables included a range of individual, family, and school factors. Results Female adolescents were less likely to practice safe sex (i.e., always using a condom). Individual (smoking, no drinking before sexual intercourse), family (living with parents, higher allowance per week) and school factors (non‐coeducational school students, had received school‐based sex education) were significant predictors of practicing safe sex in males. In contrast, family (lower economic status) and school factors (middle school students) predicted practicing safe sex among female adolescents. Conclusion We demonstrated that gender plays an important role in the sexual behavior of adolescents. The findings of this study indicate a need to design and implement gender‐specific interventions. HighlightsOur study indicated that a higher reporting of unhealthy lifestyle (i.e., drinking alcohol and smoking) in males compared to that in femalesWe found that female adolescents reported less responsible safe sexual behavior than male adolescents in KoreaEfficient strategies for improving knowledge regarding sexuality and access to contraceptive use should be initiated at the national levelGender‐specific reproductive and sexual health education should focus on enhancing the use of safe sexual practices for female adolescentsFor males, education focusing on modifiable health behaviors such as abstaining from alcohol and cigarette use could be beneficial

Associations among daytime sleepiness, depression and suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the effects of daytime sleepiness on depression and suicidal ideation in adolescent high-school students. A survey of 538 high school students aged 16–17 years attending two academic schools was conducted. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Beck Depression Inventory and the Scale for Suicide Ideation were used to assess subjects’ daytime sleepiness, depression and suicidal ideation. The mean score for daytime sleepiness was 8.52, which indicates a sleep deficit. Significant positive correlations were found between daytime sleepiness and depression, between daytime sleepiness and suicidal ideation and between depression and suicidal ideation. Gender and depression were significant predictors of suicidal ideation, accounting for 48% of the variance in this measure. Depression acts as a mediator of the relationship between daytime sleepiness and suicidal ideation. High school students in Korea generally have insufficient sleep time and feel sleepy during the day; insufficient sleep during adolescence may be associated with depression and suicidal ideation.

Breast cancer screening among shift workers: a nationwide population-based survey in Korea

Abstract We aimed to examine the association between shift work types and participation in breast cancer screening (BCS) programs by comparing rates of participation for BCS among regular daytime workers and alternative shift workers using data from a nationally representative, population-based survey conducted in Korea. In addition, the results were analyzed according to sociodemographic factors, including occupation, education, income, private health insurance, age, and number of working hours a week. This secondary cross-sectional analysis used data from the 2012 Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. The target population included women aged ≥ 40 years who responded as to whether they had undergone BCS in the previous year. Accordingly, we analyzed survey data for a total of 1,193 women and used a multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the differences in factors affecting BCS between regular daytime and alternative shift workers. A logistic regression analysis was performed considering private health insurance as a significant sociodemographic factor for BCS among regular daytime shift workers. In contrast, none of the tested variables could significantly predict adherence to BCS among alternative shift workers. The results of this study suggest the need for the development of comprehensive workplace breast cancer prevention programs by considering shift work types. More attention should be given to female workers with low education levels, those who are uninsured, and young workers to improve the participation rate for BCS at the workplace.

A Concept Analysis of Traditional Korean (Hanbang) Nursing

PURPOSE The purpose of this concept analysis was to clarify the meaning and the attributes of traditional Korean (Hanbang) nursing. DATA SOURCE Data sources include Academic Search Complete, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, EBSCOhost, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Research Information Sharing Service. DATA SYNTHESIS We used Walker and Avants method to analyze the concept of Hanbang nursing. CONCLUSIONS By exploring its common use in the literature, a comprehensive definition of the concept of Hanbang nursing was developed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE The results of analyzing the current concept of Hanbang nursing will help provide a better understanding of it and contribute to expanding nursing knowledge and developing of a valid and reliable measurement.

Gender Differences in Factors Associated With Colorectal Cancer Screening: A National Cross-Sectional Study in Korea:

The rate of and factors influencing colorectal cancer screening differs by gender. We aimed to determine the behaviors for and predict the factors influencing self-reported colorectal cancer screening in Korean adults. Secondary analysis was performed with data from the cross-sectional 2012 Community Health Survey. We examined the relationship between gender and self-reported screening using data for 115 045 adults aged ≥50 years; 62.4% of men and 65.5% of women underwent colorectal cancer screening. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, men with private insurance and who attended regular health checkups were more likely to undergo screening; men who were employed, ate salty food, were older, or smoked were less likely. Women with private insurance, who lived with a spouse, were more educated, were housewives, or attended regular health checkups were more likely, and older women were less likely to undergo screening. Therefore, gender-specific interventions are needed to encourage colorectal cancer screening.