• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2013

Objectives: As quality of work-life (QWL) among nurses affects both patient care and institutional standards, assessment regarding QWL for the profession is important. Work-related Quality of Life Scale (WRQOLS) is a reliable QWL assessment tool for the nursing profession. To develop a Chinese version of the WRQOLS-2 and to examine its psychometric properties as an instrument to assess QWL for the nursing profession in China. Methods: Forward and back translating procedures were used to develop the Chinese version of WRQOLS-2. Six nursing experts participated in content validity evaluation and 352 registered nurses (RNs) participated in the tests. After a two-week interval, 70 of the RNs were retested. Structural validity was examined by principal components analysis and the Cronbach's alphas calculated. The respective independent sample t-test and intra-class correlation coefficient were used to analyze known-group validity and test-retest reliability. Results: One item was rephrased for adaptation to Chinese organizational cultures. The content validity index of the scale was 0.98. Principal components analysis resulted in a seven-factor model, accounting for 62% of total variance, with Cronbach's alphas for subscales ranging from 0.71 to 0.88. Known-group validity was established in the assessment results of the participants in permanent employment vs. contract employment (t = 2.895, p < 0.01). Good test-retest reliability was observed (r = 0.88, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The translated Chinese version of the WRQOLS-2 has sufficient validity and reliability so that it can be used to evaluate the QWL among nurses in mainland China.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.705-716
• /
• 2011

For the efficient discovery of knowledge and information from the observed systems, data mining techniques can be an useful tool for the prediction of water quality at intake station in rivers. Deterioration of water quality can be caused at intake station in dry season due to insufficient flow. This demands additional outflow from dam since some extent of deterioration can be attenuated by dam reservoir operation to control outflow considering predicted water quality. A seasonal occurrence of high ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) concentrations has hampered chemical treatment processes of a water plant in Geum river. Monthly flow allocation from upstream dam is important for downstream $NH_3$-N control. In this study, prediction models of water quality based on multiple regression (MR), artificial neural network and data mining methods were developed to understand water quality variation and to support dam operations through providing predicted $NH_3$-N concentrations at intake station. The models were calibrated with eight years of monthly data and verified with another two years of independent data. In those models, the $NH_3$-N concentration for next time step is dependent on dam outflow, river water quality such as alkalinity, temperature, and $NH_3$-N of previous time step. The model performances are compared and evaluated by error analysis and statistical characteristics like correlation and determination coefficients between the observed and the predicted water quality. It is expected that these data mining techniques can present more efficient data-driven tools in modelling stage and it is found that those models can be applied well to predict water quality in stream river systems.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.110-118
• /
• 2010

Purpose: To develop outcome indicators of urinary incontinence to measure quality of care in long term care hospitals in Korea. Methods: The draft indicators of urinary incontinence were developed from a literature review and clinical expert panel. A survey of medical records of 280 patients in 20 hospitals was conducted to test inter-rater reliability. Statistical analysis was done to test risk adjustment criteria, variation between hospitals, and stability of indicators, using assessment data from 77,918 patients in 623 hospitals. Results: The inter-rater reliability of items was high (Kappa range: 0.66- 0.92). Severe cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15, confidence interval [CI]: 3.03-3.26) and total mobility activities of daily living (ADLs) dependency (OR: 4.85, CI: 4.72-4.98) increased the prevalence of urinary incontinence, thus they proved to be significant criteria to stratify high and low risk groups. The prevalence for low risk showed more substantial variation than the high risk group. The indicators were stable over one month. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of outcome indicators of urinary incontinence. Improving the reliability of the patient assessment tool and refining the indicators through validation study is a must for future study.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.505-516
• /
• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The association between nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is not fully understood. This study was conducted to understand the role of nutritional status on HRQoL among people with and without T2DM. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Structured survey and direct measurement of anthropometric data were conducted among people with and without T2DM. Nutritional status was measured with Mini Nutritional Assessment tool and HRQoL was measured with a 36-item Short Form Healthy Survey. Data collection was conducted in Chuncheon, South Korea with 756 participants who are older than 40 yrs of age. RESULTS: This study found that overall HRQoL were significantly lower in people with T2DM than people without T2DM after controlling for key covariates. When stratified by nutritional status, a greater degree of negative impact of T2DM on overall physical HRQoL was observed among well-nourished or at risk of malnutrition, whereas significant and more evident negative impact of diabetes on overall psychological HRQoL was observed only among malnourished. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest the role of nutritional status among people with T2DM on overall, especially psychological aspects of HRQoL. Future longitudinal or intervention studies are warranted to test the impact of nutritional status on HRQoL among people with T2DM.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 2012

The objectives of this study were to develop a linked watershed-waterbody modeling system and to assess the impacts of indirect wastewater reuse on irrigation water quality. The Osan stream watershed within Gyeonggi-do of South Korea was selected for this study. The linked modeling system was composed of the SWAT (Soil and water assessment tool) and QUALKO2 models. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the stream discharge and water quality data from 2010 to 2011. Runoff and non-point source pollutants from each subbasin and stream discharge from 1980 to 2009 were simulated by the SWAT model and applied to the QUALKO2 model. The QUALKO2 model was calibrated and validated under the conditions of low water and normal discharges, respectively. Finally, The 10-day irrigation water quality from April to September was simulated. The statistical measures of coefficient of determination ($R^2$), reliability index (RI), and efficiency index (EI) were used to evaluate the system performance. The $R^2$, RI and EI values ranged from 0.5 to 1.0, 1.03 to 1.92, and -35.03 to 0.95, respectively. The 10-day irrigation water quality showed the concentrations of BOD and coliform exceeded the water quality guidelines for wastewater reuse. The linked modeling system can be a useful tool to estimate non-point source pollutant loads in watershed and to control the water quality of effluent from a wastewater treatment plant and irrigation water in the downstream waterbody.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.80-85
• /
• 2014

Background: Currently available questionnaires for evaluating the quality of worklife do not fully examine every factor related to worklife in all cultures. A tool in Thai is therefore needed for the direct evaluation of the quality of worklife. Our aim was to translate the Work-related Quality of Life Scale-2 (WRQLS-2) into Thai, to assess the validity and reliability of the Thai-translated version, and to examine the tool's accuracy vis-$\grave{a}$-vis nursing in Thailand. Methods: This was a descriptive correlation study. Forward and backward translations were performed to develop a Thai version of the WRQLS. Six nursing experts participated in assessing content validity and 374 registered nurses (RNs) participated in its testing. After a 2-week interval, 67 RNs were retested. Structural validity was examined using principal components analysis. The Cronbach's alpha values were calculated. The respective independent sample t test and intraclass correlation coefficient were used to analyze known-group validity and test-retest reliability. Multistate sampling was used to select 374 RNs from the In- and Outpatient Department of Srinagarind Hospital of the Khon Kaen University (Khon Kaen, Thailand). Results: The content validity index of the scale was 0.97. Principal components analysis resulted in a seven-factor model, which explains 59% of the total variance. The overall Cronbach's alpha value was 0.925, whereas the subscales ranged between 0.67 and 0.82. In the assessment results, the known-group validity was established for the difference between civil servants and university employees [F (7.982, 0.005) and t (3.351; p < 0.05)]. Civil servants apparently had a better quality worklife, compared to university employees. Good test-retest reliability was observed (r = 0.892, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Thai version of a WRQLS appears to be well validated and practicable for determining the quality of the work-life among nurses in Thailand.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.108-123
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the methodological and reporting quality of the systematic reviews in the Journal of Korean obstetrics and gynecology. Methods: Systematic reviews in the Journal of Korean obstetrics and gynecology were selected from January 1987 to February 2021, by searching Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS) and the search system of the Society of Korean medicine obstetrics and gynecology. The methodological and reporting quality was assessed using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) tool and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Results: Total of 19 systematic reviews were finally included for this study. The levels of methodological quality were low in 63.2% and very low in 36.8%. As a result of evaluating the reporting quality, 22 to 15 (average 18.6) items out of 27 items (81.5 to 55.6%) were reported. Conclusions: The results of a systematic review are helpful in giving a high level of evidence. In order to improve the quality of systematic reviews published in the Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology, it is necessary to perform and report according to the the PRISMA checklist and AMSTAR 2.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.243-254
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is development of the quality assessment for interior space and foodservice management in Italian restaurants. Also this study aims to evaluate them which are consisted of 30 items by Likert 5 point scale. As a result of the evaluation, 'food taste' and 'ingredients freshness' were the most important factors in interior space and the foodservice in Italian restaurants. The IPA technique proved that nine items including Q4, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q14, Q16, Q19, Q24, Q28 were in 'Doing great, keep it up' and five items such as Q13, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q29 that got high expectation and low perception needed to be focused for quality management strategies.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.500-500
• /
• 2005

• The Korean Nurse
• /
• v.23 no.1 s.124
• /
• pp.36-56
• /
• 1984

The purpose of this research is the patient who was hospitalized for more than 5$\~$7 days in the medical unit (including I.C.U.), the general surgery unit, the neurosurgery unit, or the orthopedic surgery unit of the K. University Medical Cent