• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2024

Purpose: Nurses have been reported to be at an increased risk for miscarriage and preterm labor. However, there is limited knowledge regarding nurses' preconception health behaviors. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors influencing these behaviors. Methods: One hundred sixty nurses, who were planning their first pregnancy within the upcoming year, participated in an online survey from August 11 to October 31, 2021. Data on preconception health behavior, perceived health status, pregnancy anxiety, nursing practice environment, and social support were analyzed using the t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Age (p=.024), educational level (p=.010), marital status (p=.003), work experience (p=.003), satisfaction with the work department (p<.001), smoking status (p=. 039), and previous health problems related to pregnancy outcomes (p=.004) were significantly associated with nurses' preconception health behaviors. Furthermore, perceived health status (p<.001), pregnancy anxiety (p=.011), nursing practice environment (p=.003), and social support (p<.001) showed significant correlations with preconception health behaviors. Social support (β=. 28, p=.001), satisfaction with the work department (β=.23, p=.032), marital status (β=.22, p=.002), and perceived health status (β=.23, p=.002) were confirmed as factors associated with preconception health behaviors. These factors explained 40.9% of the variance in preconception health behaviors (F=6.64, p<.001). Conclusion: Clinical nurses' preconception health behaviors were influenced by social support, perceived health status, satisfaction with the work department, and marital status. Interventions to improve clinical nurses' preconception health behaviors should target social support and perceived health status. A preconception health behavior education program considering clinical nurses' marital status and satisfaction with the workplace can also be implemented.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 2024

Purpose: This descriptive survey study aimed to examine the effects of grit, social support, job crafting, and evidence-based practice competency on job satisfaction among nurses. Methods: The participants of this study were 211 clinical nurses with experience of more than six months. Data were collected using through an online survey from February 1 to February 17, 2023. The questionnaires was consisted of general characteristics, grit, social support, job crafting, evidence-based practice competency, and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics(frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 28.0 program. Results: The average scores of the main variables were 3.08±0.44 out of four for grits, 3.67±0.52 out of five for social support, 4.20±0.64 out of five for job crafting, 4.84±0.71 out of seven for evidence-based practice competency, and 3.72±0.55 out of five for job satisfaction. In the regression model, the factors affecting the nurses' job satisfaction were grit (β=0.66, p<.001) and social support (β=0.11, p=.046), which explained 78.7% of the variance in job satisfaction. Job crafting and evidence-based practice competency were correlated with job satisfaction; however, there was no statistically significant effects of these variables on job satisfaction. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, grit and social support showed the most significant effects on the job satisfaction of nurses. Therefore, active support is needed to develop a strategy to improve nurses' grit and to create a supportive work environment, which would be helpful to increase their job satisfaction.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.44-55
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• 2024

Purpose: This is a retrospective secondary data analysis study based on real-world data to analyze the level of nursing care needs of patients in a comprehensive nursing care service ward, and identify factors influencing nursing needs. Methods: Study participants included patients admitted to two comprehensive nursing care service wards at a tertiary general hospital located in Gyeonggi-do, Korea. After obtaining permission from the health and medical information team of the target hospital, data were collected from their electronic medical records. Nursing care needs were measured using seven items on nursing activity and four items on daily living activities developed by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS version 29.0 with frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression. Results: The level of nursing care needs of patients in comprehensive nursing care service wards was found to be higher for patients with pressure sores (β=.33), older patients (β=.26), patients who underwent procedures (β=.15), patients with present guardians (β=.15), and patients with more comorbidities (β=.10). The total explanatory power was 51.0%. Conclusion: It is necessary to accurately identify patients' nursing care needs and provide nursing care according to priority by considering the characteristics of patients in comprehensive nursing care service wards.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2024

Purpose: This descriptive research study is intended to develop practical strategies for enhancing the quality of elderly care by evaluating the levels of ageism and compassion competence among clinical nurses and their impact on geriatric nursing performance. Methods: This study involved 162 nurses who provided direct care to elderly patients in a department with many such patients. Of the 161 returned questionnaires, 150 were analyzed, excluding 11 that had insincere or missing responses. To analyze the data, a comprehensive approach was employed using the IBM SPSS 27.0 program that included calculations of frequency and percentage, mean, and standard deviation, as well as more complex statistical tests such as the independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results: Compassion competence was significantly positively correlated with elderly care and negatively correlated with ageism. This study conclusively demonstrates that compassion competence among nurses in geriatric nursing situations plays a crucial role in provision of quality nursing grounded in understanding and respect for the elderly. Consequently, it is imperative to develop educational strategies tailored to each career stage of nursing practice to further enhance effective elderly care. Conclusion: This study conclusively demonstrates that compassion competence in geriatric nursing situations plays a crucial role in provision of quality nursing grounded in understanding and respect for the elderly. Consequently, it is imperative to develop educational strategies tailored to each career stage of nursing practice to further enhance effective elderly care.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aumed to identify the effects of job satisfaction, nursing organizational culture and social support on intention retention among general hospital nurses. Methods: The subjects were 254 nurses working in one general hospital. Data were collected from January 1 to 30, 2023. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program. Results: (a) In this study, the mean value of job satisfaction was 3.07±0.43, relation-oriented culture was 3.45±0.51, hierarchy-oriented culture was 3.39±0.49, task-oriented culture was 3.35±0.48, innovation-oriented culture was 3.00±0.46, social support was 3.75±0.49, and intention retention was 4.98±1.39. (b) Intention retention had a positive correlation with job satisfaction (r=.41, p<.001), social support (r=.29, p<.001), innovation-oriented culture (r=.29, p<.001), relation-oriented culture (r=.20, p=.001), and hierarchy-oriented culture (r=.18, p=.002). (c) Factors that affect intention retention include job satisfaction (β=.41, p<.001), Working type (Non-shift) (β=.18, p=.001), Nursing job selection (Recommendation, employment) (β=-.16, p=.003), and the explanation power was 23.1% (F=9.43, p<.001). Conclusion: Our study shows that job satisfaction plays a significant role in the intention retention of nurses. It is important to strengthen job satisfaction to increase the retention of nurses. The results of this study may serve as basic data for the development of strategies to improve intention retention in nurses.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to determine the mortality rate among elderly patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute drug intoxication resulting from suicide attempts. It also compared the characteristics of survivors and decedents to identify factors associated with mortality. Methods : This retrospective descriptive study included 150 patients aged 65 years or older who were admitted to the ICU of a tertiary university hospital in Gwangju due to acute drug intoxication, with the period spanning January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Chi-squared tests, Fisher's exact test, and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results : The mortality rate among elderly individuals admitted to the ICU for acute drug intoxication was 19.3%. The likelihood of death was significantly higher in patients with an acute physiology and chronic health examination (APACHE) III score of 70 or above (OR=23.75, 95% CI=3.78-149.46, p<.001) and those with metabolic acidosis on initial acid-base results (OR=3.73, 95% CI=1.12-12.43, p=.032). Conclusion : These findings underscore the need for developing and implementing systematic education and targeted nursing interventions for ICU nurses caring for acutely drug-intoxicated elderly adults, particularly considering the APACHE III score and the presence of metabolic acidosis.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.59-69
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• 2024

The tensile properties of the single crystal superalloy CMSX-4 were examined at various temperatures. In the heat-treated state, some portion of the eutectic γ-γ' remained, and a uniform cuboidal γ' particles existed across the entire material. The yield strength and tensile strength reached highest at 750℃ and decreased with raising testing temperature. The elongation was lowest at 650℃ due t℃oncentrated deformation near the fracture area. However, the elongation increased at higher temperatures due to uniform deformation throughout the entire specimen. Fracture surface analysis tested at 850℃ and 950℃ revealed that cracks originated from casting defects. TEM observations conducted after the tensile test indicated that the primary deformation mechanism at room temperature involved dislocation shearing within the γ' phase. However, the increased strength both at 750℃ where stacking faults generated and at 650℃ was caused by the increased resistance of γ' phase to dislocation. The strength decreased because the movement of dislocations became easier due to the thermal activation process at and above 850℃.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.84-97
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• 2022

As the proportion of the elderly population increases rapidly, interest in musculoskeletal health is also emerging. Here, we investigated how antioxidant vitamin intake and musculoskeletal health are related. Adults aged 50 to 80 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 27.0 kg/m² were included. Bone mineral density (BMD), lean mass (LM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and the grip strength and knee extension using hand dynamometer. Nutrient intakes were measured using a 24-hour recall questionnaire. A total of 153 adults (44 men and 109 women) participated in this study. A partial correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between vitamin E and BMD and between vitamin C and LM/Height. Participants were classified into three groups according to whether their vitamin E and C intake met the recommended intake for Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs). The prevalence of having low T-score (< -1.0) and low ASMI (< 7.0 for men and < 5.4 for women) was 51.3% and 15.4% in the group with vitamins C and E intakes below KDRIs. After adjusting for sex, smoking status and energy, protein, vitamin D, and calcium intake, the group with vitamins C and E both below the KDRIs displayed a significantly lower BMD at all test sites and LM/Height compared with vitamin C and/or E intake above the KDRIs groups. We conclude that sufficient intake of vitamin E and C is important for maintaining BMD and lean mass in Korean adults over 50 years of age.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.50-61
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• 2022

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) accounts for most daily energy expenditure. The low carbohydrate diet (LCD) attenuates decreases in RMR. This study aims to investigate the relationship between an LCD and RMR status among overweight and obese women. We enrolled 291 overweight and obese women in this cross-sectional study. Body mass index (BMI), fat mass, fat-free mass, visceral fat, and insulin level were assessed. RMR was measured using indirect calorimetry. LCD score (LCDS) was measured using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Analysis of variance, independent sample t-test, and Multinomial logistic regression tests were used. Results showed no relationship between LCDS and deviation of normal RMR (DNR) even after adjust for confounders (increased [Inc.] RMR: odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-1.01; p = 0.20; decreased [Dec.] RMR: OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-1.00; p = 0.14). Some components of LCDS had no significant association with DNR, such as carbohydrate and Dec. RMR in adjusted model (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.98-1.37; p = 0.08) and monounsaturated fatty acids and Dec. RMR in adjusted model (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.21-1.10, p = 0.08). However, refined grains had a significant association with Inc. RMR in crude model (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77-0.99, p = 0.04). There is no association between LCDS and RMR status.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.291-301
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• 2024

Background: Based on rapid industrial development, environmental pollution has emerged as a social problem and exposure to environmental diseases is increasing. The number of patients suffering environmental diseases in Daejeon Metropolitan City is also steadily increasing, and the prevalence of atopic dermatitis there is the highest in the country. Objectives: In order to minimize exposure to harmful factors for the prevention and management of environmental diseases, an environmental disease management system suitable for the environmental characteristics of each region is needed. Basic preliminary research should be conducted to identify environmental hazards in Daejeon Metropolitan City and establish a management system. Methods: Among the households (about 50 people) participating in the 2022 Indoor Environment Remote Measurement (IoT) program, households (children aged 5 or older and adults) with insufficient results for indoor air quality measurement and symptoms related to environmental diseases were selected. The subjects were tested for living conditions, blood tests, biomarker analysis (immunoglobulin E, Eosinophil count, histamine) and multiple allergy antigen tests (MAST, 93 types). Results: Participants were 53.7% female and 46.3% male, and the average age showed an even age distribution. IgE and eosinophil count were positively correlated, and significant results were found for atopic dermatitis and IgE (p<0.05). Typical risk factors observed in the survey was the amount of indoor ventilation, chemical exposure, heredity, house dust mites, fungi, and food. Conclusions: The purpose of this study was to help establish a regional management system for environmental diseases, research and diagnosis of environmental diseases. This study is meaningful in that it is a study with customized consulting suitable for the environment of Daejeon Metropolitan City. If the limitations are addressed and continuous research is conducted, it will be helpful for the management, diagnosis, and research of environmental diseases.