• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the working conditions of dental hygienists and their challenges in providing oral care to older adults with dementia using focus group interviews. Methods: We collected data for approximately a month beginning from August 2020 and divided the study subjects into two groups: the health dental hygienist and the clinical dental hygienist groups. A total of 11 subjects participated in this study. Results: The oral health management of older adult patients with dementia has not been efficiently carried out in local communities or dental medical institutions. In addition, dental hygienists encounter difficulties in managing the oral health of these patients and hope to actively learn more about their special cases. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop a manual or program for the professional implementation of oral health interventions for older adults with dementia.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.821-832
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• 2021

Economic deprivation of households remains a significant economic issue in the world. Researchers have shown great concern in identifying crucial factors to enhance poor households' socio-economic performance. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a new conceptual framework to investigate the influence of different microfinance services on households' socioeconomic performance using moderated mediation analysis of various crucial factors. Focus-group interviews with managements of the microfinance institution, i.e. Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), and a systematic literature review were conducted for this purpose, and a new framework for the future study has been developed. The result from focus-group interviews and systematic literature review propose microfinance financial services, training programs, and business coaching as independent factors, whereas household socioeconomic performance as a dependent factor in the proposed model. Specifically, this study provides the direction to scholars to empirically test the direct relationship between financial services and household socioeconomic performance and the indirect relationship between training programs, business coaching, and household socioeconomic performance. Further, microfinance institutions' service efficiency is also included as a moderator that can strengthen microfinance services' effectiveness. The study also provides useful implications for policymakers, financial institutions, households, micro-enterprises, and researchers to better understand microfinance interventions and household economic mechanisms.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.26-42
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to explore frontline nurses' experience of patient-centered care and understand the factors affecting its implementation in hospitals. Methods: Four focus group interviews were conducted with 30 nurses in two university hospitals. The following theoretical framework of patient-centered care was used: 1) Respect for patients' values, preferences, and expressed needs, 2) Care coordination and integration, 3) Information, communication, and education, 4) Physical comfort, 5) Emotional support and alleviation of fear and anxiety, 6) Involvement of family and friends, 7) Care transition and continuity, and 8) System issues. We performed a directed content analysis. Results: The most frequent patient-centered nursing practices of the hospital nurses were "promoting physical comfort" in inpatient settings and "providing information and communicating" in outpatient settings. The factors influencing patient-centered nursing included the health professionals' mindfulness, work overload and staff shortage, and unreasonable social demands and regulations. Conclusion: A more comprehensive patient-centered nursing practice should be implemented by improving "care transition and continuity," "family/caregiver involvement," and "system building." Health professionals' mindfulness is significant, and organizational supports addressing work overload and staff shortage are needed alongside change in social awareness.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.92-104
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to understand and describe the diabetes self-management experience of visually impaired people with diabetes. Methods: Ten participants were recruited through a website used by the visually impaired from February to March 2020. Data were collected through two focus group interviews conducted in June 2020; each group consisted of five participants. All interviews were recorded with the consent of the participants and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Seven categories were as follows; a two-faced, lifelong companion, an unprepared encounter, struggle to live, love-hate relationship with family, strategies to adapt, lessening attention to self-management, the desire to learn properly. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the visually impaired have fewer opportunities for receiving diabetes self-management education than general diabetic patients. Consequently, plans to improve the education available to such patients are required. Additionally, psychological counseling and diabetes education for patients' families are necessary, and improving the perception of medical workers regarding the visually impaired will be prove useful.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.160-169
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• 2022

This qualitative study aimed to investigate ways to improve effective cooperative learning from students' perspective by understanding and analyzing the learning experiences of nursing students who participated in a collaborative problem-solving learning model. Data were collected through focus group interviews and reflection journals of six second-year nursing students from G-university in J-city who participated in a collaborative problem-solving learning model course. The interview data were analyzed and divided into 3 categories and 10 subcategories according to the six-step thematic analysis method proposed by Braun and Clarke. The results of analyzing the interviews were considered based on three areas: preparation before learning, the process of collaborating as a cooperative learning experience, and solutions and expectations after learning. The participants felt frustrated because collaborative problem-solving took more time for individual learning than traditional methods did and would not allow them to check the correct answers immediately. However, they gained new experiences by solving problems and engaging in discussions within their learning community. The participants' expectations included material that could help their learning, measures to prevent free-riders, and consideration of the learning process in evaluation factors. Although this study has sample limitations by targeting nursing students in only one region, it can be used to help operate collaborative problem-solving classes, as it reflects the real experiences and opinions of students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.85-109
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• 2023

Laundry has traditionally been regarded as one of the most demanding household chores, but the introduction of smart washing machines is changing this perception. Although smart washing machines have been on the market for several years and consumers' perceptions of washing machines have changed, little is known about consumers' perceptions of smart washing machines. The purpose of this study is to determine what users expect from smart washing machines. We conducted two focus group interviews with sixteen participants who had used smart home appliances to acquire qualitative data. Stimuli created by the interviewees were applied in the focus group interviews to collect more insightful data. We analyzed the data using the three-step method and QSR NVivo. Analysis revealed ten categories of predictive expectations, including seven utilitarian attributes (i.e., smart functionality, smart user interface, reliability, controllability, interactivity, functional value, and economic value) and three hedonic attributes (i.e., fashionable value, psychological value, and social value). The results of this study have implications for the development of smart washing machines that would satisfy consumers by taking user expectations into account.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.236-246
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• 2023

This study aims to understand microaggressions directed toward international students from the perspective of international exchange professionals, who tend to be in relatively close contact with international students. This study targeted professionals who directly advise and support international students at university international exchange centers in J and G cities. The data were collected by conducting focus group interviews with seven participants in two groups from 25 May to 8 June 2023. Data were collected by conducting focus group interviews of seven participants in two groups from 25 May to 8 June 2023. After analyzing the interview data using thematic analysis, two themes emerged: the experiences of international students and the perspectives of international exchange professionals. The experience of international were further categorized into three sub-themes: differences in cultural context, academic discrimination, and discrimination due to lack of information. The perspectives of international exchange professionals were further categorized into three sub-themes: limited access to infrastructure, different perspectives depending on the level of the country, and consideration as a barrier. It is hoped that the findings of this study, obtained by exploring the microdiscrimination faced by international students at universities, will facilitate the development of different systems and policy recommendations to improve the experiences of international students.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 2023

Zoom lenses are now starting to be applied to mobile-phone cameras as well. A zoom lens applied to a mobile-phone camera is mainly used to capture images in the telephoto range. Such an optical system has a long focal length, similar to that of a high-magnification zoom optical system, so the position of the imaging device also shifts significantly, due to manufacturing errors of the lenses and mechanical parts. In the past, the positional shift of the imaging device was corrected by moving the first lens group and the total optical system, but this paper confirms that the position of the imaging device can be corrected by selecting any two moving lens groups. However, it is found that more distance must be secured in the front and rear of a moving lens group for this purpose.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.69-84
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the state of infection control in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) including disinfection methods, disinfection cycles, and exchange cycles for medical devices and to suggest a basic framework which would help develop standardized infection control guidelines. Methods: From a list of NICU equipment developed from the NICUs in 4 tertiary hospitals, a structured questionnaire on 74 types of medical equipment was developed and sent to 31 hospitals by mail. The results were reviewed by panel of experts (56 persons), and analyzed for internal validity by a focus group (4 persons) using guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the Korean Hospital Nurses Association. Results: The results showed various methods, cycles, disinfectant levels for the disinfectants and exchange cycles in the medical equipment infection control of the 31 hospitals. The focus group developed a 66-item basic framework based on validity testing. Conclusion: From the results of this study, a framework of infection control standards for 66 types of medical equipment in the NICU was developed. It is suggested that further study be done to more precisely establish standard infection control guidelines for NICU medical equipment.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.418-427
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• 2015

Purpose: Focus group interviews were conducted to explore the current status and barriers of health care services in nursing home from the viewpoint of staffs taking care of nursing home residents. Methods: A qualitative thematic analysis using the focus group interview method was used. A total of 32 health care professionals (19 nurses and 13 social workers) from thirteen nursing homes in South Korea attended (5 focus groups) in 2014. Results: The two main themes were identified: 'minimal health care services that left personal care needs unmet' which has three subthemes of 'stereotyped and fragmented care by types of care providers', 'medically-oriented health care services' and 'health care services mixed with social or recreational programs'; and 'barriers to proper and timely care in nursing homes' with four subthemes including 'unmet care needs due to cognitive dysfunction or lack of expression', 'care guides or tools not suitable for long-term care facilities', 'health care needs that are beyond the facility's care boundary', and 'care delay due to lack of understanding on the older adult's status'. Conclusion: The findings from this study should help health care policy makers to recognize the factors that influence health care services and provide direction for nurses and other staffs involved in supporting health care services for nursing home residents.