PURPOSE: This study was a descriptive correlation study to increase understanding of, and relationships among critical thinking disposition, clinical decision making and job satisfaction of cancer center nurses. METHOD: The participants in this study were 150 nurses working in one cancer center located in Gyeonggi Province. The statistic program, SPSS WIN17.0 was used for data analysis and data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The critical thinking disposition of the participants showed statistically significant differences according to areas of practice (F=4.426, p=.005), and current position (F=9.346, p=.000). For clinical decision making of the participants, statistically significant differences were found according to current position (F=10.667, p=.000). Furthermore, for job satisfaction, there were statistically significant differences according to income (F=6.779, p=.002), length of career (F=2.701, p=.033) and current position (F=5.423, p=.005). There were significant positive correlations for critical thinking disposition with clinical decision making, and with job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that to improve clinical decision making and job satisfaction of cancer center nurses, it is necessary to increase critical thinking disposition. To make this change, appropriate programs are needed to increase critical thinking and clinical decision making of general cancer center nurses.
Decision Making ; Job Satisfaction ; Statistics as Topic ; Thinking

OBJECTIVES: This study conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of computer and Internet training interventions intended to reduce loneliness and depression in older adults. METHODS: Searches were performed to retrieve studies that had been published in peer-reviewed journals from January 2001 to July 2012 and written in English or Korean from PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, KoreaMed, KMbase, KISS, MEDLIS, and RISS. We used combinations of the keywords for population, intervention, and psychosocial problems. A meta-analysis was employed to summarize the findings of studies on computer and Internet interventions for older adults. An overall mean weighted effect size for each outcome was calculated, and Q statistics were used to test the heterogeneity of variance in the effect sizes of the selected studies. RESULTS: As the Q statistics revealed heterogeneity, random effects models were chosen for the meta-analysis. The overall mean weighted effect size for loneliness from five studies was statistically significant for decreased loneliness (Z = 2.085, p = 0.037). However, the overall mean weighted effect size for depression from five studies was not statistically significant (Z = 1.528, p = 0.126). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that computer and Internet programs were effective in managing loneliness among older adults. Therefore, further computer-mediated social support should be considered to help manage loneliness in this population.
Adult ; Depression ; Humans ; Internet ; Loneliness ; Population Characteristics

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the function, health status, and efficacy effects of a combined exercise program using an iPad among older women in Korea, a tech-savvy country. METHODS: The study employed a pretest and posttest experimental design with a control group. The experimental group of subjects comprised 16 female older adults and the control group comprised 10 who were aged 65 years or older. The experimental group participated in a supervised group-based exercise program and an individualized home-based exercise program that involved the use of an iPad. The combined group and home-based exercise program consisted of group exercise, which took place in a senior center for 30 minutes weekly, and a home-based iPad exercise program, which the subjects followed at least 3 times a week. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS ver. 9.3 TS Level 1M0) program, which utilized a chi-square test, a Fisher exact test, a t-test, and a repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: The results showed that cognitive status changed significantly over time, and there was an interaction between group and time. Further, self-efficacy for exercise and outcome expectations for exercise changed significantly over time. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise programs using iPad interventions may be useful for the management of cognitive functioning and the integration of functional physical abilities in older adults.
Adult* ; Equipment and Supplies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Physiology ; Research Design ; Self Efficacy ; Senior Centers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument that evaluated QUality Of care Through patients' Eyes for hospitalized child (QUOTE-Child), and examine the validity and reliability. METHODS: Preliminary items were reviewed through expert content validity and face validity. To test the validity and reliability of the instrument, the data were collected from 221 care givers of hospitalized children. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha and Spearman-Brown coefficient. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded 19 items in four factors including 1) respect, 2) explanation, 3) kindness, and 4) skillfulness, with a cumulative explanatory variance of 70.68%. For criterion-related validity, a significant positive relationship was found between quality of care and pediatric family satisfaction. For internal consistency reliability, the Cronbach's alpha was .93 (importance) and .95 (performance) for the overall instrument. The half split reliabilities were .86, .95 (importance) and .92, .97 (performance). The Cronbach's alpha of 110 data was .92 (importance) and .94 (performance). CONCLUSION: Researchers and practitioners can use this instrument to systematically assess quality of care for hospitalized children and identify areas of support for hospitalized children and their family.
Caregivers ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Humans ; Quality of Health Care ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to determine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience (BS-CPE). METHODS: The study conducted a cross-sectional survey which used a self-report questionnaire. A convenient sampling method was utilized, and data on 335 students was gathered. We verified construct validity by performing confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The overall Cronbach's alpha score was .90 (range: .71-.84). BS-CPE was correlated with self-respect (r = .47, p < .001) and self-directed learning (r = .50, p < .001). The original BS-CPE was modified based on the validity test. CONCLUSION: This modified Korean version of the BS-CPE is applicable for use with university undergraduates to measure belongingness in clinical practice.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Learning ; Physician's Practice Patterns ; Reproducibility of Results ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the adherence to physical activity (PA) among older adults in Korea using data from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV), and to illustrate geographic variations in PA using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). METHODS: A secondary analysis of the KNHANES IV data from 2007 to 2008 was used for this study. Participants of the study included 2,241 older adults over the age of 65. Estimates on adherence to PA were obtained for vigorous, moderate, walking, strengthening, and stretching activities. All estimates were weighted to represent Korean population. The association between participants' characteristics and PA was analyzed using Wald chi-square test. Maps depicting regional variations in PA were created using GIS software. RESULTS: Adherence to PA among Korean older adults who met national recommendations during the period of year 2007-2008 was about 9% in vigorous activity, 10% in moderate activity, and 48% in walking. The most common type of PA was walking. A higher level of PA was associated with male gender, younger age, high level of income and education, and living with family. CONCLUSION: The majority of older adults did not meet the national PA recommendations, suggesting that consistent surveillance and intervention for PA in the geriatric population are needed in the future. Maps generated using GIS visually showed regional differences in PA among the study participants.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Geographic Information Systems ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Walking