BACKGROUND: With the rapid growth of the elderly population, osteoporosis has become a major health problem worldwide. Although health knowledge and self-efficacy are important assets to facilitate healthy behaviors and disease prevention, such information as it relates to individuals and their bone health is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the levels of knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behaviors on promoting bone health in middle-aged Korean women. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey study. A convenience sampling of middle-aged women (> or =40 years) was done at a community health center in Korea. Bone mineral density was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry with the DEXXUM T. The level of knowledge was measured with the Knowledge of Osteoporosis Scale, and self-efficacy with the Osteoporosis Self-efficacy Scale. A questionnaire for bone health behaviors was developed for this study. Collected data were analyzed through descriptive methods, independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: A total of 150 middle-aged women whose mean age was 59.8+/-11.5 years participated in the study. Most (74%) were menopausal. Less than one-quarter of participants (22.7%) had osteoporosis and less than half (42%) had osteopenia based on the T-score at the left femur neck site. Level of knowledge (mean score, 10.35) and self-efficacy (mean score, 47.67) ranged from low to moderate. Intake of calcium and vitamin D-rich foods was insufficient in our subjects. Bone health behaviors had significant positive relationships with knowledge (r=0.22, P=0.008) and self-efficacy (r=0.29, P<0.001) on promoting bone health. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that educational interventions are needed to enhance knowledge and confidence and to encourage middle-aged women to engage in bone health behaviors.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Calcium ; Community Health Centers ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; Self Efficacy ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop and test an explanatory model for sleep disorders in people with cancer. A hypothetical model was constructed on the basis of a review of previous studies, literature, and sleep models, and 10 latent variables were used to construct a hypothetical model. METHODS: Data were collected from April 19 to June 25, 2010, using self-report questionnaires. The sample was 291 outpatients with cancer who visited the oncology cancer center at a university hospital. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS Win 15.0 program for descriptive statistics and correlation analysis and AMOS 7.0 program for covariance structural analysis. RESULTS: It appeared that overall fit index was good as chi2/df=1.162, GFI=.969, AGFI=.944, SRMR=.052, NFI=.881, NNFI=.969, CFI=.980, RMSEA=.024, CN=337 in the modified model. The explanatory power of this model for sleep disorders in people with cancer was 62%. Further, sleep disorders were influenced directly by cancer symptom experience, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, and past sleep pattern. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that nurses should assess past sleep pattern and consider the development of a comprehensive nursing intervention program to minimize the cancer symptom experience, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, and thus, reduce sleep disorders in people with cancer.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Models, Theoretical ; Neoplasms/*complications/*diagnosis/psychology ; Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Sleep Disorders/epidemiology/*etiology/*psychology ; Social Support

Vestibular stimulation by air-conducted sound (ACS), bone-conducted vibration (BCV), or electrical currents (galvanic stimulation) elicits vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) that are now widely used to assess otolith function. Conventional cervical VEMPs, which are a manifestation of the vestibulocollic reflex, measure electromyographic activity from surface electrodes placed over the tonically activated sternocleidomastoid muscles. VEMPs can also be recorded from the extraocular muscles using surface electrodes placed over the inferior oblique and inferior rectus muscles, known as ocular VEMPs (oVEMPs). oVEMPs are a manifestation of the vestibulo-ocular pathways. We describe herein the neurophysiological properties of VEMPs obtained in response to ACS and BCV stimulation, and outline the known characteristics of VEMPs in central and peripheral disorders commonly encountered in neuro-otology clinics.
Electrodes ; Muscles ; Neurotology ; Otolithic Membrane ; Reflex ; Saccule and Utricle ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; Vibration

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between problem-based learning (PBL) evaluations and clinical performance. METHODS: The study included 117 third-year medical students at Chonnam National University Medical School. The students' first-, second-, and third-year PBL evaluations were compared with their clinical performance examination (CPX) scores in third year. The PBL evaluations were composed of three subscales: tutors' evaluation (students' professional behavior, contribution to group process, and contribution to group content), a report, and a written examination. The CPX assessed four performance categories: history taking, physical examination, information sharing, and patient-physician interaction. RESULTS: No significant correlation was found between the first-year PBL evaluations and CPX scores; however, the second-year PBL evaluations were significantly correlated with history taking (r=0.186, p=0.044) and patient-physician interaction (r=0.213, p=0.021) of CPX. The third-year PBL evaluations were significantly correlated with physical examination (r=0.248, p=0.007), and patient-physician interaction (r=0.283, p=0.002) of CPX. Several significant correlations between the PBL evaluations subscales and CPX scores were revealed. The PBL tutors' evaluation (r=0.343, p=0.000) and report scores (r=0.210, p=0.023) were significantly correlated with patient-physician interaction of CPX. The contribution to group process of tutors' evaluation was significantly correlated with patient-physician interaction (r=0.186, p=0.045), and the contribution to group content of tutors' evaluation was significantly correlated with physical examination (r=0.187, p=0.044). CONCLUSION: We found a significant association between PBL evaluations and CPX scores.
*Clinical Competence ; *Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; *Educational Measurement ; Group Processes ; Humans ; *Problem-Based Learning ; Republic of Korea ; Schools, Medical ; *Students, Medical ; Universities

BACKGROUND: Proper nutritional supplement is one of the fundamental management domains for critical ill patients. While it shows positive effect on processing and prognosis of critical ill patients, early enteral nutrition is overlooked. This study explored healthcare professional's level of knowledge perception and performance on early enteral nutrition for critically ill patients. Data was collected from a convenient sample of 319 registered doctors, nurses and nutritionists in ICU at seven university hospitals. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The participants were assessed by questionnaires, specifically designed for the study and verified for the content validity by professional reviewers related with critical ill patients. RESULTS: While the level of the perception of early enteral nutrition is high, the level of knowledge and performance are relatively low. The nurses showed a statistically significant difference on the level of knowledge, by their educational backgrounds and clinical experiences. Regarding the hospital support system, the doctors showed a significant difference on the level of perception and performance, while the nurses only showed that difference on the level of performance. It was shown that with higher the level of knowledge regarding the early enteral nutrition, the higher the level of performance. Further, the higher the level of perception, the higher the level of performance was observed. The hospital support system and the perception of the healthcare professionals are two most influential factors to affect the performance of the healthcare professionals related with the early enteral nutrition for the critically ill patients. CONCLUSION: To perform the proper early enteral nutrition, the hospital support system and the level of the healthcare professionals' perception, are two most important factors. Therefore, the efforts to build the hospital support system along with the educational provisions are needed.
Critical Illness ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to explore the relationship between clinical performance examination (CPX) achievement and epistemological beliefs to investigate the potentials of epistemological beliefs in ill-structured medical problem solving tasks. METHODS: We administered the epistemological beliefs questionnaire (EBQ) to fourth-year medical students and correlated the results with their CPX scores. The EBQ comprised 61 items reflecting five belief systems: certainty of knowledge, source of knowledge, rigidity of learning, ability to learn, and speed of knowledge acquisition. The CPX included scores for history taking, physical examination, and patient-physician interaction. RESULTS: The higher epistemological beliefs group obtained significantly higher scores on the CPX with regard to history taking and patient-physician interaction. The epistemological beliefs scores on certainty of knowledge and source of knowledge were significantly positively correlated with patient-physician interaction. The epistemological beliefs scores for ability to learn were significantly positively correlated with those for history taking, physical examination, and patient-physician interaction. CONCLUSION: Students with more sophisticated and advanced epistemological beliefs stances used more comprehensive and varied approaches in the patient-physician interaction. Therefore, educational efforts that encourage discussions pertaining to epistemological views should be considered to improve clinical reasoning and problem-solving competence in the clinic setting.
*Achievement ; Adult ; *Attitude ; *Clinical Competence ; *Culture ; *Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; Educational Measurement ; Female ; Humans ; *Knowledge ; Male ; Medical History Taking ; Physical Examination ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Problem-Based Learning ; Republic of Korea ; Schools, Medical ; *Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thinking ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing college students' health promotion lifestyle. METHODS: The subject was 606 students. Statistical analysis with SPSS used descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression. RESULTS: The average item score for health promotion lifestyle was 2.58. The subscale showing the highest score was interpersonal relationship (3.03), which was followed by spiritual growth (2.94), stress management (2.54), nutrition (2.52), physical activity (2.16) and health responsibility (2.15). There were significant differences according to age, gender, BMI, perceived health state, religion, economic state, live together, major and health promotion lifestyle. The most powerful predictors of health promotion lifestyle were the prior related behavior (51.8%) and self-efficacy (7.7%). The combination of prior related behavior, perceived self-efficacy, activity-related affect, social support, perceived stress, commitment to a plan of action accounted for 67.9% of the variance of health promotion lifestyle. CONCLUSION: Prior related behavior was the most powerful variable of health promotion lifestyle. Therefore, health promotion programs for changing and maintaining prior related behavior and increasing self-efficacy should be developed to promote a healthy lifestyle in college students.
Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Motor Activity

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine factors influencing nurses' perception of patient safety culture in reporting of patient safety events. METHODS: Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 305 nurses who were involved in direct patient care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regressions with SPSS/WIN version 24.0. RESULTS: Patient safety events were reported as follows: 4.60±0.63 for harmful incidents, 4.02±0.82 for no harm incidents, and 3.59±0.97 for near misses. Patient safety event reporting was significantly positively correlated with patient safety culture. Regression analysis showed, factors influencing reports of harmful incidents were ‘feedback and communication about error’, ‘supervisor/manager expectations’ and ‘carrier of hospital’. Factors influencing reports of no harm incidents were ‘feedback and communication about error’. Factors influencing reports on near-misses were ‘teamwork across units’, ‘overall perceptions of safety’, and ‘feedback and communication about error’. CONCLUSION: Findings show that reports of near misses are relatively low and need to be strengthened. These results provide evidence that reporting on patient safety events would be enhanced through improved patient safety culture. Hospital managers could identify factors that affect reporting of each patient safety event and use it to develop intervention programs for risk management.
Humans ; Linear Models ; Patient Care ; Patient Safety ; Risk Management

PURPOSE: A considerable number of medical students drop out due to low academic achievement, and these students have a high probability of repeated failure experiences. This study investigated the personal and academic problems of these students to help develop student support systems. METHODS: First-year (n=146) and second-year (n=119) medical students were asked to complete questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of personality traits and the students' management of/satisfaction with school life. RESULTS: Students who had already dropped out accounted for 17.4% of the study subjects. The most common reason for dropping out was low academic achievement, and the most difficult part of taking a leave of absence from school was psychological anxiety. The group who dropped out had significantly lower levels of emotional stability, sociability, responsibility, dominance, masculinity, and superiority and more vulnerable mental states compared with those who did not drop out. They also expressed less motivation with regard to medical science and less satisfaction with school life than did the group that did not drop out. Those who dropped out tended not to prepare for exams, and they managed their time ineffectively. They also tried to resolve their difficulties alone and rarely sought help from teachers. CONCLUSION: More intimate student-teacher relationships should be established, and teachers should be encouraged to meet and interact with their students on a regular basis. Additionally, personality inventories should be used to assist in efforts to understand students, especially to identify hidden social and emotional problems.
Achievement ; Anxiety ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Masculinity ; Motivation ; Personality Inventory ; Student Dropouts ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: This study aims to describe and identify in-depth the breastfeeding experience of primiparas for more than one year using a phenomenological research method and to raise the understanding of the primiparas’ subjective experiences during the breastfeeding process to contribute to the improving and maintaining maternal and child health. Methods: This research was a phenomenological and qualitative study conducted on 5 primiparas who continued breastfeeding for more than 12 months. Data was collected through individual in-depth interviews from November 1, 2021 to March 20, 2022, and it was analyzed through the sixth stage of phenomenological research analysis presented by Colaizzi. Results: The study consisted of 10 theme clusters and 26 themes from meaningful statements about the breastfeeding success experiences of primiparas for more than one year. The 10 theme collections were "Planning breastfeeding during pregnancy," "Commitment to breastfeeding through information and education," "Challenges faced during breastfeeding," "Continuous hard work," "Continued conflict over breastfeeding amid confusion," "Connects with experts who lead the way," "Establishes one's own standards and direction," "Peace after hard work," "Solid and firm confidence," and "Deep-rooted beliefs brestfeeding serve as reminders." Conclusion It is expected that this study will help to understand the individual difficulties and problems experienced by primiparas during breastfeeding, the importance of breastfeeding education, the role of medical personnel in the early stage of childbirth, social and environmental support, and the importance of an active window for information exchange. By identifying these factors, this study can serve as basic data for nursing practice to promote successful breastfeeding.