The purpose of this study was to understand barrier factors affecting nutrition education jobs and determining priorities according to frequency of occurrence of obstacles. Focus group interview (FGI) was conducted on 11 nutrition teachers, and the result are summarized by the phenomenological analysis method. The barriers of nutrition education consisted of three categories, seven themes, and 10 sub-themes. The three categories were divided into work burden, recognition of nutrition education, and limitations of the nutrition education environment. Recognition of nutrition education was further divided into internal recognition from nutrition teachers and individual and external recognition from students and staff. The results showed that the most frequent barrier experienced by nutrition teachers in the work burden category was heavy work loads of foodservice management, followed by irrational working environment. In addition, limitations of the nutrition education environment consisted of absence of standard curriculum and textbooks, inadequate education infrastructure, and inadequate class time. To improve this, it is necessary to reduce nutrition teacher's food service management and develop standard curriculum and educational materials for nutrition education.
Curriculum ; Education* ; Focus Groups ; Food Services ; Humans ; Methods

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a qualitative study to explore the feasibility of mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. METHODS: We conducted in-depth and focus group interviews with eight laymen who had used mobile dietary applications and eight experts. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using an open coding method. RESULTS: The qualitative data of our study revealed two key themes: (1) perceptions, opinions and attitudes towards mobile applications of self-monitoring of diet and (2) future directions to improve mobile applications. CONCLUSIONS: Our qualitative study suggested the potential use of mobile applications as a food-tracking and dietary monitoring tool and the need for improved mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. The results of our study may provide insights into how to technically improve mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet, how to utilize dietary data generated through mobile applications, and how to improve individual's health though mobile applications.
Clinical Coding ; Diet ; Focus Groups ; Methods ; Mobile Applications

PURPOSE: This study was describes the development and implementation a sex education program with a blended learning method for university students. METHODS: Sixty-eight university students were recruited either to the experimental group (n=35) or the control group (n=33). This program was developed based on the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model. The analysis phase consisted of a literature review, focus group interview, expert consultations, and target group survey. In addition, learning objectives and structure were designed, and a printed text-book, presentation slides, cross-word puzzle, and debate topics were developed. In the implementation phase, the program was conducted 3 times over the course of 3 weeks. The evaluation phase involved verification of the effects of the program on sex-related knowledge, sexual autonomy, and justification of violence, as well as an assessment of satisfaction with the program. RESULTS: The experimental group had significantly higher scores on sex-related knowledge (t=5.47, p < .001), sexual autonomy (t=2.40, p=.019), and justification of violence (t=2.52, p=.015) than the control group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that this sex education program with blended learning was effective in meeting the needs of university students and can be widely used in this context.
Focus Groups ; Humans ; Learning* ; Methods ; Referral and Consultation ; Sex Education* ; Violence

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a qualitative study to explore the feasibility of mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. METHODS: We conducted in-depth and focus group interviews with eight laymen who had used mobile dietary applications and eight experts. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using an open coding method. RESULTS: The qualitative data of our study revealed two key themes: (1) perceptions, opinions and attitudes towards mobile applications of self-monitoring of diet and (2) future directions to improve mobile applications. CONCLUSIONS: Our qualitative study suggested the potential use of mobile applications as a food-tracking and dietary monitoring tool and the need for improved mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. The results of our study may provide insights into how to technically improve mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet, how to utilize dietary data generated through mobile applications, and how to improve individual's health though mobile applications.
Clinical Coding ; Diet ; Focus Groups ; Methods ; Mobile Applications

OBJECTIVE: Written information could be helpful for senior population to adhere to complex medication therapies, but must be well prepared and empirically assessed to achieve such end. We purposed to develop a drug information leaflet for senior citizens by applying 'performance-based user-testing.' METHODS: We employed a user-testing, a mixed method to figure difficulties out with patients' leaflets from the user perspective. The cycle made of test and revision can be repeated as necessary. We recruited senior citizens with age of 65 or above who were taking antihypertensive medications at the point of participating and excluded the elderly who suffered illiteracy. We firstly rectified a drug information leaflet of antihypertensive medications for the general public distributed by the Korean authority based on focus group interviews (9 participants). The revised leaflets were tested four times with 8~12 participants in each round (40 seniors in total). We targeted to develop a leaflet which more than 80% of participants understood 10 key information. Main outcomes measures were to be able to find information and be able to understand information. This study was approved by the Yeungnam University Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Focus group interviews identified difficulties with small font of words, professional language, long information, and a poor structure. The leaflet was revised and in the first round questionnaire found problems with 4/10 information points; interviews disclosed all but one (normal blood pressure range) were ill-understood. The second round questionnaire and interview found fewer problems but the comprehensiveness of participants was still poor in several points. For the third and fourth rounds we revised the leaflets in the individual-targeted manner. Finally, the fourth round showed all key information found and understood by at least 80% of participants except one question about drug name. CONCLUSION: The drug leaflets need to be developed in a personalized mode for the seniors. There was a limit for Korean seniors to understand nonproprietary name of their drugs because they used to producers' trade names which the Korean health system predominantly works with.
Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents* ; Blood Pressure ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Focus Groups ; Health Literacy ; Humans ; Literacy ; Methods

PURPOSE: This study aimed at characterizing Korean nurses' occupational responsibilities to apply the results for improvement of the Korean Nursing Licensing Examination. METHODS: First, the contents of nursing job were defined based on a focus group interview of 15 nurses. Developing a Curriculum (DACOM) method was used to examine those results and produce the questionnaire by 13 experts. After that, the questionnaire survey to 5,065 hospital nurses was done. RESULTS: The occupational responsibilities of nurses were characterized as involving 8 duties, 49 tasks, and 303 task elements. Those 8 duties are nursing management and professional development, safety and infection control, the management of potential risk factors, basic nursing and caring, the maintenance of physiological integrity, medication and parenteral treatments, socio-psychological integrity, and the maintenance and improvement of health. CONCLUSION: The content of Korean Nursing Licensing Examination should be improved based on 8 duties and 49 tasks of the occupational responsibilities of Korean nurses.
Curriculum ; Focus Groups ; Infection Control ; Job Description ; Korea ; Licensure* ; Licensure, Nursing ; Methods ; Nursing* ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this mixed method study was to examine effects of the self-transcendence enhancement program among patients with drug addiction, and to explore their experiences through the program. METHODS: For the quantitative study, a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used. The sample was 49 hospitalized patients with drug addiction. The self-transcendence enhancement program was provided twice a week for 6 weeks. Quantitative data were analyzed using χ² test, t-test and ANCOVA. For the qualitative study, 12 patients in the experimental group participated in a focus group interview, and data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. RESULTS: After the intervention, there were significant improvements for the experimental group in self-transcendence and declines in depression compared to the control group. From the qualitative findings three themes were identified as the change process after the intervention: ‘looking back at myself’, ‘gaining confidence through small changes’, and ‘finding meaning in life’. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the self-transcendence enhancement program can be utilized as a nursing intervention program for patients with drug addiction.
Depression ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Methods* ; Nursing ; Self Concept ; Spirituality ; Substance-Related Disorders*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this mixed method study was to examine effects of the self-transcendence enhancement program among patients with drug addiction, and to explore their experiences through the program. METHODS: For the quantitative study, a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used. The sample was 49 hospitalized patients with drug addiction. The self-transcendence enhancement program was provided twice a week for 6 weeks. Quantitative data were analyzed using χ² test, t-test and ANCOVA. For the qualitative study, 12 patients in the experimental group participated in a focus group interview, and data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. RESULTS: After the intervention, there were significant improvements for the experimental group in self-transcendence and declines in depression compared to the control group. From the qualitative findings three themes were identified as the change process after the intervention: ‘looking back at myself’, ‘gaining confidence through small changes’, and ‘finding meaning in life’. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the self-transcendence enhancement program can be utilized as a nursing intervention program for patients with drug addiction.
Depression ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Methods* ; Nursing ; Self Concept ; Spirituality ; Substance-Related Disorders*

The purpose of this study to review clinicians and educators on required communication education factors of dental hygienists using qualitative research by focus group interview. The participants were dentists, dental hygienists and professors. A questionnaire was developed on communication education to collect data. The collated data derived concepts related to communication education. After transferring the data, were analyzed by open coding and axial coding using computer-aided qualitative data analysis software. Focus group emphasized that higher education on communication should be preceded before they are put into the clinical field. However, the dental hygienist emphasized experiential education in the clinical field, the professor emphasized additional education for continuity of communication education even after graduation. Besides, focus group emphasized role play, and the professor required that the standardization of the dental communication training courses objectives and role play modules and the education environment infrastructure should be established to implement communication education efficiently. The categories of communication education stated in the focus group were time and method for the dental communication training courses, dental communication training courses standardization and educational environment, of evaluation of communication competency, of perception of the dental communication training courses. This study identified the communication education development to conform with the needs of the clinical field strengthen and cultivate communication competency dental hygienists based on factors of communication education emphasized in focus groups.
Clinical Coding ; Dental Hygienists* ; Dentists ; Education* ; Focus Groups* ; Humans ; Methods ; Qualitative Research* ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: This study was designed to describe the experiences of dementia prevention program for older adults in nursing homes. METHODS: Four focus group interviews (FGI) after the program were conducted with 35 participants. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed by Colaizzi's phenomenological method. RESULTS: Four themes emerged as a result of analysis. Participants without dementia reported “I don't have dementia yet.” This statement probably reflects ignoring potential dementia. Motivation for participating the dementia prevention program were to reduce boredom, to enjoy exercising and communicating with others, and to follow group activities. Participants reported the positive effects of the program; (a) benefits from the repeating learned activities; (b) improvements of memory and emotional stability. A few participants reported their inability to follow the program due to physical and environmental limits. However, other participants reported their efforts to overcome physical limits and perform the activities regardless their limits. People who performed the activities with physical limits reported that their self-satisfaction was increased. CONCLUSION: Results of this study showed that participants without dementia were able to actively participate in dementia prevention programs and showed memory, emotional and behavioral improvements. Therefore, these findings can be used for developing customized dementia prevention programs in nursing homes.
Adult* ; Aged ; Boredom ; Dementia* ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Memory ; Methods ; Motivation ; Nursing Homes* ; Nursing* ; Qualitative Research