PURPOSE: The purpose of the study >was to examine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) and to identify the relationship between work-related psychosocial and acculturative factors and WMSDs among Korean-Chinese workers living in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 195 Korean-Chinese workers who have worked full-time for the past 6 months. A structured questionnaire, including measures for musculoskeletal symptoms, physical demand, work-related psychosocial(job demand, job control, interpersonal conflict), acculturative (acculturation strategy and acculturative stress), and personal factors, was used. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were conducted using the SPSS WIN 17.0. RESULTS: The prevalence of WMSDs was 64.1%. In comparison to Korean workers, job demand of this group was lower while both interpersonal conflict and lack of job control were higher among them. Integration was the most commonly used acculturation strategy and mean scores of acculturative stress were below the median. Acculturative stress was positively correlated with integration and assimilation while negatively correlated with separation and marginalization. Interpersonal conflict and integration appeared to be related to WMSDs among male and female Korean-Chinese workers, respectively. CONCLUSION: The WMSD interventions need to be planned in consideration of different influences of work-related psychosocial and acculturative factors on WMSDs by gender.
Acculturation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transients and Migrants

PURPOSE: This study investigated trends in family nursing intervention studies and evaluated the quality of studies using the RCT design. METHODS: This study included a total of 898 abstracts published from 1977 to 2007 in order to describe trends in family nursing intervention studies. Out of 898 studies, 153 RCT studies were selected for quality evaluation. The criteria of Jadad et al. (1996) were employed for the quality evaluation. RESULTS: The number of RCT studies on family nursing interventions increased since 2001. Only 6.8% of the studies were published in the area of nursing. Most of the family interventions (27.1%) focused on individual family members and only 8.2% of the studies provided interventions to family as a whole unit. Nine different modes of family nursing intervention could be categorized, but none of the studies used the double blind design. Few studies utilized protocols for interventions. Only 17.5% of the studies reported the rationale for sample size. The mean score was 1.6 out of 5 according to the criteria of Jadad et al. (1996). CONCLUSION: Refined definitions and attributes of family nursing intervention modes are needed. Most of the studies did not meet the expectations of RCT. Thus, it is needed to improve the quality of design. More RCT studies should be conducted to provide evidence-based practice of family nursing interventions.
Evidence-Based Practice ; Family Nursing* ; Humans ; Clinical Trial ; Korea ; Nursing ; Sample Size

Objectives: This study aimed to provide essential data for the development of a prenatal healthcare intervention program tailored to Vietnamese migrant women. This study assessed the knowledge and the practice of prenatal health management, and the levels of depression among Vietnamese women of childbearing age residing in Korea and Vietnam. Methods: Using a descriptive research design, a structured questionnaire was administered to Vietnamese women of childbearing age, with 113 participants residing in Korea and 196 participants residing in Vietnam. Data was collected from Februay to April 2021. Data was analyzed using t-test and chi-square test.Result: The analysis of knowledge regarding prenatal health management revealed significant differences between married women in both locations, with higher knowledge scores.Regarding prenatal health management practices, no significant differences were found based on marital status or place of residence. Particularly in the item "Will receive regular prenatal check-ups at the hospital." married Vietnamese women in Vietnam had lower scores than unmarried women, and rural women had lower scores than urban women. The lowest score was observed among Korean-residing women in the item "Will seek pregnancy and childbirth information." Regarding depression, married women in Vietnam and women living in rural areas demonstrated significantly higher depression scores. Conclusion When designing perinatal management interventions for Vietnamese immigrant women, special attention should be given to those originating from rural areas in Vietnam. It is recommended to incorporate the importance of perinatal healthcare and factors related to mental well-being into the intervention program.

PURPOSE: This study developed a short-term education program aiming to strengthen global health capacity in nursing students, and examined the effects of the program. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 83 students recruited from 29 nursing colleges. Domestic workshops and overseas training in the Philippines were offered. For data collection and analysis, the triangulation method was adopted. RESULTS: Students' critical thinking disposition and global leadership capacity were significantly increased. Thematic content analysis derived fifteen themes: expansion of global health, understanding of cultural diversity, vision of being a global leader, cultivation of communication skills, open mind toward people with different culture, pride and vocation, understanding of nursing in foreign countries, understanding of visiting nurse service, sustainability, understanding of local needs and environments, and education methods with an emphasis on participants, broader view and thinking of the world, reflection on the characteristics of a nurse, development through cooperation, and development through programs. CONCLUSION: The global health capacity building program improved nursing students' view of global health and nursing care. It is needed to develop continuously diverse global health capacity-building programs for nursing students.
Capacity Building* ; Cultural Diversity ; Data Collection ; Education ; Humans ; Leadership ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Occupations ; Philippines ; Program Development ; Program Evaluation ; Students, Nursing* ; Thinking

OBJECTIVES: A rapid increase in the population of migrant workers in Korea has brought new challenges regarding the possible effects of acculturation on health. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of acculturation- and work-related psychosocial factors on work-related musculoskeletal disorders among migrant female workers living in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A translated, structured questionnaire was administrated to 156 southeastern Asian female full-time workers living in Korea. RESULTS: About 35% of the participants experienced some type(s) of work-related musculoskeletal disorder(s), which were more prevalent in Vietnamese women than in Thai and Filipino women. Women who preferred to maintain their own heritage and to reject the host country heritage were at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. CONCLUSION: Acculturation strategy and nationality were found to be significant factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Health professionals need to accommodate acculturation contexts into risk assessment and intervention development for work-related musculoskeletal disorders separately for different nationalities.
Acculturation ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Assessment ; Transients and Migrants

Purpose: Despite decreased prevalence of tuberculosis, the incidence of the diseases associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing in South Korea and around the world. The present retrospective study was conducted to determine longitudinal changes in the epidemiology and distribution of NTM over 13 years at a tertiary care hospital in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on Mycobacterium species over 13 years (January 2007 to December 2019) by utilizing the laboratory information system. Mycobacterium species were identified using biochemical tests and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Mycobacteria GenoBlot assays. Results: After excluding duplicates from the initial pool of 17996 mycobacterial isolates, 7674 strains were analyzed and 2984 (38.9%) NTM were isolated. The proportion of NTM continuously increased over the 13-year period, from 17.0% in 2007 to 57.5% in 2019. Among the NTM isolates, the most common species were Mycobacterium intracellulare (50.6%), M. avium (18.3%), M. fortuitum complex (4.9%), M. abscessus (4.5%), M. gordonae (3.3%), M. kansasii (1.1%), M. chelonae (1.0%), and M. massiliense (0.9%).In patients over the age of 70 years, the proportion of NTM among the isolates increased from 26.6% in 2007 to 62.0% in 2019, and that of M. intracellulare isolates among the NTM increased from 13.9% (11/79) in 2007 to 37.4% (175/468) in 2019. Conclusion The number of NTM isolates continuously increased over the study period, and the increase in the proportion of M. intracellulare in patients aged over 70 years was notable.

Purpose: Despite decreased prevalence of tuberculosis, the incidence of the diseases associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing in South Korea and around the world. The present retrospective study was conducted to determine longitudinal changes in the epidemiology and distribution of NTM over 13 years at a tertiary care hospital in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on Mycobacterium species over 13 years (January 2007 to December 2019) by utilizing the laboratory information system. Mycobacterium species were identified using biochemical tests and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Mycobacteria GenoBlot assays. Results: After excluding duplicates from the initial pool of 17996 mycobacterial isolates, 7674 strains were analyzed and 2984 (38.9%) NTM were isolated. The proportion of NTM continuously increased over the 13-year period, from 17.0% in 2007 to 57.5% in 2019. Among the NTM isolates, the most common species were Mycobacterium intracellulare (50.6%), M. avium (18.3%), M. fortuitum complex (4.9%), M. abscessus (4.5%), M. gordonae (3.3%), M. kansasii (1.1%), M. chelonae (1.0%), and M. massiliense (0.9%).In patients over the age of 70 years, the proportion of NTM among the isolates increased from 26.6% in 2007 to 62.0% in 2019, and that of M. intracellulare isolates among the NTM increased from 13.9% (11/79) in 2007 to 37.4% (175/468) in 2019. Conclusion The number of NTM isolates continuously increased over the study period, and the increase in the proportion of M. intracellulare in patients aged over 70 years was notable.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to longitudinally examine the correlation between the change of atopic dermatitis (AD) severity and the change of quality of life (QOL). METHODS: We assessed AD severity and QOL of patients and their families, by a prospective followed up for at least 12 months. AD severity was assessed, using the scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index. A questionnaire based on dermatitis family impact (DFI), infants' dermatologic quality of life (IDQoL) and children's dermatology life quality index (CDLQI) were used to determine QOL. RESULTS: Seventy-nine AD patients were assessed for total and objective SCORAD and DFI. Among them, 45 patients that were less than 36 months old completed IDQoL and 13 patients that were equal to or more than 36 months old completed CDLQI. Objective SCORAD (oSCORAD) were correlated with DFI (r=0.235), IDQoL (r=0.602) and CDLQI (r=0.589) (P<0.05). At the 2nd interview, median oSCORAD (from 17.4 to 7.8), DFI (from 23.0 to 18.0) and IDQoL (from 9.0 to 6.0) were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The changes of oSCORAD were linearly related with the change of IDQoL (P<0.01), but neither with DFI (P=0.356) nor with CDLQI (P=0.267). Of the 64 patients with decreased oSCORAD, food allergy was accompanied more frequently in those with an increased DFI than those with a decreased DFI (60.7% vs. 27.8%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In this longitudinal study, the improvement of AD severity is correlated with the improvement of the patient's QOL, under the age of 3. To improve the family's QOL, we need to find out accompanying factors, such as food allergy, and to support the family accordingly.
Asthma ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Longitudinal Studies ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

We aimed to investigate associations of dietary diversity (DD) with gut microbial diversity and the development of hen's egg allergy (HEA) in infants. We enrolled 68 infants in a highrisk group and 32 infants in a control group based on a family history of allergic diseases. All infants were followed from birth until 12 months of age. We collected infant feeding data, and DD was defined using 3 measures: the World Health Organization definition of minimum DD, food group diversity, and food allergen diversity. Gut microbiome profiles and expression of cytokines were evaluated by bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. High DD scores at 3 and 4 months were associated with a lower risk of developing HEA in the high-risk group, but not in the control group. In the high-risk group, high DD scores at 3, 4, and 5 months of age were associated with an increase in Chao1 index at 6 months. We found that the gene expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-8 were higher among infants who had lower DD scores compared to those who had higher DD scores in high-risk infants. Additionally, high-risk infants with a higher FAD score at 5 months of age showed a reduced gene expression of IL-13. Increasing DD within 6 months of life may increase gut microbial diversity, and thus reduce the development of HEA in infants with a family history of allergic diseases.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the etiology and risk factors of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization in Korean children during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Clinical information of children admitted with CAP to Seoul National University Children’s Hospital (SNUCH) between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022, was retrospectively collected and analyzed. In addition, the etiologic diagnosis and demographic data of children with CAP who were discharged at the other seven hospitals between January and February 2022 were collected. Pneumonia was diagnosed using strict criteria comprising clinical symptoms, physical examination findings, and chest radiographic findings. Results: Among 91 children hospitalized with CAP at SNUCH during the 14-month period, 68.4% were aged <5 years and 79.1% had underlying diseases. Among the 95 CAP cases, respiratory assistance was required in 70.5%, and the use of a ventilator was required in 20.0%.A total of five patients expired, all of whom were either immunocompromised or had underlying neurological diseases. Neurological diseases and immunosuppression were significantly correlated with respiratory assistance (P=0.003) and death (P=0.014). A total of 55% of the detected respiratory pathogens were viruses, the most common of which was rhinovirus at 35.9%. Among the 169 children hospitalized for CAP at the eight institutions, ≥1 respiratory virus was detected in 92.3%, among which respiratory syncytial virus (79.8%) was the most prevalent. Conclusions Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean children were hospitalized with CAP caused by seasonal respiratory viral pathogens. Although atypical and pyogenic bacteria were not detected, continuous clinical monitoring and further prospective studies should be conducted.