Purpose: This study aimed to identify trends in contraceptive use and methods, as well as the influencing factors among Korean adolescent girls with sexual intercourse experience. Methods: Secondary data analysis was performed using data from the 2013−2022 Youth Health Behavior Online Survey. Participants were 9,562 adolescent girls who had experienced sexual intercourse in middle and high schools in Korea. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the Cochran-Armitage trend test, and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: The reported prevalence of consistent contraceptive use during sexual intercourse significantly increased from 27.0% in 2013 to 46.1% in 2022 (p<0.01). The rate of modern contraceptive use increased from 79.4% in 2013 to 84.8% in 2022 (p for trend <0.01). Factors influencing contraceptive use included age, school type by sex, academic performance, economic status, residential type, lifetime smoking, and sexual education. Factors influencing modern contraceptive use included school type by sex, economic status, residential type, and lifetime smoking. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that more than half of the adolescent girls with sexual experience do not consistently use contraception, and some of them use unreliable contraceptive methods. Efforts are needed to improve modern contraceptive use among adolescent girls.

PURPOSE: This study explored influencing factors on quality of life (QoL) above middle-aged women in relation to demographic factors, health-related factors, menopausal status, metabolic syndrome (MS) and its risk factors. METHODS: This study was secondary data analysis from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013~2015 that utilized a complex, multi-stage probability sample design. Study sample of 2,310 was inclusive of (28.8%) of women who were over 40. To evaluate the factors that would influence an impaired quality of life, χ² test, GLM, and logistic regression analysis were done. RESULTS: Level of quality of life was lower in women with late post-menopause(over 10 years since menopause) than women with pre-menopause. Factors influencing impaired QoL were as follows: graduated middle school and elementary school or less (OR=2.43, 4.42, respectively, p<.05), no job (OR=1.92, p<.001), stress (OR=1.92, p=.001), depression (OR=1.93, p=.001), insufficient sleep (OR=1.64, p=.003), late post-menopause (OR=2.61, p=.044) and over 85cm of waist circumference (OR=1.76, p=.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that late post-menopause may be an independent factor influencing an impaired QoL. To promote post-menopausal womens' health, a nursing strategy is required to teach women how to manage levels of stress, depression, insufficient sleep, and abdominal obesity through health education, nutritional counselling, and physical activity program.
Demography ; Depression ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Menopause ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Motor Activity ; Nursing ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Postmenopause ; Premenopause ; Quality of Life* ; Risk Factors* ; Sampling Studies ; Statistics as Topic ; Waist Circumference

The purpose of this study was to construct a hypothetical model based on Meleis and colleagues’ Transition Theory and a literature review to explain women’s menopausal transition, constructing a modified model considering previous studies and model fit and testing the effects between variables. Methods: With a correlational survey design, middle-aged Korean women aged 40 to 64 years who had experienced menopausal symptoms were recruited and filled out a self-administered study questionnaire. Measures included menopausal symptoms, resilience, social support, menopause management, menopause adaptation, and quality of life. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 24.0. Results: The model fit indices were considered acceptable: χ2 /degree of freedom=2.93, standardized root mean residual=.07, comparative fit index=.90, and parsimonious normed fit index=.73. All eight direct-effect paths—from menopausal symptoms to support and adaptation, from support to adaptation and resilience, from resilience to adaptation and management, from management to quality of life, and from adaptation to quality of life—were significant. The explanatory power of the menopause transition model was 63.6%. Conclusion: Women who experience menopausal symptoms may be able to maintain and improve their quality of life if menopause management and menopause adaptation are successful through resilience and social support. Future research is needed to confirm whether strengthening facilitation as a nursing intervention strategy may promote healthy response patterns.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experience and meaning of pregnant women’s adaptation. Methods: Ten pregnant women living in Daejeon and Sejong agreed to participate in this study. The data were collected through telephone in-depth interviews regarding ‘pregnant women’s adaptation. The qualitative data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method of descriptive phenomenology. Results: Five core situation components were extracted from the raw data, along with 12 themes and 33 focal meanings. The five core situations were 1) the situation when the woman first recognized the pregnancy, 2) the situation of change related with pregnancy, 3) the situation related to the upcoming birth, 4) postpartum-related situations, and 5) the situation related to parenting. The 12 themes were as follows: “anxiety, pressure, and embarrassment due to pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to physical changes,” “efforts to adapt to the psychological difficulties of pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to the financial burden and role changes caused by pregnancy,” “connecting with the fetus,” “adapting to a new marital relationship centering on the baby,” “the frustration of childbirth,” “fear of childbirth,” “postpartum care, need help with lactation planning,” “parenting beyond one’s imagination,” “dad’s willingness to participate in parenting,” and “career disconnect and consideration of workplace needs.” Conclusion We conclude that pregnant women experience adaptation in physical, psychological, relational, and social aspects. The thematic clusters identified in the results might be used to develop a nursing intervention to promote adaptation to pregnancy among pregnant women.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experience and meaning of pregnant women’s adaptation. Methods: Ten pregnant women living in Daejeon and Sejong agreed to participate in this study. The data were collected through telephone in-depth interviews regarding ‘pregnant women’s adaptation. The qualitative data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method of descriptive phenomenology. Results: Five core situation components were extracted from the raw data, along with 12 themes and 33 focal meanings. The five core situations were 1) the situation when the woman first recognized the pregnancy, 2) the situation of change related with pregnancy, 3) the situation related to the upcoming birth, 4) postpartum-related situations, and 5) the situation related to parenting. The 12 themes were as follows: “anxiety, pressure, and embarrassment due to pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to physical changes,” “efforts to adapt to the psychological difficulties of pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to the financial burden and role changes caused by pregnancy,” “connecting with the fetus,” “adapting to a new marital relationship centering on the baby,” “the frustration of childbirth,” “fear of childbirth,” “postpartum care, need help with lactation planning,” “parenting beyond one’s imagination,” “dad’s willingness to participate in parenting,” and “career disconnect and consideration of workplace needs.” Conclusion We conclude that pregnant women experience adaptation in physical, psychological, relational, and social aspects. The thematic clusters identified in the results might be used to develop a nursing intervention to promote adaptation to pregnancy among pregnant women.

PURPOSE: This study was to validate the Korean version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Students (K-JSE-HPS) in undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: With a survey design, a total of 293 junior and senior nursing students were recruited and data were collected using a self-administered study questionnaire to measure their levels of empathy use the K-JSE-HPS. Using SPSS/WIN 22.0 and AMOS 22.0, data analysis was conducted with confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, and reliability. RESULTS: For construct validity, confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable model fit (Goodness of Fit Index was 0.88) along with confirming convergent and discriminant validity (construct reliability was 0.70). For criterion validity, the scale was significantly related with the Interpersonal Reaction Index. For reliability, Cronbach's α coefficient for the scale was 0.87 and for the subscales were 0.84, 0.78, and 0.69, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings show satisfactory construct and criterion validity and reliability of the Korean version of the JSE-HPS for measuring empathy in undergraduate nursing students.
Empathy* ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Nursing* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Nursing*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the effect of cognitive function, social activity participation and social support on quality of life (QoL) of community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: The data on 194 elderly were selected from the nationwide community cohort named Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia. All subjects were assessed QoL-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD), Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, exercise habit, Mini-Mental State Examination, social activities, The Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN V. 21.0 program. RESULTS: The mean of QoL among community-dwelling elderly was 35.49 (24–46) for QoL measured by QoL-AD. The variables of professional, residence status, physical health, exercise, cognitive function, social activity participation and social support explained 29.3% of variance in QoL of community-dwelling elderly. Among these factors, the significant predictors of QoL were social support (β=0.322, p<0.001), cognitive function (β=0.152, p=0.021), and religion activity (β=0.152, p=0.025). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the focus of intervention program should be on cognitive function and social activity participation to improve QoL for elderly. Improving cognitive function and social activity will lead to the network of social support, consequently to increase QoL for elderly living in the community.
Aged* ; Aging ; Cohort Studies ; Dementia ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Quality of Life*

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program’s feasibility. Methods: With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women’s hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. Results: The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.11 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. Conclusion A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples’ relationships.

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program’s feasibility. Methods: With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women’s hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. Results: The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.11 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. Conclusion A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples’ relationships.

Sturgeon aqua-cultured in Korea is mainly Acipenser ruthenus and its culture began in the early 2000's. In this study, Carnobacterium sp. was isolated from unprocessed caviar of aqua-cultured Acipenser ruthenus. The 16s rRNA nucleotide sequence obtained from Carnobacterium sp. isolate (accession no. KM236206) was deposited with GenBank and homologous with Carnobacterium divergens DSM 20623 and NBRC15683 strain. In conclusion, this is first report of isolation of Carnobacterium sp. from caviar of Acipenser ruthenus aqua-cultured in Korea. In the future, it must be ascertained whether Carnobacterium sp. degenerate of caviar or cause diseases in sturgeon.
Base Sequence ; Carnobacterium* ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Korea