PURPOSE: This study investigated the relationship between working conditions and smoking among Korean employees using nationally representative data. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Third Korean Working Conditions Survey to identify associations between various working conditions and smoking. We calculated the smoking prevalence depending on individual characteristics and working conditions. Also, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between working conditions and smoking. RESULTS: Company size, occupation type, employment type, working hours, working-time flexibility, and smoking-area policy were related to smoking among male employees, while company size, occupation type, employment type, and smoking-area policy were associated with smoking prevalence among females. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that working conditions influence smoking prevalence, and the implementation of smoke-free policies is needed to target specific working conditions, including a strict no-smoking-area policy.
Employment ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Occupations ; Pliability ; Prevalence ; Smoke* ; Smoke-Free Policy ; Smoking*

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the impact of physical activity on healthcare utilization among Korean adults. METHODS: Drawing from the 2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES IV-2), data from 6,521 adults who completed the Health Interview and Health Behavior Surveys were analyzed. Association between physical activity and healthcare utilization was tested using the chi2-test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios of using outpatient and inpatient healthcare for different levels of physical activity after adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. A generalized linear model applying a negative binomial distribution was used to determine how the level of physical activity was related to use of outpatient and inpatient healthcare. RESULTS: Physically active participants were 16% less likely to use outpatient healthcare (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.97) and 23% less likely to use inpatient healthcare (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.93) than physically inactive participants. Levels of outpatient and inpatient healthcare use decreased as levels of physical activity increased, after adjusting for relevant factors. CONCLUSION: An independent association between being physically active and lower healthcare utilization was ascertained among Korean adults indicating a need to develop nursing intervention programs that encourage regular physical activity.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; *Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the effects of lower urinary tract symptoms on depression and quality of life among women in urban areas. METHODS: The participants in this study were 306 women in P city. Data were collected using a questionnaire from May 1 to June 6, 2008. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were measured with BFLUTS-SF and categorized into voiding, filling and incontinence. The data were analyzed through t-test, one-way ANOVA, Fisher exact test, and multiple regression. RESULTS: Age, filling and incontinence, and all of the subcategories of LUTS explained 16% of variance in depression. Older women, LUTS with incontinence, filling and incontinence, and all the problems including filling, voiding and incontinence lowered the quality of life. CONCLUSION: In order to develop nursing interventions for women with urinary tract symptoms, comprehensive understanding of LUTS is needed.
Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Urinary Tract ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Epidermal Cyst* ; Melanins*

PURPOSE: This study was done to analyze core competencies affecting critical thinking ability of student nurses. Core competencies investigated in this study were problem solving ability, communication ability and self-directed learning ability. METHOD: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 322 student nurses in 2 provinces during the period from May 21 to June 8, 2007. Critical thinking, problem solving ability, communication ability and self-directed learning ability were measured using the Disposition towards Critical Thinking Scale by Park (1999-a) and the Core Competencies Scale by Lee (2003). Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients with the SPSS WIN 12.0 program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the critical thinking according to grade, type of high school, experience with PBL, preference for lecture-based learning, preference for discussion and perceived logicality. The score for critical thinking showed significantly positive correlations with scores for problem solving ability (r=0.54, p=0.00), communication ability (r=0.56, p=0.00) and self-directed learning ability (r=0.54, p=0.00). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that problem solving ability, communication ability and self-directed learning ability are significant factors affecting critical thinking in student nurses.
Communication* ; Humans ; Learning* ; Logic ; Problem Solving ; Thinking*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among older Korean Chinese with hypertensiondone of the most underserved and understudied ethnic minority groups in China. In addition, factors underlying the risk of CVD were examined. METHODS: A total of 334 participants were recruited at the Community Health Service Center in Yanji, China. Data regarding socioeconomic, health-related, psychosocial, and other CVD risk factors were collected between June and October 2009. In this cross-sectional study, factors related to the risk of CVD were assessed by multivariate logistic regression; the Framingham Risk Score was used to measure the risk of CVD. RESULTS: The prevalence of dyslipidemia, diabetes, and current smoking were 75.4%, 6.6%, and 23.1% respectively. Participants who lived alone were twice as likely to have a high risk of CVD (10-year risk of CVD > or =15%; odds ratio [OR], 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13e3.54). Those with a higher education level and greater knowledge about hypertension were at 57% and 62% reduced risk for CVD (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.21e0.92 and OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15-0.95, respectively). CONCLUSION: Future intervention should include strategies to addressing social isolation and also focus on older Korean Chinese with low education. Knowledge enhancement program is warranted for the prevention of CVD in this population.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; China ; Community Health Services ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Minority Groups ; Minority Health ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Isolation

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine relationships between nurse staffing level and postsurgical patient outcomes using inpatient database from the National Health Insurance. METHODS: Records of 111,491 patients who received one of 12 types of surgery between January and December, 2009 were identified and analyzed in this study. Nurse staffing level was measured using adjusted nurse staffing grades from 0 to 7. Patient outcomes were defined as in-hospital mortality, or pneumonia, sepsis, or urinary tract infection after surgery. Logistic regression analyses estimated by Generalized Estimation Model, were used to analyze the association between nurse staffing level and patient outcomes. RESULTS: An inverse relationship was found between nurse staffing and patient mortality. Compared with patients who were cared for in hospitals with the highest nurse staffing (Grades 0-1), increases in the odds of dying were found in those with Grades 6-7 [OR (odds ratio)=2.99, 95% CI (confidence interval)=1.94-4.60], those with Grades 4-5 (OR=1.78, 95% CI=1.24-2.57) and those with Grades 2-3 (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.25-1.98). Lower nurse staffing level was also associated with higher number of cases in pneumonia and sepsis. CONCLUSION: Policies for providing adequate nurse staffing is required to enhance quality of care and lead to better perioperative patient outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; *Hospital Mortality ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*supply & distribution ; Odds Ratio ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pneumonia/etiology/*mortality ; Sepsis/etiology/*mortality ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surgical Procedures, Operative/adverse effects ; Urinary Tract Infections/etiology/*mortality

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a valuable method for establishing long-term customer relationships across different business areas. CRM system stores and analyzes a vast amount of customer information and provides alternatives to meet customer expectations using data warehouse and on-line analysis processing technology. Intensified competitiveness in the healthcare industry has increased the number of healthcare centers and propelled the introduction of CRM systems to meet diverse customer satisfaction. Leading the adoption of information technology in the healthcare businesses has enabled the use of CRM technology to develop close patient-provider relationship. Especially, healthcare centers are using CRM system to provide better healthcare services as well as customer management services. This study aims to explore the current status and influential factors that will stimulate and drive the successful use of CRM system in healthcare centers. For this purpose, a survey has been conducted for CRM system users in 13 healthcare centers to investigate the current status of CRM system and the influential factors for successful use. The evaluation criteria include four categories; system quality, information quality, service quality and perceived usefulness. These criteria have been developed based on previous researches, especially DeLone & McLean information system success model. In addition, the system output is evaluated by user satisfaction, personal performance and organizational performance. The study showed that users evaluated information quality and service quality positively and to be higher than other factors in terms of influence. And the user evaluation proved that CRM system provides increased user satisfaction, organizational performance, and especially, individual performance. This is clear evidence that CRM system will improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness, which in turn, can provide competitive advantage for the healthcare centers.
Adoption ; Commerce ; Delivery of Health Care ; Efficiency, Organizational ; Health Care Sector ; Imidazoles ; Information Systems ; Nitro Compounds ; Personal Satisfaction

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the effects of standardized peristomal skin care (SPSC) and crusting technique (CT) on the peristomal skin of ostomates. SPSC was developed by a consensus among the expert group based on a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and hospital protocols. METHODS: A randomized controlled pilot trial with 2 parallel arms was used. A total of 81 ostomates, who were recruited from a tertiary hospital, completed the baseline, 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month follow-up (SPSC group, n=45; CT group, n=36). SPSC consisted of water cleansing and direct application of ostomy appliances. CT involved crusting hydrocolloid powder and patting with water sponge or protective barrier liquid film. The outcomes of the study were assessed by skin problems, such as discoloration, erosion and tissue overgrowth; the domains of the evaluation tool used in examining the peristomal skin. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine the effects according to time and group. RESULTS: In both SPSC and CT groups, the likelihood of occurrence of discoloration (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.61-2.46), erosion (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.55-2.25) and tissue enlargement (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.36-2.77) increased with time. There was no significant difference in discoloration between the groups, whereas the probability of erosion (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.16-0.89) and tissue overgrowth (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.55) was lower in the SPSC group than in CT group. CONCLUSION: SPSC was sufficient in preventing peristomal skin problems of ostomates compared to the CT.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Ostomy/*nursing ; Skin Care/instrumentation/*methods/standards ; Wounds and Injuries/etiology/prevention & control

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting the burden on employment of occupational health care providers as well as to develop strategies to reduce burden on employment of them in the middle size manufacturing enterprises. METHODS: The target population of this study was 123 managers working in the middle size manufacturing enterprises. The study questionnaires were selected, as theories and literature suggested, for explaining employment burden, general characteristics of participants and occupational health providers, general characteristics of companies, evaluation of occupational health provider's role and burden score. RESULTS: The mean of employment burden score of manager was 2.2. There was a significant difference in the employment burden scores, manager's age and education, and occupational health provider's age, type of work, certification, and employment status. Also there was a negative relationship between employment burden scores and occupational health provider's role scores (need, role, satisfaction, and benefit). In the results of the standard multiple regression analysis, manager's need scores on occupational health providers were significant predictors of the employment burden scores. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to change the manager's perception to promote employment of occupational health providers.
Certification ; Delivery of Health Care ; Employment ; Health Personnel ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Occupational Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires