PURPOSE: This study was to develop and evaluate the clinical utility of a nursing educational program to reduce the cancer worry of colorectal cancer patients' family members (RCW-FM) in Korea. METHODS: The RCW-FM was developed based on several preliminary studies: an ethnographic and two quantitative studies to understand the educational needs among Korean colorectal cancer patients and their families. A one week clinical genetic educational course for clinical cancer nurses was implemented, and the RCW-FM led by cancer genetic nurses was constructed. A one group pretest-posttest design was implicated to evaluate the change of the family members' knowledge about colorectal cancer (KCR) and the level of the reduction of cancer worry (CWR). RESULTS: The mean score for KCR significantly increased from 11.75+/-1.28 to 13.87+/-1.13 (p<.05). The mean score of CWR was 4.25+/-.89. CONCLUSION: This new RCW-FM is a satisfactory educational program for reducing the cancer worry of the colorectal patients' family members. But it needs to provide more practical, specific information including a long term perspective, tailored specifically for what Korean families want to know. It should also incorporate the preventive guidelines recommended for high risk hereditary or familial colorectal cancer.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing*

Purpose: Intrahepatic recurrence has a significant effect on the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. We aimed to determine if there are useful indicators in predicting the recurrence of liver cancer after a hepatic resection. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 210 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy between January 2009 and December 2015. We examined clinic-pathological variables comparing 2 groups of HCC patients, either intrahepatic recurrence or not. Results: We divided 184 patients into 2 groups; 94 patients (51.1%) with intrahepatic recurrence and 90 patients (48.9%) without intrahepatic recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed operation type, preoperative α-FP, postoperative protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) elevation, and multiple tumor number were closely associated with intrahepatic recurrence. The preoperative PIVKA-II level was not statistically significant in postoperative intrahepatic recurrence rate. The recurrence rate was 46.2% in 132 of 184 cases of α-FP < 100 ng/mL group. Of the 184 cases, α-FP 100–200 ng/mL were 14 cases (12 cases recurred (85.7%)). Alpha-fetoprotein > 200 ng/mL was 38 of 184 cases, 21 of which recurred (55.3%). According to the multivariate analysis, OR ratio was 8.003 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.549–41.353) in the α-FP 100–200 ng/mL group and 1.867 (95% CI, 0.784–4.444) in α-FP 200 ng/mL or higher group (P = 0.013). Three-year survival rate of intrahepatic recurrence patients was 80.7%, 3-year survival rate of no intrahepatic recurrence patients was 95.0%. Conclusion The intrahepatic recurrence rates were high in the group preop α-FP over 100 ng/mL. Close observation is needed. Prospective study for α-FP genes of HCC patients should be planned for predicting intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to propose a teaching model to improve the cultural competence care of undergraduate Korean nursing students. METHODS: A literature review was performed from 2000 through 2014 using internet to identify studies that presented nursing curricula and teaching-learning strategies in Korea. We analyzed retrieved Korean seven articles using Campinha-Bacote's ASKED model in combination with reflective experiences of authors observing classrooms in the U.S. RESULTS: Six syllabuses presented information about cultural diversity nursing concepts in Korea. A traditional lecture focused on presenting contents about cultural knowledge by an instructor in the classroom was identified as a commonly used teaching strategy. We found that cultural competency related to cultural desire, awareness, and encounter was lacking. Thus, we developed teaching model based on the Korean nursing education contexts and combined with Campinha-Bacote model to improve cultural competency in nursing. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed teaching model shows promise as a strategy for improving the knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to cultural competent for undergraduate nursing students in Korea. However, evidences that this model improves nursing students' clinical practices reflecting cultural competent care are still lacking. Future research focusing on determining teaching methods and contents in clinical practices will be most effective.
Cultural Competency* ; Cultural Diversity ; Curriculum ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing* ; Teaching ; Transcultural Nursing

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a nursing educational program improving nursing professional's cultural competency in cancer prevention. METHODS: An eight-hour long educational program was developed based on several preliminary research projects, one ethnography and three quantitative projects, to identify the educational needs among nursing students and professionals in Korea. Thirty two nursing professionals were recruited for a one group pretest-posttest design. Three questionnaires were used to measure cultural nursing knowledge about cancer prevention, cultural competency and perceived importance of nurses' quality. RESULTS: After completing the educational program, the clinical nurses showed a significant change in the mean score of the cultural nursing knowledge about cancer prevention from 4.78±2.01 to 8.81±1.52 (t=-8.48, p<.001) and the level of the cultural competency from 72.47±8.96 to 83.59±8.61 (t=-6.16, p<.001). Clinical nurses' perception of 'Communication ability with patients and family members' changed from 6th to 2nd most importance but 'Having a passion for the patient care' remained the most important perceived factor of nurses' quality after completing the educational program. CONCLUSION: The educational program developed was effective in improving nursing professional's cultural competency in cancer prevention. However, it needs to be improved more to be culturally specific to multi-cultural clients.
Anthropology, Cultural ; Cultural Competency* ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: There recurred controversies related to legal allowance of abortion since newly advancing prenatal genetic testing technology. This survey was aimed to identify the attitudes toward marriage, and pregnancy (AMP) and terminating pregnancy (ATP) among Korean nursing students. METHOD: A descriptive study was performed from October to November 2012 in South Korea. 424 nursing students responded to two types of tools developed by authors. Questionnaire for ATP is consisted of 10 items with 5-points Likert Scale. Questionnaire for AMP is 12 items containing 5 categories. RESULTS: Mean score of ATP was 36.90. Students that are enrolled in bachelor degree had a significant higher ATP. Students who are currently dating with an opposite gender showed much higher level of ATP than those are not. Lower group of delayed the time of getting marriage and pregnancy showed highest score of ATP, significantly. CONCLUSION: Individual factor must be primarily considered when assessing ATP of nursing students, for example current relationship with opposite gender and educational background, attitude toward marriage and pregnancy. Further studies are needed to identify personal factors of the young adults affecting on the ATP.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage* ; Pregnancy* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Travel-related risks for infectious diseases vary depending on travel patterns such as purpose, destination, and duration. In this study, we describe the patterns of travel and prescription of vaccines as well as malaria prophylaxis medication (MPM) at a travel clinic in South Korea to identify the gaps to fill for the optimization of pre-travel consultation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of travel clinic visitors in 2011 was constructed and early one-third of the visitors of each month were reviewed. During the study period, 10,009 visited the travel clinic and a retrospective chart review was performed for 3,332 cases for analysis of travel patterns and prescriptions. RESULTS: People receiving yellow fever vaccine (YFV) (n = 2,933) were traveling more frequently for business and tourism and less frequently for providing non-medical service or research/education compared to the 399 people who did not receive the YFV. Overall, most people were traveling to Eastern Africa, South America, and Western Africa, while South-Eastern Asia was the most common destination for the non-YFV group. Besides YFV, the typhoid vaccine was the most commonly prescribed (54.2%), while hepatitis A presented the highest coverage (74.7%) considering the natural immunity, prior and current vaccination history. Additionally, 402 (82.5%) individuals received a prescription for MPM among the 487 individuals travelling to areas with high-risk of malaria infection. Age over 55 was independently associated with receiving MPM prescription, while purpose of providing service and travel duration over 10 days were associated with no MPM prescription, despite travelling to high-risk areas. CONCLUSION: Eastern Africa and South America were common travel destinations among the visitors to a travel clinic for YFV, and most of them were travelling for tourism and business. For the individuals who are traveling to areas with high-risk for malaria, more proactive approach might be required in case of younger age travelers, longer duration, and travel purpose of providing service to minimize the risk of malaria infection.
Africa, Eastern ; Africa, Western ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Asia ; Cohort Studies ; Commerce ; Communicable Diseases ; Hepatitis A ; Immunity, Innate ; Korea* ; Malaria ; Prescriptions* ; Retrospective Studies ; South America ; Travel Medicine ; Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines ; Vaccination* ; Vaccines ; Yellow Fever Vaccine ; Yellow Fever*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between cultural competency and the importance of nurses' qualities perceived by undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: Researchers developed two tools for this study after reviewing the related literature and conducting research team workshops: questionnaire of cultural competency and the importance of nurses' qualities. 200 nursing students were recruited in convenient sampling to respond to these questionnaires. Of nurses' 10 qualities, major affecting factors on the cultural competency were identified by stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The nursing students perceived technical nursing skills and professional nursing knowledge as nurses' most important qualities. However, 'having a passion for patient care', 'demonstrating strong nursing profession's code of ethics??and 'teaching and research ability' were found as significant influencing factors on the variance of the cultural competency. These three factors explained 16% of the total variances of the cultural competency (F=13.98, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The educational strategies to improve cultural nursing competency need to incorporate students' expectations for the professional nurses' roles. Also, further studies need to develop reliable and valid measurement tools for cultural competency
Cultural Competency* ; Cultural Diversity ; Education ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing*

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a rare cause of labyrinthine hydrops. The otologic symptoms of SIH include ear fullness, tinnitus, and hearing loss which can result from labyrinthine hydrops. We report a case of labyrinthine hydrops caused by SIH, confirmed by an audiometric impairment that occurred only when in an upright posture.
Cochlear Aqueduct ; Ear ; Edema* ; Hearing Loss ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Posture ; Tinnitus

PURPOSE: This study aimed to understand current global health education and suggest its future direction for Korean undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: After reviewing literature to identify key concepts applicable to global health nursing curricula, the authors analyzed global health curricula from 98 nursing colleges by using a framework that was developed for this study. RESULTS: Among the 201 nursing colleges, 98 (48.8%) schools offered one or more global health-related courses. The titles of these courses were divided into two categories: Multiculturalism and international nursing. Multicultural courses were offered mainly for freshmen (40.5%) or sophomore students (40.5%), whereas international nursing courses were offered mainly for senior students (35.9%). These courses trained nursing students to be culturally competent in providing nursing care for immigrants or foreign travelers living in South Korea. CONCLUSIONS: It is evident that interest in global health education is growing in South Korea. However, the scope and content of global health education needs to be broadened beyond multiculturalism and international nursing so that it can prepare nursing students to promote global health equity, reduce global health disparities, and work competently with globally-focused organizations.
Cultural Diversity ; Curriculum* ; Education* ; Education, Nursing ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Global Health* ; Healthcare Disparities ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Students, Nursing ; Transcultural Nursing

Lead, one of the most toxic heavy metals, takes longer time to be excreted from the body than other heavy metals. The purpose of this study is, by measuring lead excretion via urine and feces, to find out the effect of vitamin C in lead chelation. Thirty-six rats were randomly assorted into four groups. All 33 rats except for the control group were administered with lead, before orally administered with different doses of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight. The lead excretion levels in urine and feces as well as the survival rate were then measured for each group. The rats with lead administrations (10/13, 76.9%) with lead administrations only, 10/11 rats (90.9%) with lead administrations and low dose of vitamin C, 9/9 rats (100%) with lead administrations and high dose of vitamin C survived. Among the 29 surviving rats, low vitamin C intake group exhibited higher urinary excretion than the lead only group. The urinary excretion level in high dose vitamin C intakegroup was significantly higher than the lead only group. In addition, fecal lead excretion seemed to be increased in the high dose vitamin C intake group, compared to the group with lead administrations only with statistical significance. Through animal experiment, it was found out that administrating high dose of vitamin C accelerated the excretion of lead in body compared to low dose of vitamin C.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Body Weight ; Feces ; Metals, Heavy ; Rats* ; Survival Rate ; Vitamins*