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: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing nurses' clinical decision making focusing on critical thinking disposition. METHODS: The subjects of this study consisted of 505 nurses working at one of the general hospitals located in Seoul. Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire between December 2006 and January 2007. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS Win 14.0. RESULTS: The mean scores of critical thinking disposition and clinical decision making were 99.10 and 134.32 respectively. Clinical decision making scores were significantly higher in groups under continuing education, with a master or higher degree, with clinical experience more than 5 years, or with experts. Critical thinking disposition and its subscales have a significant correlation with clinical decision making. Intellectual eagerness/curiosity, prudence, clinical experience, intellectual honesty, self-confidence, and healthy skepticism were important factors influencing clinical decision making(adjusted R2=33%). CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that various strategies such as retaining experienced nurses, encouraging them to continue with education and enhancing critical thinking disposition are warranted for development of clinical decision making.
Adult ; Clinical Competence ; *Decision Making ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Questionnaires ; Thinking

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

Purpose: This study aimed to compare breast milk minerals between mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and healthy mothers. Methods: This study was a short-term prospective study to determine the difference in milk minerals of 30 GDM mothers and 30 healthy mothers. Mineral concentrations in breast milk were measured for Na, K, Ca, Mg, and P. The first breast milk was collected on the 5th day after childbirth, while the second one was collected on the 14th day. For the variation of mineral content of breast milk over time between groups, generalized estimation equations were used. Results: The mean age of the GDM group and healthy mother group was 32.56 and 31.17 years old, respectively. Na was significantly higher in GDM mother group (Wild χ2 = 4.35, p = .037) over time (Wild χ2 = 21.59, p < .001), and Ca was significantly higher in healthy mother group (Wild χ 2 = 1.77, p = .018) over time (Wild χ 2 = 19.09, p < .001). Mg, P, and K showed a significant difference in time (Wild χ2 = 18.12, p < .001; Wild χ2 = 7.73, p = .005; Wild χ2 = 7.10, p = .008). P was significantly higher in GDM mother group on 5th day of delivery (t = 2.08, p = .042). Conclusion There was a difference in the mineral composition of breast milk between GDM mothers and healthy mothers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and apply intervention programs such as effective prenatal blood sugar management and postpartum breast massage considering the characteristics of GDM mothers.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare breast milk minerals between mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and healthy mothers. Methods: This study was a short-term prospective study to determine the difference in milk minerals of 30 GDM mothers and 30 healthy mothers. Mineral concentrations in breast milk were measured for Na, K, Ca, Mg, and P. The first breast milk was collected on the 5th day after childbirth, while the second one was collected on the 14th day. For the variation of mineral content of breast milk over time between groups, generalized estimation equations were used. Results: The mean age of the GDM group and healthy mother group was 32.56 and 31.17 years old, respectively. Na was significantly higher in GDM mother group (Wild χ2 = 4.35, p = .037) over time (Wild χ2 = 21.59, p < .001), and Ca was significantly higher in healthy mother group (Wild χ 2 = 1.77, p = .018) over time (Wild χ 2 = 19.09, p < .001). Mg, P, and K showed a significant difference in time (Wild χ2 = 18.12, p < .001; Wild χ2 = 7.73, p = .005; Wild χ2 = 7.10, p = .008). P was significantly higher in GDM mother group on 5th day of delivery (t = 2.08, p = .042). Conclusion There was a difference in the mineral composition of breast milk between GDM mothers and healthy mothers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and apply intervention programs such as effective prenatal blood sugar management and postpartum breast massage considering the characteristics of GDM mothers.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the predictors of physical activity between urban and rural dwelling Korean older adults. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. A self-report questionnaire or face to face interviews were used to collect data from 336 older adults (urban: 129, rural: 207) who visited public health centers or welfare centers in 2008. RESULTS: About half of the participants (urban: 50.4%, rural: 47.3%) were classified as the minimally active group. Cognitive function (odds ratio [OR]=1.106, p=.004) and loneliness (OR=0.965, p=.044) were predicting factors for physical activity in rural elderly. Age (OR=0.326, p=.037), gender (OR=2.841, p=.021) and depression (OR=0.799, p<.001) were significant factors predicting physical activity in urban elders. CONCLUSION: These findings provide information that is relevant in designing interventions to enhance physical activity in older adults. There is a need to develop effective mutifaceted physical activity interventions that include reducing psychological barriers such as depression, loneliness.
Activities of Daily Living ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognition ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/etiology ; *Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Loneliness ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Urban Population

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the degree of senile macular degeneration in elders aged 65 or older and identify factors associated with senile macular degeneration in elders within communities. METHODS: Participants in this cross-sectional descriptive study were 388 elders without cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Data were collected through face to face interviews using a questionnaire in an urban area from June 2010 to December 2011. To detect senile macular degeneration, the participants' self-tests were carried out with Amsler grid testing. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of health behavior and knowledge about eye health on senile macular degeneration. RESULTS: The proportion of participants with senile macular degeneration was 11.6%. Factors that significantly increased the risk of senile macular degeneration included eye discomfort and history of ophthalmic examination (p<.05). Factors that significantly decreased the risk of senile macular degeneration included regular change of magnifiers, non-use of magnifiers, and knowledge about preventive effects of non-smoking and antioxidant vitamin intake on senile macular degeneration (p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that programs for preventing senile macular degeneration were necessary for elders within communities and the results of this study can be used for developing those programs.
Aged ; Cataract ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Eye ; Glaucoma ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Macular Degeneration ; Vitamins ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of social networks among registered nurses in acute nursing care units. Methods: This study used a survey design. Four nursing units from two acute hospitals were selected using a convenience method, and 83 nurses from those nursing units participated in the study in July 2022. The positive influences among nurses included friendship, collaboration, advice, and referent networks, and the negative influences included avoidance and bullying networks. Using the NetMiner program, the k-means clustering technique was applied to create groups of nodes with similar characteristics. The general characteristics of the participants were analyzed by mean, standard deviation, frequency, and ANOVA or chi-squared test. Results: As a result of dividing the 83 nurse participants into four clusters, positive influencers, silent peers, unwelcome peers, and active bullies were identified. Positive influence group nurses were frequently mentioned in the friendship, collaboration, advice, and referent networks. On the other hand, nurses in the unwelcome group and the active bullying group were frequently mentioned in the avoidance and bullying networks. Conclusion Social networks that have a positive or negative impact on nursing performance are created through different relationships between nurses. Nurse managers can use the findings to create a more supportive and collaborative environment. Further research is needed to develop intervention programs to improve interactions and relationships between fellow nurses.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting prenatal care (PNC) by married immigrant women. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of "Reproductive Health Status of Married Immigrant Women and Policy Directions in Korea" by the Korea Institute for Health & Social Affairs. The participants were 727 married immigrant women from Asia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi2 test and logistic regression with SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: Of the 727 women interviewed, 91.7% visited prenatal clinic. However, first time for PNC was late and total number of PNC was lower (9.07) than the average of Korean women. Timing and number of PNC in rural area were later and fewer than those in urban area. PNC by these women was significantly lower in those who had lived in Korea longer and for those who the employed. However, PNC was significantly higher in those who attended health education during pregnancy and had not experienced premature delivery. Those who attended health education during pregnancy (OR=2.84, CI=1.49~5.40) or were unemployed (OR=0.51, CI=0.26~0.99) were more likely to have PNC. CONCLUSION: These findings illustrate the need to strengthen the public information and provide special services to their demands about PNC for married immigrant women.
Asia ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the characteristics of organizational structure and occupational satisfaction among nurses in general hospital and small to medium-sized hospital and to investigate the affecting factors on their occupational satisfaction. METHODS: The study was based on the cross-sectional descriptive survey. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from 343 nurses between June and July, 2010. Data were analyzed by chi2-test, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program. RESULTS: Hierarchical structure was dominant in general hospital whereas relationship was highly valued in small to medium-sized hospital. Occupational satisfaction was positively correlated with work environment built on relationship, innovation and tasks. Factors significantly influencing on occupational satisfaction in general hospital included innovative work environment, nurses' income and their health status (R2=40.3%). For the small to medium-sized hospital, they included innovative work environment, satisfaction in life, tasks and professionalism (R2=40.4%). CONCLUSION: Organizational structure, especially innovative work environment and relationship-oriented attitude had a significant influence on nurses' occupational satisfaction. Therefore, nursing administrators have to develop and consider organizational structure to improve occupational satisfaction.
Administrative Personnel ; Health Facility Size ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Organizational Culture ; Surveys and Questionnaires