PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality of reports on observational studies published in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN). METHODS: Forty-six studies using cross-sectional designs published in KJWHN from January 2011 to June 2013 were selected for analysis. Selected articles were reviewed and evaluated by three reviewers using the 22 items of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. As some of 22 items had more than one check point, further broken down, 34 checklist items were used for analysis. RESULTS: Overall, the reviewed studies provided sufficient descriptions for many STROBE items. Seven of the 34 items were found to be not applicable, and 15 of the remaining 27 items (55.5%) were evaluated as 'sufficient' in reporting. Only one study included a flow diagram illustrating participation and this lack of flow diagram was the weakest area of reporting in this review. CONCLUSION: Clearer reporting of cross-sectional studies can be attained by attention to vulnerable areas of reporting, such as including a flow diagram of participants, descriptions of sources of bias and reason for non-participation, and describing limitations of the study. Issues regarding the application of STROBE statement items should be actively discussed in order to aid future revision and clarification of items included in STROBE statement.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Checklist ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Epidemiology ; Nursing* ; Women's Health*

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate quality of reports of non-randomized controlled quasi-experimental study articles published in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN). METHODS: A search was done for experimental studies assessing intervention effects among all articles published in the KJWHNfrom 2008 to 2013. Original articles were reviewed and analyzed according to the 22 checklist items of the guidelines for Transparent Reporting for Evaluations with Non-randomized Designs (TREND). RESULTS: Thirty-five articles on experimental studies were identified. The evaluation of the quality of reporting in these experimental studies found that there was a wide variety in the level of satisfying the TREND checklist. In particular, according to TREND topics, low levels of reporting quality were found for "title & abstract (only for information on how units were allocated to the intervention)", "outcomes in methods", "assignment in methods", "blinding in methods", "recruitment in results", "baseline data in results", "interpretation in discussion (especially intervention mechanism and success or barriers), "generalizability in discussion". CONCLUSION: Results indicate that adherence to TREND guidelines varied in experimental studies published in the KJWHN suggesting the recommendation that for higher levels of complete reporting, TREND guidelines be used in reports on experimental studies.
Checklist ; Female ; Humans ; Clinical Trial* ; Methods ; Nursing Research ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Women's Health*

PURPOSE: This research was aimed to analyze the reports of qualitative researches published in Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN). METHODS: Twenty qualitative researches using in-depth interviews or focus groups published in KJWHN during from 2002 to 2011 were selected for analysis. Selected reports were analyzed by consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ), which were a reporting guideline for qualitative researches, and consisted of thirty two items and three domains, i.e., (1) research team and reflexivity, (2) study design, and (3) data analysis and reporting. RESULTS: Personal characteristics related to credentials, gender and interviewer's bias or assumption were less reported than other items in the 1st domain. In the 2nd domain, descriptions such as a presence of non-participants, pilot test for interview guide development, and transcript return to participants were less reported than other items. In the 3rd domain, items related to number of data coder, participants checking of the finding, and clarity of minor themes were less reported than other items. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that COREQ is a useful guideline for reporting of qualitative studies. From these results, we suggest that full items of COREQ should be considered and described when researchers report qualitative research.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Reflex ; Statistics as Topic ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: To develop Korean Menstrual Symptom Scale (KMSS) for university students and test its reliability and validity. METHODS: The scale was developed by intensive literature review, development of preliminary items, verification of content validity, development of secondary items, verification of construct validity, and extraction of final items. Thirty-nine items were constructed. Data for validity and reliability testing were collected with a questionnaire survey from 391 university students. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and reliability coefficients (Cronbach's α) with the SPSS program. RESULTS: There were 37 final items which were sorted into six factors: ‘negative affection (8 items)’, ‘change of activity level (7 items)’, ‘physical symptom (9 items)’, ‘mood change (9 items)’, ‘change in concentration level (4 items)’, and ‘body water retention (5 items)’. The cumulative percent of variance was 63.3%. Regarding the reliability of the scale, its Cronbach's α was 0.96. Cronbach's α values for these factors ranged from 0.75 to 0.91. CONCLUSION: The KMSS demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability. Repeated research is needed to measure menstrual symptom experienced by women of variable ages.
Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Water ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To explore trends of women's health in nursing research by analyzing articles on women aged 13 years or older that were published in Korean Journal for Women Health Nursing from 2010 to 2015. METHODS: Seven focus areas were identified and modified to reflect integrative conceptual models of women's health: maternity care, menstrual concerns, health problems in women, gender influences on health risks, social influences on women's health, women and health care policy, and sexual health and violence against women. A total of 383 studies were analyzed according to these seven focus areas. RESULTS: Health problems in women, maternity care, and societal influences on women's health were the most widely studied topics in Korean women's health. There was increased attention to societal influences on women's health and gender influences on health risk. However, these areas are still limited in nursing research. Only 1% of these studies were in area of women's health policy. CONCLUSION: More studies in area of sexual health and violence against women are needed. Studies in area of women and health care policy are also needed to improve women's health in Korea.
Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing Research ; Nursing* ; Reproductive Health ; Violence ; Women's Health*