PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine health problems experienced by workers in special employment relationships (WSER) and identify coping strategies used when such problems occur.METHODS: This qualitative study used the focus group interview method. Thirteen study participants included five home-visit tutors, five insurance salespersons, and three credit card recruiters. The interviews were conducted from November 2018 through January 2019, with each occupational group interview lasting about 2 hours. Analysis based on phenomenological research was independently performed by two researchers.RESULTS: Most participants had common health problems involving vocal cord symptoms, and stress related to emotional labor and traffic accidents. The unique health problems included cystitis, musculoskeletal, and digestive symptoms in home-visit tutors; reduced vision and hearing in insurance salespersons; and mental distress in credit card recruiters. There was no protection system for their health coverage, and the company emphasized their self-employed status to avoid taking responsibility for them. Twelve participants did not purchase occupational accident insurance owing to both not having adequate information and economic burden concerning premium status.CONCLUSION: WSER experienced both physical and mental health problems. These problems were caused by their unstable employment status, and the social security system for their coverage being non-functioning.
Accidents, Occupational ; Accidents, Traffic ; Cystitis ; Employment ; Focus Groups ; Hearing ; Humans ; Insurance ; Mental Health ; Methods ; Occupational Groups ; Occupational Health ; Qualitative Research ; Social Security ; Vision, Low ; Vocal Cords

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine health problems experienced by workers in special employment relationships (WSER) and identify coping strategies used when such problems occur. METHODS: This qualitative study used the focus group interview method. Thirteen study participants included five home-visit tutors, five insurance salespersons, and three credit card recruiters. The interviews were conducted from November 2018 through January 2019, with each occupational group interview lasting about 2 hours. Analysis based on phenomenological research was independently performed by two researchers. RESULTS: Most participants had common health problems involving vocal cord symptoms, and stress related to emotional labor and traffic accidents. The unique health problems included cystitis, musculoskeletal, and digestive symptoms in home-visit tutors; reduced vision and hearing in insurance salespersons; and mental distress in credit card recruiters. There was no protection system for their health coverage, and the company emphasized their self-employed status to avoid taking responsibility for them. Twelve participants did not purchase occupational accident insurance owing to both not having adequate information and economic burden concerning premium status. CONCLUSION WSER experienced both physical and mental health problems. These problems were caused by their unstable employment status, and the social security system for their coverage being non-functioning.

Background: This study explores the pathways of nurse turnover in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and its underlying conditions in Korea. Although the factors of staying or leaving of nurses in LTCHs have been reported, few studies have examined the trajectory and conditions of nurses staying in and leaving LTCHs. Methods: A qualitative study design with a grounded theory approach was conducted. Data were collected in one-to-one interviews. Purposive and theoretical sampling led to the inclusion of 20 registered nurses from 15 LTCHs in South Korea. Results: Seeking work-life balance was the core category of the nurses' turnover pathway. The consequences of the nurses' turnover pathway were categorized into three groups: thriving, surviving, and leaving. Thriving nurses found meaning in their work, fostered good relationships, and saw opportunities for growth. Surviving nurses were enduring their jobs in LTCHs, having a work-life balance, and supportive nursing leaders. Leaving group nurses wished to leave LTCHs due to a lack of professional growth, unappealing work, continued conflict, and social stigma. Conclusion This study provided the trajectory and conditions for nurses to enter, stay, move, or leave. Understanding the pathways for staying or leaving can be used as a strategy for successful retention of registered nurses in LTCHs.

Purpose: This scoping review aimed to identify application methods, effectiveness, facilitating factors, and obstacles to clinical supervision for nurses in maternal and child health and to understand its discriminatory characteristics compared to mentoring. Methods: This study was based on the scoping review methodology and consisted of six stages: (1) identifying research questions; (2) identifying relevant studies (search strategy); (3) study selection; (4) charting of the data; (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results; and (6) consultation. From April to July 2022, 1,323 studies were searched in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Open Gray, and finally eleven studies were selected through the literature selection process. Results: Because clinical supervision aimed to strengthen the professional capabilities of nurses, reflective practice was applied. However, mentoring was designed to acquire knowledge or skills that can be applied directly in practice. Therefore, indicators to measure the effects of clinical supervision consisted of psychosocial factors, such as job satisfaction and exhaustion, but the effects of mentoring were evaluated primarily using knowledge levels and skills. The model, which is applied mainly in clinical supervision, reflects the restorative function. When applying clinical supervision and mentoring, listening, supportive environment, and accessibility were identified as facilitating factors, while criticism, lack of time and space, and excessive workload were identified as obstacles. Conclusions Time and space must be secured to provide effective clinical supervision. The confidentiality of the supervisee must be guaranteed, and sufficient information must be provided in advance so that nurses can accurately recognize the clinical supervision process. Finally, a policy for institutionalizing clinical supervision should be supported to ensure its applicability and sustainability.

Background: Mpox is a viral illness with a characteristic skin rash caused by the monkeypox virus. In 2022, Mpox spread throughout the world, and an epidemic through domestic transmission started in South Korea in early 2023. This study aimed to summarize the clinical features of Mpox patients in South Korea. Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study conducted at four hospitals in South Korea. All adult patients diagnosed with Mpox who were admitted to the study hospitals between June 1, 2022 and May 26, 2023 and were discharged by June 30, 2023 were reviewed. Results: Sixty patients were included, accounting for 65.9% of Mpox cases reported in South Korea during the study period. Median age was 32 years and 97% (58/60) of patients were male. In total, 85% (51/60) of patients reported their sexual orientation as homosexual or bisexual. The most common route of transmission was sexual or close contact (55/60). Every patient had a skin rash and 88% (53/60) had constitutional symptoms. In total, 42% (25/60) of patients had human immunodeficiency virus and 25% (15/60) had concomitant sexually transmitted infections. Severe manifestations of Mpox were identified in only two patients. Conclusion Mpox patients in South Korea were mainly young adult males and were infected through sexual contact. The clinical outcomes were favorable.