PURPOSE: This study conducted a needs assessment for developing teaching competencies of medical educators by assessing their perceived ability to perform teaching competencies as well as their perceived importance of these competencies. Additionally, this study examined whether there were any differences in needs assessments scores among three faculty groups. METHODS: Hundred and eighteen professors from Dong-A University College of Medicine were surveyed, and the data from 44 professors who answered all the questions were analyzed using IBM SPSS 21. The needs assessment tool measured participants' perceived ability to perform teaching competencies and perceived importance of these competencies. The Borich formula was used to calculate needs assessment scores. RESULTS: The most urgent needs for faculty development were identified for the teaching competencies of "diagnosis and reflection," followed by "test and feedback," and "facilitation." Additionally, two, out of 51, items with the highest needs assessment scores were "developing a thorough course syllabus" and "introducing students to the course syllabus on the first day of class." The assistant professor group scored significantly higher on educational needs related to "facilitation," "affection and concern for students," and "respect for diversity" competencies than the professor group. Furthermore, the educational needs scores for all the teaching competencies except "diagnosis and reflection," "global mindset," and "instructional management" were higher for the assistant professor group than the other two faculty groups. CONCLUSION: Thus, the educational needs assessment scores obtained in this study can be used as criteria for designing and developing faculty development programs for medical educators.
*Education, Medical ; Faculty, Medical/*standards ; Female ; Humans ; *Needs Assessment/standards ; *Professional Competence ; Republic of Korea ; Schools, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Teaching/*standards ; Universities

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop a health needs assessment (HNA) tool for persons with brain disorders and to assess the unmet needs of persons with brain disorders using the developed tool. METHODS: The authors used consensus methods to develop a HNA tool. Using a randomized stratified systematic sampling method adjusted for sex, age, and districts, 57 registered persons (27 severe and 30 mild cases) with brain disorders dwelling in Seoul, South Korea were chosen and medical specialists investigated all of the subjects with the developed tools. RESULTS: The HNA tool for brain disorders we developed included four categories: 1) medical interventions and operations, 2) assistive devices, 3) rehabilitation therapy, and 4) regular follow-up. This study also found that 71.9% of the subjects did not receive appropriate medical care, which implies that the severity of their disability is likely to be exacerbated and permanent, and the loss irrecoverable. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the HNA tool for persons with brain disorders based on unmet needs defined by physicians can be a useful method for evaluating the appropriateness and necessity of medical services offered to the disabled, and it can serve as the norm for providing health care services for disabled persons. Further studies should be undertaken to increase validity and reliability of the tool. Fundamental research investigating the factors generating or affecting the unmet needs is necessary; its results could serve as basis for developing policies to eliminate or alleviate these factors.
Adult ; Aged ; Brain Diseases/*physiopathology ; Disabled Persons/rehabilitation/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Health Services Needs and Demand/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment/*standards

To validate the use of the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) in assessing orthodontic treatment need among 12-13 year-olds in southern China, we determined the threshold value of ICON based on Chinese orthodontists' judgments. The samples consisted of 335 students in grade 7 from 16 randomly selected middle schools in Chengdu, China. Three associate professors provided ICON scores for each participant and the results were compared with the gold standard judgments from 25 experts on treatment needs. Based on the gold standard, 195 casts belonged to the treatment category, while the rest 140 belonged to the no-treatment category. With the international cutoff point of 43, the sensitivity and specificity of the ICON score were 0.29 and 0.98.The best compromise between sensitivity and specificity in Chengdu, compared with the gold standard, was found at a cutoff point of 29, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.88 and 0.83. When used to evaluate the treatment need of 12-13 year-olds in southern China, the international ICON cutoff value did not correspond well with Chinese orthodontists' judgments; a lower cutoff value of 29 offered a greater sensitivity and specificity with respect to expert orthodontists' perception of treatment need.
Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; Data Collection ; Dental Health Surveys ; methods ; standards ; Female ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Needs Assessment ; statistics & numerical data ; Observer Variation ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; standards ; statistics & numerical data ; Reference Values ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the suitability and readability of printed educational materials for patients with hypertension in Korea. METHODS: A total of 33 written educational materials related to hypertension were collected from public health centers, hospitals, and internet web site. Among them, we analyzed 19 materials which fit the inclusion criteria: leaflets (n=9), booklets (n=3), and guide book (n=7). Two trained nurses evaluate the materials using suitability assessment tool (SAM; Doak, Doak, & Root, 1996a) and graded lexical items for teaching Korean (Kim, 2003). RESULTS: Overall, 14 (73.7%) of 19 materials scored adequate, and 5 (26.3%) scored inadequate. On the average, the education materials contained 36.1% to 50.5% of 1st grade reading level words and 12.9% to 21.6% of 4th grade level and over. CONCLUSION: The reading level of the materials was higher than a 6th grade reading level. It is proposed that the written educational materials should be developed by health professionals according to suitability and quality by taking the target group's literacy capacity into consideration.
Cultural Diversity ; Humans ; Hypertension/*prevention & control/psychology ; Needs Assessment ; *Pamphlets ; Patient Education as Topic/*methods/standards ; Reading ; Teaching Materials/*standards

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to explore the functional status of elderly residents and to analyze time use, and finally identify factors to predict nursing care needs in relation to functional status and health related variables. METHODS: In this study a descriptive-correlational design was used. Functional status of participants was obtained through interviews, and nursing care time was examined using a 1 min time-motion study with a standardized instrument developed by Korea Long-Term Care Planning Committee (2005). RESULTS: The mean total functional score was 65 (range 28-125) and mean total nursing care time was 144.15 min per day. There were significant positive relationships between total nursing care time, marital status, back pain, dementia, and vision impairment. Multiple regression analyses showed that a liner combination of number of illnesses, types of primary disease, ADL, IADL, cognitive function, nursing demand, and rehabilitation demand explained 42.8% of variance of total nursing time. ADL (beta=-.533) was the most significant predictor of nursing service need. CONCLUSION: Identifying factors that result in variations of service need has implications for adequate nursing service, estimation of optimum nurse to patient ratio, quality of care and patient safety.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; *Health Services Needs and Demand ; Health Status ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; *Needs Assessment ; *Nursing Homes ; *Nursing Services/standards ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Quality of Health Care ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the knowledge and learning needs of chemotherapy in gynecological cancer patients. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 103 gynecological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy from April 2005 to August 2005. Data was collected using a questionnaire about knowledge and learning needs of chemotherapy. The data was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient using SAS. RESULT: Average scores of knowledge and learning needs of general treatment and care were 2.74, and 3.30 respectively. Average score of knowledge and learning needs of chemotherapy were 2.54, and 3.23 respectively. Learning needs of general treatment and care and of chemotherapy were significantly different in relation to marital status, educational level, family support, the operation, and the amount of chemotherapy received. Items with the highest level of learning needs were the symptoms of recurring illness of general treatment, and minimizing side effects of chemotherapy. There were a negative correlation between knowledge and learning needs on general treatment and a positive correlation between knowledge and learning needs on chemothearpy but there were not significant statistically. CONCLUSION: The level of learning needs related to cancer treatment was high, whereas, that of knowledge was low. Therefore, when designing an educational program for gynecological cancer patients, understanding of learning needs is necessary. Also, consideration of a patient's characteristics, and a systematic and detailed educational program should be provided.
Adult ; Aged ; Demography ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female/*drug therapy/psychology ; Humans ; *Knowledge ; *Learning ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment ; *Patient Education as Topic ; Program Development/standards ; Questionnaires ; Translating

PURPOSE: Korean American women have twice the rate of cervical cancer than white women and demonstrate low rates in participation in cervical cancer screening. This study was to describe the perceptions about cervical cancer and factors related to cervical cancer screening among Korean American women. METHOD: Focus group methods. RESULT: Five themes emerged. First, knowledge about cervical cancer; misconceptions about cervical cancer, its causes, reproductive anatomy and the treatment Second, perceived meanings of having cervical cancer; most of the women felt that cervical cancer represented a loss of femininity and existential value of womanhood. Third, knowledge about cervical cancer screening ; regular medical check-ups were necessary for early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. Forth, experiences and perceived meanings of cervical cancer screening; the participants expressed their feelings; embarrassment, fear, shame and shyness. Fifth, practices of cervical cancer screening; various intervals in participating in cervical cancer screening. But they mentioned several deterrents, language, insurance, time constraint, embarrassment, fear of the screening results, misbelief about susceptibility, lack of health prevention behavior, and lack of information written in Korean. CONCLUSION: Results emphasize the critical need for culturally appropriate health education to encourage participation of Korean American women in cervical cancer screening.
Adult ; Aged ; *Asian Americans/education/ethnology/statistics & numerical data ; Communication Barriers ; Existentialism/psychology ; Fear/psychology ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Gender Identity ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea/ethnology ; *Mass Screening/psychology/utilization ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/*ethnology/statistics & numerical data ; Patient Education as Topic/standards ; Qualitative Research ; Questionnaires ; Shame ; Shyness ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*diagnosis/ethnology ; *Vaginal Smears/psychology/utilization ; Washington/epidemiology

PURPOSE: The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) among community-dwelling older women in Korea is not well known. This study examined the prevalence of UI and UI-related knowledge among community-dwelling Korean women aged 55 and over. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was conducted. Data were collected from 276 women aged 55 and over in a metropolitan city using a structured questionnaire. RESULT: Of 276 respondents, 28.3% (n = 78) reported experiencing UI. More than 50% of respondents incorrectly agreed with the statement that UI is the result of normal aging, with only 20.9% realizing that there is an exercise that can control urine leaks when one coughs, sneezes, or laughs. Older women who had sought treatment had higher mean score for UI-related knowledge. CONCLUSION: This study revealed substantial misconception about UI among community dwelling older women, demonstrating that comprehensive educational programs need to be developed to increase knowledge of UI.
Age Distribution ; *Aged/psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Attitude to Health ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Educational Status ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment ; Patient Education as Topic/*standards ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Residence Characteristics ; Risk Factors ; Self Care ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data ; *Urinary Incontinence/epidemiology/etiology/prevention & control ; Women/*education/psychology

PURPOSE: With a sample of cognitively impaired nursing home residents and nursing staff, the following were examined 1) the proportion and nature of aggressive behavior, 2) the frequency and types of aggressive behavior, 3) the difference between the residents who demonstrate aggressive behavior and those who do not demonstrate aggressive behavior (age, mental status, functional status, and pain, length of nursing home stay), and 4) nursing staff responses to aggressive behavior by residents. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. Data were collected from cognitively impaired nursing home residents (N=205) and nursing staff (N=60) at two nursing homes using Ryden Aggression Scale I and II, Mini-Mental State Exam, Modified Barthel Index, Verbal Descriptor Scale, and aggressive behavior management questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including t-test. RESULTS: About 62.9% residents were found to be aggressive and 38.5% were both physically and verbally aggressive. Pushing, making threatening gestures, hitting, slapping, cursing/obscene/vulgar languages, making verbal threats were occurred frequently. Aggressive residents were significantly older, had more cognitive impairment, had more pain, and stayed longer in the nursing home when compared with non-aggressive residents. Considerable proportion of nursing staff responded to aggressive behaviors inadequately. CONCLUSION: Aggressive behavior among cognitively impaired nursing home residents is prevalent thus needs to be prevented and reduced. Along with environmental modification, educational programs for nursing staff and family caregivers need to be developed and implemented so that they can have extensive knowledge and skills to manage aggressive behaviors.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Aggression/psychology ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Case-Control Studies ; Clinical Competence/standards ; Cognition Disorders/*complications/nursing ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Nursing, Continuing ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; Geriatric Nursing/education/organization & administration ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Inservice Training ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Mental Competency ; *Nursing Homes ; Nursing Staff/education/psychology ; Prevalence ; Psychomotor Agitation/epidemiology/*etiology/prevention & control/psychology ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

The involvement of health-care professionals in tobacco-control activities is essential to prevent smoking-related morbidity and mortality. The purposes of this predictive correlational study were to examine tobacco-control activities and to identify the predictors of such activities of community health practitioners (CHPs). Of the 1,813 members of the Korean Association of CHP, 1,247 participated in this study. A mailed survey was conducted to collect data. The majority of CHPs supported tobacco-control policies and recognized tobacco-control activities as an important role for them. Only 44.3% of CHPs were confident in their knowledge and skills regarding tobacco-control activities, and only 30.8% had received professional tobacco-control education. While the majority of the CHPs "asked, advised, and assessed"their clients, only a small number "assisted or arranged". The tobacco-control activities of CHPs were predicted by their attitude toward it, age, experience of tobacco-control education, educational level, and general perception of the risk of smoking; these variables accounted 13.5% of variance in the tobacco-control activities of CHPs. These findings provide the basis for developing a continuing education program for CHPs. CHPs should be encouraged to integrate tobacco-control activities into their routine practice, and CHP education programs should be adjusted to increase the time spent on the tobacco-control intervention techniques.
Adult ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; *Attitude of Health Personnel ; Clinical Competence/standards ; Community Health Nursing/education/*organization & administration ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Nursing, Continuing/standards ; Educational Status ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment ; *Nurse's Role ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Nursing Staff/education/organization & administration/*psychology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Self Efficacy ; Smoking/*prevention & control ; Smoking Cessation