PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health problem related to increased risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether recommended levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) decrease the risk of MetS in a community-based prospective cohort study (Ansung and Ansan cohort).MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3910 adults (1890 men, 2020 women) without MetS examined in 2001–2002 (baseline) were included in this study and followed up from 2013 to 2014. We measured LTPA energy expenditure using the standard metabolic equivalent value [metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-h/wk]. Individuals were categorized into five groups (physically inactive, 0.1 to <7.5, 7.5 to <15.0, 15.0 to <22.5, 22.5 to <40.0, and ≥40.0 MET-h/wk).RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 11.8 years. Among the cohort, 482 men (25.5%) and 541 women (26.8%) were diagnosed with newly developed MetS. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed a 4.4% lower MetS risk among those performing two to three times the recommended minimum of 7.5 MET-h/wk [multivariate relative risk (RR), 0.956; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.654–1.398] and a 21.9% lower risk among those performing three to four times the physical activity minimum (multivariate RR, 0.781; 95% CI, 0.574–1.063). This association was only significant in females performing three to four times the minimum (crude RR, 0.655; 95% CI, 0.432–0.994).CONCLUSION: We noted that physical activity at more than 2 times the recommended minimum prevents MetS. Healthcare professionals should encourage inactive adults to be physically active during their leisure time to take advantage of its health benefits.
Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Leisure Activities ; Male ; Metabolic Equivalent ; Motor Activity ; Prospective Studies ; Public Health

PURPOSE: This descriptive study aimed to explore the effects of bullying, health promotion lifestyles, and physical symptoms on the occupational stress of new nurses in general hospitals. METHODS: The participants of this study were 157 new nurses in fivegeneral hospitals with 100 to 399 beds in Gyeonggi-do. Data were collected from January to February, 2018, using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: A total of 60.5% of the participants experienced bullying, and 38.2% experienced bullying more than 10 times a month. The perceived severity of bullying was severe (32.4%) and the nurses'first bullying experience began within the first six months (47.7%). Their occupational stress was scored 3.1. The regression model for occupational stressors was significant (F=23.86, p < .001), and the total explanatory power was 46.8%. The variables affecting occupational stress were bullying awareness (β=−.30, p < .001), preceptor satisfaction (β=−.30, p < .001), and health promotion lifestyles (β=−.26, p=.001). CONCLUSION: It is important to reduce the incidence of bullying in order to help new nurses with high occupational stress. Stress management programs are needed to improve relationships between new nurses and preceptors and to encourage their health promotion lifestyles.
Bullying ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Promotion ; Hospitals, General ; Incidence ; Life Style

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess hand hygiene (HH) compliance among visitors at a long-term care hospital in South Korea. METHODS: The study was conducted at a 502-bed long-term care hospital located in Gyeonggi-do Province. From July 1 to August 15, 2017, including more than 6 weekends and one holiday, a trained observer covertly assessed visitors' HH at all five units (360 beds in total) of the study hospital building until the completion of 1,000 HH opportunities (i.e., 200 opportunities per unit). The modified World Health Organization (WHO) HH observation form was used. Instead of professional categories and the “before clean/aseptic procedure” moment, the estimated age range for each visitor were recorded in four categories: children (<14 years old), adolescents (14~18), adults (19~64), and the elderly (≥65). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. RESULTS: A total of 1,000 HH opportunities were observed from 766 visitors (an average of 1.31 per visitor) and the overall HH compliance rate was 20.3%. Overall, 53.7% of the HH cases were performed with soap and water. Among the 4 HH moments, the “after body fluid exposure risk” moment showed the highest compliance rate (83.5%); 93.9% used soap and water. The most commonly exposed potential body fluid among visitors was saliva (48.1%). CONCLUSION: For hospital visitors in long-term care hospitals, HH education programs including HH moments need to be developed and implemented. Further studies are necessary to evaluate visitors' HH compliance in various hospital settings and find the related variables influencing visitors' HH.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Fluids ; Child ; Compliance ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand Hygiene ; Hand ; Holidays ; Humans ; Korea ; Long-Term Care ; Observational Study ; Saliva ; Soaps ; Visitors to Patients ; Water ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: This study tries to test mediating effects of hope and therapeutic relationship in the relation between general social functions and mental health recovery of community people with mental illness. METHODS: This study was carried out in a cross-sectional research design. The participants included 217 people with mental illnesses who were enrolled at eight Mental Health Welfare Centers in the Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected from February to May, 2018. The collected data were analyzed using a regression analysis, and SPSS PROCESS macro was used to test the mediating effects. RESULTS: This study analyzed the direct effects of general social functions on the hope, therapeutic relationship and mental health recovery. And general social functions had indirect effects on their mental health recovery via hope and therapeutic relationship. Both hope and therapeutic relationship had dual mediating effects in the influence of general social functions on mental health recovery. CONCLUSION: The role of hope and therapeutic relationship in the mental health recovery of community people with mental illness is important, and it is confirmed that hope is a powerful factor influencing mental health recovery.
Gyeonggi-do ; Hope ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Mentally Ill Persons ; Negotiating ; Professional-Patient Relations ; Research Design ; Social Adjustment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency, perceived importance and competence of pediatric emergency nursing practice (PENP) in nurses who cared for pediatric patients in the emergency department. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study analyzed 175 emergency department nurses caring for pediatric patients at 7 university hospitals with more than 500 beds, located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The measurement tool was modified from the Classification of Standard Nursing Activities to measure the frequency, importance of PENP, and nursing competence. It comprised 143 items in 16 domains of PENP. RESULTS: The most frequent nursing practice was the domain of ‘nursing records and environmental management’ and the least frequent practice was the ‘research and consulting’ domain. The nursing care domain perceived to be most important by nurses was ‘specialized intensive nursing care’. The nursing care domain with the highest level of nursing competence was ‘hygiene care’, and the domain with the least level of nursing competence was the ‘research and consulting’. CONCLUSION: These results will be utilized as basic data for future pediatric emergency nursing education initiatives and for establishing priorities of nursing policy to improve health care for children admitted to the emergency department.
Child ; Child Care ; Classification ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Emergencies ; Emergency Nursing ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Nurse's Role ; Nursing Care ; Nursing ; Professional Competence ; Seoul

Since 2000, large amounts of rabies bait vaccine have been distributed in two provinces where raccoon dog-mediated rabies has occurred. A total of 146 raccoon dogs were caught in Gangwon and Gyeonggi Provinces from January 2017 to June 2018, and raccoon dog blood samples were collected. Of the 146 raccoon dogs, 13.7% (20/146) had rabies antibodies. In Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, the rate of rabies antibody was 8.5% (5/59) and 17.2% (15/87), respectively. Considering these results, it would be desirable to improve the distribution method or use a new bait vaccine to prevent animal rabies in South Korea.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Methods ; Rabies ; Raccoon Dogs ; Raccoons

This study aimed to examine nutrition care management for in-patients with dysphagia and to evaluate knowledge on nutrition care related to dysphagia among dietitians in clinical settings. A total of 554 questionnaires were distributed to dietitians at hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in Korea, and 147 responses were used for data analysis after excluding responses with significant missing data. Study participants worked at general hospitals (37.2%), long-term care hospitals (24.3%), hospitals (19.2%), and tertiary hospitals (11.5%). Prior education and training related to dysphagia was received by 69.9% of the respondents. The percentage of hospitals that had diet guidelines for dysphagia was 68.0%. Dysphagia diets of 2 levels and 3 levels were provided in 55.1% and 34.7% of the hospitals, respectively. Overall 74.7% of the dietitians responded that they provided information on dysphagia diets to in-patients and caregivers, but only 45.7% of dietitians did so in the long-term care hospitals. Among the respondents who used commercial thickening agents, 77.2% used only one type of commercial thickening agent. Patients or caregivers (75.7%) or nurses (34.5%) were reported to modify viscosity of liquid. Dietitians showed low levels of knowledge on nutrition care related to dysphagia (a mean of 5.14 based on possible scores from 0 to 10 points). To promote nutritional consumption and prevent malnutrition and aspiration, hospitals need the standardized diet guidelines, and dietitians should improve their expertise in nutritional care for patients with dysphagia.
Caregivers ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diet ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Long-Term Care ; Malnutrition ; Nutritionists ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Viscosity

PURPOSE: This study examined the mediating effects of self-esteem and resilience on the relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life in people with schizophrenia.METHODS: The participants were 123 people with schizophrenia (mean age = 41.87 years; 62.6% men) recruited from Soonchunhyang university hospital, a mental health center, and daytime rehabilitation facilities located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. Using a cross-sectional survey, participants completed structured questionnaires with psychometric adequacy. The regression method of Baron and Kenny was used to test the mediating effects of self-esteem and resilience on the relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life.RESULTS: Self-esteem and resilience were found to be full and partial mediators, respectively, in the relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life.CONCLUSION: The findings of this study imply that effective future intervention strategies should target improvements in self-esteem and resilience to reduce the negative impact of internalized stigma on the quality of life of people with schizophrenia.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Methods ; Negotiating ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation ; Resilience, Psychological ; Schizophrenia ; Seoul ; Social Stigma

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of hospital ethical climate and nursing professionalism on patient safety management activity by nurses.METHODS: A cross-sectional correlation study design was used. Participants included 142 nurses from two tertiary hospitals in Seoul and Gyunggi-do, South Korea. Data were collected in April and May 2019 using self-report questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple liner regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 21.0.RESULTS: The patient safety management activity correlated positively with hospital ethical climate (r=.32, p < .001) and nursing professionalism (r=.40, p < .001). The patient safety management activity was the factor that most influenced nursing professionalism and position, explaining 21% of the variance (F=12.06, p < .001).CONCLUSION: It is necessary to provide education on professionalism. It is necessary to continuously provide job education and training to nurture competence and quality in professional nurses.
Climate ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Competency ; Nursing ; Patient Safety ; Professionalism ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effect of spouses participating in health coaching on stage of the change, health behaviors, and physiological indicators among male office workers with cardiocerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and compare the findings with trainers who provided health coaching only to workers.METHODS: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from a manufacturing research and development company in the city of Gyeonggi province. The health coaching program for the experimental group (n=26) included individual counseling sessions according to workers' stage of change, and provision of customized health information materials on CVD prevention to workers and their spouses for 12 weeks through mobile phone and email.RESULTS: After 12 weeks of intervention, the total score for health behavior, and scores on the sub-areas of exercise and health checkups significantly improved in the experimental group, but there were no significant differences in the scores of stage of the change and physical indicators. The results of a paired t-test showed a significant decrease in the body mass index, abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride values, and a significant increase in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol value in the experimental group after the intervention.CONCLUSION: To improve the health of male workers with CVD risk factors in the workplace, sharing health information with their spouses has proven to be more effective than health coaching for only workers. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies to encourage spousal participation when planning workplace health education for changing health-related behaviors.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Phones ; Cholesterol ; Counseling ; Electronic Mail ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Spouses ; Triglycerides