Background: Community acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause for hospitalization in children and important cause for antibiotic prescription. We aimed to describe the aetiology of LRTI in children and analyse factors associated with bacterial or viral infection. Methods: Patients aged < 19 years with a diagnosis of LRTI were identified from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model Database of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005–July 2019, and their clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical records and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among 5,924 cases of LRTI, 74.2% were pneumonia and 25.8% were bronchiolitis/ bronchitis. Patients’ median age was 1.8 (interquartile range, 3.1) years and 79.9% were < 5 years old. Pathogens were identified in 37.8%; 69.1% were viral and 30.9% were bacterial/ Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Respiratory syncytial virus was most common (70.9%) among viruses and M. pneumoniae (94.6%) was most common among bacteria. Viral LRTI was associated with winter, age < 2 years, rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, wheezing, stridor, chest retraction, and infiltration on imaging. Bacteria/ M. pneumoniae LRTI was associated with summer, age ≥ 2 years, fever, decreased breathing sounds, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, C-reactive protein elevation, and positive imaging findings (consolidation, opacity, haziness, or pleural effusion). Conclusion In children with LRTI, various factors associated with viral or bacterial/ M. pneumoniae infections were identified, which may serve as guidance for antibiotic prescription.

Background: Community acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause for hospitalization in children and important cause for antibiotic prescription. We aimed to describe the aetiology of LRTI in children and analyse factors associated with bacterial or viral infection. Methods: Patients aged < 19 years with a diagnosis of LRTI were identified from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model Database of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005–July 2019, and their clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical records and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among 5,924 cases of LRTI, 74.2% were pneumonia and 25.8% were bronchiolitis/ bronchitis. Patients’ median age was 1.8 (interquartile range, 3.1) years and 79.9% were < 5 years old. Pathogens were identified in 37.8%; 69.1% were viral and 30.9% were bacterial/ Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Respiratory syncytial virus was most common (70.9%) among viruses and M. pneumoniae (94.6%) was most common among bacteria. Viral LRTI was associated with winter, age < 2 years, rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, wheezing, stridor, chest retraction, and infiltration on imaging. Bacteria/ M. pneumoniae LRTI was associated with summer, age ≥ 2 years, fever, decreased breathing sounds, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, C-reactive protein elevation, and positive imaging findings (consolidation, opacity, haziness, or pleural effusion). Conclusion In children with LRTI, various factors associated with viral or bacterial/ M. pneumoniae infections were identified, which may serve as guidance for antibiotic prescription.

Background: Community acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause for hospitalization in children and important cause for antibiotic prescription. We aimed to describe the aetiology of LRTI in children and analyse factors associated with bacterial or viral infection. Methods: Patients aged < 19 years with a diagnosis of LRTI were identified from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model Database of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005–July 2019, and their clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical records and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among 5,924 cases of LRTI, 74.2% were pneumonia and 25.8% were bronchiolitis/ bronchitis. Patients’ median age was 1.8 (interquartile range, 3.1) years and 79.9% were < 5 years old. Pathogens were identified in 37.8%; 69.1% were viral and 30.9% were bacterial/ Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Respiratory syncytial virus was most common (70.9%) among viruses and M. pneumoniae (94.6%) was most common among bacteria. Viral LRTI was associated with winter, age < 2 years, rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, wheezing, stridor, chest retraction, and infiltration on imaging. Bacteria/ M. pneumoniae LRTI was associated with summer, age ≥ 2 years, fever, decreased breathing sounds, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, C-reactive protein elevation, and positive imaging findings (consolidation, opacity, haziness, or pleural effusion). Conclusion In children with LRTI, various factors associated with viral or bacterial/ M. pneumoniae infections were identified, which may serve as guidance for antibiotic prescription.

Background: Community acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause for hospitalization in children and important cause for antibiotic prescription. We aimed to describe the aetiology of LRTI in children and analyse factors associated with bacterial or viral infection. Methods: Patients aged < 19 years with a diagnosis of LRTI were identified from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model Database of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005–July 2019, and their clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical records and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among 5,924 cases of LRTI, 74.2% were pneumonia and 25.8% were bronchiolitis/ bronchitis. Patients’ median age was 1.8 (interquartile range, 3.1) years and 79.9% were < 5 years old. Pathogens were identified in 37.8%; 69.1% were viral and 30.9% were bacterial/ Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Respiratory syncytial virus was most common (70.9%) among viruses and M. pneumoniae (94.6%) was most common among bacteria. Viral LRTI was associated with winter, age < 2 years, rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, wheezing, stridor, chest retraction, and infiltration on imaging. Bacteria/ M. pneumoniae LRTI was associated with summer, age ≥ 2 years, fever, decreased breathing sounds, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, C-reactive protein elevation, and positive imaging findings (consolidation, opacity, haziness, or pleural effusion). Conclusion In children with LRTI, various factors associated with viral or bacterial/ M. pneumoniae infections were identified, which may serve as guidance for antibiotic prescription.

Purpose: This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the college life experiences of nursing students who are North Korean defectors. Methods: A qualitative research design employing thematic analysis was utilized. The data were collected in November 2024 through in-depth, one-on-one interviews with the nine participants. Results: Six themes and 19 sub-themes were identified. The six themes were (1) recognition of the value of nursing through personal experiences; (2) the ongoing journey of academic challenges and adaptation; (3) the will to rise above challenges in life; (4) ambivalent emotions between belonging and isolation; (5) a spirit of giving rather than receiving; and (6) gratitude for irreplaceable freedom. Conclusion This study revealed the perceptions of and academic challenges faced by nursing students who are North Korean defectors. Despite their hardships, they expressed gratitude for their freedom and maintained hopes for a brighter future. These findings are expected to serve as a foundation for developing targeted strategies to provide the necessary support for this population in the future.

Purpose: This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the college life experiences of nursing students who are North Korean defectors. Methods: A qualitative research design employing thematic analysis was utilized. The data were collected in November 2024 through in-depth, one-on-one interviews with the nine participants. Results: Six themes and 19 sub-themes were identified. The six themes were (1) recognition of the value of nursing through personal experiences; (2) the ongoing journey of academic challenges and adaptation; (3) the will to rise above challenges in life; (4) ambivalent emotions between belonging and isolation; (5) a spirit of giving rather than receiving; and (6) gratitude for irreplaceable freedom. Conclusion This study revealed the perceptions of and academic challenges faced by nursing students who are North Korean defectors. Despite their hardships, they expressed gratitude for their freedom and maintained hopes for a brighter future. These findings are expected to serve as a foundation for developing targeted strategies to provide the necessary support for this population in the future.

Purpose: This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the college life experiences of nursing students who are North Korean defectors. Methods: A qualitative research design employing thematic analysis was utilized. The data were collected in November 2024 through in-depth, one-on-one interviews with the nine participants. Results: Six themes and 19 sub-themes were identified. The six themes were (1) recognition of the value of nursing through personal experiences; (2) the ongoing journey of academic challenges and adaptation; (3) the will to rise above challenges in life; (4) ambivalent emotions between belonging and isolation; (5) a spirit of giving rather than receiving; and (6) gratitude for irreplaceable freedom. Conclusion This study revealed the perceptions of and academic challenges faced by nursing students who are North Korean defectors. Despite their hardships, they expressed gratitude for their freedom and maintained hopes for a brighter future. These findings are expected to serve as a foundation for developing targeted strategies to provide the necessary support for this population in the future.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of hospital-based case management for patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A total of 106 patients were included. To evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based case management, the number of hospitalizations, cumulative length of hospitalization, and hospital days/year as well as functioning were compared before and after the hospital-based case management intervention. Cox regression was performed to identify variables that may influence readmission rates other than patients’ hospital-based case management interventions. Results: The number of hospitalizations decreased from 1.4±0.9 to 0.5±1.0 (p<0.001), cumulative length of hospitalization from 73.0±62.3 to 28.1±57.2 days (p<0.001), and hospital days/year from 20.0±17.1 to 7.7±15.7 days (p<0.001). The changes in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were 35.3±15.7 points at case management intervention, 43.7±13.9 points after 1 month of case management (p<0.001), 51.2±14.1 points after 3 months (p<0.001), and 53.1±17.6 points after 6 months (p<0.001). Demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced readmissions were GAF at admission (p=0.017), duration (p=0.042), diagnosis (p=0.019), and type of admission (p=0.001). Conclusion Hospital-based case management significantly improved readmission rates and functioning in patients with severe mental illness, supporting its continued implementation and expansion.

Background: Employees with depression have complex and serious health consequences, not only for them, including reduced quality of life, but also for businesses and society, leading to social costs such as reduced productivity. This study investigated the prevalence of depressive symptoms and related factors among public enterprise employees in Naju Innovation City, Korea. Methods: We investigated the sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics of 1,061 public enterprise employees. Depression, anxiety, and occupational burnout were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, respectively. Furthermore, the impact of factors on depressive symptoms was examined using a logistic regression model. Results: The prevalence of overall depressive symptoms was 11.9%. High anxiety (odds ratio [OR]=12.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]=7.17-20.76; p<0.001) and exhaustion (OR=2.79; 95% CI=1.81-4.40; p<0.001) levels were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion Anxiety symptoms and exhaustion were the most important factors related to depressive symptoms among the public enterprise employees. Hence, when providing an employee assistance program, the psychosocial vulnerability factors of workers with depressive symptoms should be thoroughly addressed.2

Background: This study aimed to identify factors that influence the maintenance of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) for over a year in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Seventy patients from Naju National Hospital were divided into two groups: those who maintained LAI for over a year (maintaining group, n=39) and those who discontinued (dropout group, n=31). Sociodemographic and clinical factors were compared using medical records and assessments, including the Birchwood Insight Scale (BIS), Drug Attitude Inventory-10 (DAI-10), and World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument. Results: The number of rehospitalizations was significantly lower in the maintaining group (p=0.030). The highest previous Global Assessment of Functioning Scale score within a year of starting LAI was significantly higher in the maintaining group (p=0.002), with a higher number of individuals being employed in this group (p=0.029). The mean BIS (p=0.010) and DAI-10 (p=0.003) scores were higher in the maintaining group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the DAI-10 (B=0.148, p=0.014) had a significant impact on maintaining LAI. Conclusion Our study suggests that a positive drug attitude is one of the key factors in maintaining LAI treatment, preventing relapses and supporting long-term stabilization in schizophrenia.