Pediatric kidney disease has a relatively lower prevalence than do other pediatric conditions and has a notably different etiology from kidney diseases observed in adults. Furthermore, the pediatric population is unique in that they experience ongoing growth and development, distinguishing them from adult patients. Consequently, pediatric patients with kidney disease require more specialized and meticulous nutritional management than do adults. To address this need and promote optimal dietary practices for pediatric patients with kidney disease, pediatric nephrologists from the Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology and nutritionists from the Korean Society of Clinical Nutrition have collaborated to establish nutritional guidelines specifically tailored to Korean dietary patterns. These guidelines offer detailed, nutrient-specific recommendations covering energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium consumption while providing practical, culturally relevant guidance intended to support both pediatric patients and their caregivers.

Pediatric kidney disease has a relatively lower prevalence than do other pediatric conditions and has a notably different etiology from kidney diseases observed in adults. Furthermore, the pediatric population is unique in that they experience ongoing growth and development, distinguishing them from adult patients. Consequently, pediatric patients with kidney disease require more specialized and meticulous nutritional management than do adults. To address this need and promote optimal dietary practices for pediatric patients with kidney disease, pediatric nephrologists from the Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology and nutritionists from the Korean Society of Clinical Nutrition have collaborated to establish nutritional guidelines specifically tailored to Korean dietary patterns. These guidelines offer detailed, nutrient-specific recommendations covering energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium consumption while providing practical, culturally relevant guidance intended to support both pediatric patients and their caregivers.

Background: Impaired executive function is common in older adults. This study examined the causal relationship between the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and executive function in older adults over time.Method: This study performed a secondary analysis of data from four waves (2016–2019) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. A fixed-effect analysis was conducted to examine the effects of ICT on the executive function of older adults without dementia aged ≥65 years. This study analyzed data from 3,334 respondents. Results: We observed significant positive effects of ICT use on executive function over time (standardized β=0.043–0.045; 95% confidence interval, 0.001–0.043; p<0.05). Conclusion The current findings support the use of ICT as a protective approach to prevent decline in executive function in community-dwelling older adults.

Interprofessional education (IPE) fosters knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to interprofessional collaboration (IPC) for safe, quality patient care. In recent years, the importance of IPC has extended beyond the medical field to local community settings. However, IPE has only recently been introduced and has yet to become widespread. This study reviews the origin and development of IPE in Korean medical education by comparing it with established models in other countries that provide useful insights into future directions for IPE in Korea. Dedicated institutions led the IPE effort in other countries; however, IPE initiatives in Korea were mainly driven by individual professors’ and medical schools’ interest and commitment, without structural support systems. An important finding of this study is that the lack of awareness and organizational support within the medical education community resulted in the absence of a mandatory curriculum for IPE, as it was omitted from the accreditation standards. For more organized adoption and implementation of IPE in Korea, this study suggests the need to widely communicate the importance of IPE to the medical community and the public. It is also imperative to establish leadership capable of guiding IPE, share materials through trusted institutions with IPE experience, and include IPE in the accreditation standards. These steps are essential for actively implementing IPE and meeting societal healthcare needs in Korea.

Background: Impaired executive function is common in older adults. This study examined the causal relationship between the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and executive function in older adults over time.Method: This study performed a secondary analysis of data from four waves (2016–2019) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. A fixed-effect analysis was conducted to examine the effects of ICT on the executive function of older adults without dementia aged ≥65 years. This study analyzed data from 3,334 respondents. Results: We observed significant positive effects of ICT use on executive function over time (standardized β=0.043–0.045; 95% confidence interval, 0.001–0.043; p<0.05). Conclusion The current findings support the use of ICT as a protective approach to prevent decline in executive function in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Impaired executive function is common in older adults. This study examined the causal relationship between the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and executive function in older adults over time.Method: This study performed a secondary analysis of data from four waves (2016–2019) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. A fixed-effect analysis was conducted to examine the effects of ICT on the executive function of older adults without dementia aged ≥65 years. This study analyzed data from 3,334 respondents. Results: We observed significant positive effects of ICT use on executive function over time (standardized β=0.043–0.045; 95% confidence interval, 0.001–0.043; p<0.05). Conclusion The current findings support the use of ICT as a protective approach to prevent decline in executive function in community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Because effective decolonization options are not available, and treatment options are limited, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) constitute increasingly threatening nosocomial pathogens. To prevent CRE-associated transmission and ensure patient safety, healthcare personnel and everyone in contact with CRE-infected patients must implement stringent infection control practices. This report describes a CRE outbreak, possibly related to a caregiver at a long-term care facility (LTCF), and presents a new surveillance model to improve the infection control of CRE in Seoul, Korea. METHODS: The Seoul Metropolitan Government surveillance system identified an outbreak of CRE in an LTCF in 2022. We obtained data on the demographic characteristics and contact histories of the inpatients, medical staff, and caregivers. To isolate the inpatients and employees exposed to CRE, we used rectal swab samples and environmental sampling during the study period (May-December 2022). RESULTS: We identified 18 cluster cases (1 caregiver and 17 inpatients) and 12 sporadic cases with CRE, and conducted a complete 197-day follow-up of all cases in the LTCF’s isolation wards. CONCLUSIONS This investigation demonstrated that our surveillance model and targeted intervention, based on the cooperation of the municipal government, public health center, and infection control advisory committee, effectively contained the epidemic at the LTCF. Measures to improve the compliance of all employees in LTCFs with infection control guidelines should also be adopted.

Due to the short history of dental education in Laos, the educational system is still incomplete, with only a few faculty development (FD) programs. This study aims to identify the needs assessment for FD, in Lao dental education. A survey was conducted, with dentists from the Faculty of Dentistry, in 2022. Data on demographics, perceived importance, and ability, on the 13 roles and competencies of teachers, as well as the 26 FD items’ needs assessment were collected. Data were compared between the two groups (lecturers and assistant teachers), and analyzed to identify different needs. Sixty-seven responses were included, after excluding inappropriate ones. Lecturers and assistant teachers expressed their needs for developing a syllabus, and teaching using simulation. Lecturers revealed the need to improve their roles as resource developers, followed by learning facilitators and lecturer in a classroom setting. Assistant teachers reported their prioritized needs for improving their role as on-the-job role models, followed by lecturer in a classroom setting, and mentor, personal adviser, or tutor. Assistant teachers showed higher educational needs scores than lecturers, in most questionnaire items. Although the needs assessment of FD indicates different needs, based on the differing roles and responsibilities, assistant teachers’ needs scores are generally higher. An FD program could prioritize the most common needs of both groups at an early stage, but the topics most needed by each group should also be considered. This study can inform a future FD program, to improve Lao dental education.

This study aimed to analyze the subjects, situations, and reflection levels related to role modeling experienced by medical students during their clinical clerkship and their own reflections. This study intends to suggest ways of improving how residents and clinical faculty should treat and teach medical students. Written interviews were conducted regarding senior medical students’ role modeling experiences during their clinical clerkships in 2018 and 2019. Content analysis was conducted for a total of 224 cases from 196 students. Content analysis revealed three types of role modeling content: subjects (faculty, residents, nurses, peer students), situations (clinical competence, personal qualities, teaching skills), and the level of reflection (critical reflection, reflection, thoughtful action, and habitual action) in each case. As role model subjects, faculty were found to be the paramount role model (n=142, 62.83%). Role modeling was the most frequently performed for clinical competence (n=103, 45.98%). Clinical competence was frequently shown in communication and empathic listening during rounds and outpatient relationships between the patient and doctor. Regarding the level of reflection for role modeling, the number of critical reflections was 86 (38.39%) and that of reflections was 80 (35.71%). In particular, negative role modeling showed a high level of critical reflection in relation to faculty (64.44%) and nurses (8.89%). In conclusion, role modeling of medical students participating in clinical clerkships occurs in situations that the role models are not aware of, with positive or negative effects on the formation of professional identity among medical students.

Purpose: : This study investigates the effects of a tabletop simulation game called Friday Night at the Emergency Room (FNER) on the premise that experience leads to systems thinking and innovative behavior in hospital staff. Methods: : This is a one-group pretest-posttest design study for 17 hospital staff. The tools were the systems thinking scale (STS; 20 questions), an innovative behavior questionnaire (IBQ; 9 questions), and a self-reflection essay. Paired t-test, Cohen’s d effect sizes, and content analysis were used for the analysis. Results: : After participating in the FNER game for hospital staff, systems thinking did not significantly improve, and the effect size of the program was low. But innovative behavior significantly improved, and the effect size of the program was high. Because of the contents of the self-reflection essay analysis, the importance of teamwork included the understanding of the hospital system. Conclusion : The educational effects of simulation-based FNER games are different depending on the organizational experience. Hospital educators should consider conducting complex problem-solving exercises, such as FNER, on new employees or early-experienced hospital staff to enhance and challenge the staff’s systems thinking and innovative behavior.