Cultural competency is a very important ability of nurses in women’s hospitals in providing nursing care during pregnancy and childbirth. This study explored how multicultural attitudes, multicultural efficacy, intercultural communicative competency, and hospital support for cultural competency influence the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study design was used. The study involved 150 nurses from five women’s hospitals located in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Participants completed a packet of structured self-report questionnaires, which included the Korean version of the Cultural Competence Scale for Clinical Nurses, the Multicultural Attitude Scale Questionnaire, the Intercultural Communicative Competence Questionnaire, the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Organizational Support among Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument. We analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: Among the general characteristics, educational level, religion, and experience with overseas travel were identified as factors influencing cultural competency. In the final model, multicultural attitudes (β=.46, p<.001) and intercultural communicative competency (β=.19, p=.025) emerged as significant individual factors that affected cultural competency. This model accounted for 49.8% of the variance in cultural competency. Conclusion: This study identified multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency as significant individual factors contributing to the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Therefore, enhancing these nurses’ multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency is essential for improving their overall cultural competency

Cultural competency is a very important ability of nurses in women’s hospitals in providing nursing care during pregnancy and childbirth. This study explored how multicultural attitudes, multicultural efficacy, intercultural communicative competency, and hospital support for cultural competency influence the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study design was used. The study involved 150 nurses from five women’s hospitals located in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Participants completed a packet of structured self-report questionnaires, which included the Korean version of the Cultural Competence Scale for Clinical Nurses, the Multicultural Attitude Scale Questionnaire, the Intercultural Communicative Competence Questionnaire, the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Organizational Support among Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument. We analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: Among the general characteristics, educational level, religion, and experience with overseas travel were identified as factors influencing cultural competency. In the final model, multicultural attitudes (β=.46, p<.001) and intercultural communicative competency (β=.19, p=.025) emerged as significant individual factors that affected cultural competency. This model accounted for 49.8% of the variance in cultural competency. Conclusion: This study identified multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency as significant individual factors contributing to the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Therefore, enhancing these nurses’ multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency is essential for improving their overall cultural competency

Cultural competency is a very important ability of nurses in women’s hospitals in providing nursing care during pregnancy and childbirth. This study explored how multicultural attitudes, multicultural efficacy, intercultural communicative competency, and hospital support for cultural competency influence the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study design was used. The study involved 150 nurses from five women’s hospitals located in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Participants completed a packet of structured self-report questionnaires, which included the Korean version of the Cultural Competence Scale for Clinical Nurses, the Multicultural Attitude Scale Questionnaire, the Intercultural Communicative Competence Questionnaire, the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Organizational Support among Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument. We analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: Among the general characteristics, educational level, religion, and experience with overseas travel were identified as factors influencing cultural competency. In the final model, multicultural attitudes (β=.46, p<.001) and intercultural communicative competency (β=.19, p=.025) emerged as significant individual factors that affected cultural competency. This model accounted for 49.8% of the variance in cultural competency. Conclusion: This study identified multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency as significant individual factors contributing to the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Therefore, enhancing these nurses’ multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency is essential for improving their overall cultural competency

Cultural competency is a very important ability of nurses in women’s hospitals in providing nursing care during pregnancy and childbirth. This study explored how multicultural attitudes, multicultural efficacy, intercultural communicative competency, and hospital support for cultural competency influence the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study design was used. The study involved 150 nurses from five women’s hospitals located in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Participants completed a packet of structured self-report questionnaires, which included the Korean version of the Cultural Competence Scale for Clinical Nurses, the Multicultural Attitude Scale Questionnaire, the Intercultural Communicative Competence Questionnaire, the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Organizational Support among Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument. We analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: Among the general characteristics, educational level, religion, and experience with overseas travel were identified as factors influencing cultural competency. In the final model, multicultural attitudes (β=.46, p<.001) and intercultural communicative competency (β=.19, p=.025) emerged as significant individual factors that affected cultural competency. This model accounted for 49.8% of the variance in cultural competency. Conclusion: This study identified multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency as significant individual factors contributing to the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Therefore, enhancing these nurses’ multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency is essential for improving their overall cultural competency

Cultural competency is a very important ability of nurses in women’s hospitals in providing nursing care during pregnancy and childbirth. This study explored how multicultural attitudes, multicultural efficacy, intercultural communicative competency, and hospital support for cultural competency influence the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study design was used. The study involved 150 nurses from five women’s hospitals located in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Participants completed a packet of structured self-report questionnaires, which included the Korean version of the Cultural Competence Scale for Clinical Nurses, the Multicultural Attitude Scale Questionnaire, the Intercultural Communicative Competence Questionnaire, the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Organizational Support among Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument. We analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: Among the general characteristics, educational level, religion, and experience with overseas travel were identified as factors influencing cultural competency. In the final model, multicultural attitudes (β=.46, p<.001) and intercultural communicative competency (β=.19, p=.025) emerged as significant individual factors that affected cultural competency. This model accounted for 49.8% of the variance in cultural competency. Conclusion: This study identified multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency as significant individual factors contributing to the cultural competency of nurses in women’s hospitals. Therefore, enhancing these nurses’ multicultural attitudes and intercultural communicative competency is essential for improving their overall cultural competency

BACKGROUND: The skin, a vital organ protecting against microorganisms and dehydration, undergoes structural decline with aging, leading to visible issues such as wrinkles and sagging. Reduced blood vessels exacerbate vulnerability, hindering optimal cellular function and compromising skin health. Polydioxanone (PDO) biomaterials address aging concerns but produce acidic byproducts, causing inflammation. Inorganic particles and nitric oxide (NO) play crucial roles in inhibiting inflammation and promoting skin regeneration. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute to intercellular communication, offering the potential to enhance cell functions. The study proposes a method to enhance PDO-based medical devices by incorporating inorganic particles and immobilizing EVs, focusing on facial rejuvenation, anti-inflammatory response, collagen formation, and angiogenesis.METHOD: PDO composites with inorganic particles such as magnesium hydroxide (MH) and zinc oxide (ZO) were prepared and followed by EV immobilization. Comprehensive characterization included biocompatibility, anti-inflammation, collagen formation ability, and angiogenesis ability. RESULTS: Bulk-modified PDO composites demonstrated even dispersion of inorganic particles, pH neutralization, and enhanced biocompatibility. EVs immobilized on the composite surface exhibited spherical morphology. Inflammationrelated gene expressions decreased, emphasizing anti-inflammatory effects. Collagen-related gene and protein expressions increased, showcasing collagen formation ability. In addition, angiogenic capabilities were notably improved, indicating potential for skin rejuvenation. CONCLUSION The study successfully developed and characterized PDO composites with inorganic particles and EVs, demonstrating promising attributes for medical applications. These composites exhibit biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory properties, collagen formation ability, and angiogenic potential, suggesting their utility in skin rejuvenation and tissue engineering. Further research and clinical validation are essential.

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Health Care Empowerment Questionnaire (K-HCEQ) after translating it into Korean. Methods: Items were verified after translating the HCEQ into Korean, followed by back-translation and evaluation of content validity. The questionnaire survey was administered to 200 community-dwelling individuals aged≥65 years. Construct validity and criterion validity were evaluated, and Cronbach’s a was used to assess the reliability of the scale. Results: The final instrument consisted of three sub-factors and 10 items, as shown by confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, the criterion-related validity showed a correlation coefficient of .50 (p<.001), confirming the validity of the developed instrument. Cronbach’s a for all items was .94, and Cronbach’s a of the sub-factors ranged between .88 and .93. Conclusion The Korean version of the HCEQ for the elderly is an objective indicator that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of health education programs aimed at older adults, thereby improving their health care empowerment.

Purpose: This study examined the mediating effect of bowel function symptoms in the relationship between social support and uncertainty in rectal cancer patients. Methods: In total, 132 rectal cancer patients were recruited online. Data were collected from October 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020 using on-line questionnaires and were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients and bootstrapping for mediation. Results: Social support had a significant and positive effect on bowel function symptoms and a negative effect on uncertainty. Bowel function symptoms had a significant negative effect on uncertainty; and showed a statistically significant mediating effect in the relationship between social support and uncertainty. In other words, social support had direct and indirect effects on uncertainty. Conclusion In rectal cancer patients, social support attenuated bowel function symptoms and showed direct and indirect effects on uncertainty. Therefore, to increase the social support of rectal cancer patients, the patients’ family, friends, and meaningful others should be involved in providing nursing. In order to reduce bowel function symptoms, which have a mediating effect, rectal cancer patients need to be well aware of the symptoms of bowel function that change after surgery. Systematic pre- and post- operative education would be help reduce uncertainty.

BACKGROUND: AND PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the reliability and validity of a short form of the Korean Dementia Screening Questionnaire-Cognition (KDSQ-C) as a screening tool for cognitive dysfunction. METHODS: This study recruited 420 patients older than 65 years and their informants from 11 hospitals, and categorized the patients into normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia subgroups. The KDSQ-C was completed separately by the patients and their informants. We abstracted three components of the KDSQ-C and combined these components into the following four subscales: KDSQ-C-I (items 1–5, memory domain), KDSQ-C-II (items 1–5 & 11–15, memory domain+activities of daily living), KDSQ-C-III (items 1–5 & 6–10, memory domain+other cognitive domains), and KDSQ-C-IV (items 6–10 & 11–15, other cognitive domains+activities of daily living). The reliability and validity were compared between these four subscales. RESULTS: A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of questionnaire scores provided by the patients showed that the areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) for the KDSQ-C, KDSQC-I, and KDSQ-C-II for diagnosing dementia were 0.75, 0.72, and 0.76, respectively; the corresponding AUCs for informant-completed questionnaires were 0.92, 0.89, and 0.92, indicating good discriminability for dementia. CONCLUSIONS A short form of the patient- and informant-rated versions of the KDSQ-C (KDSQ-C-II) is as capable as the 15-item KDSQ-C in screening for dementia.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify role ambiguity of comprehensive nursing care unit nurses. METHODS: A concept analysis method by Walker and Avant was used to understand role ambiguity of comprehensive nursing care unit nurses. RESULTS: The antecedents of role ambiguity of nurses at comprehensive nursing units were shortage of nurses, unclear admission criteria, and demands for customized nursing care according to severity. Attributes include ambiguity in role delegation, patient placement ambiguity, and professional ambiguity among nursing staff. The consequences were diminished job satisfaction due to excessive workload, difficulty in resolving role ambiguity due to the lack of work analysis studies, and poor outcome of nursing indicators. CONCLUSION Improvement of nationwide awareness for comprehensive nursing care unit is required. Clear division at scope of practice for nursing staff in accordance of each medical institution's characteristics is essential. Nurses at comprehensive nursing care unit should understand nature of role ambiguity that occurs as they work in large groups. Nurses should promote communications between nursing staff and they must have volition to improve status quo. An additional research of comprehensive nursing care on the causes of role ambiguity in the practice of nursing care for ward nurses is needed, and management measures should be sought at the organizational level.