Objectives: This study aimed to examine whether the dietary quality of congregate lunches differs according to meal location among older adults and to identify meal settings that may represent gaps in nutritional oversight. Specifically, this study compared lunchtime nutrient intake and adequacy among older adults eating at workplaces, welfare centers, and religious institutions. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2018–2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The participants included 487 adults aged ≥ 65 years who reported consuming lunch at institutional meal sites, including workplaces (n = 187), welfare centers (n = 145), and religious institutions (n = 155). Nutrient intakes, nutrient adequacy ratio (NARs), and the mean adequacy ratio were compared using complex-sample general linear models with Bonferroni post-hoc tests, adjusting for sex, age, and total energy intake. Results: Socioeconomic characteristics were broadly comparable across groups, but nutrient intake and dietary quality differed according to meal location. In food-group analyses, meat intake was lowest among participants eating at religious institutions, and dairy intake also differed significantly across settings. In nutrient adequacy analyses, NAR for carbohydrate, thiamin, and niacin differed significantly by meal location. However, except for carbohydrate, most nutrient-specific NAR remained below 1.0 across all groups, indicating insufficient adequacy relative to one-third of the recommended intake from lunch alone. Conclusion The dietary quality of congregate lunches among older adults differed according to meal location. Although nutrient inadequacy was common across settings, older adults eating at religious institutions showed relatively lower adequacy for some nutrients, particularly thiamin and niacin. These findings suggest that nutritional support should be strengthened across congregate meal services, with particular attention to less structured community-based settings such as religious institutions.

Purpose: This study explored current pediatric palliative care (PPC) in South Korea and suggests future directions based on the perspectives of full-time PPC workers. Methods: A mixed-methods secondary analysis was conducted using survey data from nurses and social workers involved in a government PPC project. The survey assessed services provided by hospitals, nurses, and social workers, and gathered perceptions of challenging tasks, evidence needs, the significance of PPC, and future expectations through open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using frequency and conventional content analyses. Results: Eighteen full-time workers from nine of the ten project hospitals participated. Eight hospitals provided pain and symptom management and all offered counseling and education for patients and parents. Only one provided respite care and legacy-making services. Bereavement care was offered in all hospitals primarily through individual counseling and there were also three self-help groups. Nurses have diverse roles including in practice, education, leadership, research, and consultation. Social workers address psychosocial and economic challenges, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The workers highlighted the challenges in end-of-life care and communication, stressing the need for protocols and further training.PPC was seen as meaningful by patients and families, as well as staff. Conclusion Despite significant progress in PPC in South Korea, quantitative capacity remains limited. Further qualitative improvements in policies, practices, human resource development, and healthcare training are essential. This study provides insights into current PPC practices and their limitations. The development of practical evidence to enhance employment stability warrants further investigation.

Background: Visually impaired individuals have a higher prevalence of chronic diseases compared with the general Korean population. However, little is known about the associations between alcohol drinking and chronic diseases in this population. This study aimed to examine these associations among severe vision disorders among adult men. Methods: A total of 237 men severely visually impaired adults aged 50 years or older were surveyed. Alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Korean version. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations between alcohol drinking behaviors and chronic diseases, adjusting for age, body mass index, education level, economic activity, physical activity, regular diet habits and smoking. Results: Hypertension was the most common condition (22.8%), followed by liver disease (16.6%) and diabetes mellitus (16.2%). Other reported conditions included osteoarthritis (9.0%), pneumonia (8.4%), kidney disease (8.2%), heart disease (5.7%), cerebrovascular disease (5.7%), cancer (4.5%), and gout (3.1%). Only 11.8% of participants reported no chronic conditions, while 22.4% had one and 28.3% had two. Multimorbidity (≥3 conditions) was observed in 37.6% of participants, with 7.2% reporting five or more conditions. Past drinkerson-drinkers showed a significantly lower odds of heart disease (P=0.006) and pneumonia (P=0.011). In contrast, arthritis showed a significantly higher risk among current drinkers (P=0.039). Hazardous drinkers (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Korean version score≥8) showed a higher prevalence of cancer (P=0.023) and liver disease (P=0.024) compared with non-hazardous drinkers. Hazardous drinking was associated with 9.00-fold increased risk of diabetes (95% confidence interval=1.68–48.14, P<0.05). Conclusions Hazardous drinking showed 9.00-fold increased risk of diabetes among adults with severe visual impairment. Tailored health promotion programs are needed to address alcohol drinking behaviors and prevent chronic diseases in this population.

This study aimed to identify factors influencing communication competence among hospital nurses. Methods: The participants were 136 nurses working at five general or tertiary hospitals with over 100 beds in Busan, Ulsan, and Geoje Island. Data were collected using structured self-report online questionnaires from July 18 to August 31, 2023. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise regression analysis using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Results: Self-awareness (β=.43, p<.001), a relationship-oriented organizational culture (β=.34, p<.001), working in a surgical ward (β=.19, p=.003), communication efficacy (β=.17, p=.011), hierarchy-oriented organizational culture (β=.16, p=.011), and working in a special unit (β=-.14, p=.023) were factors that significantly influenced nurses' communication competence. The model explained 52% of the variance in communication competence (F=28.43, p<.001) Conclusion: To improve communication competence in hospital nurses, healthcare institutions should provide learning opportunities to improve nurses’ self-awareness and communication efficacy. It is also essential to establish rules and order within a hierarchy-oriented organizational culture, while simultaneously promoting a relationship-oriented organizational culture based on trust and respect among colleagues.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of organizational culture on work-life balance among hospital nurses, and to explore the mediating role of work stress in this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study design was employed. A total of 535 nurses from 10 hospitals in S City and J City, South Korea, participated in the study. Data were collected through self-reported online questionnaires between December 1 and 31, 2023. The measures included organizational culture (clan, hierarchy, adhocracy, and market), work-life balance(interference and enhancement), and work stress. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and path analysis. Results: The findings showed that clan culture was associated with decreased work-life interference and increased work-life enhancement, with work stress partially mediating these relationships. Hierarchy and market cultures did not show a direct effect on work-life interference; however, work stress fully mediated these relationships. Adhocracy culture showed no significant association with work-life balance, and no mediating effect of work stress was identified. Conclusion The findings suggest the need for organizational strategies aimed at reducing work stress and fostering supportive work environments, which can improve nurses' work-life balance.

This scoping review aimed to systematically explore the complex and nuanced perceptions of residents entrusted with significant responsibilities by their supervisors in the clinical context. We conducted a comprehensive search strategy targeting six major electronic databases. Data were extracted using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist and a scoping review protocol. Resident perceptions regarding entrustment and its impact on learning and professional development were categorized. This review elucidated the role of supervisor entrustment in shaping residents’ clinical performance, notably influencing autonomy, self-confidence, responsibility for patients, learning needs and goals, uncertainty management, and professional identity formation. Residents identified factors that promote and hinder performance and entrustment development resulting from supervisor entrustment and distinguished between appropriate supervision and over- or under-supervision. Our review suggests that residents’ perceptions of supervisor entrustment, as bestowed by supervisors, serves as a catalyst for enhancing autonomy, thereby exerting a significant influence on clinical performance, and fostering the development of a professional identity. However, residents’ views on appropriate supervision differ in some ways from supervisors’ perspectives. Further research is needed to bridge the gap between residents’ expectations of autonomy and what they are given, and to explore the intricate relationship between autonomy and entrustment.

Objectives: Intradiscal steroid injection (ISI) use has been proven as a low-risk and rapid treatment for disc degeneration disease (DDD). However, the histological effects of steroids on human discs remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether ISI induces histologic degeneration of the disc. Methods: In this study, a histological analysis was carried out on the nucleus pulposus obtained from 150 patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Among these individuals, 59 received ISI before the surgery, while 91 did not. After staining with hematoxylin and eosin, the histological classification was performed based on chondrocyte proliferation (C1, C2, and C3) and granular matrix change (M1 and M2). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the main factors influencing chondrocyte proliferation and granular matrix change.Additionally, histological differences between the ISI group and the non-ISI group were analyzed. Results: Chondrocyte proliferation and granular matrix changes were not significantly different between the ISI and non-ISI groups. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age is the most significant risk factor for both chondrocyte proliferation (P = 0.02) and granular matrix changes (P < 0.01). Conclusions The most crucial factor in disc degeneration is age. ISI does not accelerate the histological degeneration of chondrocyte proliferation and granular matrix. Therefore, the ISI could be considered as a histologically safe alternative in patients with DDD.

Purpose: This scoping review aims to provide established basic data on the characteristics and the effects of rehabilitation nursing interventions for improving the daily living ability and motor functions of stroke patients with hemiplegia to suggest the future direction of rehabilitation nursing interventions. Methods: The study population, concept and context were as of the following: ‘patients with hemiplegia’, ‘improvement of daily living abilities and motor functions’, and ‘published literature on the effects of rehabilitation nursing interventions’. Databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and DBpia were searched. Results: A total of 14 articles published within the past 5 years were identified. This review summarizes 1) the general characteristics of the reviewed literature (authors, year of publication, research method, research subjects), 2) the characteristics of the identified rehabilitation nursing interventions (interventionist, intervention type, period, measurement tool), 3) the effects of the rehabilitation nursing interventions, and the academic and clinical implications. Conclusion This scoping review provides theoretical basis for the future development of rehabilitation nursing interventions for stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Purpose: Based on the health belief model and theory of planned behavior, this study investigated how age group (adolescence and emerging adulthood) moderated the relative effects of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and subjective norms on preventive behavior against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This secondary data analysis utilized data from adolescents (n=272) and emerging adults (n=239). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to test the moderating effect of age group on the relationships among variables. Results: Higher perceived susceptibility (β=.21, p<.001), perceived severity (β=.14, p=.002), subjective norms (friends) (β=.26, p<.001), subjective norms (parents) (β=.44, p<.001), and subjective norms (schools) (β=.28, p<.001) enhanced COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Moderated regression analysis showed that subjective norms (friends and school) impacted preventive behavior in adolescents more than in emerging adults. Conclusion Given the need to increase perceived susceptibility and severity among adolescents and emerging adults, these findings provide baseline data for designing effective COVID-19 prevention interventions that consider the developmental characteristics of different age groups. Interventions by health centers at universities can strengthen COVID-19 preventive behavior among emerging adults. As adolescents are influenced by friends, their peer roles must be strengthened to enhance adherence to COVID-19 preventive guidelines.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of fatherhood among fathers of high-risk neonates and their confidence regarding neonatal care. Methods: A study was conducted of 100 fathers whose neonates had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for at least 48 hours. Perceptions of fatherhood, neonatal characteristics, and fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care were measured using a self-reported questionnaire. The survey took approximately 10 minutes to complete and was completed anonymously. The factors that affected fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care were analyzed using multiple regression. Results: The scores for positive and negative perceptions of fatherhood were relatively high at 4.27 and 3.42 out of 5 points, respectively. A positive perception of fatherhood was found to influence fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care. Conclusion NICU nurses should encourage fathers to effectively perform their parenting roles by implementing educational programs and interventions to promote positive perceptions of fatherhood and fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care after discharge.