Purpose: This study aims to explore the factors influencing nursing professionalism among nursing students, focusing on the image of nurses, satisfaction with their major, and career metacognition. Methods: We conducted a descriptive survey with 185 nursing students from D city and K region on June 10–30, 2024. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 27.0 (IBM Corp.), employing descriptive statistics, t tests, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and regression analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors affecting nursing professionalism among nursing students. Results: The regression analysis revealed that the image of nurses (β=.69, p<.001) and monitoring aspect of career metacognition (β=.13, p=.025) were significant predictors of nursing professionalism, accounting for 64.5% of the variance. Conclusion The findings indicate that the image of nurses and monitoring component of career metacognition are critical in shaping nursing professionalism among nursing students. Therefore, nursing education programs should aim to improve the image of nurses and promote self-reflective career practices as strategies to foster professionalism among nursing students.

Purpose: : The demand for skilled critical care nurses and the significant impact of the practice-readiness gap underscore the need for educational programs bridging nursing education and clinical practice. This would ensure safe, high-quality patient care and a stable workforce. This study aimed to explore the educational needs of critical care nurses to develop an essential nursing education program for nursing students, addressing the practice-readiness gap they may encounter as new nurses. Methods: : The study espoused a qualitative approach by utilizing focus group interviews conducted in South Korea in April and May 2022. A total of 11 nurses participated in the study. Data were collected from three focus groups, each consisting of three to four nurses from intensive care units. Focus group interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Content analysis was performed on the interview data using thematic analysis. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the institutional review board. Results: : Nursing education programs in intensive care units should prioritize fundamental nursing competencies such as basic nursing and physical examinations. Participants’ critical care nursing education needs were categorized into four main themes: holistic nursing competency, advancement of practical education, skilled communication, and systematic critical care nursing education. Conclusion : The study’s findings provide valuable insights and guidelines for developing critical and intensive care nursing education programs tailored for nursing students.

Objective: This study was a preliminary study for the prevention programs for farmers' occupational diseases. It selected the priorities recognized by farmers, such as occupational diseases, and also identifies the effectiveness and feasibility of prevention programs among diseases recognized by farmers. Therefore, we plan to use it as basis data for future farmer safety and health programs.Method: The subjects of the study were farmers living in the region, selected through a snowball recruitment method, and a total of 671 people were targeted. The priority selection method was the Basic Priority Rating System (BPRS) method, and among the occupational diseases, programs to prevent musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and pesticide poisoning were surveyed on the effectiveness and feasibility of farmers. Results: Among occupational diseases, the highest priority was musculo-skeletal disease, followed by respiratory disease and pesticide poisoning. Among the programs for musculoskeletal disease, 'use of agricultural work convenience equipment and auxiliary tools' had the highest perceived effectiveness and feasibility. Among the five programs for pesticide poisoning, ‘equipment of protective equipment such as pesticide protective clothing/glove’ had the highest effectiveness at 67.4%, and ‘compliance with pesticide use instructions’ had the highest level of feasibility at 64.3%. Among the four programs to prevent respiratory diseases, ‘wearing a dust mask or gas mask’ was the highest at 65.5% in terms of both effectiveness and feasibility. Conclusion When carrying out safety and health programs for farmers, the priorities recognized by farmers should be taken into consideration, and the program contents should also be developed taking into account the size of effect and feasibility recognized by farmers.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of work-related disease prevention of farmers.Method: As a research method, a qualitative focus group interview was conducted in 18 participants. Results: Prevention and management services for work-related diseases of farmers mostly are based on research from other fields and so are not highly effective because their content is not relevant to agricultural work. It has been suggested that such program designers be required to have some appropriate related knowledge, and that incentives and a certification system for participation in such education be established. To analyze work-related diseases of farmers, fields of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation should be created. They demanded the designation of hospitals and the actualization of compensation for farmers' safety insurance. The work-related diseases to address were include musculoskeletal diseases, pesticide poisoning-related diseases (cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease), psychiatric diseases such as depression, and allergic diseases. However, this must have been the result of the harmful factors they felt during agricultural work. And for farmer patients diagnosed with work-related diseases, it was said to strengthen farmer safety insurance. Conclusion In order to increase the safely and health effects of agricultural work, it is necessary to prevent and manage work-related diseases of farmers. Projects should be developed in consideration of cultural and economic barriers of farmers and the characteristics of the work.

Purpose: This study analyzed the relationship between degree of disability and edema index [extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratio] values in a rural population of older adult patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or osteosarcopenia (OS). Materials and Methods: This study used data from the Namgaram-2 cohort. The degree of disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 12, and ECW/TBW ratio was calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Based on ECW/TBW ratio, the participants were stratified into normal (<0.391) and abnormal (≥0.391) groups, and the mean WHODAS 12 scores were compared between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis corrected for demographic factors, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, and serological test results was also conducted. Results: Significant differences in mean WHODAS 12 scores were observed in the healthy group (5.8±7.4 vs. 9.2±9.7, p=0.008), the osteopenia only group (7.4±8.7 vs. 12.9±12.0, p<0.001), and the OS group (16.0±13.2 vs. 23.1±17.1, p=0.004). However, no significant difference in mean WHODAS 12 score was observed in the sarcopenia only group (14.9±13.4 vs. 20.7±14.8, p= 0.051). There were significant differences in ECW/TBW ratio values between the abnormal and normal groups in the osteopenia only group (B=4.646 and p=0.001), the sarcopenia only group (B=5.097 and p=0.016), and the OS group (B=5.653 and p=0.043). Conclusion This study found that the degree of disability is related to the edema index in older patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or OS. Since the edema index indicates the nutritional status of an individual, proper nutrition and fluid intake are important to reduce disability.

Objective: This study aimed to provide basic data for preventing and managing sarcopenia by identifying the relationship between sarcopenia, malnutrition, and psychosocial factors among the elderly in the community. Methods: The study included 1,019 subjects aged 60 and over. “Possible sarcopenia” was defined by low handgrip strength with or without reduced physical performance. Nutrition was evaluated according to the mini nutrition assessment (MNA), and the psychosocial factors examined were self-efficacy, social isolation, fear of falling, and social capital (trust and participation). A logistic regression analysis was also performed on the relationship between risk of malnutrition, psychosocial factors, and sarcopenia. Results: MNA was significantly associated with social participation (OR = 1.747, p <0.001), fear of falling (OR = 2.905, p <0.001), and self-efficacy (high/low, OR = 0.654, p = 0.011). In model 3, which included both MNA and psychosocial factors, sarcopenia was significantly associated with MNA (OR = 2.529, p <0.001) and fear of falling (OR = 1.544, p = 0.045). Compared with the low self-efficacy group, the high group (OR = 0.589, p = 0.009) was significant. The factors related to possible sarcopenia include risk of malnutrition, fear of falls, and low self-efficacy. Conclusion It will be necessary to improve self-efficacy so that individuals feel they can do activities of daily living themselves and to reduce their fear of falling through muscle strength and balance exercises.Finally, it is also necessary to increase regular participation in community social activities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of frailty among an older adult population living in rural communities and to determine if frailty is associated with nutritional status after adjusting for sarcopenia and depression. Materials and Methods: This research used baseline data from the Namgaram-2 study. Frailty was evaluated using the Kaigo-Yobo checklist in an older Korean population. The nutritional statuses of older people were measured using the Korean version of the mini nutritional assessment (MNA). The recent criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia were applied for diagnosis of sarcopenia, and depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form. Results: The prevalence of frailty was 18.8% (male: 9.6%; female: 23.4%) and was significantly higher in individuals in their 80s [male, 35.3% (p<0.001); female, 42.3% (p<0.001)], those of poor economic status [male, 18.2% (p=0.012); female, 34.9% (p<0.001)], those with hypertension [female, 27.7% (p=0.008)], those with sarcopenia [male, 34.1% (p<0.001); female, 37.2% (p<0.001)], those with depression [male, 46.4% (p<0.001); female, 51.7% (p<0.001)], and those at high risk of malnutrition [male, 44.4% (p<0.001); female, 51.7% (p<0.001)]. After adjusting for demographic variables, including hypertension, diabetes, sarcopenia and depression, frailty was significantly associated with nutritional status [male: odds ratio (OR)=6.73, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.84–24.65; female: OR=4.83, 95% CI, 2.88–8.11]. Conclusion For older adults, MNA is a suitable tool of use in assessing both nutritional status and frailty. Moreover, the nutritional status of older adults appears to be associated with frailty, even after corrections for physical and psychological function.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index Short Form (WOMAC-SF) for the assessment of musculoskeletal disorders. We evaluated whether WOMAC-SF correlated with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 12 (WHODAS-12) and Kaigo-Yobo questionnaires for assessing health-outcomes in Korea.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Namgaram-2 cohort. WOMAC, WOMAC-SF, WHODAS-12, and Kaigo-Yobo questionnaires were administered to patients with musculoskeletal disorders, including radiology-confirmed knee osteoarthritis (RKOA), sarcopenia, and osteoporosis. The relationships among WOMAC-SF, WHODAS-12, and Kaigo-Yobo scores were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression analysis.RESULTS: WOMAC-SF was associated with the WOMAC questionnaire. The results of confirmatory factor analysis for the hypothesized model with two latent factors, pain and function, provided satisfactory fit indices. WOMAC-SF pain and function were associated with RKOA. Kaigo-Yobo was associated with WOMAC-SF pain (B=0.140, p=0.001) and WOMAC-SF function (B=0.042, p=0.004). WHODAS-12 was associated with WOMAC-SF pain (B=0.679, p=0.003) and WOMAC-SF function (B=0.804, p<0.001).CONCLUSION: WOMAC-SF was validated for the evaluation of low extremity musculoskeletal disorders and health-related quality of life in a community-based population. Furthermore, we confirmed that WOMAC-SF were reflective of disability and frailty, which affect health outcomes.
Appointments and Schedules ; Arthritis ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Extremities ; Humans ; Korea ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Osteoporosis ; Quality of Life ; Sarcopenia ; World Health Organization

Objective: This study aimed to report the relationship between walking activity and perceived physical activity barriers after classifying the age group(≤64, 65-74, ≥75). Methods: The subjects were conducted on 1500 residents of two areas, and the walking activity was defined as five or more times a week, 10 minutes or more at a time, and 30 minutes or more per day. Perceived physical activity barriers were lack of time, lack of social support, lack of energy, lack of willpower, and fear of falling. Results: In the group under 64 year, the lack of time (exp(B)=0.819, p=0.002) and the lack of willpower (exp(B)=0.656, p<0.001) were significantly associated. In the 65-74 year old group, the lack of willpower (exp(B)=0.714, p<0.001) and fear of falling (exp(B)=0.787, p=0.003) were a significant association. In the group aged 75 years and over, lack ofwill power (exp(B)=0.734, p<0.001) and fear of falling (exp(B)=0.807, p=0.003) were significantly associated. Conclusion In order to solve the lack of willpower and lack of time, a walking activity should be performed together at a certain time in the village, and the elderly in the late ages should reduce the fear of falling by performing a fall prevention exercise in parallel.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs according to the working environment (job stress) of dental hygienists and examine their relationship with upper limb functions. METHODS: The subjects include 198 dental hygienists in dental hospitals and dental clinics in Pusan and Gyeongnam. The questionnaire was consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, job stress, musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs and function (Disability Measurement Tool for Upper Extremity Disorders-11, DASH-11). RESULTS: The study was analyzed their musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs according to their general characteristics and found that the symptoms occurred in the neck (39.4%), the shoulders (54.6%), elbows (14.7%), and the hands (50.0%). Job stress was associated with upper limb functions (DASH-11) (model 3, B=5.210, p=0.012) and repeated elbow bending and spreading posture was associated with DASH-11 (model 3, B=6.561, p=0.029). Elbow symptoms were associated with DASH-11 in the upper limbs (B=10.679, p=0.003). CONCLUSION Dental hygienists are experiencing limitations of upper limb function due to job stress. In particular, even if the correction of their uncomfortable posture is significantly related to the job stress and upper limb function, in order to improve the upper limb function of the dental hygienist, efforts to reduce the job stress as well as the uncomfortable posture are necessary.