Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mediating effect of social phobia between social interaction anxiety and endemic blue among university students who experienced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. The participants were 196 university students from 10 universities located in four major regions across the Republic of Korea. Data were collected from July 12 to 31, 2022, through an online self-reported questionnaire and were then analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. The mediating effect was analyzed using PROCESS macro model 4 with a bootstrapping method using IBM SPSS 27.0. Results: There were significant positive correlations among social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and endemic blue. Social interaction anxiety had significant effects on social phobia (β=0.77, p<.001) and social interaction anxiety (β=0.33, p<.001) and social phobia had a significant effect on endemic blue (β=0.29, p=.001). Concerning the influence of social interaction anxiety on endemic blue, a significant indirect mediating effect of social phobia was confirmed, and the size of the indirect effect was 0.14 (0.04~0.24). Conclusion In order to manage the social and psychological health of university students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic period, it is necessary to develop strategies to overcome endemic blue that reduce social interaction anxiety and take into account the mediating effect of social phobia.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to understand the characteristics of medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses, and to investigate the average effect size by combining the individual effects of these interventions. Data from studies meeting the inclusion criteria were systematically collected in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The results showed that the average effect size (Hedges’ g) of the finally selected medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses calculated using a random-effects model was 0.500 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.342−0.659). Of the medication adherence interventions, an implementation intention intervention (using face-to-face meetings and telephone monitoring with personalized behavioral strategies) and a health belief model–based educational program were found to be highly effective. Face-to-face counseling was a significantly effective method of implementing medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses (Hedges’ g= 0.531, 95% CI, 0.186−0.877), while medication adherence interventions through education and telehealth counseling were not effective. This study verified the effectiveness of personalized behavioral change strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy based on the health belief model, as well as face-to-face meetings, as medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing infection-related characteristics and patient safety culture on awareness of blood-borne infection prevention between operating room nurses and general ward nurses. Methods: Participants were 198 nurses(operating room nurses 98 and general ward nurses: 100) working at three general hospitals and three university hospitals in three cities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from September 11 to October 14, 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression with IBM SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. Results: Typically, 39.8% of nurses in the operating room and 24.0% of ward nurses experienced injuries such as needles and sharp instruments used by the patient. The awareness of patient safety culture was identified to be higher for the ward nurses. Factors influencing the awareness of blood-borne infection prevention in operating room nurses were patient safety culture and wearing protective equipment for infection prevention while nursing infected patients. Moreover, the explanatory power of these variables was 19.4%. In general ward nurses, the patient safety culture was identified as a significant predictor, which accounted for 16.5% of awareness of blood-borne infection prevention. Conclusion To prevent hospital infection, a strategy is needed to improve the level of awareness of blood-borne infection prevention and patient safety culture of operating room nurses. To this end, the difference in infection-related characteristics and influencing factors between the operating room nurses and the general ward nurses should be considered and planned.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the influence of learning presence and self-directed learning ability on nursing students’ learning satisfaction according to the online learning method. Methods: The participants of this study were 167 nursing students attending three universities in different cities. The data were collected from July 16 to July 23, 2021, via an online self-reported questionnaire. Using SPSS WIN 27.0, data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a multiple regression analysis. Results: The most effective online learning method experienced by nursing students was asynchronous online learning according to 58.2% of the respondents, while 30.3% of the respondents answered synchronous online learning. The main merit of asynchronous online learning was that it was possible to listen repeatedly (61.7%) to lectures, and the top advantage of synchronous online learning was that the location of the class was free (53.3%). In asynchronous online learning, the factors that significantly affected nursing students’ learning satisfaction were cognitive presence (β=.60, p<.001) and emotional presence (β=.25, p<.001). These variables accounted for 56% of their learning satisfaction (F=54.12, p<.001). Similarly, cognitive presence (β=.64, p<.001) and emotional presence (β=.21, p=.001) in synchronous online learning, were the factors cited for significantly affecting learning satisfaction. The explanatory power was 62% (F=69.19, p<.001). Conclusions In conclusion, it was found that cognitive and social presence from the learning presence factors in both asynchronous and synchronous online learning influence and enhance nursing students’ learning satisfaction. Therefore, these results provide important data for future online class design in nursing education.

PURPOSE: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) elicits cartilage and subchondral bone defects. Growth hormone (GH) promotes chondrocyte growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular injections of GH to treat TMJ-OA.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) was used to induce OA in the TMJs of rats. After confirming the induction of OA, recombinant human GH was injected into the articular cavities of rats. Concentrations of GH and IGF-1 were measured in the blood and synovial fluid, and OA grades of cartilage and subchondral bone degradation were recorded by histological examination and micro-computed tomography.RESULTS: MIA-induced OA in the rat TMJ upregulated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) rather than GH levels. GH and IGF-1 concentrations were increased after local injection of GH, compared with controls. Locally injected GH lowered osteoarthritic scores in the cartilage and subchondral bone of the TMJ.CONCLUSION: Intra-articular injection of GH improved OA scores in rat TMJs in both cartilage and subchondral bone of the condyles without affecting condylar bone growth. These results suggest that intra-articular injection of human GH could be a suitable treatment option for TMJ-OA patients in the future.

Pathogenic variants of bone morphogenic protein receptor type 2 gene (BMPR2) are related to the majority of cases of heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Over 400 pathogenic variants have been identified. However, clinical characterization of PAH is still incomplete. We present a case of heritable PAH in a Korean family showing serious clinical presentation with high penetrance. Genetic sequencing revealed a known heterozygous BMPR2 pathogenic variant, c.418+5G>A, at a splice site of intron 3. Serious clinical presentation with high penetrance suggested that the interplay of other factors with pathologic variants might be in genotype-phenotype correlation. Further studies are needed to clarify these issues for the development of personalized medicine approaches for PAH.
Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension ; Genetic Association Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Introns* ; Penetrance* ; Precision Medicine ; Pulmonary Artery

PURPOSE: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis designed to investigate effects of alcohol management programs for Korean university students. METHODS: Research results published until October 14, 2016 were systematically collected in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis). A total of 12 papers were selected for the meta-analysis. To estimate the effect size, meta-analysis of the studies was performed with the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0. RESULTS: The mean effect size of 12 studies in total (Hedges' g=-0.36; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -0.76~0.05) was not significant statistically. In a study of college students classified as problematic drinking (total of 9), the drinking program showed a median effect size of Hedges' g=-0.57(95% CI: -0.96~-0.18). Results of the drinking-related outcome variables showed a significant effect size (Hedges' g=-0.61; 95% CI: -1.10~-0.13), but psychosocial related outcome variables were not significant (Hedges' g=-0.50; 95% CI: -1.24~0.23). CONCLUSION: It can be seen that the alcohol management program for college students has a significant effect on controlling the problem drinking of college students. In addition, application of a differentiated drinking program with problem drinkers selected as a risk group will be effective in controlling drinking and drinking related factors.
Alcohol Drinking ; Drinking ; Humans ; Korea

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to construct a hypothetical structural model which explains premenstrual coping in university students and to test the fitness with collected data. METHODS: Participants were 206 unmarried women university students from 3 universities in A and B cities. Data were collected from March 29 until April 30, 2016 using self-report structured questionnaires and were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 18.0. RESULTS: Physiological factor was identified as a significant predictor of premenstrual syndrome (t=6.45, p<.001). This model explained 22.1% of the variance in premenstrual syndrome. Psychological factors (t=-2.49, p=.013) and premenstrual syndrome (t=8.17, p<.001) were identified as significant predictors of premenstrual coping. Also this model explained 30.9% of the variance in premenstrual coping in university students. A physiological factors directly influenced premenstrual syndrome (β=.41, p=.012). Premenstrual syndrome (β=.55, p=.005) and physiological factor (β=.23, p=.015) had significant total effects on premenstrual coping. Physiological factor did not have a direct influence on premenstrual coping, but indirectly affected it (β=.22, p=.007). Psychological factors did not have an indirect or total effect on premenstrual coping, but directly affected it (β=-.17, p=.036). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that strategies to control physiological factors such as menstrual pain should be helpful to improve premenstrual syndrome symptoms. When developing a program to improve premenstrual coping ability and quality of menstrual related health, it is important to consider psychological factors including perceived stress and menstrual attitude and premenstrual syndrome.
Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Models, Structural* ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Psychology ; Single Person ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study investigates the status of medication use of the elderly with chronic disease taking non-opioid analgesics and attempts to identify factors influencing medication adherence. METHODS: Data were collected from September 1 to October 19, 2016. A structured questionnaire was used for face-to-face interview with a convenience sample of 161, elderly people with chronic disease taking non-opioid analgesics. The survey included questions about status of medication use, medication adherence, symptom experience, depression and family function. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression with IBM SPSS 23.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of medication adherence of the elderly with chronic disease was 4.48±2.35. Experiences of side effects (β=.31, p<.001), use of over-the-counter pain medication (β=.19, p=.009), and family function (β=.16, p=.031) were identified as significant predictors. The final model explained 18.0% of the variation of medication adherence of the elderly with chronic disease taking non-opioid analgesics (F=12.30, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Therefore, as a strategy to improve medication adherence of the elderly with chronic disease, therapeutic intervention should be developed to improve family function and to manage with personalized plans considering experiences of side effects and use of over-the-counter pain medication.

BACKGROUND: Because conventional echocardiographic parameters have several limitations, strain echocardiography has often been introduced in clinical practice. However, there are also obstacles in using it in clinical practice. Therefore, we wanted to find the current status of awareness on using strain echocardiography in Korea. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey to evaluate current use and awareness of strain echocardiography from the members of the Korean Society of Echocardiography. RESULTS: We gathered total 321 questionnaires from 25 cardiology centers in Korea. All participants were able to perform or interpret echocardiographic examinations. All participating institutions performed strain echocardiography. Most of our study participants (97%) were aware of speckle tracking echocardiography and 185 (58%) performed it for clinical and research purposes. Two-dimensional strain echocardiography was the most commonly used modality and left ventricle (LV) was the most commonly used cardiac chamber (99%) for clinical purposes. Most of the participants (89%) did not think LV strain can replace LV ejection fraction (LVEF) in their clinical practice. The common reasons for not performing routine use of strain echocardiography was diversity of strain measurements and lack of normal reference value. Many participants had a favorable view of the future of strain echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Most of our study participants were aware of strain echocardiography, and all institutions performed strain echocardiography for clinical and research purposes. However, they did not think the LV strain values could replace LVEF. The diversity of strain measurements and lack of normal reference values were common reasons for not using strain echocardiography in clinical practice.
Cardiology ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Ventricles ; Korea* ; Reference Values