Purpose: This study aimed to assess the impact of metaverse-based content for teaching core nursing skills (CNSC) to undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group was selected using a non-synchronized design. A total of 71 participants (34 in the experimental group and 37 in the control group) were recruited between May and June 2023 in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The CNSC included scenarios focused on drain management. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 for Windows. Results: Upon completing the CNSC, significant differences were observed between the groups in core nursing skills knowledge (t=7.97, p<.001), confidence in performing core nursing skills (t=5.79, p<.001), and clinical competency (t=2.26, p=.003). Conclusion The findings suggest that the CNSC designed for undergraduate nursing students was effective in enhancing their knowledge of core nursing skills, confidence in skill performance, and clinical competency.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the impact of metaverse-based content for teaching core nursing skills (CNSC) to undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group was selected using a non-synchronized design. A total of 71 participants (34 in the experimental group and 37 in the control group) were recruited between May and June 2023 in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The CNSC included scenarios focused on drain management. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 for Windows. Results: Upon completing the CNSC, significant differences were observed between the groups in core nursing skills knowledge (t=7.97, p<.001), confidence in performing core nursing skills (t=5.79, p<.001), and clinical competency (t=2.26, p=.003). Conclusion The findings suggest that the CNSC designed for undergraduate nursing students was effective in enhancing their knowledge of core nursing skills, confidence in skill performance, and clinical competency.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the impact of metaverse-based content for teaching core nursing skills (CNSC) to undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group was selected using a non-synchronized design. A total of 71 participants (34 in the experimental group and 37 in the control group) were recruited between May and June 2023 in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The CNSC included scenarios focused on drain management. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 for Windows. Results: Upon completing the CNSC, significant differences were observed between the groups in core nursing skills knowledge (t=7.97, p<.001), confidence in performing core nursing skills (t=5.79, p<.001), and clinical competency (t=2.26, p=.003). Conclusion The findings suggest that the CNSC designed for undergraduate nursing students was effective in enhancing their knowledge of core nursing skills, confidence in skill performance, and clinical competency.

Purpose: Anal wounds following hemorrhoidectomy can lead to severe pain and postoperative bleeding, impacting patient recovery and quality of life. Hyaluronic acid (HA) stimulates tissue regeneration and wound healing by accelerating cell migration and proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the differences in wound healing rate and completeness of recovery of perianal wounds topically treated with HA-soaked cotton in a murine model. Methods: Forty-eight 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats with perianal wounds created using a biopsy punch were divided into 2 groups: simple dressing with gauze (control) and topical HA-soaked cotton. A single application of HA-soaked cotton was administered after surgery. Wound healing rate and completeness of recovery were evaluated by measuring the healed area and conducting histological analyses. Results: The HA-cotton group exhibited a shorter complete wound healing duration compared to the control group (13.9 days vs. 16.4 days, P = 0.031). Differences in wound healing area between the 2 groups were greatest on postoperative day 2 (51.6% vs. 28.8%, P < 0.001). The HA-cotton group exhibited fewer cases of granulation tissue (2 vs. 5) or redness (0 vs.3) upon complete wound healing. Histologically, the HA-cotton group showed accelerated reepithelialization, rapid shift to lymphocyte-dominant inflammation, enhanced fibroblast proliferation, and increased collagen deposition compared to the control group. Conclusion Herein, topical application of HA-soaked cotton on perianal wounds in rats resulted in accelerated wound healing, particularly in the initial stages, and improved completeness of recovery, underscoring the potential of the topical application of HA-soaked cotton on hemorrhoidectomy wounds in human patients to improve wound healing.

Purpose: We aimed to identify factors influencing smoking cessation success among cancer patients registered in an inpatient smoking cessation program at a single cancer center. Materials and Methods: The electronic medical records of enrolled patients with solid cancer were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated factors associated with 6-month smoking cessation. Results: A total of 458 patients with cancer were included in this study. Their mean age was 62.9±10.3 years, and 56.3% of the participants had lung cancer. 193 (42.1%) had not yet begun their main treatment. The mean number of counseling sessions for the participants was 8.4±3.5, and 46 (10.0%) patients were prescribed smoking cessation medications. The 6-month smoking cessation success rate was 48.0%. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age (<65 years), cohabited status, early stage, and the number of counseling sessions were statistically significant factors affecting 6-month smoking cessation success (p<0.05). Initiation of a cessation program before cancer treatment was significantly associated with cessation success (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–2.70; p=0.040). Conclusion Smoking cessation intervention must be considered when establishing a treatment plan immediately after a cancer diagnosis among smokers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Metaverse-based core nursing skill contents (CNSC) developed for undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A nonequivalent control group was sampled with a non-synchronized design. Seventy-two participants (experimental group 34, control group 38) were recruited from May to June 2022 in Gwangju metropolitan city. The CNSC consisted of scenarios of vital sign measurements, and subcutaneous injections (including blood sugar tests). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 for Windows. Results: At the completion of the CNSC, statistically differences were found between groups in knowledge of core nursing skills (t=6.20, p<.001), confidence in core nursing skills performance (t=5.71, p<.001), and clinical competency (t=3.32, p=.001). Conclusion These results indicate that the CNSC developed for undergraduate nursing students is effective in improving knowledge of core nursing skills, confidence in core nursing skills performance, and clinical competency for nursing students.

Purpose: To report a rare case of slow progression of carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).Case summary: A 66-year-old man presented with conjunctival injection and proptosis in the right eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 0.8 and 0.5 in the right and left eye, respectively, and conjunctival vessel enlargement and subconjunctival hemorrhage were observed in the right eye on slit lamp examination. Due to suspicion of CCF, computed tomography, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance angiography were performed. These analyses showed no vascular abnormalities associated with arteriovenous shunt, so the patient was followed up closely. About 1 month later, his conjunctival vessel engorgement became severe and CRVO derived from venous stasis by CCF occurred, so transfemoral cerebral angiography was performed and a diagnosis of CCF was made. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection was performed for CRVO, and best corrected visual acuity improved to 1.0 in the right eye. Conclusions Slowly progressing CCF can be accompanied with rare intraocular disease, such as CRVO, so appropriate diagnosis through detailed evaluation is important for treatment.

Purpose: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the prognostic value of AFP levels in patients who achieved complete response (CR) to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for HCC. Materials and Methods: Between 2005 and 2018, 890 patients with HCC who achieved a CR to TACE were recruited. An AFP responder was defined as a patient who showed elevated levels of AFP (>10 ng/mL) during TACE, but showed normalization or a >50% reduction in AFP levels after achieving a CR. Results: Among the recruited patients, 569 (63.9%) with naïve HCC and 321 (36.1%) with recurrent HCC after complete resection were treated. Before TACE, 305 (34.3%) patients had multiple tumors, 219 (24.6%) had a maximal tumor size >3 cm, and 22 (2.5%) had portal vein tumor thrombosis. The median AFP level after achieving a CR was 6.36 ng/mL. After a CR, 473 (53.1%) patients experienced recurrence, and 417 (46.9%) died [median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 16.3 and 62.8 months, respectively]. High AFP levels at CR (>20 ng/mL) were independently associated with a shorter PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.403] and OS (HR=1.284), together with tumor multiplicity at TACE (HR=1.518 and 1.666, respectively). AFP non-responders at CR (76.2%, n=359 of 471) showed a shorter PFS (median 10.5 months vs. 15.5 months, HR=1.375) and OS (median 41.4 months vs. 61.8 months, HR=1.424) than AFP responders (all p=0.001). Conclusion High AFP levels and AFP non-responders were independently associated with poor outcomes after TACE. AFP holds clinical implications for detailed risk stratification upon achieving a CR after TACE.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of head monted display based home-visits virtual reality simulation (HVRS) program developed for undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A nonequivalent control group with a non-synchronized design was utilized and 84 participants (experimental group, 44; control group, 40) were recruited from August 31, 2020 to November 8, 2020 in Gwangju metropolitan city. The HVRS program consisted of scenarios of three nursing cases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. Data were analyzed SPSS version 25.0 for Windows. Results: At the completion of HVRS, significant differences were found between groups in knowledge of home-visits (t = 4.73, p < .001), self-confidence (t = 6.63, p < .001), self-efficacy (t = 3.13, p = .002), and clinical competency (t = 4.13, p < .001). No significant difference was shown between groups in nursing knowledge about strokes, a subcategory of knowledge pertaining to home visits. Conclusion The HVRS program developed for undergraduate nursing students is effective in improving knowledge of home-visits, self-confidence, self-efficacy, and clinical competency for nursing students.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of head monted display based home-visits virtual reality simulation (HVRS) program developed for undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A nonequivalent control group with a non-synchronized design was utilized and 84 participants (experimental group, 44; control group, 40) were recruited from August 31, 2020 to November 8, 2020 in Gwangju metropolitan city. The HVRS program consisted of scenarios of three nursing cases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. Data were analyzed SPSS version 25.0 for Windows. Results: At the completion of HVRS, significant differences were found between groups in knowledge of home-visits (t = 4.73, p < .001), self-confidence (t = 6.63, p < .001), self-efficacy (t = 3.13, p = .002), and clinical competency (t = 4.13, p < .001). No significant difference was shown between groups in nursing knowledge about strokes, a subcategory of knowledge pertaining to home visits. Conclusion The HVRS program developed for undergraduate nursing students is effective in improving knowledge of home-visits, self-confidence, self-efficacy, and clinical competency for nursing students.