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Objectives@#We descriptively reviewed a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a nursing hospital in Gyeonggi Province (South Korea) and assessed the effectiveness of the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in a real-world population. @*Methods@#The general process of the epidemiological investigation included a public health intervention. The relative risk (RR) of vaccinated and unvaccinated groups was calculated and compared to confirm the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV-2) infection, and vaccine effectiveness was evaluated based on the calculated RR. @*Results@#The population at risk was confined to ward E among 8 wards of Hospital X, where the outbreak occurred. This population comprised 55 people, including 39 patients, 12 nurses, and 4 caregivers, and 19 cases were identified. The RR between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups was 0.04, resulting in a vaccine effectiveness of 95.3%. The vaccination rate of the nonpatients in ward E was the lowest in the entire hospital, whereas the overall vaccination rate of the combined patient and non-patient groups in ward E was the third lowest. @*Conclusion@#The first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine (ChAdOx1-S) was effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. To prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in medical facilities, it is important to prioritize the vaccination of healthcare providers
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Objectives@#The number of cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has sharply increased in Korea, especially among young adults. In this study, an HAV outbreak in a facility for disabled people was investigated, and we found epidemiological differences both between 2 different generations and between generally abled and disabled groups. @*Methods@#We analyzed the incubation period and attack rate of an HAV outbreak and investigated the prevalence of HAV antibodies among the staff and residents of a facility for the disabled. We performed a retrospective cohort study during the HAV outbreak, which lasted from February 8 to 25, 2019, including examinations of HAV antibody tests and post-exposure HAV vaccination for the staff or residents of the facility. @*Results@#There were 9 confirmed cases in 2 staff members and 7 residents. Among 53 people (30 staff and 23 residents), except for the 9 confirmed cases and 1 staff member with a known history of HAV infection, HAV seroprevalence was seen in 16.7% of the staff under 40 years of age and 95.2% of those over 40 years of age, while the corresponding rates in the residents were 0.0% and 58.8%, respectively. @*Conclusions@#This result implies that it is necessary to prioritize HAV vaccination for vulnerable groups and workers of residential care facilities.
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Purpose@#This methodological study aimed to translate the Korean version of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® item bank-emotional distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and anger) for adults and evaluate its psychometric properties. @*Methods@#Translation involved forward translation, back translation, expert review, harmonization and quality assurance, and cognitive testing. Psychometric properties were evaluated with a community sample of 201 adults. To assess the unidimensionality of the measures, we used factor analysis to examine construct validity. @*Results@#All items of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System item bank-emotional distress measures were translated through a rigorous translation process, and semantic, conceptual, and normative equivalences between the original and Korean version were ensured. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that all items loaded on one dominant factor. The Korean Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties and unidimensionality. @*Conclusion@#The Korean version of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System item bank-emotional distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and anger) for adults is reliable and valid. Hence, it may be utilized extensively in clinical and research settings and contribute to patient-centered care.
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Objectives@#The number of cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has sharply increased in Korea, especially among young adults. In this study, an HAV outbreak in a facility for disabled people was investigated, and we found epidemiological differences both between 2 different generations and between generally abled and disabled groups. @*Methods@#We analyzed the incubation period and attack rate of an HAV outbreak and investigated the prevalence of HAV antibodies among the staff and residents of a facility for the disabled. We performed a retrospective cohort study during the HAV outbreak, which lasted from February 8 to 25, 2019, including examinations of HAV antibody tests and post-exposure HAV vaccination for the staff or residents of the facility. @*Results@#There were 9 confirmed cases in 2 staff members and 7 residents. Among 53 people (30 staff and 23 residents), except for the 9 confirmed cases and 1 staff member with a known history of HAV infection, HAV seroprevalence was seen in 16.7% of the staff under 40 years of age and 95.2% of those over 40 years of age, while the corresponding rates in the residents were 0.0% and 58.8%, respectively. @*Conclusions@#This result implies that it is necessary to prioritize HAV vaccination for vulnerable groups and workers of residential care facilities.
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Purpose@#This methodological study aimed to translate the Korean version of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® item bank-emotional distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and anger) for adults and evaluate its psychometric properties. @*Methods@#Translation involved forward translation, back translation, expert review, harmonization and quality assurance, and cognitive testing. Psychometric properties were evaluated with a community sample of 201 adults. To assess the unidimensionality of the measures, we used factor analysis to examine construct validity. @*Results@#All items of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System item bank-emotional distress measures were translated through a rigorous translation process, and semantic, conceptual, and normative equivalences between the original and Korean version were ensured. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that all items loaded on one dominant factor. The Korean Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties and unidimensionality. @*Conclusion@#The Korean version of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System item bank-emotional distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and anger) for adults is reliable and valid. Hence, it may be utilized extensively in clinical and research settings and contribute to patient-centered care.
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In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel.There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.
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PURPOSE: This study explores the moral distress that nursing students experience during their clinical practice in Korea. METHODS: Data were collected using focus group interviews, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants were recruited from three nursing schools in three different cities; each focus group interview lasted between one to two hours. RESULTS: Twenty-two nursing students with more than one year of clinical practice experience participated. Three categories and ten themes were extracted. The following situational categories: "unprotected patients' right and dignity," "clinical settings in which standards of care are not upheld," "disrespectful hospital culture," and "inconsistent and unsystematic clinical education" caused moral distress. Types of responses to moral distress included: "shock and confusion over the gap between reality and moral standards," "powerlessness when cannot advocate patients," "fear and doubts about nursing career," and "moral desensitization and disappointment in oneself." "Expressions of moral distress and the need for advice" and "a search for meaning and hope" were identified as coping strategies. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the need for systematic clinical practicum and education programs to minimize moral distress. These programs may offer opportunities for students to turn moral distress into opportunities for learning and growth in the future.
Subject(s)
Humans , Education , Education, Nursing , Focus Groups , Korea , Learning , Nursing , Patient Rights , Preceptorship , Qualitative Research , Schools, Nursing , Standard of Care , Students, NursingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: An emerging trend in Asian higher education is English-medium instruction (EMI), which uses English as the primary instructional language. EMI prepares domestic students for international leadership; however, students report difficulty in learning, and educators have raised questions concerning the effectiveness of EMI. The flipped learning model (FLM), in which lecture and homework activities for a course are reversed, was applied to an English-medium course offered by a college of nursing in Korea. The aims of this study were to: 1) revise an existing English-medium nursing course using the FLM; 2) explore students' learning experiences and their acceptance of the FLM; and 3) identify key factors in the success of FLM. METHODS: We used a descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed-methods design and the participants were students at one nursing school in Korea. A series of course development meetings with faculties from the nursing school and the center for teaching and learning were used to develop the course format and content. We conducted course evaluations using the Flipped Course Evaluation Questionnaire with open-ended questions and focus group interviews. RESULTS: Students (N=75) in a 15-week nursing course responded to a survey after completing the course. Among them, seven students participated in one of two focus groups. Overall, students accepted and favored the flipped learning strategy, and indicated that the method enhanced lecture content and their understanding of it. Factors associated with effective instruction included structured monitoring systems and motivational environments. CONCLUSION: The FLM requires sufficient preparation to facilitate student motivation and maximize learning outcomes.