Reliability, Validity, and Unidimensionality of the Korean Version of the Pornography Craving Questionnaire Based on the Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory

Objective@#This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Pornography Craving Questionnaire (K-PCQ) using classical test theory and item response theory. @*Methods@#The goodness of fit test and differential item functioning (DIF) analysis based on the Rasch model, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and correlation analysis were used to test its reliability and validity. @*Results@#Response data from 226 students were analyzed. According to the goodness of fit test, the outfit mean square value of only one item, Item 11, was greater than 2. The CFA results revealed that all items of the K-PCQ measured a single construct. The EFA results revealed that the K-PCQ had excellent internal reliability. The DIF analysis results showed that the measurement of pornography craving using the K-PCQ did not differ based on gender. The result of Poly-DIMTEST supported the unidimensionality of the K-PCQ. The cut-off value of pornography craving was suggested as a measure of -0.0908 which corresponds to 46 (54.8%) out of a maximum score of 84. @*Conclusion@#The items of the K-PCQ are unidimensional and have good reliability and validity. The K-PCQ will be useful in clinical practice and research as a screening tool for pornography craving.

Reliability, Validity, and Unidimensionality of the Korean Version of the Pornography Craving Questionnaire Based on the Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory

Objective@#This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Pornography Craving Questionnaire (K-PCQ) using classical test theory and item response theory. @*Methods@#The goodness of fit test and differential item functioning (DIF) analysis based on the Rasch model, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and correlation analysis were used to test its reliability and validity. @*Results@#Response data from 226 students were analyzed. According to the goodness of fit test, the outfit mean square value of only one item, Item 11, was greater than 2. The CFA results revealed that all items of the K-PCQ measured a single construct. The EFA results revealed that the K-PCQ had excellent internal reliability. The DIF analysis results showed that the measurement of pornography craving using the K-PCQ did not differ based on gender. The result of Poly-DIMTEST supported the unidimensionality of the K-PCQ. The cut-off value of pornography craving was suggested as a measure of -0.0908 which corresponds to 46 (54.8%) out of a maximum score of 84. @*Conclusion@#The items of the K-PCQ are unidimensional and have good reliability and validity. The K-PCQ will be useful in clinical practice and research as a screening tool for pornography craving.

The relationship of examinees' individual characteristics and perceived acceptability of smart device-based testing to test scores on the practice test of the Korea Emergency Medicine Technician Licensing Examination / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE: Smart device-based testing (SBT) is being introduced into the Republic of Korea’s high-stakes examination system, starting with the Korean Emergency Medicine Technician Licensing Examination (KEMTLE) in December 2017. In order to minimize the effects of variation in examinees’ environment on test scores, this study aimed to identify any associations of variables related to examinees’ individual characteristics and their perceived acceptability of SBT with their SBT practice test scores. METHODS: Of the 569 candidate students who took the KEMTLE on September 12, 2015, 560 responded to a survey questionnaire on the acceptability of SBT after the examination. The questionnaire addressed 8 individual characteristics and contained 2 satisfaction, 9 convenience, and 9 preference items. A comparative analysis according to individual variables was performed. Furthermore, a generalized linear model (GLM) analysis was conducted to identify the effects of individual characteristics and perceived acceptability of SBT on test scores. RESULTS: Among those who preferred SBT over paper-and-pencil testing, test scores were higher for male participants (mean± standard deviation [SD], 4.36± 0.72) than for female participants (mean± SD, 4.21± 0.73). According to the GLM, no variables evaluated— including gender and experience with computer-based testing, SBT, or using a tablet PC—showed a statistically significant relationship with the total score, scores on multimedia items, or scores on text items. CONCLUSION: Individual characteristics and perceived acceptability of SBT did not affect the SBT practice test scores of emergency medicine technician students in Korea. It should be possible to adopt SBT for the KEMTLE without interference from the variables examined in this study.

The relationship of examinees' individual characteristics and perceived acceptability of smart device-based testing to test scores on the practice test of the Korea Emergency Medicine Technician Licensing Examination / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE@#Smart device-based testing (SBT) is being introduced into the Republic of Korea’s high-stakes examination system, starting with the Korean Emergency Medicine Technician Licensing Examination (KEMTLE) in December 2017. In order to minimize the effects of variation in examinees’ environment on test scores, this study aimed to identify any associations of variables related to examinees’ individual characteristics and their perceived acceptability of SBT with their SBT practice test scores.@*METHODS@#Of the 569 candidate students who took the KEMTLE on September 12, 2015, 560 responded to a survey questionnaire on the acceptability of SBT after the examination. The questionnaire addressed 8 individual characteristics and contained 2 satisfaction, 9 convenience, and 9 preference items. A comparative analysis according to individual variables was performed. Furthermore, a generalized linear model (GLM) analysis was conducted to identify the effects of individual characteristics and perceived acceptability of SBT on test scores.@*RESULTS@#Among those who preferred SBT over paper-and-pencil testing, test scores were higher for male participants (mean± standard deviation [SD], 4.36± 0.72) than for female participants (mean± SD, 4.21± 0.73). According to the GLM, no variables evaluated— including gender and experience with computer-based testing, SBT, or using a tablet PC—showed a statistically significant relationship with the total score, scores on multimedia items, or scores on text items.@*CONCLUSION@#Individual characteristics and perceived acceptability of SBT did not affect the SBT practice test scores of emergency medicine technician students in Korea. It should be possible to adopt SBT for the KEMTLE without interference from the variables examined in this study.

Smart device-based testing for medical students in Korea: satisfaction, convenience, and advantages / 보건의료교육평가

The aim of this study was to investigate respondents' satisfaction with smart device-based testing (SBT), as well as its convenience and advantages, in order to improve its implementation. The survey was conducted among 108 junior medical students at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Korea, who took a practice licensing examination using SBT in September 2015. The survey contained 28 items scored using a 5-point Likert scale. The items were divided into the following three categories: satisfaction with SBT administration, convenience of SBT features, and advantages of SBT compared to paper-and-pencil testing or computer-based testing. The reliability of the survey was 0.95. Of the three categories, the convenience of the SBT features received the highest mean (M) score (M= 3.75, standard deviation [SD]= 0.69), while the category of satisfaction with SBT received the lowest (M= 3.13, SD= 1.07). No statistically significant differences across these categories with respect to sex, age, or experience were observed. These results indicate that SBT was practical and effective to take and to administer.

Impact of 12-hour Shifts on Job Satisfaction, Quality of Life, Hospital Incident Reporting, and Overtime Hours in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare job satisfaction, quality of life (QOL), incident report rate and overtime hours for 12-hour shifts and for 8-hour shifts in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 36 staff nurses from a PICU in a regional hospital in Korea. Data were collected using self-administrated questionnaires regarding job satisfaction and QOL at 6 months before and after the beginning of 12-hour shifts. Incident report rate and overtime hours for both 12-hour and 8-hour shifts were compared. Comparisons were made using chi2-test, paired t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: After 12-hour shifts were initiated, job satisfaction significantly increased (t=3.93, p<.001) and QOL was higher for nurses on 12-hour shifts compared to 8-hour (t=7.83, p<.001). There was no statistically significant change in incident report rate (chi2=0.15, p=.720). The overtimes decreased from 36.3+/-34.7 to 17.3+/-34.9 minutes (Z=-8.91, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence that 12-hour shifts can be an effective ways of scheduling for staff nurses to increase job satisfaction and quality of life without increasing patient safety incidents or prolonged overtime work hours.

Direct Inoculation in BACTEC Culture Media is Superior to Thioglycollate Broth and Solid Culture Medium Method after Centrifugation in Identifying Gram Positive Microorganism in Peritoneal Dialysis Peritonitis Patients / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Peritonitis remains one of most important complications of long-term peritoneal dialysis. This study was prospectively performed to compare the ability of identifying the causative organism for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis between bedside inoculation into BACTEC culture bottles and method involving centrifugation of effluent followed by plating into solid and liquid media. METHODS: We studied 38 patients with CAPD peritonitis (M:F=21:17, age 53+/-13 years) between July, 2005 and May, 2006. They had 50 episodes of CAPD peritonitis during the study period. From each peritonitis patient, two aliquots of peritoneal effluent were obtained at the same time. One aliquot was inoculated into two BACTEC culture bottles (aerobic and anaerobic, each 10 mL). The other aliquot was inoculated into thioglycollate broth (TGB, 10mL) and also spread on solid culture media (SCM) after centrifuge 50 mL of effluents. We compared positive-culture results, time from inoculation to identification of growth, and causative organism between these two culture methods. RESULTS: The BACTEC culture method was superior to the TGB & SCM culture method in identifying microorganisms (80% vs. 56%, respectively, p=0.01). Especially, there was significant difference in identifying the gram-positive bacteria between the BACTEC culture method and the TGB & SCM culture method [52% (26/50) vs 36% (18/50), p=0.001]. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that direct inoculation in BACTEC culture media is superior, especially for the gram-positive bacteria, to TGB & SCM in identifying the causative organisms in CAPD peritonitis patients.

The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding / 대한지역사회영양학회지

To compare the costs incurred by infant feeding between mothers who breastfed their infants and those who fed them infant formula, a questionnaire survey was carried out to 136 mothers living in Seoul, Cheongju and Chungju who breastfed and 199 mothers who formula-fed their infants. The cost of formula-feeding was estimated based on the expenditures for formula and feeding apparatus, and the time needed to wash bottles and prepare formula. The cost of breastfeeding was estimated based on the expenditures for food for the additional nutritional intake of these mothers. The mean cost of formula-feeding was 1,870,125won during the first year of the baby's life. The food cost for the additional nutritional intake of the breastfeeding mothers was 203,004 won per year. The extra medical cost for respiratory illnesses in the formula-fed group compared to the breastfed group was 62,920 won because the formula-fed infants required medical attention for respiratory illnesses more often than the breast-fed infants. Therefore, breastfeeding could save 1,730,041 won during the first year of an infant's life. We may have underestimated the cost savings from breastfeeding because we did not take into account the potentially decreased costs of fertility control and the health benefits for mothers, as well as the decreased usage of water and gas. Analyses showed that breastfeeding is not only nutritionally advantageous, but also economically advantageous for families and society.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Education and Infant Feeding Practices in Public Health Centers and Baby-Friendly Hospitals / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Although breastfeeding is recognized to be vital to the health and well-being of children and women, the rate of breastsfeeding among Korean women has continuously decreased. One barrier to breastfeeding has been identified to be associated with health care providers. Health care professionals do not give sufficient advice and encouragement, next do hospitals provide supportive environments for breastfeeding by separating infants from mothers or providing formula. The purpose of this study was to investigate prenatal breastfeeding education and infant feeding practices in public health centers and baby-friendly hospitals. A telephone survey was carried out on 57 public health centers located in the Seoul and Chungcheong areas and 13 baby-freindly hospitals from February to April in 2000. Among the public health centers, 43.8% offered periodic prenatal education for pregnant women who visited the centers. Most of them used leaflets or pamphlets developed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare or UNICEF. Twenty six percent of the public health centers developed their own educational materials. All of the 13 baby-friendly hospitals gave additional fluids to infants, did not allow mothers and infants to stay together 24 hours a day, and did not foster the establishment of breatfeeding support groups among the mothers. Most of the baby-friendly hospitals gave artificial teats, did not help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth. Findings indicate that current practices even in the baby-friendly hospitals are not consistent with the '10 steps to success breastfeeding'. Therefore, deliberate efforts should be made to incorporate adequate breastfeeding education into prenatal program in both public health centers and hospitals, and create environments to support breastfeeding in hospitals, even in baby-friendly hospitals.

Blood Folate Level Determined by a Microplate Reader and Folate Intake Measured by a Weighted Food Record / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Microbiological method using a 96-well microplate reader for folate assay was established, and folate intake and blood folate concentrations of 23 female college students were assessed. To evaluate folate intake, dietary data were collected by a 3-day weight food record, and serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured by the new method. The coefficient of variation for the new method was less than 10%. Mean daily folate intake of the subjects was 126.7ug which is only 50.7% of the RDA. The mean concentrations of serum and RBC folate were 7.46ng/ml and 294.4ng/ml, respectively, which were within the normal range. These results indicate that folate intake seems to be underestimated due to incomplete food composition database. Therefore, folate database should be appropriately in order to asses folate intake accurately.