ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of obesity and clinical characteristics including interleukin-6 (IL-6) with hospital length of stay (LOS) in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients in Korea. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study design was employed to analyze medical data from a government-designated hospital in a city of Korea. Clinical data were collected from 256 patients with COVID-19 in negative-pressure isolation wards in 2021. The following parameters were analyzed: body mass index (BMI), IL-6 levels, age, sex, comorbidities, healthy habitsat the time ofadmission, and LOS. The statistical package SPSS 26.0 was used for descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, the chi-square test, and partial correlation coefficients. Results: The age of COVID-19 patients was positively correlated with BMI (r = -.16, p = .012), IL-6 levels (r = .14, p = .022) and LOS (r = .26, p < .001). Obesity, non-drinking, hypertension, and older age were associated with longer LOS. Conclusion: These results suggest that age, obesity, and hypertension in COVID-19 patients are related to LOS. Studies investigating other factors that can affect long-term hospitalization in COVID-19 patients are suggested.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study was conducted to investigate the current status of the biological nursing curriculum and faculties’ perceptions on biological nursing subjects in South Korea. @*Methods@#Biological nursing subjects’ titles and credits were searched through the nursing schools’ website. Perceived adequacy of subjects’ title and credit in each biological nursing subject and the degree of perceived importance and satisfaction of learning contents by subjects were collected from 30 professors of biological nursing subjects. @*Results@#Many schools still use the titles of medical subjects for those of biological nursing subjects. The perceived importance and satisfaction of genetics-related learning contents, “nursing case study” or “project team presentation,” were lower than other learning contents. @*Conclusion@#Standardization of biological nursing subjects’ titles and learning contents is needed.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study was conducted to investigate the current status of the biological nursing curriculum and faculties’ perceptions on biological nursing subjects in South Korea. @*Methods@#Biological nursing subjects’ titles and credits were searched through the nursing schools’ website. Perceived adequacy of subjects’ title and credit in each biological nursing subject and the degree of perceived importance and satisfaction of learning contents by subjects were collected from 30 professors of biological nursing subjects. @*Results@#Many schools still use the titles of medical subjects for those of biological nursing subjects. The perceived importance and satisfaction of genetics-related learning contents, “nursing case study” or “project team presentation,” were lower than other learning contents. @*Conclusion@#Standardization of biological nursing subjects’ titles and learning contents is needed.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study’s objective was to investigate the effects of programs that improve adolescents’ body image, using a systematic review and meta-analysis. @*Methods@#A literature search was performed in eleven electronic databases, using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines. Population characteristics, contents of the programs, and measured outcomes were systematically reviewed from 21 selected studies. To estimate the size of the effects, meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. @*Results@#The contents of the programs that aimed to improve body image included physical, psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural interventions. Sixteen studies were meta-analyzed to estimate the effect size of body-image improvement programs. Results showed that the program for body-image improvement had significant effects on body satisfaction (effect size [ES] = 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.23 to 0.89), and body dissatisfaction (ES = - 0.15, 95% CI = - 0.23 to - 0.08). @*Conclusion@#The program for body image improvement in adolescents includes a combination of physical, psychological, interpersonal relationship, and socio-cultural dimensions. The program that seeks to improve body image appears to be effective at increasing body satisfaction, and at reducing body dissatisfaction in adolescents. Thus, it is necessary to develop and apply multidimensional programs for adolescents to have a positive body image.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate the correlation and agreement of physical activity (PA) between data obtained from wearable Actigraph devices and self-reporting questionnaires, and to investigate the relationship between psychological state (depression, anxiety, and fatigue) and PA. @*Methods@#A descriptive study was conducted using physical measurements and surveys. PA was measured through both the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Actigraph GT3X+ device. The demographic characteristics of the subjects, as well as their depression, anxiety, and fatigue scores, were collected with structured questionnaires. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman plot method were employed. @*Results@#Data from 36 healthy adults were analyzed. The overall levels of PA measured using the IPAQ and the Actigraph were 1,891.69 MET min/week and 669.96 MET/ day, respectively. Total levels of PA did not show a significant correlation between the two measurement methodologies. However, the moderate-intensity PA resulting from the IPAQ scores showed a significant positive correlation with the light-intensity PA recorded by the Actigraph. The Bland-Altman plot analysis demonstrated that the levels of PA as measured by the two different methods did not match. In addition, PA measured using the Actigraph showed a significant negative correlation with depression and anxiety whereas PA measured using the IPAQ showed a significant positive correlation with fatigue. @*Conclusion@#The conclusion of this study is that the data obtained from the subjective self-reporting questionnaire and the wearable Actigraph do not correlate or match in healthy adults. Future research should investigate the relationship between depression and PA intensity through the Actigraph, or other wearable devices equipped with smartphone apps.