Comparative Study on the Immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines in Patients Receiving Adjuvant and Palliative Chemotherapy / 전남의대학술지

This study was conducted to investigate potential differences in vaccine efficacy between patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy and receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Additionally, the study proved the influence of vaccination timing on vaccine efficacy during active chemotherapy. Anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) IgG binding antibody assays and surrogate neutralizing antibody assays were performed after BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccination in 45 solid cancer patients (23 adjuvant and 22 palliative chemotherapy) and in 24 healthy controls before vaccination (baseline), at every two to four weeks after the first (post-dose 1) and the second vaccination (post-dose 2). The levels of anti-RBD IgG and neutralizing antibodies increased significantly from baseline through post-dose 1 to post-dose 2 in all three groups. At the post-dose 1, the anti-RBD IgG and neutralizing antibody levels were significantly lower in cancer patients than in healthy controls. However, by post-dose 2, the seropositivity of anti-RBD IgG and neutralizing antibodies uniformly reached 100% across all groups, with no significant disparity in antibody levels among the three groups. Moreover, the antibody titers were not significantly different between patients with a vaccine and chemotherapy interval of more than 14 days or those with less than 14 days. This study demonstrated that after second doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, humoral immune responses in patients receiving chemotherapy were comparable to those of healthy controls, regardless of whether the purpose of the anti-cancer treatment was palliative or adjuvant. Furthermore, the timing of vaccination did not affect the level of humoral immunity after the second vaccination.

Beyond the surface: unraveling global health curriculum insights through interviews of learners and educators using the CIPP model / 한국의학교육

Purpose@#Our study aimed to delve beyond a surface-level understanding and explore the various dimensions of the global health curriculum from the perspective of both learners and educators using the Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) model. @*Methods@#From 2020 to 2021, interviews were conducted with a total of 10 individuals, including five students who had taken at least one elective course and at least one elective research course, three teaching assistants (TA), and two faculty members who had taken more than four global health courses in multiple phases in the global health curriculum. Semi-structured interview questions based on the CIPP model were used and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. @*Results@#The study identified 12 sub-themes. Students held idealized views of global health careers and sought to bridge the gap through global health classes. They desired early exposure to global health courses, emphasizing both pre-medical and clinical phases. Challenges in adjusting course difficulty and recruiting faculty were identified, along with a preference for interactive teaching methods and offline discussions. The curriculum promoted reflection on medicine’s essence, expanded career perspectives, and emphasized competencies like altruism, communication skills, and crisis management in the evolving global health landscape. @*Conclusion@#This study showed that a comprehensive approach is possible from the perspective of learners and educators by identifying strengths, weaknesses, and the value of the curriculum’s goals, plans, implementations, and results through the CIPP model. For optimal curriculum design, a sequential approach from basic to advanced courses is essential, promoting hands-on global health experiences for students.

Development of Competencies for New Nurses and Verification of Content Validity through a Delphi Survey / 의학교육논단

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a competency tool for new nurses and to pilot-test it with new nurses. A Delphi survey was conducted to develop a competency tool, and a self-evaluation was conducted among new nurses who pilot-tested the finally derived competencies. The Delphi survey panel consisted of 18 people, including adjunct professors at the College of Nursing, nursing managers, and nurses with master’s degrees. The Delphi survey asked about the validity of the competencies constructed in two rounds. After analyzing the Delphi results with mean, standard deviation, content validity ratio, degrees of convergence, and degrees of consensus, 12 core competencies and 36 enabling competencies were finally derived. The competencies consisted of clinical judgment and management (nine items), task competence (four items), patient orientation (five items), moral value orientation (three items), cooperation (two items), supply management (two items), professional development (three items), confidence (one item), self-control (two items), flexibility (two items), influence (one item), and nurturing others (two items). The finally derived competencies were pilot-tested with 229 new nurses who had worked for 2–12 months. The self-evaluation scores of new nurses were distributed differently according to their working period. In this study, the competencies required for new nurses were identified and the corresponding enabling competencies were identified. In the future, it is expected that a competency-based education program will be prepared based on these findings, and furthermore, it will be possible to provide high-quality medical and nursing services that meet patients’ needs by improving the competency of new nurses and lowering the turnover rate.

Effects of a Medication Management Program for Cancer Patients Receiving Oral Chemotherapy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a medication management program on oral chemotherapy patients. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group ppretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 60 cancer patients (intervention group: 30, control group: 30). The medication management program was provided for 6 weeks. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. RESULTS: Although there were no statistically significant differences, scores of self-efficacy (t=−0.12, p=.902), knowledge (t=0.62, p=.537), medication adherence (t=0.51, p=.610), and staff satisfaction (t=1.44, p=.156) were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in self-efficacy, knowledge, symptom experience, medication adherence and staff satisfaction. This can be explained by both groups having already received initial instruction concerning basic care when they started to receive chemotherapy. Considering the positive outcome of the medication management program, a specialist nursing effort is needed to improve symptoms and medication adherence. Furthermore, a medication counseling hotline is needed to support the medical staff.

Correction of palatally displaced maxillary lateral incisors without brackets / 대한치과교정학회지

This article describes the orthodontic treatment of a 25-year-old Korean female patient with anterior crowding, including palatally displaced lateral incisors. Her facial profile was satisfactory, but 3.5 mm of maxillary anterior crowding was observed. To correct this crowding, we decided to minimize the use of the conventional fixed orthodontic appliances and employed a less bulky and more aesthetic appliance for applying light continuous force. We determined the final positions of the maxillary teeth via a working model for diagnostic set up and achieved space gaining and alignment with simple Ni-Ti spring and stainless steel round tubes. Tooth alignment was achieved efficiently and aesthetically without the conventional brackets.

Comparison of Rebound Tonometer, Non-Contact Tonometer, Goldmann Applanation Tonometer and the Relationship to Central Corneal Thickness

PURPOSE: To compare the level of accuracy of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements of a rebound tonometer (RT) Icare(R), and non-contact tonometer (NCT), using Goldmann Applanation tonometer (GAT) as a reference to evaluate the influence of central corneal thickness (CCT) on IOP readings in the Korean population. METHODS: In a prospective study of 273 eyes, IOP was measured with RT, GAT, and NCT and compared to CCT measurements. Patients were assigned to one of 3 groups based on IOP measurements of GAT and 1 of 2 groups based on CCT. The comparison of the IOP values of RT, GAT, and NCT was performed between the IOP and CCT groups, and the differences among tonometers were evaluated. RESULTS: The RT showed statistically significant correlation with the GAT compared to the NCT. The CCT was related to RT measurements. The RT values compared to the GAT was underestimated in thin corneas and overestimated in thick corneas. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant correlation between the RT and the GAT measurements compared with the NCT. However, RT is influenced by CCT and correlates less with GAT in low IOP ranges, suggesting that corneal thickness should be taken into consideration during such measurements.