Effects of the Culturally Sensitive Education of Perinatal Care on Knowledge, Skills, and Self-Efficacy among Korean Husbands and Vietnamese Wives

PURPOSE: The study was undertaken to see whether the culturally sensitive education for perinatal care using a face to face approach improves understanding of spouse's culture, knowledge of pregnancy and parenting skills, and self-efficacy among Korean husbands and Vietnamese wives. METHODS: This study has a pre- and post-test study design conducted in a total of 13 couples who live in Seoul and agreed to participate. The education program consisted of lecture and hands on practice. The self-administered questionnaires and the checklist developed based on the educational purpose were used to assess the education effects. RESULTS: The knowledge scores on Korean/Vietnamese culture, pregnancy and parenting skills as well as the performance scores on hand washing, pelvic strengthening, feedings and newborn bathing techniques were significantly improved in both husbands and wives after education, but pelvic floor exercises were improved only in wives. CONCLUSION: Overall, the individual education for culturally sensitive perinatal care was effective in our study participants.

Critical Discussion on Smoking During Pregnancy as a Form of Fetal Abuse: An Approach to Advocate for Fetal Right to Life

PURPOSE: Smoking during pregnancy contributes to the risk of negative health outcomes in mothers and babies. The purposes of this study were to review the harmful effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on fetal and child development, to discuss if maternal smoking should be criminalized as a form of child abuse, and to explore advocating for fetal rights. METHODS: A variety of published literature and legal documents including the Korean constitution, criminal laws, and children's welfare laws were reviewed and critically analyzed. RESULTS: Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to experience abortion related to placental dysfunction. Their unborn risk premature birth, fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, neurobehavioral disturbances, and/or other complications and newborn babies are also at risk for complications. The advocates for fetal rights can assert that maternal smoking should be regarded as a crime. CONCLUSION: Findings show that maternal smoking during pregnancy is a major risk factor for many adverse pregnancy outcomes. Effective strategies and health policies for smoking cessation during pregnancy are required to protect pregnant women and their babies.

Factors associated with successful smoking cessation in Korean adult males:findings from a national survey

Smoking cessation rates have remained stagnant globally. This study was conducted to explore the factors associated with successful smoking cessation among South Korean adult males using nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [KNHANES] from 2007 to 2012. A comparison was made between successful quitters and those who failed to quit after attempts to stop smoking. A total of 7,839 males, aged 19-65 years, were included in this cross-sectional study. The outcome measures were the success and failure rates in smoking cessation, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, health behaviors, perceived health status, quality of life, and mental health. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the various factors associated with smoking cessation success. The cessation success and failure rates were 45.5% and 54.5%, respectively. Smoking cessation was related to older age, marriage, higher income, smoking larger amounts of cigarettes, use of willpower, alcohol abstinence, cancer history, better mental health, and higher levels of quality of life, after controlling for multiple variables. Second-hand smoke exposure at home and using nicotine replacement therapy were associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation. A smoke-free environment, use of willpower, alcohol abstinence, and better stress management are important for smoking cessation. Unlike previous studies, not using nicotine replacement therapy and higher levels of daily cigarette consumption were associated with successful smoking cessation, suggesting that motivation appears to be important to smoking cessation in Korean adult male population

Effect of second-hand smoke exposure on lung function among non-smoking Korean women

Previous literature has implicated that there might be an individual susceptibility difference in terms of race/ethnicity and gender in response to second hand smoke [SHS] exposure. This study was done to examine the effect of SHS exposure on lung function in non-smoking Korean women. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [KNHANES] from 2008-2011. A total of 2,513 female participants, age 40 yr and older, with no respiratory symptoms or prior lung diseases, were included in this study. Participants' smoking status was examined using both self-reported history and measurement of urinary cotinine level. Lung function was assessed using spirometry data, including FVC and FEV1. T-test and Chi-square tests were performed to compare diverse variables between groups. Analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] adjusted for age, height, alcohol consumption, and level of exercise was used to see any statistical differences in lung function parameters between non-SHS exposed and SHS-exposed groups. Among 2,513 non-smoking females, 767 [30.5%] were SHS-exposed. The urinary cotinine levels clearly distinguished SHS exposure, and the mean urinary cotinine levels were 7.1 +/- 0.4 and 11 +/- 0.7 in non-SHS exposed group vs. SHS-exposed group, respectively [P < 0.001]. Urinary cotinine levels were correlated with duration of SHS exposure. However, both groups had normal lung function and there was no significant difference between the two groups in lung function. Urinary cotinine is a valuable marker of SHS exposure. Korean women may have higher tolerance for SHS exposure-induced lung function decline

Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes and Nursing Intention toward AIDS and Chronic Hepatitis B / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aims at comparing nurses' knowledge, attitudes and nursing intention toward AIDS and Chronic Hepatitis B(CHB). METHODS: The data were collected through self-reported questionnaires from 245 nurses between July and August, 2011. The nurses were recruited from 3 hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression were adopted to analyze the data. RESULTS: Regarding AIDS, higher knowledge level was correlated with positive attitudes only(r=-.22, p<.001), which were correlated with favorable nursing intention(r=-.41, p<.001). Higher CHB knowledge level was correlated with both positive attitudes toward CHB(r=-.14, p=.030) and favorable nursing intention(r=.18, p=.004). Nursing intention toward AIDS was affected by attitudes(beta=.58, p<.001) and explained 16.6% of the variance. Both knowledge(beta=.35, p=.028) and attitudes(beta=-.49, p<.001) influenced nursing intention toward CHB and explained 19.1% of the variance. CONCLUSION: We need to promote nurses' positive attitudes toward AIDS to increase their nursing intention for people living with AIDS.