Sexual Maturation, Attitudes towards Sexual Maturity, and Body Esteem in Elementary-School Children

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate sexual maturation, attitudes toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in the sexual development of Korean elementary-school boys and girls. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 399 fifth and sixth graders (192 boys and 207 girls). The data were analysed with a χ2 test, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Among the 207 girls, 70.5% had pubic hair growth, 68.1% had breast development, and 56.0% had a menstrual period. In boys, 59.4% of the 192 subjects experienced the development of external genitalia and 52.6% had pubic hair growth. Sexual maturation was related to grade (boys, t=7.07, p=.008; girls, t=12.76, p < .001), age (t=−2.20, p=.030; t=−4.11, p < .001), height (t=−5.16, p < .001; t=−7.52, p < .001), and weight (t=−2.89, p=.004; t=−5.19, p < .001) in both boys and girls. Girls were more likely to have sexual maturity than boys (χ2=22.29, p < .001). Boys showed more positive attitudes toward sexual maturity (t=2.10, p=.036) and higher body esteem (t=2.12, p=.035) than girls. CONCLUSION: This study shows that sexual maturation, attitude toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in sexual development differ between boys and girls. The findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a tailored sex-education program according to the sex of elementary-school children.

The Relationship between Parental Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Characteristics, Executive Function and Parental Emotional Distress / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disease of high heritability. Parents of children with ADHD have high parenting stress and low parenting efficacy. In this study, we assessed parents' characteristics including inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, executive function, anxiety/depression severity level, child's ADHD symptom severity, and parents' emotional distress level. The relationships between severity of ADHD symptoms in children, cognitive and emotional characteristics in parents, as well as parenting stress and parenting efficacy were evaluated. METHODS: 96 parents participated in the study. Each parent assessed their child's ADHD symptom severity, their own ADHD symptom severity, as well as executive function, depression, anxiety, parenting stress and parenting efficacy. Collected data was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean ADHD Rating Scale score of 53 children was 22.91 (±9.63). Of these, 26 (49.0%) were taking medication. Eight (8.3%) of the 96 parents had psychiatric illnesses and 12 (12.5%) had the possibility of ADHD. Mothers showed significantly higher levels of parenting stress (p < 0.001), depression (p=0.006), and parenting efficacy (p < 0.001) compared with fathers. The children's ADHD symptoms, severity, and parental depression were related to high parenting stress. The ADHD symptoms of parents were associated with high parenting stress (p=0.032). Parental executive function was significantly associated with low parenting efficacy (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Children's ADHD symptoms severity, parental depression and ADHD symptom severity were significantly associated with high parenting stress. Parental executive function was significantly associated with low parenting efficacy. In addition to treating the children with ADHD, evaluation and treatment of parents' symptoms is needed in order to reduce parenting stress and provide a stable parenting environment.

Complete denture rehabilitation of a fully edentulous patient with unilateral facial nerve palsy: A case report / 대한치과보철학회지

Bell's palsy is an acute-onset unilateral peripheral facial neuropathy. For patients with sequelae of facial paresis, the successful rehabilitation of fully edentulous arches is challenging. This case report described the treatment procedures and clinical considerations to fabricate complete dentures of a patient who showed unilateral displacement of mandible, unilateral chewing pattern and parafunctional jaw movement due to sequelae of Bell's palsy. Gothic arch tracing was used to record reproducible centric relation and lingualized occlusion was performed to provide freedom to move between centric relation and the patient's habitual functional area in fabricating satisfactory dentures in terms of function and esthetics.

The Relationship of Core Competencies(Problem Solving Ability, Communication Ability, Self-directed Learning Ability) to Critical Thinking / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to analyze core competencies affecting critical thinking ability of student nurses. Core competencies investigated in this study were problem solving ability, communication ability and self-directed learning ability. METHOD: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 322 student nurses in 2 provinces during the period from May 21 to June 8, 2007. Critical thinking, problem solving ability, communication ability and self-directed learning ability were measured using the Disposition towards Critical Thinking Scale by Park (1999-a) and the Core Competencies Scale by Lee (2003). Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients with the SPSS WIN 12.0 program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the critical thinking according to grade, type of high school, experience with PBL, preference for lecture-based learning, preference for discussion and perceived logicality. The score for critical thinking showed significantly positive correlations with scores for problem solving ability (r=0.54, p=0.00), communication ability (r=0.56, p=0.00) and self-directed learning ability (r=0.54, p=0.00). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that problem solving ability, communication ability and self-directed learning ability are significant factors affecting critical thinking in student nurses.

The Effect of a Simulated Disability Exercise Program on Attitude and Stereotyping toward People with Disabilities by Nursing Students / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of a simulated disability program on attitude and stereotyping by nursing students toward people with disabilities. METHODS: A total of 107 undergraduate nursing students attended and completed pre-and post-questionnaires on attitude and stereotyping. The experimental group participated in a simulation exercise program which was composed of wheel-chair mobility and vision modification in Nam-won Rehabilitation Center. The data were analyzed by the SPSS 12.0 program including frequency, percentage, chi-square test and t-test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in attitude toward people with disabilities between the two groups (t=-.743, p=.459). But there was a significant difference in stereotyping between the experimental and the control group(t=-4.097, p=.000). CONCLUSION: As the result of this study, we can conclude that the program was effective to improve stereotyping toward people with disabilities.

Study of Nurses Manpower Planning in Korea: Its Implication for Policy Making / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to project supply and demand for registered nurses to the year 2015 and to make recommendations regarding nurse manpower planning for the 21st century in Korea. METHODS: The supply of nurses was predicted using a baseline projection and demographic methods. The demand for nurses was forecasted by the derivative method. RESULTS: Projections indicate there will be an oversupply of nurses based on the current productivity. However, there will be under-supply if predictions are based on the standard for nursing staff established by the medical law and the optimal productivity derived by the patient classification system. CONCLUSION: Korea needs more practicing nurses. One way to increase the number of practicing nurses is to increase the number of graduates. However, considering the low retention rate of nurses, a better way to solve the nurse shortage problem is to develop strategies to recruit and retain nurses.