Satisfaction and Difficulties of Korean Family Medicine Resident Training Faculty / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Practitioners of family medicine are essential to primary care practices in Korea. Resident training staffs in Korean family medicine departments have a crucial role in producing well-trained family physicians. This study assesses the aspects of satisfaction and difficulties of Korean family medicine resident training staffs. METHODS: We surveyed the resident training staffs of various Korean family medicine departments using an online survey tool. The survey used in this study was modified from previously used questionnaires. Respondents rated items using a five-point Likert scale and a 0-10 visual analogue scale. RESULTS: The response rate was 43.9% (122/278). The mean satisfaction score with regard to current family medicine residency programs was 7.59 out of 10. Resident training staffs found the administrative aspects of their role to be the most difficult. There were considerable differences in the reported difficulties of resident training according to the differing characteristics of each staff member, including age, sex, type of hospital, number of staff members, role as chief, and duration of staff. Most respondents (91.9%) cited a need for faculty development programs. CONCLUSION: Korean family medicine resident training staffs need faculty development programs for the improvement of resident training. For the strengthening of core competencies among resident training staffs, faculty development programs or courses should be designed and implemented in Korea.

Smoking Related Factors according to the Nicotine Content / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Recently, a variety of cigarettes which contain a low content of nicotine are on the market and the nicotine tends to be reduced continuously. However, studies have not yet fully demonstrated that low-nicotine cigarettes are subservient to quitting smoking. This study was designed to investigate the effects of the nicotine content on smoking attitudes and on the factors associated with successful smoking cessation. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five adult smokers, who had undergone a health examination in a general hospital, had their carbon monoxide measured after responding to the questionnaire. The items of questionnaire consisted of the duration of smoking, the age of starting to smoke, the number of attempts to stop smoking, recognition of nicotine dependence, and nicotine dependence score. RESULTS: The subjects consisted of two groups. One group was low nicotine group and the nicotine content was lower than 0.35 mg per cigarette. The other group was high nicotine group and the nicotine content was over 0.35 mg per cigarette. he age was younger and duration of smoking was shorter in low nicotine group. Monthly income, last schooling and number of attempts to stop smoking were higher in low nicotine group. There was no statistical significant differences between the two groups in the frequency of alcohol drinking, the age of starting to smoke, marital status, nicotine dependence, carbon monoxide concentration and recognition of nicotine dependence. CONCLUSION: As there was no differences in smoking habits which has infl uence on achieving quit smoking of low nicotine group, we made our conclusion that low nicotine cigarette might be unhelpful in quit smoking.