Technology-based interactive communication simulation addressing challenging communication situations for nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based interventions for nursing students addressing challenging communication situations involving geriatric patients and end-of-life care are limited. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of technology-based interactive communication simulations on nursing students' communication knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, compassion, and program satisfaction. METHOD: A randomized controlled repeated-measures design was used with third- and fourth-year nursing students enrolled in five nursing colleges located in five regions in Korea as participants. Participants were randomly assigned to either a technology-based interactive communication simulation or an attention control group. Changes in communication knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, compassion, and program satisfaction were assessed using three self-reported measures and communication skills were measured by the raters. Statistical analyses included descriptive analyses, chi-square tests, t-tests, and a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: Eighty students participated in one of the two programs, and 77 in the four-week follow-up test. The intervention group indicated significant improvements in communication knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and compassion, as well as higher program satisfaction compared with the attention control group. Communication skills as assessed by raters also showed significant change at all assessment time points. CONCLUSION: The technology-based interactive communication simulation program is effective in improving communication skills among nursing students managing geriatric patients and end-of-life care.

The effect of integrative Korean medicine treatment on symptomatic lumbar facet joint cysts: A case series.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal treatment for facet joint cysts (FJCs) has remained controversial. Despite a higher success rate than the conservative option, surgical treatments may pose risks of postoperative complications and comorbidities may make the surgical approach difficult. Thus, this study reports four cases of pain amelioration and resorption of FJCs through noninvasive integrative Korean Medicine treatment. METHODS: For intervention, four patients with symptomatic FJCs underwent integrative Korean medicine treatment with acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, and Chuna manual therapy; after completion of the series of treatment sessions, patients were re-examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Pain disappeared within 2 months for all four patients; the amelioration of pain was sustained for more than 6 months. Furthermore, the disappearance of FJCs was confirmed by MRI after a certain period from the time of pain disappearance. CONCLUSIONS: This study reported the effectiveness of non-invasive, integrative Korean medicine treatment for patients with FJCs; this method shows promise as a conservative treatment option for patients with FJCs.

Effects of Workplace Violence on Emotional Distress.

The current study assessed the effects of workplace violence (WPV) and fear related to WPV on community mental health (CMH) workers' emotional distress. This cross-sectional study used structural equation modeling (SEM) and comprised participants who were CMH workers in Korea. We used WPV questionnaires and the Korean version of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® item bank to evaluate emotional distress. SEM data from 763 workers revealed significant positive effects of WPV on anxiety (ß = 0.23, p = 0.009) and anger (ß = 0.26, p = 0.007), and significant positive effects of fear related to WPV on anxiety (ß = 0.21, p = 0.004) and anger (ß = 0.19, p = 0.002). Preventive measures significantly mediated the relationship between WPV and emotional distress and between fear related to WPV and emotional distress. Findings verified the relationship between WPV and workers' emotional distress and the mediating role of preventive measures. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(4), 24-32.].

Nursing students' experiences regarding physical restraint use in long-term care facilities: A qualitative descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Despite many harmful effects, physical restraints are still used in long-term care facilities. Most existing studies have focused on staff. Nursing students observe staff's use of restraints during gerontological nursing practicums, but there are few studies on nursing students' experiences regarding restraint use in long-term care settings. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore nursing students' experiences with physical restraint use in order to enhance nursing education and improve care quality in long-term care facilities. METHODS: Using convenience sampling method, three nursing schools from three provinces were recruited. Twenty-six senior undergraduate nursing students who had taken a gerontological nursing practicum course participated in this study. A qualitative descriptive method was utilized to provide a clear account of the students' experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified, which included overuse of restraints, ambivalent response to restraints, becoming accustomed to restraints, and lack of education regarding restraints. Students frequently observed the use of various restraints, which elicited both negative and positive responses, ultimately leading to their desensitization to the overuse of restraints. They expressed a lack of knowledge and educational needs regarding restraint reduction. CONCLUSION: Nursing students encountered the overuse of various restraints, exhibited ambivalent responses, and became desensitized to this practice in long-term care facilities. They perceived a lack of education and educational needs regarding restraint reduction. This study adds important new knowledge to existing literature and provides important insights into restraint use in long-term care facilities. Future studies need to develop and evaluate educational programs for restraint-free and person-centered care targeting nursing students. Long-term care facilities should offer organizational support and implement continuous mandatory training to promote restraint-free care.

COG-imposed Golgi functional integrity determines the onset of dark-induced senescence.

Plant survival depends on dynamic stress-response pathways in changing environments. To uncover pathway components, we screened an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized transgenic line containing a stress-inducible luciferase construct and isolated a constitutive expression mutant. The mutant is the result of an amino acid substitution in the seventh subunit of the hetero-octameric conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex of Arabidopsis thaliana. Complementation studies verified the Golgi localization of cog7, and stress tests established accelerated dark-induced carbon deprivation/senescence of the mutant compared with wild-type plants. Multiomics and biochemical analyses revealed accelerated induction of protein ubiquitination and autophagy, and a counterintuitive increased protein N-glycosylation in senescencing cog7 relative to wild-type. A revertant screen using the overexpressor (FOX)-hunting system established partial, but notable rescue of cog7 phenotypes by COG5 overexpression, and conversely premature senescence in reduced COG5 expressing lines. These findings identify COG-imposed Golgi functional integrity as a main player in ensuring cellular survival under energy-limiting conditions.

Technology-based interactive communication simulation for Korean nurses: A randomized controlled repeated-measures design.

BACKGROUND: Effective and standardized technology-based communication simulations addressing diverse clinical situations for novice nurses are limited. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the efficacy of the Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses on communication competency (knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and clarity), compassion, and assertiveness among novice nurses. DESIGN: We used a randomized controlled repeated-measures design. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention (Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses) or attention control group and completed the assigned program, the questionnaire thrice (i.e., before, immediately after, and four weeks after the program), and the e-simulation twice (i.e., immediately after and four weeks after the program). SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Korean nurses with six months to two years of experience recruited from five secondary and tertiary hospitals participated in the study at a private, quiet place of their choice. METHODS: The intervention comprises two simulation cases across different formats: (1) an interactive communication simulation for various clinical situations followed by a tailored debriefing; and (2) a video showing a conflict between a nurse and caregiver and between nurses, followed by a self-reflection activity. Communication skills and clarity were also evaluated by raters. Data analyses included descriptive analyses, t-tests, chi-square tests, and a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: In total, 142 nurses (73 in the intervention and 69 in the attention control groups) participated in the programs, and 128 participated through the four-week follow-up. Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses significantly improved communication knowledge and self-efficacy and compassion among novice nurses compared to the attention control program, and its effects were maintained for four weeks. The group difference in communication skills and clarity evaluated by the raters was also significant. CONCLUSION: Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses is effective in enhancing the communication competence of novice nurses. Future studies should analyze assertiveness in Korean healthcare settings.

Workplace Violence Experienced by Community Mental Health Workers.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to 1) investigate the prevalence of workplace violence and workers' emotional distress, 2) explore factors associated with workplace violence, and 3) assess workers' needs for preventive measures. A total of 763 community mental health workers participated in Korea. Among them, 85.85% of workers experienced workplace violence, including verbal (74.31%), emotional (66.45%), infectious (47.44%), informational (42.60%), sexual (32.50%), and physical (23.72%) abuse. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that sex, occupation, certification, and working institution were significantly associated with workplace violence. Workplace violence affects workers' depression, anger, and anxiety negatively. The most-needed preventive measure is a two-person home visit.

[Determinants of Problem Drinking by Regional Variation among Adult Males in Single-Person Households: Geographically Weighted Regression Model Analysis].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify regional differences in problem drinking among adult males in single-person households and predict the determinants. METHODS: This study used data from the 2019 Community Health Survey. Geographically weighted regression analysis was performed on 8,625 adult males in single-person households who had been consuming alcohol for the past year. The Si-Gun-Gu was selected as the spatial unit. RESULTS: The top 10 regions for problem drinking among adult males in single-person households were located in the Jeju-do and Jeollanam-do areas near the southern coast, whereas the bottom 10 regions were located in the Incheon and northern Gyeonggi-do areas. Smoking, economic activity, and educational level were common factors affecting problem drinking among this population. Among the determinants of regional disparities in problem drinking among adult males in single-person households, personal factors included age, smoking, depression level, economic activity, educational level, and leisure activity, while regional factors included population and karaoke venue ratio. CONCLUSION: Problem drinking among adult males in single-person households varies by region, and the variables affecting each particular area differ. Therefore, it is necessary to develop interventions tailored to individuals and regions that reflect the characteristics of each region by prioritizing smoking, economic activity, and educational level as the common factors.

Effects of Positive Psychotherapy for People with Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study evaluates positive psychotherapy's effects on the well-being and psychiatric symptoms of people with psychosis. A systematic search was conducted using 10 electronic databases according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A meta-analysis was performed using the R 4.2.0 program to estimate the effect size. Seventeen studies were included in the systematic review and 14 in meta-analysis. Positive psychotherapy for people with psychosis had significant effects on subjective and psychological well-being and psychiatric symptoms. Further, country, age, and session were significant moderators. Thus, positive psychotherapy improves the well-being and psychiatric symptoms of people with psychosis.

Pain, disability, and MRI changes in lumbar disc herniation patients treated with integrative medicine: Ten-year results of an observational study.

BACKGROUND: To date, a 10-year follow-up study on complementary and alternative medical treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LDH) has never been conducted. Therefore, we aimed to perform a prospective 10-year follow-up study on the integrated treatment of LDH in Korea. METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients from the baseline study, who initially met the LDH diagnostic criteria with a chief complaint of radiating pain and received integrated treatment, were recruited for this follow-up study. The 10-year follow-up was conducted from February 2018 to March 2018 on pain, disability, satisfaction, quality of life, and changes in herniated disc, muscles, and fat through magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were included in this follow-up study. Visual analogue scale score for lower back pain and radiating leg pain were maintained at a significantly lower level than the baseline level. Significant improvements in Oswestry disability index and quality of life were consistently present. MRI confirmed that disc herniation size was reduced over the 10-year follow-up. In total, 95.38% of the patients were either "satisfied" or "extremely satisfied" with the treatment outcomes and 89.23% of the patients claimed their condition "improved" or "highly improved" at the 10-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced pain and improved disability was maintained over 10 years in patients with LDH who were treated with nonsurgical Korean medical treatment 10 years ago. Nonsurgical traditional Korean medical treatment for LDH produced beneficial long-term effects, but future large-scale randomized controlled trials for LDH are needed. STUDY REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03426215.

Lack of continuity of care experienced by people diagnosed with schizophrenia in South Korea.

People diagnosed with schizophrenia (PDS) will find seamlessly coordinated services and care in their communities if they are delivered with a high level of continuity of care (COC). Most studies of COC were conducted in Western countries that initiated deinstitutionalisation several decades ago. Limited studies highlight experiences of COC among PDS who live in societies still heavily relying on institutionalised care, such as prolonged hospitalisation, like South Korea where PDS stay in psychiatric hospitals over 100 days on average. This qualitative study explored COC that PDS experienced in South Korea. We focused on cross-boundary COC, which refers to service coordination at a given moment, and longitudinal COC, which refers to care over a period of time. Twenty-one PDS completed in-depth interviews from June to August 2017. Fifteen participants were male (71.4%), and ages ranged from 26 to 71. We used grounded theory techniques for data analysis, including initial open coding, in vivo coding, constant comparison and axial coding. Findings include that PDS experienced poor longitudinal COC when discharge planning during hospitalisation was absent, which undermined their ability to live independently. Poor employment support effectively undermined recovery even if PDS worked hard to attain economic self-sufficiency. As for cross-boundary COC, poor communication between psychiatrists and providers offering psychiatric rehabilitation services was a barrier. PDS in general had difficulties locating needed psychiatric rehabilitation services in the community. The lack of COC appeared to arise from particular sociocultural contexts, including poor self-determination in consumer-provider relationships, families' lack of knowledge and support, and discrimination and prejudice. Despite experiences with discrimination, no participants appeared to have internalised messages that they are 'less than' those without mental illnesses. Findings highlight the significance of multi-pronged approaches to increase COC, which can effectively link PDS, families, psychiatrists and psychiatric rehabilitation service providers.

Prescription rate and treatment patterns for allergic rhinitis from 2010 to 2018 in South Korea: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There has been little investigation on how guidelines for allergic rhinitis (AR) treatment are applied in current clinical practice. We aimed to analyze prescription trends and patterns for AR treatment according to patient characteristics over a 9-year period in Korea. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data from the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service National Patient Sample from 2010 to 2018. We analyzed 1,719,194 patients with AR as the principal diagnosis. Prescription rates of antihistamines, steroids, and other drugs; combination prescriptions; and first-choice prescriptions were analyzed. RESULTS: The prescription rate of first-generation antihistamines decreased over the years (2010: 29.13; 2018: 23.41). By contrast, the prescription rate of systemic steroids (2010: 23.60; 2018: 28.70), nasal steroids (2010: 9.70; 2018: 14.67), and leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) (2010: 11.13; 2018: 26.56) increased. The prescription rate of steroids was lower in patients aged 0-5 years and ≥ 65 years than in other age groups and that of LTRAs was the highest in patients aged 0-5 years. The rate of combination prescribing antihistamines and nasal steroids increased (2010: 7.99; 2018: 12.09). The rate of first-choice prescriptions with antihistamines and nasal steroids also increased (2010: 4.72; 2018: 7.24). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirmed a decrease in antihistamine prescriptions, especially with first-generation, and an increase in steroid and LTRA prescriptions in patients with AR in Korea. Regarding prescription patterns, steroids were increasingly prescribed in combination with antihistamines. However, the trend was opposite in the 0-5 years and ≥ 65 years groups.

Scene Adaptive Online Surveillance Video Synopsis via Dynamic Tube Rearrangement Using Octree.

Visual surveillance produces a significant amount of raw video data that can be time consuming to browse and analyze. In this work, we present a video synopsis methodology called "scene adaptive online video synopsis via dynamic tube rearrangement using octree (SSOcT)" that can effectively condense input surveillance videos. Our method entailed summarizing the input video by analyzing scene characteristics and determining an effective spatio-temporal 3D structure for video synopsis. For this purpose, we first analyzed the attributes of each extracted tube with respect to scene geometry and complexity. Then, we adaptively grouped the tubes using an online grouping algorithm that exploits these scene characteristics. Finally, the tube groups were dynamically rearranged using the proposed octree-based algorithm that efficiently inserted and refined tubes containing high spatio-temporal movements in real time. Extensive video synopsis experimental results are provided, demonstrating the effectiveness and efficiency of our method in summarizing real-world surveillance videos with diverse scene characteristics.

The DME demethylase regulates sporophyte gene expression, cell proliferation, differentiation, and meristem resurrection.

The flowering plant life cycle consists of alternating haploid (gametophyte) and diploid (sporophyte) generations, where the sporophytic generation begins with fertilization of haploid gametes. In Arabidopsis, genome-wide DNA demethylation is required for normal development, catalyzed by the DEMETER (DME) DNA demethylase in the gamete companion cells of male and female gametophytes. In the sporophyte, postembryonic growth and development are largely dependent on the activity of numerous stem cell niches, or meristems. Analyzing Arabidopsis plants homozygous for a loss-of-function dme-2 allele, we show that DME influences many aspects of sporophytic growth and development. dme-2 mutants exhibited delayed seed germination, variable root hair growth, aberrant cellular proliferation and differentiation followed by enhanced de novo shoot formation, dysregulation of root quiescence and stomatal precursor cells, and inflorescence meristem (IM) resurrection. We also show that sporophytic DME activity exerts a profound effect on the transcriptome of developing Arabidopsis plants, including discrete groups of regulatory genes that are misregulated in dme-2 mutant tissues, allowing us to potentially link phenotypes to changes in specific gene expression pathways. These results show that DME plays a key role in sporophytic development and suggest that DME-mediated active DNA demethylation may be involved in the maintenance of stem cell activities during the sporophytic life cycle in Arabidopsis.

Nursing Students' Experiences with Computer Simulation-Based Communication Education.

Simulation-based communication education has improved nursing students' communication knowledge and skills. However, communication patterns that students commonly exhibit in simulated situations and students' responses to specific clinical situations have not been systematically examined. The specific aims of the present study were (1) to identify non-therapeutic communication patterns that nursing students exhibit in simulated situations in the computer simulation-based education (ComEd) program, and (2) explore students' responses to challenging clinical situations. This study used a mixed-method research design and a convenience sampling method to recruit participants. Frequency analysis and a conventional content analysis method were used to analyze answers provided by participants. A total of 66 students from four Korean nursing schools participated in the study. "False reassurance" was found to be the most common non-therapeutic communication pattern used by nursing students. Nursing students had difficulty in clinical situations such as reporting a patient's condition to a doctor, communicating with a patient and perform basic nursing skills at the same time, and managing conflicts between patients. Technology-based communication simulation programs, which reflect various clinical situations, are considered a new alternative that can supplement the limitations of clinical practicum and improve the quality of nursing education.

The efficacy of group logotherapy on community-dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms: A mixed methods study.

PURPOSE: This mixed-methods study evaluated a group logotherapy program's efficacy on Korean older adults with depressive symptoms. DESIGN AND METHODS: An intervention group (n = 23) participated in eight sessions of group logotherapy; a control group (n = 21) received the usual care. Participants completed the pretest, posttest, and 4-week follow-up questionnaires. Ten participants also had focus group or individual interviews. FINDINGS: A linear mixed model showed significant differences between groups in terms of changes in purpose in life, depression, self-esteem, and quality of life over time. These quantitative findings were supported and enriched by qualitative data.

[Development and Evaluation of the Life Respect Enhancement Program for Nursing Officers].

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to develop the Life Respect Enhancement Program and test its effectiveness on suicide knowledge, suicide intervention skills, self-efficacy in suicide prevention, and gatekeeper behaviors among nursing officers. METHODS: The program was developed according to the ADDIE model and finalized after practical need analysis, expert verification, and a preliminary study. The present study used a concurrent embedded mixed-method research design. To compare the effects of the Program and the control group on the outcome variables, a quantitative study was conducted using a nonequivalent control group with a pretest-posttest design. Quantitative data were analyzed using χ²-tests, t-tests, and RM-ANOVA. A qualitative study was conducted using FGI with six members of the experimental group 3 months after intervention completion. RESULTS: In total, 56 nursing officers participated in the 3-month follow-up test. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in suicide knowledge, suicide intervention skills, and self-efficacy in suicide prevention scores at post-test. The significant group differences in suicide knowledge and suicide intervention skills were maintained at 3 months. The gatekeeper behavior scores of the experimental group were also significantly higher than those of the control group at 3 months. Qualitative analysis of the participants' experiences with the Program yielded two themes and seven sub-themes. CONCLUSION: The newly developed Life Respect Enhancement Program demonstrates significant effects on suicide knowledge, suicide intervention skills, and gatekeeper behaviors. Thus, this program is recommended to promote suicide prevention competencies among nursing officers in military clinical settings.

Who Cares for Visiting Nurses? Workplace Violence against Home Visiting Nurses from Public Health Centers in Korea.

Visiting nurses are commonly exposed to workplace violence, but there is a lack of research on violence against these nurses. The purpose of this study was to identify visiting nurses' workplace violence experiences during home visits. This study used a mixed method design. Survey data of 357 home visiting nurses from public health centers were collected for the quantitative data, and a focus group interview was conducted with six visiting nurses for the qualitative data. The quantitative data were analyzed using logistic regression, and the qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Younger, temporary visiting nurses and those who had previously been exposed to violent clients had a higher risk of workplace violence. The violence visiting nurses faced included not only violence during the visits but also unpredicted danger and harassment after the visit. After experiencing a violent event, visiting nurses' attitudes and emotions changed toward nursing services. Visiting nurses were likely to deal with violence at the individual level given the insufficient organizational support system. An organizational-level safety management system should be established based on the characteristics of workplace violence risks and the nurses' experiences in this study.

Efficacy of the computer simulation-based, interactive communication education program for nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based education using standardized patients or high fidelity patient simulators is resource-intensive and can be limited in its consistency and repeatability. Standardized, interactive, and effective computer simulation-based education programs that improve communication skills among nursing students are greatly needed. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to (1) compare the efficacy of a computer simulation-based, interactive communication education (ComEd) program and an attention control (AC) program on communication knowledge, learning self-efficacy, and communication efficacy at baseline and twice after the intervention (immediately after and two weeks after); and (2) assess the acceptability and satisfaction of the ComEd reported by the participants. DESIGN: This study employed a mixed-method, randomized controlled design with repeated measures. METHODS: Students were recruited from four nursing schools and randomly assigned to either the intervention or AC group. They received either the ComEd or AC program installed on a tablet PC or a desktop computer in the classrooms and completed a 15-item communication knowledge scale, 10-item learning self-efficacy scale, 22-item communication efficacy scale, and 14-item satisfaction scale. In addition, six open-ended questions were used to help participants reflect on their learning experiences and explore their satisfaction with the programs. The Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model was the main model employed to examine the effects of the ComEd program over time in comparison with the AC program, and the content analysis method was used for qualitative data. RESULTS: In total, 131 nursing students (66 in ComEd and 65 in AC) completed the programs and 127 participated through the two-week follow-up test. Compared to the AC group, the ComEd group significantly improved communication knowledge, learning self-efficacy, and communication efficacy; these effects were maintained at two weeks. The ComEd program was well accepted by the participants. CONCLUSIONS: The ComEd is a promising approach because it is highly accessible, consistent, and repeatable, and has positive learning effects.