Relationship between optimism, emotional intelligence, and academic resilience of nursing students: the mediating effect of self-directed learning competency.

Background: The evolution toward future education following the 4th industrial revolution and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have changed nursing education dramatically. Online classes have become a new paradigm of education, and are expected to develop and be maintained in various forms even after the end of COVID-19. Therefore, attention is focused on finding ways to improve learners' achievements in a distance learning environment. This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of self-directed learning competency on the relationships between optimism, emotional intelligence and academic resilience among nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was conducted using convenience sampling of 195 nursing students in South Korea. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, multiple regression, and mediation analysis using SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. Results: There were significant positive correlations among self-directed learning competency, optimism, emotional intelligence and academic resilience. The self-directed learning competency acts as a mediator in explaining relationship between optimism, emotional intelligence and academic resilience, respectively. Conclusion: This study provides the evidence for the role of self-directed learning competency in the relationship between optimism, emotional intelligence and academic resilience in nursing students. Rapid changes in education are inevitable due to changes in clinical settings and the impact of repeated infectious disease outbreaks including the COVID-19 pandemic. This study suggests strengthening positive psychology and self-directed learning capability of nursing students as a strategy to prepare for changes in education and clinical areas.

Factors influencing emergency nurses' infection control practices related to coronavirus disease 2019 in Korea.

BACKGROUND: When an infectious disease breaks out, emergency nurses are the front-line specialists. Infection control by emergency nurses is important to minimize the risk of infectious disease and to improve the infection control practices of emergency nurses. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the factors influencing infection control practice related to COVID-19. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study design used survey methods for data collection, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 161 emergency nurses working in five hospitals selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected from November 10 to November 26 in 2020. RESULTS: Infection control practice related to COVID-19 was affected by the infection prevention environment (ß = 0.24, p = .002), monitoring of wearing Personal Protective Equipment (ß = 0.19, p = .006), knowledge about COVID-19 (ß = 0.18, p = .009), perceived severity related to COVID-19 (ß = 0.18, p = .010), and perceived barrier related to COVID-19 (ß = -0.15, p = .033). CONCLUSION: Creating safe infection prevention measures and revitalizing personal protective equipment monitoring are necessary to improve infection control practices. A systematic infection control education program is needed to improve knowledge about COVID-19, emphasize its perceived severity, and identify and eliminate perceived barriers.

University Students' Sleep and Mental Health Correlates in South Korea.

Sleep closely relates to emotional instability. Recent studies report an increase in young adults' poor sleep and associated mental health problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and so on. However, the information on related modifiable factors of these variables is still lacking. This cross-sectional study examined the association of sleep patterns and sleep quality with ADHD and depression in university students. A total of 290 participants aged 18−27 (Mean = 22.0, SD = 2.1) completed a structured questionnaire consisting of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Adult ADHD, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scales (CES-D). Of the participants, more than half (52.7%) slept 6 to 8 h per night, and 37% slept less than 6 h. Only 10% reported they went to bed before midnight; 40% went to sleep after 2 am. The mean PSQI score was 5.9 (SD = 2.9) for total participants and significantly correlated with ADHD scores and with depression scores. After adjusting for covariates, PSQI significantly aligned with increased risk for ADHD (ß = 0.29, p = 0.036) and depression (ß = 0.67; p < 0.001). Late bedtime was a significant factor for depression only. Sleep quality rather than sleep pattern significantly related to ADHD scores, whereas both sleep quality and bedtime aligned with depression scores. Additional studies are needed to develop strategic interventions for university students with ADHD and depression as well as underlying mechanisms.

Effect of the Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving Skills, and Grit on the Disaster Triage Ability of Emergency Room Nurses.

In this descriptive study, we aimed to identify factors related to emergency room nurses' disaster triage ability. A total of 166 nurses who worked for emergency departments of general hospitals completed a structured questionnaire consisting of the Disaster Triage Ability Scale (DTAS), the Strategic Thinking Scale (STS), the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI), and the Original Grit Scale (Grit-O). The data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0 by means of descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, the Scheffé post hoc test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Participants' DTAS averaged 14.03 ± 4.28 (Range 0-20) and showed a statistically significant difference according to their experience of triage education (t = 2.26, p = 0.022) as a disaster triage-related attribute. There were significant correlations among DTAS and confidence in the PSI (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), the approach-avoidance style in the PSI (r = -0.28, p < 0.001), and futurism in the STS (r = 0.19, p = 0.019). The strongest predictor was confidence in the PSI; in addition, 14.1% of the DTAS was explained by confidence in the PSI, approach-avoidance in the PSI, and futurism in the STS. Emergency room nurses who received triage education showed a higher level of the DTAS and their DTAS could be explained by problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement triage education programs integrated with stress management to improve the approach-avoidance style to ensure better problem-solving skills and to utilize various training methods to enhance confidence to improve problem-solving skills and futurism as part of strategic thinking.

What Factors Influence on Dermatology-Related Life Quality of Psoriasis Patients in South Korea?

This descriptive study aimed to identify factors that can influence the quality of life of psoriasis patients. A total of 118 psoriasis outpatients completed a questionnaire consisting of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Psoriasis Life Stress Inventory (PLSI), Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community form (MUIS-C), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D), and Self-Reported Severity Score (SRSS). The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was calculated. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 26.0. The average score of the DLQI was 14.19 ± 6.83 (range 0-30); the DLQI showed statistically significant differences according to age (F = 4.02, p = 0.021) and smoking type (F = 7.49, p = 0.001). The dermatology-related quality of life was significantly affected by psoriasis-related stress (ß = 0.37, p < 0.001), depression (ß = 0.35, p < 0.001), and subjective severity (ß = 0.19, p = 0.005); these variables explained 60.7% of the variance in the dermatology-related quality of life (F = 61.34, p < 0.001). The results demonstrated that psoriasis-related stress, depression, and perceived severity of psoriasis should be considered when developing nursing interventions to improve patients' quality of life.

Quality of Gerontological Nursing and Ageism: What Factors Influence on Nurses' Ageism in South Korea?

With the aging of the population, age-related problems are emerging, which has caused age discrimination. Particularly, most nurses care for a large number of old patients in the clinical setting. Nurses' attitude toward the clients has a significant effect on the quality of nursing, so it is time to identify their perspective to the aged. The quality of nursing could greatly depend on who provides and how to provide care. If older patients meet nursing staff with an ageist perspective, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they experience negative attitudes toward them during served health care, and trust cannot be formed, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of medical services. This study aimed to identify factors influencing nurses' ageism attitudes. A total of 162 general hospital nurses completed a questionnaire consisting of the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), the Contact with Elderly People (CEP), the Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS), and the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé post hoc, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. The average score of FSA was 2.63 ± 0.36 (range 1-4); FSA showed a statistical difference according to cohabitation with an old adult in the past (t = 2.42, p = 0.017). Factors influencing FSA were the fear of old people (ß = 0.34, p < 0.001) and fear of loss (ß = 0.28, p < 0.001) of the AAS; and these variables explained 21.1% of FSA (F = 22.56, p < 0.001). Based on these results, the development and application of nursing education focused on intergenerational contact is needed in order to reduce the anxiety about aging and to acquire a high quality of gerontological nursing with a reduction of ageism.

What affects the subjective sleep quality of hospitalized elderly patients?

AIM: The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting the subjective sleep quality in elderly inpatients. METHODS: The participants were 290 older adults admitted in three general hospitals. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of scales for general characteristics, sleep quality, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living and depression. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way anova, Scheffé post-hoc, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in sleep quality according to age, education level, marital status, monthly income and number of cohabitants. The most powerful predictor of sleep quality was depression (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.30). Five variables, depression, perceived health status, diagnosis, number of cohabitants and duration of hospitalization; explained 43.0% of the total variance in sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly inpatients suffered from low sleep quality, and depression affected their sleep. We should develop and apply hospital-tailored sleep interventions considering older adults' depression, and then hospitalized older adults' sleep could improve. Furthermore, it is useful to identify other sleep-related factors. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 471-479.

Comparison of quality of sleep, depression, and life satisfaction between older adults in nursing homes and long-term care hospitals in Korea.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to identify the sleep quality, depression, and life satisfaction between nursing home and long-term care hospital residents. METHODS: Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 61 nursing home residents and 74 long-term care hospital residents. Descriptive statistics, t-test, χ2 -test, anova, Pearson's correlation were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The residents living in a nursing home showed higher subjective health status and sleep quality than long-term care hospital residents. Depression did not show a significant difference between them. However, there was a significant difference in depression score by subjective health status. Sleep quality and depression showed a significant negative correlation for both residents. In terms of depression and life satisfaction, nursing home residents showed a significant negative correlation, and long-term care hospital residents showed a significant positive correlation. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that environmental management is essential to enhance sleep quality, thus depression and subjective health status will be improved. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 142-149.

Critical thinking dispositions in baccalaureate nursing students.

AIM: This paper reports an investigation into the critical thinking disposition of students enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing programme at a university in Korea. BACKGROUND: Critical thinking may be summarized as a skilled process that conceptualizes and applies information from observation, experience, reflection, inference and communication in a technical manner. It is more of a rational act used as an instrument rather than as a result. Critical thinking is a core competency in nursing and has been widely discussed in nursing education. However, the results of previous research on the effectiveness of nursing education in improving students' critical thinking have been inconsistent. METHODS: A longitudinal design was used with a convenience sample of 60 nursing students; 32 students participated four times in completing a questionnaire each March from 1999 to 2002. The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory was administered to measure disposition to critical thinking. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in critical thinking disposition score by academic year (F = 7.54, P = 0.0001). Among the subscales, open-mindedness, self-confidence, and maturity also showed a statistically significant difference by academic year (P = 0.0194, 0.0041, 0.0044). CONCLUSION: Teaching strategies to enhance critical thinking should be developed, in addition to further research on the effect of the nursing curriculum on students' critical thinking. Moreover, survey instruments could be adjusted to incorporate characteristics of the Korean culture.

[A longitudinal study of critical thinking dispositions & critical thinking skills in baccalaureate nursing students].

PURPOSE: This longitudinal study was done to investigate critical thinking dispositions and critical thinking skills of nursing students enrolled in a 4-year baccalaureate program at a university in Korea. METHOD: The study used a longitudinal design. A convenience sample of 32 nursing students who were completing their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year in a baccalaureate program at a selected university was included. The subjects completed the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI), the California Critical Thinking Skill Test (CCTST), and a demographic questionnaire. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, repeated ANOVA, adjusted p-values, and Pearson's correlation coefficient with SAS 8.12. RESULTS: There was statistically significant improvement according to academic year in the CCTDI total mean score (F=7.54, p= .0001) and subscales of Open-mindedness, Self-confidence, and Maturity. Contrarily, no statistically significant difference was found in the CCTST total mean score and subscales' score except Analysis. CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between critical thinking dispositions and skills, so it will be necessary to repeat a study like this, and the translated instruments should be modified by considering Korean culture.