Associations among daytime sleepiness, depression and suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of daytime sleepiness on depression and suicidal ideation in adolescent high-school students. A survey of 538 high school students aged 16-17 years attending two academic schools was conducted. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Beck Depression Inventory and the Scale for Suicide Ideation were used to assess subjects' daytime sleepiness, depression and suicidal ideation. The mean score for daytime sleepiness was 8.52, which indicates a sleep deficit. Significant positive correlations were found between daytime sleepiness and depression, between daytime sleepiness and suicidal ideation and between depression and suicidal ideation. Gender and depression were significant predictors of suicidal ideation, accounting for 48% of the variance in this measure. Depression acts as a mediator of the relationship between daytime sleepiness and suicidal ideation. High school students in Korea generally have insufficient sleep time and feel sleepy during the day; insufficient sleep during adolescence may be associated with depression and suicidal ideation.

Nursing students' experiences with facilitator in problem-based learning class.

PURPOSE: Problem-based learning (PBL) is now extensively utilized within contemporary nursing education. This study was done to explore the nursing students' experiences with facilitators in PBL classes as they transitioned from the first package to the fourth package during the entire sophomore year. METHODS: Twelve nursing students who had taken the course were interviewed after PBL classes. Data were analyzed using dimensional and comparative analysis based on Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory. RESULTS: Findings were organized into phases of participants' experiences with facilitators during PBL classes. They faced interpersonal relationship challenges with facilitators as they moved through the three phases of the continuum: feeling uneasy, overcoming the uneasiness, and valuing the help of the facilitator. In the beginning, uneasiness resulted from proximity to the facilitator. However, seven strategies were derived to respond to the uneasiness during the continuum: (a) searching for information about the facilitator, (b) making efforts to build a positive impression with the facilitator, (c) wanting facilitation, (d) weighing own experiences with facilitator against others' experiences, (e) following facilitator's guidance, (f) reflecting on facilitation experience, and (g) retaining facilitator's remarks. CONCLUSION: Participants overcame the uneasiness and accepted the facilitator as an advisor. These results are significant in providing optimal facilitation for students in PBL classes because they are based on the PBL participants' perspectives of facilitation. Further studies related to facilitators' experiences in the PBL are recommended.

Korean nurses' experience of preparing for and taking the national council licensure examination for registered nurses.

PURPOSE: This study explores the Korean nurses' experience of preparing for and taking the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) in order to provide a deeper understanding of their experiences. METHOD: The study utilizes the qualitative research method, Colaizzi's phenomenological methodology. Twenty-six Korean nurses were interviewed using semi-structured research questions and their interviews were analyzed. RESULTS: Seven clusters of themes emerged: (a) motivation; (b) flow in studying, (c) expansion of nursing knowledge for nursing practice; (d) reflections of nursing practice and attitude toward themselves; (e) time management struggles; (f) increased self-confidence and self-esteem; (g) setting a new life direction and new challenges. In general, our analyses demonstrated that the nurses' experiences of preparing for and taking the NCLEX-RN showed positive impacts on the nurses, psychologically, intellectually and interpersonally. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that developing NCLEX-RN preparation programs is needed to promote global capabilities for nurses and nursing students. Further studies on the effect of exposure to the NCLEX-RN exam while nursing school for nurses is recommended.

Hope from the perspective of people with schizophrenia (Korea).

Studies about hope, a major contributing factor to recovery, are relatively rare in mental health literature. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the nature of hope in 25 Koreans with schizophrenia (16 men and 9 women). Participants were asked to respond to three questions about hope: What does hope mean to you? What do you hope for? Where does hope come from for you? Hope in people with schizophrenia is similar to hope in people without schizophrenia; hope comes from loving and being loved in interpersonal relationships.

The process of change in the sexual attitudes of sexual offenders in Korea.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the process of change in the sexual views and attitudes of sexual offenders, in light of their experiences. METHODS: Data were collected from six sexual offenders who were accused of sexual offenses. All collected data by in-depth and direct observation were analyzed by Corbin and Strauss' Ground theory methodology. RESULTS: Participants were sexually aroused as a result of their distorted knowledge of sex. They were stimulated by easy access to sex and surrendered to it. Their intervening conditions were legal regulation, voice of conscience and social support. Participants were responding to the problem through strategies. These strategies were: reflecting self, distracting one's attention, and building a stable relationship with a woman. They resulted in stigma of being a sexual offender, alteration in sexual views, confidence and futility. The core variable revealing the essence of the sexual offenders' experiences was reconstructing sound sex values. CONCLUSION: The results of the study can provide school nurses and sex educators with useful knowledge grounded in actual sexual offense cases, not only to refine the interventions for sexual offenders but also to prevent future sexual offenses.