Smi Choi-Kwon

BACKGROUND: Patients with brain tumors continue to exhibit a lower quality of life than the general population, even after an extended period after surgery. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the postoperative quality of life of patients with brain tumors in South Korea and explore its determinants. METHODS: This study used a descriptive correlational design and collected data using questionnaires and electronic medical records. The collected data included the participants' characteristics, anxiety and depression levels, uncertainty, social support, and quality of life. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 29.0, with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 117 subjects, 84 (71.8%) had benign tumors, and 33 (28.2%) had malignant tumors, with an average postoperative duration of 42.7 (51.0) months. Thirty-four participants (29%) reported experiencing depression, whereas the average uncertainty score was 91.8 (12.0) points. The average quality-of-life score was 67.52 (20.31) points, indicating a lower quality of life compared with the general population. Lower average monthly income (β = 0.174, P = .044), higher depression levels (β = −0.413, P < .001), and greater uncertainty (β = −0.230, P = .025) were associated with reduced quality of life. In terms of social support, family support was linked to quality of life but did not have a significant influence (P = .780), whereas healthcare provider support significantly affected quality of life (P = .015). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the persistent decline in the postoperative quality of life of patients with brain tumors due to depression and uncertainty, emphasizing the need for healthcare provider support. Clarifying these challenges, it may serve as a basis for developing nursing interventions to enhance survivors' long-term quality of life.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is highly effective in controlling blood pressure (BP). Although Na restriction is not a primary focus within the DASH diet, it is recommended that it be added to control BP. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the characteristics and BP-lowering effects of Na-restricted DASH diet interventions. We searched thirteen databases, namely, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, KoreaMed, KISS, KMbase, RISS, CINAHL, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Grey Literature Report, OpenGrey and PQDT Global, for articles published through May 2023. The randomised controlled trials assessing the BP-lowering effect of the Na-restricted DASH diet in adults aged 18 years and older were included. The study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO registry (CRD42023409996). The risk of bias in the included studies was also assessed. Nine articles were included in this review. Interventions were categorised into three types: feeding, provision and education, and the study results were compared by intervention type. BP was significantly reduced in two of the three feeding studies, one of the three provisional studies and none of the educational studies. In eight studies, effect sizes varied among both systolic BP (–7·7 to −2·4) and diastolic BP (–8·3 to 0·1). Six studies showed an overall high risk of bias. In conclusion, Na-restricted DASH may have beneficial effects on BP control. Additionally, compared with control interventions, feeding interventions appeared to have a greater BP-lowering effect. Further high-quality studies are needed to improve the quality of the evidence.

Purpose: This study investigated the dietary behavior of experienced shiftwork nurses and aimed to identify factors related to dietary behavior. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis based on the Shift Work Nurses’ Health and Turnover study among Korean nurses. In total, 247 experienced shiftwork nurses were included in this study. The participants’ dietary behavior, depression, level of occupational stress, fatigue, physical activity, and general characteristics were measured. Using SPSS ver. 28.0, data were analyzed to obtain descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients. The independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple regression analysis were also conducted. Results: The dietary behavior score of the participants using the Mini-Dietary Assessment Index was 29.35±5.67. Thirty percent of the participants were depressed, the participants experienced moderate occupational stress, and 74.1% of the participants engaged in an inadequate amount of physical activity. The factors influencing shiftwork nurses’ dietary behavior were having child(ren) (β=.16, p=.027), depression (β=–.13, p=.032), level of occupational stress related to occupational climate (β=–.13, p=.035), and an inadequate amount of physical activity (β=–.17, p=.006). These factors explained 10.4% of the variance in experienced shiftwork nurses’ dietary behavior scores. Conclusion: Experienced nurses with child(ren) tended to have healthier diets. However, a higher level of occupational stress related to occupational climate, depression, and engaging in an inadequate amount of physical activity were associated with a higher risk of having an unhealthy diet. Therefore, strategies are needed to encourage physical activity and alleviate adverse occupational climate and depression among experienced nurses.

유민정, et al. J Korean Acad Nurs Adm. 2023 Jun;29(3):278-287. https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2023.29.3.278

Aims: This study investigated health problems, turnover intention, and actual turnover among shift work nurses. While turnover intention is often used as a proxy variable for turnover, the relationship between these variables requires clarification. This study tested for relevant associations using prospective longitudinal data with a time lag of 12 months. We also tested for associations between health problems (sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression) and turnover intentions/turnover, with a focus on the mediating role of turnover intention. Methods: This study conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Shift Work Nurses’ Health and Turnover project, which is a prospective longitudinal cohort study. We analyzed health problems, turnover intention, and actual turnover. The data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, the Pearson’s chi-squared test, independent t-test, univariable logistic regression, multiple logistic regression, and causal mediation. Results: Participants included 491 shift work female nurses. Of these, 112 (22.8%) had turnover intention, while 38 (7.7%) left their jobs within the 12-month period of investigation. Of the 112 with turnover intention, 22 left their jobs (OR 5.68. 95% CI 2.84–11.36). The logistic regression analysis showed that sleep disturbance and fatigue were associated with turnover intentions and actual turnover, while depression was only associated with turnover intention. The causal mediation analysis showed that turnover intention mediated the relationship between health problems (sleep disturbance and fatigue) and actual turnover (sleep disturbance OR 1.31, 95%CI = 1.02–1.60; fatigue OR 2.11, 95%CI = 1.50–2.68); sleep disturbance had a natural direct effect on actual turnover (OR 2.66, 95%CI,2.07–3.21). Conclusion: Turnover intention strongly predicted actual turnover. Sleep disturbances may result in turnover, even in cases without existing turnover intention. These findings highlight the need for early interventions aimed at preventing and alleviating sleep disturbances for shift work female nurses.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationships between occupational stress, sleep disturbance, and presenteeism in shiftwork nurses in South Korea.Design: This cross‐sectional study used survey data from 442 shiftwork nurses at two hospitals in South Korea. Data were collected between March 2018 and April 2020.Methods: A self‐reported questionnaire was used to assess shiftwork nurses’ demographic and job‐related information, presenteeism, occupational stress, and sleep disturbance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and the PROCESS macro.Findings: The mean presenteeism score was 39.52. Multiple regression analysis revealed that job insecurity, interpersonal conflict, occupational climate, lack of reward, and job demand are significantly associated with presenteeism. Sleep disturbance was related to presenteeism and had a moderating effect on the relationship between occupational stress and presenteeism.Conclusions: This study indicates that proper occupational climate, positive interpersonal relationships, and adequate sleep can reduce shiftwork presenteeism. Therefore, individual and organizational efforts to alleviate occupational stress and sleep disturbances are essential.Clinical relevance: Organizational support is needed to maintain a positive occupational climate and interpersonal relationships and ameliorate sleep disturbance among shiftwork nurses.

김소연, et al. J Korean Acad Nurs Adm. 2022 Dec;28(5):596-604. https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2022.28.5.596

COVID-19 was declared a worldwide pandemic in 2020; thus, preventing in-flight infection transmission is important for stopping global spread via air travel. Infection prevention (IP) performance among aircraft cabin crew is crucial for preventing in-flight transmission. We aimed to identify the level of IP performance and factors affecting IP performance among aircraft cabin crew during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. An online survey was conducted with 177 cabin crew members between August and September 2020. The survey assessed IP performance, and IP awareness, using a five-point Likert scale, and also evaluated simulation-based personal protective equipment (PPE) training experience, and organizational culture. The average IP performance score was 4.56 ± 0.44. Although the performance level for mask-wearing was high (4.73 ± 0.35), hand hygiene (HH) performance (4.47 ± 0.56) was low. Multivariate analysis showed that IP performance was significantly associated with IP awareness (p < 0.05) and simulation-based PPE training experience (p < 0.05). Since HH performance was relatively low, cabin crew and airlines should make efforts to improve HH performance. Furthermore, a high level of IP awareness and PPE training experience can improve IP performance among cabin crew members. Therefore, simulation-based PPE training and strategies to improve IP awareness are essential for preventing in-flight infection transmission.