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Extensive research on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is underway. However, there are not many studies on the use of masks, which are essential for infection prevention. This descriptive study aimed to understand the factors influencing the use of masks by Korean adults during COVID‐19. We conducted an online survey with 280 adults in South Korea between August and September 2020, analyzing the data using SPSS version 24.0. Multiple regression analyses were performed to understand the factors that influence individuals' use of masks. The participants' perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, other people's dignity, compliance with public order, reasonable decision making, and subjective norms explained 21.6% of mask use. Mask use is expected to increase further if people perceive a personal need to wear masks, if their peers perceive the importance of mask use, and if they possess civic consciousness that considers society as a whole. This paper makes a significant contribution to the field of public health, with evidence‐based recommendations for increasing mask use, going beyond simply attributing mask use to individual preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the relationships among communication competence, professional autonomy and clinical reasoning and to identify the factors that influence clinical reasoning competence in oncology nurses. Design: Cross‐sectional descriptive design. Methods: Participants included 147 oncology nurses with more than a year of clinical experience in cancer wards. The Global Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale, Schutzenhofer Professional Autonomy Scale and Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale (NCRS) were used to collect data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t‐test, one‐way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: Communication competence (r = 0.59) and professional autonomy (r = 0.46) showed significant positive relationships with clinical reasoning competence. Clinical experience, communication competence, age and professional autonomy were statistically significant predictors and explained 48.6% of clinical reasoning competence. Conclusions: The clinical reasoning competence of oncology nurses increases proportionally with their communication competence and professional autonomy. Therefore, oncology nurses must reinforce their communication competence and professional autonomy to enhance their clinical reasoning competence. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: The reinforcement of communication competence and professional autonomy is necessary for oncology nurses to enhance their clinical reasoning competence. In order to improve nurses' communication competence, practical‐focused communication education programmes must be designed and deployed systematically and periodically. In addition, to increase nurses' professional autonomy, it is necessary to expand their clinical experiences through the regular rotation of working units and to make institutional efforts to retain experienced nurses. Reporting Method: We have adhered to STROBE checklist. Patient or Public Contribution: Participants in the study were recruited online. They were informed of the study's purpose, method and usability and the survey could only be conducted if they consented to participate voluntarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper is a report of a study performed to identify the predictors of mammography uptake for Korean women according to the stage of change, as determined by the transtheoretical model. Background. Although breast cancer is the most common female cancer in South Korea, its early detection rate here is low when compared with other developed countries. The transtheoretical model can be used to facilitate health promotion based on individual health behaviour and to devise stage-tailored interventions. Method. The participants were a convenience sample of 920 women aged >/=40 years between December 2005 and February 2006. A cross-sectional design was used in which participants completed a questionnaire that consisted of measures of the transtheoretical model. To provide a standard of measure, the variables were converted from raw scores to standard scores and then to T scores (mean = 50,sd = 10). Logistic regression analysis was then used to estimate predictors of the stage of maintenance of mammography uptake. Findings. The most frequent stage of mammography uptake was 'contemplation'. Predictors of mammography uptake included decisional balance, commitment to regular screening and avoiding contact with the healthcare system. Commitment to regular screening and breast self-examination were strongly related to mammography maintenance. Conclusion. The results of this study can be used for the development of theory-based and empirically supported mammography uptake intervention strategies and programmes directed towards women aged >/=40 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship among neighbourhood safety, maternal depression and child behaviour problems among Korean children in South Korea. Using the 2019 Panel Study on Korean Children (N = 1127), we found that residing in less safe neighbourhoods was associated with higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. Additionally, results from mediation analysis showed that the relationships between neighbourhood safety and internalizing and externalizing problems were significantly mediated by maternal depression in South Korea. These findings suggest that maternal depression may be an important mechanism linking unsafe neighbourhoods to South Korean children's behaviour problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop and initially validate the Diabetes Self‐Stigma Scale for assessing self‐stigma in people with diabetes. Design: Scale development and evaluation. Methods: Participants were 399 patients with diabetes. In phase 1, initial items were generated based on the concept analysis of diabetes self‐stigma. Moreover, content validity was established by diabetes experts. Phase 2 evaluated structural validity through item analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was evaluated by examining stability and internal consistency. Results: The findings revealed that the self‐stigma scale for patients with diabetes is a valid and reliable instrument. The Diabetes Self‐Stigma Scale was confirmed with 16 items. It consists of four domains: comparative inability, social withdrawal, self‐devaluation and apprehensive feeling. The scale developed in this study can measure self‐stigma in diabetes patients and can be used as an intervention to reduce self‐stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current study specified the initial qualitative stage to develop an instrument that assesses whether patients with cancer in Korea are ready for the transition from hospital‐based to community‐based survivorship care, focusing on psychosocial and behavioral aspects. Methods: Individual interviews with cancer survivors, family members, and healthcare professionals in South Korea were conducted. Subsequently, analyses of qualitative data for creating items and pilot testing were performed to develop an instrument for Korean cancer survivors. Results: An item pool for an initial version of a new instrument called the "Preparedness for Transition to Survivorship Care Instrument (PTSCI)" was developed by creating 20 themes and 41 subthemes around each of the 401 codes. After assessing face validity, a set of 46 items was chosen. The 46 items were organized into 6 components: (1) physical, (2) cognitive, (3) psychological, (4) social, (5) health management, and (6) information. The Cronbach's alpha of the instrument in the pilot testing was 0.872. Discussion: The PTSCI offers an opportunity to identify the psychosocial and behavioral status of patients with cancer in the survivorship phase. This new instrument can be used to test psychosocial and behavioral interventions for individuals who are not ready for the survivorship care phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This is a descriptive longitudinal study conducted to identify the effects of the perception of child value by parents on parenting stress, controlling parenting attitudes, and children's self‐esteem. Methods: The present study targeted parents aged 19 years or older and their children who participated in the fourth through to the eighth Panel Study on Korean Children. The study examined the longitudinal relationship of the effect of parental factors on self‐esteem in children, and applied an actor‐partner interdependent model to analyze the effect of interactions with parents. Results: The paternal instrumental value had a partner effect on the rate of change in maternal parenting stress, while the maternal instrumental value of children had an actor effect on the rate of change in maternal parenting stress. The baseline value of parenting stress had an actor effect on the baseline value of controlling parenting attitudes, while the rate of change in maternal parenting stress had a partner effect on paternal controlling parenting attitudes and an actor effect on the rate of change in maternal controlling parenting attitudes. The baseline value and rate of change in controlling parenting attitudes were found to influence self‐esteem in children. Conclusion: Reducing parenting stress by increasing the parents' positive perception of the value of children can be helpful in maintaining a consistent parenting attitude by parents, which can have a positive effect on self‐esteem in children. It is important to provide intervention and management of variables related to self‐esteem in children using a long‐term and multidimensional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Physical activity ( PA) tends to decline throughout the college years, and close friends' influence is known to be an important factor in maintaining PA. This study examined the actor effect and partner effect between an individual and his/her friend regarding the influence of self-efficacy and social support on PA among Korean college students. Design and Sample Cross-sectional survey data from 108 pairs of individual students and friends were analyzed. Measures The survey questionnaire measured PA, self-efficacy toward exercise, social support for PA, anxiety and depression, community environments, and perceived health status. Structural equation modeling with path analysis was conducted to test Actor-Partner Interdependence Model ( APIM) explaining close relationships on PA. Results One-sided partner effect that friends' perceived friend support was directly related to individual's PA (β = 0.20, p < .05) was revealed. Regarding actor effects, self-efficacy was directly related to higher levels of PA for individual and friend. Perceived health status was related to higher level of individuals' PA. Conclusions These results suggest a role for public health nurses in developing interventions for college-aged young adults that promotes friend support for PA as well as individual self-efficacy toward PA, to engage young adults in establishing lifelong health-promoting PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To examine the relationship between average hospital length of stay (LOS) of nursing units and work demands perceived by nurses, and between work demands and nurses' health and job outcomes. Design A cross-sectional study using nurse survey data collected in a tertiary university hospital in Seoul, South Korea, in 2013 including 746 staff nurses working on 36 general, oncology, or intensive care units. Methods Each unit's average LOS was categorized as short (1st quartile), medium (2nd and 3rd quartiles), or long (4th quartile). Work demands (i.e., quantitative demands, work pace, and emotional demands), and nurses' health and job outcomes were measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II. Their relationships were examined by multiple linear or logistic regression analyses with multilevel modeling. Findings The nurses reported high mean scores of work demands and poor health and job outcomes, compared with other occupations. The nurses working on units with a short or medium (vs. long) LOS perceived higher quantitative and emotional demands, and a higher work pace. Greater quantitative and emotional demands were associated with poor self-rated health, greater sleeping troubles, work-family conflict, stress and burnout, lower job satisfaction, and a greater intent to leave. A higher work pace was also significantly related to greater work-family conflict. Conclusions A shorter LOS was associated with higher work demands, and higher work demands were associated with worse nurse outcomes. Thus, excessive work demands should be avoided to prevent nurses' health and job outcomes from deteriorating. Clinical Relevance Nurse managers need to monitor the impacts of reducing LOS on work demands and nurse outcomes and request additional nurses to meet increasing work demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 292-301 Objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess reliability, discriminant validity, and convergent validity of the Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) Korean version in a representative community sample of 8- to 15-year-old Korean children. Methods. A Korean version of COHIP was developed according to the standard procedure of cross-cultural adaptation of self-reported instruments. A representative community sample of 2236 schoolchildren was selected by cluster sampling method. Results. Mean age of the participants was 11.8 years. Mean and median of the overall COHIP score were 103.3 (SD 13.3) and 106, respectively. Internal reliability and retest reliability were excellent with Chronbach's alpha 0.88 and intraclass correlation coefficient 0.88. Face validity was confirmed with 98% of participants reporting the COHIP questionnaire was easy to answer. Nonclinical factors such as self-rated oral health or satisfaction with oral health were significantly related with overall COHIP score and five subscale scores ( P < 0.001) in a consistent manner. Children with carious permanent teeth and with orthodontic treatment need had highly significantly lower overall COHIP score ( P < 0.01). Conclusion. The Korean version of the COHIP was successfully developed. The internal reliability, retest reliability, face validity, discriminant validity, and convergent validity of the COHIP Korean version were confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]