Dongnam Health University, previously Dongnam Health College, is a South Korean technical college specializing in the health sciences. Its campus is on the north bank of the Seohocheon in Suwon, Gyeonggi province. The current president is Lee Young Kwon (이영권) and about 40 instructors are employed..
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among role conflict, job stress, and turnover intention among physician assistant (PA) nurses in the Republic of Korea and to identify key influencing factors of turnover intention. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 120 PA nurses recruited through a professional PA network in Gyeonggi Province and Daejeon Metropolitan City between June 1 and September 30, 2023. Validated instruments were used to measure role conflict, job stress, and turnover intention. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the associations between these variables, and multiple regression analysis was performed to identify influencing factors while controlling for demographic, organizational, and psychological covariates. Results: PA nurses reported relatively high levels of role conflict (3.66 ± 0.60), particularly in the subdomains of role ambiguity and work overload, moderate levels of job stress (2.78 ± 0.21) and higher levels of turnover intention (3.80 ± 0.64). Correlation analysis showed a strong positive association between role conflict and turnover intention (r = 0.604, P < 0.001), while job stress was moderately correlated with turnover intention (r = 0.236, P = 0.009). Notably, role conflict and job stress were not significantly associated with each other (r = 0.066, P =0.476). In multiple regression analysis, turnover intention was significantly associated with role conflict (β = 0.487, P < 0.001), educational level (β = 0.314 for master’s degree or higher; β = 0.288 for bachelor’s degree), and job stress (β = 0.171, P = 0.017). The final model explained 47.0 % of the variance in turnover intention (Adjusted R2 = 0.437, F = 19.488, P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study identified key factors influencing turnover intention, including role conflict (primarily driven by role ambiguity and work overload), educational level, and job stress. These findings suggest that establishing clear role definitions, enhancing legal recognition of PA nurses, providing ongoing professional education, and implementing stress management programs are essential strategies for improving PA nurse retention and healthcare workforce stability.
AIM:This study analysed changes in handwashing and toothbrushing behaviours among South Korean adolescents before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and evaluated the effects of personal hygiene education on these behaviours and oral health. METHODS:We analysed nationally representative data from the Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-based Survey (2018-2024), including 385,484 adolescents aged 12 to 18. The study period was divided into pre-pandemic (2018-2019), intra-pandemic (2020-2022) and post-pandemic (2023-2024). Multivariable logistic regression assessed the effects of school-based hygiene education on handwashing and toothbrushing after lunch and the association between toothbrushing and gingival bleeding, stratified by socioeconomic status and city type. RESULTS:Handwashing compliance increased from 44.1% pre-pandemic to 55.0% during the pandemic, then declined to 45.5% post-pandemic, whereas toothbrushing fell from 39.0% to 24.4% during the pandemic, with partial recovery to 29.0% post-pandemic. School-based hygiene education was consistently associated with increased handwashing across all city types and income levels, with the strongest effects during the pandemic. Its effect on toothbrushing was significant only during the pandemic and weakened post-pandemic, especially in small/medium cities and middle-income adolescents. Toothbrushing was inversely associated with gingival bleeding, particularly among metropolitan and high-income adolescents, but this protective effect decreased post-pandemic. CONCLUSION:These findings highlight a gap in public health as infection prevention focused on handwashing while largely neglecting oral health education, which may leave lasting effects on adolescent oral health. Future pandemic strategies should integrate oral health education into hygiene programs to preserve essential long-term health behaviours.
Foreign matter accumulating on catheters during ascites paracentesis in cancer patients can interfere with the procedure. The paracentesis site must be visually inspected by patients or medical staff. We propose a monitoring method using sensors, as they enable real-time, automatic status detection. The proposed design integrates a sensor into the drainage tube to detect liquid flow using the Lorentz force. The sensor consists of a permanent magnet, a yoke, and a signal processing circuit. Mu-metal shields the magnet to prevent interference with surrounding circuits. Physiological saline solution is used as a substitute for bodily fluids. Sensor performance was evaluated via finite element analysis. The Lorentz force generated an average voltage of 11.07 μV when liquid was present, enabling detection of the flow status. The proposed sensor is non-invasive and features a clip design, allowing attachment and detachment from the drainage tube for reuse. Non-invasiveness ensures safety from infection, and reusability can reduce medical costs. This study proposes a sensor for monitoring peritoneal puncture status. By detecting liquid flow using the Lorentz force, the system enables real-time monitoring during the procedure.
PURPOSE:This study aimed to evaluate the validity of multimedia-assisted items (MAIs) in a mock examination by examining their psychometric properties and nursing students' perceptions. METHODS:This methodological study used a within-group counterbalanced design in which fourth-year nursing students in South Korea completed an online mock examination consisting of paired text-based items and MAIs. Psychometric properties were examined using classical test theory and item response theory, and learner perceptions and response processes were explored through post-examination surveys and focus group interviews. RESULTS:Among 515 participants, MAIs demonstrated overall difficulty and discrimination comparable to those of text-based items in both classical test theory and item response theory analyses, with similar test characteristic curves across counterbalanced groups, supporting measurement equivalence across item formats. Post-test surveys indicated that participants perceived MAIs as realistic reflections of clinical practice and as more helpful for problem solving and ability assessment than text-based items. Qualitative findings from focus group interviews (n=15) further supported the educational value of MAIs for assessing clinical judgment while emphasizing the need for appropriate multimedia use. An order effect was also observed: presenting MAIs first led to higher item response theory discrimination parameters in subsequent text-based items (P=0.020). CONCLUSION:MAIs demonstrated psychometric properties comparable to those of text-based items and were positively perceived as valid tools for assessing clinical judgment and practical competence. These findings support the feasibility of incorporating multimedia-based assessment into the Korean Nursing Licensing Examination as part of a rigorous computer-based testing framework.
