Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs, Official publication of Asian Oncology Nursing Society

Shift work is essential for nurses and is the backbone of the healthcare workforce. Addressing the challenges associated with time-consuming scheduling is crucial for ensuring nurses’ work quality, optimal staffing levels, and increased job satisfaction. We compared the work quality from both organizational and individual perspectives after the implementation of the Inha University Hospital Nursing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scheduling System (IH-NASS), and analyzed the factors influencing nurses’ job satisfaction, focusing on their perceptions of IH-NASS and work quality. A total of 253 shift nurses from 14 wards where the IH-NASS was implemented at a tertiary university hospital in Korea were selected. Data from the traditional manual (December 2022, retrospective study) and the IH-NASS-generated schedules (December 2023, prospective study) were compared. Nurses’ general characteristics, IH-NASS perceptions (convenience, satisfaction, and fairness), and job satisfaction were surveyed and analyzed. Compared to traditional manual schedules, IH-NASS-generated schedules significantly reduced the number of nurses with < 1 year of experience in day shifts. From an individual perspective, the number of night-off-evening (NOE) shifts was significantly lower. Additionally, IH-NASS-generated schedules had more consecutive off days (≥ 2), off days (≥ 2) following two or more consecutive night shifts, Saturday-Sunday off days, and Sunday off days, whereas weekday shifts with unsocial hours were fewer. Factors influencing job satisfaction among shift nurses included satisfaction with the IH-NASS, perceived convenience of the IH-NASS, and the number of NOE shifts under unhealthy work scheduling, which together accounted for approximately 27% of the variance in job satisfaction. This study provides empirical evidence supporting the use of AI systems in nurse scheduling. Specifically, AI-based scheduling can optimize workforce allocation while maintaining work quality, enhancing nurses’ positive perceptions, and improving job satisfaction. Not applicable. This was not a clinical trial.

Recently, the number of patients diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has increased in Korea. Risk factors of GERD include age, sex, medication use, lack of physical exercise, increased psychological stress, low or high body mass index (BMI), unhealthy eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking. However, few studies examined the major factors affecting GERD in women of childbearing age. Therefore, this study assessed the risk factors of GERD among 20,613 female nurses of reproductive age using data from the Korea Nurses’ Health Study. Participants were recruited from July 2013 to November 2014. They provided their history of GERD 1 year prior to data collection, along with information on their demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, diet, medical history, and physical and psychological factors. Of the total sample, 1184 individuals with GERD diagnosed in the year prior to the study were identified. Propensity score matching was used for analysis. Cigarette smoking, increased alcohol consumption, low or high BMI, depression, and increased psychosocial stress were associated with the prevalence of GERD among Korean young women. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed significant positive relationships between GERD and being a former smoker; having a low (< 18.5 kg/m2) or high BMI (> 23 kg/m2); and having mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression. Smoking, BMI, and depression were associated with GERD. To reduce this risk among female nurses, intervention strategies are required to help nurses maintain a normal weight and manage their depression.

Most studies regarding the relationship between binge eating disorder (BED) and depression have targeted obese populations. However, nurses, particularly female nurses, are one of the vocations that face these issues due to various reasons including high stress and shift work. This study investigated the prevalence of BED and the correlation between BED and severity of self-reported depressive symptoms among female nurses in South Korea. Participants were 7,267 female nurses, of which 502 had symptoms of BED. Using the propensity score matching (PSM) technique, 502 nurses with BED and 502 without BED were included in the analyses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis. The proportion of binge eating disorder was 6.90% among the nurses, and 81.3% of nurses displayed some levels of depressive symptoms. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that age (40 years old and older), alcohol consumption (frequent drinkers), self-rated health, sleep problems, and stress were associated with self-reported depression symptoms. Overall, after adjusting for confounders, nurses with BED had 1.80 times the risk (95% CI = [1.41–2.30]; p-value < 0.001) of experiencing a greater severity of self-reported depression symptoms. Korean female nurse showed a higher prevalence of both binge eating disorder and depressive symptoms, and the association between the two factors was proven in the study. Therefore, hospital management and health policy makers should be alarmed and agreed on both examining nurses on such problems and providing organized and systematic assistance.

Depressive symptoms are commonly experienced by hemodialysis patients, generally related to withdrawal from dialysis and compliance with dialysis prescription. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting depressive symptoms in employed hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. A cross-sectional, correlational study design was utilized, consisting of 71 patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis treatment, all employed. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and fatigue by the Chalder Fatigue Scale. Psychosocial adaptation was measured by the Korean version of the Social Profile. In this study, 32.4% of the participants were depressed. Female patients had a higher score for depressive symptoms than males (25.78 ± 10.15 vs. 16.42 ± 10.25, p = .013). Mental fatigue (β = .425, p < .001), psychosocial adaptation (β = −.275, p < .001), and subjective health (β = −.199, p < .05) were predictive variables of depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients, with mental fatigue being the most important factor. Depressive symptoms can affect the self-management of hemodialysis patients; therefore, it is important that healthcare providers identify factors that affect depressive symptoms, particularly those associated with mental fatigue.