This methodological study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Holistic Nursing Competence Scale (HNCS), which comprises five dimensions and 36 items. The English version of the HNCS was forward and backward translated and administered to 251 participants with more than a year of work experience in a general hospital. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 24.0(Chicago, IL, USA), and AMOS program was used for confirmatory factor analysis. Additionally, the “Task Performance Evaluation Instrument for Clinical Nurses” was used for concurrent validity. Reliability assessed using Cronbach’s α was 0.969. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity were good. Average variance extracted and construct reliability ranged from 0.845 to 0.932 and 0.980 to 0.987, respectively. The model was suitable with the chi-square value being 1216.563 (df = 584, p < 0.001), and Q value being less than three. Goodness-of-fit index, root mean square residual, and root mean square error of approximation were 0.784, 0.066, and 0.066, respectively. Moreover, comparative fit index, Tucker–Lewis index, and incremental fit index were 0.913, 0.906, and 0.913, respectively. Thus, this study verified the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the HNCS. Our findings suggest that the scale is helpful in measuring and developing the holistic nursing competence of clinical nurses.

This study aimed to provide basic data on the prevention of hepatitis C infection by identifying factors related to it based on the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The sixth (2013–2015) and seventh (2016–2018) Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted by the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency were analyzed. This is a population-based, nationally representative, multistage, cross-sectional survey of noninstitutionalized persons in Korea. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the significance of the variables. A total of 32,942 persons aged >20 years were selected for this study. Among them, 282 tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies, while 32,660 tested negative. Of the 282 persons who tested positive, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women. The factors associated with hepatitis C infection were age, education level, self-rated health status, and liver cirrhosis. Therefore, there is a need to educate people and implement preventive programs based on age and education levels to reduce the incidence of hepatitis C infections. In addition, it is necessary to include hepatitis C screening as part of the National Health Examination to diagnose hepatitis C infections.

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study that investigates the mediating effect of humanism on the relationship between task performance and holistic nursing competence among clinical nurses. The participants were nurses with more than one year of work experience in general hospitals in South Korea, recruited using convenience sampling. A total of 227 data samples were collected. A self-reported questionnaire including the task performance competence scale, holistic nursing competence scale, and humanism scale was used for the survey. Data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression after checking for normal distribution. The results showed that task performance competence, holistic nursing competence, and humanism differed according to characteristics such as gender, age, educational level, marital status, position, length of career, and job and salary satisfaction. Task performance competence was positively correlated with holistic nursing competence and humanism. A positive correlation was also observed between holistic nursing competence and humanism. A partial mediating effect of humanism in the relationship between task performance competence and holistic nursing competence was confirmed. Thus, to increase nurses’ holistic nursing competence, it is necessary to improve task performance competence and formulate a continuous and repetitive education program that includes humanism.

Despite the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on a sizeable proportion of the global population, the difference in the quality of life (QoL) between a group without risk factors for OSA and a group with risk factors for OSA among individuals with MetS is currently unclear. This study aimed to identify the determinants of QoL in patients with MetS with and without OSA risk factors and to analyze differences between these two groups. Data were extracted from the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The Rao–Scott χ² test was performed to evaluate differences in baseline characteristics based on OSA risk factors. A t-test was performed to evaluate differences in the baseline QoL, and linear regression analysis was performed to identify the effect on the QoL of the two groups. The factors affecting QoL in the low-risk group included age, education level, and depression. The factors affecting QoL in the high-risk group were physical activity and depression. These results suggest that nursing interventions should be devised according to patients’ characteristics to help improve their QoL.

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of depression, fear of falling, and activities of daily living (ADL) on the quality of life (QoL) among patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in South Korea.Methods: This study adopted a prospective cross-sectional design. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires from 70 SCI patients who visited the outpatient department of rehabilitation medicine. The data collection period was from October 16, 2017 to February 2, 2018. Participants’ American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale classifications were C and D.Results: The study found that QoL correlated with self-rated health (Spearman rho=.41, p<.001), SCI duration (Spearman rho=-.26, p=.030), depressive symptoms (Spearman rho=-.43, p<001), and fear of falling (Spearman rho=-.75, p<.001). Additionally, QoL was associated with fear of falling (β=-.68, p<.001) and SCI duration (β=-.18, p=.025) in the regression analyses. These results were significant and accounted for 59.5% of the variance in QoL.Conclusion: Interventions targeting the QoL of patients with SCI can help reduce the fear of falling.