Clinical Experience of Nurses in a Consultative Hospice Palliative Care Service.

Objective To explore the working characteristics and difficulties of hospice nurses and provide reference for improvement of palliative care practice. Methods By purposive sampling, 10 nurses from a cancer specialist hospital and a community hospital in Beijing were selected and interviewed by semi-structured in-depth interviewing method and the interview data was analyzed by Colaizzi method. Results The palliative nurses need patience and detailed mind, sympathy, compassion and empathy; the working characteristics of nursing included establishing trust, all the way accompany; palliative nursing and nurses have mutual influences: while getting the self-improved and sense of accomplishment, nurses' psychological burden was heavy and needed psychological adjustment; the palliative nurses faced difficulties such as unsuccessful communication with patients and their family members, lacking in relevant knowledge, misunderstanding from the colleagues and short of medical resources. Conclusions Hospitals should strengthen the emotional adjustment support for the palliative nurses and to relieve the nurses from stress and negative affect; the government and hospitals should strengthen the propaganda of palliative care so that the citizens can better understand and accept palliative care. Key words: Nurses; Palliative care; Working experience; Qualitative research

Objectives The purpose of this study is, on the one hand, to examine the experiences of individuals who are full-time employees and enrolled in the process of learning in counselor education, and on the other hand, to phenomenologically reveal the meaning behind their experiences.
 Methods Interviews were conducted on seven full-time employees who are in counseling graduate school for more than 3 semesters or within 1 year of graduation, and analyzed by Colaizzi's phenomenological research method. Participants consisted of those in their late 30s to early 50s who had more than 10 years of work experience and experienced vocational activities in different occupations from the counseling field. The data collection period was from September to December 2021, and after an in-depth interview of 90 to 120 minutes, additional interviews were conducted by phone or text message if necessary.
 Results As a result, 5 categories, 19 topic bundles, and 81 topics were derived. The five categories are as follows. ‘studying counseling to break away from current instability’, ‘making good changes during the counseling course of study’, ‘facing psychological difficulties arising from both occupation and academic affairs’, ‘maturing the mind through learning in counselor education’, and ‘running a life as an employee also doing in counseling job’. In conclusion, participants, with over 10 years of full-time work experience and a stable career will go to counseling, a new field, and the world of experience can be summarized as “growth through counseling studies upgrades professionalism in the current workplace and running a life as an employee also doing counseling job.”
 Conclusions The research results confirmed the experiences and meanings experienced in the course of learning in counselor education, and based on this, provided basic data for future related education and information provision.

COVID-19 Special Collection

Access to equitable primary healthcare (PHC) for LGBTQI individuals remains a persistent challenge worldwide, yet little is known about how professional nurses (PNs) in rural South African contexts experience and navigate these challenges. The study aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of professional nurses in providing PHC services to LGBTQI patients in Amahlathi Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. For this research, a descriptive phenomenological research design was used to obtain rich, in-depth accounts of the real-world experiences of nurses. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used to select 23 professional nurses working in PHC facilities in the Amahlathi Sub-district, Eastern Cape. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews, which were then analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical considerations were maintained throughout the study. The findings showed that professional nurses face significant competency gaps, personal biases, and confusion about LGBTQI identities, which negatively affect the delivery of services. They also revealed that LGBTQI patients often fear discrimination, withhold sensitive information, and display defensive behaviors due to past negative experiences. Consequently, these combined provider- and patient-related challenges strain clinical interactions and hinder equitable primary healthcare access in Amahlathi. The study revealed that professional nurses in the rural Eastern Cape face both personal and systemic obstacles to providing inclusive care to LGBTQI individuals. Enhancing nurses' competencies through targeted LGBTQI-focused training, creating supportive clinical environments, and strengthening policy frameworks are critical to improving the quality of care.

Non-Gaussian multivariate statistical monitoring of spatio-temporal wind speed frequencies to improve wind power quality in South Korea.

This study examines the impact of housing price on the divorce rate in South Korea using a fixed effects model and dynamic panel data. There is currently a lack of consensus in the literature regarding the effect of house price on divorce. We simultaneously consider both house price and rental cost to distinguish a positive and negative effect of housing price. Using a cross-regional dataset of 15 provinces in South Korea from 1990 to 2013, we show that the wealth effect of house price changes on divorce rates is different from the effect of rental cost. All regression results indicate positive and statistically significant wealth effects of house price, but negative effects of the rental price changes on divorce rates.

Since Chinese cabbage is consumed fresh, its wholesale price varies with the total amount supplied on the market. However, in these days, climate variability presents a large threat to sustainable Chinese cabbage production in South Korea. To manage Chinese cabbage production well under unexpected weather conditions, it is important to study the impacts of climate variability on Chinese cabbage economic yields in South Korea. In this study, 2-year field trials were conducted in multiple locations across seven provinces in South Korea. The collected morphological data from 24 different varieties were used to develop a yield prediction model using a machine learning technique. Three Chinese cabbage groups were carried out through the clustering analysis, and a yield model was developed for each cluster group. The developed model was used to predict the cabbage economic yields under different combinations of climate change and cropping management plans. According to simulation results, Group 1 had the shortest growing degree days and produced higher yields than the other two groups. However, the overproduction of Group 1 led to a price reduction in the market of (USD(0.04–0.08) per kg), which suggested that producing Group 2 of (USD(0.31–0.96) per kg) is more beneficial to farmers. Based on the production results of the groups, their revenue varied by location and cropping management. The results of this study provide farmers with a better understanding of the relationship between production and economic benefits in future climate change scenarios.

The study examined the distribution patterns of the genotypes of the ectoparasite Sarcoptes scabiei related to sarcoptic mange in wild animals in South Korea. We obtained mitochondrial cytochrome c oxydase I (cox-I) gene sequences from the skin tissues of sarcoptic mange isolated from the infested animals. After combining the newly obtained sequences and those previously reported, a total of forty-three cox-I haplotypes (SSC01-SSC43) were identified. Among those, SSC01 has already been recorded in various mammals including raccoon dog, marten and wallaby so far from many countries around the world, but the other three haplotypes SSC06, SSC14 and SSC43 have been newly detected in this study. SSC01 was observed in raccoon dogs, red foxes and a long-tailed goral, and ranged widely from northern to southern provinces in South Korea. Haplotypes SSC14 and SSC43 were found in one raccoon dog from Hongseong-si, Chungcheongnam-do, and one raccoon dog from Dong-gu, Ulsan-si, respectively. The SSC06 was only observed in a long-tailed goral from Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do. Geographic distribution patterns were habitat-related parasitic infestation rather than host-specific infestation. Our findings showing that sympatric species can be infested by parasites with the same genotype, suggest that interspecific cross-infestation may be possible through interactions between sympatric species within the same habitat.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of new nurses who took care of COVID-19 patients. For this study, study subjects were conducted with a total of nine new nurses, and data were collected through individual in-depth interviews from September to November 2020. The data were analyzed using the phenomenological analysis method suggested by Colaizzi. New nurses’ experience of caring for COVID-19 patients consisted of three categories. The three categories are “The fear as a new nurse about infectious diseases that they have not experienced”, “Physical and psychological burden in an isolated environment”’, and “Building professional values”. Findings from this study presented vivid experiences of new nurses who took care of COVID-19 patients. This study is meaningful in that it grasped the physical and psychological difficulties of nurses nursing COVID-19 patients, especially the difficulties as a new nurse, and the implications for developing and growing within them. It is expected that it will serve as basic data for the establishment of strategies for infectious education programs for new nurses.

Objectives The purpose of this study is to apply the flipped learning in the counseling practice course and to explore the students' counseling practice experience. Methods For this purpose, the course of ‘counseling process and practice’ opened in the second semester of 2020 at the department of social welfare at C university in Jeju island and courses were designed and operated using the flipped learning. For data collection, 47 students were asked to write a counseling practice experience report every after counseling practice experience and a review about the operation of the flipped learning at the end of the class. Colaizzi's phenomenological method was applied for analysis. Results As a result of the analysis, the counseling interview practice experience of university students applying the flipped learning method was found in three categories: ‘connectivity of on-off learning’, ‘improving counseling practice through learning transfer’, ‘expansion of self-reflection opportunities’. And 10 subcategories, 27 the central meaning was derived. The students experienced that watching a video in the dictionary was modeling for practicing counseling interview in -class, and it was helpful in the practice class because there was a connection to learning. In addition, a positive experience of expanding the opportunity for self-reflection on counseling was reported through practice experience report. Conclusions As a result of the study, the demonstration of the counseling video presented in advance of the class was helpful in the application of the practice in-class, and the flipped learning method was experienced as effective by improving the counseling interview competency and acquiring confidence. In addition, the practical experience report after classroom instruction promoted the development of counselors through self-reflection with reflective thinking. It was suggested that a structured curriculum should be operated to enable the operation of counseling practice courses using the flipped learning method in the future.

Three hydrochemical types of CO2-rich water (i.e., Na-HCO3, Ca-Na-HCO3 and Ca-HCO3) occur together in the silicate bedrock (granite and gneiss) of Gangwon Province in South Korea. As a natural analogue of geological carbon storage (GCS), this can provide implications for the environmental impacts of the leakage of CO2 from deep GCS sites. By using hydrochemical and isotopic datasets that were collected for previous and current studies, this study aimed to carefully scrutinize the hydrochemical differences in the three water types with an emphasis on providing a better understanding of the impacts of long-term CO2 leakage on groundwater quality (especially the enrichments of minor and trace metals). As a result, the Na-HCO3 type CO2-rich water contained higher Li, Rb and Cs than the Ca-HCO3 type, whereas Fe, Mn and Sr were higher in the Ca-HCO3 type than in the Na-HCO3 type despite the similar geological setting, which indicate that the hydrochemical differences were caused during different geochemical evolutionary processes. The δ18O and δD values and tritium concentrations indicated that the Na-HCO3 type was circulated through a deep and long pathway for a relatively long residence time in the subsurface, while the Ca-HCO3 type was strongly influenced by mixing with recently recharged water. These results were supported by the results of principal component analysis (PCA), whose second component showed that the Na-HCO3 type had a significant relation with alkali metals such as Li, Rb and Cs as well as Na and K and also had a strong relationship with Al, F and U, indicating an extensive water-rock interaction, while the Ca-HCO3 type was highly correlated with Ca, Mg, Sr, Fe and Mn, indicating mixing and reverse cation exchange during its ascent with hydrogeochemical evolution. In particular, the concentrations of Fe, Mn, U and Al in the CO2-rich water, the result of long-term water-rock interaction and cation exchange that was enhanced by CO2 leakage into silicate bedrock, exceeded drinking water standards. The study results show that the leakage of CO2 gas and CO2-rich fluid into aquifers and the subsequent hydrogeochemical processes can degrade groundwater quality by mobilizing trace elements in rocks and consequently may pose a health risk.

Potential effects of school garden on students' knowledge, attitude and experience: A pilot project on sixth grade students in Iran

Syringa fauriei is an unresolved lilac taxon (Oleaceae) native to specific geographical areas and present in the rivers and valleys of Gangwon province in South Korea. It was first identified on Mt Geumgang by Faurie in 1906 and recognized as an independent species. Nevertheless, S. fauriei has been controversial as a synonymous species for S. reticulata subsp. amurensis without clear evidence. Therefore, we conducted this study on the taxonomic position of S. fauriei by examining the morphological and molecular differences between S. fauriei and its related taxa, the S. reticulata complex. Phylogenetic relationships were also inferred using molecular markers of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2; ITS) and external transcribed spacer regions. Consequently, S. fauriei and its related taxa were classified into two distinct clades: S. fauriei and the S. reticulata complex. Morphological and molecular data revealed that S. fauriei was endemic to Korea. The species characteristics of S. fauriei were further described for taxonomic re‐establishment.

Association between 24-h urinary sodium excretion and obesity in Korean adults: A multicenter study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to translate Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) into Korean and verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the TSIS. Methods: This study used a methodological research design. Exploratory factor analysis, content, construct, criterion-related validity, and internal consistency reliability of the TSIS were evaluated. Participants, 269 nursing students, were recruited from three universities in three provinces in South Korea from November 2016 to April 2017. Results: The Korean version of TSIS contained 16 items. Exploratory factor analysis showed three factors that explained the construct validity with a three-factor solution; that explained 61.3% of the total variance. Concurrent validity was associated with the Global Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale (r=.68, p<.001). Cronbach''s α for the 16 items was .80. Conclusion: Our study findings suggest that the Korean version of TSIS was a valid and reliable scale with a robust factorial structure and useful for measuring social intelligence of nursing students.