Purpose
This study aimed to provide an overview of telomere length (TL) as an emerging biomarker in adult healthcare. Additionally, some measurement considerations and future directions for its application in adult nursing research were described. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted. Results TL is a widely known indicator of aging and aging-related diseases at the molecular level. Throughout the literature, TL has been established as a useful biomarker that is indicative of aging-related diseases such as cancer, metabolic diseases, and psychological distress and their resulting health conditions. The main pathway of TL shortening appears as an interaction between genetic and environmental factors through a mechanism commonly known as oxidative stress and inflammation. TL attrition may be slowed down, stopped, or even lengthened by interventions such as mindfulness, meditation, exercise, lifestyle modifications, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which have been demonstrated to have a positive effect on TL. As these interventions have been widely applied in adult nursing research, the value and scope of adult nursing science can be expanded by using TL in such research. Conclusion TL has been shown to be associated with age-related diseases, which are mainly studied in adult nursing research. Therefore, it is necessary to explore various nursing phenomena using TL as a biomarker through adult nursing research and to develop nursing interventions that have a positive effect on TL.

Citations

• A biobehavioral theoretical framework based on the mechanism of cellular aging for nursing interventions to promote autonomic balance
  Nahyun Kim, Jooyeon Park
  Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science.2024; 26(2): 99.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study aimed to compare the health expenditure and unmet health care needs and factors associated with these, in single-person households pre- and post-baby boomer generation, and of baby boomers.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used secondary data from the 2016 Korea Health Panel Study, which was conducted to investigate the factors associated with health expenditures and unmet healthcare needs of single-person households through hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
Results
The subjective health status of a single household showed a significant interaction with pre-baby boomers (β=.16, p=.045) in health expenditure. Identifying as men (OR=1.59, p=.046) and subjective health status (OR=1.90, p=.001) were statistically significant in terms of unmet healthcare needs. However, there was no significant interaction between pre-baby boomers and unmet healthcare needs.
Conclusion
Baby boomers are the first to be prepared for their later years in the current aging society. Despite a stable financial status due to vital economic activities, social support for baby boomers is inadequate. The rights guaranteed to family members under the system centered around kinship should also be guaranteed to single-person households.

Citations

• The impact of physical functionality and activity level on the self-rated health status of older adults living alone: An analysis of the mediating effect of social engagement
  Dajung Ryu
  Geriatric Nursing.2025; 63: 464.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study aims to confirm the influence of type D personality and health literacy on resilience of patients hospitalized for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), and provide basic information for improving resilience as a post-discharge strategy to promote self-care among patients with chronic diseases. Methods A questionnaire-based survey was carried out in this cross-sectional study. The subjects were 142 patients who were being treated at a tertiary general hospital for CVDs such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Data were collected from July to October 2022 using a structured questionnaire, and then analyzed using the SPSS program version 26.0. Results 75.3% of the study subjects (n=107) had type D personalities, and the average health literacy and resilience scores were 48.96±9.13 points and 68.27±13.02 points, respectively, indicating relatively low grades. Following a hierarchical regression analysis, low monthly income (β=-.62, p<.001), current smokers (β=-.23, p=.010), patients with type D personality (β=-.24, p=.001), and patients with low health literacy (β=.27, p<.001) were identified as significant predictors of resilience (Adjusted R2=.57, F=14.32, p<.001). Conclusion In order to increase the resilience of patients hospitalized for CVD, it is necessary to identify and take into account smokers with low socioeconomic status, poor health literacy, and type D personality. We advise doing a follow-up study to ascertain if the resilience of patients hospitalized for CVD influences post-discharge self-care and clinical outcomes.

Purpose
This study aimed to identify factors related to nurses’ preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases in long-term care hospitals based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: The participants were 226 nurses from 10 long-term care hospitals located in a metropolitan city in Korea. Core components of the TPB, organizational culture for infection control, nursing practice environment, and preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases were measured using a structured online self-report questionnaire. Data were collected from October 25 to December 26, 2021 and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score of preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases was 4.99±1.90 out of 10. The perceived behavioral control (β=.37, p<.001), control beliefs (β=.24, p<.001), attitude toward behavior (β=.18, p=.001), behavioral belief (β=.12, p=.035), and nursing practice environment (β=.12, p=.023) significantly predicted the nursing staff’s preparedness to care for these patients (Adj. R ² =.62). Conclusion: Theory-based interventions are needed to enhance the confidence of nurses in caring for the patients with highly infectious diseases and to improve their attitude and beliefs regarding positive outcomes in caring for these patients. High quality teamwork and support of resources are necessary to increase the preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases in the nursing practice environment in long-term care hospitals.

Citations

• Comparison of Factors Affecting Delirium Nursing Stress between Nurses in Comprehensive Nursing Care Service Wards and General Wards
  Sumin Gwon, Gaeun Kim
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2024; 30(5): 517.     CrossRef
• Qualitative Meta-Synthesis Analysis Study of COVID-19 Infection Control Experiences of Long-term Care Hospital Nurses
  Euna PARK, Jeong-Soo KIM
  THE JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND MARINE SCIENCES EDUCATION.2024; 36(2): 330.     CrossRef
• Effects of case-based confusion assessment methods for intensive care unit training on delirium knowledge and delirium assessment accuracy of intensive care units: A quasi-experimental study
  Young-Nam Kim, Dong-Hee Kim
  Nurse Education Today.2021; 103: 104954.     CrossRef

Purpose
The purpose of this descriptive survey study was to investigate the relationship between death awareness, life-sustaining nursing stress, end-of-life care competency and performance, and resilience. Additionally, the factors influencing end-of-life care performance by ICU nurses were identified. Methods: Data were collected from one tertiary and two general hospitals in J province from July 1 to July 30, 2022. Nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICU) for more than three months who had experience in end-of-life care were selected through convenience sampling. A total of 188 responses to the survey were included in the final analysis. An IBM SPSS program was used for the data analysis. Results: Factors impacting end-of-life care performance (with an explanatory power of 31.9%) were as follows: higher knowledge and behavioral competency in end-of-life care, higher relational patterns in resilience, higher levels of death positivity in death awareness, and clinical experience of less than a year compared to that of three to five years were associated with higher end-of-life care performance. Conclusion: These findings point to the urgent need for increasing end-of-life care performance among nurses in clinical practice; therefore, practical strategies must be developed and actively implemented to strengthen relevant competencies and resilience and promote death positivity. Based on these findings, future studies are needed to develop an intervention program to improve the spiritual scope of end-of-life care and verify the effects.

Purpose
Contrast therapy, which includes alternately applying cold and heat therapy, is an effective intervention to increase muscle elasticity and reduce musculoskeletal edema and pain. This study aimed to confirm the effects of contrast therapy by using flexible Thermoelectric Devices (TEDs) — that not only maintain a constant temperature but can also change the temperature in a short time — on lower extremity edema, pain, muscle fatigue, and stress among nursing home workers.
Methods
This randomized controlled pre-post experimental study used a flexible thermoelectric element to administer contrast therapy in nursing home workers to compare its impact on lower extremity swelling, pain, muscle fatigue, and stress. As an intervention method, 4 minutes of heat therapy and 1 minute of cold therapy were repeated for a total of 30 minutes.
Results
The experimental group displayed a significant difference of -2.53 points, and the control group displayed a significant difference of -0.94 points (t=2.65, p<.050) as a result of an analysis comparing the two groups’ pain levels before and after the experimental treatment. The experimental group also displayed a statistically significant reduction in the degree of lower extremity edema (t=3.91, p=.001). Furthermore, the experimental group’s lower extremity stress index decreased significantly (t=2.87, p=.049).
Conclusion
The findings of this study indicated that contrast therapy by using flexible TEDs alleviated stress, leg pain, and swelling in nursing home workers and could be used as an intervention to alleviate musculoskeletal problems in healthcare workers.

Purpose
This study aimed to identify nursing graduate students’ perception and behavior related to climate change and health and the factors affecting them. Methods: This secondary analysis used research data on the development of a Korean version of Climate Health and Nursing Tool. The participants were 220 graduate nursing students who were currently working. The dependent variable, which is the climate-health related perception and behavior, consisted of 20 items on awareness, concern, motivation, behaviors at home, and behaviors at work related to climate change. Results: The mean score on the climate-health related perception and behavior was 73.52, which ranged from 41 to 100. Multiple linear regression showed that climate-health related perception and behavior were predicted by an optimistic attitude toward climate change response (β=.20, p=.002), experience in climate change- related extreme events (β=.18, p=.010), number of exposure pathways for climate change-related information (β=.17, p=.008), education level (β=.16, p=.015), and current work area (β=.15, p=.027). Conclusion: An optimistic attitude toward climate change response was identified as the most influential factor that explained nursing students’ climate-health related perception and behavior. Interventions that reinforce positive feelings about climate change-related behaviors and an optimistic attitude that climate change can be adapted to and mitigated through appropriate behaviors would significantly improve climate-health related perception and behavior.

Citations

• Climate change perceptions and behaviors among Korean nurses: The role of organizational initiatives
  Dukhyun Back, Kihye Han, Jieun Kim, Hyang Baek
  Nursing Outlook.2025; 73(3): 102383.     CrossRef
• Factors related to perceptions of climate health impact and climate action: Focusing on the Health Belief Model
  Hansol Lee, Jaehee Kim, Yuri Lee
  Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion.2024; 41(2): 31.     CrossRef
• Nurses' Perceptions and Behaviours Regarding Climate Change and Health: A Quantile Regression Analysis
  Min Kyung Park, Seoyoung Baek, Da Woon Jeong, Gwang Suk Kim
  Journal of Advanced Nursing.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef