Earticle

Objectives: This study investigated the association of unmet health care needs with socioeconomic characteristics and depressive disorders among community-dwelling elderly. Methods: The sample consisted of 50256 elderly aged 65 years or over who had participated in the cross-sectional 2020 Community Health Study. Using binary logistic regression analysis, the effect of independent variables on unmet health care needs among elderly was assessed. Results: The main finding was that moderate-to-severe depression was strongly associated with a histroy of unmet health care requirements during the past 12 months among elderly. Additionally, elderly who living alone and receiving of National Basic Livelihood Security(NBLS) reported high level of unmet health care needs. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that there is a need for policies and programs to improve access to health care services, especially for elderly living alone, recipients of NBLS, and elderly with moderate and over depression.

Objectives: This study explored the impact of Internet use on the mental health of older adults and the mediating and moderating effects of social networks. Methods: This study used data from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. The study sample included 5,094 older internet users. Results: We found that individuals who were younger, married, better-educated, and a higher-income, with fewer chronic diseases, and no depressive symptoms, were more likely to use the internet. Internet use for communication and instrumental purposes was found to have a direct effect on depression. Social networks partially mediated the effects of Internet use for communication and for instrumental purposes on depression, and showed a moderating effect only on the relationship between Internet use for communication and depression. Conclusions: This study’s result can inform the expansion of internet education to promote the mental health of older adults and the interventions to strengthen social networks.

Objectives: This study compared the nursing service needs, satisfaction, and revisit intention of patients in integrated nursing care and general care wards. Methods: Using self-report questionnaires, data were collected between July 20 and September 30, 2023. The participants were 199 patients in integrated nursing care and general care wards of two general hospitals in Busan Metropolitan City. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ2-test, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation. Results: The results showed that patients in integrated nursing care wards had higher nursing service needs and satisfaction scores than those in general care wards. For patients in integrated nursing care wards, there was a significant correlation between nursing service needs and satisfaction (r=.28, p<.001), and between nursing service satisfaction and revisit intention (r=.44, p<.001), whereas for those in general care wards, there was a significant correlation between nursing service satisfaction and revisit intention (r=.65, p<.001). Conclusions: To increase revisit intention, it is necessary to enhance nursing service satisfaction and improve the quality management of services.

Objectives: This study used the 2021 Korea Community Health Survey to analyze regional differences in happiness index and quality of life in an economically active population. Methods: This study included 153,754 participants aged 19–64 years. A single-item survey was conducted for the happiness index, ranging from 1 to 10. Quality of life was analyzed using the EQ-5D index. This study used SPSS (version 25.0) for the multiple regression analysis and set the significance level at 0.05. Results: The average happiness index of the economically active Korean population was 7.054. Economic activity was found to have a significant effect on the happiness index and quality of life. Conclusions: Residents in rural areas had a higher happiness index and “health-related quality of life” than those in metropolitan areas.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the relationship between planned behavior theory and birth intention to understand the birth intention of college students from the perspective of behavioral science. Methods: Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire targeting 300 random men and women enrolled at a university in Busan. Bootstrap verification was performed using a process macro to verify the variables' causal and moderating effects. Results: Attitudes toward childbirth, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were found to have a significant effect on childbirth intention (β=.950, β=.787, β=.839, p<.001). The interactions between subjective norms and general marital values (R²=.026, p<.001), and between perceived behavioral control and perception of childbirth promotion policy (R²=.014, p<.05) had a significant effect on childbirth intention. Conclusions: Childbirth intentions can only be improved by fostering awareness of marriage and childbirth.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a Korean mobile-based digital health literacy measurement instrument, establish its validity and reliability, and assess its feasibility among the general population of Korea. Methods: A total of 299 adults aged 20 years and older who volunteered online were surveyed, using a stratified sampling method based on age, gender, and education level. The validity and reliability of the developed tool were established. Results: Validity and reliability of the tool were confirmed, indicating the tool`s suitability for measuring mobile-based digital health literacy. Conclusions: Moving forward, the MHLS-SF11 can be utilized to explore the distribution of mobile-based digital health literacy among Korean adults, evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programs, and investigate influencing factors.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors associated with latent tuberculosis(LTB) infection among workers in tuberculosis(TB) hospitals. Methods: Participants were 244 workers at two TB hospitals who responded to structured questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of LTB infection among workers was 25.8%. After controlling for other covariates, workers aged 50 or older had 4.86 times higher risk of LTB infection compared to the group aged 39 or younger. Workers working in hospitals equipped with a partially negative pressure system were 3.82 times more likely to be infected with LTB than those working in hospitals with an entire negative pressure system. The risk of LTB infection was 19.26 times higher for workers in the group with the highest LTB belief score(33.3%) than those in the bottom 33.3%. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of TB hospitals equipped with a negative pressure system in all wards and multi-faceted efforts to reduce barriers to the prevention of LTB infection among workers.