Earticle

This study aimed to develop a web-based simulation training for communication with individuals at high risk of suicide and to verify its effectiveness among nursing students. The study employed a quasi-experimental design using a nonequivalent control group pretest–posttest approach. The experimental group (n = 24) ) participated in an eight-week web-based communication simulation training (October 21–December 13, 2024), whereas the control group (n = 24) received conventional lecture-based instruction. The pretest was administered on October 18, 2024, and the posttest on December 16, 2024. The experimental group showed a significant increase in communication self-efficacy (t=3.18, p=.001) and communication competency (t=2.89, p=.001) compared to the control group, whereas no significant effect was found for interpersonal competence (t=–1.96, p=.057). These findings suggest that incorporating this program as a supplementary component in nursing education curricula can strengthen students’ core competencies and enhancing interpersonal competence may require extending the program intervention duration or adopting repetitive and in-depth interventions.

Purpose: This study used a nonequivalent, control group, posttest-only design to standardize a practical protocol for two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an automated external defibrillator (AED) by producing and applying an instructional video. Method: The participants included a control group of 33 individuals who received training by using the advanced layperson video of the Korean Association of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and an experimental group of 36 individuals who received the same training along with an additional video focused on two-rescuer CPR with an AED. The study period was from September 2024 to May 2025. Results: Results showed that there were statistically significant differences in attitudes toward AED use, teamwork during two-rescuer CPR, and post education AED skill performance. However, no significant differences were found in subjective norms regarding AED use, confidence in AED use, or intention to use an AED. Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary to provide standardized protocols and educational videos for AED application in two-rescuer CPR. Repeated training should be conducted to address the various AED models that are currently in use and to encourage active utilization of such devices.

This study examined factors associated with health literacy among older men and women based on their socio-demographic and health status characteristics, using data from 1,836 participants in the ninth KNHANES (Ⅸ-2). Among older men, significant factors were: age 65–74 years (OR=1.51, CI=1.04–2.18), higher education (OR=0.65, CI=0.44–0.95), higher income (OR=0.43, CI=0.30–0.61), urban residence (OR=1.63, CI=1.10–2.41), and non-smoking (OR=0.57, CI=0.37–0.89). Among older women, significant factors were: age 65–74 years (OR=1.53, CI=1.07–2.19), higher education (OR=0.44, CI=0.32–0.59), physical examination (OR=1.54, CI=1.05–2.24), and good self-rated health (OR=1.99, CI=1.31–3.02). The factors affecting health literacy differed between the two genders. Among older adult with high health literacy, men did not smoke and women had physical examination and good self-rated health. Focusing on the elderly groups with low socioeconomic status, it is necessary to improve health literacy by considering the current smoking status of older men and the health examination status and self-rated health of older women.

This study analyzes the vulnerabilities of critical power infrastructure under extreme weather and proposes strategies to enhance resilience through comparative case analysis. As climate change accelerates, extreme events are becoming the “new normal,” triggering cascading failures that disrupt electricity supply and destabilize interdependent systems. Focusing on the 2021 Texas winter storm and the 2020 California heatwave, the research examines how extreme cold and heat stressed power systems differently but led to similar outcomes: severe supply-demand imbalances and socio-economic disruption. Through theoretical discussion, literature review, and case analysis, the study identifies controllable vulnerabilities (aging infrastructure, inadequate reserves, governance gaps) and uncontrollable risks (extreme weather, renewable volatility, cyber threats), along with shared weaknesses such as limited storage and fragile reserve margins. It concludes by proposing integrated strategies, energy diversification, smart grids, equipment upgrades, forecasting, coordinated governance, and climate-resilient planning, to strengthen electricity security and societal stability amid cascading climate risks.

Background: This study is a systematic literature review and meta-analysis conducted primarily in Korea to analyze the effects of exercise programs on metabolic syndrome symptoms in elderly women. Methods: 10 studies were selected and used for meta-analysis. To estimate the effect size, a meta-analysis of the studies was performed using RevMan 5.4. Results: When participating in an exercise program, the effect size for waist circumference was –2.05 (95% CI: -3.36, -0.74), the effect size for systolic blood pressure was –7.28 (95% CI: -10.11, -4.44), the effect size for diastolic blood pressure was –7.67 (95% CI: -14.11, -1.23), the effect size for fasting blood glucose was –5.55 (95% CI: -7.96, -3.13), and the effect size for TG was –25.91 (95% CI: -31.21, -20.61), confirming a significant effect. Conclusions: Exercise interventions included in this study included walking, strength training, aquatic exercise, and resistance training. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis revealed that interventions effective for metabolic syndrome indicators (blood pressure, triglycerides, waist circumference, and fasting blood glucose) were more effective when applied for 12 weeks or longer.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine procrastination among university students and explore its associations with sleep, self-control, and burnout. Methods: Data were collected from 125 students and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression to identify significant predictors of procrastination. Results: Procrastination differed significantly according to physical and mental health status and academic achievement. Correlation analysis showed significant relationships among sleep, self-control, burnout, and procrastination. Multiple regression identified self-control (β = -0.43, t = -5.15, p < .001) and academic performance (β = .22, t = 2.57, p = .011) as significant predictors, explaining 37.8% of the variance in procrastination (Adj. R² = .378, F = 7.17, p < .001). Conclusion: Findings highlight the need to strengthen self-control and to consider differences by academic achievement level in interventions to reduce procrastination among students. Future studies should expand the sample size, incorporate longitudinal designs, and explore additional health-related and psychosocial factors to establish more comprehensive intervention strategies.

This study investigated the transportation safety of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells by comparing and validating various discharge methods and safety tests. Experiments were conducted at 30%, 60%, and 100% SOC using external short-circuit, shunt resistor discharge, mechanical bending, and electronic discharge, and fire propagation risks were assessed through thermal propagation tests. The results showed that external short-circuiting caused ignition and rapid temperature rise, while shunt resistor discharge provided stable heat suppression and reproducibility but was limited by voltage rebound and long processing time. Mechanical bending was also insufficient for complete deactivation and therefore inappropriate as a standalone method. In contrast, electronic discharge to 0 V followed by external short-circuit prevented ignition and minimized temperature rise, demonstrating the most stable pretreatment approach. Accordingly, LFP cells can be transported with only lead-cutting when fire protection systems are available, whereas 0 V discharge followed by external short-circuit is essential under unprotected conditions. This study proposes an optimal pretreatment strategy to ensure the safe transportation of LFP batteries and highlights the need for further research on large-scale application and long-term stability.

The purpose of this study is to propose an institutional and strategic framework for preserving and managing Maegok Fortress in Boeun County, Korea, by redefining it as community critical infrastructure. Historical and cultural heritage resources are essential to sustaining community identity and enhancing community resilience, yet non-designated sites such as Maegok Fortress remain highly vulnerable to natural deterioration, development pressures, and institutional neglect. To overcome these challenges, this research introduces the Phased Strategy for the Preservation of Maegok Fortress, comprising four stages: ① foundational protection, ② historical value identification, ③ identity restoration, and ④ conservation & utilization. This phased approach integrates disaster management perspectives with cultural heritage preservation, aiming not only to safeguard physical integrity but also to restore historical significance, reinforce community identity, and promote sustainable local development. By benchmarking international models and emphasizing legal reform, institutional safeguards, and central–local government cooperation, this study highlights the necessity of embedding cultural heritage protection within the broader framework of critical infrastructure management.

This study aimed to analyze the thermal characteristics of electrical wiring under overcurrent conditions caused by motor loads in mixing processes of high-viscosity liquids (concentrates), which are widely distributed in the food manufacturing industry. Using Flux 3D simulation software, a 4 sq copper conductor was subjected to 1–7 times the rated current. The results showed that the conductor temperature exhibited a near-linear but nonlinear increasing trend, exceeding the insulation limit temperature (70 °C) at approximately six times the rated current. In addition, on-site thermal imaging measurements confirmed that the temperature at conductor connections gradually increased under sequential mixing conditions, including no-load, first load, and continuous mixing with a second load. These findings indicate that heat accumulation due to overcurrent can accelerate insulation degradation of electrical wiring. Therefore, ensuring appropriate motor capacity, proper conductor sizing, and periodic inspections of wiring and connection points according to process conditions are essential for maintaining electrical safety in high-viscosity liquid mixing operations.

This study aims to develop an elderly-focused disaster risk governance framework for Rwanda by comparatively analyzing Korea’s technology-driven and Japan’s community-centered disaster management systems. Using structured– focused comparison and qualitative content analysis, the research examines how strategies from super-aged societies can be adapted to late-transition contexts facing rapid demographic change. The findings highlight Korea’s cell-broadcast infrastructure for large-scale protective communication and Japan’s elderly-first evacuation protocols, welfare-capable shelters, and community assistance networks. A hybrid model is proposed that integrates national alerts with community-based support, supported by vulnerability registries, welfare shelter designations, and performance metrics such as coverage, response times, and assisted evacuations. The study contributes comparative design principles that combine technological systems and social capital and provides a transferability framework for institutionalizing age-attuned disaster governance in aging societies with infrastructural and fiscal constraints.