BackgroundPrenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease (CHD) is becoming widely available but there is a lack of understanding on such expectant mothers’ experiences during pregnancy. This was the first study to investigate the pregnancy experience of Korean mothers with a prenatal fetal diagnosis of CHD.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 12 mothers regarding their child’s prenatal diagnosis of CHD and the adaptive processes during pregnancy. The data were transcribed and analyzed according to the grounded theory framework.ResultsWhen the diagnosis of fetal CHD was suspected, mothers desperately sought accurate information regarding CHD while hoping in vain for a misdiagnosis. When the definitive diagnosis was made, most pregnant women experienced psychological trauma and pain, framed in the stigma and burden of having an imperfect child. Provision of accurate health advice and emotional support by a multidisciplinary counseling team was crucial at this phase, forming recognition that CHD could be treated. When fetal movements were felt, mothers came to acknowledge the fetus as an independent being, and made their best efforts to protect the fetus from harmful external influences using traditional TaeKyo mindset and practices, which in turn, were helpful in restructuring the meaning of the pregnancy.ConclusionsMothers went through a dynamic process of adapting to the unexpected diagnosis of CHD, which was closely linked to being able to believe that their child could be treated. Early counseling with precise information on CHD, continuous provision of clear explanations on prognosis, sufficient emotional support, and well-designed prenatal education programs are the keys to an optimal outcome.

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Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are expected to facilitate effective day-to-day communication with patients and family members at the bedside. To date, communication training for ICU health care professionals has targeted mainly intensivists-in-training, but there is limited data on communication experience and needs to be evaluated among ICU nurses. This qualitative study used focus group interviews to explore daily communication experiences with patients’ families and communication training needs and preferences among ICU nurses in South Korea. Five focus group interviews were conducted with 27 ICU nurses (4–6 nurses per group). The results of inductive qualitative content analysis highlighted four main categories: “Perceived difficulties during communication,” “burden from working conditions,” “endeavors to promote communication skills,” and “strategies for cultivating effective communication.” Regarding suggestions for future communication training, nurses preferred interactive learning with peer-support over traditional methods (e.g., lectures). Nurses also suggested that communication training for ICU nurses should include learning skills appropriate for difficult situations (e.g., angry family members). Findings from this study can serve as a framework for stakeholders in ICU care and healthcare education (e.g., hospital and nursing administrators, nurse educators) when designing communication training to support ICU nurses with their practical knowledge and communication skills.

Contextual factors are associated with risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) perceived by personnel employed in small–medium-sized workplaces. In an ecological model, data collection and analysis were undertaken, stratified by intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational contexts of blue-collar workers. Data were collected in face-to-face (n = 36) and focus group (n = 4) interviews and subjected to qualitative content analysis, to generate three main themes, 10 generic categories and 18 sub-categories. At the intrapersonal level, “physical burden”, “burn out due to overtime work”, “no time to take care of health because of family responsibility”, and “lack of recognition and knowledge of CVD risks” were derived from the individual interviews. At the interpersonal level, “stress of possible job losses”, “dislike of stigmatization of unhealthy persons”, “smoking and drinking to reduce relationship stress”, and “unhealthy work environment” differed by level of risk perception. “Preferred economic value” and “lack of understanding about importance of CVD management of an employer” emerged at the organizational level. Factors that influence CVD risks among workers in small–medium-sized business were present at the multiple levels. Therefore, healthcare providers in the field of occupational health should consider CVD risks in the context of blue-collar workers and organizational level for health-promotion programs.

The high rates of smartphone usage among younger people and the negative impacts are well-known, but there remains a paucity of qualitative research on the topic. This study was designed to explore the experiences of university students addicted to smartphones. The author conducted in-depth individual interviews with 17 university students who scored in the upper 5th percentile on a smartphone addiction scale. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Students with a smartphone addiction were trapped in a vicious cycle. More specifically, they were "Realizing something was wrong with withdrawal symptoms," "Having negative consequences," "Seeking escape," and "Staying addicted." This study helped participating students realize their addiction and disclose their emotional and interpersonal difficulties related to their smartphone use. These understandings may be used to refine and further develop school-based programs to better help those addicted to smartphones to recover.