Advances in the treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) have increased life expectancy, entailing medical surveillance for a considerable number of adolescents and young adults with CHD for issues arising in areas such as sexual health. This study aimed to assess the sexual knowledge and the needs for sexual health education among this group. The participants comprised 53 young adult outpatients (27 males, median age: 23 years) who had undergone surgical interventions (median: 3 times) for CHD. The Knowledge related to Safe Sex Practice scale (KSSP), an assessment tool containing 15 questions on sexual knowledge, was administered, and the rates of correct answers for each item and the overall scale were compared with the age and sex of a control group (n = 164). The overall mean KSSP score of the participant group (10.5 ± 1.8) was significantly lower than that of the control group (11.1 ± 1.9, p = .035). The KSSP scores of the participants with low peripheral oxygen saturation (SaO2 < 95%) were significantly lower (9.77 ± 1.85) than those with normal SaO2 (11.06 ± 1.85, p = .009). Regarding sexual health education, the participants reported receiving information about contraception as more important than other areas of sexual health. The rate of incorrect answers was higher for questions regarding natural ways of contraception utilizing infertile periods in the menstrual cycle. Based on an informed understanding of those with CHD, healthcare providers in this field should develop customized sexual health education for adolescents and young adults with CHD and implement customized sexual health education, including effective contraception methods.

ObjectivesZZThe aim of this study was to investigate attitudes toward suicide and personal experiences with suicide among doctors and health care workers in Korea.MethodsZZA total of 622 participants were included in this study and 617 participants completed a self-report questionnaire that included 31 items; 184 doctors and 433 health care workers. A questionnaire was used for assessment of demographic characteristics, attitude toward suicide, and personal experiences with suicide in doctors and health care workers. The collected data were evaluated using chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses. A probability level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsZZMore permissive attitudes toward suicide showed an association with doctor group and non-religious group (p<0.05). Religious group and older age showed an association with a more negative attitude (p<0.05). The lifetime and one-year prevalence rates of suicidal ideation were 31.4% and 9.8%, respectively, in all participants. The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in the religious group (33.9%, p<0.05). Among all participants, 32.1% reported loss of a patient by suicide, and 29.9% reported contact with a patient at risk of suicide or with depression. In addition, 72.5% reported contact with a depressed patient.ConclusionZZAttitudes toward suicide among doctors and health care workers were shown to differ significantly between age, gender, doctor group and health care worker group, religious group and non-religious group. The reported level of suicidal ideation among doctors and health care workers is worthy of concern. Research is needed for establishment of effective prevention strategies on the basis of our findings.J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2013;52:231-242 KEY WORDSZZ Suicide · Attitude toward suicide · Doctor · Primary health care.

We recruited 92 adolescents with complex congenital heart disease from a tertiary medical center in Seoul, measured their levels of physical activity, and identified factors that influenced their physical activity levels using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, the New York Heart Association classification, congenital heart disease complexity, the Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Parental Bonding Instrument scale. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to determine factors influencing physical activity. Results: Total physical activity was higher in males than in females (t=4.46, p<.001). Adolescents who participated in school physical education classes engaged in more physical activity than those who did not (t=6.77, p<.001). Higher self-efficacy (β=.41, p<.001), male gender (β=.37, p<.001) and participation in school physical education classes (β=.19, p=.042) were associated with a higher likelihood of engagement in physical activity. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop nursing interventions that enhance self-efficacy in order to promote physical activity in adolescents with complex congenital heart disease. Physical activity should also be promoted in an individualized manner, taking into account gender, disease severity, and parental attitude.

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