This methodological study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Holistic Nursing Competence Scale (HNCS), which comprises five dimensions and 36 items. The English version of the HNCS was forward and backward translated and administered to 251 participants with more than a year of work experience in a general hospital. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 24.0(Chicago, USA), and AMOS program was used for confirmatory factor analysis. Additionally, the “Task Performance Evaluation Instrument for Clinical Nurses” was used for concurrent validity. Reliability assessed using Cronbach’s α was 0.969. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity were good. Average variance extracted and construct reliability ranged from 0.845 to 0.932 and 0.980 to 0.987, respectively. The model was suitable with the chi-square value being 1216.563 (df = 584, p < 0.001), and Q value being less than three. Goodness-of-fit index, root mean square residual, and root mean square error of approximation were 0.784, 0.066, and 0.066, respectively. Moreover, comparative fit index, Tucker–Lewis index, and incremental fit index were 0.913, 0.906, and 0.913, respectively. Thus, this study verified the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the HNCS. Our findings suggest that the scale is helpful in measuring and developing the holistic nursing competence of clinical nurses.

Background: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome with aging is higher in women than in men, and it increases after menopause. Interventions to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome in women are important. A low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet is effective in weight loss and improvement cardiovascular risk factors including abdominal circumference, blood pressure, and blood lipid profile. We aimed to determine the relationship between a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and the risk of metabolic syndrome in Korean women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the 2014–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Overall, 8,222 women aged >19 yr were included. The effect of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet on the risk of metabolic syndrome was analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis using a complex sampling procedure. Results: The diet significantly reduced the likelihood of metabolic syndrome development (P=0.044). In addition, regardless of the fat type, the diet significantly reduced the likelihood of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia (low-carbohydrate, high-total fat, P=0.013; low-carbohydrate, high-unsaturated fat, P=0.006; low-carbohydrate, high-saturated fat, P=0.006). Conclusion: A low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet is an important intervention that can reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, and the reduced consumption of carbohydrates can decrease the risk of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia regardless of fat type. Therefore, it is necessary to actively explore the potential of this diet, targeting Asians, including Koreans.

This study aimed to provide basic data on the prevention of hepatitis C infection by identifying factors related to it based on the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The sixth (2013–2015) and seventh (2016–2018) Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted by the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency were analyzed. This is a population-based, nationally representative, multistage, cross-sectional survey of noninstitutionalized persons in Korea. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the significance of the variables. A total of 32,942 persons aged >20 years were selected for this study. Among them, 282 tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies, while 32,660 tested negative. Of the 282 persons who tested positive, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women. The factors associated with hepatitis C infection were age, education level, self-rated health status, and liver cirrhosis. Therefore, there is a need to educate people and implement preventive programs based on age and education levels to reduce the incidence of hepatitis C infections. In addition, it is necessary to include hepatitis C screening as part of the National Health Examination to diagnose hepatitis C infections.

This study aimed to translate the affinity for technology interaction (ATI) scale into Korean and examine its validity and reliability to measure nurses’ interactions and affinity with digital healthcare. Data from 154 nurses employed by general hospitals were analyzed. This developmental and psychometrical evaluation of the ATI scale included a translation, a pilot test, and psychometric properties. Concurrent validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability testing were completed. The corrected item–total correlation was below the standard of 0.3, and the content validity index was >0.8. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin and Bartlett sphericity test values were 0.81 and Χ2 = 496.25 (p < 0.001), respectively. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) result was extracted as two factors, with an overall variance of 60.52%. The correlation between the ATI scale and the Quality Improvement Information System acceptance tool was examined to confirm concurrent validity and showed a significant correlation. Cronbach’s α was 0.75, indicating adequate reliability. ATI’s internal, construct, and concurrent validity demonstrated its suitability as a tool. Therefore, assessing nurses’ information and communication technology proficiency and developing strategies for boosting it would be possible.

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study that investigates the mediating effect of humanism on the relationship between task performance and holistic nursing competence among clinical nurses. The participants were nurses with more than one year of work experience in general hospitals in South Korea, recruited using convenience sampling. A total of 227 data samples were collected. A self-reported questionnaire including the task performance competence scale, holistic nursing competence scale, and humanism scale was used for the survey. Data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression after checking for normal distribution. The results showed that task performance competence, holistic nursing competence, and humanism differed according to characteristics such as gender, age, educational level, marital status, position, length of career, and job and salary satisfaction. Task performance competence was positively correlated with holistic nursing competence and humanism. A positive correlation was also observed between holistic nursing competence and humanism. A partial mediating effect of humanism in the relationship between task performance competence and holistic nursing competence was confirmed. Thus, to increase nurses’ holistic nursing competence, it is necessary to improve task performance competence and formulate a continuous and repetitive education program that includes humanism.