Universities In South Korea Research Articles

Nursing process performance measurement tool based on bloom’s revised taxonomy: A validity and reliability analysis

AimThis study aimed to develop a measurement tool that could evaluate educational approaches by integrating the cognitive dimensions required at each stage of the nursing process and strengthening the connection between education and clinical practice. BackgroundThe nursing process is a core component of nursing practice and supports nurses and nursing students in systematically performing the problem-solving process necessary for patient health management. DesignCross-sectional, methodological study. MethodsA nursing process performance measurement tool that could measure the cognitive dimensions required at each stage of the nursing process was developed based on Anderson’s and Bloom’s revised taxonomy. The data for this study were collected from July to August 2023 at four universities in South Korea. The reliability and validity of the measurement tool were evaluated through a survey conducted on 406 nursing students. Participants were third- and fourth-year nursing students with clinical practice experience, recruited through purposive sampling. ResultsThe developed tool was designed to systematically measure and evaluate each step of the nursing process. This tool consisted of 28 questions, each of which was divided into five assessment questions, six diagnosis questions, six planning questions, five implementation questions and six evaluation questions. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (“not at all”) to 5 (“very much”). The measurement score ranged from 28 to 140 points, with higher scores indicating better nursing process performance. The cumulative variance contribution rate of the tool was 68.1 % and the Cronbach’s α value was 0.85 for all items. ConclusionsThis study provides a basis for evaluating educational approaches in nursing curricula by integrating the cognitive dimensions required at each stage of the nursing process. This approach can strengthen the connection between education and clinical practice and can be used not only as a tool to systematically evaluate the learning outcomes of nursing students but also as a standardized nursing process guide.

Korean Triage and Acuity Scale education using role-playing and its effects on triage competency: A quasi-experimental design.

Triage is the process of prioritizing patients in the emergency department (ED). This has a pivotal role in ensuring patient safety and that the ED operates smoothly; therefore, triage training education is an important aspect of triage nurses' preparedness in different emergency situations. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design using a non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design to verify the effect of the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) education using role-playing on the knowledge of triage, triage performance ability, and triage competency in nursing students. Participants were 78 fourth-year nursing students from Shinseong University in South Korea; 39 were assigned to the experimental group, and 39 to the control group. The intervention was conducted for three weeks, from January 31 to February 16, 2024. The experimental group received KTAS education through role-playing, whereas the control group received triage education through lectures. Triage knowledge (t = 2.94, p = .004) and triage performance ability (t = 3.11, p = .003) were significantly improved in the experimental group. However, there was no significant difference in triage competency between groups (t = 1.32, p = .192). The post-test score of triage record in the experimental group showed a significant improvement over time (t = 0.56, p < .001). This study demonstrated that KTAS education using role-playing was more effective in improving triage knowledge and performance ability than traditional lecture methods for nursing students. Triage education programs should be developed considering the effectiveness of various teaching methods.

The Exploration of EFL Preservice Teachers’ Self-Perceived Importance of Assessment Literacy

It is fundamental for language teachers to assess their students’ performance. Therefore, they should be familiar with various forms of assessments because teaching and assessing languages are closely related and have a great deal to do with one another. This study examined EFL preservice teachers’ perceptions of assessment literacy at a medium-sized university in South Korea, employing a survey questionnaire of self-perceived language assessment. The survey results reveal significant variability in the confidence levels of EFL preservice teachers across six domains of assessment literacy, with the highest confidence in preventing cheating and the lowest in constructing tests for advanced learners. Challenges in communicating assessment results, particularly with parents, indicate a need for professional development in communication strategies. While ethical practices and digital assessment literacy show strong commitment and proficiency, areas like avoiding "teaching to the test" and designing online tests require further training to ensure comprehensive assessment capabilities. Such an investigation in this study will assist in spreading the significance of assessment literacy and its results on teaching and learning. The implication of the study is expected to improve the policies and practices in the field of education.

Establishing the ESD and GCEd system in higher education: Analyzing the holistic approach of Yonsei University in South Korea

Purpose: This study assesses the Global Citizenship Education (GCEd) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiatives at the Yonsei Institute of Global Engagement and Empowerment (IGEE). The objective is to identify strengths and areas for improvement in promoting ESD and GCEd principles and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Design/Methodology/Approach: This research employs a comprehensive analysis framework to evaluate Yonsei IGEE's initiatives, including the "Understanding Sustainable Development with Ban Ki-moon" lectures, "Social Engagement Fund (SEF)" research program, "SDG Initiative," and "Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum (GEEF))." It considers objectives, environmental focus, pedagogical strategies, topic coverage, learning dimensions, and outcome measurement.Findings: Yonsei IGEE initiatives demonstrate strengths in terms of clear objectives, environmental focus, and pedagogical strategies. They complement each other, fostering synergy in promoting ESD and GCEd principles. The lecture series offers a holistic view of SDG issues, whereas SEF empowers students to address challenges practically. The SDG Initiative guides Yonsei's research community, and GEEF disseminates SDG knowledge and fosters collaboration.Originality: This study contributes originality in two aspects. First, it presents an innovative evaluation framework specifically designed to assess the diverse GCEd and ESD programs at Yonsei IGEE. This framework serves as a valuable tool for future evaluations of similar initiatives in higher education institutions. Second, the data and contents analyzed in this research, drawn from Yonsei IGEE's programs, are novel and provide unique insights into the efficacy of the GCEd and ESD efforts.

대학생의 정서지능이 대학생활적응에 미치는 영향: 사회적지지와 진로적응력의 직렬매개효과

Objectives The objective of this research is to identify the mediating effects of college students’ emotional intelligence on how well they adjust to college life, with social support and career adaptability acting as media, by focusing on emotional intelligence which promotes adjustment to college life. Methods To this end, a survey was conducted with 502 male and female college students from four-year universities in South Korea. After excluding careless responding, a final sample of 473 was used for model analysis. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27 and Process Macro Model 6. Results First, it was found that emotional intelligence and career adaptability of college students directly influence their adaptation to college life, whereas social support was not found to have a significant impact on college adaptation. Second, emotional intelligence of college students indirectly affects adaptation to college life through career adaptability, and emotional intelligence was found not to influence college adaptation through social support. Furthermore, the sequential mediating effects of college students’ emotional intelligence on adaptation to college life through social support and career adaptability were confirmed. Conclusions This study empirically validated the research question that emotional intelligence not only directly influences social support, career adaptability, and adaptation to college life significantly but also indirectly affects adaptation to college life through sequential mediation of social support and career adaptability. This underscores the importance of considering the role and contribution of emotional intelligence in adaptation to college life.

중국인 학습자를 위한 한·중 속담 비교 고찰

This study set out to compare and examine Korean and Chinese proverbs in both form and meaning by focusing on the proverbs published in five Korean textbooks by five universities in South Korea. The study first examined the objective and need for comparative research on Korean and Chinese proverbs and reviewed previous studies. Then, it examined the current state of proverbs in five, published Korean textbooks by universities in South Korea and the forms, meanings of the proverbs. After dividing the proverbs into four types according to their forms and meanings: same character &amp; same meaning, different character &amp; same meaning, same character &amp; different meaning, and uniqueness to Korean culture, Chinese proverbs corresponding to Korean proverbs were presented. And by comparing and analyzing the specific meanings of Korean and Chinese proverbs, for example, proverbs by type. the researcher compared and analyzed Korean and Chinese proverbs and found that there were similar and considerable differences between them. Finally, The conclusion was presented and concluded. This study demonstrated the similar and different features between Korean and Chinese proverbs through comparison and analysis efforts, hoping to provide useful materials for Chinese learners to acquire and utilize proverbs.

The effect of mobile social media on the mental health status of Chinese international students: an empirical study on the chain mediation effect

PurposeTo explore the impact of mobile social media on the psychological well-being of Chinese international students and analyze the mechanisms of influence to enhance their overall psychological health and social interactions in a foreign environment.MethodsConvenience sampling was employed, using questionnaires on Mobile Social Media, Psychological Resilience, Body Image, Health Goal Setting, Physical Activity Level, and Mental Health Status as measurement tools. Data were gathered from 378 Chinese international students across 33 universities in South Korea, including Kangwon National University, Myongji University, Kunsan National University, Seoul National University, and Chonbuk National University. Confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, common method bias testing, and chain mediation effect analysis were conducted using SPSS and AMOS 23.0.ResultsMobile social media has significant indirect effects on the mental health of international students through various factors: psychological resilience and physical activity level (effect ‘adg’ = 0.080, 95% CI [0.029, 0.144]), body image and physical activity level (effect ‘beg’ = 0.122, 95% CI [0.044, 0.247]), and health goal setting and physical activity level (effect ‘cfg’ = 0.255, 95% CI [0.123, 0.428]).ConclusionThe study shows that mobile social media benefits the mental health of Chinese international students by enhancing psychological resilience, physical activity, body image perception, and health goal setting. Collaboration between educational institutions and social media platforms is recommended to promote physical activity among international students. This collaboration can involve sharing encouraging messages, joining health communities, setting goals, and providing accessible exercise resources. Utilizing mobile apps or social media for tracking progress and goal-setting can also improve self-management skills.

Integrating mixed reality preparation into acute coronary syndrome simulation for nursing students: a single-group pretest-posttest study

BackgroundTimely and effective intervention within the ‘golden hour’—the critical first 90 min after the symptom onset—is crucial for initiating life-saving treatment and reducing mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This highlights the need for nursing students to be proficient in ACS care, emphasizing the importance of preparatory training. This study enhanced traditional simulation methods by integrating a mixed reality (MR) preparation step, offering a more immersive learning experience. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating MR preparation into ACS simulation education, focusing on enhancements in knowledge, self-confidence in learning, and self-efficacy in learning. Additionally, we examined performance, practice immersion, and satisfaction to comprehensively evaluate the MR application.MethodsOne-group pretest-posttest design was implemented in a convenience sample of thirty-nine senior nursing students from a university in South Korea in August 2022. We developed a simulation program integrating MR preparation into ACS simulation (IMRP-ACSS), which was validated through expert review for content validity. The students participated in the simulation program over six hours across two days, including a 40-minute individual session of MR-based simulation preparation using head-mounted displays (the HoloLens 2). Individual changes in knowledge, self-confidence in learning, and self-efficacy in learning evaluated by the survey were analyzed using paired t-tests. Additionally, group performance assessed using the checklist was analyzed. Immersion and satisfaction were measured with a tool and a 10-point Likert scale, respectively.ResultsIndividually, participants demonstrated significantly increased knowledge (t = 11.87, p < .001), self-confidence in learning (t = 7.17, p < .001), and self-efficacy in learning (t = 4.70, p < .001) post-education. Group performance yielded a mean score of 56.43/70 ± 7.45. Groups scored higher in electrocardiogram interpretation, patient safety, and heparin administration. Participants reported a practice immersion level of 37.82/50 ± 9.13 and expressed satisfaction with the program, achieving an average score of 8.85/10 ± 1.35.ConclusionIntegrating MR preparation into ACS simulation enhanced nursing students’ knowledge, self-confidence in learning, and self-efficacy in ACS care, providing a replicable and immersive learning experience. This method is an effective addition to nursing education, preparing students through comprehensive, technology-enhanced training.

Developing learner autonomy and EFL listening skills through mobile-assisted blended learning

ABSTRACT Purposes Despite the increased attention on students’ autonomous learning in mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) and blended learning, their combined approach as mobile-assisted blended learning (MABL) has been largely overlooked. This study fills this gap by investigating the effects of MABL in developing English listening comprehension and learner autonomy (LA). Design/Methodology/Approach The participants were 91 students attending a university in South Korea. Students in the experimental group (n = 50) experienced MABL instruction for English listening, and those in the control group (n = 41) were taught based on conventional English listening instruction for 14 weeks. Before and after the instruction, both groups of students participated in listening comprehension tests and the LA questionnaires as the quantitative data. Findings The study findings are as follows: First, students with MABL instruction significantly outperformed those with non-MABL instruction in the listening post-test. Second, significant differences were found between the two groups concerning the five LA dimensions, and students in the experimental group revealed significantly higher perceived LA in the post-questionnaire than what they perceived before the instruction. Lastly, the results confirmed LA as a positive predictor of their listening performance. Value This study provides compelling evidence of the effects of MABL on the development of EFL listening comprehension and the promotion of LA. Based on the research findings, limitations and suggestions for further study are discussed.

Effects of Self-Leadership on Nursing Professionalism among Nursing Students: The Mediating Effects of Positive Psychological Capital and Consciousness of Calling.

To provide high-quality nursing care, nursing education requires the basic quality of self-leadership from professional nurses so that they can make self-directed and responsible judgments and decisions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate relationships among self-leadership, positive psychological capital, consciousness of calling, and nursing professionalism in nursing students. A cross-sectional online survey of 202 students from two universities in South Korea was conducted between August and September 2022, using a convenience sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, and bootstrapping using Hayes' PROCESS macro for mediation. A significant positive correlation was found between self-leadership, positive psychological capital, consciousness of calling, and nursing professionalism. Positive psychological capital and consciousness of calling showed an indirect mediating effect on the relationship between self-leadership and nursing professionalism. To improve nursing professionalism, programs should be developed to educate nursing students, strengthen their self-leadership skills, and increase the influence of positive psychological capital and consciousness of calling for nursing. This will ultimately contribute to improving the quality of patient care by fostering competent nursing experts.

First Report of Anthracnose on Euonymus japonicus Thunb. Caused by a Provisionally Novel Species of Colletotrichum in the Magnum Complex in South Korea.

Euonymus japonicus Thunb., also known as the evergreen spindle tree, is an evergreen tree, which is widely planted as a hedge plant along streets in South Korea. In April 2022, severe anthracnose symptoms were observed on the leaves of this tree in Jangsu in the Jeonbuk Province of the country (35°43'49.44″N, 127°34'53.7″E). About 80% of the leaves of each affected tree within a 0.03-ha area showed incidence of the disease on approximately 30 trees were planted along the roadside (~30 m). These symptoms typically included circular or irregularly shaped whitish-gray lesions with a diameter of 2.0 to 3.0 cm. In cases where some leaves were severely affected, larger blotches formed. To isolate the pathogen, about ten leaves showing anthracnose symptoms on each tree were randomly selected and brought to the laboratory. Fungal isolations were made from acervuli filled with conidial masses on infected evergreen tissues, followed by plating onto 2% potato dextrose agar (PDA) as well as incubated at 25℃. On the PDA, colonies were circular, raised, green-grey or dark grey, and had a distinct white margin. The conidia were single-celled, transparent, cylindrical with rounded ends, had smooth walls, with a length ranging from 12 μm to 16.7 μm and a width raging from 4 μm to 6.5 μm (av. = 14.1 X 5.0 μm, n=40). Of those that were successfully recovered with approximately 90% frequency, two monoconidial isolates were deposited to the culture collection at Chungnam National University in South Korea (Accession number: CDH059-060). To ensure the identity of the fungus, genomic DNAs were extracted from the selected isolates, CDH059-060, and were sequenced. This was achieved based on partial sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), actin and beta-tubulin (TUB2) gene regions which were amplified using ITS1F / ITS4 (Gardes and Bruns 1993; White et al. 1990), ACT-512F / ACT-783R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), and T1 / Bt2b (O'Donnell and Cigelnik 1997; Glass and Donaldson 1995) primer pairs, respectively. The resulting sequences were deposited to GenBank (OR984424-425) for ITS, (OR996289-290) for actin, and (OR996291-292) for TUB2. For a phylogenetic analysis, sequences from different gene regions (ITS, actin and TUB2) retrieved from GenBank were aligned, concatenated, and analyzed as a single dataset based on a maximum likelihood analysis. The phylogenetic result revealed that the fungus isolated in this study was positioned in a clearly distinct lineage, provisionally representing an undetermined species of Colletotrichum, which is most closely related to Colletotrichum liaoningense (Y.Z. Diao, C. Zhang, L. Cai & X.L. Liu, CGMCC3.17616 (KP890104 for ITS, KP890097 for actin, and KP890111 for TUB, Diao et al. 2017). Sequence comparisons revealed that this pathogen differed from C. liaoningense at 20 of 494 characters (∼4.0%) in the ITS and 2 of 251 (∼1.0%) in the actin sequences. For pathogenicity tests, three seedlings of E. japonicus were used. The leaves for each tree were treated with 10 ml of a conidial suspension by spraying (1x10⁶ conidia ml-1 of the isolate, CDH059), while the three seedlings were treated with distilled water as control. After sprayed, the treated areas were sealed with plastic bags for a day to maintain humidity. Anthracnose symptoms identical to those observed in the field appeared seven days after inoculations, while no symptoms were observed in the control. Re-isolations were successfully achieved from the treatments, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Anthracnose associated with the provisionally novel species of Colletotrichum sp. on E. japonicus has not been recorded elsewhere, and in this regard, this is the first report of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum sp. on E. japonicus in Korea. To effectively control the disease, more attention should be paid to the host range of the pathogen and other regions where the disease caused by the pathogen might occur in the country.

Effectiveness of a Patient Safety Incident Disclosure Education Program: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

The accurate disclosure of patient safety incidents is necessary to minimize patient safety incidents and medical disputes. As prospective healthcare providers, nursing students need to possess the ability to disclose patient safety incidents. This study was designed to investigate the effect of a patient safety incident disclosure education program for undergraduate nursing students on participants' knowledge and perception of disclosure of these incidents, attitudes toward patient safety, and self-efficacy regarding disclosure of these incidents. A quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent pretest-posttest design was conducted on fourth-year undergraduate nursing students recruited between September 6 and October 22, 2021, through convenience sampling from two universities in South Korea. The experimental group (n = 25) received the education program. The control group (n = 25) received educational materials on the disclosure of patient safety incidents only. Knowledge and perceptions of patient safety incident disclosure, attitudes toward patient safety, and self-efficacy regarding incident disclosure were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t test, χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and ranked analysis of covariance. Posttest results revealed knowledge (p < .001), perceptions (p = .031), and self-efficacy (p < .001) with regard to the disclosure of patient safety incidents were all significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Posttest attitudes toward patient safety were not significantly different between the two groups (p = .908). The patient safety incident disclosure education program effectively enhances the knowledge, perception, and self-efficacy of nursing students with regard to safety incidents. The findings may be used to improve training and educational programs in nursing colleges and hospitals to improve the knowledge, perception, and self-efficacy of nursing students with regard to disclosing patient safety incidents in clinical settings.

Engagement with language in study abroad: accounts from Korean English-major students in the United States

ABSTRACT This study investigates the emergence and nature of engagement with language during short-term study abroad (STSA). Ten teacher-education students from the same sending university in South Korea participated in a 4-week programme hosted by a U.S. university, with emphasis on multiculturalism and English as a medium of classroom instruction. Adopting the framework of engagement with language and a case study method, the current study focuses on three English majors with a professional stake and expert training as focal cases and their responses to focus group interviews and individual interviews, as well as written reflections. The data reveal the participants’ critical reflections on their prior L2 practices and a complex interplay of cognitive (breakdowns of English and its forms and functions), affective (confidence boosting), and social (interactions for learning) engagement with language in relation to what STSA affords as a context and how the participants negotiate and shape that context. The study further uncovers dynamic interactions of the different forms of engagement, such as juxtaposition of cognitive and affective forms and interconnected forms of cognitive, affective, and social engagement. The findings shed new insight into the complex nature of engagement with language during STSA.

A comparative study of virtual and insite engineering service-learning implementations

The Smile project is an engineering service-learning initiative carried out through collaboration between Chouaib Doukkali University in Morocco and Pusan National University in South Korea. Since 2016, this project has been conducted annually for engineering students from both universities. Participants are selected through an oral interview, ensuring representation from different majors, years, and genders. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project transitioned to an online mode starting from 2020. The objective of this article is to investigate the impact of the service-learning approach on learning and its potential for enhancing engineering education. This study aims to compare the face-to-face and online implementations of the Smile project as examples of this educational approach. The analysis demonstrates a strong positive effect of engineering service-learning as a learning approach, leading to the improvement of engineering students' skills and competencies. Notably, there is minimal difference between the two implementation modes of this learning approach.

Bibliometric analysis of research trends and hotspots on robot-assisted thyroid surgery.

Thyroid surgery involves the partial or complete removal of the thyroid gland and is a frequently performed surgical procedure. The adoption of robots, equipped with flexible and stable operating systems, has garnered acceptance among numerous surgeons for their capability to enable precise anatomical dissection in thyroid surgery. To gain a comprehensive insight into the present research landscape of robot-assisted thyroid surgery, this paper endeavored to conduct a thorough analysis of the field through bibliometric analysis. Relevant literature pertaining to robot-assisted thyroid surgery was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, spanning from the inception of WOSCC to October 17, 2022. Visual analyses of publication quantity, distribution across countries/regions, institutions/organizations, authorship, journals, references, and keywords were conducted using Microsoft Excel, the bibliometrix package in R, Citescape, and VOSviewer software. A total of 505 articles from 406 institutions in 36 countries/regions were included. South Korea emerged with highest number of publications. Notably, Professor CHUNG WY from Yonsei University in South Korea and the journal "Surg Endosc" stood out with the most publications. The current research landscape indicated significant interest in endoscopic thyroidectomy, surgical procedures, and the axillary approach. In addition, transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TROT), and learning curve (LC) were recognized as research frontiers, representing potential future hotspots in this field. This study marks the first bibliometric analysis of the literature on robot-assisted thyroid surgery. The results highlight endoscopic thyroidectomy, surgical procedures, and the axillary approach as current research hotspots, with TROT and LC identified as potential future research hotspots.

우리나라 초등교원 양성 대학의 원격 교육 개선 방안

Purpose: This study examined distance education models and practices in two types of universities, i.e., overseas teacher education universities and domestic general universities, to develop strategies for improving distance education in an elementary teacher education university in South Korea.&#x0D; Methods: We conducted in-depth case studies of distance education in five universities (two overseas and three that were domestic) and compared the data to one in a domestic teacher education university in terms of material requirements, systems and services, and support for university member competency.&#x0D; Results: We found considerable variations in terms of pedagogical philosophies, curriculum structures, academic administrations, and platform-based special programs. For example, the overseas teacher education universities highlight the quality and quantity of learning, paying less attention to the length of the lectures. It is also notable that the domestic general universities take into account students’ educational welfare and provide various forms of distance education to facilitate students’ flexible management of time and space.&#x0D; Conclusion: The findings suggest that the elementary teacher education university should adopt more student-centric distance education methods and foster interactions, which underscores the need for financial supports and intercollegial communication.

TPACK expression patterns in preservice teachers' design of innovative physics teaching and learning materials

AbstractBackgroundTPACK is a widely used framework for assessing teachers' competence in integrating technology in education. However, previous studies have shown varying interpretations of the relationship between TPACK elements. Qualitative studies that assess the manifestations of TPACK by examining the practices of pre‐service teachers are rare.ObjectivesThis study investigates technology integration in innovative physics teaching and learning materials designed by pre‐service teachers and the manifestation of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) in empirical cases.MethodsWe qualitatively extracted the components of PCK, TPK, and TCK from the innovative physics teaching and learning materials developed by 22 pre‐service teachers in their fourth year at a teachers' college in South Korea. We scored them based on the new evaluation criteria established in this study.Results and ConclusionsBased on the materials, we identified three types of technology integration: Learning Materials Providing, Learning Activity Providing, and Virtual Experiments Creating. This study identifies teachers' level of TK and integrates it with TPACK expression. Results confirm the connection between TK and TCK and show that a strong PCK can serve as a basis for TPK. The TPACK expression pattern can help achieve balanced development of TPACK in teacher education.

South Korean Adapted Physical Education Majors’ Self-Efficacy

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to describe and analyze the self-efficacy of South Korean adapted physical education (APE) majors in teaching persons with disabilities. The research design was a qualitative descriptive case study. The participants were five APE majors (four men and one woman, age ranged from 20 to 25) attending a university in South Korea. The data sources were interviews, program curriculum reviews, and a researcher’s journal entries; and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged, which were: (a) determinants of self-efficacy, (b) relationships with APE faculty, (c) increased awareness, and (d) I am not confident. Findings exposed APE majors as more likely to gain confidence after volunteering to work with persons with disabilities and developing relationships with them. The results showed the importance of integrating hands-on practicum teaching experiences in APE courses for the majors to develop their positive self-efficacy in teaching persons with disabilities.

Therapeutic Potential of Combined Herbal Medicine and Electroacupuncture in Mild Cognitive Impairment Through Cytokine Modulation: An Observational Study.

We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a combined herbal formula and electroacupuncture (EA) for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia, and its underlying mechanisms of action. This was a prospective open-label observational pilot study at Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University in South Korea from March 2022 to March 2023. We included six Korean patients (50% male) aged ≥ 45 years and < 85 years with MCI, a clinical dementia rating score of 0.5, and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korea (MoCA-K) score ≤ 22. The exclusion criterion was impaired cognitive function. Patients received combined therapy, including a herbal formula and EA, for 12-24 weeks. We prescribed the herbal formulas Gamiguibi-tang, Yukmijihwang-tang, and Banhasasim-tang to the patients for at least 70% of the treatment period, in combination with EA. Moreover, we investigated changes in cognitive and cognition-related symptoms and cytokine expression in the blood following combined traditional medicine therapy. At baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks, we administered the MoCA-K and cognitive-related questionnaires. We analyzed network pharmacology to reflect the herbal formula intervention mechanism comprehensively. The median score [interquartile range] of MoCA-K at baseline was 19.5 [16.0, 22.0], which improved significantly (24.5 [24.0, 26.0], p < 0.01) over 24 weeks following combined therapy. We obtained no significant conclusion regarding cytokine changes due to the small sample size. In network pharmacology, we analyzed the brain, head, heart, peripheral nerves, peripheral nervous system, and pancreas as the enriched organs from the common targets of the three herbal formulas. Combined herbal medicine and EA improved cognitive function in patients with MCI. We assume the underlying mechanism of herbal formulas to be antioxidative and anti-inflammatory changes in cytokine expression. Combined traditional medicine has potential therapeutic application in preventing MCI progression to dementia.

A Comparative Study of Art Colleges in South Korea and China: Strategies and Directions for Enhancing Cultural and Artistic Education and Industry in the Dalian Region

A Comparative Study of Art Colleges in South Korea and China: Strategies and Directions for Enhancing Cultural and Artistic Education and Industry in the Dalian Region