Purpose: This study aimed to explore the psychoemotional changes experienced by mothers of children diagnosed prenatally with congenital heart disease. Methods: Data were collected from March 1 to November 3, 2022, through in-depth interviews with 10 mothers of babies diagnosed prenatally with congenital heart disease in a tertiary hospital. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method. Results: The following four themes, with 16 subthemes, were identified: 1) Contemplating maintaining the pregnancy amidst grief and denial, 2) Actively protecting the baby, 3) Recognizing the reality of the disease progression while facing the baby, and 4) Finally becoming a mother. Conclusion: The findings suggest that medical staff should provide accurate information about any disease a baby is diagnosed with before childbirth, understand mothers’ psychoemotional changes, and effectively utilize prenatal counseling. This can be achieved by further expanding the existing patient- and family-centered nursing intervention program implemented by the hospital.

Purpose: This study aimed to find out the meaning of the experiences of depression among university students. Methods: Seven university students who scored 21 or higher on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale participated in this study. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews from October 22, 2022, to February 27, 2023. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological qualitative research method. Results: Thirteen themes and six theme clusters were identified. The experiences of depression were derived from six themes: relational deficits and role imbalance within the family, internal and external conflicts due to economic difficulties, conflicts arising from social expectations and identity struggles, resistance towards uncertainty in the future and efforts for self-understanding and personal change, and interpersonal adjustment for self-protection. Conclusion: To mitigate depression in university students, the government and universities should educate them on effective methods of coping with trauma and stress and strengthen employment and financial support policies by implementing targeted scholarship programs and job placement services. Additionally, it is important to assist university students with depression to enhance their ability for self-acceptance to prevent negative self-perception.

Purpose: This study aimed to integrate and synthesize the recovery experiences of stroke patients through a qualitative meta-synthesis methodology. Methods: By searching through Korean databases(RISS, DBpia, KISS, NDSL), we compared 12 qualitative studies on recovery experiences of stroke patients. The meta-synthesis process was primarily guided by Noblit and Hare’s approach. Results: The common central experience of stroke patients was “reaching the world again”. Findings from the literature reviewed were synthesized into four themes: ‘earnest desire for recovery’, ‘rediscovery of family’, ‘duet of hope and despair’, ‘designing a new life’. Conclusion: The findings of this study provides a deeper understanding of recovery experiences of stroke patients. And this finding will serve as the basis for educational programs for health care personnel and families caring for stroke patients, development of programs to promote recovery of stroke patients, and self-help groups.

Purpose: This qualitative study explained the experiences of male adolescents who perpetrated school violence and understand which changes occur over time. Methods: Data were collected from June 2014 to May 2015 from 21 male adolescents who had perpetrated school violence and faced punishments, including forced transfers or special education. In-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted, with each interview lasting 45-100 minutes over 1-4 sessions. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, taking 3-5 hours per session, with the transcripts reviewed for accuracy. Furthermore, member checks were conducted with the two participants for feedback. Meanwhile, data analysis followed Grounded Theory using open, axial, and selective coding while adhering to COREQ guidelines to ensure transparency and reflexivity. Results: A total of 87 concepts, 34 sub-categories, and 17 categories were derived. The core category was identified as “breaking out of the emotional pain.”The basic psycho-social processes experienced by the male adolescents who had perpetrated school violence appeared in four phases; "eruption", "habituation", "separation," and "reflection." The central phenomenon was “explosion of repressed emotional pain.” Conclusion: This study provides novel insights into preventing school violence by providing a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of male adolescents who perpetrated acts of school violence. Crucially, it suggests that both assailants and victims of school violence should be looked after by their families, schools, and communities.

Purpose: In this qualitative descriptive study, we aimed to explore the experiences of nurses providing end-of-life (EOL) care in an emergency department (ED) setting and identify the associated challenges and implications for clinical practice. Methods: Twelve nurses with over 1 year of EOL care experience in the ED were interviewed. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis, as outlined by Braun and Clarke. Results: Five main themes with corresponding subthemes were identified: (1) Inadequate Environment for EOL Care, including physical environment barriers for a dignified death and emotional restraint in a chaotic setting; (2) Impact of Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Complexity, encompassing complicated dynamics of family decision-making and compromised care quality in the decision-making process; (3) Managing Care Relationships in Physician-Limited Settings, manifested as navigating limited physician communication and bearing the emotional weight of EOL care; (4) Challenges in Protecting Patients’ Rights, characterized by powerlessness in the face of silent patients and confusion from reversed decisions by families; and (5) Actualizing Compassionate EOL Care, ensuring dignity through purposeful actions and navigating environmental barriers to dignified care. Conclusion: We highlight the need for systematic changes in the ED to better support EOL care, including the development of culturally sensitive communication protocols, shared guidelines for decision-making, and improved collaboration between healthcare professionals. These findings provide valuable insights into enhancing EOL care in EDs. Future efforts should focus on policy changes, tailored education programs, and support systems that address the multifaceted needs of patients, families, and healthcare providers.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the experiences of career nurses balancing clinical nursing with ongoing studies. Methods: This study was a qualitative study that used the content analysis method. Data were collected using focus group interviews with 17 career nurses with more than 5 years of clinical career at general hospital and above. Results: Six themes and 17 sub-themes were derived through qualitative content analysis. The themes included: “Chose nursing for practical reasons”, “A nurse profession that fits me”, “Seeking personal growth through ongoing studies”, “Practical challenges of being a nurse”, “The attributes that sustain commitment to clinical nursing”, “My future as a nurse”. Conclusion: This study confirmed the the driving force that enables career nurses who are pursuing academic degrees to sustain clinical nursing. The results of this study can be used as useful basic data for the management of career nurses.

Purpose: To highlight the experiences of nurses who are promoted through a career development system that recognizes and rewards their expertise based on their clinical experience. Methods: This study involved 11 nurses who voluntarily participated at Clinical Nurse III level or above from a tertiary hospital. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews from March 4 to 28, 2024, using semi-structured and open-ended questions. Analysis was performed using the Colaizzi' phenomenological method. Results: The results of the study were derived into 32 themes, 13 theme clusters, and 5 categories: ‘The promotion process you chose to grow as a leader’, ‘A rugged climb to professional recognition’, ‘Glorious CN III title’, ‘Reborn as a professional nurse’, and ‘The career ladder system needs improvement but it is essential’. Conclusion: This study revealed the experiences of CN III nurses who were promoted through the career development system. Nurses hope that this system will allow them to articulate their expertise more clearly and be rewarded for their valuable experiences. By assessing the career development needs of the nurses, we aimed to better recognize their skills and enhance the significance of their experiences.

Purpose: This mixed methods study aimed to investigate the anxiety and nursing satisfaction levels and experiences among users of a general health checkup center. Methods: A total of 152 participants completed a questionnaire to assess their pre-checkup anxiety and post-checkup nursing satisfaction levels. Additionally, 11 participants were individually interviewed to determine their pre-checkup anxiety and post-checkup nursing satisfaction experiences. Survey data were analyzed using SPSS software, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The mean anxiety scores were 2.80±2.24 on the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety and 44.06±9.55 on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale. Education level was a significant factor influencing the STAI scores. Participants with a college education or higher had significantly lower STAI scores(p<.005), indicating the association between higher education levels and lower STAI scores. The mean nursing satisfaction score was 36.49±8.84, with male participants reporting higher nursing satisfaction levels. The pre-health checkup anxiety experience included three themes: “contrasting expectations about checkup results,” “various emotions felt during the checkup process,” and “physical and mental reactions.” The health checkup nursing satisfaction experience included four themes: “satisfaction with nurses’ support and care,” “comfort during the checkup process,” “dissatisfaction due to nurses’ habitual responses,” and “expectations for nurses’ emotional support and communication.” Conclusion: Providing comprehensive nursing information is essential to reduce user anxiety and improve nursing satisfaction. Moreover, integrating advanced technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and metaversing, into information delivery can enhance educational effectiveness and better address the experiences and needs of checkup users.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore user experience with UV-C disinfection devices in clinical settings to obtain critical information for the development of domestic devices to meet the increasing demand for efficient environmental disinfection in healthcare settings, particularly in terms of effective multidrug-resistant organism control. Methods: A qualitative approach was employed involving 21 participants (infection control nurses, staff nurses, and device managers). Data were collected through five sessions of focus group interviews, and conventional content analysis was undertaken. Results: Four categories and 13 subcategories were identified: (i) Introduction and usage status of UV-C disinfection devices, with ‘Surge in demand for rapid response to infectious diseases’ and ‘Diversified application and management of UV-C disinfection devices based on needs’ subcategories; (ii) Advantages of using UV-C disinfection devices, with ‘Significantly reduced disinfection time,’ ‘Easy and simple operation,’ and ‘Providing a sense of reassurance from a visible confirmation of disinfection’ subcategories; (iii) Limitations of current UV-C disinfection devices, including ‘Ambiguous disinfection range and presence of disinfection blind spots,’ ‘Lack of standards for disinfection efficacy verification and management,’ ‘Safety concerns regarding ultraviolet radiation exposure,’ and ‘Issues related to maintenance of UV-C disinfection devices’ subcategories; and (iv) Expectations for domestic UV-C disinfection devices, including ‘Minimization of disinfection blind spots,’ ‘Variety in device sizes,’ ‘Auxiliary devices for enhancing usage efficiency,’ and ‘Clear protocols for device usage and maintenance. Subcategories.’ Conclusion: UV-C disinfection devices offer valuable benefits for infection control; however, improvements are needed to enhance their efficacy and usability. Practical recommendations include developing standardized safety protocols, enhancing UV-C coverage, and improving device mobility and maintenance to meet diverse healthcare needs. Such advancements in UV-C technology can significantly support effective infection control and operational efficiency in healthcare settings.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the perceptions and experience of corporate managers on social value creation and explore how different types of cross-company collaboration can create new social value. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 practitioners working on social value, and the data was analyzed using text analysis and topic modeling techniques. Results: A total of 11 topics emerged from the analysis, which revealed that to create social value, organizations need to build strong relationships with local communities, enhance job competencies, develop effective collaboration strategies, set clear goals, and continuously monitor performance. Conclusion: This study suggests that inter-organizational collaboration and a systematic approach to creating social value is effective and can lead to sustainable development and social responsibility. Future research should complement the findings of this study with various case studies and empirical analysis, and derive specific and practical strategies.