This study was done to analyze the job of clinical research coordinators (CRCs).

Through the "developing a curriculum (DACUM)" workshop, the definition of CRCs' role was described and CRCs' duties and tasks were identified. Finally, the developed duties and tasks were validated for importance, difficulty, and frequency.

A CRC is defined as the one who coordinates and performs tasks related to clinical research/trials among investigators, participants, and sponsors according to the Good Clinical Practice at institutions conducting clinical trials. Twelve duties and 78 tasks were identified on the DACUM chart which represented the importance, difficulty, and frequency of tasks represented as A, B, and C respectively. Based on determinant coefficient (DC) of the task, the highest ranked task was confirming the eligibility of participants for research (DC=8.03) and the lowest was inventory management for clinical study materials (3.95).

In this study, the job of a CRC was analyzed through the DACUM process and it was found that CRCs were doing various duties and tasks. Based on these results, it is suggested that it is necessary to develop CRC education programs considering the career ladder of CRCs.

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of sleep with the serum lipid profile in patients who have restless legs syndrome (RLS).

The data were obtained from 116 patients with RLS through questionnaires and blood sampling.

The results of this study showed correlations between lower quality of sleep and serum lipid profile (LDL Cholesterol) in patients with RLS (r=.19, p=.040). There were correlations for scores of quality of sleep from the, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) sub-region between lower subjective sleep quality and serum lipid profile (LDL Cholesterol) (r=.20, p=.026), between fewer hours of sleep duration and serum lipid profile (Total Cholesterol) (r=-.21, p=.024), and, between higher daytime dysfunction and serum lipid profile (LDL Cholesterol) (r=.42, p<.001) of patients with RLS.

Patients with RLS have sleep disorders with lower quality of sleep and changes in the serum lipid profile for total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. That is, patients with RLS have lower quality of sleep and dyslipidemia compared to persons without RLS. Further research is needed to monitor serum the lipid profile in early stage symptoms of midlife adult patients with RLS and especially older women.

This study was done to evaluate the formal education program provided by the Korean government for care workers for frail elderly people.

This study was a cross-sectional survey in which 438 certified care workers who had completed the education program participated. Data were collected from June to October 2009, using a self-report questionnaire consisting of satisfaction with, and understanding of the education program.

The participants had a mean age of 46.7 yr, 87.9% were female and 58.2% were high school graduates. For the theory part of the education, the highest score for understanding was for 'supporting household & activities of daily living' while the lowest score for understanding was for 'care for death and dying'. For the practical education, the highest score for understanding was for 'talking with the client' and the lowest score was for 'first aid & basic life support'. There was a significant difference in satisfaction and understanding of the theoretical and practical parts according to educational level.

Continuing education programs are needed for care workers for elders, both in the theoretical and practical areas. Also the content of programs should address the weak points of this formal education program.

The purpose of this study was to identify the mediating effect of depression in the relationship between muscle strength of extremities and falls among community-dwelling elderly.

Two hundred forty-seven participants were recruited from a public health center, a hall for the aged and a school for the aged in B city. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using questionnaires from May to September of 2007. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression using the SPSS WIN 14.0 program.

There was a significantly negative relationship between muscle strength of lower extremities and falls, muscle strength of left upper extremity and falls, and muscle strength of right upper extremity and falls. Depression positively correlated with falls. Depression showed mediating effects between muscle strength of extremities and falls. Weakness of muscle strength of extremities increased depression and the increased depression increased the frequencies of falls.

For the effective management and prevention of community-dwelling older adults’ falls, exercise programs including depression-decreasing strategies should be established. These exercise programs can decrease depression which is the mediator role between the degrees of muscle strength of extremities and falls.