Studying Chronic Diseases with a Sense of Calling for Healing and Caring

Professor Park Han-jong, School of Clinical Nursing Science

Researching about prevention and management of chronic diseases for hope in life

When I was working as a clinical nurse, I looked after patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, renal failure, cardiac failure, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer. I wanted to help reduce the pain caused by these chronic illnesses and help the patients hold on to the hopes of life. For that reason, I am currently conducting research on the prevention and management of chronic diseases (obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes). Patients suffering from chronic diseases have weak immune systems, and therefore, they have a high risk of being infected with infectious agents such as COVID-19. And even at a young age, it can develop into a serious disease with high fatality rates for patients with underlying conditions. Accordingly, it is important to receive regular checkups to detect chronic diseases in its earliest stages and maintain a healthy lifestyle including a regular diet, sufficient exercise, and sleep. Research on the prevention and management of chronic diseases with such measures are being conducted.

Feeling Rewarding During the Long Research Process

Even if research starts with a good idea, the process of conducting the research, understanding the phenomenon, and finding ways to solve the problem is a task that can take a lifetime. I think it’s very important to have the passion and persistence to not give up during this process.

But at the same time, the same process can feel very rewarding, which helps me to pull myself together.

While studying the subjects in the local community, I discovered that many of them maintained an unhealthy diet and lifestyle habits without knowing that they had diabetes, which put them at a high risk of developing diabetes complications such as cardiovascular diseases and renal failures. When I heard the news that they were receiving treatment after I introduced them to hospitals, I was grateful that I could help them through this research. In addition, I was able to realize the need to expand the research subjects to all age groups, which was especially rewarding after I learned that many people in their 30’s and 40’s are in the pre-diabetes stage.

Nurses Should Have Professional Knowledge and Sincerity Towards Patients 

I think nurses should treat patients with sincerity and honesty, and sympathize with their pain, acting as someone who can console them. In addition, it is good to have professional knowledge and continue to study and research to keep up with the latest trends of curing and caring for the patients and act as a researcher with critical thinking abilities without falling into mannerism. They should become medical professionals with a sense of calling, who are willing to boldly confront infectious agents such as COVID-19.

Words of Appreciation and Support Means a Lot to Medical Staff 

Medical staff inspect and treat suspected COVID-19 patients, and therefore are at the highest risk of being infected with the virus. 

For this reason, in the midst of trying their best with a sense of calling, the fear of being infected is also great.

In addition, as the number of new COVID-19 patients increases and the pandemic prolongs, medical staff are facing heavy pressure both physically and mentally due to lack of manpower, increase in infection risks, and quarantine from their family members.

When medical professionals wear protective clothing before entering negative pressure rooms to treat COVID-19 patients, it gets so hot that they start to sweat in just a few minutes. But due to the risk of infection, they can’t even wipe the sweat on their faces. According to the manual, these protective clothing cannot be worn for more than two hours, but due to the lack of manpower, they have to wear it for more than 4 hours, which requires a lot of physical energy. Also, if there is a spike in the number of COVID-19 patients, medical professionals cannot change out of their protective clothing while working due to the lack of supply. This means they cannot use the bathroom as they want and need to be careful about drinking water before they start working. Medical staff who work at public health centers or infection control centers work night shifts and even on the weekends, and they suffer from mental stress and even panic disorder because they receive intense angry calls from other people.

However, despite these difficulties, medical professionals feel encouraged by words of gratitude from patients or support from family members. COVID-19 is a global issue, but if all of us participate in protecting public health, I believe we can overcome this difficulty together.