• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.446-455
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• 2022

This study investigated work experience of firefighters and risk factors for their depression during COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data of 53,557 firefighters who participated in the online mental health status survey. Data included experiences of COVID-19 infection, experience of COVID-19 response work, fear of social stigma, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Results showed that 45.76% of participants had experience of COVID-19 response work. Emergency job group had the highest percentage of COVID-19 related work and the greater intensity of the work and fear of social stigma than those of other job groups. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that co-workers' infection, COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma were significantly associated to the severity of depression. The findings in this study demonstrated COVID-19 related work experience can link to the development of depression in firefighters. Effort to reduce COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma could help prevent depression among firefighters.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

The influence of information sensitivity during the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived risk and personal preventive behaviors of consumers in China had been investigated. The participants were Chinese individuals experiencing the pandemic as it happened. Participants voluntarily completed an online questionnaire to provide their COVID-19 information sensitivity, their perceived COVID-19 risk, preventive behavior and their respective age. Our study discovered that COVID-19 information sensitivity positively influence perceived risk and preventive behavior. Moreover, young individuals show higher levels of online information sensitivity, which influenced their personal protective behavior when compared to that of middle-aged and elderly participants. Furthermore, Perceived risk significantly affected preventive behaviors. The results of this study may assist the government and marketeers in comprehending information sensitivity which can affect consumers' protective behavior toward reducing COVID-19 infections.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.490-495
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• 2021

Introduction: The risk of experiencing psychiatric symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic is high among healthcare workers whose occupations are in public health, emergency medicine, and intensive or critical care. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of fear of COVID-19 among 411 frontline Egyptian physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic; identify determinants and predictors for fear of COVID-19; determine the impact of fear of COVID-19 on job satisfaction; and detect the impact of fear of COVID-19 on turnover intention. Three standardized scales (fear of COVID-19, job satisfaction, and turnover intention scores) were used for data collection via online Google Form. Results: Regarding fear relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, 16.5% of the study subjects were classified as experiencing a severe fear level, while 78.1% experienced a moderate degree. A significant association between the level of fear relating to COVID-19 and the work department. The highest degree of fear is in a general-educational-university facility. Regarding job satisfaction, 42% of those having a severe level of fear are dissatisfied. Fear of COVID-19 is negatively associated with job satisfaction while positively significant correlated with turnover scores, a positive significant predictor of turnover intention. Job satisfaction is negatively associated with turnover intention; a negative significant predictor of turnover intention. Conclusions: Frontline Egyptian physicians reported higher levels of fear relating to the COVID-19 pandemic (moderate to severe). Increased fear levels relating to COVID-19 have a relationship with lower levels of job satisfaction and higher levels of job turnover.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.422-430
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• 2021

Objectives: Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but insufficient research has investigated pregnancy and its outcomes in women with COVID-19. This cross-sectional study compared birth outcomes related to COVID-19 between Bangladeshi pregnant women with and without COVID-19. Methods: The study was conducted at 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from March to August 2020. Pregnant women admitted for delivery at these hospitals with laboratory results (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) were analyzed. Using convenience sampling, we included 70 COVID-19-positive and 140 COVID-19-negative pregnant women. Trained and experienced midwives conducted the interviews. Data were analyzed using the t-test, the chi-square test, and univariate and multivariable linear and logistic regression. Results: Pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to give birth to a preterm baby (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 4.37) and undergo a cesarean section (aOR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.51 to 7.07). There were no significant differences in birth weight, premature rupture of membranes, and the Apgar score at 1 minute or 5 minutes post-delivery between women with and without COVID-19. All the newborn babies who were born to COVID-19-positive women were COVID-19-negative. Conclusions: Our study suggests that pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to give birth to a preterm baby and undergo a cesarean section. For this reason, physicians should be particularly cautious to minimize adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborn babies.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2022

Background: The first large coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak outside China occurred in Daegu. In response, we developed infection prevention measures for surgical patients during the outbreak at our hospital and retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of COVID-19-related surgical patients. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 118 COVID-19-related surgical patients and monitored their clinical outcomes until March 31, 2021. We also interviewed healthcare workers who participated in their perioperative care at Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital. The perioperative management guidelines for COVID-19-related patients were prepared through multidisciplinary discussions, including the infection control department, surgical departments, and anesthesiology department before and during the COVID-19 outbreak. Results: One standard operating room was temporarily converted to a negative-pressure room by increasing the exhaust air volume, creating a relative pressure of -11.3 Pa. The healthcare workers were equipped with personal protective equipment according to the patient's classification of the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The 118 COVID-19-related patients underwent emergent surgery in the negative-pressure room, including three COVID-19-confirmed patients and five COVID-19-exposed patients. Conclusion: All surgeries of the COVID-19-related patients were performed without specific adverse events or perioperative COVID-19 transmission. Our experience setting up a negative-pressure operating room and conservative perioperative protocol to prevent COVID-19 transmission will help plan and execute infection control measures in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2022

This study discussed its implications for the meaning in life, which began to emerge through existential psychotherapy in the era of coronavirus infection 19 (COVID-19). In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are making efforts to live a meaningful life, and individuals and communities are making efforts to find meaning in how to live a meaningful life. Humanity has a premise for a peaceful life, and since the past, interest in the meaning in life has continued. The deadly virus called COVID-19, which hit the world in December 2019, created stress such as anxiety, alienation, and depression in people, endangering the lives of individuals and communities. Research on the meaning in life was active even before COVID-19, but I think it is necessary to look at the changes in people's meaning in life and how COVID-19 is affecting each individual amid the global pandemic of the virus. In other words, clarifying the meaning of our lives in the era of COVID-19 is a coping to reduce stress and a catalyst to improve the quality of life. This study aims to provide basic research to prepare ways to improve the quality of life in the era of COVID-19 by examining various perspectives and results on the meaning in life.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) related knowledge, risk perception, preventive behaviors, depression, and anxiety levels among nursing students, and to identify factors that influence preventive behaviors. Methods: An online survey was conducted among nursing students from October 7, 2020 to October 12, 2020. The data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: A total of 222 nursing students participated in this study. The correct answer rate for COVID-19 knowledge was 90.0%, risk perception was 5.51±1.26, and the rate for preventive behaviors was 92.5%. The depression score was 6.28±4.63; 59.9% of nursing students had depression, and the anxiety score was 5.56±3.98; 59.9% of nursing students had anxiety. COVID-19 preventive behaviors had a positive correlation with COVID-19 knowledge (r= .30, p< .001), COVID-19 risk perception (r= .18, p= .009), and anxiety (r= .21, p= .001). Factors influencing COVID-19 preventive behaviors by multiple regression were identified as COVID-19 knowledge, anxiety, physical health status before and after COVID-19, grade, practical experience after COVID-19, and COVID-19 risk perception (F = 12.46, p< .001, R²= 25.8%). Conclusion: The results of this research on factors influencing COVID-19 prevention behaviors can be used in the future to develop appropriate health policies for individual and community infectious disease prevention behaviors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.347-348
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• 2023

Vaccines help protect people from infections. However, Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinees often still become infected with COVID-19 variants (breakthrough infections) and may go on to suffer from long COVID symptoms due to short-lasting immunity and less-effective protection provided by available vaccines. Moreover, the current COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent viral transmission and ward off only about 15% of breakthrough infections. To prepare more effective vaccines, it is essential to predict the viral strains that will be circulating based on available epidemiological data. The World Health Organization recommends in advance which influenza strains are expected to be prevalent during influenza season to guide the production of influenza vaccines by pharmaceutical companies. However, future emerging COVID-19 strain(s) have not been possible to predict since no sound epidemiological information has been established. Thus, for more effective protection, immune stimulators alone or in combination with vaccines would be preferable to protect people from COVID-19 infection. One of those remedies would be ginseng, which has been used for potentiating immunity in the past.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still a serious public health problem. COVID-19 causes various symptoms not only in the respiratory system but also in various parts of the body and has a significant effect on sleep. Insomnia and poor sleep quality were observed at high rates in patients with COVID-19 as well as in the uninfected general population. Obstructive sleep apnea is also considered a risk factor in patients with severe COVID-19. Virus-induced central nervous system damage is likely to be the cause of many sleep disorders in COVID-19, but psychosocial influences also seem to have played a significant role. Sleep problems persisted at high rates for a considerable period after the infection phase was over. More attention and research on the effect of COVID-19 on sleep is needed in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.357-376
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• 2022

This study examines circulation status and trends of a public library during three year periods from January 2019 to December 2021. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean number of circulation between the pre-Covid-19 period and the Covid-19 period, and the Covid-19 period and the Covid-19 recovery period. However, no significant difference was found between the pre-Covid-19 period and the Covid-19 recovery period. Across three years, there was a significant difference in the distribution of circulation per month. Circulation distribution was also significantly different among different days of the week and different hours of the day. Monthly circulation distribution and hourly circulation distribution during the pre-Covid-19 period was similar to those of the Covid-19 recovery period, whereas those of the Covid-19 period differed from the pre-Covid-19 period and the Covid-19 recovery period. It is expected that the results of this study could contribute to the collection development, and the management and improvement of services of public libraries. It is also expected that the results of this study could contribute to the prediction of circulation patterns and information needs of public library users.