• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.10-23
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• 2024

This study examines the changes in attractiveness and social perception of mask wearers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, masks were seen as a sign of infection, decreasing the wearer's attractiveness. However, with the widespread normalization of mask-wearing during the pandemic, the perception mechanisms have become more complex. The attractiveness and social perception of mask wearers now vary based on factors such as the wearer's baseline attractiveness, race, and attitudes toward masks. Consequently, research findings on perception changes due to mask-wearing have been inconsistent. This inconsistency is due to the lack of standardized experimental methods and the failure to account for individual differences among participants, as well as insufficient theoretical background in the studies. From a psychiatric perspective, it is essential to formulate and test new hypotheses centered around the psychological mechanisms related to the human behavioral immune system when studying attractiveness perception during a pandemic. Notably, attention should be given to how differences in the activation of individuals' behavioral immune systems influence perceptions of mask wearers. Understanding these dynamics can provide crucial insights into how social perceptions and aversions impact mental health, thereby shedding light on various psychiatric issues that arise during infectious disease outbreaks.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.625-632
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• 2024

This paper analyzed the changes in the curriculum of computer and software-related majors that educate the core ICT technologies needed for the 4th Industrial Revolution, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the standard classification of university education units, 172 majors classified into Applied Software Engineering, Computer Science·Computer Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence Engineering were targeted, and the curricula of 2023 and 2019 were compared and analyzed. As a result of the analysis, the introduction of the related curriculum for each curriculum group increased by about 2.6%p before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2023 84.2%, 2019 81.6%). and the 4th Industrial Revolution response index increased by 9.5 points (37.0 in 2023, 27.5 in 2019)

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of infection control performance, infection control fatigue, and social support on the burnout of nurses working at National Safe Hospitals during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and to use that data to suggest methods to reduce burnout among nurses. Methods: From June 30 to September 30, 2021, data were collected from 144 nurses who both consented to participate in the study and had worked for more than six months in National Safe Hospitals with 300 or more beds in the Gyeonggi-do Province in Korea. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: The factors affecting nurses' burnout at National Safe Hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to be infection control fatigue (β=.60, p<.001) and social support (β=-.27, p<.001). The explanatory power of these factors was 37.0%. Conclusion: Nurses' burnout at National Safe Hospitals was found to be at a moderate level. Burnout should be reduced through human, material, and administrative support, all of which can reduce infection-control fatigue. It is also necessary to develop both a non-face-to-face social-support-reinforcement program, considering restrictions mandated by infectious-disease pandemics, and a long-term intervention strategy to prevent burnout.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mediating effect of social phobia between social interaction anxiety and endemic blue among university students who experienced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. The participants were 196 university students from 10 universities located in four major regions across the Republic of Korea. Data were collected from July 12 to 31, 2022, through an online self-reported questionnaire and were then analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. The mediating effect was analyzed using PROCESS macro model 4 with a bootstrapping method using IBM SPSS 27.0. Results: There were significant positive correlations among social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and endemic blue. Social interaction anxiety had significant effects on social phobia (β=0.77, p<.001) and social interaction anxiety (β=0.33, p<.001) and social phobia had a significant effect on endemic blue (β=0.29, p=.001). Concerning the influence of social interaction anxiety on endemic blue, a significant indirect mediating effect of social phobia was confirmed, and the size of the indirect effect was 0.14 (0.04~0.24). Conclusion: In order to manage the social and psychological health of university students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic period, it is necessary to develop strategies to overcome endemic blue that reduce social interaction anxiety and take into account the mediating effect of social phobia.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.318-333
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze changes in dental trauma in children under the age of 12 during the period of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). March 2020, when COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, was set as the starting point for COVID-19. From March 2018 to February 2020, subjects in the pre-COVID-19 period were classified as the Pre-COVID-19 group, and from March 2020 to March 2022, subjects in the post-COVID-19 period were classified as the COVID-19 group. Information related to trauma was collected through electronic medical records. The number of trauma patients before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 decreased significantly. During the COVID-19 period, there was no significant difference in the male-female ratio or the distribution order of age groups. In the COVID-19 group of permanent teeth, the ratio of trauma caused by personal mobility was higher than trauma caused by sports. In the COVID-19 group of permanent teeth, the ratio of crown fracture with pulp involvement was significantly higher than the ratio of crown fracture without pulp involvement. Changes in trauma patterns caused by COVID-19 were observed more clearly in school-aged children than in preschool children. In a pandemic situation such as COVID-19, it is expected to be used as a good educational basis for knowing that frequent diagnoses can change due to changes in the environment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.480-489
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• 2024

Objectives: Excess deaths, an indicator that compares total mortality rates before and during a pandemic, offer a comprehensive view of the pandemic's impact. However, discrepancies may arise from variations in estimating expected deaths. This study aims to compare excess deaths in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using 3 methods and to analyze patterns using the most appropriate method. Methods: Expected deaths from 2020 to 2022 were estimated using mortality data from 2015-2019 as reference years. This estimation employed 3 approaches: (1) simple average, (2) age-adjusted average, and (3) age-adjusted linear regression. Excess deaths by age, gender, and cause of death were also presented. Results: The number of excess deaths varied depending on the estimation method used, reaching its highest point with the simple average and its lowest with the age-adjusted average. Age-adjusted linear regression, which accounts for both the aging population and declining mortality rates, was considered most appropriate. Using this model, excess deaths were estimated at 0.3% for 2020, 4.0% for 2021, and 20.7% for 2022. Excess deaths surged among individuals in their 20s throughout the pandemic, largely attributed to a rise in self-harm and suicide. Additionally, the results indicated sharp increases in deaths associated with "endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases" and "symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified." Conclusions: Substantial variations in excess deaths were evident based on estimation method, with a notable increase in 2022. The heightened excess deaths among young adults and specific causes underscore key considerations for future pandemic responses.

• 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.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2020

Background: In the absence of a vaccine or treatment, the most pragmatic strategies against an infectious disease pandemic are extensive early detection testing and social distancing. This study aimed to summarize public and workplace responses to Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) and show how the Korean system has operated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Daily briefings from the Korean Center for Disease Control and the Central Disaster Management Headquarters were assembled from January 20 to May 15, 2020. Results: By May 15, 2020, 11,018 COVID-19 cases were identified, of which 15.7% occurred in workplaces such as health-care facilities, call centers, sports clubs, coin karaoke, and nightlife destinations. When the first confirmed case was diagnosed, the Korean Center for Disease Control and Central Disaster Management Headquarters responded quickly, emphasizing early detection with numerous tests and a social distancing policy. This slowed the spread of infection without intensive containment, shut down, or mitigation interventions. After entering the public health blue alert level, a business continuity plan was distributed. After entering the orange level, the Ministry of Employment and Labor developed workplace guidelines for COVID-19 consisting of social distancing, flexible working schedules, early identification of workers with suspected infections, and disinfection of workplaces. Owing to the intensive workplace social distancing policy, workplaces remained safe with only small sporadic group infections. Conclusion: The workplace social distancing policy with timely implementation of specific guidelines was a key to preventing a large outbreak of COVID-19 in Korean workplaces. However, sporadic incidents of COVID-19 are still ongoing, and risk assessment in vulnerable workplaces should be continued.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2020

Objective : Since the first discovery of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), rapid and wide spread of the disease has been reported and the World Health Organization announced that a 'pandemic' has started. Up to date there is little known regarding the impact of this outbreak on spinal specialists' daily clinical practice. We intended to evaluate how COVID-19 has affected the number of spinal disease patients we meet and operate in daily practice. Methods : The de-identified data regarding number of patients visiting the spine clinic at a tertiary referral hospital and a secondary level hospital from January, February and March of 2017 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The number of out-patient department (OPD) visits, number of emergency room (ER) visits as well as number of surgeries performed during the reviewed period were collected and analyzed, comparing 2020 to the previous 3 years. Results : The number of daily OPD visits showed a steady decrease starting from January, and presented a statistically significant decrease by early March 2020, compared to the previous 3 years. During the same period, decrease in number of daily ER visits was statistically significant as well. The number of elective surgeries or number of surgeries for patients admitted via ER during COVID-19 outbreak remained similar to that of 2017-2019 suggesting, despite the decrease of patients visiting the hospital for spinal diseases, those whom required surgery still visited the hospital. The results were consistant among other hospital level. Conclusion : The outbreak of COVID-19 affected our daily practice as OPD and ER visits reduced but did not affect the number of surgeries. We believe that this report will be informative to spinal specialists worldwide fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.384-388
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• 2021

Currently, whether in a domestic or international sphere, many small businesses are suffering due to COVID-19. The grim reality is that several businesses are shutting down. While the national disaster relief grant was used to contain the damages by encouraging consumer spending, it has become difficult to prevent closures of small businesses. As of September 2020, more than 20,000 stores have closed in Seoul due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has also been an increase in the number of people with depression caused by the COVID-19 blues. This issue is not only confined to Seoul in the Republic of Korea, but is influencing all other areas affected by the pandemic. As the number of COVID-19 patients increase, the number of open stores is decreasing steadily. The analysis of the correlation coefficient of Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall suggests a negative correlation between the number of COVID-19 patients and the number of stores in business.