• Title/Summary/Keyword: COVID-Pandemic

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Changes in School Foodservice during COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown based on Focus Group Interviews (포커스 그룹 인터뷰를 통한 COVID-19 유행 동안 학교 급식의 변화)

  • Ji, Mirim;Um, Mihyang;Kye, Seunghee
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.1-12
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    • 2022
  • This qualitative study analyzed various environmental factors and difficulties faced by school foodservices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus group interviews were conducted by enrolling 12 nutrition teachers and nutritionists. Data collected were subsequently analyzed for changes implemented during the pandemic, in hygiene management, diet management, and distribution management of the school meal. The content and method of delivery of information related to diet guidance and school foodservice by related organizations were also examined. Results of the survey show that personal hygiene (such as maintaining student-to-student distance, checking students for a fever, and hand disinfection) was duly applied, installation of table coverings and distancing between school cafeteria seats were conducted, and mandatory mask-wearing to prevent droplet transmission was enforced. Depending on the COVID-19 situation, the number of students having school meals was limited per grade, and time-spaced meals were provided. To prevent infection, menus that required frequent hand contact were excluded from the meal plan. Overall, it was difficult to manage the meal plan due to frequent changes in tasks, such as the number of orders and meal expenses. These changes were communicated by nutrition teachers and nutritionists wherein the numbers of school meals were adjusted, depending on situations arising from each COVID-19 crisis stage. Furthermore, in some schools, either face-to-face nutrition counseling was stopped entirely, or nutrition education was conducted online. Parent participation was disallowed in the monitoring of school meals, and the prohibition on conversations inside the school cafeteria resulted in the absence of communication among students, nutrition teachers, and nutritionists. Additionally, confusion in meal management was caused by frequent changes in the school meal management guidelines provided by the Office of Education and the School Health Promotion Center in response to COVID-19. In anticipation of the emergence of a new virus or infectious diseases caused by mutations in the years to come, it is suggested that a holistic, well-thought-out response manual for safe meal operation needs to be established, in close collaboration with schools and school foodservice-related institutions.

Hospital Avoidance and Associated Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic (COVID-19 대유행 동안의 병원 회피 현상 및 연관 요인)

  • Jong-Wook Jeon;Se Joo Kim;Su-Young Lee;Jhin Goo Chang;Chan-Hyung Kim
    • Anxiety and mood
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.77-82
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    • 2023
  • Objective : During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hospital avoidance had a significant impact on public health. We investigated the factors associated with hospital avoidance and explored practical strategies hospitals could employ to address this phenomenon. Methods : We conducted a patient experience survey in a general hospital in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between July 6, 2020, and July 20, 2020, a total of 842 patients who had previously visited hospitals before the COVID-19 outbreak participated. Self-reported hospital avoidance, factors associated with hospital avoidance, and satisfaction with the hospital's infection control policies were the main outcomes. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors. Results : Data indicated that 29.9% (n=252) of the respondents avoided visiting the hospital after the COVID-19 outbreak. Satisfaction with the hospital infection control policy (odds ratio [OR]=2.297, p<0.001), female sex (OR=1.619, p<0.05), and higher educational level (OR=1.884, p<0.001) were associated with hospital avoidance. The "entrance body temperature check" was the most satisfactory policy among the hospital's infection control policies. Conclusion : To manage hospital avoidance during an infectious disease crisis, targeted policies for at-risk groups and hospital policies to reassure and satisfy patients are needed.

Trends and Outcomes of Type 2 Myocardial Infarction During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

  • Harshith Thyagaturu;Nicholas Roma;Aakash Angirekula;Sittinun Thangjui;Alex Bolton;Karthik Gonuguntla;Yasar Sattar;Muchi Ditah Chobufo;Abhiram Challa;Neel Patel;Gayatri Bondi;Sameer Raina
    • Korean Circulation Journal
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    • v.53 no.12
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    • pp.829-839
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    • 2023
  • Background and Objectives: There is limited data on the impact of type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from January 2019 to December 2020 was queried to identify T2MI hospitalizations based on the appropriate International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision-Clinical Modification codes. Monthly trends of COVID-19 and T2MI hospitalizations were evaluated using Joinpoint regression analysis. In addition, the multivariate logistic and linear regression analysis was used to compare inhospital mortality, coronary angiography use, and resource utilization between 2019 and 2020. Results: A total of 743,535 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of T2MI were identified in the years 2019 (n=331,180) and 2020 (n=412,355). There was an increasing trend in T2MI hospitalizations throughout the study period corresponding to the increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in 2020. The adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality associated with T2MI hospitalizations were significantly higher in 2020 compared with 2019 (11.1% vs. 8.1%: adjusted odds ratio, 1.19 [1.13-1.26]; p<0.01). In addition, T2MI hospitalizations were associated with lower odds of coronary angiography and higher total hospitalization charges, with no difference in the length of stay in 2020 compared with 2019. Conclusions: We found a significant increase in T2MI hospitalizations with higher in-hospital mortality, total hospitalization costs, and lower coronary angiography use during the early COVID-19 pandemic corresponding to the trends in the rise of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Further research into the factors associated with increased mortality can increase our preparedness for future pandemics.

Analysis of Physical Status on COVID-19: Based on Impacts of Physical Activity (COVID-19에 대한 운동중재효과 분석)

  • Kim, Kwi-Baek;Kwak, Yi Sub
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.31 no.6
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    • pp.603-608
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this perspective research is to discuss the potential role of exercise-interventions in COVID-19, terms of prevention and prognosis in the periods of the COVID-19 vaccine. SARCO-CoV-2. COVID-19 was detected as a new virus causing severe cardiovascular and respiratory complications. It emerged as a global public health emergency and national pandemic. It caused more than 1 million deaths in the first 6 months of the pandemic and resulted in huge social and economic fluctuations internationally. Unprecedented stressful situations, such as COVID-19 blue and COVID-19 red impact on many health problems. In healthy individuals, COVID-19 infection may induced no symptoms (i.e., asymptomatic), whereas others may experience flu-like symptoms, such as ARDS, pneumonia, and death. Poor health status, such as obesity and cardiovascular and respiratory complications, are high risk factors for COVID-19 prevention, occurrence, and prognosis. Several COVID-19 vaccines are currently in human trials. However, the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including potential side effects, such as anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) and rare blood clots, still need to be investigated. On the basis of direct and indirect evidence, it seems that regular and moderate physical exercise can be recommended as a nonpharmacological, efficient, and safe way to cope with COVID-19. Physical inactivity and metabolic abnormalities are directly associated with reduced immune responses, including reduced innate, CMI, and AMI responses. Due to prolonged viral shedding, quarantine in inactive, obese and disease people should likely be longer than physical active people. Multicomponent and systemic exercise should be considered for the obese, disease, and elderly people. More mechanism research is needed in this area.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral healthcare among children and teachers in kindergarten and daycare centers (유치원과 어린이집 교사의 COVID-19 구강건강관리의 영향)

  • Myoung-Hee Kim;Eun-Joo Hong;Yu-Jin Kwon;Young-Sun Hwang
    • Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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    • v.22 no.6
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    • pp.485-494
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    • 2022
  • Objectives: The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in changes in the instructional methods used in kindergartens and daycare centers to prevent viral infections. This study aimed to investigate the changes in oral health care for children before and during COVID-19 and the perceptions of kindergarten and daycare center teachers about oral health care. Methods: The study subjects were 189 teachers of kindergartens and daycare centers in charge of children aged 3 to 5. The data for the analysis were collected through an online survey. Frequency analysis and the chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared to before COVID-19, the frequency of tooth brushing after lunch, the number of oral health education and regular oral examinations, and the rate of childcare teachers' experiences with oral health education had decreased during COVID-19. In addition, educators in kindergarten and daycare centers responded that an oral health officer at a public health center was the most desirable oral health educator. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the oral health care of children in kindergartens and daycare centers has declined. Efforts are needed to restore it by educating people about oral hygiene care and oral health education, both at home and in kindergartens and daycare centers.

Potential Implications and Applications of Terror Management Theory for Library and Information Science

  • Hollister, Jonathan M.;Lee, Jisue;Elkins, Aaron J.;Latham, Don
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.317-349
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    • 2020
  • Mental health experts warn the combination of overwhelming amounts of information, economic instability, political discontent, social injustice, and the high infection and death rates of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are negatively impacting mental health in ways that may worsen the pandemic and intensify our primal fear of death. Terror Management Theory (TMT) argues that self-esteem and cultural worldviews serve as defenses against the terror of our own mortality. This theory anchor paper introduces TMT to Library and Information Science (LIS) via a selected literature review on TMT's use in the field of Psychology and an extensive discussion on the conceptual connections to LIS supported with empirical research from related disciplines and contexts. The implications, applications, and usefulness of TMT for LIS research, education, and practice are discussed in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and other contexts, and a research agenda is proposed.

Critical Factors Affecting Consumer Intention of Using Mobile Banking Applications During COVID-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Study from Vietnam

  • SANG, Nguyen Minh
    • The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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    • v.8 no.11
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    • pp.157-167
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    • 2021
  • The study analyzes the factors affecting the intention and recommendation to use the mobile banking applications of 314 customers from Vietnam. The study analyzes 7 factors affecting the intention and recommendation to use the mobile banking applications of customers from Vietnam, including (i) Perceived risk; (ii) Perceived ease of use; (iii) Perceived usefulness; (iv) Attitude; (v) Perceived trust; (vi) Social image; and (vii) Innovativeness. Besides, the study also analyzes 4 variables that reflect the customer's demographics, including gender, age, education, and occupation, and 6 variables describing the behavior of customers using mobile banking applications. The study findings indicate that the following factors (i) Innovativeness; (ii) Attitude; (iii) Perceived risk; (iv) Perceived ease of use, and (v) Perceived trust have the most significant impact on customers' behavior of using mobile banking applications in emerging markets such as Vietnam in the context of prolonged pandemic and continuous lockdown in many provinces and cities. The study is also of great value to studies on behavior changes among customers using mobile banking applications after the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. The study will provide additional empirical evidence useful to bank administrators in motivating customers to use mobile banking applications, helping develop a digital economy in Vietnam.

Business Performance Determinants of Salted Fish Distribution in Kapuk During the COVID-19

  • CHRISTIAN, Michael;DEWI, Dewi;REMBULAN, Glisina Dwinoor;INDRIYARTI, Eko Retno;WIBOWO, Suryo;YUNIARTO, Yustinus
    • Journal of Distribution Science
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    • v.19 no.6
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    • pp.29-39
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    • 2021
  • Purpose: This study aims to measure whether market orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, and marketing capabilities affected the business performance of salted fish distribution in Kapuk warehouse, West Jakarta at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This prolonged and difficult pandemic has had an impact on the business of selling salted fish, challenging organisations' ability to maintain business performance. Research design, data and methodology: This study uses a PLS-SEM model approach using Smart PLS 3.0 and a questionnaire as the instruments. The conditions during the observation include 77 distributors who chose to keep doing business, and the research sample were measured by the number of distributors (business actors or people in charge). In this study, the variables of marketing capabilities, market orientation, and entrepreneurial orientation were used to analyse business performance. Results: Interestingly, the results of the study succeeded in explaining that during a pandemic market, both entrepreneurial orientation and marketing ability affected current business performance, although marketing ability remains an inconsistent mediator. Conclusions: This result serves as a reminder that surviving is the priority which must be focused on now, rather than crafting strategies to excel in competition that consume valuable effort and resources.

The Role of Technology, Organizational Culture, and Job Satisfaction in Improving Employee Performance during the Covid-19 Pandemic

  • SAPTA, I Ketut Setia;MUAFI, Muafi;SETINI, Ni Made
    • The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.495-505
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    • 2021
  • In the current Covid-19 pandemic, technology's role is important; with technology, all activities can carry on. This study explains that technology, organizational culture, and job satisfaction at rural banks in Bali can be a motivation for improving performance, especially during a pandemic. A questionnaire is distributed online using Google Form to a total of 350 employees; the data is collected from a sample of employees from rural banks in Denpasar, Bali. Respondents had to meet the following criteria: a minimum work period of one year and a minimum high school education or equivalent. With these criteria, 100 samples were obtained. The dependent variable is employee performance; the independent variables are organizational culture, technology, and job satisfaction; the intervening variable is work motivation. This study uses Structural Equation Modeling with a variance-based or component-based approach with Partial Least Square. The study results show that organizational culture, job satisfaction, and technology provide motivation and have a significant positive effect on employee performance. However, organizational culture does not have a positive or direct impact on employee performance. The study results can be used as a basis for designing business strategies to improve employee performance in a competitive environment to advance the credibility of a bank.

Online Food Delivery App Distribution and Determinants of Jakarta's Gen Z Spending Habits

  • INDRIYARTI, Eko Retno;CHRISTIAN, Michael;YULITA, Henilia;RUMINDA, Marthaleina;SUNARNO, Sunarno;WIBOWO, Suryo
    • Journal of Distribution Science
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    • v.20 no.7
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    • pp.73-86
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    • 2022
  • Purpose: Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing number of online food delivery applications (OFDA), this study aims to assess the distribution of the presence of Indonesian OFDA and to measure the factors that influence the spending habits of OFDA users. Research design, data and methodology: Two hundred and nine OFDA users from Jakarta's Generation Z were surveyed via a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling and SMART PLS 3.0. Results: OFDAs were introduced into Indonesia in the recent past with varying degrees of popularity determined by the number of downloads. Users' intention to use was not determined by the speed of the introduction of an OFDA. This study also reveals that previous experience of the service, the orientation of time and price savings had a significant effect on spending habits. A moderating role of the saving variable on time and price was not demonstrated. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that, in COVID-19 pandemic conditions, the spending habits of Generation Z are not based on impulse, thrift, or extravagance. The pandemic shaped specific motivations in spending habits, namely prioritizing need. This study has limitations, including the small sample size and the use of internal variables.