• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제56권3호
• /
• pp.248-254
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Measuring the quality of care is paramount to inform policies for healthcare services. Nevertheless, little is known about the quality of primary care and acute care provided in Korea. This study investigated trends in the quality of primary care and acute care. Methods: Case-fatality rates and avoidable hospitalization rates were used as performance indicators to assess the quality of primary care and acute care. Admission data for the period 2008 to 2020 were extracted from the National Health Insurance Claims Database. Case-fatality rates and avoidable hospitalization rates were standardized by age and sex to adjust for patients' characteristics over time, and significant changes in the rates were identified by joinpoint regression. Results: The average annual percent change in age-/sex-standardized case-fatality rates for acute myocardial infarction was -2.3% (95% confidence interval, -4.6 to 0.0). For hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, the age-/sex-standardized case-fatality rates were 21.8% and 5.9%, respectively in 2020; these rates decreased since 2008 (27.1 and 8.7%, respectively). The average annual percent change in age-/sex-standardized avoidable hospitalization rates ranged from -9.4% to -3.0%, with statistically significant changes between 2008 and 2020. In 2020, the avoidable hospitalization rates decreased considerably compared with the 2019 rate because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Conclusions: The avoidable hospitalization rates and case-fatality rates decreased overall during the past decade, but they were relatively high compared with other countries. Strengthening primary care is an essential requirement to improve patient health outcomes in the rapidly aging Korean population.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제56권3호
• /
• pp.212-220
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study compared the epidemiological and clinical manifestations of patients hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at a tertiary care hospital in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized data from all cases of laboratory-confirmed RSV infection at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. Differences in the clinical presentation of RSV infection before (2016 to 2019) and during (2020 to 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed and compared. Results: In total, 358 patients hospitalized with RSV infections were reported from January 2016 to December 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, only 74 cases of hospitalized RSV infection were reported. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, the clinical presentations of RSV infection showed statistically significant decreases in fever on admission (p=0.004), productive cough (p=0.004), sputum (p=0.003), nausea (p=0.03), cyanosis (p=0.004), pallor (p<0.001), diarrhea (p<0.001), and chest pain (p<0.001). Furthermore, vigilant measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including lockdowns, also interrupted the RSV season in Thailand from 2020 to 2021. Conclusions: The incidence of RSV infection was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, which also changed the clinical presentation and seasonal pattern of RSV infection in children.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.95-104
• /
• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends and characteristics of infection-related patient safety incident reporting before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Korea, and to provide basic data for preventing infection-related patient safety incidents and improving their management. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of secondary national data (Patient Safety Reporting Data) was conducted. In total, 517 infection-related patient safety incidents reported from 2018 to 2021 were analyzed. Changes in the number of reports before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and differences in variables related to infection-related patient safety incidents were analyzed using the chi-square test and independent t-test in SPSS 29.0. Results: This study found that infection-related patient safety incidents decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Furthermore, incident-related characteristics, such as the type of healthcare organization, severity of harm, and post-incident actions, changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The many changes in the infection control system and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to a decrease in the reporting of infection-related patient safety incidents. It is hoped that longitudinal studies on patient safety incidents related to the pandemic and analytical studies on factors influencing patient safety incidents will continue to be conducted to prevent and improve patient safety incidents.

• 대한토목학회논문집
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.363-370
• /
• 2023

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) 확산으로 2020년 초부터 도시철도 등 대중교통수단의 이용량이 크게 변동하였다. 이에 본 연구에서는 COVID-19 이전과 COVID-19 확산 이후, 3년 동안 도시철도 역별 일별 시계열 자료를 수집하여 DTW (Dynamic Time Warping) 거리법을 통해 시계열 군집분석 유사도를 평가하여 군집 별 회귀 중앙치를 도출하고, COVID-19 등 여러 외부 사건이 이용객 수의 변동에 미치는 영향을 시계열 충격 탐지 함수(Outlier Detection)로 진단하였다. 또한 도시철도 역의 군집 별 이용 특성을 분석하고 또한 외부 충격에 따른 승객량의 변동을 파악하였다. 향후 COVID-19 재확산 시 이용량의 유지와 회복에 대한 방안을 검토하는 데 목적을 두었다.

• 산업융합연구
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.117-127
• /
• 2023

본 연구는 코로나-19 범유행시 임산부의 생생한 경험을 현상학적 접근을 통해 탐구함으로 임산부의 스트레스 경험을 이해하기 위한 질적연구이다. 연구대상자는 COVID-19 범유행 기간 동안 임신한 임산부 12명을 대상자로 선정하여 심층면담하였다. 참여자의 인터뷰는 2022년 6월부터 10월까지 진행하였으며, Colaizzi (1978) 분석 방법을 사용하여 Taguette 프로그램을 통해 데이터를 분석하였다. 분석된 결과로는 경험의 범주가 4개의 주제와 12개의 하위 주제로 도출되었다. 주요 주제는 부정확한 정보로 인한 혼란, 무너진 산전관리, 통제된 삶으로 인한 스트레스, 적응해가는 몸과 마음으로 나타났다. 임산부의 건강을 위한 사회적 지원과 안정적인 의료시스템 구축이 전반적으로 이루어져야 할 필요가 있음이 확인되었다. 이를 뒷받침하기 위해서는 후속 연구들이 더 필요하다.

• 대기
• /
• 제32권1호
• /
• pp.51-60
• /
• 2022

Corona Virus Disease 19 pandemic (COVID-19) causes many deaths worldwide, and has enormous impacts on society and economy. The COVID-19 was caused by a new type of coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Cornonavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2), which has been found that these viruses can be effectively inactivated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation of 290~315 nm. In this study, 90% inactivation time of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was analyzed using ground observation data from Brewer spectrophotometer at Yonsei University, Seoul and simulation data from UVSPEC for the period of 2015~2017 and 2020. Based on 12:00-13:00 noon time, the shortest virus inactivation time were estimated as 13.5 minutes in June and 4.8 minutes in July/August, respectively, under all sky and clear sky conditions. In the diurnal and seasonal variations, SARS-CoV-2 could be inactivated by 90% when exposed to UV radiation within 60 minutes from 10:00 to 14:00, for the period of spring to autumn. However, in winter season, the natural prevention effect was meaningless because the intensity of UV radiation weakened, and the time required for virus inactivation increased. The spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 is related to various and complex interactions of several variables, but the natural inactivation of viruses by UV radiation presented in this study, especially seasonal differences, need to be considered as major variables.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제44권2호
• /
• pp.207-215
• /
• 2023

This study reported a case of hot flashes in a patient after coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. The patient in this case was hospitalized for eight days and improved after the administration of Korean medicine, mainly Yangkyuksanwha-tang. We evaluated the patient's subjective discomfort daily, and the patient kept a diary of hot flashes every day. After treatment, the degree and frequency of hot flashes were greatly improved and continued two weeks after discharge. In addition, the accompanying hyperhidrosis improved from Grade 2 to Grade 0. This study suggests that Korean medicine might be effective in combating the hot flashes of soyangin-type patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.144-152
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the social and policy determinants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection across 23 countries. Methods: COVID-19 indicators (incidence, mortality, and fatality) for each country were calculated by direct and indirect standardization. Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify the social and policy determinants of COVID-19 infection. Results: A higher number of doctors per population was related to lower incidence, mortality, and fatality rates of COVID-19 in 23 countries (β=-0.672, -0.445, and -0.564, respectively). The number of nurses/midwives per population was associated with lower mortality and fatality rates of COVID-19 in 23 countries (β=-0.215 and -0.372, respectively). Strengthening of policy restriction indicators, such as restrictions of public gatherings, was related to lower COVID-19 incidence (β=-0.423). A national Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination policy conducted among special groups or in the past was associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19 in 23 countries (β=0.341). The proportion of the elderly population (aged over 70 years) was related to higher mortality and fatality rates (β=0.209 and 0.350, respectively), and income support was associated with mortality and fatality rates (β=-0.362 and -0.449, respectively). Conclusions: These findings do not imply causality because this was a country-based correlation study. However, COVID-19 transmission can be influenced by social and policy determinants such as integrated health systems and policy responses to COVID-19. Various social and policy determinants should be considered when planning responses to COVID-19.

• 대한간호학회지
• /
• 제53권3호
• /
• pp.324-339
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to valuate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the 5C Psychological Antecedents of Vaccination (K-5C) scale. Methods: The English version of the 5C scale was translated into Korean, following the World Health Organization guidelines. Data were collected from 316 community-dwelling adults. Content validity was evaluated using the content validity index, while construct validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was examined by assessing the correlation with vaccination attitude, and concurrent validity was evaluated by examining the association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination status. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also evaluated. Results: Content validity results indicated an item-level content validity index ranging from .83 to 1, and scale-level content validity index, averaging method was .95. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the fit of the measurement model, comprising a five-factor structure with a 15-item questionnaire (RMSEA = .05, SRMR = .05, CFI = .97, TLI = .96). Convergent validity was acceptable with a significant correlation between each sub-scale of the 5C scale and vaccination attitude. In concurrent validity evaluation, confidence, constraints, and collective responsibility of the 5C scale were significant independent predictors of the current COVID-19 vaccination status. Cronbach's alpha for each subscale ranged from .78 to .88, and the intraclass correlation coefficient for each subscale ranged from .67 to .89. Conclusion: The Korean version of the 5C scale is a valid and reliable tool to assess the psychological antecedents of vaccination among Korean adults.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제56권4호
• /
• pp.377-383
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Korea and Japan have managed the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using markedly different policies, referred to as the "3T" and "3C" strategies, respectively. This study examined these differences to assess the roles of active testing and contact tracing as non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). We compared the proportion of unlinked cases (UCs) and test positivity rate (TPR) as indicators of tracing and testing capacities. Methods: We outlined the evolution of NPI policies and investigated temporal trends in their correlations with UCs, confirmed cases, and TPR prior to the Omicron peak. Spearman correlation coefficients were reported between the proportion of UCs, confirmed cases, and TPR. The Fisher r-to-z transformation was employed to examine the significance of differences between correlation coefficients. Results: The proportion of UCs was significantly correlated with confirmed cases (r=0.995, p<0.001) and TPR (r=0.659, p<0.001) in Korea and with confirmed cases (r=0.437, p<0.001) and TPR (r=0.429, p<0.001) in Japan. The Fisher r-to-z test revealed significant differences in correlation coefficients between the proportion of UCs and confirmed cases (z=16.07, p<0.001) and between the proportion of UCs and TPR (z=2.12, p=0.034) in Korea and Japan. Conclusions: Higher UCs were associated with increases in confirmed cases and TPR, indicating the importance of combining testing and contact tracing in controlling COVID-19. The implementation of stricter policies led to stronger correlations between these indicators. The proportion of UCs and TPR effectively indicated the effectiveness of NPIs. If the proportion of UCs shows an upward trend, more testing and contact tracing may be required.