• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.20-35
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• 2022

COVID-19 vaccines have been developed worldwide in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection-19, but some people tend to refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Therefore, we will investigate how people's understanding of COVID-19 vaccines affects their attitude to accept COVID-19 vaccination information. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the determinants that affect the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine through the informational characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine and the individual health belief theory. This study conducted an offline survey of 215 adult men and women living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province during the period from September 1 to September 10, 2022, and we have conducted a final analysis using a total of 212 questionnaires. The results of our study were as follows. First, among the information characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine, it was confirmed that the amount of information had a significant positive effect on susceptibility, severity, and barriers in health belief theory, respectively. Second, among the information characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine, it was found that the quality of information had a significant positive effect on the susceptibility in health belief theory. Third, susceptibility and barriers in the health belief theory significantly had a positive effect on voluntary attitude and involuntary attitude in acceptance attitude, respectively. And finally, it was found that the severity of the health belief theory had a positive effect on the involuntary attitude in acceptance attitude. The results of this study suggest that policy efforts are needed to make accurate information about COVID-19 vaccine known to the people.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.66-86
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• 2022

The main aim of this study is to identify the role of information dissemination on urban and rural citizens of Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of misinformation in this process. The study also aimed at finding appropriate counter misinformation strategies regarding COVID-19. An online questionnaire was prepared to collect the viewpoints of the urban and rural citizens of Bangladesh regarding dissemination of information during COVID-19, misinformation regarding COVID-19, and counter misinformation strategies. Along with demographic and general information, a five-point Likert scale was used to measure COVID-19 related misinformation beliefs and how to counter them. Chi square tests were used to determine the association between current residency, information sources, the importance of information dissemination, reactions after getting COVID related information, and evaluative steps after getting information and before disseminating it. Additionally, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted to know the significance of difference in respondents' assessment on COVID-19 related misinformation in terms of their demographic characteristics. Cronbach's alpha score was obtained to see the reliability of the questionnaire items. The current study reveals that both urban and rural citizens of Bangladesh are influenced by information dissemination regarding COVID-19 and they have lower level of misinformation belief. The respondents have differences in misinformation belief by different demographic groups. Respondents' educational status, information literacy, sources of getting information, and evaluative steps after getting information have significant differences in misinformation belief. The study also noticed the support of respondents for countering misinformation strategies regarding COVID-19.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.127-135
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• 2020

Coronavirus is generally known to cause minor respiratory diseases in animals and humans. However, some coronavirus genus is reported to cause animal-to-human interspecies infection. Since the end of 2019, a new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection is spreading rapidly throughout the world, leading to the declaration of the pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite various clinical studies to counter COVID-19 infection, the total confirmed cases and death rates are still accumulating. To break down this new threat, we should pay attention to newly revealed information based on scientific facts. In this review, we introduced the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and treatment of patients infected with COVID-19. Moreover, we highlighted the correlation between COVID-19 severity and patients with underlying diseases. Potential risks associated with COVID-19 can be differed depending on the condition of patients and can cause pulmonary complications. Therefore, lung capacity exams are expected to help predict the progression of the disease along with previously established detection methods such as molecular diagnostics and immunoassay. Although physiological research hasn't yet been emphasized to evaluate COVID-19 infection, this review is expected to be valuable to give new inspiration to deal with COVID-19 which might strike again in the future.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.121-139
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• 2023

This study tried to identify factors affecting online activity before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the effects of consumer innovativeness, self-esteem, and need for cognition on the activity of online media such as Internet and social media were investigated, and whether privacy concerns had a moderating effect. For this study, survey data from 2019(before the outbreak of COVID-19) to 2021(after the outbreak of COVID-19) of the 'Korea Media Panel Survey' surveyed by the Korea Information Society Development Institute was used for analysis. The research results that affect Internet activity are as follows. Before the outback of COVID-19, it was found that hedonic innovativeness and social innovativeness had a positive effect and cognitive innovativeness had a negative effect on increasing Internet activity. There was no moderating effect on privacy concerns. The period after the outbreak of COVID-19, need for cognition was found to have a positive effect on increasing social media activity. In addition, the moderating effect of privacy concerns was found in the relationship between need for cognition and Internet activity. There was no privacy concern effect before the outbreak of COVID-19, and the privacy concern effect appeared on functional innovation and need for cognition after the outbreak of COVID-19. This study aims to present various implications for companies to understand the characteristics of online consumers using the Internet and social media after the pandemic.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.163-171
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• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the main characteristics of the COVID-19 vaccine-related videos spread on YouTube and differences in user responses in the infodemic situation caused by COVID-19. As a result of content analysis of 579 videos related to the COVID-19 vaccine, it was found that all of the false information was written by individual channels. Institutions, organizations, media companies, and government channels reported spread of false information as well as fact-oriented reporting. The progressive channel had a high percentage of positive sentiment in favor of vaccination, and the conservative channel had a high percentage of negative emotion against vaccination. After the vaccination started, the number of videos on government channels increased, and it was found that the number of videos with positive emotions increased. Results of regression analysis of video characteristics that affect the number of likes indicated that personal expert videos and videos from progressive channels received more likes. Combining the research results, we propose a plan to promote government policies regarding the COVID-19 vaccine using social media.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.123-130
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• 2022

In this paper, we propose a crucial issue to require further management plan for Korean hospital nurses in burnout during COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of factors related to hospital nurses in burnout for the COVID-19 outbreak. Appropriate studies in the recent three years were selected from database. To perform a systematic review, the databases of RISS, KISS, DBPIA, and Kyobo scholar were searched using the key words, 'nurse in burnout' or 'burnout for nurse'. Fifty-five references were checked, but only seven studies were decided inclusion criteria to review. It was founded that Korean hospital nurses felt moderate or higher burnout level for COVID-19 pandemic. We were confirmed that related factors of hospital nurses in burnout were personal characteristics, physical symptom, depression, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and resilience, and occupational characteristics, shift work and job stress. It may be necessary to provide regulating programs for hospital nurses in burnout and to set up a policy and guidelines so as to reduce burnout of nurses working.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2022

Purpose: This research aimed to assess nursing students' knowledge, attitudes and infection prevention behaviors toward the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 11 through October 1, 2020, involving a total of 235 third and fourth year of nursing students enrolled in two universities in U and K city. Self-report questionnaires consisting of demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and infection prevention behaviors toward the COVID-19 were administered to the participants. Results: Influencing factors for infection prevention behaviors were gender (β=0.21, p<.001), attitudes toward infection control (β=0.38, p<.001), education experience regarding COVID-19 (β=0.21, p=.004), and a visit to the hospitals or the areas where the COVID-19 case has occurred or been admitted (β=-0.18, p=.003) which explained 23.6% of the total variance. Conclusion: The results of this study provides basic information regarding nursing students' knowledge about COVID-19, attitudes toward infection control, and infection prevention behaviors during the initial outbreak of COVID-19.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.470-479
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• 2020

Objectives: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the death of 740,000 people around the world as of August 12, 2020. Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza, and African Swine Fever are serious livestock diseases. Government agencies in Korea have provided ingredient information and usage instructions for disinfectants used to counter those infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to provide information on the chemical ingredients in disinfectant products used against COVID-19 and certain livestock diseases. Methods: We collected information from the Korean government. The Central Disaster Management Headquarters and Central Disease Control Headquarters provided information on disinfectant products used against COVID-19. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency of Korea provided information on efficacy-certified disinfectant products for use against selected livestock diseases. Health hazard and environmental hazard information on the ingredients in the disinfectants was collected from the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency's Material Safety Data Sheets, and toxicity value information was collected from United States Environmental Protection Agency's CompTox Chemicals Dashboard. Results: There were 76 COVID-19 disinfectant products in use, and the most common ingredients were benzalkonium chloride (51%), alkylbenzyl dimethyl ammonium (30%), and ethanol (3%). There were 216 livestock disease disinfectant products comprised of 89 acidic, 88 oxidic, 30 aldehydic, three alkaline, and six other products. Among the 49 active ingredients used in the disinfectants that were investigated, health and environmental hazard information was provided for many of them, but only 20 chemicals had official toxicological information. Conclusion: Since the disinfectants included numerous chemicals, an understanding of their chemical characteristics could be critical to prevent unintended human or environmental exposure.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.53-74
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• 2024

The proliferation of health misinformation gained momentum amidst the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). People stuck in their homes, without work pressure, regardless of health concerns towards personal, family, or peer groups, consistently demanded information. People became engaged with misinformation while attempting to find health information content. This study used the content analysis method and analyzed 1,154 misinformation stories from four prominent signatories of the International Fact-Checking Network during the pandemic. The study finds the five main categories of misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are 1) the severity of the virus, 2) cure, prevention, and treatment, 3) myths and rumors about vaccines, 4) health authorities' guidelines, and 5) personal and social impacts. Various sub-categories supported the content characteristics of these categories. The study also analyzed the emotional valence of health misinformation. It was found that misinformation containing negative sentiments got higher engagement during the pandemic. Positive and neutral sentiment misinformation has less reach. Surprise, fear, and anger/aggressive emotions highly affected people during the pandemic; in general, people and social media users warning people to safeguard themselves from COVID-19 and creating a confusing state were found as the primary motivation behind the propagation of misinformation. The present study offers valuable perspectives on the mechanisms underlying the spread of health-related misinformation amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. It highlights the significance of discerning the accuracy of information and the feelings it conveys in minimizing the adverse effects on the well-being of public health.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.370-378
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• 2024

Objectives: Comorbidities increase susceptibility to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, but limited information has been published regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and COVID-19 co-infections. This study explored the relationships among socioeconomic characteristics, sexual behaviors, and COVID-19 infection rates among Korean men who have sex with men (MSM) who are also living with HIV. Methods: Data were collected through a web survey aimed at members of the largest gay portal site in Korea, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (n=1005). The primary independent variables included COVID-19-related vaccinations and sexual behaviors. The dependent variable was the incidence of COVID-19 infection among respondents during the pandemic. For statistical analysis, hierarchical multiple logistic regression was performed, controlling for potential confounding variables. Results: Model I indicated that older MSM were less likely to contract COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96 to 0.99). Model II demonstrated that HIV-positive MSM were nearly twice as likely to be infected with COVID-19 compared to their HIV-negative counterparts (aOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.14 to 3.41). Furthermore, even after accounting for COVID-19 vaccination status in model III, HIV-positive MSM continued to show a higher risk of infection (aOR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.12 to 3.35). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that HIV-positive MSM are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, even when their vaccination status is considered. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the prevention of COVID-19 infections in HIV-positive individuals by administering appropriate antiretroviral therapy and ensuring adherence to public health guidelines.