• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2021

Purpose: This study analyzed the architectural planning factors of the ward in infectious disease hospitals, such as functional unit planning, ward configurations, spatial compositions & circulation, and detailed architectural planning. Through these, the facility guidelines of infectious disease hospitals are summarized, focusing on the differences from the wards of non-infectious hospitals. Methods: This study was conducted by literature review of research reports, papers, design cases, and guidelines, based on the experiences of field surveys for infectious disease hospitals. Results: The result of this study can be summarized into a few points. 1) Infectious disease hospitals need to establish an operation plan with the concept of continuity of care, as an extension of existing facilities. 2) The types of ward configuration for infectious disease hospitals has many variables, so an appropriate type should be selected according to the hospital's operating policy. 3) Various spatial composition types of the ward can be planned by the arrangement of traffic cores and areas of patient groups. At this time, the main planning considerations are safety, efficiency, and comfort. 4) As elements of the detailed plan, It is necessary to consider the types & dimensions of patient rooms, the relationships between nursing stations & sub-stations, and supplementations of medical support functions & convenience facilities. Implications: Since there are many differences in function from the ward of non-infectious hospitals, appropriate facility guidelines for infectious disease hospital are required.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2021

Purpose: Tuberculosis(TB) care unit in public health center should be carefully considered to be re-designed as an infection safety environment for both patient and healthcare workers. So, for the enhancement, this study analyses the facility requirements for co-using the screening clinic as a TB and other respiratory disease care unit. Methods: Not only screening clinic facility guidelines from "A Study for Standard Triage Design and Construction Document" but also the guidelines of TB care and related medical facility are reviewed; KDCA, CDC, ECDC and WHO as a TB care, and FGI and NHS for facility. The facility requirements are summarized space, approach, and mechanical requirement in order. By comparing the summary and screening clinic facility guidelines, supplementations are proposed for TB care unit setting. Results: The result of this study shows that both the space program and mechanical requirement of the screening clinic and that of TB care unit are almost identical and could be share, which include direct airflow or negative air pressure in an exam room. To increase functional and economical efficiency, however, it is necessary to consider a multi-functional negative pressured room, So care process may be re-designed based on a room type; face-to-face room or glass wall inbetween. Implications: The facility guidelines for TB care unit of a public health center should be developed to build a safe environment for infection control by reflecting its medical plan and budget.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of those who take care of the elderly at a long-term care facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Colaizzi's phenomenological research method was applied to describe the meaning and nature of the experiences of eight workers in an elderly care facility during the COVID-19 crisis. Results: Studies have shown that these workers experienced 'fear from infectious disease' and had the opportunity to 'reflect upon life changed by infectious disease.' They also worked together to overcome the crisis by 'protect nursing home with the nurses at COVID-19 sites' and felt 'safety from the nursing home,' and experienced 'a strong sense of calling for the job' through the crisis. Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind conducted in Korea on workers in an elderly care facility. The results indicate that it is necessary to supports these workers with practical useful education, counseling, and emotional support during the epidemic.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.370-375
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• 2021

Objectives: The number of cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has sharply increased in Korea, especially among young adults. In this study, an HAV outbreak in a facility for disabled people was investigated, and we found epidemiological differences both between 2 different generations and between generally abled and disabled groups. Methods: We analyzed the incubation period and attack rate of an HAV outbreak and investigated the prevalence of HAV antibodies among the staff and residents of a facility for the disabled. We performed a retrospective cohort study during the HAV outbreak, which lasted from February 8 to 25, 2019, including examinations of HAV antibody tests and post-exposure HAV vaccination for the staff or residents of the facility. Results: There were 9 confirmed cases in 2 staff members and 7 residents. Among 53 people (30 staff and 23 residents), except for the 9 confirmed cases and 1 staff member with a known history of HAV infection, HAV seroprevalence was seen in 16.7% of the staff under 40 years of age and 95.2% of those over 40 years of age, while the corresponding rates in the residents were 0.0% and 58.8%, respectively. Conclusions: This result implies that it is necessary to prioritize HAV vaccination for vulnerable groups and workers of residential care facilities.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.115-125
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge of infectious diseases and the management of children with infectious diseases among daycare facility teachers. Methods: This study was based on survey questionnaires completed by 122 day care facility teachers from 36 daycare center sin one district in Seoul. Results: Seventy three (72.8%) of the participating daycare facility teachers had not received infectious disease prevention education. They recognized that they did not have enough knowledge of infectious diseases. The average knowledge level of infectious diseases was scored as 9.30 on a 0-30 scale, with 0 representing no knowledge and 30 expert knowledge, and compliance level of management of children with infectious diseases was scored as 4.29 on a 0-16 scale, with 0 present no compliance and 16 representing total compliance Confidence of management of children with infectious diseases (r=0.24, p=.031) and the compliance level of management (r=0.35, p=.001) were higher with increased knowledge of infectious diseases. Conclusions: Daycare facility teacher scan lack sufficient knowledge about b infectious diseases. The education about infectious diseases and management of children with infectious diseases is indispensable to prevent trans mission of infectious diseases in daycare facilities.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.329-338
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an infection control e-learning training program for long-term care facility care workers to prevent emerging infectious diseases and evaluate its effectiveness. Method: The program was developed using the analysis design development implementation evaluation (ADDIE) model. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated for 30 care workers. The knowledge and performance of the care workers before and after the program were analyzed by a t-test. Results: In the analysis stages, a literature review on infection control, knowledge and performance of infection control, and education needs was performed, and focus group interviews with ten care workers were conducted. In the design stage, education topics, educational content, and educational methods were selected for the program. A video was produced centered on eight themes. In the development stage, a system for education was developed, and each topic was uploaded. In the implementation stage, the program was applied to 30 care workers, and a questionnaire was administered. In the program's final evaluation, there was a significant difference in infection control knowledge (t=3.06, p=.005), and there was no significant difference in infection control performance. Conclusion: In this study, the necessary topics were finally selected by quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing the educational needs of care workers taking care of the elderly in long-term care facilities. It is necessary to understand the long-term effect and the degree of performance of the observation method in the future.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2020

Purpose: COVID-19 infections have been erupting in places of worship, long-term care facilities, and call centers in Korea since January 2020. This study aims to diagnose and present an infection control system solution for long-term care facilities where at-risk elderly individuals are actively engaged in communal life. Methods: We conducted comparative analyses of infection control systems between long-term care facilities and medical institutions respective of relevant laws and this study's evaluation system. Results: To prepare for future infectious diseases, it is necessary to establish a long-term care facility infection control system and strengthen the standards thereof, to strengthen long-term care facility evaluation standards and to newly establish medical charges for infection control. Conclusion: Systematic procedure fortification and financial support provisions are necessary for infection control at long-term care facilities.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2017

Purpose: This study is for the facility eligibility and improvement evaluation analysis for the patient care environment of 7 facilities which has national inpatient isolation units. Methods: For the evaluation, first of all, the patient care environment of national inpatient isolation units are scrutinized by the checklist which is used on from 2014 with the 4 fields of criteria : architectural planning and layout, general requirement and condition for operating the negative pressured isolated patient room, HVAC system, and waste water discharging system. Finally, the evaluation results are compared with that of 2014. Results: The result shows that the average value of facility eligibility is 89.3 percent and which is 8.9 percent higher than the value before the MERS occurred. Implications: It is clear that facility remodeling of 7 institutions is being performed continuously, and the result of facility eligibility evaluation is reflected on design of a new 21 national inpatient isolation units those are going to be constructed from 2016. Therefore, it is expected that this study is used as a practical reference to establish the criteria of patient care environment management and safety management for both infectious disease outbreak and general service condition.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2024

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a significant burden to infant and toddler's care globally, while the disease severity is generally mild in this age group. In this study, we aimed to assess epidemiological and clinical aspects of COVID-19 in infants and toddlers in Seoul, South Korea. Methods: We used Seoul Metropolitan Government's epidemiological investigation database to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in infants and toddlers, between March 2020 to December 2021. Results: A total of 5,025 infants and toddlers aged <5 years was diagnosed between the observed period. 2,720 (54.1%) had symptoms, and fever was the most common symptom in 1,941 (74.1%). Of the diagnosed cases, 96.4% did not have underlying diseases. In a district level, extended opening of childcare facility was associated with increased risk of COVID-19 in infants and toddlers. Conclusions: An efficient monitoring system, resembling routine clinical care, is crucial, considering the low rates of severe progression and fatality among infants and toddlers. Moreover, a well-grounded intervention based on scientific evidence, rather than unconditional closures, is necessary to establish a suitable childcare policy that ensures safety from infectious diseases while not overlooking the developmental aspects of social skills.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2012

Purpose : As the number of children who attend child care centers has increased, concerns has increased about the effect of child day care on childhood illness. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between experience in child care and common infectious diseases in children under 5 years of age. Methods : Data were collected by surveying 1,000 respondents with children under age 5 through online interviews using a structured questionnaire. The contents of the survey were composed of demographic characteristics, child care facilities usage, experience in infectious diseases, and immunization status Results : Among the 1,000 children <5 years of age, 78.5% attended a child care facility. Rates of common communicable illnesses were higher in children in child care than for children reared exclusively at home. The predominant communicable diseases which the respondents' children experienced, in order of decreasing frequency, were gastroenteritis (47.1%), otitis media (41.8%) and pneumonia (19.1%). The immunization rate of vaccines that are not included the national immunization program (NIP) (Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine - 76.6%, hepatitis A vaccine - 63.3%, pneumococcal vaccine - 59.4%, rotavirus vaccine - 43.1%) was lower than that of the NIP vaccines (90.4%) Conclusion : Children in child care experience more bouts of common infectious disease, so nationwide policies to prevent or to control the spread of infectious agents in a child-care should be available and appropriate immunization should be emphasized as the most effective method for the control of infectious disease for children.