Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
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Trends in Research on Patients With COVID-19 in Korean Medical Journals

  • Heejeong Choi (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Seunggwan Song (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Heesang Ahn (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hyobean Yang (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hyeonseong Lim (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yohan Park (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Juhyun Kim (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hongju Yong (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Minseok Yoon (Department of Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Mi Ah Han (Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2023.06.02
  • Accepted : 2023.12.27
  • Published : 2024.01.31
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Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to systematically summarize trends in research concerning patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as reported in Korean medical journals. Methods: We performed a literature search of KoreaMed from January 2020 to September 2022. We included only primary studies of patients with COVID-19. Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts, then performed full-text screening, both independently and in duplicate. We first identified the 5 journals with the greatest numbers of eligible publications, then extracted data pertaining to the general characteristics, study population attributes, and research features of papers published in these journals. Results: Our analysis encompassed 142 primary studies. Of these, approximately 41.0% reported a funding source, while 3.5% disclosed a conflict of interest. In 2020, 42.9% of studies included fewer than 10 participants; however, by 2022, the proportion of studies with over 200 participants had increased to 40.6%. The most common design was the cohort study (48.6%), followed by case reports/series (35.2%). Only 3 randomized controlled trials were identified. Studies most frequently focused on prognosis (58.5%), followed by therapy/intervention (20.4%). Regarding the type of intervention/exposure, therapeutic clinical interventions comprised 26.1%, while studies of morbidity accounted for 13.4%. As for the outcomes measured, 50.7% of studies assessed symptoms/clinical status/improvement, and 14.1% evaluated mortality. Conclusions: Employing a systematic approach, we examined the characteristics of research involving patients with COVID-19 that was published in Korean medical journals from 2020 onward. Subsequent research should assess not only publication trends over a longer timeframe but also the quality of evidence provided.

Keywords

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