• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2021

Purpose: We aimed to provide effective emergency medical services (EMS) response strategies for coping with high acuity patients during the pandemic by analyzing the influence of the COVID-19 and social distancing on EMS. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the distribution of high acuity patients transported by Daejeon 1-1-9 EMS during the COVID-19 pandemic period, between February 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020 and the same period in 2019, as well as the level 3 social distancing enforced period, between July 27, 2020 and October 31, 2020. Results: The EMS dispatches decreased by 17% during the observed COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the same period in 2019. The number of cases with cardiac arrest and positive prehospital stroke scale rose by (p<.001). Patients with cardiac arrest, trauma, and positive prehospital stroke scale increased by during the level 3 social distancing period. Conclusion: Unlike the decreased EMS call volume and patient transports during the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac arrest cases and the severity of high acuity patients tended to increase. We suggest that EMS systems should contrive a response strategy considering the collateral effect of major epidemics on the incidence rate of high acuity patients.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

As one of the post-COVID-19 response strategies, representative processed products derived from the natural plant material flaxseed and a dietary supplement fortified with female hormones (estrogens) were developed in Canada, an eco-friendly country was introduced. These products were: 1) flaxseed oil to help maintain cognitive and immune function, 2) Lignan50, a substance with effects similar to estrogen, a female hormone, 3) XanFlax, a thickener for confectionery/baking and egg substitute, 4) MediFlax, a constipation reliever, 5) SesaFlax, which has a fragrance similar to sesame, 6) Linusorb, which is effective for its pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidation and anti-aging properties, and 7) LinuLyte, a water/electrolyte supplement containing high dietary fiber. It is expected that these dietary products will help maintain and promote health as part of a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.36.1-36.12
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• 2022

Dexamethasone (DEX) was the first drug shown to save lives of critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients suffering from respiratory distress. A hyperactivated state of neutrophils was found in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID pneumonia cases. Given the beneficial effects of DEX in COVID-19 patients, we investigated the effects of DEX and of other immunomodulatory drugs vitamin D3 (VD3) and retinoic acid (RA) on neutrophil function. DEX, but not VD3 or RA, significantly inhibited all tested aspects of neutrophil function, e.g., degranulation, intracellular ROS production, CXCL8 release and NETosis. Interestingly, RA displayed the opposite effect by significantly increasing both CXCL8 and NET release by neutrophils. Taken together, these data suggest that the lower COVID-19 mortality in DEX-treated patients may in part be due to the dampening effect of DEX on the inflammatory neutrophil response, which could prevent neutrophil plugs with NETS in the lungs and other inflamed organs of patients.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.247-258
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• 2022

Purpose: Considering that nurses perform critical roles for caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to investigate core competencies in disaster nursing. This study aimed to identify influencing factors on core competencies in disaster nursing by examining relationships between attitudes toward disaster management, disaster preparedness, and core competencies in disaster nursing in university hospital nurses' experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19. Methods: The participants were nurses working in two university hospitals who had either experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19 or no experiences. A questionnaire was distributed to 198 participants between October and November 2021. Results: The findings of multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the factors related to core competencies in disaster nursing in the participants were disaster preparedness (β=.80, p<.001) and nurses' experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19 (β=.11, p=.007). Specifically, the factors related to core competencies in disaster nursing in those having experiences of direct caring for patients with COVID-19 were disaster preparedness (β=.84, p<.001) and marital status (β=.16, p=.001). The factors related to core competencies in disaster nursing in those with indirect caring for patients with COVID-19 were disaster preparedness (β=.75, p<.001) and an intention to participate in disaster response (β=.16, p=.037). Conclusion: Based on this study, it is important to develop disaster nursing education programs focusing on the full spectrum of disaster management including disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster recovery training.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.328-339
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the mental health status of Korean adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and to verify the predictors and mediating effects of avoidance coping on the relationship between the intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety and the intolerance of uncertainty and depression. Methods: An online survey was completed by 191 Korean adults from 19 to 64 years old. Using the IBM SPSS Win 19.0 program, the data were analyzed through the frequency, mean, t-test or analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, linear regression analysis and Sobel test. Results: Of the survey respondents 21.5%, and 33.5% respectively were classified into anxiety and depression risk groups. The predictors of anxiety were intolerance of uncertainty (β=.52), avoidance coping (β=.21), and response efficacy (β=-.15). Those variables explained 47.7% of the respondents' anxiety. The predictors of depression were intolerance of uncertainty (β=.40), avoidance coping (β=.20), and response-efficacy (β=-.12). These variables explained 34.9% of the participants' depression. Among the predictors of anxiety and depression, avoidance coping was the significant mediating variable. Conclusion: The predictors of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic were revealed to be intolerance of uncertainty, avoidance coping, and response-efficacy. These results indicate the necessity of providing the cognitive interventions and reducing the use of avoidance coping strategies on a personal level. Community-level efforts, including early detection and health communication strategies, should prioritize risk groups for example young adults. The study suggests it will be necessary to provide sufficient information, psychological support and economic policy alternatives related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the national level.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.143-157
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• 2024

Purpose - This paper aims to analyze the relationship and correlation between the stock markets of Korea, the US, China, and Japan before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach - This study conducted an empirical analysis using the stock market data from January 2016 to June 2023 for the representative market indices of Korea, the US, China, and Japan. The analysis employed the VAR model, Granger causality test, impulse response function, and variance decomposition. Findings - Analyzing the relationships of these stock markets before and after the outbreak of COVID-19, we obtained the following results. (i) The influence of the U.S. stock market was found to be absolute regardless of the COVID-19 period, and the rise in the U.S. stock market led to rises in other stock markets. (ii) The Chinese stock market had a significant negative impact on the U.S., Korean, and Japanese stock markets before COVID-19, but this influence disappeared after COVID-19. This suggests that the Chinese market exhibited unique characteristics different from the global market after COVID-19. (iii) Analyzing the period excluding the first quarter of 2020, when global stock market volatility was extremely high due to the spread of COVID-19, we found that the results were very similar to the analysis including the first quarter of 2020. Therefore, it is difficult to argue that the increased uncertainty during this period distorted the relationships among the stock markets of these four countries. Research implications or Originality - We anticipate that these findings will offer valuable insights for both individual and institutional investors, aiding them in portfolio diversification and risk mitigation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.446-455
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• 2022

This study investigated work experience of firefighters and risk factors for their depression during COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data of 53,557 firefighters who participated in the online mental health status survey. Data included experiences of COVID-19 infection, experience of COVID-19 response work, fear of social stigma, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Results showed that 45.76% of participants had experience of COVID-19 response work. Emergency job group had the highest percentage of COVID-19 related work and the greater intensity of the work and fear of social stigma than those of other job groups. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that co-workers' infection, COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma were significantly associated to the severity of depression. The findings in this study demonstrated COVID-19 related work experience can link to the development of depression in firefighters. Effort to reduce COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma could help prevent depression among firefighters.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.127-136
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• 2022

This study was conducted using a multiple regression model to empirically analyze the impact of personal emotions and social change perceptions of pandemic experienced by Korean people in the COVID-19 situation on the perception of disaster response after the endemic. For this end, we used the survey data with 996 respondents on 「Daily Changes of the People After COVID-19」conducted by the Korea Press Promotion Foundation. The results showed that COVID-19 positive emotions and social change perception factors had a positive (+) effect on disaster response perception, while the sense of community had a moderating effect that alleviated COVID-19 negative emotions which had a negative (-) effect. The most influential factors on disaster response perception after the endemic were COVID-19 positive emotions and community sense that had pride and stability in Korean society during disaster situations. Therefore, this study suggests that systematic disaster response manuals and control towers that give the public pride and stability are more strongly requested for the government's prior and follow-up measures performed in the post-endemic disaster situation, and that the people are asked to have the community sense to overcome disasters together rather than to respond with personal actions and judgments.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.131-143
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed 1) to investigate high school students' reliability on COVID-19 responses in schools and private academies and 2) to identify the differences in COVID-19 prevention practice. Methods: This cross-sectional survey collected data from 200 high school respondents, using an anonymous online questionnaire designed by the Yonsei Global Health Center, from July 2 to 17, 2020 in this study. Chi-square tests were conducted to analyze the differences in preventative practices and practice rates between schools and private academies. Binary logistics regression analysis was conducted to identify the factor affecting the reliability of COVID-19 response. Results: These high school students reliabilityed the schools' COVID-19 response more than the private academy. In addition, students who studied only at school did more COVID-19 prevention practices than students who studied both at school and academy. There was a significant difference in avoiding public transportation (p=.028), sitting in one row while having a meal (p=.011) in the practice rates depending on the schools' COVID-19 response. A significant difference in Covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing (p-.041) was also found in the practice rates depending on the private academies' COVID-19 response. Conclusion: The reason why schools were more reliable than private academies was that there are health teachers. Because schools are supervised by the ministry of education, the Ministry of education and local government need to work together to manage and monitor the COVID-19 response in the academies through cooperation between two organizations. In addition, it is necessary to arrange a temporary circulation health teacher who will provide the COVID-19 prevention education at the academies.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.304-311
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, awareness and performance of COVID-19 infection control among physical therapists and to identify the impact factors on performance Methods: Data were collected from March 16th to March 24th in 2022 from the physical therapist's in Busan. Data analysis was conducted on 170 surveys, after excluding 27 surveys that were found to be unsuitable for data analysis. Results: When correlating the study variables, knowledge and awareness were found to have a positive, meaningful correlation with performance. Performance of COVID-19 personal infection control regression analysis showed that the working department (clinic and long-term care hospital), clinical experience, the more knowledgeable, the awareness (personal), and the more clinical experience had significant positive impacts on the performance of COVID-19 infection control. Performance of COVID-19 treatment room infection control regression analysis showed that the working department (long-term care hospital), educational experience, the awareness (treatment room) had significant positive impacts on the performance of COVID-19 infection control Conclusion: The results of this study may be used as basic data for educating physical therapist's working at the COVID-19 response department. This study suggests that physical therapist's need educational programs to improve their knowledge and awareness and performance of infection control against infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Differentiated physical therapists practice education curricula must be developed and provided after understanding the varying characteristic of physical therapist's with different levels of work experience.