• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 2018

Objectives: We reviewed digital epidemiological studies to characterize how researchers are using digital data by topic domain, study purpose, data source, and analytic method. Methods: We reviewed research articles published within the last decade that used digital data to answer epidemiological research questions. Data were abstracted from these articles using a data collection tool that we developed. Finally, we summarized the characteristics of the digital epidemiological studies. Results: We identified six main topic domains: infectious diseases (58.7%), non-communicable diseases (29.4%), mental health and substance use (8.3%), general population behavior (4.6%), environmental, dietary, and lifestyle (4.6%), and vital status (0.9%). We identified four categories for the study purpose: description (22.9%), exploration (34.9%), explanation (27.5%), and prediction and control (14.7%). We identified eight categories for the data sources: web search query (52.3%), social media posts (31.2%), web portal posts (11.9%), webpage access logs (7.3%), images (7.3%), mobile phone network data (1.8%), global positioning system data (1.8%), and others (2.8%). Of these, 50.5% used correlation analyses, 41.3% regression analyses, 25.6% machine learning, and 19.3% descriptive analyses. Conclusions: Digital data collected for non-epidemiological purposes are being used to study health phenomena in a variety of topic domains. Digital epidemiology requires access to large datasets and advanced analytics. Ensuring open access is clearly at odds with the desire to have as little personal data as possible in these large datasets to protect privacy. Establishment of data cooperatives with restricted access may be a solution to this dilemma.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.311-320
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• 2019

This study is a descriptive research designed to determine the effects of smartphone addiction on sleeping time and sleep deprivation among college students. For this purpose, the study made a questionnaire survey of 280 health science college students attending at C college located U Metropolitan city. Data collected from the survey were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 program. The findings of this study can be summarized as follows. there were correlations between smartphone addiction and students' sleep deprivation but weren't correlations between their smartphone addiction and sleeping time. furthermore college students' sleep deprivation was influenced by their smartphone addiction. Therefore, in order to induce sufficient sleep for physical and mental health, it is needed to reduce the smartphone addiction rate of college students. To do that, it is necessary to develop and provide interventive programs to eradicate unnecessary smartphone use.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2019

Introduction : The aim of this study was to investigate menstrual pattern according to Mibyeong Index(MBI) and compare Mibyeong symptom score according to severity of menstrual pain. Mibyeong Index was designed to measure inconvenience and resilience of subject's complains including four physical symptoms(fatigue, pain, low sleep quality, indigestion) and mental distress including anxiety, anger, depression. Method : We used the clinical data of Korean medicine Date Center(KDC) for subjects who participated in the study of 'Clinical research for collecting of clinical cases based on the personal type of Mibyeng' conducted in Seoul, from June 26, 2015 to June 26, 2017. A total of 566 fertile women aged 30 to 50 who completed the questionnaires were included in this study. In this study, we used items of Mibyeong Index and the menstrual pattern by self-report questionnaires. The date were analyzed through Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson's chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA using SPSS statistics 19.0. Results : Mibyeong status was significantly associated with severity of menstrual pain(p<0.001), worst day of menstrual pain(p<0.05), and type of menstrual pain(low back pain, nausea, depression, and none (respectively, p<0.05)). In addition, The 7-subtype score (fatigue (p<0.001), pain(p<0.001), low sleep quality(p<0.001), indigestion(p<0.001), anxiety(p<0.05), anger(p<0.05) and depression(p<0.05)) of Mibyeong index and total score of Mibyeong Index (p<0.001) showed significant difference for severity of menstrual pain. Conclusion : This result indicates that a close relationship between Mibyeong status and severity of menstrual pain. Further studies are needed but, we hope that this results will be used as the basic data to improve mibyeong status through health care to alleviate dysmenorrhea.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.628-638
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Numerous school-based weight control programs have been initiated for weight loss among adolescents. However, the relationship between these programs and inappropriate weight control efforts, dietary habits and behavior of students, have not been investigated sufficiently. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) of adolescents, and their health status and inappropriate weight-control efforts. We further examined the relationship between attendance to school-based weight-control programs and attempting inappropriate weight-control efforts, dietary habits, and behavior. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A survey of 1,742 students was conducted in Korea. Logistic regression was used to assess differences in the health status (grouped by BMI and improper weight control) and dietary habits, based on attendance to the weight-control programs. RESULTS: Obese students were significantly more dissatisfied with physical, mental and spiritual health. Students who attended weight-control programs were likely to be underweight (P < 0.001), whereas those who did not attend weight-control programs were likely to attempt weight control improperly (P < 0.001). Students who participated in the program also had relatively healthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.027), and students who did not attend had comparatively unhealthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.008). Students who attended weight-control programs were likely to be underweight (P < 0.001) with relatively healthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.027), whereas students who did not attend the programs were likely to attempt weight control improperly (P < 0.001) and had comparatively unhealthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Attending school-based weight-control programs was significantly associated with not attempting inappropriate weight-control efforts, as well as following healthy dietary habits. Our data indicates that offering school-based weight-control programs is valuable to student health, and is anticipated to reducing the public health burden.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.spc
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• pp.525-533
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• 2020

Purpose: Workers in special employment relationship (WSERs) are workers in nonstandard employment arrangements who lack worker protection accorded in standard employment arrangements. This study aimed to describe self-rated health (SRH) and depressive symptoms (DS) among Korean WSERs in comparison to regular wage workers (RWW) and identify associations between working conditions and those outcomes. Methods: In this study, secondary data analysis using the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey was used. The sample totaled 29,120, including 1,538 WSERs and 27,564 RWWs. Sociodemographic and work-related characteristics were employed as explanatory variables and SRH and DS as dependent variables. Using multiple logistic regression, the determinants of fair/poor SRH and DS were identified. Results: The prevalence rates for fair/poor SRH and DS in WSERs were 25.2% and 28.3%, respectively, and 20.7% and 25.0% in RWWs, respectively. Compared to RWWs, WSERs had 31% (aOR=1.31, 95% CI=1.14~1.49) and 20% (aOR=1.20, 95% CI=1.06~1.36) higher odds of SRH and DS, respectively. Some factors, such as a lack of rest guarantee and sickness presenteeism, had a larger influence in the WSER than in the RWW group. Conclusion: Compared to RWWs, WSERs reported having poorer working conditions and were more likely to report poor general and mental health. Therefore, in Korea, public health policymakers should consider measures to protect the working conditions and health of WSERs, a growing segment of the working population. The study produced new epidemiological evidence regarding the relationships between employment arrangements and health.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2022

Background: Depression is a common disease around the world. Many studies are showing that mental health can be improved through physical activity, and daily regular exercise can reduce the negative effects of depression or depressive symptoms. In order to promote individual physical activity, a physical activity-friendly environment must precede. Therefore, this study attempted to confirm whether the number of sports facilities for all affects individual depression. Methods: Among the respondents to the 2018 Community Health Survey, data from 181,086 people excluding missing value were used. Descriptive and chi-square tests were performed to understanding the general characteristics of individual level variables. A multilevel logistic regression was conducted to confirm the effect of individual and regional level variables on depressive symptoms. Results: As a result of confirming the effect of individual characteristics on depressive symptoms, it was confirmed that both socioeconomic and health behavior factors had an effect. Similar results were shown in a model that considered regional level variables, and in the case of the number of sports facilities per population, people who belongs to smaller areas were more likely to have depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-0.99). Conclusion: As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that both individual level and regional level variables had a significant effect on depressive symptoms. This suggests that not only individual level approaches but also regional level approaches are needed to improve individual depressive symptoms In particular, it may be possible to consider to increase the number of sports facilities in areas where the prevalence of depressive symptoms is high and the number of sports facilities is insufficient.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2022

Background: This study assessed the psychological impact of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on university hospital nurses. It provides an assessment of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, distress, and burnout of nurses dealing directly and indirectly with COVID-19. Methods: In a web-based, cross-sectional study, 111 nurses from Daegu Catholic University Hospital in Korea were enrolled from August 4 to August 9, 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to assess the psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and burnout among the study participants. Results: Of 111 nurses, 35 (31.5%), nine (8.1%), 26 (23.4%), and 49 (44.1%) experienced depression, anxiety, distress, and burnout, respectively. Nurses who performed COVID-19-related tasks were more likely to have moderate depression (related vs. unrelated, 52.0% vs. 25.6%; p=0.037). There were no differences in anxiety, distress, and burnout between nurses with and without COVID-19-related tasks. More than 50% of the participants showed receptive and positive attitudes toward caring for COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Nurses who performed COVID-19-related tasks had a higher risk of depression. There were no significant differences in anxiety, distress, and burnout between the two groups. Since nurses who perform COVID-19-related tasks are more prone to psychological distress, continued psychiatric interventions are required for infectious disease outbreaks with a high mortality rate for healthcare workers who are emotionally vulnerable.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to identify the degree of anxiety and depression related to infection control and job stress in clinical nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it seeks to identify the effects of depression. Finally, it intends to develop intervention measures to prevent depression in clinical nurses during epidemics of new infectious diseases and prepare basic data for developing educational programs. Methods: Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire survey administered to 208 nurses. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS (Version 26.0) statistics program. Results: The correlation analysis between participant depression, anxiety, and infection control job stress found that depression had a positive correlation with anxiety (r=.63, p<.001) and infection control work stress (r=.26, p<.001). Anxiety (β=0.60, p<.001) was found to significantly affect participant depression with an explanatory power of 40.2%, confirming that higher anxiety levels induce increased depression. Conclusion: Based on the above results, anxiety is confirmed to be a factor that affects depression. Accordingly, education is required to strengthen individuals' physical and mental capabilities and promote a safe working environment, including providing sufficient personal protective devices and other appropriate gear to defend clinical nurses against outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases at medical institutions and through healthcare policies. Other considerations should include sufficient rest hours and paying additional benefits for nurses caring for patients with severe confirmed COVID-19.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.306-313
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• 2023

Background: As social problems due to the acceleration of the aging era and the increase in the elderly population are becoming serious, virtual reality (VR)-based healthcare is emerging as an approach for preventing and managing health issues. Objects: This study used validity and reliability analyses to examine the clinical efficacy that is, the clinical value and usability of a novel VR cognitive evaluation system index that we developed. Methods: We developed a VR cognitive evaluation system based on motion recognition analysis evaluation for individuals aged 65 to 85. After conducting the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Exam (K-MMSE) cognitive evaluation, the evaluation score was verified through correlation analysis in the VR cognitive evaluation system. To verify the construct validity of the two groups, the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) grades were categorized into a normal cognitive group (GDS grade 1) and a cognitive impairment group (GDS grades 2 and 3). The data were measured twice to determine the reliability between the two measurements and assess the stability and clinical value of the evaluation system. Results: Our evaluation system had a high correlation of 0.85 with the widely used K-MMSE cognitive evaluation. The system had strong criterion-related validity at the 95% confidence interval. Compared to the average score of GDS grade 1 in the VR cognitive evaluation system, the average score of GDS grades 2 and 3 in the VR cognitive evaluation system was statistically significantly lower while also having strong construct validity at the 95% confidence interval. To measure the reliability of the VR cognitive evaluation system, tests-retests were conducted using the intraclass correlation coefficient (3,1), which equaled 0.923 and was statistically significant. Conclusion: The VR cognitive evaluation system we developed is a valid and reliable clinical tool to distinguish between normal cognitive status and mild cognitive impairment.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.274-290
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of prenatal education characteristics, pandemic-related pregnancy stress, and health behaviors during pregnancy on prenatal depression in pregnant women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: The participants were 180 pregnant Korean women, recruited from internet communities for pregnancy preparation, childbirth, and childcare, from July 5 to 15, 2022. The collected data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The scores for pandemic-related pregnancy stress (24.50±6.37) and health behaviors during pregnancy (67.07±9.20) were high. Nearly half of the participants (n=89, 49.4%) presented with prenatal depression, with scores of 10 or greater. Prenatal depression had a positive correlation with gestational age (r=.18, p=.019) and pandemic-related pregnancy stress (r=.27, p<.001), and a negative correlation with health behaviors during pregnancy (r=-.42, p<.001). The factors associated with prenatal depression were pandemic-related pregnancy stress (t=4.70, p<.001), marital satisfaction (dissatisfied) (t=3.66, p<.001), pregnancy healthcare practice behaviors (t=-3.31, p=.001), family type (weekend couple) (t=2.84, p=.005), and gestational age (t=2.32, p=.022). The explanatory power of these variables was 38.2%. Conclusion: Since participants had a high level of prenatal depression during the pandemic, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19 may recur, strategies should be developed to improve pregnant women's mental health with consideration of the unique variables that are relevant in a pandemic. It is also necessary to develop efficient online prenatal education programs that can be implemented even in special circumstances such as social distancing, and to evaluate their effectiveness.