• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.336-342
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• 2022

Background: This study aims to identify the safety and health risk perceptions toward the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic based on gender in Korean university students who work and study during the pandemic. Methods: A nationwide convenient sampling method was implemented to eliminate any regional characteristics in 757 university students, including those who studied while working. The participants answered the online questionnaire for one week. The collected data were analyzed using the R version 3.4.1 program. Results: The results comparing the safety and health risk perceptions toward COVID-19 based on the gender of the subjects who work while studying, "I often use the Internet to obtain information on COVID-19 infection control" are females appeared to use the internet more often (t = -2.18, p = 0.031) than males. "Compared to pre-COVID-19, I am currently feeling safe after the outbreak" is females felt less safe (t = 3.43, p < 0.001). Although COVID-19 infection control awareness is high among Korean university students and officials, males reported higher scores over females in all the questions, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: There should be prioritized psychological measures for prevention against COVID-19 for vulnerable groups with high mental health risks. A network must be established to protect the mental health of such groups, and candidates who require intervention must be actively identified and supported. Therefore, there must be efforts to deliver accurate information based on scientific evidence of the infectious disease, and the actions should be supported through such active communication.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2022

Background: In this study, we investigated the changes and factors that affect daily health behaviors due to COVID-19 among adolescents. We intend to provide basic data so that a systematic and comprehensive health education program that includes physical and oral health can be made. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of the from the 2019 and 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. A final sample of 112,251 participants was anlayzed using chi-square test, and ordinal logistic regression. Results: In the case of tooth brushing, the frequency of 'never' increased in most general characteristics compared to before COVID-19. In the case of handwashing, it was found that handwashing behavior increased (increased) after COVID-19 compared to before COVID-19. As a result of confirming the factors affecting tooth brushing behavior before and after COVID-19, it was found that girls brushed teeth 2.2 times more regularly after lunch than boys. As a result of adjusting all other factors, regular tooth brushing behavior after COVID-19 was reduced by 0.79 times compared to before COVID-19. Conclusion: It is judged that it is necessary to operate a comprehensive health management program in the school so that the most basic tooth brushing for oral health and handwashing for health can become a habit. In addition, by confirming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on handwashing and tooth brushing behavior through this study, it is expected to be used in the development of policy data such as raising awareness of brushing and improving behaviors applicable in the current and upcoming new pandemic situations.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2023

Objectives: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had various effects on mankind, especially children and adolescents. Because children and adolescents spend a lot of time at school, COVID-19 has had a great impact on school mental health. In this study, we investigated the effect of prolonged COVID-19 on school mental health. Methods: We prepared self-report questionnaires for depression (Children's Depression Inventory, CDI), anxiety (Korean version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire for Children; Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7), and post-traumatic stress (Primary Care Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, PC-PTSD) for administering to students aged between 7 and 18 years, recruited by a COVID-19 psychological prevention support group in the Gwangmyeong Mental Health Welfare Center for 2 years, in 2020 and 2021. Results: For children aged 7-12 years, there was no significant difference between the years 2020 and 2021 in the assessment of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Conversely, for adolescents aged 13-18 years, there was a significant increase in the scale scores (CDI, PC-PTSD, and GAD-7). Conclusion: Prolonged COVID-19 might have had a significant impact on the mental health of adolescents who spent a lot of time at school. When comparing the years 2020 and 2021, middle and high school students were more affected by COVID-19 than elementary school students.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2023

Background: The government should find ways to improve the effectiveness of the policies to control the incidence and mortality of the infectious disease. The purpose of this study is to find out whether the trust in the government's ability to respond to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the quarantine and hospitalization rate, incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 and quarantine rules compliance in each region of Korea. Methods: The subject of this study is 250 regions (si·gun·gu) in Korea, and the 2020 Community Health Survey data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) was used for the trust in the government's ability to respond to COVID-19, quarantine and hospitalization rate and quarantine rules compliance. For the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 and community factors, data was obtained from KDCA and Korean Statistical Information Service. Path analysis was used to find out the degree of inter-variable influence, and community factors (socio-demographic factors, community health factors, and health behavior factors) were used as control variables. Results: The regional disparity in key variables showed that the late pandemic period cumulative incidence and mortality of COVID-19 were large, while the early pandemic period quarantine and hospitalization rate and quarantine rules compliance were small. Path analysis showed that when community factors were controlled, the trust in government was statistically significant in all of the late pandemic period cumulative incidence (p=0.024) and mortality (p=0.017), and quarantine rules compliance (p=0.011). Conclusion: This study revealed that the higher the trust in the government's ability to respond to COVID-19, the lower the COVID-19 mortality and the higher the quarantine rules compliance at the regional level in Korea. This suggests that when the government implements healthcare policies to control infectious diseases, it is necessary to consider trust to improve policy compliance and control the mortality of the disease and maintain high trust through several effective methods.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.338-354
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• 2023

Background: The influence of social capital on the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related behaviors and perceptions has been recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the trends in social capital using primary data from the Korean Community Health Survey, which is the only available source in Korea for local-level social capital analysis. It also investigates the relationship between various variables, including social capital, as factors influencing COVID-19-related behaviors and perceptions. Methods: The study analyzed the temporal trends of social capital using raw data from four community health surveys conducted in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. A multilevel analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between social capital and COVID-19-related behaviors and perceptions following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Results: Social capital consists of trust, bonding social capital, and bridging social capital. Within the trust sub-factor, trust in neighbors (Trust-1) declined after the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas trust in safety and general environment (Trust-2) and trust in medical services and public transportation (Trust-3) increased. Additionally, the gap between municipalities narrowed. COVID-19-related behaviors and perceptions, such as adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures, return to normal activities, and fear of COVID-19, showed improvement in 2021 compared to the previous year. Individual-level trust in neighbors was associated with reduced fear of COVID-19, while community-level trust in neighbors was associated with increased fear of COVID-19. Conclusion: Social capital plays a role in mitigating public health crises, and it is necessary to implement active policies that address the gap in social capital between metropolitan and rural areas. Strengthening risk communication regarding emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 is crucial.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1185-1200
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In the United States, one in every 5 children is obese with greater likelihood in low-income households. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have accelerated disparities in child obesity risk factors, such as poor dietary intake and increased sedentary behaviors, among low-income families because of financial difficulties, social isolation and other struggles. This study reveals insights into nutrition and health challenges among low-income families of young children in West Texas to better understand needs and develop interventions. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In-depth individual interviews were performed via Zoom among 11 families of children under the age of 3. A semi-structured interview guide was developed to explore 3 areas: changes in (1) dietary intake and (2) sedentary behaviors and (3) families' preferences regarding a parent nutrition education program. Each interview was audiorecorded, transcribed, and coded using MaxQDA software. RESULTS: Eating together as a family become challenging because of irregular work schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most parents stated that their children's dietary habits shifted with an increased consumption of processed foods. Many parents are unable to afford healthful foods and have utilized food and nutrition assistance programs to help feed their families. All families reported that their children's screen time substantially increased compared to the pre-pandemic times. Moreover, the majority of parents did not associate child screen time with an obesity risk, so this area could be of particular interest for future interventions. Meal preparation ideas, remote modality, and early timing were identified as key intervention strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Online nutrition interventions that emphasize the guidelines for child screen time and regular meal routines will be effective and promising tools to reach low-income parents for early childhood health promotion and obesity prevention.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.205-228
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• 2023

In 2020, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) struck the world. This study examined Korean public libraries' responses during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine their working practices, service patterns, applied strategies, and roles played. The study administered an online survey to 317 public librarians in South Korea. The results indicated that librarians reported significant transitions regarding the services provided. However, only 15.5% of the survey respondents reported that they had experienced trainings/workshops for library staff members. Survey participants also identified challenges such as the limitations of non-face-to-face services, complaints from library patrons, and overwork due to epidemic prevention. When it comes to the expected roles of public libraries in upcoming disasters, the study contends that information providers, who guide the public through various information resources, would play the most critical role. An analysis of a few open-ended questions' answers proliferated the highlighted findings. Based on the key findings, this paper also discussed implications for information professionals and future research.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2018

Objectives: The pathogenic Vibrios genus denotes halophilic bacteria that are distributed in aquatic environments, including both sea and freshwater. Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are the most important species since they can be potent human pathogens and leading causes of septicemia, wound infections, and seafood borne gastroenteritis. The recent emergence of a potential pandemic clone, V. cholera serotype O1 and the cholera outbreak in South Korea in 2016 indicates the importance of consistent surveillance of pathogenic Vibrio genus within coastal areas. Methods: The present study was undertaken to determine where and how vibrios live in the aquatic environment adjacent to coastal areas of South Korea. For this survey, a total of 838 samples were obtained at 35 different sites in South Korean coastal areas during the period from January 2016 to December 2016. Pathogenic vibrios was determined using the real-time PCR method, and its clones were isolated using three selective plating media. We also monitored changes in seawater and atmospheric temperature, salinity, turbidity, and hydrogen ion concentration at the collection points. Results: The total isolation rates of V. vulnificus, V. cholera (non-pathogenic, non-O1, non-O139 serogroups), and V. parahaemolyticus from seawater specimens in 2016 were 14.2, 13.48, and 67.06%, respectively. Conclusions: The isolation rates of pathogenic vibrios genus showed a positive correlation with temperature of seawater and atmosphere but were negatively correlated with salinity and turbidity.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.48-59
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• 2021

This study aimed to explore anxiety, risk perception, information literacy, and performance level of infection prevention practices against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among nursing students during the pandemic. A descriptive online survey was conducted, targeting a total of 224 nursing students from June 8, 2020 to 14, 2020. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation analysis using SPSS 26.0. The nursing students' level of anxiety was 6.86 out of 10, which was normal. Their information literacy level and performance level of infection prevention practices were 3.50 out of 4 and 4.44 out of 5, respectively, and these scores were considered high. The higher the level of anxiety, risk perception, and information literacy, the higher the level of infection prevention practices. The level of anxiety with respect to infection and risk perception may increase when new types of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 break out. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the accurate understanding of the infectious diseases by providing sufficient information. Accurate understanding of new infectious diseases can reduce the risk of transmission as it encourages people to thoroughly perform infection prevention practices.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.37-47
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• 2022

Purpose : We aimed to investigate the effects of nutritional foods on sarcopenia prevention and physical function among the elderly living in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing customized nutrition. Methods : This study was conducted in the rural community of SCC. Participants (n=24, over age 65) were randomly assigned into a Protein group (n=12) and a Vitamin group (n=12). The protein group was given 23 g/d of protein (whey, soybean, BCAA) for 8 weeks and the Vitamin group 23 g/d of vitamin (B, C, D, E and mixed minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc) for 8 weeks. All participants had their body composition such as height, weight, skeletal muscle mass, body mass index, and body fat percentage, measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and physical function assessed using grip strength and the short physical performance battery (SPPB). Results : At the end of the intervention, there was a significant increase in skeletal muscle mass (p<.01) in the Protein group (p=.002, 4.92 %) compared to the baseline: it increased by 2.33 %. The Vitamin group had a significant increase in body fat percentage after the intervention (p=.001, 15.35 %) compared to the baseline: body fat percentage decreased by 4.49 %. There were no significant differences in left and right Grip strength/Weight, SPPB, 4-m gait speed, chair stand test, and sense of balance in both groups. Conclusion : The findings from this study suggest that 8 weeks of protein intake have a significant effect on skeletal muscle mass and body fat percentage. Protein intake helped promoting the health of the elderly in rural community during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will assist creating a foundation for providing customized nutrition for the elderly in rural community in the future.