• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.599-609
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• 2020

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has rapidly become a global pandemic with over 26.4 million confirmed cases and approximately 871,000 fatalities worldwide as of this writing. In the Republic of Korea, disease clusters frequently occurred in long-term care hospitals where the majority of residents are elderly with underlying medical conditions. Despite the fact that public health authorities and local community health centers have put tremendous efforts into preventing the spread of disease, positive cases have continued to occur. Thus, the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention rapid response team decided to conduct an environmental investigation of a long-term care hospital to identify whether environmental contamination has remained and contributed to the spread of COVID-19. Methods: An environmental investigation was conducted at Hospital A. The characteristics of the facility and its HVAC system were assessed by checking the layout and interviewing the people in charge. A total of 64 surface samples were collected from areas of concern, including patient rooms, toilets, elevators, and nurses' station. These samples were tested by a regional health and environmental research institute using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: All samples from Hospital A were confirmed to be negative. Through interviews with high-level personnel at the regional community health center, we found that extensive disinfection is frequently performed on potentially contaminated areas in Hospital A in accordance with government guidelines. Conclusion: The environmental control measures implemented in Hospital A had been sufficient for mitigating the risk of further infection, suggesting that such measures may also be effective for other long-term health care facilities.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.213-220
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• 2021

As the coronavirus disease(COVID-19) pandemic is declared and the number of confirmed cases and deaths increases in countries around the world, the world is gripped with fear. Therefore, in this study, psychological factors of infection prevention behaviors of firefighters and maritime police officers were analyzed based on the Health Belief Model. Although there was no significant difference in the COVID-19 prevention behaviors between the two groups, there was a significant positive correlation between the perceived disease infection possibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits in the general characteristics and the COVID-19 prevention behaviors. There was no significant difference with perceived obstacles. This study is of great significance in that it is the first analysis of firefighters and maritime police officers as a health belief model, and can be used as basic data for the implementation of new infectious disease prevention actions.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2020

The virus isolated from patients with severe pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan City, Hubei province in China was termed SARS-CoV-2 and the World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease caused by this virus as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The COVID-19 infection has spread rapidly and become a pandemic. In July 2020, there were 13.25 million infected patients and over 570,000 deaths worldwide, and 13,711 infected patients and 294 deaths were reported in South Korea. Since the primary mode of transmission of COVID-19 is through respiratory droplets, the importance of preventive measures, including social distancing, has become important in daily life. In response to the continuous spread of COVID-19, this study developed three guidelines for preventing COVID-19 for the food service industry including childcare centers, institutional foodservices and restaurants by the integration of the manual of controlling foodborne illness. These are included the COVID-19 prevention action methods for food deliverers, for food service administrator, for foodservice works and for customers. All guidelines were designed for easy understanding using illustrations and have been systematically explained subject wise. Thus, these COVID-19 prevention guidelines can be appropriately applied depending on the specific situation and workplace. In addition, they are worthy as educational materials that contribute to the food safety.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze each country's infectious disease response capacities and, based on this, find areas for improvement in Korea's infectious disease management response. Methods: First, the capacity to respond to the COVID-19 infectious disease was analyzed by country using the SPAR scores of 96 countries around the world released by WHO in 2022. Second, we analyzed each country's specific COVID-19 quarantine performance using Our World in Data and the Global Health Security Index (GHSI). Results: First, the quarantine intensity index on January 24, 2021 was the highest in the Southeast Asia branch at 67.6, which had strong quarantine measures, and the lowest at 44.5 in the Africa branch. As of December 31, 2022, the quarantine intensity index in Europe was significantly lowered to 11.6. Second, the factor that influenced the SPAR indicator on the total number of patients per million population was national laboratory (C4), p=.027, and the factor that influenced the total number of deaths per million population was infection prevention and control (C9), p=.005., Risk Communication and Community Participation (C10) p=.040. The influential factor on GDP per capita was infection prevention and control (C9) p=.009, and the influential factor on GHSI was infection prevention and control (C9) p=.002. Conclusion: The research findings indicate that it was difficult to find a correlation between the SPAR, which is each country's self-assessment of their infectious disease capacities, and the number of COVID-19 cases or the intensity of pandemic responses. However, mortality rates, as well as factors such as the Global Health Security Index (GHSI) and national income, appear to be somewhat influenced. For future improvements in infectious disease management and response in our country, it is necessary to develop pandemic strategies that can reduce socio-economic costs based on more scientific and reliable data like JEE or GHSI, especially in preparation for potential unknown emerging infectious diseases. Based on this, proactive decision-making led by a control tower of experts and effective health communication are also required to respond to public health crises at a national level.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1659-1668
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the application of hand washing education program for the children with intellectual disability on hand washing frequency and methods during COVID-19 Pandemic. Subjects were 14 children with intellectual disability and they participated in the program using visual video materials. Hand washing education program was consisted of introduction, theory education, and practice and it performed 2 times a week, total 16 sessions during 8 weeks. Hand washing theory education was consisted about the importance and application of hand washing, proper hand washing steps and methods, use of hand washing tools, use of hand sanitizers including characteristics, and prevention of skin damage from hand washing. Hand washing assessment was used by hand washing frequence and methods observation report. Hand washing frequency was measured by the hand washing frequency during the daily routine and it was analyzed by the items divided into day and month units. Hand washing methods was measured by the items divided into use of hand washing tools, time, areas, drying methods after hand washing. As the results, after hand washing education program, the hand washing frequence was increased and hand washing methods were improved. Hand washing is much important as a active method to prevent the infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Thus, based on this findings, the application of hand washing education program should be considered to increase the hand washing frequency and improve the hand washing methods of the children with intellectual disability.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.4-14
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• 2023

This study aimed to discuss mental health services for children and adolescents that are being implemented as initiatives of the Korean government and to review the functions and roles of these projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three government departments are in charge of providing mental health services for children and adolescents: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Ministry of Education has implemented several policies to facilitate the early detection of mental health issues among school students (from preventive interventions to selective interventions for high-risk students). The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family additionally serves out-of-school children and adolescents by facilitating early identification of adolescents in crises and providing temporary protection or emergency assistance (as required) through the Community Youth Safety-Net Project. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Welfare operates relevant mental health agencies for individuals of all ages including children and adolescents. Any high-risk students who have been screened through the projects of the Ministry of Education are supported through referrals to the following institutions for appropriate treatment of their symptoms: specialized hospitals, the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the National Youth Healing Center, the Mental Health Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Suicide Prevention Center, and the Child Welfare Center. To assist students who are facing any psychological difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education has established a psychiatric support group for providing emergency mental health care; furthermore, schools are promoting psychological surveillance (e.g., provision of non-face-to-face counseling services that are centered around the Wee Center). The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare have provided varied mental health support services in order to address the challenges faced by children and adolescents during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the mental health services operated by each ministry do show some limitations because their service provision system is insufficiently collaborative. The present study discussed the positive effects of each initiative as well as its limitations; furthermore, it suggested improvements for facilitating the healthy development of children and adolescents' mental health.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.27-39
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• 2021

Purpose: The researchers reviewed the previous studies on the psychological anxiety and economic damage during the recent COVID-19 pandemic to understand the satisfaction, awareness and attitude of the residents in Jeju, Korea. Research design, data and methodology: 215 samples based on self-reported survey were collected for path analysis focused on controlling variables in demographic characteristics in PLS-SEM using Smart PLS 3.0. Results: The researchers found the Satisfaction with COVID-19 Prevention Measures and the Awareness of Tourism Crisis affect Attitude toward Tourism of the residents with the explanatory power (R² = 0.209). Age was found to be the only significant controlling variable in this model for the Awareness of Tourism Crisis to Attitude toward Tourism. Conclusions: The attitude toward tourism is influenced by the level of satisfaction of the prevention service for COVID-19 as well as the awareness of the crisis. Residents have different level of the tourism crisis awareness by the status of their economic activities while there is no differences in all age groups for satisfaction in the quarantine service. The study suggests that the importance of the public health service should be preferentially concerned for residents to have stable economic activities where the tourism is the major industry.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.347-357
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• 2023

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic turned biological hazards in the working environment into a global concern. This systematized review of published reviews aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific jobs and categories of workers exposed to biological hazards with the related prevention. Methods: We extracted reviews published in English and French in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two authors, working independently, subsequently screened the potentially relevant titles and abstracts recovered (step 1) and then examined relevant full texts (step 2). Disagreements were resolved by consensus. We built tables summarizing populations of exposed workers, types of hazards, types of outcomes (types of health issues, means of prevention), and routes of transmission. Results: Of 1426 studies initially identified, 79 studies by authors from every continent were selected, mostly published after 2010 (n = 63, 79.7%). About half of the reviews dealt with infectious hazards alone (n = 38, 48.1%). The industrial sectors identified involved healthcare alone (n = 16), laboratories (n = 10), agriculture (including the animal, vegetable, and grain sectors, n = 32), waste (n = 10), in addition of 11 studies without specific sectors. The results also highlighted a range of hazards (infectious and noninfectious agents, endotoxins, bioaerosols, organic dust, and emerging agents). Conclusion: This systematized overview allowed to list the populations of workers exposed to biological hazards and underlined how prevention measures in the healthcare and laboratory sectors were usually well defined and controlled, although this was not the case in the agriculture and waste sectors. Further studies are necessary to quantify these risks and implement prevention measures that can be applied in every country.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.58 no.10
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• pp.615-626
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• 2020

The outbreak of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, has spread worldwide and resulted in a pandemic for health systems. The disease is transmitted via respiration as droplets or aerosol. Due to the nature of dental treatment, aerosols, including body fluid, blood, and saliva, are frequently produced in dental hospitals. The present study investigated the potential risk of nosocomial infection of COVID-19 in dental hospitals to provide recommendations in clinical situations. The Seoul National University Dental Hospital in Korea established a countermeasure to cope with the clinical situation based on The Guidelines of Korean Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) for dental practitioners and the available literature. Notably, numerous considerations for patient reservation and schedule management are required for space separation in the hospital, including infection control. Experiences in dental hospitals in Korea would be referable for other dental hospitals facing this infectious respiratory disease.