• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2022

- COVID -19 taught us a lot about how to protect our tall buildings from infectious diseases. This paper captures the lessons learned about airflow in indoor spaces when considering furniture and its placement. By applying them we move towards future proofing our buildings both in normal and pandemic times.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.154-165
• /
• 2020

With a long-lasting pandemic of COVID-19, we have faced unprecedented socioeconomic threats. The regulation of human exchange has exposed us not only to the threat of health and medical care problems, but also to the burden of the contraction of economic activity. The outbreak of COVID-19 did give us an opportunity to reexamine the social safety net which has been prepared for such crisis situations. The current study, in this vein, aims to investigate the impact of evaluations of social safety nets on the trust in government and on individual willingness to accept tax increases. To this end, this study has explored the data from a survey conducted on 1,000 adult men and women across the country (South Korea) in May, 2020, when COVID-19 has entered a pandemic phase. The analysis result then has shown that the evaluation of social safety net after the outbreak of COVID-19 had a positive impact on the trust in the government, which in turn led to the increase of the willingness to accept tax increases. Moreover, the positive impact of trust in government on the willingness to accept tax increases has been more amplified when the income level was increased. These results could contribute to laying the theoretical foundation for restructuring the policies and systems for the post COVID-19 era.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.143-155
• /
• 2023

Purpose: An association between Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination has been reported. We aimed to summarize the clinical features of GBS associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and determine the contrasting features from coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) associated GBS and GBS following other causes. Materials and Methods: We performed PubMed search for articles published between 1 December 2020 and 27 January 2022 using search terms related to "SARS-CoV-2 vaccination" and "GBS". Reference searching of the eligible studies was performed. Sociodemographic and vaccination data, clinical and laboratory features, and outcomes were extracted. We compared these findings with post-COVID-19 GBS and International GBS Outcome Study (IGOS) (GBS from other causes) cohorts. Results: We included 100 patients in the analysis. Mean age was 56.88 years, and 53% were males. Six-eight received non-replicating virus vector and 30 took messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. The median interval between the vaccination and the GBS onset was 11 days. Limb weakness, facial palsy, sensory symptoms, dysautonomia, and respiratory insufficiency were seen in 78.65%, 53.3%, 77.4%, 23.5%, and 25%, respectively. The commonest clinical and electrodiagnostic subtype were sensory-motor variant (68%) and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (61.4%), respectively. And 43.9% had poor outcome (GBS outcome score ≥3). Pain was common with virus vector than mRNA vaccine, and the latter had severe disease at presentation (Hughes grade ≥3). Sensory phenomenon and facial weakness were common in vaccination cohort than post-COVID-19 and IGOS. Conclusion: There are distinct differences between GBS associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and GBS due to other causes. Facial weakness and sensory symptoms were commonly seen in the former and outcomes poor.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.96-109
• /
• 2023

Objectives : The objective of this study is to predict how future infectious diseases will affect healthcare utilization patterns within korean medicine hospitals and, specifically, departments of ophthalmology, otolaryngology and dermatology of Korean medicine. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients who visited Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital during Pre COVID-19(from March 1st, 2018 to Feb 29th, 2019) and Post COVID-19(from March 1st, 2019 to Feb 28th, 2022). The data was analyzed by visit type and diagnosed disease code. Results : 1. After the COVID-19 break-out, the number of first visit patients increased but those of revisit patients, total patients, and revisit/first visit ratio decreased in all departments. 2. In Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, the decrease rate of the number of total patients diagnosed with diseases of respiratory system(J00-J99) was the highest, while that for diseases of circulatory system(I00-I99) was the lowest. 3. In the department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology of Korean Medicine, the decrease rate of the number of total patients with nose disease was the highest, followed by eye disease and ear disease. 4. In the department of Dermatology of Korean Medicine, the number of total patients with dermatitis remained consistent, while the number of total patients with skin appendage disease showed relatively high decrease rate. Conclusions : Severe or chronic diseases showed relatively low decrease rate of the number of total patients. While mild diseases or diseases with high probability of exposure to COVID-19 infection during treatment showed high decrease rate of the number of total patients.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.231-239
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to examine the influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on areas of Korean medical students' lives, assess concerns, and investigate the strategies they used to cope with stress due to the pandemic. An online survey with a total of 53 items on the impact of COVID-19, concerns, and coping strategies was sent to medical students, and responses were collected from April 27, 2021 to May 30, 2021. In total, 1,329 students were included in the study. Analysis was performed using the chi-square test, independent-sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance, and the post-hoc Scheffé test or Games-Howell test was performed for multiple comparisons. The main negative impacts of the pandemic were on hobbies/leisure activities and mental health, and medical students expressed the highest levels of concern regarding restriction of movement, returning to everyday life, and risk of infection for family and friends. Female students more strongly agreed that COVID-19 had increased their depressed mood and anxiety (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Furthermore, the negative impacts of the pandemic on different areas of life significantly affected current levels of depressed mood and anxiety. To cope with pandemic-related stress, students used several strategies such as talking with family or friends (91.5%), sleeping (83.1%), exercising (72.8%), using social networking services (60.8%), drinking alcohol (37.8%), and practicing meditation/mindfulness (24.4%); the effectiveness of these strategies ranged from 3.45 to 4.19 on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1-5). The study findings suggest that COVID-19 has influenced the mental health of medical students and raised concerns in many areas of their lives. Students used various strategies to cope with the pandemic-related stress; since the effectiveness of frequently used approaches varied, it is essential to guide medical students to develop effective coping strategies.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.60-66
• /
• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated changes in interpersonal violence and utilization of trauma recovery services during the COVID-19 pandemic. At an urban level I trauma center, trauma recovery services (TRS) provide education, counseling, peer support, and coordination of rehabilitation and recovery to address social and mental health needs. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted considerable changes in hospital services and increases in interpersonal victimization. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted between September 6, 2018 and December 20, 2020 for 1,908 victim-of-crime patients, including 574 victims of interpersonal violence. Outcomes included length of stay associated with initial TRS presentation, number of subsequent emergency department visits, number of outpatient appointments, and utilization of specific specialties within the year following the initial traumatic event. Results: Patients were primarily female (59.4%), single (80.1%), non-Hispanic (86.7%), and Black (59.2%). The mean age was 33.0 years, and 247 patients (49.2%) presented due to physical assault, 132 (26.3%) due to gunshot wounds, and 76 (15.1%) due to sexual assault. The perpetrators were primarily partners (27.9%) or strangers (23.3%). During the study period, 266 patients (mean, 14.9 patients per month) presented before the declaration of COVID-19 as a national emergency on March 13, 2020, while 236 patients (mean, 25.9 patients per month) presented afterward, representing a 74.6% increase in victim-of-crime patients treated. Interactions with TRS decreased during the COVID-19 period, with an average of 3.0 interactions per patient before COVID-19 versus 1.9 after emergency declaration (P<0.01). Similarly, reductions in length of stay were noted; the pre-COVID-19 average was 3.6 days, compared to 2.1 days post-COVID-19 (P=0.01). Conclusions: While interpersonal violence increased, TRS interactions decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting interruption of services, COVID-19 precautions, and postponement/cancellation of elective visits. Future direction of hospital policy to enable resource and service delivery to this population, despite internal and external challenges, appears warranted.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.531-541
• /
• 2022

This study surveyed 233 students who experienced non-face-to-face and face-to-face classes in "86 first-year, 76 second-year, and 71 third-year students" enrolled in the radiology department of universities in the Seoul metropolitan area. The main question of questionnaire consisted of a total of 14 questions, including online lectures and face-to-face lectures, use of electronic devices during classes, students' thoughts on flipped learning methods, and finally, whether it was helpful for students who were unable to participate in face-to-face classes due to COVID-19 to take classes online. The responses were composed optional to select the content of the questionnaire and descriptive to obtain open thinking from students. Comparing the significance level of responses of second and third graders based on the first graders, p>0.05 for second graders and p<0.05 for third graders, showing a significant difference in satisfaction with third graders who were greatly damaged by COVID-19 and freshmen. In conclusion, even in a situation where face-to-face lectures can be conducted, it is considered beneficial for students to conduct online lectures and face-to-face lectures according to the method of the major subject.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.257-265
• /
• 2021

The COVID-19 virus is a β-genus virus that causes infection by mediating the angiotensin convertible enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is distributed in large numbers in the human respiratory tract. The disease requires effective post-management of antibody production by complete healers and vaccinators because there is no perfect remedy for the virus infection. This study aimed to develop recombinant proteins specifically responsive to neutralizing antibodies in clinical specimens and use them to develop a rapid diagnostic kit to diagnose neutralizing antibodies quickly and conveniently against the COVID-19 virus and confirm the possibility of commercialization through a performance evaluation. Rapid diagnostic kits using COVID-19 S1 RBD recombinant proteins can be applied to rapid diagnostic kits, with positive percentage agreement (PPA) and negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 100% and 98.3%, respectively, compared to the U.S. FDA-approved ELISA kits. If the performance of the rapid diagnostic kit is improved and neutralizing antibodies can be analyzed quantitatively using quantitative analysis equipment, it can be used as important data to predict immunity to the COVID-19 virus and determine additional vaccinations.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.14-21
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to examine the levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and social stigma among nurses caring for Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: 169 nurses caring for COVID-19 patients participated in this study. Data collection was conducted at university hospitals from March 1 to August 31, 2020. Data analysis was performed for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS/WIN 24.0 program. Results: The mean scores of PTSD, depression and social stigma were 25.16±16.80, 17.26±8.63 and 5.83±2.84, respectively. The PTSD scores were significantly different between the department (F=2.89, p=.037). Depressive scores were significantly different between the marital status (t=2.27, p=.024) and the department (F=4.91, p=.003). Social stigma scores were significantly different between age (F=6.49, p=.002), marital status (t=-3.30, p=.008), having or not having children (t=3.82, p=.001), department (F=5.82, p=.001) and clinical experience (F=7.43, p=.001). Positive correlations were found between PTSD and depression (r=.70, p<.001) and social stigma (r=.22, p<.004). Conclusion: Integrated assessment and management are required to address the psychological and emotional problems faced by nurses caring for COVID-19 patients, and active follow-up measures should be considered.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.311-320
• /
• 2021

This study aims to explore the applicability of the HyFlex Learning Model as a new form of early childhood education in the post-COVID-19 era. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, first, the current challenges of early childhood education and the form of early childhood distance education in Korea were examined. Second, after examining the outline and characteristics of the HyFlex Learning Model(HLM) and the application cases of overseas institutions, in particular, the cases of applying the HLM in overseas early childhood education institutions were reviewed. Third, things to consider when applying the HLM in the field of early childhood education in Korea were derived. As a result, the HLM was investigated to be applicable not only in higher education but also in early childhood education as a model that emphasizes the learner's choice, learner-centered/directed, and activity. In order to apply the HLM to the early childhood education field in Korea, several points to be considered were proposed. Finally, the contribution of this study and further study were suggested.