• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.286-295
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• 2020

Respiratory infections are very common and highly contagious. Respiratory infectious diseases affect not only the person infected but also the family members and the society. As medical sciences advance, several diseases have been conquered; however, the impact of novel infectious diseases on the society is enormous. As the clinical presentation of respiratory infections is similar regardless of the pathogen, the causative agent is not distinguishable by symptoms alone. Moreover, it is difficult to develop a cure because of the various viral mutations. Various respiratory infectious diseases ranging from influenza, which threaten the health of mankind globally, to the coronavirus disease 2019, which resulted in a pandemic, exist. Contrary to human expectations that development in health care and improvement in hygiene will conquer infectious diseases, humankind's health and social systems are threatened by novel infectious diseases. Owing to the development of transport and trading activity, the rate of spread of new infectious diseases is increasing. As respiratory infections can threaten the members of the global community at any time, investigations on preventing the transmission of these diseases as well as development of effective antivirals and vaccines are of utmost importance and require a worldwide effort.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제65권4호
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• pp.167-171
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• 2022

In the era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, countries worldwide have implemented several nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to contain its spread before vaccines and treatments were developed. NPIs included social distancing, mask wearing, intensive contact tracing and isolation, and sanitization. In addition to their effectiveness at preventing the rapid spread of COVID-19, NPIs have caused secondary changes in the epidemiology of other infectious diseases. In Korea, various NPI stages have been implemented since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on January 20, 2020. This review, based on a PubMed database search, shows the impact of NPIs on several infectious diseases other than severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the COVID-19 pandemic era in Korea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.13-23
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• 2009

Acute otitis media (AOM) and pneumonia are among the most common infectious diseases of children. Both are mucosal infections and share many common features such as etiological agents, pathogenesis and immunity. Influenza plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AOM and pneumonia. A vaccine against influenza may have substantial impact on these diseases during the influenza season. In clinical trials, influenza vaccine has reduced the incidence of AOM and pneumonia complicating influenza in children. However, the efficacy of vaccines has been controversial in children less than 2 years of age. Similarly, vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), both common causes of AOM and pneumonia, have the potential to reduce the impact of disease. Clinical trials showed that the currently licensed 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), administered during infancy, had an efficacy of 6-7% for the prevention of AOM, however, visits to the clinic for AOM were reduced by up to 20-30% after routine use in the U.S. Both Hib and PCVs have a proven effectiveness of >20% for prevention of radiologically confirmed pneumonia in children. The recently introduced pnuemococcal vaccine conjugated with protein D is expected to reduce AOM and pneumonia caused by non-typable H. influenzae, in addition to its effects on pneumococcal diseases. Considering their high incidence in children, recent achievements in the prevention of AOM and pneumonia with vaccines may have a significant economic and social impact.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.123-134
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• 2023

Disordered eating behaviors, such as overeating, are known to be contagious in the general population. The objective of our research is to find an optimal control strategy to reduce the social burden of unhealthy overeating behavior by establishing and analyzing a mathematical model for the social transmission dynamics of unhealthy overeating. We consider four compartments in the population: normal weight with normal eating behavior, normal weight with overeating behavior, overweight with normal eating behavior, and overweight with overeating behavior. Simulation results under various control scenarios show that integrated control measures may be necessary to reduce the growth rate of the overeating population.

• 한국재난정보학회 논문집
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.451-470
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• 2023

연구목적: COVID-19가 2019년 12월에 중국에서 처음 발견된 이후 전 세계로 빠르게 확산되면서, 개인의 생활뿐만 아니라 기업과 국가에도 심각한 경제적·사회적 문제를 야기하였다. 개인, 기업, 정부 모두는 COVID-19의 확산을 방지하기 위하여 다양한 노력을 하였다. 감염병에 대응하고 관리하기 위해서는 개인, 기업, 정부 모두의 역할이 중요하나 선행연구에서는 부분적으로만 연구를 진행하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 감염병 재난관리 대응에서 성과를 내기 위해 개인, 기업, 정부의 역할에 대해 종합적으로 연구를 진행하였으며, 감염병 재난관리에 대한 근로자의 인식과 정부 및 기업 역량이 재난대응 성과에 미치는 영향을 파악하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 설문조사는 울산, 경주, 양산지역의 자동차 제조업 종사자를 대상으로 실시하였고, 분석은 빈도분석, 요인분석, 상관관계분석, 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 연구결과: 근로자 인식은 재난관리성과 뿐만 아니라 정부역량과 기업역량 모두에 긍정적인 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 정부역량과 기업역량은 재난관리성과에 긍정적인 영향을 주었다. 결론: 본 연구의 결과는 재난대응 성과를 달성하기 위해서는 근로자의 인식뿐만 아니라 정부와 기업의 역량이 중요함을 밝혔다는 점에서 의미를 가진다. 뿐만 아니라 근로자들은 정부와 기업에서 주어지는 교육과 참여의 기회를 잘 활용하고 근로자가 할 수 있는 범사회적인 노력을 기울여야 할 것이다.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.215-224
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• 2023

Purpose: This study uses data from the 12th~17th Korea Welfare Panel (2017~2022) to analyze changes in depression scores due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the factors that influenced depression scores according to employment type. Methods: The difference in depression scores according to employment types before COVID-19 (12th~14th) and after COVID-19 (15th~17th) was analyzed. A fixed-effect model analysis was conducted before and after the occurrence of COVID-19. Results: After the outbreak of COVID-19, job satisfaction and family life satisfaction influenced the depression scores of regular wage workers. After the outbreak of COVID-19, annual income, health status, and satisfaction with family life affected the depression scores of non-regular wage workers. After the outbreak of COVID-19, leisure life satisfaction and family relationship satisfaction influenced the depression scores of self-employed. Self-esteem played a role as a control variable in lowering the depression scores of regular and non-regular workers, but did not play a role as a control variable for self-employed. Conclusion: Rather than the direct impact of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, social and economic changes resulting from policies implemented to prevent the spread affect workers' depression, and the impact varies depending on the type of employment. When implementing policies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the future, policies that take employment type into consideration rather than uniform policies should be prepared, and measures for mental health also need to be prepared.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제86권3호
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• pp.216-225
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• 2023

Background: Tuberculosis (TB)-related stigma has been well-documented. Since the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), different organizations have been alerted to the fact that stigma could arise again. Due to stigma's negative effects, this qualitative study aimed to explore the stigma felt by patients by evaluating the following: COVID-19 stigma and its temporal progression through the pandemic; stigma perceived by different patients with TB before and during COVID-19 pandemic; and difference perceived by individuals who contracted both diseases. Methods: A semi-structured interview was developed according to the available literature on the theme. It was performed individually in 2022 upon receiving signed informed consent. Participants were recruited with a purposive sampling approach by searching medical records. Those who currently or previously had pulmonary TB and/or COVID-19 were included. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Nine patients were interviewed, including six (66.7%) females. The median age of patients was 51±14.7 years. Four participants (44.4%) had completed high school and four (44.4%) were never smokers. Three had both TB and COVID-19. Four only had TB and two only had COVID-19. Interviews identified eight main themes: knowledge and beliefs, with several misconceptions identified; attitudes towards the disease, varying from social support to exclusion; knowledge and education, assumed as of extreme importance; internalized stigma, with self-rejection; experienced stigma, with discrimination episodes; anticipated stigma, modifying actions for avoiding stigma; perceived stigma, with judgment by others prevailed; and temporal evolution of stigma. Conclusion: Individuals expressed strong stigma for both diseases. De-stigmatization of respiratory infectious diseases is crucial for limiting stigma's negative impact.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.47-58
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Chungju City from July to December 2021. Methods: The authors processed and analyzed the epidemiological analysis report written by researcher. The estimated reproduction rate was analyzed using web-based software that calculates time-varying reproduction numbers. The results were analyzed through univariate multiple regression analysis, with a maximum significance level set at 0.05. Results: During the study period, a total of 1,188 patients were identified, with 7.9% of them progressing to a severe status. The maximum reproduction rate recorded was 3.48. Factors associated with the transition to a severe status included the presence of symptoms at the time of diagnosis, lack of vaccination, and belonging to the age group over 40. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be strongly supported that the measures implemented in Chungju City, such as social distancing, vaccination, and preemptive diagnostic tests, were appropriate. Furthermore, it demonstrates that Chungju City effectively managed the impact of COVID-19. Korean Medicine Doctors made significant contributions to the epidemiological investigations of COVID-19. To comprehensively manage infectious diseases, it is crucial to provide administrative and legal support and encourage active research to expand the role of Korean Medicine Doctors in this area.

• 한국기록관리학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.229-236
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• 2020

코로나바이러스감염증은 인류사회가 경험하지 못한 커다란 충격과 생활양식의 급속한 변화를 만들고 있다. 비대면 사회는 감염병 확산을 예방하기 위한 과정에서 보편화된 사례이다. 코로나바이러스감염증으로 인한 사회적 영향은 광범위하다. 정부의 정책, 개인 정보보호, 정보기술 등 다양한 이슈가 사회 전반에 영향을 주고 있다. 동시에 관련 사건과 이슈가 신속하고 빠르게 변하기 때문에 사실 정보를 추적하고 기록하는 것이 어렵다. 코로나-19와 실시간성 정보를 효과적으로 기술하기 위한 방안은 무엇일까? "코로나-19:우리의 기억" 프로젝트는 코로나바이러스감염증에 대한 사회문화적 영향을 가치중립적으로 기록하기 위한 시도이다. 주요 사건과 이슈를 분야별로 수집하고, 중립적인 관점으로 핵심이벤트를 기록하며, 모든 기록을 탐색할 수 있도록 디지털 아카이브로 구축한다. 프로젝트를 통해 수집, 구축한 모든 데이터, 소스코드, 시각화를 포함하는 애플리케이션은 모두 공개하여 새로운 협업을 이끌어내고 있다.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.144-148
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• 2021

목적: 사회적 거리두기와 같은 비약물적 조치는 아동기 질병 발병률 감소를 포함하여 의도하지 않은 결과를 초래하였다. 이에 대하여 한국의 국가 데이터를 사용하여 열성 경련 발병률과 사회적 거리두기의 영향을 연구하였다. 방법: 이 연구는 한국의 건강보험심사평가원의 청구 데이터를 사용하여 2010년 1월부터 2020년 9월까지 0-5세 사이의 아동에서 열성 경련 진단을 받은 모든 입원 환자가 포함되었으며, 2010-2019년 1월 1일부터 9월 30일까지, 2020년 같은 기간동안 인구 100,000명 당 발병률을 추정하기 위해 월별 사례 수를 집계하였다. 결과: 2010-2019년 열성경련의 발병률은 1월 100,000명 당 116명에서 9월 101명 이었으나, 2020년 2월 사회적 거리두기 이후 열성 경련의 발병률은 1월 100,000명당 113명에서 9월 27명으로 감소하였다. 결론: 2010-2019년에 비해 2020년 열성경련의 발병률 순 감소는 -38% 였으며, 사회적 거리두기가 열성 경련의 발병률 감소에 기여했음을 시사하는 결과를 확인하였다.