• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 2021

Background: Cancer patients have been disproportionally affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with high rates of severe outcomes and mortality. Fever is the most common symptom in COVID-19 patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians may have difficulty in determining the cause of fever (COVID-19, another infection, or cancer fever) in cancer patients. Furthermore, there are no specific guidelines for managing cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 328 cancer patients with COVID-19 symptoms (fever) admitted to five hospitals in Daegu, Korea from January to October 2020. We obtained data on demographics, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, chest computed tomography images, cancer history, cancer treatment, and outcomes of all enrolled patients from electronic medical records. Results: The most common COVID-19-like symptoms were fever (n=256, 78%). Among 256 patients with fever, only three (1.2%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Most patients (253, 98.8%) with fever were not diagnosed with COVID-19. The most common solid malignancies were lung cancer (65, 19.8%) and hepatobiliary cancer (61, 18.6%). Twenty patients with fever experienced a delay in receiving cancer treatment. Eighteen patients discontinued active cancer treatment because of fever. Major events during the treatment delay period included death (2.7%), cancer progression (1.5%), and major organ dysfunction (2.7%). Conclusion: Considering that only 0.9% of patients tested for COVID-19 were positive, screening for COVID-19 in cancer patients with fever should be based on the physician's clinical decision, and patients might not be routinely tested.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2024

In the uncertainty fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have emerged as key strategic responses by firms. This study explores the impact of M&As on acquirers' firm value, utilizing a firm-level panel dataset from SDC Platinum. Empirical evidence recognizes the potential negative impact of transaction value in M&As and the pandemic's effect on market uncertainty that may occasionally exacerbate the adverse influence on acquirers' firm value. The findings indicate that effective marketing strategies, such as enhancing consumer awareness through increasing advertising expenditures, can counterbalance these influences, particularly during uncertain times. This study accentuates the importance of adaptability and a responsive marketing approach in managing M&As during a global crisis. It provides valuable perspectives on consumer awareness in strategic decision-making, offering insights for both academic and business communities and focusing on actionable strategies for navigating the global market turmoil transformed by COVID-19.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.103-112
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• 2023

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in late 2019, had a profound impact on global public health and disrupted the daily lives of people worldwide. Particularly, university students faced a challenging situation as their university life underwent a drastic transformation due to long-term remote learning and isolation measures. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in daily life during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and depressive symptoms among university students aged between 19 and 29 in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the nationally representative 2020 Community Health Survey (CHS). Among the 229,269 participants, 9,279 university students aged 19-29, either enrolled or on leave, were selected. After excluding 401 cases with missing values, the final sample comprised 8,878 individuals. Using multivariate logistic regression with a complex sample design, we explored the association between daily life changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and depressive symptoms. Results: Changes in daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with depressive symptoms in Korean university students aged 19 to 29, even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health-related factors, and COVID-19-related aspects (OR=1.28, 95% CI=1.09~1.50). Conclusion: Our study suggests that when examining the impact of COVID-19 on health issues, it is crucial to consider the changes in daily life caused by the pandemic. These findings can provide insights into the psychological well-being of university students during times of crisis.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.452-468
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• 2023

This study aims to investigate changes in dental service use among pediatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis was performed by collecting information about the number of visits, age, gender, diagnoses, and treatments for patients at the Pediatric Dentistry Department of Seoul National University Dental Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. Compared with the period from 2017 to 2019, the total number of visits decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a substantial decline in 2020. Patients in all age groups, except those aged 10 - 14, experienced decreased visits, and there was no significant gender difference. Z29.8 (need for other specified prophylactic measures) declined in all age groups, especially among those aged 0 - 4, except for those 20 years and older. K02.1 (caries of dentine) was sought by the age groups in the following order: 10 - 14, 15 - 19, 5 - 9, and 0 - 4 years, with the most significant decrease in the 0 - 4 years age group compared to others. K07.4 (malocclusion, unspecified) decreased in younger groups aged 9 and below but increased in older groups aged 10 and above. During the period from 2020 to 2022, preventive, restorative, pulp, and trauma treatments decreased, but surgical and orthodontic treatments increased compared with the previous three years. The use of sedation decreased and general anesthesia increased during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic. This study describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric dentistry, making it a valuable reference for future pandemics.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.131-142
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• 2022

This study aims to explore how college students have adjusted to Internet-based learning (IBL) since the pandemic and how they have subjectively experienced their Internet-based classes including live-streaming and recorded classes. We conducted a qualitative study on 16 college students in South Korea. The analysis of the in-depth interviews revealed that despite early negative experiences regarding adjustment to IBL, the participants seemed to have developed an increased sense of control over their learning and simultaneously reported a greater need for self-discipline and social support in order to stay motivated. Also, instructors' digital competence and creative attempts to facilitate class communication and discussion appeared to have influence on successful IBL. Lastly, the participants' physical learning environments seemed to impact their online learning in terms of their level of alertness and motivation for study. Implications and suggestions were discussed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2021

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated a redistribution of resources to meet hospitals' service needs. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on a regional trauma center in South Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of polytrauma at a single regional trauma center in South Korea between January 20 and September 30, 2020 (the COVID-19 period) and compared them to cases reported during the same time frame (January 20 to September 30) between 2016 and 2019 (the pre-COVID-19 period). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included the number of daily admissions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS. Results: The mean number of daily admissions decreased by 15% during the COVID-19 period (4.0±2.0 vs. 4.7±2.2, p=0.010). There was no difference in mechanisms of injury between the two periods. For patients admitted during the COVID-19 period, the hospital LOS was significantly shorter (10 days [interquartile range (IQR) 4-19 days] vs. 16 days [IQR 8-28 days], p<0.001); however, no significant differences in ICU LOS and mortality were found. Conclusions: The observations at Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital corroborate anecdotal reports that there has been a decline in the number of patients admitted to hospitals during the COVID-19 period. In addition, patients admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significantly shorter hospital LOS than those admitted before the COVID-19 pandemic. These preliminary data warrant validation in larger, multi-center studies.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.113-121
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• 2022

The study aimed to assess the availability of intellectual capital in Kuwaiti private universities in terms of its three dimensions (human capital, structural capital, and relational capital), as well as its role in crisis management (crisis preparedness, crisis mitigation, confrontation, and response to the crisis, and learning from the crisis) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the boards of trustees, university presidents, their deputies, and deans of the colleges were chosen as respondents to this study from a sample of (8) private universities in Kuwait, with the sampling unit consisting of leaders in these universities. The study revealed that all dimensions of intellectual capital play a statistically significant impact in executing crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic at Kuwaiti private universities after conducting the data analysis process. The study concluded that universities should pay attention to intellectual capital in all its dimensions (human capital, structural capital, and relational capital) because of its role in improving their ability to implement crisis management strategies and strive to improve their capabilities to face crises by implementing crisis management strategies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.360-369
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate public preferences regarding allocation principles for scarce medical resources in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly in comparison with the recommendations of ethicists. Methods: An online survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1509 adults residing in Korea, from November 2 to 5, 2020. The degree of agreement with resource allocation principles in the context of the medical resource constraints precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic was examined. The results were then compared with ethicists' recommendations. We also examined whether the perceived severity of COVID-19 explained differences in individual preferences, and by doing so, whether perceived severity helps explain discrepancies between public preferences and ethicists' recommendations. Results: Overall, the public of Korea agreed strongly with the principles of "save the most lives," "Koreans first," and "sickest first," but less with "random selection," in contrast to the recommendations of ethicists. "Save the most lives" was given the highest priority by both the public and ethicists. Higher perceived severity of the pandemic was associated with a greater likelihood of agreeing with allocation principles based on utilitarianism, as well as those promoting and rewarding social usefulness, in line with the opinions of expert ethicists. Conclusions: The general public of Korea preferred rationing scarce medical resources in the COVID-19 pandemic predominantly based on utilitarianism, identity and prioritarianism, rather than egalitarianism. Further research is needed to explore the reasons for discrepancies between public preferences and ethicists' recommendations.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

It is well established that cancer patients are more susceptible to infection because of the immunosuppressive status caused by both disease itself and anticancer treatment, including surgery and chemoradiation. Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are generally at high-risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and serious adverse outcomes. Although there is an urgent need for guidance in the delivery of safe, quality oncologic care, no international consented recommendation addressed the management of HNC patients in COVID-19 due to limited data. In this review, we summarized the consideration for head and neck oncologic care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the data and the very recent recommendations from the Korean Cancer Association and National Cancer Center. COVID-19 should be taken into consideration in the comprehensive management of HNC patients, and multidisciplinary evaluation of multilevel surgical-risks, discussion of optimized strategy, and shared-decision-making with the patient are needed to maximize both the safety from infectious pandemic and outcome of surgical and oncologic care.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-232
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore emergency room nurse's work experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were collected from 15 registered nurses working in the emergency room between October, 10th and December 15th, 2020, through focus group interviews and in depth interviews. Collected data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: The study derived four categories and eight themes. The four categories are 'sense of cringing with fear', 'nursing in chaotic situation', 'lonely struggles', and 'career growth as a nurse'. Emergency room nurses experienced fear and confusion in the COVID-19 pandemic, but overcame the crisis and had positive experiences of professional growth as a nurse. Conclusion: To protect emergency room nurses from infectious disease and improve their professional quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic appropriate education and healthcare resource should be provided. It is necessary to reflect clinical worker's opinions and improve the delivery system of guideline to reduce confusion in the field and develop practical infectious disease control guideline. Furthermore, better working conditions, appropriate rewards and social and mental support should be provided for nurses in emergency room.