J Prev Med Public Health
November 2024
Objectives: This study examined the potential of a new analytical framework for the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) with classification criteria for the sub-national governmental level, the degree of urbanization including an urban-rural multimodal category, and population size as a more effective tool to address local health problems and deduce practical implications.
Methods: Retrospective survey data from 2023 KCHS were obtained. Frequency analyses were performed for self-rated good health status, current smoking status, and unmet medical needs as proxies for health status, as well as healthcare utilization and health behavior, utilizing individual weights to represent national community residents.
Objectives: With the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the health outcomes of this disease in Korea must be examined. We aimed to investigate health outcomes and disparities linked to socioeconomic status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea and to identify risk factors for hospitalization and mortality.
Methods: This nationwide retrospective study incorporated an analysis of individuals with and without COVID-19 in Korea between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022.
Biologics for psoriasis are efficient and safe, but very expensive. We investigated the association of the reducing copayment program (RCP) with changes in biologics use patterns depending on the income levels of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. This nationwide cohort study included patients identified as having moderate-to-severe psoriasis between 2014 and 2020.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There have been few studies on the outcome of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the era when antiretroviral therapy (ART) is generalized and most of them have achieved viral suppression. Using claims data, we aimed to assess the mortality after atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in people with HIV (PWH) who maintain optimal adherence to ART.
Materials And Methods: We used claims data from the National Health Insurance of the Korea to confirm newly diagnosed PWH from 2009 to 2019, and measured ART adherence.
AlGaAsSb has recently attracted significant research interest as a material for 1550 nm low-noise short-wave infrared (SWIR) avalanche photodiodes (APDs) due to the very wide ratio between its electron and hole ionization coefficients. This work reports new experimental excess noise data for thick AlGaAsSb PIN and NIP structures, measuring low noise at significantly higher multiplication values than previously reported (F = 2.2 at M = 38).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFApplying work restrictions for asymptomatic healthcare personnel (HCP) with potential exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is recommended to prevent transmission from potentially contagious HCP to patients and other HCP. However, it can lead to understaffing, which threatens the safety of both patients and HCP. We evaluated 203 COVID-19 exposure events at a single tertiary hospital from January 2020 to June 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLancet Reg Health West Pac
February 2021
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea has achieved perfect universal health coverage (UHC)-all Koreans receive UHC regardless of their socioeconomic status. The current study investigated whether socioeconomic disparities remained in COVID-19 health outcomes under UHC.
Methods: This retrospective, observational study included all 7,590 confirmed COVID-19 patients in South Korea up to 15 May 2020.
Background: The objective of this article is to assess the mental health issues of the mild condition coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to a community treatment center (CTC) in Korea.
Methods: A total of 107 patients admitted to a CTC were included as the study population, and their mental health problems including depression (patient health questionnaire-9), anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder scale-7), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (PTSD checklist-5) and somatic symptoms (by patient health questionnaire-15) were evaluated every week during their stay. The stigma related to COVID-19 infection was evaluated with an adjusted version of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) stigma scale.
Most persons with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have no or mild symptoms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities need efficient methods to monitor asymptomatic patients to reduce transmission. We describe the structure and operating protocols of a community treatment center (CTC) run by Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) in South Korea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/aims: As the novel coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) outbreak progresses rapidly, staying home is recommended for suspected patients; however, the safety of this recommendation is uncertain. In Korea, non-hospital facilities called "living and treatment centers (LTCs)" have been established since 5 March 2020. The LTCs provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the safety of selection criteria for low-risk groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aimed to assess the affective and cognitive risk perceptions in the general population of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) during the 2015 MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in South Korea and the influencing factors.
Design: Serial cross-sectional design with four consecutive surveys.
Setting: Nationwide general population in South Korea.
Study Objectives: To characterize emotion regulation strategies in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and to explore whether these strategies are associated with clinical symptoms.
Methods: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, a total of 94 polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients (mean age, 67.6 years; men, 56%) and 50 healthy controls (mean age, 65.
Objectives: Access to a delivery unit is a major factor in determining maternal morbidity and mortality. However, there is little information about the optimal access time to a delivery unit. This study aimed to establish the optimal hospital access time (OHAT) for pregnant women in South Korea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although effective care for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is well known, considerable inadequate care has been still existed. Variations in achievement of the recommended quality indicators inT2DM care among small areas are not well known in Korea. This study examined the quality of care T2DM care and its geographical variations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
June 2019
This study examined the public's preventive behavioral responses during the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in Korea and the influencing factors. Two cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted by Gallup Korea using random digit dialing in June 2015 ( = 2004). The main outcome variables were nonpharmaceutical preventive measures (survey (1): Measures for reducing transmission (handwashing, face masks); and survey (2): Measures for avoiding contact with others).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
June 2019
As patients in South Korea play the main role in choosing healthcare providers, understanding their attitudes and beliefs toward medical institutions is essential. This study evaluated the public's perspectives on doctors and local clinics. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted with 1000 participants who represent the South Korean adult population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
May 2018
Korea is in a unique condition to observe whether patients, when equal access to the levels of health care facilities is guaranteed by the support of the national health insurance, choose the appropriate levels of health care facilities. This study was performed to investigate the primary care patients' preference for hospitals over clinics under no restriction for their choice. We used the 2011 National Inpatient Sample database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Korea failed in its risk communication during the early stage of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak; consequently, it faced difficulties in managing MERS, while disease-related worry increased. Disease-related worry can help disease prevention and management, but can also have a detrimental effect. This study measured the overall level of disease-related worry during the MERS outbreak period in Korea and the influencing factors and levels of disease-related worry during key outbreak periods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to identify the factors influencing South Korean voters' attitudes towards increasing public expenditure on health and to identify whether the issue of healthcare expenditure influenced candidate choice in the 2012 Korean presidential election. The study used the data from a survey conducted by the Institute of Korean Politics at Seoul National University immediately following the 2012 presidential election. The survey was completed by a nationwide sample of 1,200 people aged 19 or over using a face-to-face interview method and proportional quota sampling based on sex, age, and region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Early detection of cancer is an effective and efficient cancer management strategy. In South Korea, the National Health Insurance administers the National Cancer Screening Program to its beneficiaries. We examined the impact of the National Cancer Screening Program on socioeconomic disparities in cancer stage at diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytokine storm during influenza virus infection is recognized as a predictor of morbidity and mortality. To verify the cellular effects of influenza-induced cytokines in primary normal lung cells, human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) and lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5 cells) were infected with influenza virus H1N1. H1N1 infection induced the transcription of various genes encoding cytokines and chemokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-12A, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5) in both endothelial cells and lung fibroblasts.
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