Contents analysis of telemedicine applications in South Korea: An analysis of possibility of inducing selective or unnecessary medical care.

The use of telemedicine and telehealth has rapidly increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, could lead to unnecessary medical service. This study analyzes the contents of telemedicine apps (applications) in South Korea to investigate the use of telemedicine for selective or unnecessary medical treatments and the presence of advertising for the hospital. This study analyzed 49 telemedicine mobile apps in Korea; a content analysis of the apps' features and quality using a Mobile Application Rating Scale was done.

Contents analysis of thyroid cancer-related information uploaded to YouTube by physicians in Korea: endorsing thyroid cancer screening, potentially leading to overdiagnosis.

Background: Thyroid cancer overdiagnosis is a major public health issue in South Korea, which has the highest incidence rate. The accessibility of information through the Internet, particularly on YouTube, could potentially impact excessive screening. This study aimed to analyze the content of thyroid cancer-related YouTube videos, particularly those from 2016 onwards, to evaluate the potential spread of misinformation.

The online promotion strategies of e-cigarette and heated tobacco product retailers in South Korea following the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for regulation.

Introduction: The surge in popularity of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) in South Korea, driven by perceived health benefits and COVID-19-related concerns, has led to increased advertising claims about their safety despite ongoing debates about their health effects. This study explores the marketing strategies of online e-cigarette and HTP retailers in South Korea pre- and post-COVID-19, examining potential misleading claims and providing a foundation for future regulatory measures.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive study of eight major e-commerce platforms and three dominant search engines in South Korea to analyze the marketing and advertising strategies of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) (n=774).

Association of late-life body mass index with the risk of Alzheimer disease: a 10-year nationwide population-based cohort study.

Existing data for the association between late-life body mass index (BMI) and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the underweight population are limited with conflicting results. A large population-based cohort study of 148,534 individuals aged ≥ 65 years who participated in the national health screening program from 2002 to 2005 was performed using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Senior cohort database 2006-2015. The risk of AD according to BMI category (kg/m) in Asians was evaluated using a multivariable Cox regression model, after adjustments for age, sex, lifestyle, low-income status, and comorbidities.

The Effectiveness of a Mobile Health Care App and Human Coaching Program in Primary Care Clinics: Pilot Multicenter Real-World Study.

Background: As the global burden of chronic conditions increases, their effective management is a concern. Although the need for chronic disease management using mobile self-management health care apps is increasing, there are still many barriers to their practical application in the primary care field.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of primary care services combining a mobile self-management health care app with human coaching for patients with chronic diseases in the current primary care system.

Contents and sentiment analysis of newspaper articles and comments on telemedicine in Korea: Before and after of COVID-19 outbreak.

Telemedicine is rapidly growing to meet the increased needs for high-quality health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, telemedicine is still a sensitive issue as it is related to medical privatization. The use of telemedicine after the COVID-19 outbreak might be influenced by public opinion, and this may be an important key in implementing telemedicine.