Mental health effects associated with COVID-19 financial assistance in South Korea: a comparison of employment status.

Background: COVID-19 has created tensions across different sectors of the society, but the impact has been unequal. Vulnerable people have been most affected, especially those with insecure employment and who have experienced economic hardships due to unemployment and lost wages. The combination of social change and economic hardships due to the pandemic increases the risk of poor mental health.

Effect of motivated physicians and elderly patients with hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus in prepared communities on health behaviours and outcomes: A population-based PS matched retrospective cohort study during five-year follow-up period.

Effective chronic disease management requires the active participation of patients, communities, and physicians. The objective of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of the Community-based Registration and Management for elderly patients with Hypertension or Type 2 Diabetes mellitus Project (CRMHDP) by using motivated primary care physicians and patients supported by prepared communities, to utilise healthcare and health outcomes in four cities in South Korea. We conducted a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study using 2010-2011 as the baseline years, alongside a follow-up period until 2015/2016, based on the Korean National Health Insurance database.

Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-COV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART): findings from national representative sample.

Objectives: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea.

Methods: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Admission and Mortality Among Patients With Severe Emergency Diseases at Emergency Departments in Korea in 2020: Registry Data From the National Emergency Department Information System.

We aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on admissions of patients with acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and severe trauma, and their excess mortality in emergency departments (EDs) in South Korea using registry data from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) for patients attending EDs of regional and local emergency medical centers. During the outbreak period of 2020, there were 350,698 ED visits, which was lower than the total in 2019 (392,627 visits). Multiple logistic regression revealed that, compared with 2019, there was significantly higher ED mortality rate during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 (adjusted odds ratio, 1.

Unemployment risk of all employed working-age cancer survivors after cancer diagnosis in South Korea: a retrospective cohort analysis of population-based administrative data.

Purpose: As the cancer survival rate increases, discussions on the employment status of cancer survivors should be actively carried out worldwide. This study examined patients' working status changes after cancer diagnosis to provide the basis for cancer survivors' return to work.

Methods: We established a nationwide cohort to determine long-term work changes after cancer diagnosis.

Prevalence of Insomnia in Various Industries and Associated Demographic Factors in Night-Shift Workers Using Workers' Specific Health Examination Data.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of insomnia in various industries and the associated demographic factors. We searched the nationwide night-shift Workers' Specific Health Examination (nsWSHE) data extracted in 2015 information on factors associated with insomnia, including sex, age, and the number of workers in the workplace. The prevalence of moderate insomnia in the total industry was 4.

Effects of Community-Based Interventions on Medication Adherence and Hospitalization for Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes at Primary Care Clinics in South Korea.

Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency launched Control and Prevention Community-based Registration and Management for Hypertension and Diabetes mellitus Project (CRMHDP) in Gwangmyeong city, 2009. This project has provided incentives on both patient and physician and has made private clinics and Public Health Center (PHC) in a community collaborate for effective chronic disease management among elderly people. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CRMHDP on medication compliance and hospitalization due to diabetes-specific complications.

Spectrum of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis: An analysis of 685 cases diagnosed over 22 years.

Objectives: Paragonimiasis is a global foodborne zoonosis. Overlapping clinical and imaging features with other lung pathologies hamper correct diagnosis and require differential diagnosis.

Methods: During 1982-2003, 49,012 samples were referred for immunodiagnosis of helminthiases.

Gender Differences in the Relationship between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Employment: Evidence from the Korea Health Panel Study.

Previous studies have analyzed the impact of diabetes mellitus on labor market participation by men and women, but gender difference between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and employment has not been the focus. This study aims to explore gender differences between T2DM and employment status. Data from the Korea Health Panel Study, 2013-2015 were analyzed by distinguishingT2DM and non-diabetes ( = 11,216).

Correction: Accuracy of a screening tool for medication adherence: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Accuracy of a screening tool for medication adherence: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8.

Background: This systematic review examined the reliability and validity of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8), which has been widely used to assess patient medication adherence in clinical research and medical practice.

Methods: Of 418 studies identified through searching 4 electronic databases, we finally analyzed 28 studies meeting the selection criteria of this study regarding the reliability and validity of MMAS-8 including sensitivity and specificity. Meta-analysis for Cronbach's α, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), sensitivity and specificity to detect a patient with nonadherence to medication were performed.

Associations of Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity With Metabolic Syndrome Considering Both Muscle Mass and Muscle Strength.

Objectives: We investigated the associations of sarcopenia-defined both in terms of muscle mass and muscle strength-and sarcopenic obesity with metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Secondary data pertaining to 309 subjects (85 men and 224 women) were collected from participants in exercise programs at a health center in a suburban area. Muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and muscle strength was measured via handgrip strength.

The impact of out-of-pocket payments on health care inequity: the case of national health insurance in South Korea.

The global financial crisis of 2008 has led to the reinforcement of patient cost sharing in health care policy. This study aimed to explore the impact of direct out-of pocket payments (OOPs) on health care utilization and the resulting financial burden across income groups under the South Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) program with universal population coverage. We used the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES-IV) and the Korean Household Income and Expenditure Survey (KHIES) of 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Does a geographical context of deprivation affect differences in injury mortality? A multilevel analysis in South Korean adults residing in metropolitan cities.

Background: This study aimed to examine whether the socioeconomic context of urban areas affects differences in adult mortality from injuries in the districts of all seven South Korean metropolitan cities, after adjusting for individual demographic and socioeconomic indicators.

Methods: Two different sets of data were used in this study: (1) the National Death Registration data from 2003 to 2008; and (2) the National Census in 2005. Variables for individual characteristics were gender, age, residential area and educational level.

Psychometric properties of a short self-reported measure of medication adherence among patients with hypertension treated in a busy clinical setting in Korea.

Background: We examined the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) among adults with hypertension.

Methods: A total of 373 adults with hypertension were given face-to-face interviews in 2 cardiology clinics at 2 large teaching hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. Blood pressure was measured twice, and medical records were reviewed.