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Lee ES, Choe YJ, Choe SA, Gwak ES, Kwon D. Relative Effectiveness of the NVX-CoV2373 Vaccine Compared With the BNT162b2 Vaccine in Adolescents. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2024:00006454-990000000-00938. [PMID: 38985994 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
This retrospective matched cohort study evaluated the efficacy of 2 doses of NVX-CoV2373 compared with that of BNT162b2 vaccines in preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in adolescents. We analyzed 13-week risk differences and ratios between these 2 vaccines. The study included 465 NVX-CoV2373 and 465 BNT162b2 recipients. Throughout the follow-up period, 4.1% of NVX-CoV2373 recipients and 2.8% of BNT162b2 recipients contracted the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. The incidence risk ratio for NVX-CoV2373 compared with that for BNT162b2 was calculated at 1.46 (95% CI 0.68-3.22; P = 0.296). While our findings suggest noninferiority between the 2 vaccines, further research is needed to comprehensively assess their effectiveness in real-world settings. Our study highlights the critical need for vigilant vaccine surveillance and monitoring efforts to ensure informed decision-making and public health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Sol Lee
- From the Division of Epidemiological Data Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Young June Choe
- Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, Allergy and Immunology Center, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Ah Choe
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Sun Gwak
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Donghyok Kwon
- From the Division of Epidemiological Data Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
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Kim HK, Park SK, Choe SA, Gwak ES, Cowling BJ, Kim YM, Lee KH, Lee SW, Kwon GY, Jang EJ, Kim RK, Choe YJ, Kwon D. Risk of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection following NVX-CoV2373 and BNT162b2 vaccinations in Korean Adults: A population-based observational study. Vaccine 2024; 42:1440-1444. [PMID: 38365479 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
South Korea experienced a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 until the emergence of the omicron in early 2022, triggering a major community epidemic. To evaluate effectiveness of NVX-CoV2373 and BNT162b2 vaccines in Korean population, we conducted an observational study utilizing individual-level case data on laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with vaccination record. A total of 47,078 recipients of NVX-CoV2373 vaccine and 7,561 recipients of BNT162b2 vaccine were eligible for the study. Thirty days post-second doses, COVID-19 rates were 7.9% (595 out of 7561) of NVX-CoV2373 recipients and 8.6 % (647 out of 7561) of BNT162b2 recipients experienced COVID-19. NVX-CoV2373 rates increased to 9.8 % and 11.2 % at 60 and 90 days, while BNT162b2 rates were 10.5 % and 11.3 % at the same intervals. The 22-weeks risk ratios for recipients of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine as compared with recipients of the BNT162b2 vaccine were 1.11 (95 % CI, 0.99 to 1.25) for laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Continued monitoring is essential to evaluate the duration of protection across different vaccine platforms and schedules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Kyoung Kim
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea; Department of Epidemiology and Health Informatics, Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seon Kyeong Park
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Seung Ah Choe
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Informatics, Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Sun Gwak
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Benjamin John Cowling
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Young-Man Kim
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Kil Hun Lee
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Sang Won Lee
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Geun-Yong Kwon
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Eun Jung Jang
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Ryu Kyung Kim
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Young June Choe
- Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, and Allergy and Immunology Center, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Donghyok Kwon
- Director for Epidemiological Investigation Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea.
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La Jeon Y, Lee SG, Lee EH, Song S, Lee OJ, Go UY, Chun GY, Choi HM, Choi JY. The experience and reflections of GC labs as an independent clinical laboratory to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:855. [PMID: 38057704 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08684-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive testing was undertaken by independent clinical laboratories (ICLs), yet limited research exists on this matter. Drawing from Green Cross Laboratories (GC Labs)' pandemic response experience, this study seeks to offer insights for preparation for the next pandemic. METHODS This retrospective study analyzed the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (SARS-CoV-2 rRT PCR) tests administered by GC Labs for COVID-19 diagnosis, upon request by different organizations, between February 2020 and April 2022. The distribution of institutions that requested the tests, the type of tests, and the positive rate were analyzed. We investigated resource allocation details. RESULTS ICLs were responsible for conducting 85.6% of all tests carried out under South Korea's COVID-19 testing policy during the pandemic. The availability of free testing regardless of symptoms led to a significant increase in the use of pooled tests, which accounted for more than 80% of all tests conducted after August 2021. The gender and age distribution of COVID-19 cases nationwide and GC Labs' positive cases were similar. When we analyzed the positive rate by requesting organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite an overall nationwide positivity rate of 35%, high-risk facilities exhibited a positivity rate of less than 5% by maintaining preemptive testing. The most notable increase in resources during the pandemic was seen in human resource input. CONCLUSIONS South Korea's ICLs were able to conduct large volumes of testing during the COVID-19 pandemic because of their logistics and computer systems, scalable testing space, and trained testing personnel. They also had the flexibility to bring in additional resources to expand testing capacity because they are specialized testing organizations. Hence, ICLs could execute the pooled test that the government had introduced for extensive general population screening. The preemptive periodic testing of high-risk populations kept the positive rate much lower than in the general population. This study's findings will aid in refining mass testing-based policies for the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- You La Jeon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea
| | - Sang Gon Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea.
| | - Eun Hee Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea.
| | - Sungwook Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea
| | - O-Jin Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea
| | - Un Yeong Go
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea
| | - Ga-Young Chun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea
| | - Hyun Mi Choi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea
| | - Jin Young Choi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, 107, Ihyeon-Ro 30Beon-Gil, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Go, South Korea
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Yoo KJ, Lee Y, Lee S, Friebel R, Shin SA, Lee T, Bishai D. The road to recovery: impact of COVID-19 on healthcare utilization in South Korea in 2016-2022 using an interrupted time-series analysis. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2023; 41:100904. [PMID: 37780633 PMCID: PMC10541464 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic substantially disrupted healthcare utilization patterns, globally. South Korea had been praised widely in its efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic, which may have contributed to a significantly smaller reduction in healthcare utilization compared to neighboring countries. However, it remains unknown how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted utilization patterns across population sub-groups, particularly vulnerable patient groups in South Korea. This paper quantifies the changes in healthcare utilization attributable to COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccination by sub-groups. Methods An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to examine the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare utilization in South Korea from January 2016 to December 2022 using aggregated patient-level data from the national health insurance system that accounts for 99% of all healthcare services in South Korea. We applied negative binomial models adjusting for seasonality and serial correlation. Falsification tests were conducted to test the validity of breakpoints. Stratified analyses by type of healthcare services, age, sex, income level, health facility type, and avoidable/non-avoidable hospitalizations was performed, and we assessed differences in utilization trends between population groups across three phases of the pandemic. Findings In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a reduction in monthly volume of outpatient utilization by 15.7% [95% CI 13.3%-18.1%, p < 0.001] and inpatient utilization by 11.6% [10.1%-13.0%, p < 0.001]. Most utilization recovered and rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels as of December 2022 although variations existed. We observed heterogeneity in the magnitude of relative changes in utilization across types of services, varying from a 42.7% [36.8%-48.0%, p < 0.001] decrease for pediatrics, a 23.4% [20.1%-26.5%%, p < 0.001] reduction in utilization of public health centers, and a 24.2% [21.2%-27.0%, p < 0.001] reduction in avoidable hospitalizations compared to the pre-pandemic period. Contrary to global trends, health utilization among the elderly population (65 and older) in South Korea saw only marginal reductions compared to other age groups. Similarly, Medicaid patients and lower income groups experienced a smaller reduction compared to higher income groups. Interpretation The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare utilization in South Korea was less pronounced compared to the global average. Utilization of vulnerable populations, including adults over 65 years old and lowest-income groups reduced less than other type of patients. Funding No funding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Jison Yoo
- World Bank Group, South Korea
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
| | | | - Seulbi Lee
- National Health Insurance Service, South Korea
| | - Rocco Friebel
- London School of Economics and Political Science, England
| | | | | | - David Bishai
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
- Hong Kong University, Hong Kong, China
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Kim RK, Choe YJ, Jang EJ, Chae C, Hwang JH, Lee KH, Shim JA, Kwon GY, Lee JY, Park YJ, Lee SW, Kwon D. Comparative Effectiveness of COVID-19 Bivalent Versus Monovalent mRNA Vaccines in the Early Stage of Bivalent Vaccination in Korea: October 2022 to January 2023. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e396. [PMID: 38013649 PMCID: PMC10681846 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This retrospective observational matched-cohort study of 2,151,216 individuals from the Korean coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine effectiveness cohort aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the COVID-19 bivalent versus monovalent vaccines in providing additional protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, critical infection, and death in Korea. METHODS Among individuals, those vaccinated with COVID-19 bivalent vaccines were matched in a 1:1 ratio with those who were vaccinated with monovalent vaccines (bivalent vaccines non-recipients) during the observation period. We fitted a time-dependent Cox proportional-hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of COVID-19 outcomes for infection, critical infection, and death, and we defined vaccine effectiveness (VE) as 1-HR. RESULTS Compared with the bivalent vaccination group, the incidence proportions in the monovalent vaccination group were approximately three times higher for infection, nine times higher for critical infection, and 11 times higher for death. In the early stage of bivalent vaccination, relative VE of bivalent vaccine against monovalent vaccine was 42.4% against SARS-CoV-2 infection, 81.3% against critical infection, and 85.3% against death. In addition, VE against critical infection and death according to the elapsed period after bivalent vaccination was maintained at > 70%. CONCLUSION The bivalent booster dose provided additional protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections, critical infections, and deaths during the omicron variant phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryu Kyung Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Young June Choe
- Korea University Anam Hospital and Allergy and Immunology Center, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Jung Jang
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Chungman Chae
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Ji Hae Hwang
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Kil Hun Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Ji Ae Shim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Geun-Yong Kwon
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jae Young Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Young-Joon Park
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Sang Won Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Donghyok Kwon
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea.
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Jung H. Mental health status of individuals with diabetes in Korea before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison of data from the Korean national health and nutrition examination surveys of 2018-2019 and 2020-2021. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e074080. [PMID: 37827739 PMCID: PMC10582921 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the mental health status of patients with diabetes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the effect of COVID-19 on their mental health status. This study was the first to investigate the relationship between diabetes and mental health in the Korean population during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN This retrospective cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of mental health problems before (2018-2019) and during (2020-2021) the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with diabetes aged 40 years or older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mental health problems were assessed using self-reported experiences of depression diagnosis, stress perception and suicide ideation. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Clinically significant depression requiring treatment was determined using an optimal cut-off score of 10 out of a total of 27 points. PARTICIPANTS There were 824 men and 763 women in the 2018-2019 survey and 882 men and 887 women in 2020-2021. RESULTS In the unadjusted analysis, women had a statistically significantly higher prevalence of suicide ideation in 2020-2021 (2.9, 95% CI: 1.5 to 4.2) than in 2018-2019 (1.0, 95% CI: 0.4 to 1.7, but p<0.0067). There was no statistically significant difference in both men and women in 2018-2019 after adjusting for age, education, economic activity, hypoglycaemic drug intake or insulin injection, current alcohol consumption, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. A comparison of the results of the PHQ-9 survey conducted in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 found no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of depressive disorder among both men and women. CONCLUSIONS Long-term, retrospective observations and studies on the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of patients with diabetes should be conducted in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyejin Jung
- Department of Meridian & Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
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Mukherjee S, Asthana S, Ukponu W, Ihueze AC, Gobir IB, Phelan AL, Standley CJ. National and subnational governance and decision-making processes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: an empirical analysis. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e012965. [PMID: 37696545 PMCID: PMC10496651 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Governance of the COVID-19 pandemic required decision-makers to make and implement decisions amidst uncertainty, public pressure and time constraints. However, few studies have attempted to assess these decision-making processes empirically during health emergencies. Thus, we aimed to understand governance, defined as the process of decision-making and implementation of decisions, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. We conducted key informant interviews and focus group discussions with national and subnational government officials, civil society organisation (CSO) members, development partners and academic experts. Our study identified several themes on governance and decision-making processes. First, Nigeria established high-level decision-making structures at the federal and state levels, providing clear and integrated multisectoral decision-making mechanism. However, due to the emergence of conflicts between government levels, there is a need to strengthen intergovernmental arrangements. Second, while decision-makers relied on input from academic experts and CSOs, additional efforts are required to engage such stakeholders in decision-making processes, especially during the early stages of health emergencies. Third, Nigeria's previous experiences responding to disease outbreaks aided the overall response, as many capacities and coordination mechanisms for cohesive action were present. Fourth, while decision-makers took a holistic view of scientific, social and economic factors for decision-making, this process was also adaptive to account for rapidly evolving information. Lastly, more efforts are needed to ensure decisions are inclusive, equitable and transparent, and improve overall public trust in governance processes. This study provides insights and identifies opportunities to enhance governance and decision-making processes in health emergency responses, aiding future pandemic preparedness efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Mukherjee
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Sumegha Asthana
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | | | - Ibrahim B Gobir
- Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Alexandra L Phelan
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for Health Security, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Claire J Standley
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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Yoon HJ, Bae SY, Baek J. Factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder in nurses after directly caring for COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs 2023; 22:282. [PMID: 37620908 PMCID: PMC10464410 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01431-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nurses are particularly at risk of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) owing to their overwhelming workload, risk of infection, and lack of knowledge about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). PTSD negatively affects an individual's health, work performance, and patient safety. This study aims to assess factors related to PTSD among nurses after providing direct care to COVID-19 patients. METHODS This study is a secondary analysis aimed at identifying factors influencing PTSD among nurses who provided direct care to COVID-19 patients. Data from 168 nurses, collected between October and November 2020, were analyzed. The independent variables were personal, interpersonal, and organizational and COVID-19-related factors (experience of quarantine and direct care of COVID-19 patients), and the dependent variables were PTSD symptoms evaluated based on the PTSD Checklist-5. The nurses' experience of direct care for COVID-19 patients in the designated COVID-19 isolation wards during the first wave of the pandemic (February 2020 to May 2020) was included. RESULTS Among the nurses, 18.5% exhibited symptoms of PTSD. When providing direct care to a patient in the designated COVID-19 isolation ward, nurses witnessing the death of a patient (p = .001), low level of nurse staffing (p = .008), and inconvenience of electronic health records programs (p = .034) were associated with PTSD symptoms. The experience of quarantine owing to COVID-19 was also associated with PTSD symptoms (p = .034). Additionally, the higher the nurse managers' ability, leadership, and support of nurses in the current ward, the higher the possibility of lowering nurses' PTSD symptoms (p = .006). CONCLUSIONS Governments and hospitals should prepare and implement organizational intervention programs to improve nurse managers' leadership, nurse staffing levels, and electronic health records programs. Additionally, because nurses who have witnessed the death of a COVID-19 patient or are self-isolating are vulnerable to PTSD, psychological support should be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Jeong Yoon
- Department of Nursing, Yeungnam University College, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Yeung Bae
- Department of Nursing, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyun Baek
- College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea.
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Ali-Saleh O, Obeid S. Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Guidelines Among Minority Communities: the Case of Israeli Arabs. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023; 10:1576-1587. [PMID: 35679011 PMCID: PMC9179224 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01344-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Arab ethnic minority makes up 21% of Israel's population and accounted for 40.5% of confirmed cases during the second wave of COVID-19. This study aims to assess the characteristics of compliance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and related factors that can explain the outbreak of COVID-19 among the Arab population during the second wave. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 810 respondents from the Arab community during October 2020. The survey was distributed via social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp. The health belief model items, the theory of reasoned action items, trust in formal institutions, and pandemic fatigue were assessed, and a path analysis was performed. RESULTS Positive correlations were demonstrated between both personal and social networks compliance (nuclear family, extended family, friends, etc.) and perceived severity of COVID-19, trust in formal institutions, attitudes toward compliance, and subjective norms (r = .12 to r = .64, p < .001, N = 810). Pandemic fatigue was negatively correlated with personal and social networks compliance, perceived severity of COVID-19, trust in institutions, attitudes toward compliance, and subjective norms (r = - .21 to r = - .48, p < .001). Positive correlations were evident between compliance with quarantine and perceived severity of COVID-19 and attitudes (r = .31 and r = .28, p < .001, respectively). Personal compliance was significantly lower among men (M = 3.93, SD = 0.94) and younger respondents (M = 4.14, SD = 0.71), while social networks compliance was lower among Muslims (M = 3.78, SD = 0.75). The negative relationship between pandemic fatigue and personal compliance was mediated by lower perceived severity of COVID-19, attitudes toward compliance, and subjective norms (p < .001). The negative relationship between pandemic fatigue and social network compliance was mediated by lower trust in institutions and subjective norms (p < .001). Lower perceived severity of COVID-19 mediated the relationship between higher pandemic fatigue and lower quarantine compliance (p = .003). CONCLUSIONS The results highlight the important of perception of the disease severity, social and subjective norms, and the central role of trust in determining adherence to guidelines. Thus, increasing trust on authorities and planning tailored-maid interventions can raise compliance with the preventive guidelines and prevent the spread of the virus. Such interventions will address the characteristics of minority populations and take into account the implications of the guidelines and the possibility that may lead to fatigue, which in turn will lead to non-compliance with those guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Ali-Saleh
- Department of Nursing, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley Academic College, Emek Yezreel, Israel
| | - Samira Obeid
- Department of Nursing, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley Academic College, Emek Yezreel, Israel.
- Health Promotion Department, the Ministry of Health, Northern District, Nof Hagalil, Israel.
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10
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Ju JW, You J, Hong H, Kang CK, Kim WH, Lee HJ. Impact of Enhanced in-Hospital Infection Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Postoperative Pneumonia in Older Surgical Patients. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:1943-1951. [PMID: 37251284 PMCID: PMC10224724 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s411502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose We aimed to investigate the impact of enhanced in-hospital infection prevention during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on postoperative pneumonia in older surgical patients. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of consecutive patients ≥70 years who underwent elective surgery between 2017 and 2021 at our institution. All perioperative variables were retrieved from the electronic medical records. The primary outcome was new-onset postoperative pneumonia during the hospitalization period. Since February 2020, our institution implemented a series of policies to enhance infection prevention, hence patients were divided into groups according to whether they underwent surgery before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. An interrupted time series analysis was performed to evaluate the difference between pre- and post-intervention slopes of the primary outcome. Results Among the 29,387 patients included in the study, 10,547 patients underwent surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there was a decreasing trend of the monthly incidence rate of postoperative pneumonia compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no statistical significance in the trend (slope before COVID-19 period: β-coefficient, -0.007; 95% CI, -0.022 to 0.007). Conclusion Our study revealed that enhanced in-hospital infection prevention implemented to manage the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly affect the decreasing trend of postoperative pneumonia at our institution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Woo Ju
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwon You
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunsook Hong
- Medical Research Collaborating Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Kyung Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Ho Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Jin Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Lee H, Kim HJ, Kwon DH, Park MB, Kim SM, Kim KN, Nam EW. Assessing the Fear Factor of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea Using the COVID-19 Phobia Scale: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e52. [PMID: 36808547 PMCID: PMC9941011 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A study on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) phobia among students revealed that fear of contracting COVID-19 was associated with commuting to school and spending time with others at school. Therefore, it is the need-of-the-hour for the Korean government to identify factors affecting COVID-19 phobia among university students and to consider these factors while framing the policy direction for the process of returning to normalcy in university education. Consequently, we aimed to identify the current state of COVID-19 phobia among Korean undergraduate and graduate students and the factors affecting COVID-19 phobia. METHODS This cross-sectional survey was conducted to identify the factors affecting COVID-19 phobia among Korean undergraduate and graduate students. The survey collected 460 responses from April 5 to April 16, 2022. The questionnaire was developed based on the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S). Multiple linear regression was performed on the C19P-S scores using five models with the following dependent variables: Model 1, total C19P-S score; Model 2, psychological subscale score; Model 3, psychosomatic subscale score; Model 4, social subscale score; and Model 5, economic subscale score. The fit of these five models was established, and a P-value of less than 0.05 (F test) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS An analysis of the factors affecting the total C19P-S score led to the following findings: women significantly outscored men (difference: 4.826 points, P = 0.003); the group that favored the government's COVID-19 mitigation policy scored significantly lower than those who did not favor it (difference: 3.161 points, P = 0.037); the group that avoided crowded places scored significantly higher than the group that did not avoid crowded places (difference: 7.200 points, P < 0.001); and those living with family/friends scored significantly higher than those in other living situations (difference: 4.606 points, P = 0.021). Those in favor of the COVID-19 mitigation policy had significantly lower psychological fear than those who were against it (difference: -1.686 points, P = 0.004). Psychological fear was also significantly higher for those who avoided crowded places compared to those who did not difference: 2.641 points, P < 0.001). Fear was significantly higher in people cohabitating than those living alone (difference: 1.543 points, P = 0.043). CONCLUSION The Korean government, in their pursuit of a policy that eases COVID-19-related restrictions, will also have to spare no efforts in providing correct information to prevent the escalation of COVID-19 phobia among people with a high fear of contracting the disease. This should be done through trustworthy information sources, such as the media, public agencies, and COVID-19 professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hocheol Lee
- Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
- Department of Health Administration, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
| | - Hye Ji Kim
- Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
| | - Dan Hee Kwon
- Department of Health Administration, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
| | - Myung Bae Park
- Department of Health and Welfare, Pai Chai University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Sang Mi Kim
- Department of Health Management, Jeonju University, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Kyeong Na Kim
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Kosin University, Busan, Korea
| | - Eun Woo Nam
- Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
- Department of Health Administration, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
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12
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Oh J, Min J, Kang C, Kim E, Lee JP, Kim H, Lee W. Excess mortality and the COVID-19 pandemic: causes of death and social inequalities. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2293. [PMID: 36476143 PMCID: PMC9730675 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14785-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, population's mortality has been affected not only by the risk of infection itself, but also through deferred care for other causes and changes in lifestyle. This study aims to investigate excess mortality by cause of death and socio-demographic context during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. METHODS: Mortality data within the period 2015-2020 were obtained from Statistics Korea, and deaths from COVID-19 were excluded. We estimated 2020 daily excess deaths for all causes, the eight leading causes of death, and according to individual characteristics, using a two-stage interrupted time series design accounting for temporal trends and variations in other risk factors. RESULTS During the pandemic period (February 18 to December 31, 2020), an estimated 663 (95% empirical confidence interval [eCI]: -2356-3584) excess deaths occurred in South Korea. Mortality related to respiratory diseases decreased by 4371 (3452-5480), whereas deaths due to metabolic diseases and ill-defined causes increased by 808 (456-1080) and 2756 (2021-3378), respectively. The increase in all-cause deaths was prominent in those aged 65-79 years (941, 88-1795), with an elementary school education or below (1757, 371-3030), or who were single (785, 384-1174), while a decrease in deaths was pronounced in those with a college-level or higher educational attainment (1471, 589-2328). CONCLUSION No evidence of a substantial increase in all-cause mortality was found during the 2020 pandemic period in South Korea, as a result of a large decrease in deaths related to respiratory diseases that offset increased mortality from metabolic disease and diseases of ill-defined cause. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected those of lower socioeconomic status and has exacerbated inequalities in mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Oh
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Min
- grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Department of Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea ,grid.255649.90000 0001 2171 7754Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cinoo Kang
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Ejin Kim
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Institute of Health and Environment and Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Pyo Lee
- grid.412479.dDepartment of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Kim
- grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Whanhee Lee
- grid.262229.f0000 0001 0719 8572School of Biomedical Convergence Engineering, College of Information and Biomedical Engineering, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 50612 Republic of Korea
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13
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Ang L, Yim MH, Song E, Lee HW, Lee H, Kim TH, Willcox M, Hu XY, Houriet J, Graz B, Lee JW, Jang Y, Kim JT, Kim E, Park YH, Lee MS. A nationwide survey on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and respiratory disease in South Korea. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:965651. [PMID: 36213650 PMCID: PMC9537738 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.965651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to explore individual prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to describe the Korean population's treatment approaches, preventive health behaviors, and mental health conditions during the pandemic. Methods We analyzed responses from an online nationwide survey, conducted between February 2021 to May 2021, about people's experiences during the pandemic. Statistical analysis was also performed to see if there were any significant differences in treatment and prevention strategies between different groups of respondents (between those had respiratory symptoms, compared with those who did not, and between those tested positive for COVID-19, compared with those who did not). Results A total of 2,177 survey respondents completed the survey and, of these, only 142 had experienced symptoms. The most frequently reported respiratory infections related symptoms were runny or blocked nose (47.6%), cough (45.5%), fever (44.1%), sore throat (42.0%), and fatigue (30.1%). More than half of the respondents (53.1%) used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches as means of preventive measures. In terms of preventive behaviors, the more emphasized behaviors were mask-wearing (58.9%) and hand-washing after coming home (42.7%). The majority of the respondents (64.9%) did not show signs of mental health issues. Conclusion In South Korea, conventional medicine was mainly used for COVID-19 treatment whereas CAM was commonly used as preventive measures. COVID-19 was also found to have less impact on the general population's mental health. The findings of this study may shed light on how the pandemic impacted the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ang
- KM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Mi Hong Yim
- Digital Health Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunhye Song
- Global Cooperation Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hye Won Lee
- KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyangsook Lee
- Korean Medicine Convergence Research Information Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae-Hun Kim
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Merlin Willcox
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao-Yang Hu
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Je-Won Lee
- BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Yunho Jang
- Changpo Kyunghee Clinic, Pohang, South Korea
| | | | - Eunsop Kim
- You and Green Korean Medical Clinic, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yong Hee Park
- You and Green Korean Medical Clinic, Busan, South Korea
| | - Myeong Soo Lee
- KM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
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14
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Lee KS, Min HS, Jeon JH, Choi YJ, Bang JH, Sung HK. The association between greenness exposure and COVID-19 incidence in South Korea: An ecological study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154981. [PMID: 35378185 PMCID: PMC8975592 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rapid spread of COVID-19 has caused an emergency situation worldwide. Investigating the association between environmental characteristics and COVID-19 incidence can be of the occurrence and transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between greenness exposure and COVID-19 cases at the district levels in South Korea. We also explored this association by considering several environmental indicators. METHODS District-level data from across South Korea were used to model the cumulative count of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 persons between January 20, 2020, and February 25, 2021. Greenness exposure data were derived from the Environmental Geographic Information Service of the Korean Ministry of Environment. A negative binomial mixed model evaluated the association between greenness exposure and COVID-19 incidence rate at the district level. Furthermore, we assessed this association between demographic, socioeconomic, environmental statuses, and COVID-19 incidence. RESULTS Data from 239 of 250 districts (95.6%) were included in the analyses, resulting in 127.89 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 persons between January 20, 2020 and February 25, 2021. Several demographic and socioeconomic variables, districts with a higher rate of natural greenness exposure, were significantly associated with lower COVID-19 incidence rates (incidence rate ratio (IRR), 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54-0.90; P-value = 0.008) after adjusting covariates, but no evidence for the association between built greenness and COVID-19 incidence rates was found. CONCLUSION In this ecological study of South Korea, we found that higher rates of exposure to natural greenness were associated with lower rates of COVID-19 cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Shin Lee
- Research Institute for Public Health, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hye Sook Min
- Research Institute for Public Health, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae-Hyun Jeon
- Research Institute for Public Health, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea; Department of Infectious disease, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yoon-Jung Choi
- National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Gyeonggi-do 10408, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ji Hwan Bang
- Office for the Central Infectious Disease Hospital, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ho Kyung Sung
- Research Institute for Public Health, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea; National Emergency Medical Center, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Management of Smart and Sustainable Cities in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Lessons and Implications. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14127267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the concept of smart sustainable governance is wrapped around basic principles such as: (i) transparency, (ii) accountability, (iii) stakeholders’ involvement, and iv) citizens’ participation. It is through these principles that are influenced by information and communication technologies (ICT), Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence, that the practices employed by citizens and their interaction with electronic government (e-government) are diversified. Previously, the misleading concepts of the smart city implied only the objective of the local level or public officials to utilize technology. However, the recent European experience and research studies have led to a more comprehensive notion that refers to the search for intelligent solutions which allow modern sustainable cities to enhance the quality of services provided to citizens and to improve the management of urban mobility. The smart city is based on the usage of connected sensors, data management, and analytics platforms to improve the quality and functioning of built-environment systems. The aim of this paper is to understand the effects of the pandemic on smart cities and to accentuate major exercises that can be learned for post-COVID sustainable urban management and patterns. The lessons and implications outlined in this paper can be used to enforce social distancing community measures in an effective and timely way, and to optimize the use of resources in smart and sustainable cities in critical situations. The paper offers a conceptual overview and serves as a stepping-stone to extensive research and the deployment of sustainable smart city platforms and intelligent transportation systems (a sub-area of smart city applications) after the COVID-19 pandemic using a case study from Russia. Overall, our results demonstrate that the COVID-19 crisis encompasses an excellent opportunity for urban planners and policy makers to take transformative actions towards creating cities that are more intelligent and sustainable.
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Bohloli H, Jamshidi HR, Ebraze A, Rabbani Khah F. Combining government, non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccination in optimal control COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/20479700.2022.2071803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Bohloli
- Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Ebraze
- Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
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17
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Public Health Financing and Responses to COVID-19: Lessons from South Korea. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10040750. [PMID: 35455927 PMCID: PMC9030522 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10040750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Health financing strategies contribute significantly to containing the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to reassess Korea’s financing strategies in response to COVID-19 in 2020, to ascertain its effects and sustainability. The Joint External Evaluation tool was adopted to analyze the data collected from government reports, official statistics, and other sources. Findings show that Korea could maintain a low incidence and fatality rate compared with other countries, at low costs. It was a result of rapidly procured healthcare resources based on laws and policies established after the 2015 epidemic, and the National Health Insurance. However, to achieve long-term sustainability, it is important to enhance the financial stability of the national health insurance and increase the proportion of the public sector in healthcare resources.
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18
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Bae SY, Yoon H, Kim Y, Kim J. Posttraumatic stress disorder and related factors among nurses working during the COVID‐19 pandemic. J Nurs Manag 2022; 30:1096-1104. [PMID: 35403266 PMCID: PMC9115141 DOI: 10.1111/jonm.13615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Aim To analyse the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examine its related factors among nurses who worked during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in Daegu, South Korea. Background Nurses are a high‐risk population for PTSD, especially during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study was conducted to identify the nursing work environmental factors that should be addressed to reduce PTSD. Methods Using a cross‐sectional design, 365 nurses were enrolled. Their characteristics (intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and COVID‐19‐related) and PTSD Checklist‐5 scores were analysed. Results The average PTSD score was 14.98 ± 15.94, and 16.5% of the participants had a high risk of PTSD. Nurses were more likely to have PTSD if they were married (odds ratio = 3.02, p = .013) and when nurse managers' abilities, leadership, and support of nurses were low (odds ratio = 3.81, p < .001). Conclusions The nursing work environment was found to be associated with PTSD. Therefore, interventions are necessary to increase nurse managers' abilities, leadership, and support for nurses to reduce the risk of PTSD among nurses. Implications for Nursing Management Effective professional and social support and interventions to improve nurse managers' abilities, leadership, and support of nurses are needed to reduce PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hyo‐Jeong Yoon
- Department of Nursing Yeungnam University College Daegu South Korea
| | - Yunjung Kim
- Yeungnam University Medical Center Daegu South Korea
| | - Jisun Kim
- Yeungnam University Medical Center Daegu South Korea
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19
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Kontis V, Bennett JE, Parks RM, Rashid T, Pearson-Stuttard J, Asaria P, Zhou B, Guillot M, Mathers CD, Khang YH, McKee M, Ezzati M. Lessons learned and lessons missed: impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on all-cause mortality in 40 industrialised countries and US states prior to mass vaccination. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:279. [PMID: 35252592 PMCID: PMC8861471 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17253.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Industrialised countries had varied responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may lead to different death tolls from COVID-19 and other diseases. Methods: We applied an ensemble of 16 Bayesian probabilistic models to vital statistics data to estimate the number of weekly deaths if the pandemic had not occurred for 40 industrialised countries and US states from mid-February 2020 through mid-February 2021. We subtracted these estimates from the actual number of deaths to calculate the impacts of the pandemic on all-cause mortality. Results: Over this year, there were 1,410,300 (95% credible interval 1,267,600-1,579,200) excess deaths in these countries, equivalent to a 15% (14-17) increase, and 141 (127-158) additional deaths per 100,000 people. In Iceland, Australia and New Zealand, mortality was lower than would be expected in the absence of the pandemic, while South Korea and Norway experienced no detectable change. The USA, Czechia, Slovakia and Poland experienced >20% higher mortality. Within the USA, Hawaii experienced no detectable change in mortality and Maine a 5% increase, contrasting with New Jersey, Arizona, Mississippi, Texas, California, Louisiana and New York which experienced >25% higher mortality. Mid-February to the end of May 2020 accounted for over half of excess deaths in Scotland, Spain, England and Wales, Canada, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Cyprus, whereas mid-September 2020 to mid-February 2021 accounted for >90% of excess deaths in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. In USA, excess deaths in the northeast were driven mainly by the first wave, in southern and southwestern states by the summer wave, and in the northern plains by the post-September period. Conclusions: Prior to widespread vaccine-acquired immunity, minimising the overall death toll of the pandemic requires policies and non-pharmaceutical interventions that delay and reduce infections, effective treatments for infected patients, and mechanisms to continue routine health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilis Kontis
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - James E. Bennett
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Robbie M. Parks
- The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theo Rashid
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Perviz Asaria
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Bin Zhou
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michel Guillot
- Population Studies Center, Department of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), Paris, France
| | | | - Young-Ho Khang
- Institute of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Martin McKee
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Majid Ezzati
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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20
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Cheong HS, Kwon KT, Hwang S, Kim SW, Chang HH, Park SY, Kim B, Lee S, Park J, Heo ST, Oh WS, Kim Y, Park KH, Kang CK, Oh N, Lim SJ, Yun S, Son JW. Workload of Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Korea: A Nationwide Survey. J Korean Med Sci 2022; 37:e49. [PMID: 35166085 PMCID: PMC8845106 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is ongoing, heavy workload of healthcare workers (HCWs) is a concern. This study investigated the workload of HCWs responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea. METHODS A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 16 to October 15, 2020, involving 16 healthcare facilities (4 public medical centers, 12 tertiary-care hospitals) that provide treatment for COVID-19 patients. RESULTS Public medical centers provided the majority (69.4%) of total hospital beds for COVID-19 patients (n = 611), on the other hand, tertiary care hospitals provided the majority (78.9%) of critical care beds (n = 57). The number of beds per doctor (median [IQR]) in public medical centers was higher than in tertiary care hospitals (20.2 [13.0, 29.4] versus 3.0 [1.3, 6.6], P = 0.006). Infectious Diseases physicians are mostly (80%) involved among attending physicians. The number of nurses per patient (median [interquartile range, IQR]) in tertiary-care hospitals was higher than in public medical centers (4.6 [3.4-5] vs. 1.1 [0.8-2.1], P = 0.089). The median number of nurses per patient for COVID-19 patients was higher than the highest national standard in South Korea (3.8 vs. 2 for critical care). All participating healthcare facilities were also operating screening centers, for which a median of 2 doctors, 5 nurses, and 2 administrating staff were necessary. CONCLUSION As the severity of COVID-19 patients increases, the number of HCWs required increases. Because the workload of HCWs responding to the COVID-19 outbreak is much greater than other situations, a workforce management plan regarding this perspective is required to prevent burnout of HCWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae Suk Cheong
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ki Tae Kwon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
| | - Soyoon Hwang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Shin-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyun-Ha Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Se Yoon Park
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bongyoung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shinwon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Jiho Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang Taek Heo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea
| | - Won Sup Oh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Yeonjae Kim
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyung-Hwa Park
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Chang Kyung Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - NamHee Oh
- Hospital Infection Control Team, Daegu Medical Center, Daegu, Korea
| | - Su Jin Lim
- Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Masan Medical Center, Changwon, Korea
| | - Seongcheol Yun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Andong Medical Center, Andong, Korea
| | - Ji Woong Son
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
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21
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Min J, Ko Y, Kim HW, Koo HK, Oh JY, Jeong YJ, Kang HH, Park KJ, Hwang YI, Kim JW, Ahn JH, Jegal Y, Kang JY, Lee SS, Park JS, Kim JS. Increased Healthcare Delays in Tuberculosis Patients During the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study. J Korean Med Sci 2022; 37:e20. [PMID: 35040295 PMCID: PMC8763880 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused disruptions to healthcare systems, consequently endangering tuberculosis (TB) control. We investigated delays in TB treatment among notified patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. METHODS We systemically collected and analyzed data from the Korea TB cohort database from January to May 2020. Groups were categorized as 'before-pandemic' and 'during-pandemic' based on TB notification period. Presentation delay was defined as the period between initial onset of symptoms and the first hospital visit, and healthcare delay as the period between the first hospital visit and anti-TB treatment initiation. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with delays in TB treatment. RESULTS Proportion of presentation delay > 14 days was not significantly different between two groups (48.3% vs. 43.7%, P = 0.067); however, proportion of healthcare delay > 5 days was significantly higher in the during-pandemic group (48.6% vs. 42.3%, P = 0.012). In multivariate analysis, the during-pandemic group was significantly associated with healthcare delay > 5 days (adjusted odds ratio = 0.884, 95% confidence interval = 0.715-1.094). CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with healthcare delay of > 5 days in Korea. Public health interventions are necessary to minimize the pandemic's impact on the national TB control project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsoo Min
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yousang Ko
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyung Woo Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyeon-Kyoung Koo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Jee Youn Oh
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yun-Jeong Jeong
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - Hyeon Hui Kang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Kwang Joo Park
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Yong Il Hwang
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea
| | - Jin Woo Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joong Hyun Ahn
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yangjin Jegal
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Ji Young Kang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung-Soon Lee
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Jae Seuk Park
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Sang Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
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22
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Abstract
AIMS How the Chinese government controls the Covid-19 epidemic? This paper aims to answer this question from the perspective of public health expenditure, and policy, and then to help the government to perform better in infectious disease prevention and public health emergency management. METHODS AND MATERIALS We reviewed the development phases of the COVID-19 epidemic in China and divided it into four stages (incubation stage, outbreak stage, resolution stage, and stable stage). Then we adopted a content analysis method via MAXQDA2020, to analyze the combined application of four different types of policy tools in different stages with 571 texts of epidemic governance policy from the Chinese central government. We also calculated and compared the Chinese public health expenditure between epidemic and non-epidemic periods. Moreover, we also discussed implications for public health emergency management and for infectious disease prevention and control in China. RESULTS (1) in the incubation stage, the potential epidemic has not attracted enough attention from the government; (2) the combination of the 4 types of policies is not only an important reason in controlling epidemic during the outbreak stage and resolution stage, but also the reason why the small-scale epidemic has not expanded in the stable stage; (3) the increasing Chinese public health expenditure, involving public health emergency treatment (114.81 billion yuan), government hospitals (284.84 billion yuan) and major public health service projects (45.33 billion yuan), is another critical reason for the rapid control of the epidemic. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Public health expenditure and policy played an important role in the governance and control of the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Some limitations of China's infectious disease prevention system and public health emergency management system have been exposed to the public in this epidemic, which the Chinese government needs to improve in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jin
- School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Baoyang Li
- School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mihajlo Jakovljevic
- Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Institute of Comparative Economic Studies, Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health Economics and Policy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
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23
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Experiences and Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Pandemic Management in South Korea and the V4 Countries. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6040201. [PMID: 34941657 PMCID: PMC8707138 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6040201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the first year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea suffered significantly less social and economic damage than the V4 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) despite less stringent restrictive measures. In order to explore the causes of the phenomenon, we examined the public health policies and pandemic management of South Korea and the V4 countries and the social and economic outcomes of the measures. We identified the key factors that contributed to successful public health policies and pandemic management in South Korea by reviewing the international literature. Based on the analysis results, South Korea successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the appropriate combination of non-pharmaceutical measures and its advanced public health system. An important lesson for the V4 countries is that successful pandemic management requires a well-functioning surveillance system, a comprehensive testing strategy, an innovative contact tracing system, transparent government communication, and a coordinated public health system. In addition, to develop pandemic management capabilities and capacities in the V4 countries, continuous training of public health human resources, support for knowledge exchange, encouragement of research on communicable disease management, and collaboration with for-profit and non-governmental organizations are recommended.
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24
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Mohammed AA. Preparedness and response to covid-19 in Woreta Town, North West Ethiopia. SCIENTIFIC AFRICAN 2021; 14:e01037. [PMID: 34746522 PMCID: PMC8557111 DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e01037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Preparedness and early response are proved to be best solutions for a pandemic situation. Well prepared countries have succeeded in containing the transfer of the disease and minimized its adverse impact. Ethiopia has adopted Covid-19 preparedness and response plan. Its implementation has brought good outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore deeper in to a grass roots situation. It focused particularly on Covid-19 preparedness and response in Woreta town, Northwest Ethiopia. The study employed a qualitative approach. Data were collected from Covid-19 prevention task force members, health care workers and community members using a semi-structured interview. The data collection was conducted from September to October 2020. A framework approach and open code 4.02 software were used in the analysis. The results showed that various structures, including a Covid-19 task force, are created to take preparatory and response measures in the area. As the enforcement of preventive measures is declining, residents continue to be less engaged in their practice of Covid-19 instructions. Generally, the preparedness and response were low in health facilities and in the community. Thus, the local government has to strengthen a persistent and well-informed risk communication by broadening its social base. The existing politicization, rumor, denial and suspicion associated to COVID-19 can only be addresses by implementing a transparent and persuasive communication strategy. The health workers need to renew their effort to transmit health messages. The task force has to consider the pandemic as a strategic problem rather than a short time issue. So, it has to develop a plan to guide its activity. It also need to strengthen its partnership to better enforce preventive guidelines. On the other hand, community members shall not be deceived by the coming of COVID-19 vaccines. Rather they have to focus on prevention mechanisms.
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25
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Kontis V, Bennett JE, Parks RM, Rashid T, Pearson-Stuttard J, Asaria P, Zhou B, Guillot M, Mathers CD, Khang YH, McKee M, Ezzati M. Lessons learned and lessons missed: impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on all-cause mortality in 40 industrialised countries prior to mass vaccination. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:279. [PMID: 35252592 PMCID: PMC8861471 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17253.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Industrialised countries had varied responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and how they adapted to new situations and knowledge since it began. These differences in preparedness and policy may lead to different death tolls from COVID-19 as well as other diseases. Methods: We applied an ensemble of 16 Bayesian probabilistic models to vital statistics data to estimate the impacts of the pandemic on weekly all-cause mortality for 40 industrialised countries from mid-February 2020 through mid-February 2021, before a large segment of the population was vaccinated in these countries. Results: Over the entire year, an estimated 1,410,300 (95% credible interval 1,267,600-1,579,200) more people died in these countries than would have been expected had the pandemic not happened. This is equivalent to 141 (127-158) additional deaths per 100,000 people and a 15% (14-17) increase in deaths in all these countries combined. In Iceland, Australia and New Zealand, mortality was lower than would be expected if the pandemic had not occurred, while South Korea and Norway experienced no detectable change in mortality. In contrast, the USA, Czechia, Slovakia and Poland experienced at least 20% higher mortality. There was substantial heterogeneity across countries in the dynamics of excess mortality. The first wave of the pandemic, from mid-February to the end of May 2020, accounted for over half of excess deaths in Scotland, Spain, England and Wales, Canada, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Cyprus. At the other extreme, the period between mid-September 2020 and mid-February 2021 accounted for over 90% of excess deaths in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Conclusions: Until the great majority of national and global populations have vaccine-acquired immunity, minimising the death toll of the pandemic from COVID-19 and other diseases will require actions to delay and contain infections and continue routine health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilis Kontis
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - James E. Bennett
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Robbie M. Parks
- The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theo Rashid
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Perviz Asaria
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Bin Zhou
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michel Guillot
- Population Studies Center, Department of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), Paris, France
| | | | - Young-Ho Khang
- Institute of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Martin McKee
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Majid Ezzati
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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26
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Chen S, Guo L, Alghaith T, Dong D, Alluhidan M, Hamza MM, Herbst CH, Zhang X, Tagtag GCA, Zhang Y, Alazemi N, Saber R, Alsukait R, Tang S. Effective COVID-19 Control: A Comparative Analysis of the Stringency and Timeliness of Government Responses in Asia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168686. [PMID: 34444434 PMCID: PMC8393310 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Aim: Many governments in East and Southeast Asia responded promptly and effectively at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Synthesizing and analyzing these responses is vital for disease control evidence-based policymaking. Methods: An extensive review of COVID-19 control measures was conducted in selected Asian countries and subregions, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Vietnam from 1 January to 30 May 2020. Control measures were categorized into administrative, public health, and health system measures. To evaluate the stringency and timeliness of responses, we developed two indices: the Initial Response Index (IRI) and the Modified Stringency Index (MSI), which builds on the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT). Results: Comprehensive administrative, public health, and health system control measures were implemented at the onset of the outbreak. Despite variations in package components, the stringency of control measures across the study sites increased with the acceleration of the outbreak, with public health control measures implemented the most stringently. Variations in daily average MSI scores are observed, with Mainland China scoring the highest (74.2), followed by Singapore (67.4), Vietnam (66.8), Hong Kong (66.2), South Korea (62.3), Taiwan (52.1), and Japan (50.3). Variations in IRI scores depicting timeliness were higher: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Singapore acted faster (IRI > 50.0), while Japan (42.4) and Mainland China (4.2) followed. Conclusions: Timely setting of stringency of the control measures, especially public health measures, at dynamically high levels is key to optimally controlling outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Chen
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
- School of Risk and Actuarial Studies, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Lei Guo
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (L.G.); (X.Z.); (S.T.)
| | - Taghred Alghaith
- General Directorate for National Health Economics and Policy, Saudi Health Council, Riyadh 13315, Saudi Arabia; (T.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Di Dong
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA; (D.D.); (M.M.H.); (C.H.H.); (Y.Z.); (R.A.)
| | - Mohammed Alluhidan
- General Directorate for National Health Economics and Policy, Saudi Health Council, Riyadh 13315, Saudi Arabia; (T.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (R.S.)
- Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Bailrigg LA1 4YX, UK
| | - Mariam M. Hamza
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA; (D.D.); (M.M.H.); (C.H.H.); (Y.Z.); (R.A.)
| | - Christopher H. Herbst
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA; (D.D.); (M.M.H.); (C.H.H.); (Y.Z.); (R.A.)
| | - Xinqi Zhang
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (L.G.); (X.Z.); (S.T.)
| | | | - Yi Zhang
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA; (D.D.); (M.M.H.); (C.H.H.); (Y.Z.); (R.A.)
| | - Nahar Alazemi
- General Directorate for National Health Economics and Policy, Saudi Health Council, Riyadh 13315, Saudi Arabia; (T.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Rana Saber
- General Directorate for National Health Economics and Policy, Saudi Health Council, Riyadh 13315, Saudi Arabia; (T.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Reem Alsukait
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA; (D.D.); (M.M.H.); (C.H.H.); (Y.Z.); (R.A.)
| | - Shenglan Tang
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (L.G.); (X.Z.); (S.T.)
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27
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Kim H. COVID-19 Apps as a Digital Intervention Policy: A Longitudinal Panel Data Analysis in South Korea. Health Policy 2021; 125:1430-1440. [PMID: 34301408 PMCID: PMC8272623 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Many countries have developed COVID-19 tracking apps that help individuals trace and detect “people” who are likely to have come in contact with confirmed patients. However, their adoption rates remain low. This study, therefore, investigated South Koreans’ adoption and usage behaviors of COVID-19 apps that detect the “place” where infectious people are found and alert people within 100m in dangerous zones. Our focus was on such apps’ impact on various facets of human life . Specifically, we analyzed mobile app usage data from 5,940 panelists at the start of the pandemic in South Korea and after the first major wave (January 6 to August 2, 2020). Findings showed that higher-income and more educated individuals were more likely to adopt COVID-19 apps early, and male and low-income people tended to use the COVID-19 tracking apps more frequently. In addition, this study offered empirical evidence of health protective behaviors, such as driving, shopping online, ordering food online, and avoiding travel and public transportation, and supported social- and religious-coping for people using COVID-19 apps. The implications are valuable for policy makers to implement a digital policy to motivate people to voluntarily engage in self-protective and coping behaviors through COVID-19 apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwang Kim
- CUHK Business School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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