Incidence of Upper Respiratory Diseases During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Data-Based Epidemiological Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#Nonpharmacologic interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and preventive measures, were administered during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which may influence the incidence of upper respiratory diseases (URDs). The present study compared the incidence of URDs during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the years prior to COVID-19, and investigated the effect of NPIs on URD in the nationwide general population.Subjects and Method This is an epidemiologic study based on the Korean National Health Insurance Database from March 2016 to February 2021. We compared the monthly incidence of URDs from March 2020 to February 2021 (12 months) with that of the past four years. A negative binomial regression model was used to evaluate the annual difference in the incidence of each URD and adjusting temperature, humidity, and the level of particulate matter 10 (PM10). @*Results@#The monthly incidence of ‘the five common URDs’ in 2020 was significantly lower than that in the past four years. The incidence of other chronic diseases, however, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, was comparable or higher in the past four years. Among the five common URDs, influenza virus infections decreased most dramatically, nearing 99%, from 296.4-377.1 per 100000 people during the period of 2016 to 2019 to 3.7 per 100000 people in 2020. @*Conclusion@#The present study shows that the incidence of ‘five common URDs’ significantly decreased during the era of COVID-19 in Korea. We believe that nationwide NPI might prevent the transmission of COVID-19 as well as other infectious sources associated with URDs.

The Study of Pain, Depression and Quality of Life According to the Coping Strategy in Chronic Arthritis Patients / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of in the level of pain, depression, and quality of life by coping strategy in the chronic arthritis patients. METHOD: These data were collected by means of a self-reported questionnaire from 90 chronic arthritis patients undergoing treatment at a university hospital in Daegu city from June 10, 2000 to July 15, 2000. The instruments of study were coping strategy scale by Jeon(1985), pain scale by Lee and Song(1987), depression scale by Radloff(1977) and quality of life scale by Cho(1987). Data analysis was done by SPSS Win 10.0 program and Pearson correlation, t-test, Cronbach's-alpha were used. RESULT: The results of this study were as follows: 1. The item mean score of pain for chronic arthritis patient was 6.54. The item mean score of depression for chronic arthritis patient was 2.18. The item mean score of quality of life for chronic arthritis patient was 5.69. 2. The chronic arthritis patients with problem-focused coping experienced pain higher than those with emotion-focused coping(t=o.400, p=o.o45). The chronic arthritis patients with emotion-focused coping experienced depression higher than those with problem-focused coping(t=-2.564, p=0.012). The chronic arthritis patients with problem-focused coping experienced quality of life higher than emotion-focused coping(t=-1.682, p=0.046). CONCLUSION: In conclusion this study showed that any coping strategy can control the arthritis patient's problem. Therfore, The development of a coping strategy to reduce pain and depression and improve the quality of life in the chronic arthritis patient will be needed.

A Study on Quality of Life and Sexual Satisfaction of Ostomates / 성인간호학회지

This descriptive study measured the quality of life and the sexual satisfaction for ostomates as an attempt to give nurses basic data to improve life satisfaction of ostomates. The research design was a descriptive study and the data were obtained by Quality of Life questionnaire, and Sexual Satisfaction questionnaire. These data were collected from 21 ostomates undergoing treatment in four university hospitals and one hospital and 36 ostomates depending on one medical agency by direct obtaining method and mailing method from March. 3, to March 24,1997. Data analysis was cone by the SAS computer program and Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation Coefficient, and Cronbach-alpha were used. The results of this study were as follows : 1. The item mean score for quality of life for the ostomates was 3.03. For six subscales in the quality of life scale, the mean scores of subscales were in order of the highest 3.46 for family relationship, and the second scored subscales were economic life(2.84) and physical state(2.96). 2. The item mean score of sexual satisfaction for the ostomate was 2.86. 3. The result of analysis of relationship between quality of life and sexual satisfaction was significant(r=0.21, p=0.05). The relationship between sexual satisfaction and each subscale of quality of life were significant with the self-esteem (r=0.34, p=0.01), physical state(r=0.21, p=0.01). In conclusion, it was found that the quality of life and sexual satisfaction of ostomates were low. The quality of life and sexual satisfaction was correlated. Although chronic disease affect to quality of life and sexual satisfaction, an adequate nursing intervention will improve the life satisfaction.