Factors Affecting Stress and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective@#This study examined the factors influencing the mental health and stress of individuals during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. @*Methods@#A total of 600 participants were enrolled in this anonymous questionnaire survey that included questions on their demographic profiles and experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Stress Scale for Korean People (CSSK), Warwick– Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Insomnia Severity Index, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used. Data were analyzed using multiple regression to identify the factors affecting the total CSSK scores and the scores of each of the three CSSK subscales. @*Results@#Multiple regression analyses revealed that the severity of insomnia, sex, degree of income decline, occupation, religion, education level, marital status, residential status, level of social support, and degree of depression and anxiety had significant relationships with COVID-19-related stress. @*Conclusion@#We identified factors affecting stress and mental health in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings may be helpful in providing an individualized approach to managing the mental health of the public. We expect that the results of this study will be used to screen high-risk individuals vulnerable to stress and to establish policies related to the public health crisis.

Upper facial surgery: simultaneous hairline-lowering surgery during endoscopic forehead lifting

Background@#Endoscopic forehead lifting is one of the most common procedures in the field of upper facial surgery. The upper third of the face determines the facial expression and plays a key role in the appearance of facial youth. After the forehead, a high hairline is one of the most important features of the upper third of the face contributing to age identification. The combined evaluation of these two features should be a basic premise of upper facial surgery. @*Methods@#The authors present a surgical sequence in which endoscopic forehead lifting and lowering of the high hairline by means of a scalp flap advancement are carried out during the same operation. The incision line is located along the hairline. After the scalp and forehead flap are moved, they are fixed using the bone tunnel fixation method. @*Results@#In total, 194 patients were treated with endoscopic forehead lifting and simultaneous hairline lowering between August 2018 and July 2020. On average, the patients’ hairlines were 18 mm lower and their eyebrows were 5 mm higher. No patients had serious complications. @*Conclusions@#Endoscopic forehead lifting and simultaneous hairline lowering surgery make it possible to address the entire upper third of the face in a single facial rejuvenation operation.

Upper facial surgery: simultaneous hairline-lowering surgery during endoscopic forehead lifting

Background@#Endoscopic forehead lifting is one of the most common procedures in the field of upper facial surgery. The upper third of the face determines the facial expression and plays a key role in the appearance of facial youth. After the forehead, a high hairline is one of the most important features of the upper third of the face contributing to age identification. The combined evaluation of these two features should be a basic premise of upper facial surgery. @*Methods@#The authors present a surgical sequence in which endoscopic forehead lifting and lowering of the high hairline by means of a scalp flap advancement are carried out during the same operation. The incision line is located along the hairline. After the scalp and forehead flap are moved, they are fixed using the bone tunnel fixation method. @*Results@#In total, 194 patients were treated with endoscopic forehead lifting and simultaneous hairline lowering between August 2018 and July 2020. On average, the patients’ hairlines were 18 mm lower and their eyebrows were 5 mm higher. No patients had serious complications. @*Conclusions@#Endoscopic forehead lifting and simultaneous hairline lowering surgery make it possible to address the entire upper third of the face in a single facial rejuvenation operation.

Type and Characters of Agricultural Injury Subjective Burden / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: In establishing policies for agricultural safety, evaluating injury burdens as well as investigating the rates and characteristics of work injury is important. This study investigated the types and characteristics of agricultural injury subjective burdens. METHODS: By analyzing the injured farmers identified in the 2013 Korean Farmers' Occupational Injury Survey, the burdens caused by injuries were categorized using one direct cost item (medical costs) and five indirect cost items (including productivity decreases and wage increases). Statistical differences among the burden items were analyzed using logistic regression analysis according to the characteristics of the farmers and their farm injuries. RESULTS: Among the subjective burdens indicated by the 457 injured farmers, disruption to work was most common. The major influences on each subjective burden item are as follows: for the item of disruption to work, age, time of injury occurrence, treatment period, and farming machine use were influential; for an increased family member's burden of farm works, the number of family members and treatment period were influential. Regarding cost burden of treatment, the results varied according to whether or not the patient was hospitalized and annual income. CONCLUSION: Subjective burdens induced by indirect costs rather than those induced by direct costs were found to be higher in ratio. In regard to each burden item, the results varied according to the characteristics of the farmers and their farm injuries. To support injured farmer, setting goals to reduce indirect cost burdens and preparing concrete methods is necessary.

Neuromyelitis Optica Masquerading as Lumbosacral Radiculopathy: A Case Report

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is a demyelinating syndrome of the central nervous system. This case report describes a 31-year-old woman whose electromyography revealed radiculopathy in the left L5-S1 spinal segment without anatomical abnormalities on lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She was diagnosed with NMOSD based on gadolinium contrast whole spine and brain MRI and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody findings. Her peripheral nervous system might have been damaged during the early course of NMOSD. Therefore, it is necessary to consider NMOSD for patients who have radiculopathy in electromyography if lumbosacral MRI shows no abnormalities.

Estimated rate of agricultural injury: the Korean Farmers' Occupational Disease and Injury Survey

OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the rate of agricultural injury using a nationwide survey and identified factors associated with these injuries. METHODS: The first Korean Farmers' Occupational Disease and Injury Survey (KFODIS) was conducted by the Rural Development Administration in 2009. Data from 9,630 adults were collected through a household survey about agricultural injuries suffered in 2008. We estimated the injury rates among those whose injury required an absence of more than 4 days. Logistic regression was performed to identify the relationship between the prevalence of agricultural injuries and the general characteristics of the study population. RESULTS: We estimated that 3.2% (+/-0.00) of Korean farmers suffered agricultural injuries that required an absence of more than 4 days. The injury rates among orchard farmers (5.4 +/- 0.00) were higher those of all non-orchard farmers. The odds ratio (OR) for agricultural injuries was significantly lower in females (OR: 0.45, 95% CI = 0.45-0.45) compared to males. However, the odds of injury among farmers aged 50-59 (OR: 1.53, 95% CI = 1.46-1.60), 60-69 (OR: 1.45, 95% CI = 1.39-1.51), and > or =70 (OR: 1.94, 95% CI = 1.86-2.02) were significantly higher compared to those younger than 50. In addition, the total number of years farmed, average number of months per year of farming, and average hours per day of farming were significantly associated with agricultural injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Agricultural injury rates in this study were higher than rates reported by the existing compensation insurance data. Males and older farmers were at a greater risk of agriculture injuries; therefore, the prevention and management of agricultural injuries in this population is required.

Evaluation of CDSS for Drug Prescriptions Based on Success Measures / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: The Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) for drug prescriptions was developed by integrating the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system to support doctors and pharmacists in making correct decisions on prescribing drugs in line with the prescription guidelines by the Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the CDSS with respect to system quality, information quality, and user satisfaction in reducing prescription errors. METHODS: The study was based on survey data from 38 hospitals that were using the CDSS for drug prescriptions. To identify factors influencing the performance of CDSS, multiple linear regression and chi-square analyses were performed. RESULTS: Regression analysis showed that the variables for system quality and information quality significantly influenced the overall system performance. Specifically, ease of understanding the results and terminology assystem quality measures significantly influenced user satisfaction. Furthermore, based on chi-square analysis, two independent variables (ease of understanding results and decision support functions) were statistically significant with respect to all four dependent variables (information satisfaction, system satisfaction, willingness to recommend to other hospitals, and drug safety). CONCLUSION: Based on this study, users should be educated to improve their understanding of the system,and system and information quality should be continuously monitored to improve user satisfaction.