Sang-Kyu Kim

BACKGROUND Patient experience surveys are now conducted in many countries for the purpose of measuring and improving patient experience. Most patient experience surveys have used mail and telephone modes, although these traditional modes of survey administration have shown low and declining response rates, let alone increasing survey costs. Self-administered mobile web surveys using smartphone can be a promising alternative mode for patient experience surveys. South Korea offers a relevant setting for investigating the effectiveness of the mobile web mode in patient experience survey, with the pressing need to increase response rates in its nationwide Patient Experience Assessment and the country’s favorable technological environment conducive to adopting an innovative survey mode. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this randomized experimental study was to investigate whether using a mobile web survey is effective in improving response rates in South Korea’s Patient Experience Assessment. We also aimed to assess the extent to which the mixed-mode survey that integrates both mobile web and follow-up telephone surveys could increase response rates and to examine gender-age subgroup differences in response rates as well as contract and cooperation rates. METHODS A total of 4,800 patients from four general hospitals were randomly allocated to telephone, mobile web, or mixed-mode survey, each mode comprising 1,600 patients. For each mode, a maximum of five attempts were made, either through phone calls or sending survey links via a messenger application. For the mixed-mode survey, up to five phone calls were made for those who did not respond to the mobile messages sent with the survey link five times. We compared response rates primarily between telephone and mobile web surveys and secondarily between mobile web and mixed-mode surveys. Subgroup differences were examined in terms of response rates as well as contract and cooperation rates. RESULTS The mobile web survey yielded overall higher response rates (32.5%) than the telephone survey (22.4%). The mixed-mode survey further increased the response rate (39.3%). Substantial subgroup differences were found, with greater improvements among patients under 60 in the mobile web survey. Decomposing response rates revealed that while contact rates were comparable for both telephone and mobile web surveys, the cooperation rate was considerably higher for mobile web survey (73.2%) compared to telephone survey (52.2%). CONCLUSIONS Adopting the mobile web survey for patient experience surveys, which aligns with the public's preference for information communication technologies, could significantly improve the performance of patient experience surveys and overall representation of patient experiences.

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea.METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022.RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%.CONCLUSIONS: The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

Cho Y, et al. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2023 Aug;35:e35. https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e35

The purpose of the study is to collect and analyze cases in the United States and Japan on the convergence of small schools and local communities, and to obtain implications for Korea In order to achieve the purpose, the relationship and convergence between small schools and local communities, and the cases of the United States and Japan were collected and analyzed. The results are as follows. First, in the case of the United States, the local manpower pool was actively used and parents’ school education support was also active. In particular, by encouraging students to actively and voluntarily participate in the school education program, parents made efforts to support their children’s education to induce the participation of local residents. Second, in the case of Japan, projects were implemented to support the regeneration of small schools within the local community and to create a village school after the consolidation and abolition of small schools. Third, as ways for convergence between small schools and local communities, a win-win principle and strategy between small schools and village education communities were adopted, and as a community hub, it is necessary to play an important role in terms of educational administration, curriculum operation and student support, and the local community. The establishment of cooperative governance between education administration and general administration, and mutual understanding and communication and consensus formation among local community residents, parents as well as students, education authority, local governments, and school teachers are important for successful convergence of small schools and local communities.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the 2016 Gyeongju Earthquake on the stress perception, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Gyeongju residents. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the 2015–2017 Korean Community Health Survey undertaken in the disaster area, Gyeongju, and in controlled areas, Sangju and Yangju, which had varying seismic intensities. Pearson’s chi-square test, ANCOVA and two-way ANOVA were performed. Results: The stress perception rate and anxiety/depression in the 5th dimension of the EuroQul-five-dimensions three-level version (EQ-5D-3L) in Gyeongju was significantly higher in 2017 than in 2016. As for the HRQoL, the controlled regions showed a tendency to increase in 2017 rather than in 2016, while Gyeongju had no significant differences during 2015 and 2017. As a result, Gyeongju had the lowest HRQoL in 2017. Conclusion: Mental health in the disaster area after the 2016 earthquake was worse, and the HRQoL of Gyeongju residents was relatively lower than the control regions. Based on the results of the study, government agencies should remain interested in developing a post-disaster psychological support program for disaster survivors at a community level.

Purpose This study aimed to assess the impact of overactive bladder on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a community-based sample of Korean population. Methods The data of adults aged 19 and over that who participated in the 2012 Korean Community Health Survey were analyzed. Overactive bladder severity was classified as normal, mild, moderate, or severe using the Overactive Bladder Symptom scores, and HRQoL was evaluated using EQ-5D-3L. Relations between HRQoL and the severities and symptoms of OAB were investigated. Sampling weighted adjusted multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of OAB symptom severity on HRQoL. Results Of the 226,867 study subjects, 12,303 (5.4%) had OAB, and 552 (0.2%) had an OABSS of ≥ 12, indicating severe OAB. The problem -reporting rate significantly increased in all EQ-5D-3L dimensions as OAB severity increased. After adjusting for other variables, OAB severity had a significant effect on EQ-5D-3L index. Urge incontinence had greatest impact on quality of life. Conclusions As the severity of OAB increased from mild to severe, quality of life decreased significantly. OAB was found to negatively affect HRQoL.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and falls considering places where falls can occur in adult males. We analyzed 101 862 males in the 2011 Korean Community Health Survey. LUTSs were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score system. The rate of total and indoor falls significantly increased with the LUTS severity, respectively. After adjusting for age and other confounding variables, the odds ratios (ORs) for total falls were significantly high for the mild (OR = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-1.71), moderate (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 2.16-2.56), and severe groups (OR = 2.83, 95% CI = 2.49-3.22), relative to the normal group. Indoor fall experience was the same for the mild (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.36-1.79), moderate (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.97-2.85), and severe groups (OR = 3.77, 95% CI = 3.00-4.72). Nocturia, hesitancy, and urgency were significantly associated with indoor falls. The association between falls and the degree of LUTS was observed in both the young and the elderly. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the effects of treatment of LUTS on the risk of falls and the effectiveness of the fall prevention program.

To assess the status and impact of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a community-based sample of Korean adult males.

Object: This study aims to evaluate the HRQOL of parents of children with allergic diseases using the EQ-5D-5L. Methods: The subjects of the study were parents of children enrolled in primary schools and daycare centers. The EQ-5D-5L was self-administered in the sample population, and demographic and health information of their children were collected. We assessed the difference in EQ-5D-5L index and EQ-VAS of parents by the prevalence of allergic symptoms (wheezing, runny or blocked nose, and itchy rash) in their children in the past 12 months. In addition, we examined the difference in parents’ EQ-5D-5L index and EQ-VAS score, based on the number of allergic symptoms of their children. Results: Of the 23,837 completed questionnaires, 22,904 were analyzed. There were significant differences in HRQOL between parents of children with and without allergic symptoms. There was a considerable difference in proportion of problem reporting in the “pain/discomfort” and “anxiety/depression” dimensions compared with the remaining dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L. Among three allergic symptoms, the HRQOL of parents of children with asthmatic symptoms was lowest at 0.936 on the EQ-5D-5L index and 79.3 on the EQ-VAS score. As the number of allergic symptoms of children increased, QOL of parents significantly decreased. Conclusions: Parents of children with allergic symptoms showed lower HRQOL than those parents whose children did not. The EQ-5D-5L instrument appeared to be useful to evaluate the HRQOL of parents of children with allergic diseases.

Globally, allergic diseases are very common in childhood and may affect children’s quality of life. This study aimed to explore health-related quality of life of elementary school students with allergy symptoms using the EQ-5D-Y and to examine the validity and feasibility of the EQ-5D-Y. The study subjects were the students within 50 elementary schools which voluntarily participated in research project. In this sample population, the EQ-5D-Y questionnaire was self-administered by the students, and demographic and health information were collected from the student’s parents. The parents’ information was used to investigate the proportion of students with allergic symptoms (wheezing, runny or blocked nose, and itchy rash) in the past 12 months. In addition, we analyzed the correlation of symptom reporting and EQ-5D-Y including EQ-VAS. The overall return was 9117 responses, of which 198 (2.2%) lacked responses on the EQ-5D-Y dimension and 1258 (13.8%) on the VAS score. There were significant differences in symptom reporting in all EQ-5D-Y dimensions between groups with or without allergic symptoms. Particularly, there was a large difference in reporting rates in ‘having pain or discomfort’ and ‘feeling worried, sad or unhappy’ dimensions. As the number of allergic symptoms increased, in all dimensions also the problem reporting rate tended to increase. As expected, the presence of allergic symptoms is inversely correlated with the quality of life of children. The EQ-5D-Y instrument proved to be useful in terms of feasibility and construct validity in assessing the quality of life of Korean elementary school students.