COVID-19 Phobia among Korean, Chinese, and Japanese students: An international comparative study.

This study aimed to identify the characteristic differences and potential contributing factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) phobia between undergraduate and graduate students in Korea, Japan, and China. We used the online survey tool, we retained 460 responses from Korea, 248 responses from Japan, and 788 responses from China for analysis. We performed the statistical analysis; ANOVA F-test and Multiple linear regression. We visualized the results of these calculations using GraphPad PRISM 9. The mean COVID-19 phobia score was highest in Japan at 50.5 points. Psychological fear was identically prevalent in Japan and China, at an average of 17.3 points. Psychosomatic fear was highest in Japan at 9.2 points. Further, economic fear was highest in Korea at 13 points, whereas social fear was highest in China at 13.1 points. In Korea, COVID-19 phobia scores were significantly higher among women than in men. In Japan, COVID-19 phobia scores were significantly higher in individuals who complied with social distancing mandates. In China, a lack of previous experience with self-administered testing kits was associated with significantly lower phobia scores. Individuals who were avoiding crowded places had significantly higher scores in 3 countries. This implies that the students knew that it was necessary to comply with COVID-19 preventive behaviors to prevent infections. The findings of this study could be used as a reference when establishing an approach strategy to reduce COVID-19 phobia among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean students.

Information Disclosure Contents of the COVID-19 Data Dashboard Websites for South Korea, China, and Japan: A Comparative Study.

Official responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have prioritized information disclosure. Timely and comprehensive information released by the authorities is conveyed mainly through dashboards, which can better inform the public and help them prepare for the pandemic. However, there is limited evidence regarding the COVID-19 dashboard data presentation for South Korea, China, and Japan. This study aimed to describe the current COVID-19 situation in the three countries and compare the information disclosure content on their COVID-19 dashboards. Based on the COVID-19 data released and updated by each country's official authorities, two dashboard websites used by many people in each country were selected. We conducted content analysis and developed a checklist (39 items in five categories: cases, testing, vaccines, health information, and additional items) based on the structure of each country's COVID-19 dashboard website to assess COVID-19 information disclosure. Japan experienced the worst outbreak among the three countries. They all provided basic dynamic data displayed on the dashboard, while the performance in key categories varied substantially between the countries (South Korea: 30/39 items; China: 25/39 items; Japan: 30/39 items). Moreover, as part of the publicly accessible information recorded by each nation, there were differences in the key indicators published and important facts disclosed. Improvement in reporting techniques and disclosure methods will help countries communicate more effectively with the public and conduct more efficient public health research.