Infection preventive behaviors and its association with perceived threat and perceived social factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea: 2020 community health survey.

BACKGROUND: This study examined why some individuals have not properly performed health prevention behavior during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We used data from a community health survey conducted by public health centers in South Korea to identify factors affecting COVID-19 prevention behavior in urban and rural areas. Also, we examined whether individual-level demographic, socio-psychological, and structural variables affected COVID-19 prevention behavior by referring to a model explaining individuals' health prevention behavior. In particular, the study is significant as not many other measures were suggested besides compliance with personal quarantine rules during the early phase of the pandemic in 2020. We hope that the results of this study will be considered in further analysis of infection preventive behavior and in future health crises. METHODS: Probability proportional and systematic sampling were used to collect data in 2020 from 229,269 individuals. After exclusion, the valid data from 141,902 adults (86,163 urban and 44,739 rural) were analyzed. We performed t-tests and analyses of variance to ascertain the differences in COVID-19 preventive behaviors according to demographic characteristics, and a post-hoc analysis was conducted using Scheffé's test. Factors that affected participants' COVID-19 preventive behaviors were analyzed using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The variables significantly influencing COVID-19 preventive behaviors in urban areas were age, gender, living with two or more people, educational level, monthly household income, working status, influenza vaccination, daily life stress, and perceived threat. In rural areas, age, gender, living with two or more people, education level, influenza vaccination, daily life stress, perceived threat, and perceived social factors were significantly associated with increased COVID-19 preventive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Several demographic characteristics were associated with urban and rural residents' COVID-19-related preventive behaviors. A different approach is needed for the two regions in future policy. Future studies should aim to improve the power of the model and include other factors that may be related to COVID-19 preventive behavior.

E-health literacy in older adults: an evolutionary concept analysis.

BACKGROUND: Internet technologies have become important for older adults to not only seek, understand, and evaluate information on health management but also apply and share acquired knowledge. Despite the disparity in e-health literacy among older adults, which affects health outcomes, its conceptual definition has not been distinctly clarified in previous studies. This study aimed to analyse the concept of e-health literacy among older adults and to identify its contexts in the nursing field. METHODS: We identified concepts, attributes, antecedents, and consequences of e-health literacy in older adults using Rodgers' evolutionary approach to various fields of study, time, and cultural differences. A literature search was conducted using the National Assembly Library, Research Information Sharing Service, National Digital Science Library, DataBase Periodical Information Academic, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica database, and Cochrane. RESULTS: A total of 28 studies were included, and we categorised the following three attributes: active information seeking, two-way interactive communication, and information utilization/sharing. The antecedents included personal factors, health status, socioeconomic factors, cultural factors, and attitudes toward the Internet while the consequences included increased health interest, health behaviour promotion, and active decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: As e-health literacy in older adults affects their health and quality of life, this study clarifies the concept and provides a conceptual framework for nursing practice and research. Further studies are needed to identify and expand the constantly evolving concept of e-health literacy in older adults.

Abuse and risk factors among community-dwelling elderly in South Korea during COVID-19.

Elder abuse is a serious social problem in South Korea. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors of elder abuse during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. By using the 2020 Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Seoul Metropolitan City and considering sociodemographic, health-related, social support, and isolation factors as independent variables, a logistic regression model was established. Among 3,106 samples, the overall rate of elder abuse was 8.5%, with emotional abuse being the most frequent. Social isolation (OR = 1.47, p = .018) and recognition of abuse (OR = 0.90, p = .003) were associated with having experienced abuse. Seniors with a greater number of diseases, higher levels of dependency, depressive symptoms, and/or cognitive impairments were more likely to suffer abuse, as were those who smoked or drank alcohol. To prevent elder abuse by social isolation during and after COVID-19, more active health promotion programs and healthy aging policies should be implemented.

Association between commensality with depression and suicidal ideation of Korean adults: the sixth and seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013, 2015, 2017.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether commensality (eating a meal with others) is associated with mental health (depression, suicidal ideation) in Korean adults over 19 years old. METHODS: Our study employed data from the sixth and seventh Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (KNHANES) for 2013, 2015, and 2017. The study population consisted of 14,125 Korean adults (5854 men and 8271 women). In this cross-sectional study, data were analyzed with the Rao-Scott chi-square test and multiple logistic regression to evaluate the association between commensality(0[includes skipping meals] to 3 times eating meals together) and both depression and suicidal ideation using select questions from the Mental Health Survey. By setting socioeconomic factors, health conditions, and behavioral factors as confounders, we conducted a subgroup analysis to reveal the effect on depression and suicidal ideation commensality. RESULTS: Commensality was significantly associated with depression and suicidal ideation (p < 0.05). In both sexes, people who ate fewer meals together had poorer mental health. In a subgroup analysis, we revealed greater odds of developing depression in men when living in rural areas and belonging to low-income groups. In contrast, greater odds of suicidal ideation in men who ate alone when living in the city and belonging to high-income groups. On the other hand, Women in every region had greater odds of being depressed if they ate alone. And greater odds of suicidal ideation in women who ate alone when living in the city and belonging to medium-high income groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis confirmed that Korean adults with lower chance of commensality had greater risk of developing depression and suicidal ideation. And it could be affected by individuals' various backgrounds including socioeconomic status. As a result, to help people with depression and prevent a suicidal attempt, this study will be baseline research for social workers, educators and also policy developers to be aware of the importance of eating together.

Public Perception Before and After COVID-19 Vaccine Pass for the Unvaccinated to Eat Alone: Social Media Data Analytics.

This study was conducted to compare the trends of public perception in South Korea about the vaccine pass requiring the unvaccinated to eat alone during the COVID-19 crisis. Data were collected via Text mining; frequency, association, and sentiment analysis using the social big data analysis service, (known as "Some-Trend"), 2 months before and after December 16, 2021, when the vaccine pass was announced. The total number of search results was 4899 occurrences of the keywords using "eating alone" and "Hon-bab" (Korean abbreviation for eating alone). During the week of December 16, the frequency was the highest (770 occurrences). Compared to the weeks before the announcement sentiment analysis shows that words including "Reject," "Discrimination," and "Uncomfortable," among others, either newly appeared or increased in frequency. And also, the percentage of positive words decreased from 54.5% to 34% and that of negative words increased from 30.2% to 43.3%. The introduction of the vaccine pass has raised negative public interest, particularly regarding the policy of unvaccinated people forcefully restricted to eat alone. Accordingly, this study showed that the vaccine policy had not gain positive perception of the public.