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- Characteristics of hand-to-environment contact during indoor activities in daily life among Korean adults using a video-based observation method
- Hyang Soon Oh, Mikyung Ryu, Youngran Yang
- Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2021;12(3):187-195. Published online June 8, 2021
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0006
- 2,535 View
- 73 Download
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Abstract
PDF - Objectives
The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of hand-to-environmental contact (HEC) and to identify the factors influencing HEC behavior in Korean adults’ indoor daily life.
Methods
Thirty participants were enrolled from January 14 to February 12, 2018 after providing informed consent for being videotaped. Data were collected by recording their indoor daily lives for 2 hours, resulting in 4,732 HEC cases. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the HEC readings, 3 training sessions were conducted for the videotape readers. Rereading and verifying randomly selected data ensured the validity of intra- and inter-reader readings.
Results
The most frequent contact items were phones, papers, computer accessories, and furniture surfaces. The contact density (frequency-duration/min) was highest for category II (items occasionally shared by others, 56.8), followed in descending order by category I (items for individual use, 35.9), and category III (public use items, 3.4). Significant differences in contact density were found according to participants’ demographic characteristics.
Conclusion
As mobile phones were the most frequent contact item, regular and strict mobile phone cleansing or disinfection strategies are needed, in addition to preventative measures taken for category II and III items. Avoiding sharing personal items with others, refraining from unnecessary HEC, and maintaining strict hand hygiene are recommended.
- Development and Utilization of a Rapid and Accurate Epidemic Investigation Support System for COVID-19
- Young Joon Park, Sang Yun Cho, Jin Lee, Ikjin Lee, Won-Ho Park, Seungmyeong Jeong, Seongyun Kim, Seokjun Lee, Jaeho Kim, Ok Park
- Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2020;11(3):118-127. Published online May 20, 2020
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.3.06
- 9,045 View
- 277 Download
- 14 Citations
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Abstract
PDF
Objectives In this pandemic situation caused by a novel coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), an electronic support system that can rapidly and accurately perform epidemic investigations, is needed. It would systematically secure and analyze patients’ data (who have been confirmed to have the infection), location information, and credit card usage.
Methods The “Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act” in South Korea, established a legal basis for the securement, handling procedure, and disclosure of information required for epidemic investigations. The Epidemic Investigation Support System (EISS) was developed as an application platform on the Smart City data platform.
Results The EISS performed the function of inter-institutional communication which reduced the processing period of patients’ data in comparison to other methods. This system automatically marked confirmed cases’ tracking data on a map and hot-spot analysis which lead to the prediction of areas where people may be vulnerable to infection.
Conclusion The EISS was designed and implemented for use during an epidemic investigation to prevent the spread of an infectious disease, by specifically tracking confirmed cases of infection.
- Coronavirus Disease-19: Summary of 2,370 Contact Investigations of the First 30 Cases in the Republic of Korea
- Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2020;11(2):81-84. Published online April 30, 2020
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.2.04
- 10,046 View
- 404 Download
- 45 Citations
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Abstract
PDF
Between January 24th and March 10th, a total of 2,370 individuals had contact with the first 30 cases of COVID-19. There were 13 individuals who contracted COVID-19 resulting in a secondary attack rate of 0.55% (95% CI 0.31–0.96). There were 119 household contacts, of which 9 individuals developed COVID-19 resulting in a secondary attack rate of 7.56% (95% CI 3.7–14.26).
- Contact Transmission of COVID-19 in South Korea: Novel Investigation Techniques for Tracing Contacts
- Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2020;11(1):60-63. Published online February 28, 2020
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.1.09
- 37,453 View
- 1,016 Download
- 103 Citations
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Abstract
PDF
In the epidemiological investigation of an infectious disease, investigating, classifying, tracking, and managing contacts by identifying the patient’s route are important for preventing further transmission of the disease. However, omissions and errors in previous activities can occur when the investigation is performed through only a proxy interview with the patient. To overcome these limitations, methods that can objectively verify the patient’s claims (medical facility records, Global Positioning System, card transactions, and closed-circuit television) were used for the recent ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 contact investigations in South Korea.
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