<b>Objectives</b><br/>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued since its first detection in the Republic of Korea on January 20, 2020. This study describes the early countermeasures used to minimize the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks during cohort quarantine and compares the epidemiological characteristics of 2 outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Gwangju Metropolitan City in summer 2020. Methods: An epidemiological investigation was conducted via direct visits. We investigated epidemiological characteristics, including incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates, for all residents and staff members. Demographic characteristics were analyzed using a statistical program. Additionally, the method of managing infection in LTCFs is described. Results: Residents and caregivers had high incidence rates in LTCF-A and LTCF-B, respectively. LTCF-B had a longer quarantine period than LTCF-A. The attack rate was 20.02% in LTCF-A and 27.9% in LTCF-B. The mortality rate was 2.3% (1/43) in LTCF-B, the only facility in which a COVID-19 death occurred. Conclusion: Extensive management requires contact minimization, which involves testing all contacts to mitigate further transmission in the early stages of LTCF outbreaks. The findings of this study can help inform and prepare public health authorities for COVID-19 outbreaks, particularly for early control in vulnerable facilities.
Shin Young Park, Gawon Choi, Hyeyoung Lee, Na-young Kim, Seon-young Lee, Kyungnam Kim, Soyoung Shin, Eunsu Jang, YoungSin Moon, KwangHwan Oh, JaeRin Choi, Sangeun Lee, Young-Man Kim, Jieun Kim, Seonju Yi, Jin Gwack, Ok Park, Young Joon Park
Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2020;11(4):259-264. Published online August 31, 2020
<p>This study describes the epidemiological characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on reported cases from long-term care facilities. As of April 20<sup>th</sup>, 2020, 3 long-term care facilities in a metropolitan area of South Korea had reported cases of COVID-19. These facilities’ employees were presumed to be the sources of infection. There were 2 nursing hospitals that did not report any additional cases. One nursing home had a total of 25 cases, with an attack rate of 51.4% (95% CI 35.6–67.0), and a fatality rate of 38.9% (95% CI 20.3–61.4) among residents. The results from this study suggest that early detection and maintenance of infection control minimizes the risk of rapid transmission.</p>
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Factors influencing long-term care facility performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review Eric Nguemeleu Tchouaket, Katya Kruglova, Josiane Létourneau, Emilie Bélanger, Stephanie Robins, Maripier Jubinville, Fatima El-Mousawi, Shiyang Shen, Idrissa Beogo, Drissa Sia BMC Health Services Research.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding control measures on long-term care facilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis Jun Zhang, Yushan Yu, Mirko Petrovic, Xiaomei Pei, Qing-Bao Tian, Lei Zhang, Wei-Hong Zhang Age and Ageing.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
A scoping review of the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on vulnerable population groups Lili Li, Araz Taeihagh, Si Ying Tan Nature Communications.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Analysis of Concentrated COVID-19 Outbreaks in Elderly Facilities in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan Toshiyuki Shibata, Sawa Okano, Daisuke Onozuka, Etsuko Ohta, Satoshi Kutsuna International Journal of Environmental Research an.2023; 20(20): 6926. CrossRef
Factors relating to intention of use non-face-to-face services among family caregivers of persons with dementia: A cross-sectional study Myonghwa Park, Jinju Kim, Jihye Jung, Seonhwa Kim, Jinhee Lee, Dongyoung Lee Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing.2023; 25(4): 377. CrossRef
Staffing Levels and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths in Korean Nursing Homes Jiyeon Lee, Juh Hyun Shin, Kyeong Hun Lee, Charlene A. Harrington, Sun Ok Jung Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice.2022; 23(1): 15. CrossRef
An Experience of the Early Stage of COVID-19 Outbreak in Nursing Homes in Gyeonggi Province, Korea Gawon Choi, Na-young Kim, Seon-young Lee, Hae Deun Noh, Heeyoung Lee Korean Journal of Clinical Geriatrics.2022; 23(1): 27. CrossRef
The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for long term care facilities Muh-Yong Yen, Jonathan Schwartz, Po-Ren Hsueh Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases.2022; 35(4): 370. CrossRef
Health impact of the first and second wave of COVID-19 and related restrictive measures among nursing home residents: a scoping review Marjolein E. A. Verbiest, Annerieke Stoop, Aukelien Scheffelaar, Meriam M. Janssen, Leonieke C. van Boekel, Katrien G. Luijkx BMC Health Services Research.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Epidemiology and clinical features of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis Mohammad Rashidul Hashan, Nicolas Smoll, Catherine King, Hannah Ockenden-Muldoon, Jacina Walker, Andre Wattiaux, Julieanne Graham, Robert Booy, Gulam Khandaker EClinicalMedicine.2021; 33: 100771. CrossRef
Protecting Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities From COVID-19: A Rapid Review of International Evidence Sally Hall Dykgraaf, Sethunya Matenge, Jane Desborough, Elizabeth Sturgiss, Garang Dut, Leslee Roberts, Alison McMillan, Michael Kidd Journal of the American Medical Directors Associat.2021; 22(10): 1969. CrossRef
Dementia Risk among Coronavirus Disease Survivors: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea Hye-Yoon Park, In-Ae Song, Tak-Kyu Oh Journal of Personalized Medicine.2021; 11(10): 1015. CrossRef
<sec><b>Objectives</b><p>The environment of long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) is critical to the management of the quality of their services and to patient safety, as highlighted by international studies. However, there is a lack of evidence on this topic in South Korea. This study aimed to examine the factors affecting healthcare quality in LTCHs and to explore the effectiveness of their quality management.</p></sec><sec><b>Methods</b><p>This study used a mixed methods approach with quantitative data collected in a national survey and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with practice-based managers. The samples included 725 nationally representative LTCHs in South Korea for the quantitative analysis and 15 administrators for the in-depth interviews.</p></sec><sec><b>Results</b><p>A higher installation rate of patient-safety and hygiene-related facilities and staff with longer-tenures, especially nurses, were more likely to have better healthcare quality and education for both employees and patients.</p></sec><sec><b>Conclusion</b><p>The need for patient-safety- and hygiene-related facilities in LTCHs that serve older adults reflects their vulnerability to certain adverse events (e.g., infections). Consistent and skillful nursing care to improve the quality of LTCHs can be achieved by developing relevant educational programs for staff and patients, thereby strengthening the relationships between them.</p></sec>
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Improving Preparedness for and Response to Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) in Long-Term Care Hospitals in Korea Tark Kim Infection & Chemotherapy.2020; 52(2): 133. CrossRef
Identifying Potentially Avoidable Emergency Department Visits of Long-Term Care Hospital Residents in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study Keon Kim, Dong Hoon Lee, Ho Young Yune, Jung Hee Wee, Duk Ho Kim, Eui Chung Kim, Jee Yong Lim, Seung Pil Choi BioMed Research International.2019; 2019: 1. CrossRef
<b>Objectives</b><br/>
The aim of this study was to identify the effects of community-based home healthcare projects that influence service performances with regard to Korean national long-term care insurance services in older adults.<br/><b>Methods</b><br/>
The project's applicants were 18 operational agencies in national long-term care institutions in Korea, and participants were care recipients (<i>n</i> = 2263) registered in long-term care institutions. We applied our healthcare system to the recruited participants for a 3-month period from October 2012 to December 2012. We measured the community-based home healthcare services such as long-term care, health and medical service, and welfare and leisure service prior to and after applying the community-based home healthcare system.<br/><b>Results</b><br/>
After the implementation of community-based home healthcare project, all community-based home healthcare services showed an increase than prior to the project implementation. The nutrition management service was the most increased and its increase rate was 628.6%. A comparison between the long-term care insurance beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries showed that health and medical services’ increase rate of nonbeneficiaries was significantly higher than beneficiaries (<i>p</i> < 0.001).<br/><b>Conclusion</b><br/>
Our community-based home healthcare project might improve the service implementation for older adults and there was a difference in the increase rate of health and medical services between Korean national long-term care insurance beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Perceived availability of home‐ and community‐based services and self‐reported depression among Chinese older adults: A cross‐sectional study Yushan Yu, Jun Zhang, Chao Song, Mirko Petrovic, Xiaomei Pei, Wei‐Hong Zhang Health & Social Care in the Community.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Community-based health financing: empirical evaluation of the socio-demographic factors determining its uptake in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria Felix O. Iyalomhe, Paul O. Adekola, Giuseppe T. Cirella International Journal for Equity in Health.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Factors Influencing Burnout in Primary Family Caregivers of Hospital-based Home Care Patients Ju Ok Yang, Hye Kyung Lee Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nurs.2018; 29(1): 54. CrossRef
A Systematic Literature Review Comparing Primary and Community Health Care Indicators and Measurement Frameworks Nour El Kadri, Liam Peyton Procedia Computer Science.2017; 113: 384. CrossRef
Economic Effect of Home Health Care Services for Community-dwelling Vulnerable Populations Eunhee Lee, Jinhyun Kim Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2016; 46(4): 562. CrossRef
<b>Objectives</b><br/>
To investigate predictors for specific dimensions of service quality perceived by hospital employees in long-term care hospitals.<br/><b>Methods</b><br/>
Data collected from a survey of 298 hospital employees in 18 long-term care hospitals were analysed. Multivariate ordinary least squares regression analysis with hospital fixed effects was used to determine the predictors of service quality using respondents’ and organizational characteristics.<br/><b>Results</b><br/>
The most significant predictors of employee-perceived service quality were job satisfaction and degree of consent on national evaluation criteria. National evaluation results on long-term care hospitals and work environment also had positive effects on service quality.<br/><b>Conclusion</b><br/>
The findings of the study show that organizational characteristics are significant determinants of service quality in long-term care hospitals. Assessment of the extent to which hospitals address factors related to employeeperceived quality of services could be the first step in quality improvement activities. Results have implications for efforts to improve service quality in longterm care hospitals and designing more comprehensive national evaluation criteria.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Perceptions of Paramedics and Non-paramedics Related to Existence of Telemedicine in ASEAN Based on SEM-PLS M. Fariz Fadillah Mardianto , Izyan A. Wahab , Deshinta Arrova Dewi , Theofillus Vebriano, Ilham Jaya Saputra Data and Metadata.2025; 4: 732. CrossRef
The assessment of quality of care in the Indian healthcare industry: the employees’ and patients’ perspectives Karthik Padamata, Rama Devi Vangapandu Benchmarking: An International Journal.2024; 31(5): 1749. CrossRef
The perception of health care quality by primary health care managers in Ukraine Valentyna Anufriyeva, Milena Pavlova, Tetiana Stepurko, Wim Groot BMC Health Services Research.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Primary Health Institutions and Service Quality in China: Implications for Health Policy Junfang Xu, Yuyin Zhou, Ruyu Liu, Feng Cheng, Wannian Liang International Journal of Environmental Research an.2022; 19(19): 12063. CrossRef
Lean Healthcare Readiness Evaluation among Staff in Private Hospital Nihayatul Munaa, Faizatul Ummah, M.I. Kartasurya, N. Lisnawati, A.F. Asna, N. Handayani, D.Z. Nuridzin BIO Web of Conferences.2022; 54: 00015. CrossRef
A tool to assess the quality perception of healthcare employees Ajayan Kamalasanan, Gurumoorthy Sathiyamurthi, Arun Vijay Subbarayalu International Journal of Health Care Quality Assur.2020; 33(4/5): 291. CrossRef
Dimensions of service quality in healthcare: a systematic review of literature Iram Fatima, Ayesha Humayun, Usman Iqbal, Muhammad Shafiq International Journal for Quality in Health Care.2019; 31(1): 11. CrossRef
Using the Importance–Satisfaction Model and Service Quality Performance Matrix to Improve Long-Term Care Service Quality in Taiwan Shun-Hsing Chen, Fan-Yun Pai, Tsu-Ming Yeh Applied Sciences.2019; 10(1): 85. CrossRef
Jurnal Kualitas Pelayanan Kesehatan (Studi Analitik Terhadap Pasien Rawat Jalan di RSUD Makassar) Andi Alim, Novagita Tangdilambi, Adam Badwi Jurnal Manajemen Kesehatan Yayasan RS.Dr. Soetomo.2019; 5(2): 165. CrossRef
Manufacturers’ perceived quality of electricity service and organizational performance in Nigeria Abdulrahman Muhammed, Lamidi Yusuf Journal of Transportation and Logistics.2016; 1(2): 143. CrossRef
Public Health Services for Foreign Workers in Malaysia Normah Awang Noh, Haris Abd. Wahab, Siti Hajar Abu Bakar Ah, M. Rezaul Islam Social Work in Public Health.2016; 31(5): 419. CrossRef