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6 "Surveys and questionnaires"
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Original Articles
The prevention and response to infectious diseases in long-term care facilities in Korea: a nationwide survey
Sun Hee Na, Joong Sik Eom, Sun Bean Kim, Hyung Jin Yoon, So Yeon Yoo, Kyeong Sook Cha, Jong Rim Choi, Ji Youn Choi, Si Hyeon Han, Jin Ju Park, Tark Kim, Jacob Lee
Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024084.   Published online October 17, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024084
  • 735 View
  • 53 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are communal environments for patients with chronic diseases or older adults, making them particularly susceptible to significant harm during infectious disease outbreaks. Nonetheless, LTCFs have historically been subject to less stringent infection prevention and control (IPC) mandates. This study aimed to assess the current state of LTCFs and to develop an IPC system tailored for these facilities following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted an online survey of 11,366 LTCFs in Korea from December 30, 2022 to January 20, 2023, to evaluate the components of IPC in LTCFs. The infectious diseases targeted for IPC included COVID-19, influenza, and scabies. Additionally, we compared institution-based and home-based long-term care insurance facilities.
RESULTS
Overall, 3,537 (31.1%) LTCFs responded to the survey, comprising 1,819 (51.4%) institution-based and 1,718 (48.6%) home-based facilities. A majority (87.4%, 2,376/2,720) of these facilities experienced COVID-19 outbreaks. However, only 42.2% of home-based facilities, in contrast to 90.6% of institution-based facilities, were equipped to manage concurrent COVID-19 cases. Similarly, while 92.1% of institution-based facilities were capable of managing influenza, only 50.5% of home-based facilities could do the same. The incidence of scabies was significantly higher in institution-based facilities than in home-based ones (26.1 vs. 4.3%). Additionally, 88.7% of institution-based facilities managed scabies cases effectively, compared to only 42.1% of home-based facilities.
CONCLUSIONS
Approximately half of the LTCFs had a basic capacity to respond to infectious diseases. However, there were differences in response capabilities between institution-based facilities and home-based facilities.
Summary
Korean summary
장기요양기관을 대상으로 실태조사가 시행되었습니다. 50% 기관에서 감염병에 대한 기본 대응능력을 가지고 있었지만 시설급여기관과 재가급여기관 사이 대응능력에 차이가 있었습니다.
Key Message
A survey of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) was conducted. Fifty per cent of LTCFs had a basic capacity to respond to infectious diseases. However, there were differences in response capacity between institution-based and home-based facilities.
Development and validation of the Health Literacy Index for the Community for the Korean National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey
Junghee Yoon, Soo Jin Kang, Mangyeong Lee, Juhee Cho
Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024061.   Published online July 10, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024061
  • 1,155 View
  • 103 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
We developed and validated the Health Literacy Index for the Community (HLIC) to assess the health literacy of the Korean population within the framework of the Korean National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey.
METHODS
The HLIC was developed through (1) defining the conceptual framework and generating the item pool and (2) finalizing the items and identifying the cut-off value. Interviews were conducted to examine items’ face validity, and a cross-sectional survey was performed to analyze the item-response theory and Rasch models to investigate the instrument’s psychometric properties.
RESULTS
In this study of 1,041 participants, most had no difficulty understanding health information; however, 67.9% struggled to assess the reliability of health information from the Internet or media. A 4-factor structure was identified through factor analysis, leading to the exclusion of some items. This resulted in 10 items across 4 domains: (1) disease prevention, (2) health promotion, (3) health care, and (4) technology and resources. The HLIC demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s α of 0.87. It also showed high test-retest reliability and correlations with other health literacy instruments. A socio-demographic analysis of the HLIC revealed disparities in health literacy across various age groups, education levels, and income brackets.
CONCLUSIONS
The HLIC was developed to systematically measure health literacy in Korea’s general population. Its simplicity and conciseness ensure reliability and validity and improve its accessibility, making it particularly suitable for the broader Korean population, including those with lower literacy levels.
Summary
Korean summary
본 연구는 한국인의 건강 문해력을 평가하기 위해 지역사회 건강정보 이해능력 측정도구(Health Literacy Index for the Community, HLIC)를 개발하고 검증하였다. 그 결과, 많은 사람들이 인터 넷이나 미디어에서 얻은 정보의 신뢰성을 평가하는 데 어려움을 겪고 있으며, 연령, 교육 수준, 소 득에 따라 건강정보 이해능력 격차가 존재함을 확인하였다. 특히 본 도구는 높은 신뢰도와 타당성 을 입증하였으며, 이를 통해 한국인의 격차를 파악하고 맞춤형 개입을 위한 중요한 정보를 제공하 는 도구로서의 유용성을 확인하였다.
Key Message
This study developed and validated the Health Literacy Index for the Community (HLIC) to assess the health literacy of Koreans, finding that many had difficulties to assess its reliability from Internet or media sources, and disparities in health literacy were observed across age, education level, and income. The HLIC demonstrated strong reliability and validity, highlighting its utility for identifying health literacy gaps and informing targeted interventions in Korea.
Smokeless tobacco consumption and its association with tobacco control factors in the Western Pacific Region: results from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2015-2019
Chandrashekhar T. Sreeramareddy, Anusha Manoharan
Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022103.   Published online November 8, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022103
  • 4,854 View
  • 103 Download
  • 1 Web of Science
  • 1 Crossref
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
We estimated the prevalence of smokeless tobacco (ST) consumption and its associations with tobacco control factors among school-going youth in 18 Western Pacific Region (WPR) countries.
METHODS
We analyzed school-based Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2014-2019) microdata from 18 WPR countries and estimated weighted prevalence rates of ST consumption, cigarette smoking, and dual use. We used multilevel binary logistic regression to examine the associations of ST consumption and dual use with demographic variables, exposure to pro-tobacco and anti-tobacco factors, national income, and MPOWER indicators.
RESULTS
Data from 58,263 school-going youth were analyzed. The prevalence of past 30-day ST consumption was highest in Kiribati (42.1%), the Marshall Islands (26.1%), Micronesia (21.3%), Palau (16.0%), and Papua New Guinea (15.2%). In adjusted multilevel models, ST consumption and dual use were significantly associated with sex, age, parental smoking, pro-tobacco factors, national income, and MPOWER score. For each unit increase in score for cessation programs, we observed approximately 1.4-fold increases in the odds of youth ST consumption (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15 to 1.66) and dual use (aOR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.86). Similarly, for each unit increase in score for health-related warnings, the odds of both ST consumption (aOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.53) and dual use (aOR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.42) decreased by approximately 60%.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of youth ST consumption was substantial in the Pacific Islands, exceeding that of cigarette smoking in some countries. Implementing MPOWER measures for ST products could help reduce ST consumption.
Summary
Key Message
The prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption, and cigarette smoking is considerably high among the school going youth in five pacific island nations of Western Pacific Region. Exposure to pro-tobacco factors and parental smoking were positively associated with youth smokeless tobacco consumption as well as dual use (both smokeless tobacco and cigarettes smoking) Closer monitoring and strict tobacco control policies are needed to prevent further escalation of smokeless tobacco consumption.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Single, Dual, and Poly Use of Tobacco Products, and Associated Factors Among Adults in 18 Global Adult Tobacco Survey Countries During 2015–2021
    Chandrashekhar T. Sreeramareddy, Kiran Acharya, N. RamakrishnaReddy
    International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
Development and validation of a sunlight exposure questionnaire for urban adult Filipinos
Marc Gregory Yu, Nina Castillo-Carandang, Maria Elinor Grace Sison, Angelique Bea Uy, Katrina Lenora Villarante, Patricia Maningat, Elizabeth Paz-Pacheco, Eileen Abesamis-Cubillan
Epidemiol Health. 2018;40:e2018050.   Published online October 11, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2018050
  • 17,059 View
  • 200 Download
  • 5 Web of Science
  • 5 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To develop and validate a self-reported sunlight exposure questionnaire (SEQ) for urban adult Filipinos.
METHODS
The study included adults (19-76 years old) in Metro Manila, Philippines, well-versed in the Filipino (Tagalog) language and had resided in Metro Manila for at least 1 year. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, active skin disorders, and immunocompromised states. An expert panel created a questionnaire in Likert-scale format based on a conceptual framework and 4 existing instruments. The study proceeded in 4 phases: questionnaire item development, translation and back-translation, pretesting, and construct validity and reliability testing using factor analysis, the Cronbach alpha coefficient, and the paired t-test.
RESULTS
A 25-item, self-administered, Filipino (Tagalog) SEQ answerable using a 4-point Likert scale was created. The questionnaire was administered to 260 adult participants twice at a 2-week interval, with all participants completing both the first and second rounds of testing. All questionnaire items possessed adequate content validity indices of at least 0.86. After factor analysis, 3 questionnaire domains were identified: intensity of sunlight exposure, factors affecting sunlight exposure, and sun protection practices. Internal consistency was satisfactory for both the overall questionnaire (Cronbach alpha, 0.80) and for each of the domains (Cronbach alpha, 0.74, 0.71, and 0.72, respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed in the responses between the first and second rounds of testing, indicating good test-retest reliability.
CONCLUSIONS
We developed a culturally-appropriate SEQ with sufficient content validity, construct validity, and reliability to assess sunlight exposure among urban adult Filipinos in Metro Manila, Philippines.
Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the sunlight exposure questionnaire
    Xiaoxia Wang, Qin Wang, Zhe Li, Mengjie Chen, Maoting Guo, Laixi Kong, Liyuan Chen, Xiaolong Li, Junjun Li, Qieyan Cao, Zhenhua Luo, Zhenzhen Xiong, Dan Zhao
    Frontiers in Public Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Development and Validation of Vitamin D- Food Frequency Questionnaire for Moroccan Women of Reproductive Age: Use of the Sun Exposure Score and the Method of Triad’s Model
    Noura Zouine, Ilham Lhilali, Aziza Menouni, Lode Godderis, Adil El Midaoui, Samir El Jaafari, Younes Zegzouti Filali
    Nutrients.2023; 15(4): 796.     CrossRef
  • Sun Exposure Score and Vitamin D Levels in Moroccan Women of Childbearing Age
    Ilham Lhilali, Noura Zouine, Aziza Menouni, Lode Godderis, Marie-Paule Kestemont, Adil El Midaoui, Samir El Jaafari, Younes Filali-Zegzouti
    Nutrients.2023; 15(3): 688.     CrossRef
  • Vitamin D Deficiency and Diseases
    Yasir Mahmood, Nazish Waris, Asher Fawwad, Abdul Basit
    Journal of Diabetology.2021; 12(4): 391.     CrossRef
  • Association of sunlight exposure with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among working urban adult Filipinos
    Noemie Marie M. Mansibang, Marc Gregory Y. Yu, Cecilia A. Jimeno, Frances Lina Lantion-Ang
    Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia.2020; 6(3): 133.     CrossRef
Perspective
The direction of restructuring of a Korea field epidemiology training program through questionnaire survey among communicable disease response staff in Korea
Moo Sik Lee, Kwan Lee, Jee-Hyuk Park, Jee-Young Hong, Min-Young Jang, Byoung-Hak Jeon, Sang-Yun Cho, Sun-Ja Choi, JeongIk Hong
Epidemiol Health. 2017;39:e2017032.   Published online July 24, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2017032
  • 15,577 View
  • 180 Download
  • 1 Web of Science
  • 1 Crossref
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
We used a survey about the need for an educational training of infectious disease response staff in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and officer in metropolitan cities and provincial government to conduct field epidemiological investigation. The survey was conducted from January 25 to March 15, 2016. A total of 173 participants were selected from four different groups as follows: 27 clinical specialists, 22 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers, 82 KCDC staff, and 42 local health department officials. Results revealed that 83% of KCDC staff and 95% of local health department officials agreed on the need for educational training to strengthen capability of personnel to conduct epidemic research and investigation. The level of their need for training was relatively high, while self-confidence levels of individuals to conduct epidemic research and investigation was low. It was concluded that there was a need to develop training programs to enhance the ability of public health officials, EIS officers, KCDC staff, and local health department personnel to conduct epidemic research and investigation.
Summary
Korean summary
2015년 한국의 메르스 유행후 한국의 감염병 대응인력을 대상으로 한 조사분석을 통하여 역학조사관 교육 개편의 필요성을 확인하고, 세부 교육과정, 방법 및 내용 등 포괄적인 교육강화 및 개선방안을 모색하여 향후 역학조사관 신규 교육프로그램의 개발과 역량강화 방안을 제시하였다.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Perceived sources of occupational burn-out and embitterment among front-line health workers for COVID-19 control in Gyeonggi province, South Korea: a qualitative study
    Bee-Ah Kang, Sijoung Kwon, Myoungsoon You, Heeyoung Lee
    Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2022; 79(4): 245.     CrossRef
Method
Assessing measurement error in surveys using latent class analysis: application to self-reported illicit drug use in data from the Iranian Mental Health Survey
Kazem Khalagi, Mohammad Ali Mansournia, Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar, Keramat Nourijelyani, Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili, Ahmad Hajebi, Vandad Sharif, Reza Radgoodarzi, Mitra Hefazi, Abbas Motevalian
Epidemiol Health. 2016;38:e2016013.   Published online April 10, 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2016013
  • 17,244 View
  • 260 Download
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
Latent class analysis (LCA) is a method of assessing and correcting measurement error in surveys. The local independence assumption in LCA assumes that indicators are independent from each other condition on the latent variable. Violation of this assumption leads to unreliable results. We explored this issue by using LCA to estimate the prevalence of illicit drug use in the Iranian Mental Health Survey. The following three indicators were included in the LCA models: five or more instances of using any illicit drug in the past 12 months (indicator A), any use of any illicit drug in the past 12 months (indicator B), and the self-perceived need of treatment services or having received treatment for a substance use disorder in the past 12 months (indicator C). Gender was also used in all LCA models as a grouping variable. One LCA model using indicators A and B, as well as 10 different LCA models using indicators A, B, and C, were fitted to the data. The three models that had the best fit to the data included the following correlations between indicators: (AC and AB), (AC), and (AC, BC, and AB). The estimated prevalence of illicit drug use based on these three models was 28.9%, 6.2% and 42.2%, respectively. None of these models completely controlled for violation of the local independence assumption. In order to perform unbiased estimations using the LCA approach, the factors violating the local independence assumption (behaviorally correlated error, bivocality, and latent heterogeneity) should be completely taken into account in all models using well-known methods.
Summary
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