Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives

Articles in E-pub version are posted online ahead of regular printed publication.

Correspondences

Response to the comment of Perone by the corresponding author Kim: Yongmoon Kim, Bryan Inho Kim, Sangwoo Tak; Published online March 24, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0072R [Epub ahead of print]

Comments on the article "Time-series comparison of COVID-19 case fatality rates across 21 countries with adjustment for multiple covariates": Gaetano Perone; Published online March 24, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0072L [Epub ahead of print]

Original Articles

Vaccine hesitancy in patients with COVID-19 who have back pain: Askeri Türken, Haşim Çapar; Received January 7, 2023 Accepted February 7, 2023 Published online March 24, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0003 [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract PDF: Objectives
Musculoskeletal pain is among the most common symptoms in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and it has placed a significant burden on health worldwide during the pandemic. This study explored vaccine hesitancy and associated factors in patients with positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test results who were hospitalized and had back pain.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 hospitalized COVID-19 patients over 18 years of age. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with IBM SPSS ver. 25.0.
Results
COVID-19 patients who were married considered COVID-19 vaccinations riskier than unmarried COVID-19 patients. Patients who had not been vaccinated expressed higher levels of distrust towards COVID-19 vaccines than patients who had been vaccinated. Participants had relatively little hesitation toward the Sinovac vaccine. High vaccine confidence was found in all participants regardless of vaccination status. Those who had not received the COVID-19 vaccine reported higher risk perceptions than those who had received at least 1 dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
Conclusion
Measurements of the hesitancy of vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients or members of society towards vaccines can be an important parameter for health authorities to find solutions.

Estimated impact of the national hepatitis B immunization program on acute viral hepatitis B among adolescents in South Korea: Chungman Chae, Sangwoo Tak; Received December 25, 2022 Accepted February 20, 2023 Published online March 24, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0321 [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract PDF: Objectives
We aimed to estimate the impact of the national hepatitis B immunization program on the incidence of acute hepatitis B infection among adolescents in South Korea.
Methods
We estimated the counterfactual incidence rate of reported acute hepatitis B among adolescents from 2016 to 2020 compared to the assumption that the national hepatitis B immunization program for children had not been implemented since 1995. The impact of the national hepatitis B immunization program for adolescents was measured by estimating the absolute risk reduction and averted acute hepatitis B infections among adolescents from 2016 to 2020 attributed to the national immunization program.
Results
The relative risk reduction of acute hepatitis B among adolescents was estimated to be 83.5% after implementing the national hepatitis B immunization program. The incidence rate of reported acute hepatitis B infections among adolescents decreased from 0.39 to 0.06 per 100,000 person-years, and 43 acute hepatitis B infections, including 17 symptomatic cases, were averted annually from 2016 to 2020 by the national hepatitis B immunization program.
Conclusion
The national hepatitis B immunization program for children was effective in preventing acute hepatitis B infection among adolescents in South Korea.

Forthcoming articles