Background: The Field Epidemiology Training Program Frontline, initiated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2019, aims to enhance the competencies of infectious disease practitioners across 17 regions in South Korea. With the September 2024 amendment to the Infectious Disease Prevention Act mandating infectious disease prevention and crisis response training for government employees who are associated with infectious diseases responses, there is an urgent need to assess and optimize the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of such competency-based education programs amidst constraints of budget and manpower. Methods: This study examined the educational needs and priorities of public health competencies among infectious disease practitioners. The competency framework for Infectious Disease Response Practitioners (IDRP) in South Korea was used to evaluate the validity, importance, and performance level of competencies for infectious disease response personnel. For the training needs analysis, differences in performance by group were analyzed, and an importance performance analysis (IPA) was conducted using the Borich Needs Assessment based on the IPA matrix to derive training priorities. Results: The analysis revealed a significant gap between perceived importance and selfreported performance levels in most competencies, especially epidemiologic methods.Competencies related to safety and ethics, fieldwork, and crisis management have high importance and performance ratings, indicating a need for ongoing training. Of the 27 competencies, the IPA identified specific training needs and priorities, suggesting eight competencies for focused intervention to strengthen the capacity of IDRPs. Conclusion The IDRP competency framework in South Korea plays a pivotal role in establishing a standardized, competency-based approach to training IDRP. The identified gaps and training priorities highlight the need for continued curriculum development and the integration of real-world, field-based scenarios into training programs.

Background: The Field Epidemiology Training Program Frontline, initiated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2019, aims to enhance the competencies of infectious disease practitioners across 17 regions in South Korea. With the September 2024 amendment to the Infectious Disease Prevention Act mandating infectious disease prevention and crisis response training for government employees who are associated with infectious diseases responses, there is an urgent need to assess and optimize the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of such competency-based education programs amidst constraints of budget and manpower. Methods: This study examined the educational needs and priorities of public health competencies among infectious disease practitioners. The competency framework for Infectious Disease Response Practitioners (IDRP) in South Korea was used to evaluate the validity, importance, and performance level of competencies for infectious disease response personnel. For the training needs analysis, differences in performance by group were analyzed, and an importance performance analysis (IPA) was conducted using the Borich Needs Assessment based on the IPA matrix to derive training priorities. Results: The analysis revealed a significant gap between perceived importance and selfreported performance levels in most competencies, especially epidemiologic methods.Competencies related to safety and ethics, fieldwork, and crisis management have high importance and performance ratings, indicating a need for ongoing training. Of the 27 competencies, the IPA identified specific training needs and priorities, suggesting eight competencies for focused intervention to strengthen the capacity of IDRPs. Conclusion The IDRP competency framework in South Korea plays a pivotal role in establishing a standardized, competency-based approach to training IDRP. The identified gaps and training priorities highlight the need for continued curriculum development and the integration of real-world, field-based scenarios into training programs.

Background: The Field Epidemiology Training Program Frontline, initiated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2019, aims to enhance the competencies of infectious disease practitioners across 17 regions in South Korea. With the September 2024 amendment to the Infectious Disease Prevention Act mandating infectious disease prevention and crisis response training for government employees who are associated with infectious diseases responses, there is an urgent need to assess and optimize the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of such competency-based education programs amidst constraints of budget and manpower. Methods: This study examined the educational needs and priorities of public health competencies among infectious disease practitioners. The competency framework for Infectious Disease Response Practitioners (IDRP) in South Korea was used to evaluate the validity, importance, and performance level of competencies for infectious disease response personnel. For the training needs analysis, differences in performance by group were analyzed, and an importance performance analysis (IPA) was conducted using the Borich Needs Assessment based on the IPA matrix to derive training priorities. Results: The analysis revealed a significant gap between perceived importance and selfreported performance levels in most competencies, especially epidemiologic methods.Competencies related to safety and ethics, fieldwork, and crisis management have high importance and performance ratings, indicating a need for ongoing training. Of the 27 competencies, the IPA identified specific training needs and priorities, suggesting eight competencies for focused intervention to strengthen the capacity of IDRPs. Conclusion The IDRP competency framework in South Korea plays a pivotal role in establishing a standardized, competency-based approach to training IDRP. The identified gaps and training priorities highlight the need for continued curriculum development and the integration of real-world, field-based scenarios into training programs.

Background: The Field Epidemiology Training Program Frontline, initiated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2019, aims to enhance the competencies of infectious disease practitioners across 17 regions in South Korea. With the September 2024 amendment to the Infectious Disease Prevention Act mandating infectious disease prevention and crisis response training for government employees who are associated with infectious diseases responses, there is an urgent need to assess and optimize the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of such competency-based education programs amidst constraints of budget and manpower. Methods: This study examined the educational needs and priorities of public health competencies among infectious disease practitioners. The competency framework for Infectious Disease Response Practitioners (IDRP) in South Korea was used to evaluate the validity, importance, and performance level of competencies for infectious disease response personnel. For the training needs analysis, differences in performance by group were analyzed, and an importance performance analysis (IPA) was conducted using the Borich Needs Assessment based on the IPA matrix to derive training priorities. Results: The analysis revealed a significant gap between perceived importance and selfreported performance levels in most competencies, especially epidemiologic methods.Competencies related to safety and ethics, fieldwork, and crisis management have high importance and performance ratings, indicating a need for ongoing training. Of the 27 competencies, the IPA identified specific training needs and priorities, suggesting eight competencies for focused intervention to strengthen the capacity of IDRPs. Conclusion The IDRP competency framework in South Korea plays a pivotal role in establishing a standardized, competency-based approach to training IDRP. The identified gaps and training priorities highlight the need for continued curriculum development and the integration of real-world, field-based scenarios into training programs.

Under-occlusion (‘infraocclusion’ as defined in the natural teeth) after implant restoration in the posterior area is commonly encountered in clinical practice;however, it has rarely been reported. Most importantly, the under-occlusion change mechanism remains unknown. The purpose of this case report was to analyze how the dentition of both arches changed in a patient, including teeth tilting, elongation and occlusal plane change with under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration after long-term function. Based on this, we hypothesized a mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration. Among patients showing the under-occlusion phenomenon, three patients who had a long-term follow-up and had a model produced at the time of restoration were enrolled. The dentition changes were analyzed via digital scanning and superimposition of the model at the time of restoration, with the current model showing under-occlusion. Based on the result of superimposition, tooth elongation occurs mainly in the maxilla, and two types of positional changes occur in the mandible, specifically in the anterior-superior and posteriorinferior direction. The mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant could be the result of tooth elongation and the relative positional change of the mandible.

Under-occlusion (‘infraocclusion’ as defined in the natural teeth) after implant restoration in the posterior area is commonly encountered in clinical practice;however, it has rarely been reported. Most importantly, the under-occlusion change mechanism remains unknown. The purpose of this case report was to analyze how the dentition of both arches changed in a patient, including teeth tilting, elongation and occlusal plane change with under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration after long-term function. Based on this, we hypothesized a mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration. Among patients showing the under-occlusion phenomenon, three patients who had a long-term follow-up and had a model produced at the time of restoration were enrolled. The dentition changes were analyzed via digital scanning and superimposition of the model at the time of restoration, with the current model showing under-occlusion. Based on the result of superimposition, tooth elongation occurs mainly in the maxilla, and two types of positional changes occur in the mandible, specifically in the anterior-superior and posteriorinferior direction. The mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant could be the result of tooth elongation and the relative positional change of the mandible.

Under-occlusion (‘infraocclusion’ as defined in the natural teeth) after implant restoration in the posterior area is commonly encountered in clinical practice;however, it has rarely been reported. Most importantly, the under-occlusion change mechanism remains unknown. The purpose of this case report was to analyze how the dentition of both arches changed in a patient, including teeth tilting, elongation and occlusal plane change with under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration after long-term function. Based on this, we hypothesized a mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration. Among patients showing the under-occlusion phenomenon, three patients who had a long-term follow-up and had a model produced at the time of restoration were enrolled. The dentition changes were analyzed via digital scanning and superimposition of the model at the time of restoration, with the current model showing under-occlusion. Based on the result of superimposition, tooth elongation occurs mainly in the maxilla, and two types of positional changes occur in the mandible, specifically in the anterior-superior and posteriorinferior direction. The mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant could be the result of tooth elongation and the relative positional change of the mandible.

Under-occlusion (‘infraocclusion’ as defined in the natural teeth) after implant restoration in the posterior area is commonly encountered in clinical practice;however, it has rarely been reported. Most importantly, the under-occlusion change mechanism remains unknown. The purpose of this case report was to analyze how the dentition of both arches changed in a patient, including teeth tilting, elongation and occlusal plane change with under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration after long-term function. Based on this, we hypothesized a mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration. Among patients showing the under-occlusion phenomenon, three patients who had a long-term follow-up and had a model produced at the time of restoration were enrolled. The dentition changes were analyzed via digital scanning and superimposition of the model at the time of restoration, with the current model showing under-occlusion. Based on the result of superimposition, tooth elongation occurs mainly in the maxilla, and two types of positional changes occur in the mandible, specifically in the anterior-superior and posteriorinferior direction. The mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant could be the result of tooth elongation and the relative positional change of the mandible.

Under-occlusion (‘infraocclusion’ as defined in the natural teeth) after implant restoration in the posterior area is commonly encountered in clinical practice;however, it has rarely been reported. Most importantly, the under-occlusion change mechanism remains unknown. The purpose of this case report was to analyze how the dentition of both arches changed in a patient, including teeth tilting, elongation and occlusal plane change with under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration after long-term function. Based on this, we hypothesized a mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant restoration. Among patients showing the under-occlusion phenomenon, three patients who had a long-term follow-up and had a model produced at the time of restoration were enrolled. The dentition changes were analyzed via digital scanning and superimposition of the model at the time of restoration, with the current model showing under-occlusion. Based on the result of superimposition, tooth elongation occurs mainly in the maxilla, and two types of positional changes occur in the mandible, specifically in the anterior-superior and posteriorinferior direction. The mechanism of under-occlusion of the posterior implant could be the result of tooth elongation and the relative positional change of the mandible.

Background/Aims: To investigate a reported outbreak of presumed hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in a Korean food manufacturing facility and to explore the association between anti-HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) positivity and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination. Methods: Twenty-four cases of anti-HEV IgM positivity were reported among 646 workers at the facility in 2022. An epidemiological investigation was conducted, comprising HEV-RNA testing of blood and environmental samples, analysis of group meal records, and an association between anti-HEV IgM positivity and confirmed COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Results: All 24 patients were asymptomatic, with cases spread sporadically across the facility. HEV RNA was not detected in the serum or environmental samples. Four out of 340 meals (1.2%) showed a significantly higher proportion of anti-HEV positivity in each meal intake group than in the non-intake group on certain days. Although the cumulative rate of COVID-19 infection showed no difference, the anti-HEV IgM positive group showed significantly higher proportions of >2 doses of COVID-19 vaccination (83.3% vs 48.7%, p=0.021), vaccination within 90 days (45.8% vs 19.7%, p=0.008), and having the Moderna vaccine administered as the last vaccine (75.0% vs 14.5%, p<0.001) than those of the anti-HEV negative group. In four multivariable models, three or more COVID-19 vaccinations and the Moderna vaccine as the last vaccine were consistently associated with anti-HEV IgM positivity, while the specific day group meal intake was also a significant factor. Conclusions This epidemiological investigation showed that anti-HEV IgM positivity may occur as a false-positive result related to COVID-vaccination over three times and use of the Moderna vaccine, although a portion of true HEV infection may not be excluded.