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.

Background: The advent of the omicron variant and the formulation of diverse therapeutic strategies marked a new epoch in the realm of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Studies have compared the clinical outcomes between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, but such studies were conducted during the early stages of the pandemic when effective treatment strategies had not yet been developed, which limits the generalizability of the findings.Therefore, an updated evaluation of the comparative analysis of clinical outcomes between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza is requisite. Methods: This study used data from the severe acute respiratory infection surveillance system of South Korea. We extracted data for influenza patients who were infected between 2018 and 2019 and COVID-19 patients who were infected in 2021 (pre-omicron period) and 2022 (omicron period). Comparisons of outcomes were conducted among the pre-omicron, omicron, and influenza cohorts utilizing propensity score matching. The adjusted covariates in the propensity score matching included age, sex, smoking, and comorbidities. Results: The study incorporated 1,227 patients in the pre-omicron cohort, 1,948 patients in the omicron cohort, and 920 patients in the influenza cohort. Following propensity score matching, 491 patients were included in each respective group. Clinical presentations exhibited similarities between the pre-omicron and omicron cohorts; however, COVID-19 patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of dyspnea and pulmonary infiltrates compared to their influenza counterparts. Both COVID-19 groups exhibited higher in-hospital mortality and longer hospital length of stay than the influenza group. The omicron group showed no significant improvement in clinical outcomes compared to the pre-omicron group. Conclusion The omicron group did not demonstrate better clinical outcomes than the pre-omicron group, and exhibited significant disease severity compared to the influenza group. Considering the likely persistence of COVID-19 infections, it is imperative to sustain comprehensive studies and ongoing policy support for the virus to enhance the prognosis for individuals affected by COVID-19.

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.