Compared with other treatments, surgical resection is an effective treatment method with the lowest local recurrence rate and the highest survival rate for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To achieve excellent results after surgical treatment, it is essential to carefully select patients who are suitable for hepatic resection and minimize postoperative complications and liver function decline through standardized surgical methods and pre- and postoperative management. However, domestic and international treatment guidelines only broadly recommend the application of hepatic resection for HCC with a single tumor and good liver function. Hence, practical treatment guidelines are required that can be standardized and used according to the varying clinical environments, including indications for hepatic resection, preoperative evaluation, basic principles of hepatic resection, minimally invasive hepatic resection, pre- and postoperative patient management, surgical treatment considerations in specific infection situations, and follow-up after surgical resection. Accordingly, an expert group from the Korean Liver Cancer Association Research Committee has developed practical recommendations based on expert consensus regarding the surgical treatment of HCC through a Delphi study.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Korea are increasing. This study analyzed income-based inequalities in the incidence and mortality of women breast cancer from 2006 to 2015, using national data that covered all Korean women. METHODS: We used the National Health Information Database from 2006 to 2015. For women aged 20 and older, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 by income quintile per year were calculated using the direct method. The rate ratio and rate difference (RD) of the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 between the top and bottom income quintiles were calculated as relative and absolute measures for inequalities. RESULTS: When comparing 2006 and 2015, both the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer increased. The lowest income quintile experienced higher mortality rates despite having lower incidence rates. In 2015, the income-based RD in incidence and mortality rates between the highest and lowest income quintiles (Q1-Q5) was -19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.3 to -15.5) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.8), respectively. Throughout this period, there was no statistically significant trend in income-based disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. The age-specific contributions to the absolute magnitude of inequality (RD) in incidence and mortality were more pronounced among middle-aged women than among older women. CONCLUSIONS This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Korea are increasing. This study analyzed income-based inequalities in the incidence and mortality of women breast cancer from 2006 to 2015, using national data that covered all Korean women. METHODS: We used the National Health Information Database from 2006 to 2015. For women aged 20 and older, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 by income quintile per year were calculated using the direct method. The rate ratio and rate difference (RD) of the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 between the top and bottom income quintiles were calculated as relative and absolute measures for inequalities. RESULTS: When comparing 2006 and 2015, both the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer increased. The lowest income quintile experienced higher mortality rates despite having lower incidence rates. In 2015, the income-based RD in incidence and mortality rates between the highest and lowest income quintiles (Q1-Q5) was -19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.3 to -15.5) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.8), respectively. Throughout this period, there was no statistically significant trend in income-based disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. The age-specific contributions to the absolute magnitude of inequality (RD) in incidence and mortality were more pronounced among middle-aged women than among older women. CONCLUSIONS This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Korea are increasing. This study analyzed income-based inequalities in the incidence and mortality of women breast cancer from 2006 to 2015, using national data that covered all Korean women. METHODS: We used the National Health Information Database from 2006 to 2015. For women aged 20 and older, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 by income quintile per year were calculated using the direct method. The rate ratio and rate difference (RD) of the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 between the top and bottom income quintiles were calculated as relative and absolute measures for inequalities. RESULTS: When comparing 2006 and 2015, both the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer increased. The lowest income quintile experienced higher mortality rates despite having lower incidence rates. In 2015, the income-based RD in incidence and mortality rates between the highest and lowest income quintiles (Q1-Q5) was -19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.3 to -15.5) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.8), respectively. Throughout this period, there was no statistically significant trend in income-based disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. The age-specific contributions to the absolute magnitude of inequality (RD) in incidence and mortality were more pronounced among middle-aged women than among older women. CONCLUSIONS This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Korea are increasing. This study analyzed income-based inequalities in the incidence and mortality of women breast cancer from 2006 to 2015, using national data that covered all Korean women. METHODS: We used the National Health Information Database from 2006 to 2015. For women aged 20 and older, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 by income quintile per year were calculated using the direct method. The rate ratio and rate difference (RD) of the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 between the top and bottom income quintiles were calculated as relative and absolute measures for inequalities. RESULTS: When comparing 2006 and 2015, both the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer increased. The lowest income quintile experienced higher mortality rates despite having lower incidence rates. In 2015, the income-based RD in incidence and mortality rates between the highest and lowest income quintiles (Q1-Q5) was -19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.3 to -15.5) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.8), respectively. Throughout this period, there was no statistically significant trend in income-based disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. The age-specific contributions to the absolute magnitude of inequality (RD) in incidence and mortality were more pronounced among middle-aged women than among older women. CONCLUSIONS This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.

Objectives: This study investigated the association between exacerbated economic hardship during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and changes in the health behaviors of Korean adolescents. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey and included 44 908 students (22 823 boys and 22 085 girls) as study subjects. The dependent variables included changes in health behaviors (breakfast habits, physical activity, and alcohol use) that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aggravation of economic hardship by COVID-19 and the subjective economic status of the family were used as exposure variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was utilized to calculate the prevalence odds ratios (PORs). Results: Severe exacerbation of a family’s economic hardship due to COVID-19 was negatively associated with the health behaviors of adolescents, including increased breakfast skipping (POR, 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55 to 2.21 for boys and POR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.27 to 1.92 for girls) and decreased physical activity (POR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.57 for boys and POR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.60 for girls). These negative changes in health behaviors were further amplified when combined with a low subjective family economic status. Conclusions The experience of worsening household hardship can lead to negative changes in health behavior among adolescents. It is crucial to implement measures that address the economic challenges that arise from stressful events such as COVID-19 and to strive to improve the lifestyles of adolescents under such circumstances.

Objectives: Ewha Womans University launched an on-campus Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) response system called Ewha Safety Campus (ESC) Project in collaboration with the Seegene Inc. RTPCR diagnostic tests for COVID-19 were proactively provided to the participants. This study examines the effectiveness of the on-campus testing strategy in controlling the reproduction number (Rt ) and identifying student groups vulnerable to infection. Methods: The ESC project was launched on March 2, 2022, with a pilot period from Feb 22 to March 1, 2022—the peak of the Omicron variant wave. We collected daily data on the RT-PCR test results of the students of Ewha Womans University from Mar 2 to Apr 30, 2022. We daily calculated Rt and compared it with that of the general population of Korea (women, people aged 20–29 years, and Seoul residents). We also examined the students vulnerable to the infection based on the group-specific Rt and positivity rate. Results: A lower Rt was observed about 2 weeks after the implementation of the ESC Project than that of the general population. The lower Rt persisted during the entire study period. Dormitory residents had a higher Rt . The positivity rate was higher in students who did not comply with quarantine guidelines and did not receive the second dose of the vaccine. Conclusion The study provides scientific evidence for the effectiveness of the on-campus testing strategy and different infection vulnerabilities of students, depending on dormitory residence, compliance with the quarantine guidelines, and vaccination.

Background: Although inequality in traumatic brain injury (TBI) by individual socioeconomic status (SES) exists, interventions to modify individual SES are difficult. However, as interventions for area-based SES can affect the individual SES, monitoring or public health intervention can be planned. We analyzed the effect of area-based SES on hospitalization for TBI and revealed yearly inequality trends to provide a basis for health intervention. Methods: We included patients who were hospitalized due to intracranial injuries (ICIs) between 2008 and 2015 as a measure of severe TBI with data provided by the Korea National Hospital Discharge Survey. Area-based SES was synthesized using the 2010 census data. We assessed inequalities in ICI-related hospitalization rates using the relative index of inequality and the slope index of inequality for the periods 2008–2009, 2010–2011, 2012–2013, and 2014–2015. We analyzed the trends of these indices for the observation period by age and sex. Results: The overall relative indices of inequality for each 2-year period were 1.82 (95% confidence interval, 1.5–2.3), 1.97 (1.6–2.5), 2.01 (1.6–2.5), and 2.01 (1.6–2.5), respectively. The overall slope indices of inequality in each period were 38.74 (23.5–54.0), 36.75 (21.7–51.8), 35.65 (20.7–50.6), and 43.11 (27.6–58.6), respectively. The relative indices of inequality showed a linear trend for men (P = 0.006), which was most evident in the ≥ 65-year age group. Conclusion Inequality in hospitalization for ICIs by area-based SES tended to increase during the observation period. Practical preventive interventions and input in healthcare resources for populations with low area-based SES are likely needed.

In response to the changes in the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic situation, Ewha Womans University established Ewha Safe Campus (ESC), an on-campus infection outbreak management system, to allow students and faculty members to safely resume face-to face classes in 2022. The COVID-19 testing station, Ewha Safe Station, is the core element of ESC. Symptomatic students and faculty members perform a combo swab self-PCR test or receive a nasopharyngeal swab PCR test from experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through early detection and management. ESC is significant in that it detects infection risks and proactively implements preemptive measures in a university. The COVID-19 health response system model at the university level was applied for the first time in South Korea, reaching a milestone in the history of university health in South Korea. In particular, it is highly valuable that the test was free of charge, as it enabled all of the examinees to have easy access to the test through joint cooperation with the Seegene Medical Foundation. This is a successful example of cooperation between schools and private institutions for public health improvement. In the future, the direct and indirect effects of the establishment and implementation of ESC need to be evaluated and confirmed, and areas requiring improvements need to be identified in preparation for another infectious disease outbreak in the future.