Objective: Dentists encounter unique occupational challenges, including stress, depression, and anxiety, that can impact their mental well-being. Therefore, it is essential to identify dentists’ mental health statuses and the factors influencing them. Understanding the heterogeneity in dentists’ mental health is crucial for tailored interventions. To investigate different mental health profiles within the dentist population and understand the characteristics of each type. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 261 Korean dentists from a sample of 1,520. Using latent profile analysis, participants were classified into distinct mental health profiles based on self-reported stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and sleep quality. Demographic and occupational variables were analyzed to explore their association with mental health profiles. Results: Three distinct mental health profiles were identified: high, moderate, and low. Factors such as drinking frequency, socioeconomic status, income, and work hours significantly influenced profile classification. Significant differences in job satisfaction were observed among the profiles. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of personalized interventions to address the specific needs of each mental health profile, aiming to improve job satisfaction and overall mental health in the dental profession.

Objective: Dentists encounter unique occupational challenges, including stress, depression, and anxiety, that can impact their mental well-being. Therefore, it is essential to identify dentists’ mental health statuses and the factors influencing them. Understanding the heterogeneity in dentists’ mental health is crucial for tailored interventions. To investigate different mental health profiles within the dentist population and understand the characteristics of each type. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 261 Korean dentists from a sample of 1,520. Using latent profile analysis, participants were classified into distinct mental health profiles based on self-reported stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and sleep quality. Demographic and occupational variables were analyzed to explore their association with mental health profiles. Results: Three distinct mental health profiles were identified: high, moderate, and low. Factors such as drinking frequency, socioeconomic status, income, and work hours significantly influenced profile classification. Significant differences in job satisfaction were observed among the profiles. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of personalized interventions to address the specific needs of each mental health profile, aiming to improve job satisfaction and overall mental health in the dental profession.

Objective: Dentists encounter unique occupational challenges, including stress, depression, and anxiety, that can impact their mental well-being. Therefore, it is essential to identify dentists’ mental health statuses and the factors influencing them. Understanding the heterogeneity in dentists’ mental health is crucial for tailored interventions. To investigate different mental health profiles within the dentist population and understand the characteristics of each type. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 261 Korean dentists from a sample of 1,520. Using latent profile analysis, participants were classified into distinct mental health profiles based on self-reported stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and sleep quality. Demographic and occupational variables were analyzed to explore their association with mental health profiles. Results: Three distinct mental health profiles were identified: high, moderate, and low. Factors such as drinking frequency, socioeconomic status, income, and work hours significantly influenced profile classification. Significant differences in job satisfaction were observed among the profiles. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of personalized interventions to address the specific needs of each mental health profile, aiming to improve job satisfaction and overall mental health in the dental profession.

Objective: Dentists encounter unique occupational challenges, including stress, depression, and anxiety, that can impact their mental well-being. Therefore, it is essential to identify dentists’ mental health statuses and the factors influencing them. Understanding the heterogeneity in dentists’ mental health is crucial for tailored interventions. To investigate different mental health profiles within the dentist population and understand the characteristics of each type. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 261 Korean dentists from a sample of 1,520. Using latent profile analysis, participants were classified into distinct mental health profiles based on self-reported stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and sleep quality. Demographic and occupational variables were analyzed to explore their association with mental health profiles. Results: Three distinct mental health profiles were identified: high, moderate, and low. Factors such as drinking frequency, socioeconomic status, income, and work hours significantly influenced profile classification. Significant differences in job satisfaction were observed among the profiles. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of personalized interventions to address the specific needs of each mental health profile, aiming to improve job satisfaction and overall mental health in the dental profession.

Objective: Dentists encounter unique occupational challenges, including stress, depression, and anxiety, that can impact their mental well-being. Therefore, it is essential to identify dentists’ mental health statuses and the factors influencing them. Understanding the heterogeneity in dentists’ mental health is crucial for tailored interventions. To investigate different mental health profiles within the dentist population and understand the characteristics of each type. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 261 Korean dentists from a sample of 1,520. Using latent profile analysis, participants were classified into distinct mental health profiles based on self-reported stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and sleep quality. Demographic and occupational variables were analyzed to explore their association with mental health profiles. Results: Three distinct mental health profiles were identified: high, moderate, and low. Factors such as drinking frequency, socioeconomic status, income, and work hours significantly influenced profile classification. Significant differences in job satisfaction were observed among the profiles. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of personalized interventions to address the specific needs of each mental health profile, aiming to improve job satisfaction and overall mental health in the dental profession.

OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of social distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been evaluated using the magnitude of changes in population mobility. This study aimed to investigate a direct indicator—namely, the number of close contacts per patient with confirmed COVID-19. METHODS: From week 7, 2020 to week 43, 2021, population movement changes were calculated from the data of two Korean telecommunication companies and Google in accordance with social distancing stringency levels. Data on confirmed cases and their close contacts among residents of Gyeonggi Province, Korea were combined at each stage. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to compare the movement data with the change in the number of contacts for each confirmed case calculated by stratification according to age group. The reference value of the population movement data was set using the value before mid-February 2020, considering each data’s characteristics. RESULTS: In the age group of 18 or younger, the number of close contacts per confirmed case decreased or increased when the stringency level was strengthened or relaxed, respectively. In adults, the correlation was relatively low, with no correlation between the change in the number of close contacts per confirmed case and the change in population movement after the commencement of vaccination for adults. CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of governmental social distancing policies against COVID-19 can be evaluated using the number of close contacts per confirmed case as a direct indicator, especially for each age group. Such an analysis can facilitate policy changes for specific groups.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the viral cycle threshold (Ct) values of infected patients to better understand viral kinetics by vaccination status during different periods of variant predominance in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. METHODS: We obtained case-specific data from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance system, Gyeonggi in-depth epidemiological report system, and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service from January 2020 to January 2022. We defined periods of variant predominance and explored Ct values by analyzing viral sequencing test results. Using a generalized additive model, we performed a nonlinear regression analysis to determine viral kinetics over time. RESULTS: Cases in the Delta variant’s period of predominance had higher viral shedding patterns than cases in other periods. The temporal change of viral shedding did not vary by vaccination status in the Omicron-predominant period, but viral shedding decreased in patients who had completed their third vaccination in the Delta-predominant period. During the Delta-predominant and Omicron-predominant periods, the time from symptom onset to peak viral shedding based on the E gene was approximately 2.4 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 2.5) and 2.1 days (95% CI, 2.0 to 2.1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS In one-time tests conducted to diagnose COVID-19 in a large population, although no adjustment for individual characteristics was conducted, it was confirmed that viral shedding differed by the predominant strain and vaccination history. These results show the value of utilizing hundreds of thousands of test data produced at COVID-19 screening test centers.

In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel.There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.

An air blow gun is one of the most common pneumatic tools found at industrial sites and entrances of mountain trails in South Korea. It is used for spraying high-pressure air to dust off surfaces and clothes, and to inject air into tubes. There have been many reported cases of injuries and deaths associated with air blow guns. The victim died by placing the nozzle of an air blow gun, installed on an outdoor sports field, into her nose, and pulling the trigger. An autopsy ascribed her death to pneumothorax. Numerous accidents associated with air blow guns have been reported in the media. However, the use of an air blow gun has not been the subject of a suicide case study in forensic literature. To our knowledge, this is the first case report on suicide using an air blow gun. Stronger public safety warnings stressing the potentially fatal outcomes from careless usage of air blow guns are required.