Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Original Articles

Changes in Adolescents’ Compliance Rate in Response to Policy Changes: COVID-19 Toothbrushing Restrictions in Schools for Korea: Suhyun Choi, Yubeen Kim, Joo Mi Kim, Joohyeon Kim, Jaewon Jeon, Jae-Seok Song, Yeunhee Kwak, Se-Hwan Jung, Nam-jun Kim; J Prev Med Public Health. 2026;59(1):35-45. Published online September 8, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.25.448

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Abstract Summary PDF: Objectives
This study investigated changes in toothbrushing in adolescents in response to public health policy changes during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) focusing on behavioral trends before, during, and after policy enforcement according to socio-demographic subgroups.
Methods
Data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2018–2024) were divided into 3 periods: before (2018–2019), during (2020–2022), and after (2023–2024) the implementation of COVID-19 school restrictions. A total of 354 943 middle and high school students were included. The primary outcome variable was self-reported toothbrushing after lunch at school. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted, adjusting for confounders such as sex, academic performance, school level, school type, handwashing, and oral health status (toothache and gum bleeding).
Results
The compliance rate for toothbrushing declined significantly during the restriction period across all groups. It varied by sex, school type, school level, health-related behaviors (drinking, smoking, handwashing), and oral health status. Female students, middle schoolers, students in single-sex schools, non-smokers, and those practicing hand hygiene showed higher compliance. After restrictions were lifted, toothbrushing rates improved but remained lower than pre-pandemic levels. Recovery of the toothbrushing rate was observed in most groups, particularly among female students, high schoolers, and those with positive health-related behaviors. However, academic performance and oral health status were not significantly associated with recovery rate in adjusted analyses.
Conclusions
This study highlights that adolescents’ health behaviors are highly sensitive to environmental and policy changes. Variations in compliance and recovery rates underscore the need for adolescent-centered policies that account for both compliance and recovery, especially during crises such as pandemics.; Summary

Korean summary
청소년의 점심식사 후 칫솔질 행동은 COVID-19 학교 방역 제한 기간 동안 감소하였으며, 제한 해제 이후에도 부분적인 회복에 그쳤다. 순응도와 회복 양상은 집단별 특성에 따라 다르게 나타났다. 따라서 공중보건 정책은 행동의 순응뿐 아니라 회복까지 고려하여, 집단별 특성에 맞게 설계할 필요가 있다.

Key Message
Adolescents’ toothbrushing after lunch declined during COVID-19 school restrictions and showed only partial recovery after restrictions were lifted. Patterns of compliance rate and recovery rate varied according to subgroup characteristics. Therefore, public health policies should be designed to consider both compliance and recovery rates, tailored to subgroup-specific characteristics.

Serum 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Levels and Their Association With Age, Body Mass Index, Smoking, Military Record-based Variables, and Estimated Exposure to Agent Orange in Korean Vietnam Veterans: Sang-Wook Yi, Heechoul Ohrr, Jong-Uk Won, Jae-Seok Song, Jae-Seok Hong; J Prev Med Public Health. 2013;46(5):226-236. Published online September 30, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2013.46.5.226

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13 Crossref

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the levels of serum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and evaluate their association with age, body mass index, smoking, military record-based variables, and estimated exposure to Agent Orange in Korean Vietnam veterans.

Methods

Serum levels of TCDD were analyzed in 102 Vietnam veterans. Information on age, body mass index, and smoking status were obtained from a self-reported questionnaire. The perceived exposure was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire. Two proximity-based exposures were constructed by division/brigade level and battalion/company level unit information using the Stellman exposure opportunity index model.

Results

The mean and median of serum TCDD levels was 1.2 parts per trillion (ppt) and 0.9 ppt, respectively. Only 2 Vietnam veterans had elevated levels of TCDD (>10 ppt). The levels of TCDD did not tend to increase with the likelihood of exposure to Agent Orange, as estimated from either proximity-based exposure or perceived self-reported exposure. The serum TCDD levels were not significantly different according to military unit, year of first deployment, duration of deployment, military rank, age, body mass index, and smoking status.

Conclusions

The average serum TCDD levels in the Korean Vietnam veterans were lower than those reported for other occupationally or environmentally exposed groups and US Vietnam veterans, and their use as an objective marker of Agent Orange exposure may have some limitations. The unit of deployment, duration of deployment, year of first deployment, military rank, perceived self-reported exposure, and proximity-based exposure to Agent Orange were not associated with TCDD levels in Korean Vietnam veterans. Age, body mass index and smoking also were not associated with TCDD levels.

Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

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