• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2020

Purpose: Workers with chronic health problems find it difficult to maintain their work because of socioeconomic difficulties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace and chronic health problems of Korean workers. Methods: A total of 28,807 wage workers participated in the study and were selected using the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associations between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards and chronic health problems. Results: Of the participants, 1,220 (4.23%) had chronic health problems. Even after adjusting the general characteristics, vibration, noise, high temperature, low temperature, dust, chemical and cigarette smoke, fatigue and painful posture, dragging or pushing or moving of heavy objects, repetitive hand or arm movements, working with a computer or smartphone, use of internet or e-mail, and anxiety situations increased the risk of chronic health problems. Conclusion: The study reaffirms that exposure of physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace significantly increases the risk of chronic health problems.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was (1) to examine the impact of chronic diseases and emotional-behavioral problems on school-age children's self-perceived QOL, and (2) to investigate what factors were related to the QOL of children. Participants were 972 Korean 4th, 5th, & 6th grade students and 47 teachers. Children completed a questionnaire to evaluate their self-perceived well-being and subjective health. Also they reported their height/weight and physical health state indicating whether they have chronic diseases or not. Teachers reported each child's psychosocial health problems and also reported whether the child has chronic diseases or not. Major findings were as follows : 1. Physical and psychosocial health status had significant impact on school-age children's QOL. Moreover, physical and psychosocial health status were interrelated. 2. Presence of physical and psychosocial problems contributed to substantial declines in self-perceived QOL of school-age children. Children who have chronic diseases and emotional-behavioral problems reported significantly lower QOL compared with children in a normal state. 3. Peer relationship was found to be the significant factor that contribute to the QOL of all children.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the association between health condition and leaving the labor market among middle-aged and older adults in South Korea. Methods: Data was obtained from individuals aged 45 years and older participating in the 2006 and 2008 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We used various health measures including chronic diseases, comorbidities, traffic accident injuries, disabilit of instrumental activities of daily living, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health. The odds ratios of job loss, and retirement, versus employment were calculated using multinomial logistic regression by each health measure. Results: In our cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis, health problems related to physical disabilities had the greatest effect on leaving the worksite. A shift in health condition from good to poor in a short period was a predictor of increased risk of unemployment but a persistent pattern of health problems was not associated with unemployment. Women with health problems showed a high probability of retirement, whereas among men, health problems instantly the possibility of both job loss and retirement. Conclusions: Health problems of middle aged and older workers were crucial risk factors for retirement and involuntarily job loss. Especially functional defect and recent health problems strongly and instanty affected employment status.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2018

This study investigated 2,088 economically active workers aged 20 to 65 years selected from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to evaluate the relationship between chronic diseases and oral health behaviors among economic workers and examine the risk factors for oral diseases. The results of the study were as follows. Dental caries were related to subjective oral health status, toothache experience, orthodontic treatment experience, chewing problems, speaking problems, oral examination, and dental clinic use. Periodontal disease was associated with oral health status, toothache experience, orthodontic experience, and chewing and speaking problems. The risk factors for chronic diseases and oral health behavior were as follows. Hypertension, 1.37 times; obesity, 1.48 times; diabetes, 1.5 times; low HDL-cholesterol, 1.31 times; hepatitis A antibody, 1.53 times higher. Health status was found to be 1.70 times higher in dental caries and 2.10 times higher in periodontal disease. The tooth experience was 1.30 times higher in dental caries and 1.35 times higher in periodontal disease. Problems chewing were 1.76 times for dental caries and 1.78 times for periodontal disease. The possibility of dental caries and periodontal disease was 1.44 times higher. Smokers were 1.61 times more likely to have dental caries and 1.63 times more likely to have periodontal disease. These results suggest that periodontal diseases increase the risk of chronic diseases and oral health behavior increases the risk of dental caries and periodontal disease. Although dental caries seem to have a lower risk of becoming a chronic disease if only oral health care is good, it is considered that both chronic disease and oral health care are important for periodontal disease.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 2008

Purposes: The purposes of this study are to describe the health problems experienced by VLBW premature infants and their health care services utilization during the first year of life Method: Eighteen mothers of VLBW premature infants completed a survey questionnaire, asking socioeconomic/demographic information, health/developmental problems experienced by their infants, and their use of health care services. Results: Of the 18 infants, 78% experienced respiratory problems such as cold/running nose and wheezing during the first year and 33% experienced gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Twelve (67%) infants visited the emergency department at least one time and 10 infants (56%) were hospitalized at least once during their first year of age. Interestingly, infants without chronic lung disease visited the emergency department more than infants without chronic lung disease (p=.213). Infants living in non-disadvantaged neighborhoods were hospitalized more than infants living in disadvantaged neighborhoods (p=.000). Conclusions: Health care providers should initiate educating mothers, particularly those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, about post-NICU discharge health care needs of their VLBW premature infants while their infants were still in the NICU so that unnecessary visits to the emergency department and rehospitalizations can be possibly prevented.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.124-140
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• 2023

Objectives: This study examined the changes in dietary habits, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and mental health problems in the regional areas of the Republic of Korea before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to provide evidence of the status of regional health inequalities. Methods: This study analyzed Korean adults aged 19 or older who participated in the Korea Community Health Survey (n = 686,708) and Consumer Behavior Survey for Foods (n = 19,109) from 2018 to 2020. The participants were classified according to their residence area (Seoul metropolitan area, Metropolitan cities, Provinces); 2018-2019 were defined as before COVID-19, and 2020 as after COVID-19. The dietary behaviors, chronic diseases, and mental health problems were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Results: After COVID-19, the eating-out usage rate in the Seoul metropolitan area and Provinces decreased compared to before COVID-19 (P < 0.001), and when responding that they eat out, the frequency of eating out with household members in the Seoul metropolitan area increased (P = 0.024). The deliveries/takeout usage rate in the Provinces decreased after COVID-19 compared to before (P < 0.001). After COVID-19, the prevalence of obesity decreased in all regions (P < 0.001), and the prevalence of hypertension increased significantly in the Provinces (P = 0.015). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased continuously before and after COVID-19 in all regions (P < 0.002). High-risk subjective stress levels increased significantly in the Seoul metropolitan area (P < 0.001), and sleep duration significantly increased in all regions (P < 0.001). Major depressive disorder was reduced significantly in Metropolitan cities (P = 0.042) and Provinces (P < 0.001). Conclusions: After the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of chronic diseases and mental health problems showed regional differences along with changes in dietary habits. It is necessary to reflect the regional differences in dietary habits in future policies resolving regional health inequalities.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the level of health problems and the factors that affect health problems for concrete mixer truck divers. Methods: The questionnaires were administered to 111 drivers in 6 Remicon workplaces located in D city and 7 Remicon workplaces located in K city from September 10 to 28, 2018. A total of 111 questionnaires were collected and 106 were used, excluding 5 incomplete ones. Data were analyzed with frequency, percentage, $x^2$ test, multiple logistic regression analysis by SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: The factors affecting subjective health were eating habits, sleeping hours and drinking conditions. The factors that affected chronic diseases were age, eating habits, sleep hours, and drinking conditions. The factors influencing musculoskeletal complaints were work experience, eating habits, and sleep hours. Conclusion: The major influencing factors of health problems were eating habits, sleeping hours. This study suggests that it is necessary to run a systematic health care program for the desirable health behaviors in the communities and industrial fields.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 1997

The community health nursing process is essential in providing community health nursing service to the community. It helps to identify community health problems. to prioritize problems, to provide service. and to evaluate service results. However. it is very rare to find a study which applies the community health nursing process. This study intended to apply the community health nursing process to a urban community. The focus of the study was a community consisting of 533 families in a region of Seoul. The study process was as follows: 1) The data was collected by conducting interviews with community leaders and by collecting surveys from the people of the community. 2) The data was summarized and analyzed. 3) The community nursing diagnosis was identified. 4) The nursing diagnosis was prioritized. 5) The general and specific objectives for service were identified. 6) A specific nursing plan was set up. 7) A detailed evaluation plan was established. Four community nursing diagnoses were identified from the community. 1) The utilization rate of health center was found to be low due to lack of knowledge about the health center and low accessibility. 2) High trafic accident rate due to narrow roads. 3) High prevalence of chronic disease due to inappropriate health behavior. 4) High noise level and foul smell due to inappropriate waste management. Among the four community nursing diagnoses. 'High prevalence of chronic diseases was identified as a priority community nursing problem. The criteria for prioritizing community nursing problems were as follows: number of people involved, fragility of clients. severity of the problem. availability. of resources. concern of the people. readiness of nurses. relevance to the national policy. This study describes the general and specific objectives to solve the high prevalence of chronic health problems. nursing plans. and an evaluation plan.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.439-448
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to show a relationship between health perception and health promoting behaviors in chronic low back pain patients. Method: The subjects for this study were 213 persons who the visited hospital with low back pain-related problems. Results: The higher the level of the health perception in chronic back pain patients was the higher the rate of the practice of health promoting behaviors (r=0.393, p<.001). The health perception T score was $50.00{\pm}10.00$. As for health promoting behaviors, the T score was $49.99{\pm}10.00$. The subscale of the highest mean score was interpersonal support $(2.96{\pm}0.64)$ and the subscale of the lowest mean score was exercise $(2.13{\pm}0.99)$. Conclusion: This study showed that chronic low back pain patients had a lower level of perception of their health, and their practice to improve their health was not enough. Therefore, nurses should educate and encourage chronic low back pain patients in proper exercises and correct posture to strengthen and maintain lumbar extension muscle power.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.805-817
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• 2009

Purpose: This ethnograpy was done to explore patterns of health care behavior in patients with chronic health problems. Methods: The participants were 15 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 2 family members. Among the patients 4 had progressed to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Data were collected from iterative fieldwork in a department of internal medicine of I hospital. Data were analyzed using text analysis and taxonomic methods. Results: Illness and disease, relationship between health care givers and clients, and communication patterns between health professions and clients were discussed as the context of health care behavior. Health care behavior of the participants was categorized by its focus: every day work centered, body centered, organ centered, and pathology centered. Conclusion: Participants' health care behavior was guided by folk health concept and constructed in the sociocultural context. Folk etiology, pathology, and interpretation of one's symptoms were influencing factors in illness behavior. These findings must be a cornerstone of culture specific care for the chronic diseases.