• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ergonomic risk factors of 119 emergency medical technicians (EMT) with musculoskeletal disorders, performing emergency medical services (EMS) procedures in a firefighter combat challenge. Methods: The evaluated EMT procedures were cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) & intubation, trauma patient assessment, and intravenous (IV) injection. Measurement of working posture was done during training. Results: In CPR & intubation, OWAS-score was 2 (mean 1.9, maximum 4), requiring correction action, while REBA-score was 11 (mean 7.28, maximum 11), requiring immediate improvement. In trauma patient assessment & IV injection, OWAS-score was 4 (mean 2.9, maximum 4), requiring immediate correction action, while the REBA score was 7 (mean 7.5, maximum 11), requiring improvement. Conclusion: Both OWAS score and REBA-score showed improvement of posture and high-risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Occupational health management in EMS procedures during combat challenge and effective injury prevention program in fire stations are warranted.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 1998

The primary objective of this research was to establish and quantify the relationship between the physical degradation factors of multimedia telecommunications (teleconferencing) system and Subjective human perception. The research was performed in two stages. A field survey of the real users and pilot experiments were carried out in the first stage to determine customers' major complaints and corresponding system degradation factors. A prototype teleconferencing simulator was developed in two separate sound-treated chambers equipped with audio/video equipment running under a custom-developed software program. In the second stage, simulation experiments using the semantic differential methodology were performed utilizing 26 paid participants (14 college students and 12 housewives). The results indicated that audio/video synchronization and the frame rate were the main system factors for both subject groups, but different pattern of factors' influence was found according to the group, implying that the system configuration would hopefully accommodate the characteristics of the end users. Also, a single quality index, developed for system preference, was revealed to be highly correlated with user satisfaction. The results provide some fundamental data on the human subjective perception of multimedia telecommunications quality, and further can help establish the quality standards to enhance service level.

• The Journal of Korean Institute for Practical Engineering Education
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2010

In these days, the frequency in use of senior friendly products including walker, mattress preventing bedsore, etc. is going up by an increase in the elderly population. In the case of the elderly, bad ergonomic design causes some problems in the aspects of usability and safety. In fact, lots of accidents came from using senior friendly products. In this paper, older adults' usability when using senior friendly products was studied through industry-university collaboration. Usability evaluation program was developed to support companies that develop or manufacture a senior-friendly product. Walker and mattress preventing bedsore were evaluated in aspect of its usability and the result were provided to the company.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.242-252
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing depressive symptoms in public and private sector employees. Methods: Survey data on 23,602 workers who had worked in the public or private sector were obtained from the 2014 Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). Symptoms of depression were measured using the WHO-5 Well-being Index. Data were analyzed using a $x^2$ test, t-test, and multivariate stepwise logistic regression to determine the factors affecting the symptoms of depression. Results: First, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 41.1 % in public sector employees and 43.4 % in private sector employees. Second, the factors commonly affecting depressive symptoms in public and private sector employees were residence area, cognitive demands, development opportunities, social support from colleagues, social support from supervisors, social community at work, job rewards, and work-family conflict. In addition, age, company size, atypical work, ergonomic risks, quantitative demands, emotional demands, influence, and job insecurity were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms unique to private sector employees. Conclusion: Mental health programs including the employee assistance program (EAP) should be developed and implemented after considering the risk factors affecting depressive symptoms.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.52-69
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• 2023

Based on five types of health KF masks currently being commercialized, this study analyzed results of a survey of 316 male and female college students with experience in wearing health masks in Seoul metropolitan area. By identifying problems and improvement requirements according to current status of wearing health masks, results of this study could be used as basic data for designing ergonomic health mask with improved ease of wearing and satisfaction for human safety protection in the future. SPSS 26.0 statistical program was used for all data analyses, including post-hoc test, χ² test for cross-analysis, frequency analysis, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and Duncan test. Considering that masks are worn for more than 8 hours a day on average, it is necessary to design masks considering materials, sizes of mask ear straps, elasticity and thickness of straps. The design should minimize contact with lips and cheeks with improved fit and comfort, blocking performance, and aesthetics. According to this survey, nearly 50% of respondents said they were willing to wear masks even after the end of COVID-19. Thus, it is necessary to perform research and improve masks to have excellent colors, designs, shapes, fit, and functions suitable for both pandemic and post-pandemic era when wearing masks is common.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.1 s.41
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• pp.20-36
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• 1993

Work-related low back pain is one of the major factors that cause the loss of working power especially in actively working age, therefore controlling the work-related low back pain is one of the major issues in the field of industrial safety and health. This study was performed for detecting the risk factors and proposing the efficient control program of the work-related low back pain. The subjects were male workers employed at the manufacturing industry in Pusan with longer than 6 months' working duration. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire and interview from May 1 to October 31,1992. The contents of questionnaire were as follows:. the experience of low back pain within the recent one month, general characteristics(age, marital status, education level, religion, regular exercise), physical characteristics(height, weight), employment status(working duration, daily working hours, rest during work, satis(action fur the job), type of work and working environments(posture, forward bending, lifting and movement, satisfaction for table and chair). The result was analyzed for 608 entire respondents by case-control comparative method. The number of cases was 152 with a history of work-related low back pain, so the relative frequency of self-reported work-related low back pain was 25.0%, and the number of controls was 344 without any history of low back pain. As a result, two characteristics of the employment status(working duration, satisfaction fur the job) and all characteristics of type of work and working environments showed a statistical significance between the case and control groups(p<0.01). The Oddb ratios of these variables for Work-related low back pain were calculated. They were 7.88 for the satisfaction fur chair, 7.86 for lifting and movement,3.31 for satisfaction for table, and 2.22 fur bending forward(p<0.01). And for the multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that unsatisfaction for table was independent risk factor for Work-related low back pain. In summary, though this study was based upon the self-reported questionnaire and the subjective complaints, the satisfaction for chair, lifting and movement, satisfaction for table, and bending forward concerned with the type of work and working environments were considered as the main factors causing the work-related low back pain, and the work-related low back pain may be preventable by the ergonomic control of these factors.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.252-260
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• 2021

For frailty management, the importance of resistance exercise has been emphasized, and various devices have been developed. Recently, digital weight control technology that converts electromagnetic resistance to a digital weight is attracting attention, but there are no reports confirming the effectiveness and safety of the device for seniors in Korea. This study conducted a biomechanic-based ergonomic analysis of an elderly-friendly exercise device utilized in digital load control technology to suggest a direction for development. Twenty seniors (age: 62.40 ± 2.09 years) were included. The load of the device was classified into three levels, and the muscle activity and heart rate were assessed during three experimental motions. A questionnaire based on the International Organization for Standardization 9241-11 was adopted to evaluate the stability, operationality, efficiency, and satisfaction with the software and device. The program could be divided into three exercise intensities that can be utilized in the field depending on whether the exercise load, muscle activity, and heart rate were consistent. The monitor size needed to be enlarged to make the menu Korean, reduce the device size, and minimize noise. Considering these findings, the development of an advanced age-friendly exercise device by improving the size, display, and noise is suggested.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.551-565
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• 2012

The primary goal of this study was to provide a systematic methodology of utilizing 3D technology for tight-fit performance sportswear using information of skin deformation in various posture. Technical tools used in this study are Cyberware whole body scanner, RapidForm2004, 2C-AN 3D pattern development program, and YukaCAD. Analysis of the 3D skin deformation while knee joint was bent from $0^{\circ}$ to $60^{\circ}$ revealed that the length of dermatomes L4 was remained consistent during knee bending. Therefore, L4 was chosen as a major cutting line. To develop a highly ergonomic pattern, replicas of static and dynamic postures were developed and integrated using two methods, one is morphing method (Sqirlz Morph), and the other is AutoCAD. Experimental tight-fit garments called 'Derm-Mov Pattern' was designed using dematomes L4, L2, and inner line under knee and compared with four other patterns. As results, AutoCAD was appropriate as a integrating method of various postures. In wear test, 'Derm-Mov Pattern' was rated high (p < .001), in terms of pressure comfort especially around front crotch area. However, wear sensation was not signipicantly different in other area due to highly extensible property of materials. Pressure distribution was relatively even in these experimental garments.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.555-563
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• 2010

With recent advances in 3D scanning technology, three-dimensional (3D) patternmaking is becoming a powerful way to develop garments pattern. This technology is now applicable to the made to measure (MTM) system of both ordinary and tightly fitting garments. Although the pattern of fitted clothing has been developed using 3D human data, it is still interesting to develop cycling pants by considering while-cycling body posture and fabric elasticity. This study adopted the Garland's triangle simplification method in order to simplify data without distorting the original 3D scan. Next, the Runge-Kutta method (2C-AN program) was used to develop a 2D pattern from the triangular pixels in the 3D scanned data. The 3D scanned data of four male, university students aged from 21 to 25, was obtained using Whole body scanner (Model WB4, Cyberware, Inc., USA). Results showed the average error of measurement was $4.58cm^2$ (0.19%) for area and 0~0.61cm for the length between the 3D body scanned data and the 2D developed pattern data. This is an acceptable range of error for garment manufacture. Additionally, the 2D pattern developed, based on the 3D body scanned data, did not need ease for comfort or ease of movement when cycling. This study thus provides insights into how garment patterns may be developed for ergonomic comfort in certain special environments.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2010

Cycling that transform human energy into mechanical energy is one of the man-machine systems out of sports fields. Benchmarking means "improving ourselves by learning from others', therefore benchmarking toward dominant cyclist is necessary on field. The goals of this study were to provide important factors on multi-disciplines (kinematics, physiology, power, psychology) for a tailored-training program that is suitable to individual characteristics. Two cyclists participated in this study and gave consent to the experimental procedure. One was dominant cyclist (years: 21 yrs, height: 177 cm, mass: 70 kg), and the other was non-dominant cyclist (years: 21, height: 176, mass: 70). Kinematic data were recorded using six infrared cameras (240Hz) and QTM (software). Physiological data (VO2max, AT) were acquired according to graded exercising test with cycle ergometer and power with Wingate test used by Bar-Or et. al (1977) and to evaluate muscle function with Cybex. Psychological data were collected with competitive state anxiety inventory (CSAI-2) that was devised by Martens et. al (1990) and athletes' self-management questionnaire (ASMQ) of Huh (2003). It appears that the dominant's CV of ankle joint angle was higher than non-dominant's CV and dominant's pedaling pattern was consistent in biomechanics domain, which the dominant's values for all factors ware higher than non-dominant's values in physical, and physiological domain, and their values between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety were contrary to each other in psychology. Further research on multi-disciplines may lead to the development of tailored-optimal training programs applicable with key factors to enhance athletic performance by means of research including athlete, coach and parents.