• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.164-176
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• 1998

This study deals with the current medical utilization for migrant workers and the characteristics of them. The purpose of this study is to provide the basic information to establish proper medical policy. For the study self-made questionnaire was used, which was answered by 453 migrant workers working in the area of manufacturing and non-technical work in 10 cities like Seoul, Inchon, Namyangju, Sungnam, Kwangju, Pyungchon, Kunpo, Kimpo, Masuk in Kyungki-do and Chunan in Chungchungnam-do. Besides, 303 medical records of those who had visited free medical check-up center were analyzed. The period of accumulating data is 6 months, from November 1st, 1996 to April 30th, 1997. The characteristics of migrant workers and current medical utilization are analyzed by percentage and the relation between characteristics and current medical utilization were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA. The finding of this study was as follows : 1) The number of nationality was 16. The first majority was Philippians as 32.0%. Among 16 nationalities Southeastern and Northern Asians were 48.9%, Southwestern Asian was 46.5%, the rest was 7.3%. Men were 81.0%, those who are aged from 26 to 30 were 39.0%, Graduatee from high school 92.7%, Christians 56.3%, unmarried 55.4% and salary from 600,000 Won to 800,000 Won 53.8% averaging monthly payment 669,810 Won. As for their residence, those who resided over 3 years were 31.9% and the illegal residence reached 77.4%. As for Korean language, those who speak in middle level were 5.6%. 2) As for kind of work and circumstances, manufacturing was 81.1%, 4 off-days per month 72.2% and 9-10 working hours per day 42.1%. As for accommodation, residence in fabric was 62.6% and one or two members as roommate 40.2%. 3) The characteristics of health behavior showed that 89.4% of migrant workers had 3 meals, 70.9% of them did not drink alcohol, 73.5% of them did not smoke. 4) As a characteristic of health status, 71.8% of them perceived of their health. 76.1% thought that they had no illness before coming Korea. Among them who recognized their illness, those who had problem in circulatory system was 35.3%, respiratory system ENT 19.1% and nervous system 19.1%.66.2% of those having illness had already had sickness when coming to Korea. 5) During last one month, 79.2% of them were known as ones having no illness. Among the sick, those who had problem in circulatory system was 31.6%, nervous system 23.7% and respiratory system 21.1%. 60.3% of the sick were not cured at that time. 6) Sorting the symptom of those who visited free medical check up, dental care was 24.2%, orthopedic 14.0% and digestive system 13.8%. Teethache was 34.4%, stomach problem 11.6%, upper respiratory inflammation 10.2% and back pain 5.9%. Averagely they visited free medical check up 1-2 times. According to symptom, epilepsy 25.5 times, heart and vascular disease 9 times, constipation 2.8%, neurosis 2.38 times and stomach problem 2.34 times. 7) The most frequently visited medical service by migrant workers was hospital. The most mentioned reason was good healing as 36.3%. The medical service satisfied migrant workers mostly was hospital as 64.3%. The reason of satisfaction was also good healing as 45.9%. 8) 77.2% of respondents did not spend money for medical check. Average monthly medical cost was 25,100 Won, 3.7% of income. Those who had no medical security was 73.4%. In their case, 67.7% got discount from hospital or support from working place and religious organization. 9) As for the difference of medical utilization according for the characteristics of migrant workers, legal workers and no-Korean speaker used hospital more frequently. 10) Those who were satisfied most of all with the service of hospital were female workers, hinduists and buddhists, legal workers or manufacture workers. 11) Christians, those who have 3 meals or recognize themselves as healthy ones mostly had no illness. As a result, the most of migrant workers in Korea are from Asia. They are good educated but are working in manufacturing and illegal. Their average income is under 700,000 Won which in not enough for medical cost. They have no medical security and medical fee is supported by religious organization or discounted. Considering these facts the medical policy by government is to be established.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.4 s.40
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• pp.343-356
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• 1992

Authors studied the workers' knowledge about the health problems detected through the previous workers' periodic health examination, content of follow-up management ana actions taken for their health problem detected on previous health examination. From June to September 1992, workers' periodic health examination was peformed on workers employed in 10 companies located in 2 middle-sized Korean cities. A questionnaire survey was done far 150 workers who reported to have $D_2$ result of either hypertension or liver disorder at the previous workers' periodic health examination done in 1991. The results are as follows; 1. Of 160 workers who had $D_2$ result of either hypertension or liver disorder in previous examination one year before, only 85 workers(51.3%, 43 workers with hypertension, 38 workers with live disorder) responded that they have such disorders. The other 65 workers responded to questionnaire were all those with C results. Respondents' knowledge about their diagnoses was relatively precise (95.2% in hypertension group, 94.6% in liver disorder group) but knowledge about classification of diseases was poor. 2. The main efforts to solve the health problem nab self management (20 spells, 55.3%), visiting clinic or hospital(6 spells, 12.8%), use of herb medicine (2 spells, 4.3%) and use of drug store(2 spells, 4.3%) in hypertension group. In liver disorder group, 30 spells (71.4%) relied on self management,6 spells (14.3%) on hospital or clinic and 9 spells (21.4%) had no effort to improve the health problem. Content of self management was low salt diet, quit smoking, regular exercise and quit alcohol drinking in order. Avoidance of salt in diet was high in hypertension group and quitting alcohol drinking was high in liver disorder group. In those with self management, 80.7% of hypertension group and 83.3% of liver disorder group continued previous effort. Those, however, who utilized clinic or hospital, only 16.7% and 50.0% were still visiting hospital or clinic. 3. Fifty seven percent of hypertension group and 64.3% of liver disorder group was presently smoking,8.5% and 11.9% reduced smoking and 21.3% and 14.3% stopped smoking. Forty nine percent of hypertension group and 28.6% of liver disorder group was presently drinking. Reduced alcohol intake was reported in 29.8% and 40.5%, 12.8ole and 23.8% stopped alcohol drinking. Sixty six percent of hypertension group and 73.8% of liver disorder group did no regular exercise, but 12.8% and 11.9% of each group increased their physical exercise far last one year. Forty three percent of hypertension group and 38.l% of liver disorder group was overweight (defined by bodymass index greater or equal than 25). Reduced body Weight was reported in 17.2% and 16.7% of each group. Reduced dietary salt intake was high in hypertension group (51.5%). The study results suggest that follow-up management after workers' periodic health examination is not satisfactory. In order to improve this situation, adequate information on the result of the workers' periodic health examination should be distributed to each worker group with health education and counselling.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.616-627
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• 1998

In order to evaluate the cytogenetic hazard among hospital workers potentially exposed to low dose of radiation, the analysis of chromosome aberrations(CA) and sister chromatid exchanges(SCE) in lymphocytes were performed in 79 hospital workers and 79 non-exposed workers. The mean frequency of chromosomal exchange and deletion(respectively, $0.20\times10^{-2}/cell\;and\;0.39\times10^{-2}/cell$) in the exposed group were significantly higher than those$(0.07\times10^{-2}/cell\;and\;0.23\times10^{-2}/cell)$ in control group. The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges was 5.04/cell in the control vs. 6.57/cell in the exposed group. There were also significant differences in the mean frequencies of CA and SCE adjusted for age, sex, smoking, drinking between two groups. There were no evidence of significant increase of CA and SCE according to the department or duration of employment. But the frequency of cells having chromosome aberration was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group related to duration of employment. There was no dose-effect relationship between the cumulative doses and the frequency of CA and SCE. But in the case of last 1 yr cumulative dose, there were evidence of significant dose-dependant increase of chromosome type CA and percentage of cells with aberration. The result suggest that there is cytogenetic hazard in risk group like hospital workers handling low dose radiation. And the analysis CA and SCE are useful biological indicators for the exposure of low dose level of radiation.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-49
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• 2007

Organizational culture has been, by and large, regarded as one of the most significant factors to manage organizations. Especially the understanding of empowerment is pivotal, leading to explain organizational cultures. For hospital workers whose services are closely related to quality and performance of their hospitals, empowerment is now called upon more than ever before. This study is intended to investigate the relationship between organizational culture types and hospital workers' empowerment levels. The data were collected from 589 hospital workers at one university hospital and two general hospitals using the self reported questionnaire from Jan.9 to Jan.20 in 2004. The findings were as follows: 1. Empowerment levels were significantly different among the four organizational culture types. Developmental culture group showed the highest empowerment score(3.74), and next were group culture(3.64), rational culture(3.62), and hierarchial culture(3.46). 2. There was a significantly positive correlation between group culture and empowerment(r=.298, p<.000), between developmental culture and empowerment(r=.295, p<.000). But there was not a significantly correlation between hierarchial culture, and between rational culture. 3. According to the multiple regression analysis, self-esteem(${\beta}$=.417, p<.001), position (${\beta}$=-.190, p<.001), self-control(${\beta}$=.185, p<.001), and age(${\beta}$=.169, p<.01) were significant among general properties for organizational empowerment. As for organizational cultures, developmental culture(${\beta}$=.165, p<.001), group culture(${\beta}$=.099, p<.01), and rational culture (${\beta}$=.063, p<.05) were significant other than hierarchial culture. In conclusion, it is necessary to promote group culture and developmental culture to enhance hospital worker's empowerment level, and this article elucidates that understanding the organizational culture embedded in each organization is important for efficient management of organization.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.27-39
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• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors associated with respirator usage on the basis of reasoned action theory. Methods : The data were collected from August 1 to September 30 1999, and study subjects consisted of 303 workers who were employed in the manufacturing industries. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure the attitude, subjective norm and related factors. Results : In bivariate analysis, the variables related to protector usage were prevention of occupational disease, protection of toxic material, disturbance during working, troublesome of usage, proper exchange of protector. Multivariate logit analysis was used to estimate factors associated with respirator usage. Significant predictors that are related to respirator usage were attitude toward the behavior, size of industry and proper exchange of protector. Conclusions : The results suggest that it is strongly required to focus on attitude toward the behavior in order to improve workers' usage of respirator.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.2 s.46
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• pp.286-298
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• 1994

For the purpose of presenting the basic data for the establishment of control measures on the long-term noise exposed workers, this study was carried out on the relationship between personal noise exposed dose and hearing loss on the 67 male workers whose hearing threshold had exceeded 40 dB in 4,000 Hz, from 1990 to 1992. Conclusively, the level of hearing loss was significantly related to personal noise exposed dose in follow-up period. We considered that personal noise exposed dose which was measured by the personal noise dosemeter was more efficient rather than the noise level of workplace for the evaluating the long-term change of hearing acuity. And although in the case of not-diagnosed as noise induced hearing loss. it was suspected that the active control programs such as improvement of noisy environment or early transfer to proper workplace were needed on the workers who exposed with over 90 dB in personal noise exposed dose.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.25.1-25.11
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• 2022

Background: Many studies have been conducted on presenteeism and absenteeism, but the relationship between presenteeism and absenteeism is unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of presenteeism on future absenteeism. Methods: This study was conducted on non-white collar workers that underwent general health examinations in 2014 and 2015. We asked subjects to fill out a questionnaire about their experiences of presenteeism for the past one year in 2014. In 2015, it was checked whether the same subjects had any experience of absence from work due to injury or disease during the past year. The χ² test was used to analyze relationships between sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, presenteeism, and absence. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression analysis controlled for confounding factors. Results: A total of 12,572 workers were included in the study. For workers who experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 2.705 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.044-3.581), and the OR for disease absence was 4.906 (95% CI: 3.996-6.024) after adjusting for sociodemographic and occupational confounding factors. For men that experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 3.035 (95% CI: 2.258-4.081), and the OR for disease absence was 5.508 (95% CI: 4.340-6.989). For women that experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 1.322 (95% CI: 0.577-3.028), which was not significant, and the OR for disease absence was 3.629 (95% CI: 2.405-5.475). Conclusions: This study suggests that presenteeism can influence future absenteeism. The effect of presenteeism may depend on cause of absence. Men who experienced presenteeism showed greater effects on injury and disease absence than women. For women, experience of presenteeism had a significant effect on disease absence but not on injury absence.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.230-238
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was to investigate the lifestyle characteristics and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among workers with metabolic syndrome(MS). Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. A total of 187 workers with MS were recruited from a university hospital. The anthropometric measures were used and blood data were reviewed from the health record. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regressions with SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: While 52.2% of women did not do exercise regularly, 30.5% of men did not at all. The prevalence of MS according to each component was as follows: hypertension was 92.0%, obesity was 89.8%, hyperlipidemia was 63.1%, and hyperglycemia was 61.0%. The high prevalence of each component of MS in workers with MS indicated a significantly higher risk of CVD. The odds ratio of risk of CVD was 16.04 (p=.017) in workers with hypertension, when compared to workers without hypertension. Similarly, the odds ratio of risk of CVD was 11.04 (p=.000) in workers with hyperglycemia, compared to workers without hyperglycemia. Conclusion: Increased risk of CVD was significantly associated with lifestyle characteristics and MS risk factors among Korean workers with MS.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.241-251
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to identify the difference of stress amount depending on the characteristics of hospital workers and job-stress's influence on the stress-measurement fields. For this purpose, the study surveyed 475 workers in 9 hospitals (2 general hospitals and 7hospitals) in Busan and empirically analyzed the data collected from them. In terms of theory and practice, the result of this study suggests as follows: First, there is significant difference in the stress amount depending on worker'scharacteristics.Second, the stress-measurement field with the largest influence on the job-stress is the job requirement, and the lowest field is the hospital culture. Third, at comparing the job stress amount with those of average Koreans, the stress-requirement field occupies the upper 50% zone for male, and the job-instability forfemale. As the result of this study, it is recognized that the structure management of medical institutions must consider the different stress factors according to the workers characteristics.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.236-244
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• 2020

Objectives: Although the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative "My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene" has been lauded as effective in preventing hospital-associated infections, little is known about healthcare workers (HCWs)' hand hygiene behavior. In this study, we sought to assess knowledge and attitudes towards the concepts in this initiative, as well as associated factors, among Vietnamese HCWs at a general hospital. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to HCWs at a central Vietnamese general hospital in 2015. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HCWs' knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene. Results: Of 120 respondents, 65.8% and 67.5% demonstrated appropriate knowledge and a positive attitude, respectively, regarding all 5 hand hygiene moments. Logistic regression indicated better knowledge of hand hygiene in workers who were over 30 years old, who were direct HCWs (rather than managers), who had frequent access to clinical information, and who received their clinical information from training. Those who worked in infectious and tropical disease wards, who had frequent access to clinical information, and who received information from training were more likely to have a positive attitude towards hand hygiene than their counterparts. Conclusions: Although many Vietnamese HCWs displayed moderate knowledge and positive attitudes towards the WHO hand hygiene guidelines, a key gap remained. Regular education and training programs are needed to increase knowledge and to improve attitudes and practices towards hand hygiene. Furthermore, a combination of multimodal strategies and locally-adapted interventions is needed for sustainable hand hygiene adherence.