• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.5-34
• /
• 2011

There have been increasing incidents of natural and social disasters that claimed many lives and caused financial calamities worldwide, which call for an attention to mental health issues affecting disaster victims. This study reviewed the findings of the empirical research on the effects of disaster on the victims, the prevalence and determinants of the mental health problems. The disaster tends to disproportionately affect the socio-economically disadvantaged population and their mental health problems and recovery seemed to be heavily influenced by post-disaster experiences such as restoration of physical environment, prospect of economic recovery and resumption of normalcy in their lives, opportunities for participation in decision-making that affect their lives. Such findings suggest that the disaster mental health should shift from its traditional approach that focuses on short-term clinical interventions to alleviate acute mental distress for the victims to a public health approach that involve medical, social and economic interventions as well as community empowerment to prevent chronicity of the mental health problems and to improve the general quality of life of the individuals and the community adversely affected by the disaster. Implications for the social work research, policy making, education and practice were discussed.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.13-16
• /
• 2014

Background: This study assesses influences of baseline psychological risk factors on prevalence of low back pain (LBP) at baseline and follow-up among nurses. Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was performed at two phases, baseline and 1-year follow-up among 246 nurses of university hospitals in Shahroud, Iran. A standardized Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability questionnaire was used for data collection. Logistic regression was performed for analysis. Results: At the baseline of the study, 58.9% of nurses reported back pain in the previous 12 months. Age (p = 0.001), belief that work causes pain (p = 0.022), and somatization tendency (p = 0.002) significantly increased risk of LBP. At 1-year follow-up, prevalence of LBP was 45.7% and expectation of back pain at baseline (p = 0.016) significantly increased risk of LBP in this phase (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Results indicate that risk factors for prevalence of back pain at baseline and 1-year follow-up are different. At baseline, the risk factors are age, belief that work causes pain, and somatization tendency, and at follow-up, expectation of pain is the major risk factor.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.410-419
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study is a descriptive survey to find out musculoskeletal symptoms in care workers working at medical welfare facilities for elders and factors affecting such symptoms. Methods: Data were collected from 115 care workers selected through convenient sampling from 6 medical welfare facilities in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do during the period from May 15th to May 19th. 2006. The Korean version of Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) were used. Result: Of the subjects, 81.7% complained of musculoskeletal symptoms in two or more parts of their body. The frequency of body parts with musculoskeletal symptoms was high in order of shoulder, leg/foot, waist, neck/hand/wrist/finger and arm/elbow. The average job insecurity instability in the age group of 50-59 was 9.19, the average degree of regular exercise was 59.68. and the average job demand in those diagnosed with musculoskeletal diseases was 47.06, and the average job demand in those wounded during exercise or by an accident was 47.78, and all these were statistically significant. The heavier physical load in their work was, the higher their complaint of musculoskeletal symptoms was. In the lower social support group, the degree of complaint on musculoskeletal symptoms was remarkably high. Conclusion: The physical load of their duty and social support worked as the factors affecting musculoskeletal symptoms in care workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.162-168
• /
• 2017

Background: Pelvic ring fractures (PRFs) may influence the daily activities and quality of life of the injured. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the functional outcomes and factors related to return to work (RTW) after PRF. Methods: During the years 2003-2012, 282 injured individuals aged 20-55 years on the date of the accident, were hospitalized and treated for PRFs in a large tertiary hospital in Athens, Greece. One hundred and three patients were traced and contacted; 77 who were on paid employment prior to the accident gave their informed consent to participate in the survey, which was conducted in early 2015 through telephone interviews. The questionnaire included variables related to injury, treatment and activities, and the Majeed pelvic score. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were used for statistical assessment. Results: Almost half of the injured (46.7%) fully RTW, and earning losses were reported to be 35% after PRF. The univariate analysis confirmed that RTW was significantly related to accident site (labor or not), the magnitude of the accident's force, concomitant injuries, duration of hospitalization, time to RTW, engagement to the same sport, Majeed score, and complications such as limp and pain as well as urologic and sexual complaints (p < 0.05 for all). On multiple logistic regression analysis, the accident sustained out of work (odds ratio: 6.472, 95% confidence interval: 1.626-25.769) and Majeed score (odds ratio: 3.749, 95% confidence interval: 2.092-6.720) were identified as independent predictive factors of full RTW. Conclusion: PRFs have severe socioeconomic consequences. Possible predictors of RTW should be taken into account for health management and policies.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.164-172
• /
• 2019

This study examined the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-related variables of firefighters through a systematic literature review. Electronic databases were searched, including RISS, National Assembly Library, NDSL, KmBase. The search terms were PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Firefighter. Eleven studies from 146 references screened were included. All studies were non-experimental and correlational analyses. The positive correlation factors were age, duration of work, traumatic events, frequency of mobilization, number and strength of traumatic events experienced, work burden, coping method, D-type personality, depression, and anger rumination. The negative correlation factors were resilience, social support, self-esteem. To improve the mental health of firefighters in the future, professional intervention programs should be constructed to improve resilience, social support, and self-esteem, which are protective factors of PTSD.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study aims to determine the association between psychosocial work environment and self-rated health among general hospital nurses. Methods: A total of 195 nurses working in one general hospital were eligible for data analysis by multivariate logistic regression. The psychosocial work environment was measured with the Korean version of the Copenhagen Psycosocial Questionnaire version II (COPSOQ-K). Self-rated health was recoded as good (excellent/good) and not good (fair/poor/bad) to the question, "In general, how would you rate your health status?" Results: 40% of nurses rated their health positively. Commitment to the workplace (OR=1.27), predictability (OR=1.32), recognition and reward (OR=1.41), role clarity (OR=1.32), and social support from colleagues (OR=1.25) were positively associated with self-rated health of nurse participants. Work-family conflict (OR=0.82) was negatively associated with self-rated health. Conclusion: The findings suggest that psychological work environment predicts self-rated health of hospital nurses. Good psychological work environment may be helpful in improvement of nurses' health.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.67-71
• /
• 2018

Objective: Participation restrictions are serious problems that stroke survivors experience while reintegrating into family, work, community, and social situations after participating in rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors affecting participation in activities of daily living (ADL), as well as social and leisure activities of individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study involved 96 participants who were diagnosed with a first stroke 6 months before the study (58 men, 38 women; $60.3{\pm}14.3years$). The Berg Balance Scale, Modified Barthel Index, Manual Function test, and Activity Card Sort were used to assess static and dynamic balance function, upper limb function, level of independence, and their level of participation within the community. A regression analysis was used to identify the influence of factors affecting participation in ADL, social and recreational activities. Results: The Activity Card Sort scores were significantly affected by the Manual Function test and Modified Barthel Index scores (p<0.05). Participation in leisure activities was affected by the level of independence. Participation in social activities was affected by the balance function and level of independence of the participants. Conclusions: The results of this study have shown that participation restrictions are affected by upper limb function, balance function, and the level of independence in individuals with hemiparetic stroke.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.8 no.11
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2017

Our society is showing rapid growth throughout the industry, but it is in the era of nuclear family and aging. Due to the elderly, the demand for social welfare services such as medical treatment services tends to increase sharply. However, duties of senior citizens and social workers engaged in related medical care facilities are not clearly identified, and job stress has occurred and the degree of job satisfaction is extremely low. Therefore, in this paper, in relation to the social worker's duties of elderly nursing home care facilities, in practicing welfare services, knowledge base that was convergence with duties so that you can focus on service according to better environment and standardized procedures To provide a management system. Through the proposed system, social workers are expected to be able to improve work satisfaction by quickly grasping operations and escaping from job stress through their own development and information sharing.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.145-162
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The 2018 General survey of emergency assistance was conducted to examine the working conditions and welfare, including educational direction, interests, and awareness of work, of the fire department emergency medical technicians (EMT). This would be used as basic data for future policy directions. Methods: Among the fire-fighting officers in 16 cities nationwide, emergency rescue workers engaged in first-aid activities were targeted. With prior consent, a survey was conducted through electronic documents. Of the total 1,227 people, responses from 1,151 were finally analyzed, excluding 76 who did not respond appropriately. Results: The working conditions and welfare of 119 firefighters were moderate, but in the fields of education and interest, the learning according to the regulations was high. In particular, satisfaction with the scope of work was found to be below average. However, it was positive that it will play a role as a social safety net in the future and will converge with cutting-edge science. Conclusion: Although this study was a total investigation of the EMT survey, conducting an EMT survey on all fire fighters in Korea is difficult. Further research is needed, particularly on first-class emergency medical personnel who play a major role in 119 paramedics.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.130-134
• /
• 2021

In the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), social distancing and strict visitation policies at hospitals have made it difficult for medical staff to provide high-quality end-of-life (EOL) care to dying patients and their families. There are various issues related to EOL care, including psychological problems of patients and their families, difficulties in EOL decision-making, the complicated grief of the bereaved family, moral distress, and exhaustion of medical staff. In relation to these issues, we aimed to discuss practical considerations in providing high-quality EOL care in the COVID-19 pandemic. First, medical staff should discuss advance care planning as early as possible and use the parallel planning strategy. Second, medical staff should play a role in facilitating patient-family communication. Third, medical staff should actively and proactively evaluate and alleviate dying patients' symptoms using non-verbal communication. Lastly, medical staff should provide care for family members of the dying patient, who may be particularly vulnerable to post-bereavement problems in the COVID-19 era. Establishing a system of screening high-risk individuals for complicated grief and connecting them to bereavement support services might be considered. Despite the challenging and limited environment, providing EOL care is essential for patients to die with dignity in peace and for the remaining family to return to life after the loved one's death. Efforts considering the practical issues faced by all medical staff and healthcare institutions caring for dying patients should be made.