• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2016

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate female labor workers' occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms and to identify the effects of their occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms on their health-related quality of life. Methods: A survey was conducted through direct interviews using a musculoskeletal symptoms questionnaire, the Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS), and the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey(SF-36). Subjects were 112 female labor workers in three factories in D city who were selected by convenience sampling. Results: Factors significantly affecting health-related quality of life were found to be: occupational stress(${\beta}$=-.36); degree of pain, with medium pain(${\beta}$=-.31) and extremely severe pain(${\beta}$=-.24); duration of pain, with more than 1 week-less than 1 month(${\beta}$=-.25) and more than 6 months(${\beta}$=-.16); frequency of pain, with once per 2-3 months(${\beta}$=-.22); responses to pain such as medical leave, use of worker's compensation insurance, task change, etc.(${\beta}$=-.16), and Slightly difficult(${\beta}$=-.16) versus Not hard at all. These variables demonstrated that health-related quality of life is 48%(F=11.72, p<.001) in female workers. Conclusions: To improve female labor workers' health-related quality of life based on the above results, occupational health managers should reduce the workers' occupational stress, develop and apply health interventions regarding musculoskeletal symptoms, prevent the early onset of musculoskeletal symptoms, and protect and promote the workers' health.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.2906-2916
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify musculoskeletal symptom and pain related working posture with operation-room workers. Methods: The subjects of this study were 73 people who were working from hospital operating-room. A questionnaire consisting of general characteristics, pain symptoms, and pain frequency was given. Objective working posture analysis was done by using REBA after recording moving images in hospital operating-rooms. Results: The result were as follows. The risk level of musculoskeletal symptom related working posture was high, and the management level was at the least 2; 'some management was required for musculoskeletal symptom'. The frequency of pain was 3~4 times/week and the severe pain were experienced from legs, neck, and shoulder. The result of relation of general characteristics and pain were significant variable with sex, age, marital status, weight, past working history, average working time(hr/day), working style, and working department. Conclusion: These results contribute to a better understanding of operation-room workers have high possibility of musculoskeletal disease and are severe musculoskeltal pain related working posture.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to gender in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The subjects of this study were 209 elderly individuals who were receiving visiting nursing services from a public health center located in Gangwon-do. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from March to April, 2008. SPSS/WIN 13.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Depression and HRQoL showed a significant difference between male and female subjects. There was a negative correlation between chronic musculoskeletal pain, depression, and HRQoL. In the male elderly, depression was the most significant predictor of HRQoL, while in the female elderly, chronic musculoskeletal pain was the most significant predictor of HRQoL. Conclusion: The study showed that chronic musculoskeletal pain was the variable with the highest explanatory power for HRQoL in the female elderly. Therefore, chronic musculoskeletal pain needs to be assessed and managed first in nursing interventions to improve HRQoL of the female elderly.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.571-579
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this research is to provide exercise programs for the prevention of work related chronic back pain. Background: In order to prevent musculoskeletal disease, including proper medical care health promotion programs are needed. Method: This is a research of musculoskeletal disease looking at 618 workers working at a car engine manufacturing factory from April to July of 2008. Through questionnaire specific areas of musculoskeletal diseases experienced by the workers were identified and preventative exercise program for chronic low back pain was recommended. Result: Research showed that of the musculoskeletal disease experienced by the workers, 197 presented with low back pain, 171 presented with shoulder pain, 64 presented with neck pain and 44 presented with knee pain. The symptoms of low back pain included stiffness(143), twinge and burning sensation(24) and absence of sensation(19). Using this result 4 types of exercise programs were recommended for prevention of chronic low back pain. Conclusion: Preventative exercise programs recommended for the workers in this research is easily accessible for the workers. Use of the suggested exercise programs will inevitably decrease work related low back pain. Also 2 other recommendations were made: 1) Internal structural change may be necessary using ergonomics. 2) More exercise programs to be used to increase adaptation and tolerance of joints and muscles that are constantly used for repetitive work. Application: This study can be used to provide for the prevention of work-related Chronic Low Back pain.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2018

Background: Many studies have reported negative psychological or physical effects of emotional labor. Relationship between work-related musculoskeletal disorder and psychosocial factors has been reported. To manage organizational and psychosocial factors of musculoskeletal disorder with work place intervention among emotional laborers, the factors contributing to musculoskeletal pain must be identified and clarified. Methods: Data from the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey was analyzed. Based on the questionnaire, we selected emotional laborers and included 3,979 participants, excluding participants whose variables were of interest to the researcher. Weight variable was applied. The association with musculoskeletal pain and psychosocial factors, such as workload, monotonous work, job control, social support, and job satisfaction, was investigated. Results: Univariate analysis demonstrated that there was a statistically significant relationship between social support, job satisfaction, and musculoskeletal pain. In multivariate analysis, job satisfaction showed a strong correlation with musculoskeletal pain at all sites. Social support was significantly associated with backache. Monotonous work seemed to reduce the pain in the neck and/or upper limbs. Job control and work intensity were not significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: In this study, job satisfaction was significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain, and social support among the social psychological stressors could reduce musculoskeletal pain. However, unlike previously known, the presence of monotonous work resulted in reduced musculoskeletal pain. The results of this study will help to establish the direction of improvement of atmosphere in the workplace to prevent the musculoskeletal pain of emotional laborers.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.176-185
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• 2008

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate extent of backpack use and incidence of musculoskeletal pain, and to identify the relationship between backpack use and musculoskeletal pain. Method: A descriptive correlational study was conducted in one elementary school and one middle school in D city. Participants were 273 children, aged 12-14, who completed a self-administered questionnaire. Body weight, height, and backpack weight of participants were measured. Results: Mean backpack weight was 3.78 Kg and relative backpack weight (RBW) was 7.42%. Of backpack users, 23.8% carried more than 10% of their RBW and 9.2% carried more than 15%. Only 44.3% organized the contents in their backpack correctly. For more than three fourth of the students (76.2%), the bottom of backpack in the standing position drooped more than 10 cm below the waistline, and 46.3% complained of musculoskeletal pain. Use of a waist belt was significantly related to musculoskeletal pain. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of school children were not following guidelines for safe backpack use. Although the relationship between backpack use and musculoskeletal pain in this study was not significant, the fact that 46.3% of the students experienced musculoskeletal pain is very meaningful information. Further research is required to identify the risk factors of musculoskeletal pain among children.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.298-307
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the recent trends in patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders in South Korea and to check the major results by reviewing the literature on the risk factors and prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases related to work. Methods: Industrial disaster data from the Ministry of Employment and Labor from 2012 to 2021 were used, and the literature was reviewed regarding risk factors for musculoskeletal diseases related to work using PubMed and RISS. Results: The trend of patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders has increased overall since 2017 after declining until 2016, with a particularly notable increase in the average annual number of patients with physical burden work. The average annual rate per ten thousand people for patients with body burden work, non-accidental lower back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome among work-related diseases was high in the mining industry. The average annual rate per ten thousand people for patients with accidental lower back pain was the highest in the fishing industry. Within the manufacturing field, it was the highest in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry. As a result of the literature review, the search rate for work-related musculoskeletal disease papers in unstructured work was high. In addition, physical stress factors were high among risk factors, and pain areas showed a high rate for the waist. Conclusion: Even after the institutional implementation of a hazard investigation system related to musculoskeletal diseases is implemented, the number of patients with occupational musculoskeletal disorders continues to increase. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct regular surveys and implement effective improvement activities for vulnerable industries or occupations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.530-540
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify factors related with demographic and work characteristics that affect musculoskeletal pain and quality of life among personal assistants for people with severe disabilities. Methods: The subjects were recruited among personal assistant for people with severe disabilities who participated in refresher training held in K-si, Gyeonggi-do Province through convenience sampling. Using a survey instrument developed by the authors, subjects responded to questionnaires concerning muscluloskeletal pain and quality of life. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Basically, collected data was analyzed in terms of frequency, t-test or ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. Results: Total years of work experience and subjective physical workload were associated with the number of pain sites and intensity. Additionally, for quality of life, subjective physical workload was related in the regression model. Conclusions: Based on this study, we identified that characteristics of work affected the musculoskeletal pain and quality of life of personal assistants for the severely disabled, and suggested improvement of the working environment, including musculoskeletal pain prevention education programs during the refresher education for assistants to the severely disabled.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.749-756
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• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders of traditional Korean instrument player using a variety of traditional classical instruments: Gayageum, Geomungo, Ajaeng, Haegeum, Daegeum, Piri and Samul instruments. Background: A large percentage of instrument players have suffered from the musculoskeletal pain of each body parts. However, there is no research on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders of traditional Korean musical instrument players. Method: Through the focus group interview, a questionnaire to investigate musculoskeletal disorders was developed. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: demographic factors, performance factors, musculoskeletal disorders symptoms, musculoskeletal disorder experience. For the survey, 118 expert players participated. The data from the survey were analyzed by correlation analysis and chi-square analysis. Results: The symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and the severe pain from musculoskeletal disorders were observed at neck, shoulder, back and knee. The musculoskeletal experience was statistically related to the factor of body height in Gayageum and Geomungo. In addition, the musculoskeletal experience in Geomungo was related to age and career. However, the musculoskeletal experience in Ajaeng and Haegeum was only related to the factor of hobby. The musculoskeletal experience in Daegeum and Piri was related to stretching. In addition, there was a statistical significance between the musculoskeletal experience and sex in Daegum. In Samul instruments, the statistical significance was observed at age, BMI, career and stretching. Conclusion: The symptoms of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders of traditional Korean musical players were prevalently observed at neck, shoulder, back and knee. In addition, these symptoms were related to the various demographic factors such as age, body height, BMI, career, sex, hobby and stretching. Application: The results of this study can be used as the preliminary data for preventing the musculoskeletal injuries of traditional Korean musical instrument players.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.405-422
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• 2010

Occupational musculoskeletal disorders currently account for the largest proportion of the occupational illnesses in Korea. In this research, status of musculoskeletal disorders among the occupational illnesses was examined through workers' compensation claims data. Types and characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders were looked at other data set as well. The data sets included epidemiological investigation data reported by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, and data collected from occupational disease surveillance reports and Korean occupational health-related scientific journals. Number of cases, incidence rate and insurance benefits for occupational musculoskeletal disorders in Korea are increasing every year. In addition, musculoskeletal disorders occurrence is shifted from large enterprises group to small-and-medium group, from manufacturing to service sector, and from production workers to office and professional workers. Although low back pain is still most common, its occurrence characteristics is gradually shifted from traumatic to cumulative while musculoskeletal disorders are somewhat seemingly moved from lumbar to upper limb body part. Musculoskeletal disorders were observed to be more diverse and prevalent in epidemiological investigations or surveillance data rather in workers' compensation claims data. Musculoskeletal disorders occurrence is related to demographic factors, occupational psychosocial factors, and ergonomic risk factors at workplace for which appropriate preventive measures needed to be made accordingly.