• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.19.1-19.5
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• 2023

There are several types of shift work in Korea: rotating shift, 24-hour shift, day-night shift, fixed night work, and.so on. As a result of analyzing the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey, Korean shift workers accounted for 11.6%-13.9% of wage workers. Weekly working hours of shift workers were 57.69 ± 1.73 (24-hours shift) and 49.97 ± 0.67 (fixed night shift), which were significantly longer than day workers. To prevent health consequences of night work, many countries regulate the working hours of night work not to exceed 7-9 hours a day. However, Korea does not regulate working hours for night work, and some occupations may work more hours than the prescribed overtime hours. To prevent health consequences and reduce working hours for Korean night shift workers, it is necessary to regulate the working hours of night shift workers by law.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.13-26
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to investigate the present conditions of the night work and shift work systems in the heavy chemical industrial complexes found in Changwon, Masan, and Chinhae. Korea. We will attempt to define and classify their problems; and to discover further ways to improve their systems. Fifty production factories were carefully selected as the subjects for this study. The shift systems were classified into five categories. The consecutive night shifts were long in almost all cases with 6 days (36 factories) and 7 days (13 factories). It was found that the night work of about] 2 hours continues for a long period in the weekly rotation full-day shift systems and the night-including non-full-day shift systems, and there was no holiday during a shift cycle in the continuous full-day shift systems. The work time in most shift systems was longer than the 44-hours/week permitted by Korean law. Considering the characteristics of these various types of shift systems, the most essential thing to reduce the shift workers' work load may be to shorten their working hours and improve the schedule of shift systems. It is highly recommended as a fundamental solution. to reduce the portal-to-portal hours from 12 to 8 in the night-including non-full-day shift systems and the weekly rotation full-day shift systems, and at least to employ a 4-team 3-shift system in the continuous full-day shift systems. In addition to this, it should from now on be taken as a goal to restructure the types of shift systems by taking such measures as avoiding continuous night work if possible, providing sufficient off-duty intervals both before and after night shift, providing increased opportunities for workers to nap during night work. and increasing the number of holidays.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.615-627
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to examine the eating habits and nutrient intake of industrial workers who work day and night shifts. In the area of percentage of skipped meals, the day shift workers responded that they usually skipped breakfast and the night shift workers often skipped lunch and dinner. The day shift workers answered that they skipped meals because of lack of time. The night shift workers cited poor appetite as their main reason for skipping meals. The intake of calories, Vitamin $B_2$ and calcium of the industrial workers who worked day and night shift was lower than the Korean RDA. The intake of iron of the male night shift workers was lower than the Korean RDA The intake of calories, protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin $B_2$and niacin, vitamin C of the female night shift workers was lower than the Korean RDA. In the area of nutrient intake, the night shift workers both male and female got lower scales than the day shift workers. The nutrient intake of the female night shift workers was the worst. Because they cook for themselves and live alone, their nutrient intake and eating habits were bad. The night shift workers were worse than the day shift workers and the female night shift workers were the worst. Considering the above results, night shift workers should correct their poor eating habits, their nutrient intake and have a well-balanced diet.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 2019

Background: This cross-sectional study assessed the sleep quality using the ActiGraph and investigated the relationship between the parameters of sleep assessment and the type of shift work in Korean firefighters. Methods: The participants were 359 firefighters: 65 day workers (control group) and 294 shift workers (shift work group: 77 firefighters with 3-day shift, 72 firefighters with 6-day shift, 65 firefighters with 9-day shift, and 80 firefighters with 21-day shift). Sleep assessments were performed using the ActiGraph (wGT3X-BT) for 24 hours during day shift (control and shift work group) and night shift and rest day (shift work group). The participants recorded bed time and sleep hours during the measurement period. Results: Sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and percentage of wake after sleep onset during night work were lower in the shift work group than control group (p < 0.05). Sleep efficiency decreased in night shift and increased in rest day, whereas wake after sleep onset increased in night shift and decreased in rest day (p < 0.05). Among shift work groups, sleep efficiency of 6-day shift was higher in day shift, and sleep efficiency of 21-day shift was lower in night shift than other shift groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We found that the sleep quality in night shift of the shift work group was poorer than the control group. As to the type of shift work, sleep quality was good in 6-day shift and poor in 21-day shift. Thus, fast rotating shift such as 6-day shift may be recommended to improve the sleep quality of the firefighters.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the influence of consecutive night-shift work and working time on insomnia among hospital nurses. Methods: A descriptive correlational research designutilizing secondary data analysis was adopted. Data on consecutive night-shift work, working time, and insomnia were collected from 64 hospital nurses using a Fitbit activity tracker and questionnaires, and analyzed using hierarchical logistic regression. Results: Consecutive night-shift work for more than three days had a significant influence on insomnia among hospital nurses. Weekly working hours also accounted significantly for the variance in insomnia, exceeding the influence of consecutive night-shift work. Conclusion: Development and implementation of proper schedules to control consecutive night-shift work and working time is important to alleviate insomnia among hospital nurses.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.52.1-52.13
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• 2023

Background: In 2019, the International Agency for Research on Cancer re-evaluated the carcinogenicity of night-shift work and reported that there is limited evidence that night-shift work is carcinogenic for the development of prostate cancer. Therefore, in 2020 and 2021, the Korean Epidemiologic Investigation Evaluation Committee concluded that 2 cases of prostate cancer were occupational diseases related to the night-shift work. Here, we report the 2 cases of prostate cancer in night-shift workers which were first concluded as occupational diseases by the Korean Epidemiologic Investigation Evaluation Committee. Case presentation: Patient A: A 61-year-old man worked as a city bus driver for approximately 17 years, from 2002 to 2019, and was exposed to night-shift work during this period. In March 2017, the patient was diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer through core-needle biopsy after experiencing stinging pain lasting for 2 months. Patient B: A 56-year-old man worked as an electrician and an automated equipment operator in a cement manufacturing plant for 35 years from 1976 to 2013 and was exposed to night-shift work during this period. In 2013, the patient was diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer through core needle biopsy at a university hospital because of dysuria that lasted for 6 months. Conclusions: The 2 workers were diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer after working night shifts for 17 and 35 years respectively. Additionally, previous studies have reported that high-grade prostate cancer has a stronger relationship with night-shift work than low or medium-grade prostate cancer. Therefore, the Korean Epidemiologic Investigation Evaluation Committee concluded that night-shift work in these 2 patients contributed to the development of their prostate cancer.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.100-114
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• 1999

This study was done to investigate the effects of rapidly-rotating shift work of two-day interval on fatigue level and the concentration of urinary 17-KS, $Na^+,\;Cl^-$. The subjects were 20 nursing college students(control group) and 15 nurses in a university hospital and the study was done from Apr. 21 to May 4th, 1999. In the test group, each 5 nurses were allocated to day shift(8 AM-4 PM), evening shift(4 PM-12 MN) and night shift(12 MN-8 AM) respectively. The fatigue level were measured 30 minutes after work start on the 2nd day of work shift. Urine specimens were collected at 8 AM, 4 PM and 12 MN on the 2nd day of work shift in the control group and 30 minutes before and after work on the 2nd day of work shift in the test group. The data were analyzed with SPSS(for Window, ver 7.5). Statistical analysis was performed by using t-test, paired t-test and ANOVA. The results were as follows. 1. The perceived fatigue level in shift work 1) The physical and mental fatigue level were significantly higher in night shift than that in day or evening shift(p<0.05). In the neuro-sensory fatigue level, night shift showed higher tendency than that in day or evening shift, but there were no significant differences between each shifts. 2) Comparison between the control group and the test group: Physical fatigue level was significantly higher in night shift than that in day or evening shift of the control group(P<.001). Mental fatigue level was significantly higher in day or night shift than that in evening shift of the control group(P<.05). In the neuro-sensory fatigue level, test group showed higher tendency than that in the control group, but there were no significant differences between two groups. 3) The total fatigue level was higher in night shift than that in day shift or evening shift(P<.05). In comparing with the control group, night shift and day shift showed higher total fatigue level than that in the control group(p<0.05). 2. The concentration of urinary 17-KS, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ In the control group, urinary 17-KS, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ showed higher level in afternoon that in morning and night. In the test group, cr in day and evening shift and $Na^+$ in evening shift showed higher level at the end of work. The 17-KS concentration at the begining and the end of work in three shift groups were lower than those in control group(p<0.05), however, $Cl^-$ concentration at the begining of work in day shift, and the end of work in day and evening shift were higher than those in control group(p<0.05). $Cl^-$ concentration at the begining and end of work in night shift were considerably higher than those in control group repectively(p<0.1, p<001). $Na^+$ concentration showed a higher tendency in three shift groups except at the begining of work in night shift, but there were no statistical difference. In comparing concentration of the 17-KS, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ among the shift groups, 17-KS concentration showed a lower tendency and $Na^+,\;Cl^-$ showed a higher tendency in night shift: The result of this study showes that biorhythm of shift work nurse was irregular. Fatigue level as the subjective index for evaluating the health problem concerning shift work was higher in night shift and proved to be in accordance with the concentration of urinary 17-KS, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ used as objective indices. Disturbation of biorhythm and work stress due to night shift seems to cause the health problem of nurses and decrease of work efficiency. It is considered that work regualtion is necessary for the rational management of the nursing administration.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the working status and Standard Shiftwork Index (SSI) between night shift-fixed nurses and rotating shift nurses. Methods: Participants were 367 nurses working as registered nurses at 7 different medical institutions. The data were collected from August 8, 2016 to September 30, 2016. Results: Night shift fixed nurses were more satisfied with work schedule than rotating shift nurses. Rotating shift nurses reported higher SSI scores, such as chronic fatigue, musculoskeletal problems, than night shift fixed nurses. In SSI's sub-items, rotating shift nurses reported higher scores, such as the amount of sleep, feeling well after sleep, heartburn or stomach-ache and heartbeat irregularities, than night shift fixed nurses. Conclusion: The results indicated that night shift fixed system might be an effective method to improve nurses' work satisfaction. It is necessary to figure out any suitable night shift fixed system based on the characteristics of each nursing organization. The SSI might be an useful tool to measure the nurses' satisfaction in reference to their work shift.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Based on a literature review regarding shift work, it is recognized that it has an adverse effect on workers' health. Especially, the night shift rather than the day shift imposes severe disorders on workers, which are indicated to dyssomnia, maladaptation to social life, and health problems such as gastroenteric trouble, cardiovascular diseases and depression. As the shift work can be explainable by using workers' labor ability necessarily to maintain company business consistently, it does not consider biorhythm, active mass and health condition of workers Actually duration of shit work would deprive workers of fundamental life rights by causing physical and mental effects. As a result of reviewing previous case studies related to effect of work pattern (day shift and night shift) on workers' health, an incidence of physical diseases like dyssomnia, gastroenteric trouble, cardiovascular diseases and premature delivery was higher in shift workers than normal workers. Additionally the incidence of mental disorders such as busy brain, social isolation, depression and work stress was also higher in shift workers than normal workers. These adverse physical and mental problems were intensified to night shift workers compared to day shift workers. Considering current various reports and study results, it is recommended that the shift work, especially the night work pattern, should not apply to contemporary work situation for sustaining workers' health condition constantly.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the meaning of job experiences of fixed night shift nurses participating in a pilot project by a tertiary hospital, and to provide basic information for improving their night shift working environment. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using individual interviews in September 2022. Three female nurses who worked fixed night shifts were recruited from a tertiary hospital. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: By analyzing the meaning of job experience as a fixed night shift nurse, four categories and nine subcategories were identified. The four categories of job experience of fixed night shift nurses were: expecting an improvement physical health due to predictable working hours, enjoying leisure time due to long off-duty hours, regretting for loosened relationships, and considering a successful settlement of fixed night shift nursing. Conclusion: As night shift work is essential for nurses to provide continuous nursing to patients, it is necessary to develop various strategies to improve the physical health of night shift nurses through fatigue management and good sleep quality, mental health through work-life harmony, and social health through intimate relationships between patients and coworkers.