• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.583-594
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey on the senses that preliminary dental hygienists have on employment, who applied for the National Dental Hygienist Examination, so that it could provide a basic reference required for fostering good human resources specializing in oral health with a sense of mission and responsibility as professional. To meet these goals, a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted for participants in a refresher education meeting for preliminary dental hygienists across three major regions(Seoul, Daejeon and Busan), which was held by the Korean Dental Hygienists Association(KDHA) on Jan. 15, 2006. Total 289 sheets of questionnaire were collected, and 262 sheets except invalid or incomplete ones were used for examination and analysis. As a result, this study came to the following conclusions: First, it was found that 40.4% respondents wanted to be employed in dental clinic or hospital. Most respondents(90.1%) answered that faithfulness is most valued as prerequisite qualification for employment in hospital, and highest percentage of respondents(39.3%) wanted to earn 16 to 17 million Korean won annually. For internship opportunities, 61.9% respondents replied that they could willingly accept the internship, provided that basic pay and switchover to regular employee are all assured. Second, as the results of survey on employment circumstances around respondents, it was found that most respondents(58.3%) were employed in dental clinic or hospital, and highest percentage of respondents(35.0%) earned 15 to 16 million Korean won. Third, it was found that interpersonal relationships among employees had most significant effects(4.81) on selection of employment, which was followed by in-house welfare benefits 1(monthly/annual vacation, resting room, etc; 4.56). For possible influential factors on the selection of employment depending on whether employed or not, it was found that there were Significant differences in pay, welfare benefit 2(seminar, orientation, refresher training opportunities, etc), post-wedding continued employment and merit system between employees and non-employees(pE0.05). Fourth, the survey on respondents' occupational senses of dental hygienist showed that major tasks of dental hygienists were represented by oral disease prevention(92.6%), case management(71.5%), oral health education(66.3%), hospital/clinic management and dental management support(10.4%) and public oral health activities(6.7%) respectively. For job satisfaction, it was found that almost half respondents(48.9%) showed satisfaction at their job and 32.6% felt satisfied at and proud of their job. That is, majority of respondents(81.5%) felt satisfied at their job as dental hygienist. For follow-up requirements to qualify for dental hygienists, it was found that 73.3% felt it necessary to give more investments to self-development, 62.2% respondents considered protection of membership's rights as one of future assignments that KDHA should be more committed to. For future social awareness about dental hygienists as occupation, 69.2% respondents expected that they would be better developed and treated as professional. And desired training courses as a part of qualification for professional dental hygienists were represented by case management(services, manners, etc; 33.3%), implant(28.9%), esthetics(correction, prosthesis, whitening; 18.9%) and so on. For an item on working years, it was noted that 75.9% respondents would keep working as dental hygienists as long as they could.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.558-565
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to work related musculoskeletal disorders are a major. Occupational disease of the dental care profession is no exception. The survey was self-reported questionars of 300 dental hygienists that 268 dental hygienists reply to self-reported survey. This study results are as follows: Subjects of research analyzing the degree of physical musculoskeletal disorders pain, shoulder 90.3%, neck 89.2%, leg 83.6%, 81.7% back, hand/wrist/fingers 75.7%, arm/elbow, according to 52.8%. Therefore the work province of the research object people the musculoskeletal disorders appeared different. Generally characteristic was taller dental hygienists lower back pain and were out of less weight, study subjects had neck and arm pain. 29~33 year-old age the shoulder, over the age of 34 the arm/elbow to be high (p<0.05). Working environment to become a career, the more hand/wrist/fingers and the pain increased (p<0.05). The neck, shoulders (p<0.05), arm (p<0.01), waist high in the 3~4 years experience. And leg/foot was in the 1~2 years experience. This increase in working hours had increased pain in the neck but the hand/wrist/finger pain in the small hours of experience in the high pain(p<0.01). Conclusion of the musculoskeletal disorders of the dental hygienists often than the average for this risk is recognized. When it occurs early in treatment can be simple, but time is left to revert to normal when you do not already. Therefore, maintaining proper posture and dental hygienists, pain or fatigue appeared to accumulate immediately treated continued efforts are needed.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objectives: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was approximately 16% in populations of over age 30 years, and deaths from diabetes mellitus became the sixth most prevalent cause of death by disease. To assess the relationship between HbA1c and heavy metal level in blood and urine, targeted residents were evaluated in a vast steel industrial complex. Methods: We selected 414 subjects for analysis after applying the following exclusion criterion: 18 persons with diabetes mellitus. They took part in a questionnaire survey and underwent blood and urinary assessments. HbA1c and lead (Pb) level were measured in blood and, cadmium (Cd), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and mercury (Hg) were evaluated in urine. Two subgroups were divided by HbA1c 6.5%. Each subgroup was divided by 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th percentile levels of biological exposure index of the heavy metals for logistic regression. Results: Odd ratios have a tendency to increase as they go from the 90th to the 10th percentile of cadmium. However, lead, arsenic and mercury did not have significant relationships with HbA1c. In correction of age, region, gender and smoking history, a higher distribution in the subgroup with cadmium above 0.8318 ㎍/g creatinine (30th percentile) was demonstrated in the subgroup with HbA1c levels above the 6.5%, with an odds ratio of 5.26 (95% C.I. ; 1.44~19.17). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between urinary levels of cadmium and HbA1c in correction of several factors. It is meaningful that this outcome may be used as a basis for a study to establish the acceptable limit of urinary cadmium in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.477-490
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• 2022

Serious Accident Punishment Act(SAPA) went into effect as of Jan. 27, 2022. The subject of study was the worker of the nuclear medicine department and the investigation was aimed at identifying the present situation of their understanding on the issue in the here and now, which can be utilized as basic research for further study. The survey was conducted on 51 people of the worker in the nuclear medicine department. The general factors were classified by their gender, the scale of the hospitals, the period of career, and the detailed occupational categories. The conclusion was drawn, including 1 missing data in gender and 2 in the type of occupation. The targeted hospitals were tertiary hospital, university hospital, and general hospital which have nuclear medicine department in. The period of subjects' career was categorized by less than 3 years, 3 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years, and more than 10 years. The specific occupation was classified by in-vivo radiological technologist, radiation safety manager and others. The amount of pressure that the job entails was highest in the category of general hospital, the period of 3 to 5 years of job experience, and radiation safety manager each. The system of the code was well constructed in the category of general hospital, the period of less than 3-year career, and radiation safety manager, as they responded. The blood transmissible disease had the largest number of outbreak of accidents related to the serious industrial accident. In addition, the radiopharmaceutical dosing error had the highest number of outbreak of accidents related to the serious civil accident. Therefore, we need to improve SAPA, facility inspection, security of budget, security of professional manpower. It will help the stable use of radiation and ensure patient safety.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.380-391
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess airborne particulate matter pollution and its effect on health of residents living near Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex and its vicinities. Also, this study measured and analyzed the concentration of TSP, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, and heavy metals which influences on the environmental and respiratory disease in Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex, Daegu, Korea. Methods: In this study, we analyzed various environmental pollutants such as particulate matter and heavy metals from Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex that adversely affected local residents's health. In particular, we verified the concentration distribution and characteristics of exposure for TSP, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ among particulate matters, and heavy metals(Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe, Zn, and Mg). In that regard, the official test method on air pollution in Korea for analysis of particulate matter and heavy metal in atmosphere were conducted. The large capacity air sampling method by the official test method on air pollution in Korea were applied for sampling of heavy metals in atmosphere. In addition, we evaluated the concentration of seasonal environmental pollutants for each point of residence in Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex and surrounding area. The sampling measured periods for air pollutants were from August 11, 2013 to February 21, 2014. Furthermore, we measured and analyzed the seasonal concentrations(summer, autumn and winter). Results: The average concentration for TSP, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ by direct influence area at Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex were 1.7, 1.4 and 1.9 times higher than reference region. In analysis results of seasonal concentrations for particulate matter in four direct influence and reference area, concentration levels for winter were generally somewhat higher than concentrations for summer and autumn. The average concentrations for Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Zn in direct influence area at Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex were $0.0008{\pm}0.0004{\mu}g/Sm^3$, $0.0141{\pm}0.0163{\mu}g/Sm^3$, $0.0248{\pm}0.0059{\mu}g/Sm^3$, $0.0026{\pm}0.0011{\mu}g/Sm^3$, $0.0272{\pm}0.0084{\mu}g/Sm^3$, $0.4855{\pm}0.1862{\mu}g/Sm^3$, and $0.3068{\pm}0.0631{\mu}g/Sm^3$, respectively. In particularly, the average concentrations for Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Zn in direct influence area at Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex were 1.9, 3.6, 2.1, 1.9, 1.4, 2.6, and 1.2 times higher than reference area, respectively. The continuous monitoring and management were required for some heavy metals such as Cr and Ni. Moreover, the average concentration in winter for particulate matter in direct influence area at Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex were generally higher than concentrations in summer and autumn. Also, average concentrations for TSP, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ were from 1.5 to 2.0 times, 1.2 to 1.8 times, and 1.1 to 2.3 times higher than reference area, respectively. In results for seasonal atmospheric environment, TSP, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, and heavy metal concentrations in direct influence area were higher than reference area. Especially, the concentrations in C station were a high level in comparison with other area. Conclusions: In the results, some particulate matters and heavy metals were relatively high concentration, in order to understand the environmental pollution level and health effect in surrounding area at Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex. The concentration of some heavy metals emitted from direct influence area at Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex were relatively higher than reference area. In particular, average concentration for heavy metals in this study were higher than average concentrations in air quality monitoring station for heavy metal for 7 years in Deagu metropolitan region. Especially, the residents near Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex may be exposed to the pollutants(TSP, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, and heavy metals, etc) emitted from the factories in Ansim Briquette Fuel Complex.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 1999

Objectives. This study was carried out to evaluate hearing impairment judgement and to investigate the differences in various diagnostic criteria for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among workers who required for close observation (C). Methods. Out of 731,029 workers who had taken the specific periodic health examination in 1994, we used the audiometric data on 37,999 workers (C) eliminating the employees who had previous otologic problems. Many investigators have being using different criteria for the evaluation of hearing impairment. In this study, we used the criteria of early (1989-1994), current, compensation for NIHL in Korea, 2-, 3-, 4-divided classification and hearing loss at 4,000 Hz and compared the evaluation results. Results. The prevalences of C and workers who had occupational disease $(D_1)$ diagnosed for NIHL were 11.1 % and 0.44 %. There were significant difference in the prevalences of C and $D_1$, depending on different province of Korea. Pure tone averages (PTAs) were not appropriately applied in their evaluation 97% of workers whom we studied on were below the level of mild hearing loss judged by ISO standard. However, there were wide variations in the prevalence rate of mild hearing loss by diagnostic criteria. Thus, there were different judgements in determining the degree of NIHL depending on which diagnostic criteria were utilized. PTAs were found 20.54 (Rt) and 20.74 (Lt) when the method of 3-divided classification was applied for audiometric data. The degree of hearing impairment of the left ear was more severe than that of right ear. The prevalence of normal hearing threshold below 20 dB was 75.4% and the range of difference in both ear was below 10 dB. Right sided hearing threshold levels were 21.08 dB (500 Hz), 18.44 dB (1,000 Hz), 22.09 (2,000 Hz) and 52.36 dB (4,000 Hz). There was typical high frequency loss (C5-dip at 4,000 Hz) above 30 - 40 dB in normal hearing level. The increasing trend in hearing threshold level was gradually decreased by the increase of PTAs. The difference between PTAs and threshold at 4,000 Hz was about 10 dB. Conclusions. We could found that PTAs in the previous examination were not appropriately evaluated. This study revealed that they did not use unique criteria for managing the workers of NIHL. For the prevention of NIHL, it was found that the quality control on diagnosis and comprehensive management program were required, especially for those of hearing loss (C).

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.69-92
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• 2001

The purposes of this study were to offer foundation making more certain standards of musculoskeletal disorder diagnosis, We researched musculoskeletal symptoms degrees, frequencies, and cares and then examined relation between musculoskeletal symptoms and diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions using moire topography among workers at an automobile manufacturing plant. Therefore we propose the possibility of moire topography as diagnosing utilities of musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This study was to examine the general characteristics, complaints of musculoskeletal symptoms, and work-related musculoskeletal disorder rates of cervicobrachial and lumbar area by survey among 435 workers at an automobile manufacturing plant and then to show each frequency and percentage, In the diagnosis using moire topography, we studied pain control necessity of cervicobrachial and lumbar area, 435 subjects were classified by 5 levels: A(no symptoms), B(need management), C(need treatment) and then more divided by B1(light symptoms)/B2(heavy symptoms), C1(light symptoms)/C2(heavy symptoms), And musculoskeletal areas were divided by 2 parts, cervicobrachial area(neck, shoulder, arm&elbow, and wrist&hand) and lumbar area, Then, frequency and percentage of each musculoskeletal areas(cervicobrachial and lumbar area) were appeared. At last, Pearson's chi-square test analysis was utilized to observe the relation between diagnosis using moire topography and general characteristics and the relation between diagnosis using moire topography and work-related complaint of musculoskeletal symptoms of cervicobrachial and lumbar area, Results: The subjects employed for this research were categorized into; by gender, all of them were males(l00%): by age, under 35 years 12 %, 36-40 years 56.3%, 41-45 years 26.3 %, and above 46 years 5.3% with 36-40 years accounting for most of it. By living location, owned houses represented 69.7%, rented houses 23.4%, monthly-rented 1.6%, the others 5.3%; by education, middle school and lower represented 3.0%, high school 89.4%, and junior college and higher 7.6% with high school occupying most of the group. By marital status, married represented 95.2%, unmarried 4.1%, and the others 0.7% with most of them married; by alcohol, drinking represented 81.8% and non-drinking 18.2%; by smoking status, smoking represented 53.6%, non-smoking 46.4% with no big difference between them. By working time(hours/week), below 50 represented 26.9%, 50-60 67.6%, above 60 5.5%; by working time(hours/day), below 9 represented 21.6%, 10-12 73.1%, above 13 5.3%; by job tenure(years), below 10 represented 25.1%, 11-15 54.3%, 16-20 15.2%, above 21 5.5%. By personal income per year, below 30 million won represented 11.0%, 30-40 84.8%, above 40 4.1%; by sleeping hours, below 6 hours represented 26.7%, 7-8 hours 69.9%, above 9 hours 3.4%. Complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms and work-related musculoskeletal disorder rates were 63.9% and 54.9% with shoulder area occupying most of both them. By pain degree of musculoskeletal symptoms, shoulder area represented $2.73{\pm}0.84$, lumbar area $2.66{\pm}0.86$, wrist and hand area $2.59{\pm}0.86$, neck area $2.55{\pm}0.74$, and arm and elbow area $2.48{\pm}0.71$. By cares about musculoskeletal symptoms, taking medication or care represented 34.4%-46.7%, absence or leave 15.4%-28.7%, and job transfer 6.3%-11.5%. So experienced cases more than one thing among cares about musculoskeletal symptoms represented 39.6%-54%. In the diagnosis using moire topography, pain control necessity of cervicobrachial area was shown below; A(no symptoms) 20.7%, B1(need management/light symptoms) 64.6%, B2(need management/heavy symptoms) 11.5%, C1(need treatment/light symptoms) 3.0%, C2(need treatment/heavy symptoms) 0.2%. By lumbar area, A(no symptoms) 8.7%, B1(need management/light symptoms) 52.2%, B2(need management/heavy symptoms) 30.3%, C1(need treatment/light symptoms) 8.7%, C2(need treatment/heavy symptoms) was none. In the relation between pain control necessity and general characteristics, age(P=0.013), education(P=0.000), and job tenure(P=0.012) with pain control necessity showed differences with significance. The relation between pain control necessity and complaint of musculoskeletal symptoms of cervicobrachial and lumbar area showed no difference with significance; in cervicobrachial area represented P=0.708, lumbar area P=0.318 Conclusions: This study for musculoskeletal symptoms on workers at automobile manufacturing plant showed that complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms for cervicobrachial and lumbar area were so high, 63.9%. But Pearson's chi-square test analysis was utilized to study the relation between musculoskeletal symptoms and the diagnosis using moire topography, showed no differences with significance. They have no differences with significance, but the prevalence rates of diagnosis using moire topography for cervicobrachial and lumbar area were more higher than complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms; complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms were 52.4%, 34.5% and the diagnosis using moire topography were 79.3%, 91.3% for cervicobrachial and lumbar area. The results of this study indicate that the diagnosis using moire topography can find weak musculoskeletal disorders that an individual can not feel, not be judged work-related musculoskeletal disease. Therefore, this study has an important meaning that diagnosis using moire topography can predict and control own physical condition complete musculoskeletal disorders beforehand, since oriental medicine theory considers that prevention is important.