• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.376-385
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the relationships among job stress, job satisfaction, and mental health in marine officers. Methods: The researchers gathered data on marine officers working at a harbor in Chungcheong Province, South Korea, using a self-reported questionnaire. Mental health was measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R), and general characteristics including socioeconomic factors, job stress, and job satisfaction were measured by structured questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationships among job stress, job satisfaction, and mental health status according to the symptom dimensions of the SCL-90-R. Results: Among the marine officers, obsessive-compulsive behavior, depression, and somatization were the most problematic symptoms. Those who reported poor health, low job satisfaction, and high job stress had a higher prevalence of psychoticism, somatization, depression, anxiety, and phobic anxiety. Conclusions: An occupational health system should be introduced that would regularly check the mental health of marine officers in charge of ships and sailors, in order to help reduce their stress levels, enhance their job satisfaction, and thereby improve their mental health.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.356-363
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to identify how a self-stretching exercise program affects pain for each body area, pain relief and job satisfaction for care workers. 20 of 40 care workers with musculoskeletal symptom were randomly selected and participated a self-stretching exercise program consisting of 15 motions. The intervention was done five times or more per weeks for 8 weeks and 1 session lasted within 15 minutes. 'Musculoskeletal symptom survey table' of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and JDI(Job Descriptive Index) was used for pain on the musculoskeletal symptom and job satisfaction. Survey were done twice before and after the program. The result of this study showed that self-stretching exercise program group(SSPG) relieved from pain significantly in the shoulders(p<.01) and lumbar(p<.05), comparing to the non self-stretching exercise program group(NSPG). Although no significant difference on variations in the JDI appeared in SSPG, the significant reduction appeared from the colleague relationship and organization in NSPG(p<.05). SSPG showed the significant increase on variations in JDI from the job and organization comparing to NSPG. Especially, the improvement on satisfaction for the organization was shown(p<.05). Accordingly, the self-stretching exercise program for care workers can be said to positively affect the overall pain relief and increase on the JDI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to research the effect of self-Stretching Exercise on musculoskeletal Symptom and job Stress for care helpers who work at geriatric hospital and come up to NIOSH standard. METHODS: The effect of self-Stretching Exercise was measured using 'musculoskeletal symptom survey table' and 'Job stress measurement scale for korean' from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) for 40 care helpers. The paired t-test and independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The pracitce of Self-Stretching Exercise was showed significant effect reducing the stress for care helper's total job Stress and inappropriate compensation, job instability, job requirement, relationship conflict, physical environment(p<.05), and significant difference for their total score, relationship conflict, structure and organization, physical environment, inappropriate compensation improvement on variations on job stress in groups(p<.05). However, self-Stretching Exercis was showed no significant effect on physcial burden. CONCLUSION: The self-Stretching Exercise was the most effect way to reduce Musculoskeletal Symptom and job Stress for a care helpers through the guidance of physical therapist.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to propose an indirect exposure assessment method using a questionnaire survey at a time when direct exposure assessment would be impossible after a chemical accident. Methods: About two weeks after an accident, a questionnaire survey was performed with 1,264 persons from the local community. Variables related to exposure were extracted from the survey contents, weighted and then graded for comparison with subjective symptoms in order to evaluate the extent of exposure. Survey items suitable for reflecting the previous exposure level during the accident were extracted, weighted and divided into quartile ranges. Subjective symptoms showed an increasing tendency with higher exposure level when compared with final exposure level (p<0.01). Results: For the relationship between the final exposure grade and subjective symptoms, as the exposure grade was increasing the rates complaining of symptom also showed an increasing tendency. However, when adjusted for demographic characteristics, there was a tendency for the eye irritation symptom to appear higher in women, and respiratory organ irritation appeared higher in smokers. Conclusions: When the problem of recall bias is considered, this study may not have completely unraveled exposure and the characteristics of the participants can affect subjective symptoms. Nevertheless, the exposure rating method of using a questionnaire showed a significant relationship with symptom level. It can be deemed that assessment of past exposure may be successfully evaluated by questionnaire in cases such as chemical accidents.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.3037-3047
• /
• 2012

This study is the investigation research to look into rest, computer work environment and muscle and bone symptom of high school students in some area. With high school students in K area as the object the questionnaires of self-writing type were distributed and the final 685 copies were collected and material analysis was carried out. In the differences between work posture and environment evaluation score following whether or not of pain existing of the each part of pain, the score of the persons who do not have pain was significantly higher than the score of the persons who have pain. The negative correlation between the part of pain and work environment was in desk(shoulder), chair(neck, shoulder, back, and ankle/foot), monitor(shoulder, back) keyboard (neck, shoulder, and ankle/foot) appeared as the result. Controling monitor and chair environment is help to alleviate neck pain and ankle/foot pain respectively. Therefore, computer work environment and bone and muscle symptom have relations and as the use of computer increases, prevention program which can relieve muscle and bone symptom by improving computer work environment is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.116-122
• /
• 2011

Human occupational exposure to n-hexane has been associated with neurobehavioral symptoms such as depression, irritablity, acute irritation symptom, concentration disturbance and fatigue. Effects of monoamine oxidase (MAO) B and serotonin transporter receptor (5-HTTR) polymorphisms on the neurobehavioral symptoms were investigated in 70 male workers from TV and computer monitor manufacturing plants exposed to n-hexane. Neurobehavioral symptoms were assessed through a self-reported questionnaire and ambient level of n-hexane was measured by NIOSH method. Blood and urine were collected from each workers to determine the MAO(B), 5-HTTR and urinary 2,5-hexanedione(2,5-HD). The mean concentration of volatile n-hexane was $18.8{\pm}28.8ppm$ and that of urinary 2,5-HD was $1.07{\pm}1.47mg/g$ creatinine. Statistically significant associations with sexual disturbance were age and smoking. The frequencies of MAO(B) AA, AG and GG were 18.6%, 45.7% and 35.7%, respectively, and the frequencies of 5-HTTR ll, ls and ss genotype were 82.9%, 15.7% and 1.4%, respectively. MAO (B) gene polymorphisms had susceptibility to the neurobehavioral symptoms such as fatigue, concentration disturbance, irritability and acute irritation symptom and 5-HTTR gene polymorphism had susceptibility to the sleep disturbance and acute irritation symptom. On multiple logistic regression analysis for the neurobehavioral symptoms, memory disturbance was significantly associated with smoking(OR=6.752, 95% CI=37.46) and drinking(OR=4.033, 95% CI=1.252-12.98), emotional lability was MAO(B) genotype(OR=0.412, 95% CI=0.170-0.996), fatigue (OR=1.011, 95% CI=1.000-1.021) and acute irritation(OR=0.990, 95% CI=0.981-1.000) were working duration and sexual disturbance were significantly associated with age(OR=1.208, 95% CI=1.042-1.399), ambient n-hexane(OR=1.077, 95% CI=1.005-1.154) and 2,5-HD(OR=0.186, 95% CI=0.041-0.841). This finding implies that the MAO (B) and 5-HTTR polymorphisms may affect susceptibility for specific neurobehavioral symptoms associated with n-hexane exposure in workers.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.897-905
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study is to identify relationships between safety and health indices in a shipbuilding industry. From the results of periodical health examination, job stress test, and health questionnaire for musculoskeletal disorders, the author stratified the 704 shipbuilding workers into categories of smoking, drinking frequency, the amount of exercise per week, obesity, blood pressure, diabetic symptoms, liver function, audibility, job stress, fatigued condition, musculoskeletal symptom, and accident. The results show that occupational injuries are highly related to smoking, drinking frequency, auditory capacity, fatigued condition, and musculoskeletal symptoms. These results can be used to develop more effective accidental occupational injury prevention programs for shipbuilding industries.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.250-257
• /
• 2017

Background: Tasks involved in traditional charcoal production expose workers to various levels of charcoal dust and wood smoke. This study aimed to identify specific tasks influencing lung function and respiratory symptoms. Methods: Interviews, direct observation, and task/symptom checklists were used to collect data from 50 charcoal-production workers on 3 nonwork days followed by 11 workdays. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured four times per day. Results: The PEFR was reduced and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms increased over the first 6-7 workdays. The PEFR increased until evening on nonwork days but not on workdays. Loading the kiln and collecting charcoal from within the kiln markedly reduced the PEFR and increased the odds of respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: Tasks involving entry into the kiln were strongly associated with a short-term drop in the PEFR and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms, suggesting a need for the use of protective equipment and/or the operation of an effective kiln ventilation system.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.227-234
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to understand the subjective symptom rate of musculoskeletal disease of male taxi drivers and comprehend general features, health behavior features, and factors related to the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system depending on the level of job stress. Methods: The participants were 206 male taxi drivers from 4 transportation companies in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. The investigation was conducted from July 20th 2012 to August 20th 2012 through a self-administered questionnaire survey. Results: The participants who exercised less than three times per week complained about the subjective symptoms of the musculoskeletal system (p=.016) 13.770 times as more as than those of the participants who exercised more than three times per week the participants who had a higher level of job stress complained about the subjective symptoms of the muscular skeletal (p=.011) 1.051times as more as than those who had a relatively lower level of job stress. Conclusion: This study recommends that it is necessary to provide exercise programs and arrange various plans reducing job stress to prevent muscular skeletal disease and minimize the disease susceptibility of taxi drivers.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.271-275
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of the use of neglect test tools and the awareness for egocentric neglect (EN) and allocentric neglect (AN). Methods: A survey questionnaire was distributed to occupational therapists attending continuing education at the Daegu-Gyeongbuk branch on April 16. A total 143 responses were collected, and with the exception of 5 incomplete responses, 138 of them were analyzed. Results: The most commonly used unilateral neglect test tools were the line bisection test (86 responses, 62.3%), cancellation test (35 responses, 25.4%), copy and drawing test (7 responses, 5.1%). In a follow-up survey of 86 respondents who used line bisection tests as the most commonly used test, the majority (82 responses, 95.3%2) were found to use the 20-line test paper. In question about the familiarity and education experience for test manual, only 20 responses (23.2%) and 3 responses (3.5%) answered 'Yes'. In a question about the experience of a manual and the article for the manual, 25 responses (29.1%) answered 'Yes'. In the question regarding the separation of EN and AN on the unilateral neglect test, 44 responses (31.9%) were 'distinction' and 94 responses (68.1%) were 'no distinction'. Conclusion: Information on the guidance and interpretation of the line bisection test is lacking and the concept of EN and AN was insufficient.