• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The goals of this research are to find out factors influencing the duration of work-related disability and to present implications for policies to prevent delayed recovery. Method: The subjects of this study were 238 workers who had been proved to be industrial disaster victims for occupational low back pain between January 1 2000 and December 31 2003. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the proportion of duration of disability associated with low back pain, and Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify factors predicting it. The model distinguished main symptom variables affecting acute(${\leq}90\;days$) and chronic phase of disability (>90 days). Result: Fifty percent of the workers had not recovered in 408 days. The results of Cox regression show that delayed duration of disability was predicted by diagnosis, pain radiation (in chronic phase), sex, the size and labor union of the workplace, scheduled rest, compensation from the company, and operation. Conclusion: Duration of disability associated with compensated low back pain is influenced not only by factors related to the company and compensation system but also by individual factors. Thus, future efforts to reduce duration of disability may need to take into account all these factors.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.141-146
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence rate, and related factors,of fatty liver in male industrial workers. Method: Fatty liver was diagnosed using ultrasonography. The data for abdominal ultrasonography, BMI, smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise, liver enzymes, and lipid profiles were collected in 4,604 male who were examined with a health screening program in 2005. Prevalence rate and associated factors of fatty liver were analyzed using SPSS v. 12.0. Results: Overall prevalence of fatty liver was 34.1% and higher in the 30-39 year male group. Age, body mass index(BMI), hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, HDL cholesterol, r-GTP level were independently associated factors with presence of fatty liver in logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of fatty liver and tendency of associated factors were similar to those in the western world. To prevent development of this hepatic disorder, which may result in end-stage liver disease, risk factors such as obesity and dyslipidemia must be monitored and controlled within normal levels. The results of this study suggested maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, and behavioral change, as fundamental rehabilitation nursing implications.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.12 no.12
• /
• pp.329-334
• /
• 2012

For the dosimetry of the radiation workers, film badge, Thermo Luminescent Dosimeter (TLD), and glass dosimeter are being used and recently, there is a growing trend of using Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter (OSLD) in the world. However, OSLD is only being applied some of the field in Korea and there has been almost no study made related to OSLD. Thus, the accumulated radiation dose of TLD and OSLD that have been most frequently used in the field was compared in the radiation workers of nuclear medicine and their working areasfor 3 months. As a result, the average surface dose showed 0.85 mSv difference with 1.27 mSv for TLD and 2.12 mSv for OSLD while having 0.73 mSv difference for the average depth dose with 1.33 mSv for TLD and 2.06 mSv for OSLD. The surface dose and depth dose of OSLD showed statistically significant result with higher measurement (p<0.05).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.1368-1375
• /
• 2016

A radiological safety assessment study was performed for the transportation of low level radioactive wastes which are temporarily stored in Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon, Korea. We considered two kinds of wastes: (1) operation wastes generated from the routine operation of facilities; and (2) decommissioning wastes generated from the decommissioning of a research reactor in KAERI. The important part of the radiological safety assessment is related to the exposure dose assessment for the incidentfree (normal) transportation of wastes, i.e., the radiation exposure of transport personnel, radiation workers for loading and unloading of radioactive waste drums, and the general public. The effective doses were estimated based on the detailed information on the transportation plan and on the radiological characteristics of waste packages. We also estimated radiological risks and the effective doses for the general public resulting from accidents such as an impact and a fire caused by the impact during the transportation. According to the results, the effective doses for transport personnel, radiation workers, and the general public are far below the regulatory limits. Therefore, we can secure safety from the viewpoint of radiological safety for all situations during the transportation of radioactive wastes which have been stored temporarily in KAERI.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.166-171
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study explored personal protective equipment (PPE) availability and PPE utilization among interventionalists in the catheterization laboratory, which is a highly contextualized workplace. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using mixed methods. Participants (108) completed a survey. A hyperlink was sent to the participants, or they were asked to complete a paper-based survey. Purposively selected participants (54) were selected for individual (30) or group (six) interviews. The interviews were conducted at conferences, or appointments were made to see the participants. Logistic regression analysis was performed. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: Lead glasses were consistently used 10.2% and never used 61.1% of the time. All forms of PPE were inconsistently used by 92.6% of participants. Women were 4.3 times more likely to report that PPE was not available. PPE compliance was related to fit and availability. Conclusions: PPE use was inconsistent and not always available. Improving the culture of radiation protection in catheterization laboratories is essential to improve PPE compliance with the aim of protecting patients and operators. This culture of radiation protection must include all those involved including the users of PPE and the administrators and managers who are responsible for supplying sufficient, appropriate, fitting PPE for all workers requiring such protection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.841-847
• /
• 2021

Related institutions that use radiation are diverse in Korea, such as research, medical care, and education. Recently, the number of examinations and visits to medical institutions is increasing. As a result, the number of radiological examinations in medical institutions is increasing. Radiation safety management is necessary as well as exposure of radiation workers. For safety management, first of all, it is necessary to wear the personal exposure dosimeter correctly and measure it accurately after wearing it. This study tries to evaluate and verify the measurement straightness of PLD devices by radiation of a diagnostic generator. Radiation division irradiation time interval was measured after irradiating 10 times at 10, 30, and 60 sec and irradiating the irradiation distance from 30 to 100 cm at 10 cm intervals to measure the change in absorbed dose depending on the distance. As a result, there was no difference in absorbed dose by time interval. This is considered to be helpful in various studies by using a diagnostic generator for the study of high absorbed dose.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.276-284
• /
• 2008

A computed tomography (CT) is a powerful system for the effectively fast and accurate diagnosis. The CT system, therefore, has used substantially and developed for improving the performance over the past decade, resulting in growing concerns over the radiation dose from the CT. Advanced CT techniques, such as a multidetector row CT scanner and dual energy or dual source CT, have led to new clinical applications that could result in further increases of radiation does for both patients and workers. The objective of this study was to review the international guidelines of the shielding requirements for a CT facility required for a new installation or when modifying an existing one. We used Google Search Engine to search the following keywords: computed tomography, CT regulation or shield or protection, dual energy or dual source CT, multidetector CT, CT radiation protection, and regulatory or legislation or regulation CT. In addition, we searched some special websites, that were provided for sources of radiation protection, shielding, and regulation, RSNA, AAPM, FDA, NIH, RCR, ICRP, IRPA, ICRP, IAEA, WHO (See in Table 1 for full explanations of the abbreviations). We finally summarized results of the investigated materials for each country. The shielding requirement of the CT room design was very well documented in the countries of Canada, United States of America, and United Kingdom. The wall thickness of the CT room could be obtained by the iso-exposure contour or the point source method. Most of documents provided by international organizations were explained in importance of radiation reduction in patients and workers. However, there were no directly-related documents of shielding and patient exposure dose for the dual energy CT system. Based international guidelines, the guideline of the CT room shielding and radiation reduction in patients and workers should be specified for all kinds of CT systems, included in the dual energy CT. We proposed some possible strategies in this paper.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.398-404
• /
• 2005

Radioprotection is of practical importance for the normal tissues of tumor patients subject to radiotherapy, people with planned or accidental exposure to radiation, and the public and radiation workers. Since oxygen enhances radiation - induced biological damage, antioxidants should be related with the function as a radioprotectors. Ascorbic acid or caffeine is an essential component and antioxidant in the diet of humans and a small range of other mammals. The present study investigates functional radioprotection of caffeine and ascorbic acid against gamma radiation in irradiated C57BL/6N mice. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6N mice were irradiated with 6.5 Gy. A caffeine treated group was administered with $80mg\;kg^{-1}$ body weight by intraperitoneal injection, a single treatment 1 hr before irradiation. Ascorbic acid was administered $330\;mg\;L^{-1}$ in drinking water through all the experimental period. According to time schedules, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. And the samples were collected 2 weeks after whole- body gamma irradiation. The caffeine treated group showed lower decrement of body and organ weights than the other experimental groups. The qualitative analysis of circulating testosterone in serum was performed by means of radioimmunoassay (RIA). The normal level of circulating testosterone was maintained by the treatment of caffeine and ascorbic acid. The change of weight of body and organ and the appearance of seminiferous tubules were improved by an effect of caffeine or ascorbic acid against irradiation. Taken together, caffeine and ascorbic acid protects impairment of spermatogenesis against gamma radiation and may act as a radio-protector.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.421-429
• /
• 2012

Lately, the number of interventional radiology is increased by the extension of procedure in medical radiation, and radiation exposure may be appeared differently by interventional radiologists, it is caused increase of radiation dose for radiation worker, patient, and radiologists. This study has done a comparative analysis characteristic of radiation exposure for five radiologists who executed interventional cardiology for 303 patients in S university hospital of Gyeong-Buk from Nov. 1, 2011 to Jan. 31, 2011. The average exposure time of five radiologists was 697.95sec. The average of cumulative DAP(exp) for patients was $52,730mGycm^2$ and the average of total DAP for patients was $104,875.14mGycm^2$. The average of frames for image was 855.52 frames in acquired images, and the average of frames for images was 802.2 frames in exposure images. They were statistically significant differences (p<0.05). Exposure time, cumulative DAP(fluro), cumulative DAP(exp), total DAP, acquired image, and exposure image were high correlation except cumulative DAP(exp), and acquired runs in x-ray exposure characteristics of machine. Exposure time was a great influence on radiologist. It signified that the more exposure time lead to the more radiation dose for radiologist. Radiation dose is related to ability, experience, difficulty, and precision of procedures in interventional procedure. The number of angiography and exposure time is difficult to control by radiologists. Therefore, it is in need of reasonable system which was evaluated the real dose of medical teams in interventional proceedings. We think that self education and training are required to reduce radiation dose for radiologists and radiation workers.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2012

In the 2007 recommendation, the ICRP evolves from the previous process-based system of practices and intervention to the system based on the characteristics of radiation exposure situation. In addition, ICRP recommends the application of source-related dose constraints under the planned exposure situation as a tool for the optimization of protection to workers and the member of public. In this study, the analysis of radioactive effluents from Korean nuclear power plants and the public dose assessment were conducted in reference with the use of dose constraints. Finally, the measure to implement the dose constraints for the member of public was suggested taking into account multi-unit reactors operating at a single site in Korea.