• 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.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.46-64
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• 1995

The 12-hour work shift can be influenced on the nurse's job satisfaction, effective personnel administration, and quality of patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore the perception on the 12-hour work shift by nurses. A total of 516 nurses were selected by convenience sampling from six general hospitals in Seoul. Based on the literature review, the questionnaire on the need of the 12-hour work shift was designed by the investigator. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Duncan's method as post-hoc test. The results of this study are as follows ; 1. The need of 12-hour work shift The mean needs of 12-hour work shift in the nursing practice, psychological, physical, socioeconomic, and environmental perspectives were 3.05, 2.72, 2.66, 3.08, and 4.22. 2. The need of 12-hour work shift by demographic data For the nursing practice, there was a statistically significant relationship between marital status(p=.021), satisfaction on the 8-hour work shift(p=.038), the perception on the 12-hour work shift(p=.001) and the need of 12-hour work shift. For the psychological perspectives, there was a statistically significant relationship between marital status(p=.016), the perception on the 12-hour work shift(p=.0001), and the need of 12-hour work shift. For the physical perspectives, there was a statistically significant relationship between age(p=.002), marital status(p=.005), the number of children(p=.005), the duration of job career(p=.014), the job position(p=.002), the work shift(p=.030), the perception on the 12-hour work shift(p=.0001) and the need of 12-hour work shift. For the socioeconomic perspectives, there was a statistically significant relationship between the job position(0=.002), the work shift(p=.006), the perception of the 12-hour work shift(p=.002) and the need of 12-hour work shift. For the environmental perspectives, there was a statisitically significant relationship between the traffic method(p=.05), the duration of the job career(p=.026), the perception on the 12-hour work shift(p=.309) and the need of 12-hour work shift. 3. The need of 12-hour work shift by the demographic data There was a statistically significant difference between marital status(p=.014), the number of children(p=.038), the job position(p=.007), the work shift(p=.037), and the perception on the 12-hour work shift(p=.0001) for the need of 12-hour work shift.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of shift work on occupational safety in various industrial sectors. The study analyzes the effects of shift work on the health of workers by considering factors such as the workplace environment and welfare. Methods: Focusing on the $4^{th}$ Korean Working Conditions Survey, this study used an ordinary least-square multiple regression analysis. The dependent variable was the annual frequency of injuries reported by workers. Independent variables were categorized as demographic, shift work, workplace environment, and welfare variables. The analysis was conducted on two levels: 1) Shift work and nonshift work groups were compared, and 2) Shift work was compared with fixed and rotating shifts. Results: For the entire group, age, a low level of education, work hours, and daily and dispatch work negatively impacted the frequency of injuries. Shift work was negatively affected by workplace environment and welfare factors. In the shift group, the frequency of injuries was lower than that of regular workers, and the higher the autonomy in the choice of work hours, the lower the frequency of injuries. Furthermore, shift workers in Korea have more extended work hours (49.25 h/week) than other workers (46.34 h/week). Conclusion: Overall, welfare factors such as workplace satisfaction and worke-life balance reduced the frequency of injuries. The effect of shift work was limited, but it was confirmed that shift worker autonomy could reduce the frequency of injuries.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.191-202
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• 2018

Purpose: This study analyzes the relationship between work-life conflict and turnover intention among hospital nurses. Furthermore, it seeks to determine whether the relationship between the two varies depending on the shift work condition of the nurses. Methods: A total of 435 nurses working at five tertiary hospitals were included in the study. The questionnaire included items on turnover intentions, work-life conflicts, sociodemographic factors, working conditions, and internal and external resources. Results: The level of work-life conflict among shift work nurses was higher than that of non-shift work nurses. The turnover intention was also higher for shift work nurses than for non-shift work nurses. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the work-life conflict of nurses had a positive relationship with turnover intention. The effect of work-life conflict on turnover intention was greater for shift work nurses than for non-shift work nurses. Conclusion: Work-life conflict had a greater impact on the turnover intention of hospital nurses working under shift work conditions. Based on this study's findings, it can be suggested that, in order to reduce high turnover intention, it will be necessary to make specific efforts to balance work-life conflict and improve working conditions.

• 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 Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.206-214
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• 2023

Objectives: To determine the effect of the various type and number of shift work on sociopsychological stress in the university hospital nurses in Seoul, South Korea. Methods: Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire that included general characteristics, the type and number of shift work in the past 4 weeks and the an sociopsychological stress based on PWI-SF. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of shift work by types on sociopsychological stress of university hospital nurses using SAS 9.4 and it adjusted general characteristics by the additional models. Results: When the number of night shift work 3 or 4 compared to 0, sociopsychological stress was significantly high(OR=2.16, 95% CI=1.29-3.65). When 5 or more, it was higher(OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.55-3.72). Two continuous night shift work compared to 0 increased sociopsychological stress(OR=2.37, 95% CI=1.49-3.81) and 3 or more even more(OR=2.70, 95% CI=1.72-4.27). If the shift work type changes 14 or 15 times compare to below 11, sociopsychological stress is increased and even higher when 15 or more times but it's not significant after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: It suggests that workplace with nurse expose to shift work should be on lookout for more than three night shift work, more than two continuous night shift work and more than 14 shift work change which can lead to burnout, absenteeism, depression and decreased productivity.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.244-247
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• 2020

The occurrence of the shift work disorder (SWD) in health-care workers (HCWs) employed in 24/7 hospital wards is a major concern through the world. In accordance with literature, SWD is the most frequent work-related disturb in HCWs working on shift schedules including night shift. In agreement with the Luxembourg Declaration on workplace health promotion (WHP) in the European Union, a WHP program has been developed in a large Hospital, involving both individual-oriented and organizational-oriented measures, with the aim to prevent the occurrence of SWD in nurses working on shifts including night shift. The objective assessment of rotating shift work risk and the excessive sleepiness were detected before and after the implementation of the WHP program, by using the Rotating Shiftwork-questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The findings of this study showed the effectiveness of the implemented WHP program in minimizing the impact of shift work on workers' health and in preventing the misalignment between sleep-wake rhythm and shift working.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.14.1-14.10
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• 2023

Background: Shift work is known to cause changes in the circadian rhythm of the human body and adversely affect not only physical health but also mental health. Some studies have demonstrated the correlation between shift work and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a hormone that changes according to the diurnal rhythm, but few studies have reported the different TSH levels according to the shift work type. This study aimed to investigate changes in TSH according to the shift work type. Methods: This study included 1,318 female workers who had a medical checkup at a university hospital in Changwon from 2015 to 2019. Shift work types were classified as non-shift work, regular 2 shifts, and irregular three shifts, and a TSH ≥ 4.2 mIU/L was defined as abnormal. A general linear model (GLM) was used to compare the TSH levels and the risk of subclinical hypothyroidism in each year, and a binary logistic analysis was performed using a generalized estimation equation (GEE) to compare the risk of subclinical hypothyroidism over the 5-year period. Results: Of the 1,318 participants included in this study, 363, 711, and 244 were non-shift, two-shift, and irregular three-shift workers, respectively. In the GEE analysis, after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption, the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.81 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-2.86; p = 0.011) in 2 shifts and 2.02 (95% CI: 1.23-3.32; p = 0.006) in irregular three shifts, compared to non-shift. Conclusions: Our results showed that shift work had a higher risk of subclinical hypothyroidism than non-shift work and that there was a significant difference in the risk of subclinical hypothyroidism according to the shift work type. These findings suggest that the shift work type can be considered in future thyroid function tests and evaluations.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.118-129
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of shift work on married nurses' role conflict and job satisfaction. Method: Study subjects consisted of married nurses employed at four general hospitals with over 500 beds located in Seoul and Kyunggi area. The data were collected from March 15th to April 7th, 2004 using the survey and the subjects were asked to reply through self-administrative method. Results: Mean value of role conflict of nurses who worked shift work was measured 3.12 out of 5, and that of nurses who did not was measured 2.98. Mean value of job satisfaction of nurses who worked shift work was measured 2.79 out of 5, and that of nurses who did not was measured 2.86. There was a significant reverse correlation between mean level of role conflict and of job satisfaction. Both groups, nurses who worked shift work and nurses who did not, showed significant reverse-correlation in two areas. In the case of nurses who worked shift work, role conflict not showed a significant correlation. Job satisfaction showed a significant correlation with the plan to work as a nurse and remuneration in the case of nurses who worked shift work. Duty of supporting family was the factor affecting role conflict and measured 4.2% in the case of nurses who worked shift work, and the plan to work as a nurse and the academic background in the case of nurses who did not work shift work. Conclusion: To reduce role conflict and to improve the degree of job satisfaction, there should be taken a measure to improve a financial compensating system for working shift work for nurses who worked shift work, and to help nurses not working shift work to design plans for their job as nurses with stability.

• 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.