• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.644-664
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• 2021

Objective : Since the enactment of the Special Act on Korean Medical Residents, neurosurgeons working at training hospitals have been performing the duties of residents, in addition to their existing patient care responsibilities, which include surgery, education, and research. This study explores the relationships between work intensity, work-life balance, and burnout experienced by Korean neurosurgeons. Methods : The participants (n=451) were neurosurgeons working at training hospitals throughout Republic of Korea. Data on socio-demographic characteristics (including objective and subjective work environment), work intensity, work-life balance, and burnout were gathered using self-report questionnaires completed between March 1 and December 20, 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlations, and multiple regression analysis. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the analyses. Results : The work intensity, work-life balance, and burnout levels of neurosurgeons were 3.95, 3.57 (on a scale from 1 to 5) and 4.60 (on a scale from 1 to 7); and 280 (62.1%) of 451 neurosurgeons were found to be experiencing burnout. By controlling for the socio-demographic characteristics, the effects of work intensity and work-life balance on burnout were analyzed. Work intensity (B=0.314), work-life balance-family and leisure (B=0.216), work-life balance-growth (B=0.147), job stress (B=0.133), and satisfaction with human relationships (B=-0.069) were shown to be significant (all p<0.05), and they were found to affect burnout in the abovementioned order. The overall explanatory power was 58.3% (p<0.05), and the explanatory power with the addition of independent variables such as work intensity and work-life balance was 14.5% (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study showed that Korean neurosurgeons working at training hospitals experienced a high level of work intensity and job stress, and low work-life balance. Additionally, nearly half of the neurosurgeons were found to experience burnout related to factors such as work intensity, work-life balance, job stress, and satisfaction with human relationships. In particular, these factors seem to have deteriorated further after the implementation of the Special Act on Korean Medical Residents. These very high levels of burnout among Korean neurosurgeons who care for patients with both brain and spinal diseases may have a very important impact on patients' health. Therefore, it is recommended that the Korean Neurosurgical Society and the Korean government make efforts to improve the factors that affect burnout among Korean neurosurgeons.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2018

This study analyzed status and demand of participation in lifelong education for 218 residents of low-income class according to National Basic Livelihood Security Act. The results of the study are as follows. First, among the statuses of participation in lifelong education, the abilities to study of the low-income class were reviewed. They showed 95.3% of foreign language ability, 66.1% of ICT utilization capacity and 75.7% of computer literacy ability. And the lifelong education participation rate of low-income people was 75.7% It was considered as passive participation in education. Voluntary participation was identified and analyzed. The the actual participation rate in lifelong education was very low at 22.9%. Social participation and awareness according to participation in lifelong education was 43.3% higher than that of respondents who had no participation experience. Especially, voluntary participants showed 73.3% higher than those who did not participate. Second, as a result of analyzing lifelong education of low income class, 74.8% of the respondents answered that there is wished education program. And 50.0% of them could not participate because they did not have enough time. The programs that they wanted to participate in were the programs that could help their real lives such as home life, health and medical courses, professional qualification obtaining process, etc. This indicates that the income level plays a significant role in participation in lifelong education. As a result of analyzing the results of this study above, Korean lifelong education is emphasized and the participation rate is increasing rapidly. However, participation of low-income class in lifelong education seems low.