• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2005

This study is aimed at analyzing the relationship between personal factors of radiological technologists and their job stressors. For this aim, a survey was conducted by means of 890 questionnaires from the middle of July to the end of August 2003 to the subjects of radiological technologists who are working for 44 general hospitals in 16 cities and provinces across the country. The results of the survey could be summed up as follows: 1. The biggest stressor that affects a radiological technologist personally under the working situation turned out to be position, job satisfaction and physical symptom(p<0.001), while job satisfaction and physical symptom also played an important role in personal relationship(p<0.001). 2. In terms of job conflicts, colleagues, immediate seniors, job satisfaction and physical symptoms appeared to exercise great impact(p<0.001), As for job autonomy, age, position and job satisfaction were known to be heavily influential(p<0.001). 3. With regard to job load, job satisfaction and behavioral symptom turned out to have great influence while, in job stability, position and job satisfaction seemed to be immensely influential(p<0.001). The present study has a limit in that it covers only radiological technologists who are working at the 3rd reference hospitals but excludes those who are working at the first and second reference hospitals. The findings, however, are surely believed to be able to serve as basic data to improve the medical service quality as they will help reduce the stressors of and enhance mental and physical health for radiological technologists who play important roles as teammates with expertise in the medical field. These outcomes could also be referred to in future studies in this area.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

The names of medical technologist in Korea, Japan, and the United State of America vary depending on the medical system, educational system, and work areas. Conventionally, jobs equal or similar to medical technologist (commonly known as clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory scientist, and medical laboratory scientist), histotechnologist, cytotechnologist, and genetic technologist. Jobs, such as extracorporeal technologist, medical electrophysiology technologist, and medical sonographer, allow other allied health professionals including medical technologists, to obtain their qualification. The work areas of medical technologists are classified into clinical pathologic technology, pathologic technology, clinical genetics technology, nuclear medicine in vitro technology, and clinical physiologic technology. New titles of Korean specialized medical technologists refer to certification systems, such as CLMJ, CMAJ, ASCP, IAC, ABRET, and ARMDS. Currently, there are eight types of specialized medical technologists under the cooperation of specialized academic societies. They are hematology, transfusionology, chemistry, immunology, microbiology, histology, cytology, nuclear medicine. It can be further divided into 20 categories according to the work areas such as mass spectrometry, infection control, Pathologists' Assistant, flow cytometry, HLA, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, cardiopulmonary physiology, neurophysiology (EEG/EMG/PSG/etc.), cardiac sonography, neurosonography (TCD/carotid), and medical device quality manager.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.224-238
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• 2022

The environment and scope of work of optometric personnel in ophthalmology are unknown. We aimed to investigate these topics using an online survey. Based on the results obtained, we also make policy proposals from the perspective of clinical laboratory technologists to the University-Association-Academy. The age distribution of the study subjects was as follows; 20s (40.7%), 30s (28.4%), 40s (23.5%), and 50s (7.4%). Women constituted 56.0% of the cohort, and careers were evenly distributed from <1 to ≥15 years. We found optometric personnel had high levels of work-related stress, frequent occupational diseases, and that their duties were wide in scope. More manpower is needed to reduce work stress and improve work satisfaction. Clinical laboratory technologists held more senior positions at 48% compared to others and the occupational distribution was closely related to the senior occupation (P<0.001). Clinical laboratory technologists were responsible for about 30 types of eye examinations, and the most frequently performed examination was the refraction test; anomaloscopic examinations took the most time (27 minutes). Taken together, clinical laboratory technologists perform various eye exams. Given the importance of clinical laboratory technologists in optometry, a multifaceted effort is required at the University-Association-Academy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.52-64
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• 2023

This study aimed to examine the types and characteristics of otorhinolaryngology examinations performed by clinical laboratory technologists and to investigate the working environment and scope of work of otorhinolaryngology laboratory personnel using online questionnaires. Based on the research results, constructive policy measures for the University-Association-Society were also presented. Most of the survey respondents were in their 40s (34.1%). Females accounted for 80.2% of respondents and 30.8% of them had a career spanning 15 years or more. We found that laboratory personnel had a wide scope of work, high work stress and frequently suffered occupational diseases. We observed that, to reduce stress and increase satisfaction, an expansion of the workforce was necessary. Compared to other occupations, 72% of clinical laboratory technologists occupied more senior positions, occupational distribution depended on senior positions (P<0.001). Clinical laboratory technologists performed about 26 types of otorhinolaryngology examinations. The most frequent test performed daily was pure tone audiometry, and polysomnography took the longest test time, with an average of 8 hours. In conclusion, clinical laboratory technologists were in charge of various specialized otorhinolaryngology examinations. Considering the importance of clinical laboratory technologists in otorhinolaryngology, the University-Association-Society should put in additional effort into nurturing otorhinolaryngology examination experts.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2022

The education and training system, the ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations), and the legal systems of Japan and the United States consider all ophthalmic optometry laboratory personnel as ophthalmologists. They encompass optometrists, orthoptists, optometric technicians, and ophthalmic medical technicians. Data retrieved from the KOSIS (Korean Statistical Information Service) revealed that the number of opticians associated with the department of ophthalmology in 2022 could be appraised by classifying their medical institutions; contrarily, the number of clinical laboratory technologists could not be assessed. However, the current research investigated a general tertiary hospital and determined that clinical laboratory technologists outnumber opticians. Classification in Korea is based on ophthalmic optometry laboratory personnel, ISCO, ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education), the medical service act, the act on medical service technologists, and the higher education act. These results cannot be compared to the optometrists evaluated in the United States. Ophthalmology is a suitable profession for optometric technologists and technicians who perform under the instructions of ophthalmologists and optometrists. The field of eye healthcare would be benefitted by assigning the management based on their qualification according to the requirement of the job title, such as 'Clinical Optometry Technologist' to be given to clinical laboratory technologists and opticians who work in the ophthalmic optometry laboratories after obtaining a private qualification endowed by the Korean Ophthalmological Society and the Korean Optometry Society.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.293-297
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• 2022

In 2022, Korea reported a total of 224 perfusionists, employing nurses or clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical technologists) to provide hospital self-education or reliable education. In 2021, the total number of perfusionists in Japan was 2,100, mainly supported by clinical engineering technologists. During the same period, the number of perfusionists reported in the United States was 4,212, who had received training in the master's program, post-bachelor certificate program, and bachelor's program. Most personnel in the USA were graduates of healthcare sciences or life sciences. Perfusionists must be knowledgeable in heart anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, hemodynamics, laboratory analysis, and quality assurance, as well as techniques to operate the cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung bypass machine). These are jobs similarly handled by clinical laboratory technologists. The importance of perfusionists became more prominent during two major crises: the MERS-CoV and COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, perfusionists play a significant role in the rapidly expanding field of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal circulation during cardiac surgery. Results of the current study indicate that hospitals offering cardiac surgery and infectious disease hospitalization need to be institutionalized to secure a certain number of qualified perfusionists. In the future, we look forward to establishing a perfusion technology association under the Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Physiology to provide academic exchanges.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 2023

This study investigates the current situation of medical technologists for blood collection, which is considered the most important step for diagnosis. The survey enrolled 650 medical technologists working in hospitals and medical check centers in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam. We found that each medical technologist performed blood collection for about 100 patients. There was more than one blood collection failure per day, with more than one case of pain and filing of civil complaints per year. Hence, there was a high work burden on the medical technologists. Cases where a medical technologist was stabbed with a used needle occurred more than once a year, and about 15% of them received infection control and treatment because of stab wounds. Additionally, more than half of the participants suffered from musculoskeletal disorders and mental stress due to blood collection work. Unlike administering intravenous and intramuscular injections using the same needle, no fee is charged for blood collection. Based on the results of this study, it will be possible to improve the safety and rights of medical technologists by calculating the actual fee for blood collection work and assigning a relative value score.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2009

This study attempts to provide basic information on overseas employment to the radiological technologists and students majoring in radiology in Korea who consider the overseas employment by investigating the job consciousness for radiological technologists in Canada and Australia which have a high level of interest for overseas employment and want to compare their status with that of Korean radiological technologists. This study was performed by visiting hospitals such as Prince George Regional Hospital, 1475 Edmonton Street, Prince George, BC, Canada on August 13, 2007, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road Melbourne 3004, Australia on August 4, 2008, and other Korea hospitals that show the similar scale as Canada and Australia on September 10, 2007. The results were summarized as follows : 1. Differences were observed in this sexual composition, such as 18 males (90%) in Korea, 14 females (73.7%) in Canada, and 25 females in Australia (86.2%). 2. The item of 'aptitude' which is one of the most important criteria, showed the highest level in Korea, Canada, and Australia, and the second most considered item was 'salary'. 3. In the values in jobs, the items of 'economic self-sufficiency', 'recognized by others', and 'establishing a social position' represented high levels in Korea, and the items of 'like the job itself', 'establishing self-actualization', 'feel the meaning of life', and 'make new friends' showed high levels in Canada and Australia. 4. Regarding the item of 'a job is important as much as a marriage', 'Yes' showed high level in Korea, and 'No' showed high levels in Canada and Australia. 5. Radiological technologists in Korea demonstrated a low level in the job consciousness compared to those of Canada and Australia. Although this study shows some limitations for showing whole idea of radiological technologists due to the lack of the scope in samples for each country as a practical manner, this study can be regarded significant to compare some countries that have interests in overseas employment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.178-186
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• 2009

The quality control is needed to ensure the accuracy of medical information and achieved by evaluating the performance of and maintaining the system and practicing various measurements and evaluations. The Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image, therefore, have held educational program for quality control of special medical equipments. The major of programs participants, however, are radiology specialists with only small number of radiological technologists from some hospitals, furthermore, the follow-up education and the share of information between participants and non-participants are insufficient in general, thus, the knowledge level of radiological technologists, regardless of their participation, is relatively low. This study carried out the questionnaire research for the 500 radiological technologists registered in Korean Society of MRI Technology, on the basis of 2008, and performed analysis for five months from May to Oct., 2008. The questionnaires were delivered by post to each radiological technologists and the response rate was 36%(n=180). The results of this revealed that the 86.7% of respondents felt the necessity of inspection on quality management, while only the 27.8% completed the educational program for manager of special medical equipment. and only the half(53.9%) had the knowledge about inspection on quality management. The completion of educational program had no correlations with sex, age, size of occupying hospital, the number of radiological technologists in occupying site and MRI laboratory, career year of general radiologist and in MRI laboratory, and the presence of biomedical engineering department in occupying hospital. The 78.0% of participants at the educational program for quality management held by the Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image had the knowledge about inspection on quality management(p<.05) whereas the 43.9% of the hospitals held such program and the 54.4% of radiological technologists from those hospitals had related knowledge, which indicated that such programs held by hospitals had not effects on the knowledge level of radiological technologists. This indicates also that the contents, methods, and other conditional factors of educational programs are important for the outcome of them.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.150-151
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• 1999