• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.189-199
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate job stress and job satisfaction among nurses in gastrointestinal endoscopy units, and factors related to their job stress and job satisfaction. Methods: The study participants were 153 nurses working in gastrointestinal endoscopy units at eleven general hospitals. Job stress and job satisfaction were measured using nurses's job stress scale and the index of work satisfaction respectively. Results: The average job stress was 3.67 (range 1~5) and job satisfaction was 2.90 (range 1~5). Gastrointestinal endoscopy unit nurses, who were full time worker, having more than 7 years of clinical experiences, having higher incomes, having high subjective work-intensity, and having an intention to change their working units, showed greater job stresses than those of the others. There were significant differences in job satisfaction according to subjective health status, the types of employment, subjective work-intensity, subjective aptitude, intention to change working units, major nursing tasks, and the numbers of major nursing tasks. Also, the subjects's job stress showed a negative correlation with job satisfaction. Conclusion: Findings suggest that management strategies should be developed to increase job satisfaction focusing on general and job characteristics associated with job stress.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.24 no.67
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• pp.1-10
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• 2001

A series of studies with collaboration of university, research institute, and labor union were conducted to examine the situation and severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) at an automobile company which is one of the three major car companies in Korea. As the first part of the study, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 4,000 employees at 2 different assembly sites and A/S centers over the country. The questionnaire was consisted of three parts; symptom survey, work environment information, and labor intensity survey. Among 4,000 questionnaires, 2,643 responses were considered for analysis. The result showed that 68.5% of the respondents complained pains on at least one part of the body and 48.8% on at least two parts of the body. After cross-sectional analysis of various information and risk factors such as severity of symptom, duration and frequency of pain, 31.5% of respondents were considered as at high risk of having MSDs. This high-risk rate showed similar result when compared with previous studies conducted at various manufacturing industries in Korea. Also the analysis of the work environment and job intensity survey supported the high-risk rate of MSDs.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2003

When available rainfall data is not sufficient, a rough tendency of I-D-F relationship appeared frequently. In fact, rainfall intensity on the curve shows abnormally higher value the longer rainfall duration is applied that gives rise to great confusion to apply a rainfall I-D-F relationships curve to a practical work, however, the research work will present a way to solve above mentioned problem by the use of the Box-Cox transformation formula for a given rainfall data. The study came to a conclusion that the Box-Cox transformation formula is satisfied to utilize in a practical work on the ground of analysis for rainfall data of Sancheong and Yeongcheon.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.127-132
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• 2021

Background: Herbicides such as glyphosate, paraquat, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid have been reported to cause adverse side effects through production of reactive oxygen species. However, there were no data representing the adverse effects of a mixture herbicide usage in farmers, especially the changes in oxidative marker and antioxidant defense. This study aimed to determine the urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) level in farmers using mixed herbicides. Methods: Ninety-three farmers were recruited, and two spot urine samples (before and after work) were collected. The urinary MDA level was evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay, and the urinary GSH level was determined using the enzymatic recycling method. Results: Sixty-two percent of the participants were men, and 59% of the participants worked in a farm for 20-40 years. The common combinations of herbicide usage were glyphosate with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (36.5%). There was no significant difference between pre- and post-work urinary MDA and GSH levels among the 3 groups of herbicides. However, the urinary MDA levels in farmers using the combination of glyphosate and paraquat were significantly higher than those found in farmers using glyphosate alone. The associated factors with changes in MDA levels found that the exposure intensity index (B = 0.154), the cumulative exposure intensity index (B = 0.023), and wearing gloves while working (B = -2.347) were found to be significantly associated with MDA level. Conclusion: The results suggest that the combined use of glyphosate and paraquat caused a significant increase in urinary MDA levels. Moreover, intensity of exposure to herbicide and wearing gloves were associated with the level of MDA.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of changes in working conditions on job-related stress and musculoskeletal disorders using the results of seven surveys conducted at a single workplace from 2004 to 2022 regarding factors hazardous to the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, the study aims to propose alternative methods of investigating factors hazardous to the musculoskeletal system. Methods: A car parts manufacturing plant where the same survey was taken seven times from 2004 to 2022 was selected and the survey data was analyzed. The main contents of the survey were weekly working hours, Borg's scale, work intensity, job-related stress, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The statistical analysis was performed using SAS (version 9.4). Results: The results of this study are as follows. Firstly, changes in working conditions have an impact on job-related stress. Secondly, changes in working conditions have an impact on work intensity indicators. Thirdly, changes in working conditions have an impact on the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Fourthly, even with an increase in age and length of service, job-related stress and musculoskeletal symptoms were alleviated when working conditions were improved. Conclusions: In order for measures to reduce musculoskeletal disorders to be successful, working conditions must not deteriorate, and it is necessary to demand revisions to regulations, etc. to reflect these points in the investigation of hazardous factors to the musculoskeletal system.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.93-110
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• 2019

This study surveyed 129 librarians of public libraries in the northwestern region of Seoul to identify harmful factors under the assumption that the work and environmental factors of them would burden their musculoskeletal system and influence their work satisfaction. The results of this study showed that the musculoskeletal symptoms in the shoulder, one of the general items, were more frequently observed in women than in men. Secondly, the musculoskeletal symptoms in the arms and elbows, one of the working environment characteristics, were most frequently reported when they worked more than one year and less than three years. The musculoskeletal symptoms in the waist were influenced by the operation method; the librarians of public libraries entrusted to the Office of Education or a local government showed symptoms more frequently. The musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck were affected by working hours; librarians working in the day shift showed neck symptoms more frequently than those working in the night shift. Thirdly, when the characteristics of the work environment were examined, the musculoskeletal symptoms in the hands, wrists, and fingers were highly frequent under all characteristics of the work environment, the musculoskeletal symptoms in the waist were highly frequent under all characteristics of the work environment except for work satisfaction, and the musculoskeletal symptoms in the legs and feet were highly frequent according to the proficiency, work intensity, and physical burden. Fourthly, this study evaluated the differences in musculoskeletal symptoms according to the work satisfaction of individuals. The results revealed that the occurrence frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms for all body parts decreased as work satisfaction increased. Therefore, it will be necessary for the main body of public library operation to improve the work and working environments and enhance the work satisfaction of individuals by reducing the physical burden of the librarian of public libraries through adjusting the work intensity in order for the health of the librarian of public libraries.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.38-48
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• 2004

The purpose of present study is to examine the relative efficacy of active exercise programs for work-related chronic low back pain and to figure out how much they affect mechanical stability of lumbar. Subjects are 43 employees with work-related chronic low hack pain, and they were randomly divided into two groups with general physiotherapy groups and thoracic exercise groups for increasing thoracic mobility. Active exercise programs were done 3 times a week, for 6 months, and the subjects were tested for Pain intensity(VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index, Maximal stretching with both hands in the overhead direction and the lumbar region angle of inclination. All subjects were reassessed with same measurement with Pre-study and 6 months after study After applying active exercise programs, pain intensity didn't show any significant difference between two groups. The Oswestry Disability Index showed significant difference between two groups and thoracic exercise groups decreased significantly compare to general physiotherapy group(p<0.05). Maximal stretching with both hands in the overhead direction showed significant difference between two groups and thoracic exercise group increased significantly more than general physiotherapy groups(p<0.05). The lumbar region angle of inclination showed significant difference between two groups and thoracic exercise group decreased significantly more than general physiotherapy groups (p<0.05). According to the results above, exercise for increasing thoracic mobility has an effect on lumbar stability. For the work-related chronic lower hack pain workers, it is far more effective for lumbar stabilization than general physiotherapy.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.71-104
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• 2018

This paper adopts a distributive performance process model of in-work poverty based on labor markets, households, and welfare states and analyzes the 4-11 waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study during 2008-15. Previous studies on in-work poverty have focused on the definitions and concepts of in-work poverty by analyzing employment and unemployment persistence and repetition dynamics, but rarely paid attention to institutional distributive performance. In this regard, this study preforms a stepwise analysis of labor markets, households, and welfare states as a process of income generation in labor markets, satisfaction of welfare needs and income pooling at households, and deduction of social security contribution and income tax as well as receipt of public transfer income at welfare states. Results of empirical analysis show that in-work poverty had been on increase during 2008-11, followed by a decrease between 2012-15. At labor market stages, full time status had the most prominent impact on in-work poverty process, while status by employment and contract type have generated a huge variation as well. At household stages, household work intensity and number of earners contributed to reduction of in-work poverty, but the relations did not seen to be straightforward. However, welfare state played little role in lifting employees out of in-work poverty. In terms of institutional distributive process, in-work poverty was prevalent in either household-welfare state stage or labor market-household-welfare stage. Non-vulnerable group in terms of in-risk poverty was around 80% of the sample during the period of analysis, the size of which has remained constant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.287-301
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• 2022

Objectives: This study compared the characteristics of the work environment between agricultural and general workers and analyzed the effects of agricultural working characteristics on work-related health problems. Methods: The participants of this study were 2,347 agricultural workers and 48,042 general workers who were selected by applying standardized weights to the raw data of 50,538 respondents from the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). Variables applicable to both worker groups and related to exposure to hazardous risk factors in the working environment, working hours and intensity of work, health problems and work-related status, and satisfaction with the work environment were selected. Chi-square tests and independent sample t-tests were performed to evaluate the differences in the variables between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the effects of work environment characteristics on work-related health problems. Results: Compared to general workers, agricultural workers were more exposed to hazardous environments, irregular work patterns such as working on Saturday/Sunday, and short repetitive tasks. They reported more work-related and general health problems, including back pain, upper extremity muscle pain, lower extremity muscle pain, and general fatigue. Agricultural workers showed lower satisfaction with their work environment than general workers. Factors affecting one or more work-related health problems included gender, working years, hazardous factors, irregular work pattern, working hours, and labor intensity. Conclusions: Our findings showed that agricultural workers were relatively more vulnerable to safety issues compared to other occupational groups. Therefore, it is necessary to establish standardized safety and health standards and strengthen systematic safety and health management policies and services for agriculture.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2008

The effect of light intensity on the ozone formation and the aerosol number concentration during the photochemical reactions of ambient air was investigated in an indoor smog chamber. The smog chamber consists of a housing, 64 blacklights, and a $2.5-m^3$ reaction bag made of Teflon film. The bag was filled with the unfiltered ambient air in Seoul from January 10 to March 18, 2002. In this work, the photolysis rate of $NO_2$, $k_1$ was used as an index of light intensity. Three levels of light intensity were controlled by changing the number of blacklights turned on among 64 blacklights: $0.29min^{-1}$ (50%), $0.44min^{-1}$ (75%), $0.57min^{-1}$ (100%). The ozone concentration increased rapidly within 10 minutes after irradiation irrespective of light intensity, thereafter it increased linearly during the irradiation. The ozone production rate seems to be dependent on both the light intensity and the quality of ambient air introduced into the reaction bag. The change in aerosol number concentration also depended on both the light intensity and the ambient air quality, especially aerosol size distribution. Based on the initial ambient aerosol size distributions, the photochemical potential for aerosol formation and growth is classified into two cases. One is the case showing aerosol formation and growth processes, and the other is the case showing no apparent change in particle size distribution.