• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.323-350
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• 2011

Work ability is a fundamental factor to determine who are the recipients of disability benefits or employment services. Disability Grade based on medical impairments is used as a work ability assessment in Korea, but it has been heavily criticized that it does not assess disabled person's work ability adequately. This study tried to find out an index which explains employment status of disabled persons the best among four work ability assessment indexes of disability grade, level of ICF activity limitations and participation restriction, level of help needed with daily activities, and self-assessed health status. As a result, the level of ICF activity limitations and participation restriction explained the employment status the best, and help needed for daily activities is the second, disability grade is the third, and self-assessed health status is the last. In conclusion, level of ICF activity limitations and participation restriction is the best work ability assessment in Disabled People Pension and Employment Policy for Disabled People. Therefore, it is the basic premise to develop a new work ability assessment index which consists of items in ICF activity limitations and participation restriction.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 2002

The aim of this study is to make it sure how pupils' science inquiry skills and attitude are influenced when they are taught by using the work-sheets for the differentiated learning according to their ability. In order to accomplish this aim, two classes of the fourth grade in the elementary school were distinguished into two groups: one was the experimental class and the other, the comparative class. The experimental class was given 52 hours of science lessons using the above sheets, and the comparative class, the general method of teaching. In order to compare their scientific interest and learning ability of the two groups each other, pupils were tested the standardized achievement in advance. The two groups were also given "ex post facto test" to measure the variation of their inquiry skills and attitude after the lessons. In addition, the experimental class was tested to measure their learning attitude after they are teamed the science with the sheets. The results of this study are as follows: 1. According to the percentile statistics of the science inquiry skills test between the two groups, the work-sheets for the differentiated teaming helped pupils develope their inquiry skills remarkably. 2. The work-sheets did not lead to significant difference between the learning ability of boys and girls. 3. The science lesson using the work-sheets showed positive influences in increasing pupils' scientific attitude. 4. About 77.2 percent of pupils accepted the excellent records of the evaluation in the science lesson using the sheets. It can be, therefore, concluded that the science lesson using the work-sheets for differentiated teaming is one of effective science lessons to increasing pupils' science inquiry skills, compared with the general teaching method.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.10
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• pp.305-310
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• 2017

The purpose of the study is to test structural relationship of subjective health, ability to work, participation on economic activity, and life satisfaction among the elderly. Recently, societies have tried to lessen a social burden and alleviate negative perceptions of the elderly through some perspectives such as productive aging and active aging. In these perspectives pay attention to health and social participation to improve quality of life. Subjects were 3,392 elderly people over the age of 65 from 10th Korea Welfare Panel Study. The main results of the study are as follows. First, subjective health, ability to work, and participation on economic activity had a direct effect on life satisfaction among the elderly. Second, subjective health had a statistically significant effect on ability to work and participation on economic activity. Finally, avility to work had a positive effect on participation on economic activity. Based on the results of the analysis, this study suggested that health and work related factors should be considered as the important factors to improve the life satisfaction among the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.355-364
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the research is to investigate the effect of self-image on work performance and controlling ability of self-leadership in relationship in between self-image and work performance. Methods: The data were collected from Mar 16th to April 15th 2009, a descriptive survey study was conducted with 140 nurses. Results: The hypothesis "Self image of nurse would affect on work performance" is supported ($R^2$=.335, p<.001). In the hypothesis of "Self-leadership would have controlling ability on self-image and work performance", as a result of regression analysis in independent variables of self-image(A) and self-leadership(B), adding relation of both variable($A{\times}B$) would increase in 36.6% (p<.05). Conclusion: Self-image of nurse was confirmed that it had positive effect on work performance and that it had moderating ability on relationship between self-image and work performance. The shaping and strategic operation are required to increase self-leadership and positive development on self-image of nursed.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to improve work performance conducted at an actual clinical site by determining the relationship among critical thinking disposition, problem solving ability, and work performance. In this study, 335 dental hygienists completed self-administered survey. Final analysis was conducted with a total of 331 responses, excluding 4 questionnaire with unreliable responses and non-responses. The results indicated that as the age, educational background, and work experience of the subjects increased, their critical thinking disposition and problem solving ability scores increased and were statistically significant. For work performance, average total score was high for age, educational background and work experience, but only age and work experience were statistically significant. Critical thinking disposition, problem solving ability and work performance of the subject were relevant, and all of them were significant. Work performance was also influenced indirectly by mediating problem solving ability in critical thinking disposition. In other words, both direct and indirect effects were significant, and the existence of partial moderating effect was verified. Thus, in order to improve work performance of dental hygienists, a multilevel educational process that can simultaneously improve critical thinking disposition and problem solving ability of dental hygienists needs to be developed. Therefore, it is expected that the new dental hygiene company will be able to perform without any sense of disparity in the clinical field; this will solve the gap between dental hygiene education and practical skills.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.205-218
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to learn the affective factors of case managers' occupational stress. Method: A total of 986 participants responded to a self-administered questionnaire that included 24 items of Korean Occupational Stress Questionnaire Short Form (KOSQSF), job satisfaction index, health behaviors, general characteristics, and variables related to work. The data collection of research was done from 17th to 21th of September, 2007. The data were analysed by t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression with SPSS 11.1 package program. Result: The results of this study were as follows: The overall job satisfaction rate of men and women was highly than that of the Korean worker's standard. There were statistically significant differences in occupational stress in work place, work department, work position, smoking, treatment in out-patient clinic, subjective & relative health-status, work load, supervisor's review on work-ability, and job satisfaction. According to the multi-variate analysis, occupational stress(47.6%) was related to job satisfaction, workload, individual work-ability, supervisor's review on work-ability, health status and gender. Conclusion: Occupational stress varied depending on the ten variables and was influenced by job satisfaction(35.7%) and 5 other variables. The results suggest that further follow-up study on case managers is necessary to relieve their occupational stress.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2024

Background: This study examines the relationship between functional disability and work ability in workers affected by low back pain (LBP) through an analysis of correlations between the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Work Ability Index (WAI). The role of personal and work factors on functional disability/work ability levels has also been studied. LBP is the most common musculoskeletal problem and a major disabling health problem worldwide. Its etiology is multifactorial. Multidisciplinary approaches may help reduce the burden of pain and disability and improve job continuity and reintegration at work. Methods: A cohort of 264 patients affected by LBP from an Italian outpatient clinic were included in a clinical diagnostic/therapeutic trial aiming at rehabilitation and return to work through an integrated investigation protocol. Data were collected during the first medical examination using anamnestic and clinical tools. The final sample is composed of 252 patients, 57.1% man, 44.0 % blue collars, 46.4% with the high school degree, 45.6% married. Results: WAI and ODI reported a negative and fair correlation (r = -0.454; p = .000). Workers with acute LBP symptoms have a higher probability of severe disability than those with chronic LBP symptoms. White collars without depressive symptoms reported higher work ability - even in chronic disability conditions-than those with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The study found that ODI and WAI have a convergent validity and this suggests that the two tools measure capture distinctive aspects of disability related to personal, environmental, and occupational characteristics. The most important and modifiable prognostic factors found for ODI and WAI were depressive symptoms, workday absence, and intensity of back pain. The study also found a mild association between age and ODI. The study's findings highlight the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach to manage and prevent disability due to LBP.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.71-91
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• 2004

The National Basic Livelihood Security System implemented from October 2000 has expanded cash assistance to cover the poor households that have work ability. The cash assistance for the households with work ability has positive aspects of providing basic livelihood security for all people, but many people have worried about its negative aspects such as the decrease of labor supply among the low-income people with work ability. However, there has been few study that evaluated the effects of the NBLS implementation on labor supply. One of the reason for this may be related with the difficulty of research methodology that there were neither program group nor control group, because NBLS was implemented for all the people at the same time. This study suggests alternative program groups and control groups based on work ability and education. Using wave1 to wave5 data of the Korean Labor and Income Survey, this study estimated the effects of the NBLS implementation on employment and work hours. A difference-in-difference approach was applied to these alternative program and control groups. I found that the implementation of NBLS did not have any statistically significant effects on employment an work hours. It is too early to conclude from this result that cash assistance for the poor households with work ability does not induce any labor supply decrease in Korea. Rather, I interpret this result as reflecting that the NBLS system was too limited to induce any sizable decrease of labor supply or that the work requirement imposed on the recipients with work ability was effective in deterring work disincentive among the low-income population. Future research need to explore better program and control groups and investigate long-term effects.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2024

Background: The Work Ability Index (WAI) is an instrument that measures work ability. The wide dispersion of the WAI internationally has led to its adaptation for use in different countries. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the WAI. Methods: A methodological design was used over an opportunistic sample of 233 workers in the aeronautical industry in Spain. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency. Factorial validity, known groups, and convergent validity were tested. Results: The Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation indicated an adequate internal consistency. The confirmatory factor analysis, performed to evaluate the factorial validity, found adequate fit indices for a two-factor solution with a high correlation between the factors. Factor 1, "Subjectively estimated work ability and resources", was composed of 3 subscales and factor 2, "Ill-health-related", of 2 subscales. Subscales 4 and 6 had loading in both factors. Workers under 45 years of age obtained higher significant scores than older ones. Convergent validity was also evidenced since WAI was highly correlated with self-assessment of health status. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the WAI has shown evidence of reliability and validity in this study, supporting its use in individual and collective health surveillance by occupational health professionals. The factorial solution that was found has previously been reported in another international context. However, further research is needed to resolve the discrepancies detected in the role of some subscales between other national and international studies.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.304-315
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of critical thinking disposition (CT), nursing work environment (NWE), and clinical decision making ability among nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was conducted on 192 nurses who had worked for more than six months in five general hospitals. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data, which included demographics, CT, NWE, and clinical decision making ability. Results: The mean score of CT was 3.5. The highest score was on the objectivity of CT and the lowest on systematicity. The mean score of NWE was 2.3. The highest score was on the collegial nurse-physician relations of NWE and the lowest on the staffing and resource adequacy. The mean score of clinical decision making ability was 3.3. In hierarchical multiple regression, affecting factors on clinical decision making ability were CT and NWE. Conclusion: The findings showed that clinical decision making ability is associated with CT and NWE. To improve clinical decision making ability, it is important to improve CT. In addition, it should be considered to improve NWE where the nurses can make a decision with their job through critical thinking.