• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.48-61
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• 1995

This study attempted to analyze the health habits affecting health status of industrial workers. Data was collected from 57 industries of 900 workers at Inchon. The research has been carried out through self-administered questionnaire and from the analysis of the health examination records and the results were as follows: 1. Among 861 respondents, men were 81.2%, women were 18.8%, 42, 6% were of the 30-40 age group, the married were 65.7%, the single were 32.5%, the high school graduates were 62.4% and 37.3% were of people who worked between 1 and 5 years. 2. As far as the seven health habits, current smokers were 54.9%, people who regularly exercise was 31.7%, 7-8 hour of sleep, on the average were 74.0%, people eating breakfast nearly every day were 8.0%, and people eating between meals almost every day were 54.2%. Heavy drinkers who drink 3-4 times or more per week were 13.2%, 1-2 times per week were 26.8% and the obese were 4.6%, 3. Health status of A and B, estimated by doctors in the health examination were 81.7% and C, D1, D2, the unhealthy were 18.3%. Men were reported more than women in unhealthy groups and the results regarding health status reflect gender, educational level and age, That is to say that, lower educational level group and over 30 years of age group perceive their health to be worse than the higher educational level and under 30 age group, And these differences were statistically significant. 4. The relationship between health habits and health status, expressed in terms of the odds ratio. Current smokers had a consistently worse health status than a nonsmokers with a 1.36 odds ratio. The workers who reported eating breakfast rarely or never were more associated with the unhealthy group than the regular breakfast eating group with a 2.48 odds ratio. One or more drink per week had a worse health status than a never or a little drinker with a 1.42 odds ratio. 5, The Health habits score and duration of work were selected as significant factors influencing health status based on logistic analysis. According to the results of this model, the odds ratio of good health status was 2.06 for good health habit score, 1.55 for population who worked seven years or more duration of work. As we have seen, good practices were found to be associated with better health and the effect of the health habits was cummulative;those who followed 6-7 health habits were in better health, even though they were older than those who failed to do so. Therefore, in order to provide the health promotion of workers it is necessary to establish a health management plan for an effective health education and health service. If we use this type of study as a prospective study design, we can get a precise basic data for health promotion and a management plan for industrial workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2023

Background: The objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population. Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization. Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07-20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07-20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50-10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51-3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26-4.52) and a greater prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74-10.32). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 2010

This study aimed to examine the development and characteristics of the workers with upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders and to analyze the upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders for its relationship with the individual socio-demographic characteristics. This study investigated the effect on the limitations of physical activities using standardized surveillance tool and clinical diagnosis. Musculoskeletal symptoms and the limitations of physical activities were examined. The clinical diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders were carried out by physical examination, radiological examination and electromyography-electroneuronography for 22 workers in kitchen hood assembly process and 50 workers in toggle process of leather product manufacturing. The proportion of workers with musculoskeletal disorders was higher and the DASH score was also statistically higher in female and aged workers with longer working hours, longer household working hours, less leisure/hobby activity and higher physical load. Physical activities component score increased in the following order: workers in normal health, workers with musculoskeletal symptoms, and workers with musculoskeletal disorders as clinically diagnosed. Score for each DASH component increased in the following order: sports/performing arts ability, social activities, specific physical functional activities, work or other regular daily activities, work ability, psychological activities, insomnia and upper limb symptoms. The overall and each component DASH scores were higher in workers with symptoms of status praesens and of more severity, and receiving medical intervention. Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders are associated with individual socio-demographic characteristics, and DASH score for physical activities of upper limb was higher in workers with musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders have a remarkable epidemiological significance for physical activities, social activities, work or other regular daily activities, upper limb symptoms and insomnia, where work ability, sports/performing arts ability and preventive measure is needed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.698-698
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• 2014

According to the analysis of special medical examination and work environment monitoring data, the rate of C1 and D1 on noise hazard exceeded 90% among those of total hazardous factors. The rate of company exceeding noise exposure limit was also more than 90%. The analysis result shows that main ages diagnosed with C1 and D1 was age of 50s. The majority scale company having workers diagnosed with C1 and D1 was the companies employing 5~49 workers. Types of industries which have a large number of companies exceeding noise exposure limit were automobile and trailer manufacturing, metal processing industry and primary metal manufacturing. A large number of work processes exceeding noise exposure limit were forming and processing work, cutting and bending work and grinding. To reduce the number of company exceeding noise exposure limit, the reduction counterplan should be focused on the type of industry and the work process which exceeded noise exposure limit frequently. However, the reduction counterplan is preemptively necessary to the type of industry and the work process which exceeded noise exposure limit consecutively if the purpose of reduction counterplan is not to merely reduce the number of company exceeding noise exposure limit but to abate workers' suffering from noise.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.1095-1104
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of actual cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, as well as, individual, psychosocial, and work-related factors as predictors of CVD risk perception among Korean blue-collar workers. Methods: The participants were 238 Korean blue-collar workers who worked in small companies. Data were collected through a survey; anthropometric and blood pressure measures; and blood sampling for lipid levels. Results: Blue-collar workers had high actual CVD risk and low CVD risk perception. The significant predictors of risk perception included perceived health status, alcohol consumption, knowledge of CVD risk, actual CVD risk, decision latitude, and shift work. The model explained 26% of the variance in CVD risk perception. Conclusion: The result suggests when occupational health nurses are giving routine health examination in small companies, they can enhance CVD risk perception in blue-collar workers by providing essential information about CVD risk factors and personal counseling on the individual worker's CVD risk status.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.16-25
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was designed to analyze the results of body composition test by Oriental medical examination. The subjects were workers in the automobile manufacturing industry. Methods: The subjects consisted of 24,077 industrial workers who had received Oriental medical examination and completed questionnaires about drinking history and smoking history, during 9 months from March to November. They were categorized by sex, age, job class, drinking history and smoking history. The percentage of body fat(%BF) and abdominal obesity(AO) were measured by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Jawon Medical, Seoul, Korea). We analyzed the relationship between sex, age, job class, drinking history, smoking history and %BF and AO using x$^2$-test of the SPSS Ver. 14.0. Results: Regarding the relationship between sex and %BF, AO, there was statistically significant difference as men had a significant higher level of %BF and AO than women. There was a positive correlation between age and both %BF and AO. Workers in their 40s especially showed a high level of AO. In job class, office workers and sales personnel were apt to have a higher level of %BF and AO than factory workers. %BF and AO of the drinker group showed a higher level than the non-drinker group. On the other hand, %BF and AO of the non-smoker group were higher than those of the smoker group. Conclusions: Companies should manage obesity closely and educate the workers to quit smoking for their health promotion. Furthermore, continuous health checkups need to be done systematically.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9817-9822
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is a serious health problem. Early detection is crucial for optimal treatment and reducing mortality. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate health beliefs concerning performance of breast self- examination (BSE) and mammography in a sample of Iranian female health workers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 441 female health care workers (physicians=88, nurses=163, midwives=38, officers=68, and others=84) in 3 different health centers in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected using a self administered questionnaire which included demographic characteristics and thenPersian version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). Results: The mean age of the participants was $34.7{\pm}13.7$. It was found that 41.9% of the workers performed BSE in the past and 14.9% of them regularly, but only 10.6% of them had undergone a mammogram. Perceived barriers to BSE (F=6.351, P=0.021) and mammography (F=5.214, p=0.022) were significantly higher in officers than physicians, nurses or midwives. Perceived barriers were lower among those who had performed BSE and mammography, but not significant (p=0.34 and p=0.56, respectively). Furthermore, perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of the workers who had BSE and mammography were significantly higher than who did not (p<0.05). Perceived seriousness was not a significant variable in BSE and mammography (p=0.71 and p=0.43, respectively). Conclusions: The health beliefs of health workers concerning the perceived susceptibility of breast cancer and the perceived benefits BSE and mammography significantly impact their screening practices.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.103-104
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• 1993

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2012

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome has received attention as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with particular importance attached to visceral fat accumulation, which is associated with lifestyle-related diseases and is strongly correlated with waist circumference. In this study, our aim is to propose waist circumference cut-off values that can be used as a marker for fatty liver based on a sample of workers receiving health checkups in Japan. Methods: This study was conducted in a total of 21,866 workers who underwent periodic health checkups between January 2007 and December 2007. The mean age of the subjects was 47.4 years for men (standard deviation [SD]: 8.0) and 44.7 years for women (SD: 6.9). Evaluation included abdominal ultrasound and measurement of waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressure. Results: Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal waist circumference cut-off values were shown as 85.0 cm (sensitivity 0.72, specificity 0.69) for men and 80.0 cm (sensitivity 0.75, specificity 0.78) for women. Conclusion: Abdominal ultrasound is the most efficient means of diagnosing fatty liver, but this examination seldom occurs because the test is not routinely performed at workers' health checkups. In people found to have a high risk of fatty liver, recommendations can be made for abdominal ultrasound based on the waist circumference cut-off values obtained in this study. That is, waist circumference can be used in high risk individuals as an effective marker for early detection of fatty liver.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.5-18
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to survey working conditions of women workers. We conducted a field survey of 504 manufacturing company with many women working from May 13 to June 29, 2002. We focused on only 3 categories of metal, textile and electronics industry. The result were as follows : 1. Subjects were constituted metal 27.0%, textile 37.9% and electronics industry 35.1%. Size distribution was small scale(<50 workers) 38.1%, medium(50-299 workers) 50.2% and large(${\geq}300$ workers) company 11.7%. Women workers' proportion was 43.6% of total workers, 63.8% of total contractors. 2. A medical examination enforcement of contractors workers was very poor in comparison with that of employees(p<0.001). 3. A 53.8% of total companies have conducted shiftwork system and 2-crew 2-shift(12 hours shift system) ranked first, 56.1%(151 companies). 4. Only 61.3% of total companies conducted more than 90 days as legal standard of a maternity leave and only 2.6% of total companies had a day nursery. In conclusion, many strategies for women workers are needed by companies and government. For example, the raising of understanding about maternity protection, social support insurancing of woman worker and occupational health system improvement for contractors and small size companies.