• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.225-236
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Nanomaterials have been used in various fields. As use of nanoproducts is increasing, workers dealing with nanomaterials are also gradually increasing. Exposure assessments for nanomaterials have been carried out for protection of worker's health in workplace. Exposure studies were mainly focused on manufacturing processes, but these studies on after-treatment processes such as refinement, weighing, and packing were insufficient. So, we investigated exposure characteristics of particles during after-treatment processes of $Al_2O_3$ fibers and Ni powders. Methods: Mass-production of Ni powder process was carried out in enclosed capture-type canopy hood. In a developing stage, $Al_2O_3$ was handled with a local ventilation unit. Exposure characteristics of particles were investigated for $Al_2O_3$ fiber and Ni powder processes during the periods of 10:00 to 16:00, 20 May 2014 and 13:00 to 16:00, 21 May 2014, respectively. Three real-time aerosol instruments were utilized in exposure assessment. A scanning mobility particle sizer(SMPS, nanoscan, model 3910, TSI) and an optical particle counter(OPC, portable aerosol spectrometer, model 1.109, Grimm) were used to determine the particle size distribution in the size range of 10-420 nm and $0.25-32{\mu}m$, respectively. In addition, a nanoparticle aerosol monitor(NAM, model 9000, TSI) was used to measure lung-deposited nanoparticle surface area. Membrane filters(isopore membrane filter, pore size of 100 nm) were also used for air sampling for the FE-SEM(model S-5000H, Hitachi) analysis using a personal sampling pump(model GilAir Plus by 2.5 L/min, Gilian). Conclusions: For Ni powder after-treatment process, only 27% increase in particle concentration was found during the process. However, for $Al_2O_3$ fiber after-treatment process, significant exposure(1.56-3.34 times) was observed during the process.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.9
• /
• pp.6080-6088
• /
• 2015

The purpose of study is to find difference in the quality of life and related factors according to the employment status. Using data from the fifth National Health and Nutrition Survey, economically active population of 20-69 years old 3,429 participants who said to questions of 'economic activity status' were finally used as analysis subjects in Korea. According to economic activity status, individuals were divided by the six different employment status and their quality of life was inspected using the EQ-5D dimensions and index score as well as analyzing the factors affecting the quality of life. As a result, unemployed compared to full-time workers, had significantly higher needs of four dimensions and Unpaid family workers had in the dimensions of Mobility, Self-care and Usual activities and temporary job had in the dimensions of Self-care and Usual activities. After figuring out life quality factors according to employment status, it was found that compared to full-time workers greater age(${\beta}=-0.089$, p<0.001), more stress(${\beta}=-0.143$, p<0.0001), hyperlipidemia(${\beta}=-0.064$, p<0.0001), stroke, arthritis(${\beta}=-0.160$, p<0.0001), respiratory diseases(${\beta}=-0.055$, p<0.001) and chronic health conditions were more influential to low quality of life for temporary job(${\beta}=-0.034$, p<0.05), day workers(${\beta}=-0.078$, p<0.0001) and unemplyed(${\beta}=-0.052$, p<0.01). The study is reported that it is to find difference in the quality of life and related factors according to the employment status and it is considered to provide basis for health evaluation of utilization in the same field of study.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.591-606
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to propose basis data to nursing intervention development in order to raise the professional consciousness of long-term care workers grasping influence factor and professional consciousness. The subjects were about 185 long-term care workers at D megalopolis and 4 cities of 3 provinces from November to December, 2009. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression. The correlated factors of professional consciousness included self-efficacy(r=.420, p=.000), sense of the calling(r=.636, p=.000), education training effectiveness(r=.441, p=.000), internal locus control(r=.378, p=.000), and external locus control(r=-.356, p=.000). Factors influencing of professional consciousness of them were to show in order of sense of the calling(B=.329, p=.000), education training effectiveness(B=.250, p=.000), internal locus control(B=.216, p=.000), external locus control (B=-.165, p=.002), consideration and opplicable job choose characteristic(B=.207, p=.004), these variables accounted for 57.5% of the variance of professional consciousness. Further research needs to develop well organized educational program, training of enhancing internal locus control, and clear examination about roles and tasks of long-term care workers. Also, it suggests education and research that can enhance professional consciousness by utilizing these factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.2607-2612
• /
• 2014

Background: Cancer screening rates in Japan are much lower than those in Western countries. This study evaluated the relationship between cancer screening rates and strategies used to improve screening rates, and determined which strategy is the most effective. Materials and Methods: All municipalities are responsible for conducting gastric, lung, colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screenings in Japan. Of the 1,746 municipalities in total, 92-99% were included in the analyses for each cancer screening. Using national data in 2009, the correlations between cancer screening rates and strategies for improving screening rates of all municipalities, both large (populations of over 30,000) and small (populations of under 30,000), were determined. The strategies used were as follows: sending personal invitation letters, personal visits by community health workers, use of a clinical setting for screening, and free screening. Results: Of all four strategies used to improve cancer screening rates, sending personal invitation letters had the highest correlations with all screening rates, with the exception of breast cancer screening. The partial correlation coefficients linking this strategy with the screening rates in all municipalities were 0.28, 0.32, 0.30, and 0.26 for gastric, lung, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening, respectively. In large municipalities, the correlations between the number of examinees in a clinical setting and the screening rates were also relatively high, particularly for cervical cancer screening (r=0.41). Conclusions: Sending personal invitation letters appears to be particularly effective in improving cancer screening rates in all municipalities. All municipalities should implement a system that sends personal invitation letters for cancer screening. In large municipalities, increasing the availability of screening in a clinical setting is also effective in improving cancer screening rates.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.95-106
• /
• 2017

Objectives : Although interest in preventive medicine has increased recently, "Mibyeong", the preventive concept of Korean medicine, is still unfamiliar to the general public. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the concept of Mibyeong and users used on the Internet. Methods : Naver (www.naver.com), which has the highest ranking in terms of market share, number of visitors, search time share, and community category share, has been selected as a search target and jisik-iN Q&A and posts of cafe about Mibyeong were searched for recently approximately 6 years. Results : 105 cases of Jisik-iN Q&A and 283 cases of cafe posts were searched. Overall, the number of Jisik-iN Q&A and cafe posts's Mibyeong term usage was the highest in 2013. In the Internet user category, Mibyeong Term was used most commonly in the Jisik-iN Q&A by Korean medicine related medical personnel (29 cases, 28%) and in the cafe other health-related workers (87cases, 31%). In Mibyeong related cafe classification, Information Exchange (220 cases, 77%) was the most frequent and besides 39 cases (14%) used in Operation of Medical Institutions. And the concept of Mibyeong was often used as symptom-based rather than diagnostic test or disease (Cafe posts 52%, Jisik-iN Q&A 70%), in particular, topic of Mibyeong related Jisik-iN Q&A was used in the order of pain (31 cases, 16%), cancer (17 cases, 9%), fatigue (11 cases, 6%). Conclusions : This study has significance as basic research data of general Internet user group and can be used as fundamental data for awareness promotion, publicity and necessity of Mibyeong.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2021

Purpose : This study aims to investigate the awareness of occupational therapists among managers and directors of adult day care centers in Korea to explore the cause of the low employment rate of these therapists and offer the results as basic data that can be used to expand occupational therapy at adult day care centers. Methods : This study collected data by conducting an online questionnaire with managers and directors of adult day care centers located in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Ulsan. A total of 70 completed questionnaires were divided into two groups a 'group with experience in occupational therapy information (OT experience)' and a 'group with no experience in occupational therapy information (OT inexperience)' and analyzed. Results : First, the 'OT experience' was found to have higher levels of awareness of the scope of work of occupational therapists than the 'OT inexperience'. Second, significant differences were found in the degree of awareness and necessity of occupational therapists and plans to employ occupational therapists later between the 'OT experience' and the 'OT inexperience'. Third, it was shown that there were significant correlations between whether the respondents were familiar with occupational therapy and the degree of awareness and necessity of occupational therapists and plans to employ occupational therapists later. Conclusion : Based on these findings, the following measures are recommended to expand the area of occupational therapy in adult day care centers, the need for occupational therapists should be mentioned in the health and welfare-related education for workers at these adult day care centers, policies such as a medical fee system for occupational therapy at these adult day care centers should be prepared.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2022

In this study, we have investigated the shielding evaluation methodology for facilities using kV energy generators. We have collected and analysis of safety evaluation criteria and methodology for overseas facilities using radiation generators. And we investigated the current status of shielding evaluation of domestic industrial radiation generators. According to the statistical data from the Radiation Safety Information System, as of 2022, a total of 7,679 organizations are using radiation generating devices. Among them, 6,299 facilities use these devices for industrial purposes, which accounts for a considerable portion of radiation. The organizations that use these devices evaluate whether the exposure dose for workers and frequent visitors is suitable as per the limit regulated by the Nuclear Safety Act. Moreover, during this process, the safety shields are evaluated at the facilities that use the radiation generating devices. However, the facilities that use radiating devices having energy less than or equal to 6 MV for industrial purposes are still mostly evaluated and analyzed according to the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements 49 (NCRP 49) report published in 1976. We have investigated the technical standards of safety management, including the maximum permissible dose and parameters assessment criteria for facilities using radiation generating devices, based on the NCRP 49 and the American National Standards Institute/Health Physics Society N.43.3 reports, which are the representative reports related to radiation shielding management cases overseas.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.89-95
• /
• 2009

Objectives : To assess the protective effects of wearing protective devices among the residents and volunteers who participated in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : A total of 288 residents and 724 volunteers were surveyed about symptoms, whether they were wearing protective devices and potential confounding variables. The questionnaires were administered from the second to the sixth week following the accident. Spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds(VOCs), 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), and 6 heavy metals. The association between the wearing of protective devices and various symptoms was assessed using a multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. A multiple generalized linear regression model adjusted for the covariates was used to test for a difference in least-square mean concentration of urinary biomarkers between residents who wore protective devices and those who did not. Results : Thirty nine to 98% of the residents and 62-98% of volunteers wore protective devices. Levels of fatigue and fever were higher among residents not wearing masks than among those who did wear masks(odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 1.23-19.86). Urinary mercury levels were found to be significantly higher among residents not wearing work clothes or boots(p<0.05). Conclusions : Because the survey was not performed during the initial high-exposure period, no significant difference was found in metabolite levels between people who wore protective devices and those who did not, except for mercury, whose biological half-life is more than 6 weeks.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.29 no.2 s.53
• /
• pp.173-186
• /
• 1996

This is a cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationships between physical fitness, leisure time physical activity, and serum lipid levels in middle-aged male workers. Physical fitness was measured by a step test score, and leisure time physical activity was self-reported on a questionnaire. Serum total cholesterol was negatively related to physical fitness(r=-0.27), and positively to obesity index(r=0.27). But leisure time physical activity was related to total cholesterol negatively(r=-0.20) only in subjects whose total cholesterol levels were above 170mg/dl. High density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol was positively related to physical fitness(r=0.15), negatively to obestiy index(r=-0.22), and positively to weekly alcohol consumption(r=0.14). Total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was related to physical fitness(r=-0.23), obesity index(r=0.32), total cigarette index (r=0.13), weekly alcohol consumption(r=-0.13), and vegetable preference(r=0.13). Physical fitness was also related to leisure time physical activity(r=0.19) and obesity index(r=-0.18). In multiple linear regression models, physical fitness(beta=-0.23) and obesity index(beta=0.18) were significantly associated with total cholesterol, obesity index(beta=-0.25) with HDLcholesterol, and obesity index(beta=0.30), physical fitness(beta=-0.16) and vegetable preference (beta=0.14) with total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. In conclusion, as physical fitness has a stronger relationship with serum lipid levels than leisure time physical activity, and the association between physical fitness and leisure time physical activity is modest, physical fitness should be added as an important variable in addition to activity in future epidemiologic studies.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.392-401
• /
• 2010

The purpose of the present study was intended to assess psycosocial stress of male researchers working in a Research Institute, and to reveal the relationship between psycosocial stress and coronary risk factors. Data were obtained from 356 male researchers who underwent health package check-up at the health promotion center of a university hospital from May to June 2007, using by self-administered questionnaire & health check-up. For psycosocial stress, we used the questionnaire with 18 items developed as Psychosocial Well-bing Index(PWI). For coronary risk factors, systolic and diastolic blood pressure(SBP, DBP), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL, LDL), fasting blood sugar(FBS) and % fat rate were measured. As a results, the level of psycosocial stress is influenced by socio-demographic characteristics, job-related characteristics and health-related behaviors. Especially, it was found to have the inter-relational effects that the higher the blood pressure, the higher the level of psycosocial stress.