• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-80
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• 2002

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the job characteristics of container terminal workers by applying the Job Strain model, and to assess the relationship among the general characteristics, job characteristics and psychosocial distress. Methods: A self-administrated questionnaire survey was performed to the container terminal workers in Pusan. Among the 200 male workers who answered the questionnaires, white-collar workers and blue-collar workers were 100, respectively. Karaseks Job Content Questionnaire was utilized to evaluate the job characteristics and Psychosocial well-being index (PWI) was applied to measure the extent of their psychosocial stress. Results: In white-collar workers, the skill discretion, created skill, decision-making authority, decision-making latitude, psychological job demand, and supervisor support of the job characteristics were significantly high, while in blue-collar workers physical exertion was significantly high. The result of Psychosocial well-being index (PWI) reveals that blue-collar workers were more stressed than white-collar workers, especially, the indices of depression (factor 2), sleeping disturbance and anxiety (factor 3), General well-being and vitality (factor 4) were significantly increased; whereas, in white-collar workers, only the index of social performance and self-confidence (factor 1) was significantly increased. And PWI scores were significantly increased in the lower social support and psychological job demand. By the multiple logistic regression analysis for PWI, blue-collar workers had increased odds ratio of 2.66(95% CI;1.11-6.41) compared with white-collar workers. The unmarried workers increased odds ratio of 3.54(95% CI;1.18-10.62) compared with married workers. And workers who have not own house increased odds ratio of 2.35(95% CI;1.15-4.79) compared with workers who have own house. Particularly, odds ratio of work-shift in blue-collar workers was 11.10(2.14-57.64). Conclusion: Skill discretion, created skill, decision-making authority, decision-making latitude, psychological job demand, and supervisor support were increased in white-collar workers. Decreased skill discretion and increased physical exertion were found in blue-collar workers, which is supported the Job Strain model. Job stress of blue-collar workers was comparatively higher than that of white-collar workers, especially, skill discretion, decision-making authority, decision-making latitude, job insecurity, physical exertion were noticeable factors. Especially, sleeping, smoking, and work shifting turned out to be a main cause that increases stress. Therefore, in order to decrease the job stress, a health promotion program to change the health behaviors should be activated and an organized job stress management program should be introduced. Especially, working condition for blue-collar such as physical exertion and work-shift should be improved.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.609-616
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• 1996

This study was conducted to evaluate the degree of stress state and the risk factors related to in 967 white collar workers and 275 blue collar workers by using Psycosocial Well-being Index. The results obtained were as follows : 1. In the white collar workers and blue collar workers, young age, low education and low income groups had high scores of stress, while in white collar workers, female had high scores of stress but in blue collar workers, male had high scores of stress. 2. According to psychosocial well-being index, mild stress sto were 73.9% and 53.1%, high risk stress state were 8.9% and 44.4%, and healthy state were 17.2% and 2.6% in white collar and blue collar workers respectively. 3. The total stress score was highly associated with the factors of depression, social performance and self-confidence, general well-being and vitality, and sleeping disturbance and anxiety in order. 4. In reliability test of stress factors, Cronbach's $\alpha$ coefficients of depression, social performance and self-confidence, general well-being and vitality, and sleeping disturbance and anxiety were 0.89, 0.81, 0.79, and 0.74 respectively. In conclusion, it suggested that age, sex, marital status, income, education, sleeping time, smoking and exercise habit were associated with stress score, all of the above factors should considered to occupational health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2017

Purpose: In this study, factors of metabolic syndrome and nutritional status were examined according to gender and occupations using the 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: This study was conducted on 1,750 workers (male : 892, female : 858) aged between 30 and 64, who participated in a health survey, health examination, and nutrition survey using the 6th 2013 KNHANES. Occupations were classified into white collar and blue collar workers, and nutrient intake was analyzed using a food frequency questionnaire. Analysis of complex sample design data through SPSS 19.0 was used for analysis. Results: The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome among blue collar (35.1%) was higher than that among white collar workers (26.8%) in male subjects (p < 0.05) as well as in blue collar (24.8%) compared to white collar workers (8.9%) in female subjects (p < 0.001). Intake frequency per week, considering one portion by food category, showed significant differences in cooked rice (p < 0.05) and bakeries and confectioneries (p < 0.05) in make workers as well as stew and casserole (p < 0.01) and fruits (p < 0.05) in female workers. With regard to nutrient intake by occupation and gender, white collar workers consumed a greater amount of nutrients (not including total energy intake) compared to blue collar workers in both male and female workers. With regard to nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) according to gender and occupation, white collar workers showed higher numbers than blue collar workers in both male and female subjects. Conclusions: This study examined the prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome and nutrient intake according to gender and occupation. In both male and female subjects, blue collar workers showed higher prevalence rates compared to white collar workers, and their diet quality was worse than white collar workers' diet quality. Considering this result, customized nutrition education according to gender and occupation should be provided to workers to prevent diseases.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.235-246
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to comprehend the real context of metabolic syndrome-related factors of Korean male blue-collar workers from small-sized companies based on the health belief model. Methods: A total of 37 workers from three companies were interviewed, and three series of focus group interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using deductive content analysis. Results: Data were classified into four categories: knowledge, perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived barriers, and beliefs. Knowledge referred to low knowledge level; perceived susceptibility and severity referred to unawareness of susceptibility and severity; perceived barriers referred to shift work, overtime work, and a social context including having no choice but to drink; and beliefs referred to believing that health promotion behaviors do not relate to preventing metabolic syndrome, believing that one cannot prevent metabolic syndrome oneself, and believing that professional help is required. Conclusion: To prevent and reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome among Korean male blue-collar workers, interventions should focus on strategies to increase metabolic syndrome-related knowledge and perceptions, social support, and self-efficacy for practicing health behaviors. In addition, it is necessary to develop policies for establishing a healthy drinking culture in companies.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.239-248
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• 2010

Objective: Despite the increasing number of female participation in employment, blue-collar women have been exposed to higher health risk. This study is to describe the prevalence of chronic diseases, health behaviors, and medical service utilization of female blue-collar workers. Methods: Data were derived from the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES). The sample was made up of 37,108 male and female participants aged 20 or over selected nation-wide by probability sampling from Korea. This study applied the logistic regression for nominal variables such as disease prevalence and health behaviors and with the regression for continuos variables such as the length and costs of medical services. Results: In general, women's prevalence of chronic illness and uncured rate were significantly higher than male, and especially female blue-collar workers had the highest prevalence, uncured rate, unhealthy status, and perceived stress. However, the medical care cost was the lowest in female blue-collar workers. Conclusions: The findings suggest that female blue-collar workers were more likely to experience health problems, and that despite the highest health risk, health service is not effectively utilized, and health policy maker should take consider of special status of female blue collar workers who are in health inequality.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.190-199
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to propose the standard of health-related fitness evaluation according to the working styles of male manufacturing workers. The subjects were 15,329 male manufacturing workers aged from 40 to 59 years old who had taken a health-related fitness test by K Institution. Health-related fitness components are cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition. We measured Vo2max, grip strength, sit-up, trunk flexion forward, and body fat percentage to ascertain each component. Data were analyzed with Two-way ANOVA, T-test, One-way ANOVA(Scheffe) and Percentile using SPSS version 18.0 program. The analysis results are as follows. First, the health-related fitness of manufacturing workers varied significantly according to their working styles(maximum oxygen uptake : F=88.67(p<.001), grip strength : F=20.09(p<.001), sit-up : F=42.06(p<.001), trunk flexion forward : F=69.44(p<.001), body fat percentage : F=136.75(p<.001)).Therefore, the evaluation standard was set based on the percentile of health fitness items. Second, the average Vo2max, grip strength, and trunk flexion forward of blue-collar workers were higher than those of white-collar workers at all ages. On the other hand, the average sit-up and body fat percentage of white-collar workers were higher than those of blue-collar workers at all ages. Third, these evaluation criteria differed greatly when compared with the results of the National Physical Fitness Survey. Therefore, we have confirmed that the evaluation criteria should be applied differently according to the working style of a worker when evaluating his health-related fitness.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2020

Purpose: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of metabolic abnormalities has rapidly increased in Korea. Sleep may play a role in determining its prevalence. However, the relationships between MetS and the duration and quality of sleep are not yet clear. This study aimed to examine the associations between the duration and quality of sleep and the prevalence of MetS. Methods: Study participants included 348 Korean blue-collar workers employed by six small-sized companies in Korea. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the effects of the factors related to MetS. Results: The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent factors that contributed to the prevalence of MetS were being male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=4.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.58~15.0) and lower sleep quality (aOR=5.12, 95% CI=1.90~14.30). Sleep duration was related to the prevalence of some MetS components, but it was not associated with MetS prevalence. Conclusion: Sleep quality was negatively associated with MetS prevalence when covariates, such as sleep duration, were controlled. When developing a MetS risk-reduction program, focus should be given to sleep quality as well as sleep duration in an intervention for Korean blue-collar workers.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 2009

This study was attempted to suggest fundamental data to take health care plan in terms of oriental medicine by evaluating the health-related quality of life according to the Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) of factory workers. General characteristics, living habits, and health-related quality of life were investigated through self-administration questionnaire in the course of oriental health examination for 1,870 male workers at a manufacturing company located in the Jeollabuk-do region, and the Sasang constitution of each worker was identified and analyzed through questionnaires and oriental doctor's medical examination. For Sasang constitutional medicine, So-eum person(少陰人) was found to be the most, and then So-yang preson(少陽人), Tai-eum preson(太陰人), and Tai-yang preson(太陽人) in order; for lifestyle, smokers were most found in So-yang person workers, non-smokers in Tai-yang person workers, drinkers in Tai-yang person workers, and non-drinkers in So-eum person workers. For the general health score by the Sasang constitutions, Tai-yang person workers were found to be 42.73 in general health area, Tai-eum preson workers 41.69, So-yang person workers 40.87, and So-eum person workers 40.42; in the vitality area, Tai-eum person workers were found to be 45.14, So-yang person workers 44.16, So-eum person workers 43.02, and Tai-yang person workers 41.34. Specially, it was found that regular exercise improved physical health factors, drinking adversely affected mental health factors, and the mental health factors of Tai-eum person workers who have regularly exercised showed the highest values, while those of Tai-yang person workers who have not exercised showed the lowest values. There was difference in lifestyle by Sasang constitutions, and accordingly, the quality of life might be different Therefore it is deemed that health care plan is required to be taken by Sasang constitutions and lifestyle for health promotion and care of blue-collar workers in the future.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluated the degree of job-related life style and stress of industrial workers to present fundamental materials of preventive oriental medicine. The medical examination with oriental medicine method was performed from October 14 to November 1, 2002 for the 474 industrial workers and general characters, life style and Psychosocial Well-being Index(PWI) were collected by using self-recording type questionnaire. The results were as follows; 1) All 474 of subjects were male, job type was distributed into technician, 37.8% of them, white collar worker, blue collar worker, research worker in an orderly fashion. 2) As a result of comparison between the job types in general characters, research worker group was the highest in education level, above 10 years group in employee duration and 1.5-2.99 million won group in monthly income was the largest group in all job type and the distribution was significantly different. 3) Analyzing the difference in life style according to the job type shows that significantly highest prevalence of drinking alcohol was found in blue collar workers, they drank alcohol 2-4 times a week and that workers did not smoke in all group of job type and the prevalence of exercise was significantly high in less than 1 time a week. 4) Analyzing the difference in the degree of stress according to the job type shows that blue collar worker group had the highest score in Factor 1, Factor 4 fields, technician group had the highest score in Factor 2 field and the differences were significant. Considering above results, the present study shows that there are difference in life style and stress according to the job type in industrial workers and that health management according to job type must be required to improve health condition and to prevent disease of industrial workers in the future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.2 s.20
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• pp.203-212
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• 1986

Hypertension is one of the most well known risk factors for cerebrovascular or coronary heart disease and is a major public health problem. Early detection and treatment of hypertension are essential, but the compliance of treatment on hypertension is not easy to achive. Hypertensive workers are being detected by the annual screening under the Labour Standard Law in Korea but the solidified control system for them is not existing. This study about workers 'Motive-Belief-Action in non-drug and drug treatment of their hypertension would be worthwhile to interpret how the workers actually behave in coping with hypertension, and also would be advisable to construct the follow-up program in Korea. In the field research process two criteria were used to select sample group. The first criterion included the workers who were screened to be hypertensive with their blood pressure above 160/95 in this survey. The second one was used to classify study-group respondents who had known their hypertension by successive annual screening. From such criteria a total of 156 male workers were sampled in 21 industries, the author interviewed them using the structured questionnaire which consisted of Belief-Motive-Action items about non-drug and drug treatment for hypertension with open-ended question on symptom of hypertension. The summary is as follows: 1) Sixty-one percent of respondents had ever checked their blood pressure somewhere besides the annual screening. 2) Most respondents(97.2%) complained no symptoms of hypertension at all. 3) Belief level of non-drug treatment was relatively high (82.1%-64.7%), but motive(55.1%-28.2%) and action(38.5%-16.7%) levels were low. 4) Belief level of drug treatment was relatively lower than that of non-drug treatment, blue collar workers showed higher artier level of drug treatment than white collar workers, and correlation coefficient between belief and motive on drug treatment was lower in group of not-recognizing their family history of hypertension than recognized group. Such findings indicated that belief on drug treatment of hypertensive workers would be problematic. 5) White collar workers showed significant lower correlation coefficients between Motive and Action of salt restriction, restriction of fatty diet and relaxation than blue collar workers. 6) Mild hypertension group showed low levels of Motive and Action of non-drug treatment(salt restriction, restriction of fatty diet and relaxation) and also showed low correlation coefficient between Belief and Motive of above non-drug treatment.