• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2005

Objectives : To develop a tool for multidimensional measurement of the quality of life, which was psychometrically sound, short, and easy to administer for patients with hypertension. Methods : A sample of 1,115 hypertensive patients aged 20 or above in Cheong-Song County was studied from June 1997 to October 1998. In the development of the instrumental stage, the authors first conceptualized the quality of life. Item generation, item reduction, and questionnaire formatting were followed. Item-level (item descriptive, missing%, item internal consistency, item discriminant validity) analysis, scale-level (scale descriptive, floor and ceiling effect) analysis, and other tests(Cronbach's alpha, inter-dimension correlations, factor analysis, clinical validity) were performed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the new measurement scale. After 1 year, responsiveness and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. Results : The results of both item-level and scale-level analyses were acceptable. An acceptable degree of internal consistency was observed for each of the dimensions (Cronbach's alpha was 0.60 or higher). Inter-dimension correlations were below 0.50 and the factor analysis result was the same as the intended dimension structure. Correlation coefficients between perceived health status, stress and dimensions were proven to be acceptable. The result of comparing dimensional score means among ADL and MMSE-K groups above 60 years was statistically significant(p<0.05). The result of confirmatory factor analysis concluded that the dimensional structure model was well fitted. However, the result of responsiveness test using sensitivity and specificity was unsatisfactory. Conclusions : The newly developed measurement scale is psychometrically reliable and valid instrument for measuring quality of life in hypertensive patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.124-133
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• 2020

Objectives: Mask fit is a crucial factor in preventing respiratory infections among healthcare workers. The current coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic calls for the replacement of imported N95 medical masks with domestic N95 versions. In this study, we aimed to determine whether these masks provide proper protection. Methods: Thirty-five participants from three healthcare institutions donned four types of masks and Quantitative Fit Tests(Portacount, USA) were performed. The order of fit test for the four types of masks was randomized, and a three-minute washout period was applied between test times(2 min 29 sec) to reduce potential error stemming from physical exhaustion. Results: There were no significant differences in the Fit Factor for the four types of masks, and there were no gender differences. However, the Fit Factor significantly differed across the three healthcare institutions (p=0.007). With eight of the 35 participants passing, the pass rate with the criteria of 100 or higher was 21%. Conclusions: The mask used in this study was a new domestic N95 medical mask, and the participants were unfamiliar with how to wear it. They reported difficulties with mask fitting. In light of a previous finding that mask fit improved with frequently used masks, wearer preferred masks, or when masks that are regularly worn are used during fit training, the fact that participants were unfamiliar with the mask used in this study is a limitation that should not be overlooked.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1996

Platelet-activating factor(PAF) is a phospholipid mediator of pulmonary inflammation, and immunologic reaction. In this study, the role of PAF on tumor necrosis factor$(TNF_{-{\alpha}})$ production by rat alveolar macrophages(AM) was examined. When PAF $(10^{-12}{\sim}10{-16}\;M)$ alone was added to AM culture, $(TNF_{-{\alpha}})$ production was not significantly increased above the resting level. In contrast, the combined addition of PAF $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and muramyl dipeptide(MDP) $(1.0\;{\mu}g\ml)$ to AM cultures markedly enhanced $(TNF_{-{\alpha}})$ production with 8.2 fold increase compared with AM culture in resting state. This potentiative effect was 313% above the sum of the separate effects of PAF and MDP. To characterize MDP effects on $(TNF_{-{\alpha}})$ production, the dose-response of AM cultured with various concentrations of MDP was tested. High level of MDP $(10\;{\mu}g\ml)$ could not significantly enhance the potentiation effect on $(TNF_{-{\alpha}})$ production compared with AM cultures with low level of MDP $(0.1\;{\mu}g\ml)$, i.e. 112.5% vs 107.8%, respectively when $10^{-10}$ M of PAF was simultaneously added to the cell culture. These data support that the potentiation of TNF. g production in AM culture is mediated by PAF rather than MDf It was also evaluated whether the similar result was obtained in silica, respirable toxic particle-treated AM culture. $(TNF_{-{\alpha}})$ production was also significantly enhanced in the PAF $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and silica $(50\;{\mu}g\ml)$-added cell cultures with 4.7 fold above the value of silica alone-stimulated cells. These results indicate that PAF can potentiate $(TNF_{-{\alpha}})$ production by MDP-or silica- stimulated AM and suggest that PAF may play a potent role in lung inflammation and disease associated with microbe and occupational dust exposures.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 1996

Currently. exchanges of industrial workers between countries are more active than ever. and the problem of AIDS in connection with the operation of preventive educational programs has reached a point where the issue cannot be limited to native people alone any more. Based on such judgement. this research has been carried out to provide basic study materials by grasping the latent factors representing the difference between countries in the levels of right knowledge. attitude and behavior with respect to AIDS maintained by workers who have grown in different social and cultural living background. During the period from Apr. 1. 1995 to Jun. 30. questionnaires. written both in Korean and English, were distributed to Korean and Malaysian employees working at certain Korean video manufacturers. and the results of replies. given by 80 workers who were analyzed through matched sampling· method where ages and sex matched by country. were used as the research materials. The gathered materials were analyzed through the SPSS package t-test. ANOVA. factor analysis and multiple stepwise regression methods. and the following results were obtained. 1. The 2 extracted latent factors could be named 'common. social' knowledge factor and 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factor respectively. 2. The percentile points of 'external. social' knowledge factor. in the case of Korean workers. howed 90.0 at average. a figure 13.75 points higher than those of Malaysian workers. 76.25. On the other hand. the percentile points of the 'in-depth. psychological'knowledge factor showed 70.80 at average in the case of Korean workers. a figure 7.47 points lower than those of Malaysian workers. 78.33. Meanwhile. the difference in percentile points between the 2 latent factors was 8.54 at average. indicating that the points of 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factor was lower than those of the 'external. social' knowledge factor. 3. As for Korean workers. the percentile points of the 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factor showed higher points in office workers than in non-office workers. and such variables exhibited in the position of workers can explain the $7\%$ of the latent factor. The percentile points of the 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factors. in the case of Malaysian workers. showed higher points in groups who had religion than in groups who did not. and higher points in groups who obtained information from newspapers than in groups who obtained from televisions or other sources; and with these 2 variables. $26\%$ of this latent factor can be explained. The results. of analysis described so far suggest that while Korean workers possessed general level of knowledge on AIDS. they had low level of practical knowledge as far as its depth is concerned. and that they had social prejudice on patients as well as on the AIDS infection route. In addition. because the overall knowledge level of Malaysian workers. is lower than that of Korean workers. it suggests that separate programs intended for Malaysian workers are required prior to executing integrated programs.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.28-34
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• 2012

Effective for the operation of fire department management of occupational stress than what organizational members perceive and to identify factors that would cause job stress. Dysfunction caused by job stress or minimize that by eliminating the stress factor that can enhance organizational effectiveness research is needed. The results of the study the impact on job stress of firefighters of the psychological environment of the most influential factor is the variable. Next, organizational culture, physical environment, orderly, and administration and human relations were not significant statistically.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-54
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• 1998

For the purpose of investigating the job implementation of industrial health nurses catch hold of satisfaction, relational character of influence. A questionnaire survey was carried out on 131 nurses who employed at the manufacture of electronic products$(27.1\%)$, distribution industry$(38\%)$, service station$(22\%)$, construction$(10\%)$, et cetra The tool of this study was modified as completed from kang's(l991) checklist of questions were composed of the performance of nurses' duty(13 items), the factor of main influential character of nurses' job(11 items), job satisfaction(26 items). The results were as follows. 1. Industrial health nurses worked to labor follow up study after physical examination$(100\%)$, medication$(97.1\%)$, workers regular physical examination(95.5%), dressing$(94.1\%)$. 2. The factor of influence of job performance were personal relation$(100\%)$, satisfaction of nurses job performance$(86.7\%)$, environment of workplace$(86.7\%)$. 3. A period of long work experienced nurses felt the highest satisfaction as 3.44 point.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.68-75
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• 2014

It is very important to classify explosion hazardous area (EHA) suitably and to use proper explosion-proof electric installations for facilities using flammable gases and liquids. In the past, various examples in the Notification of Ministry of Employment and Labor were referred to in classifying EHA. But, at present, many companies use the hypothetical volume in Korean Standards (KS). This study reviews the validity of EHA classification based on the hypothetical volume by comparing the calculated radii of EHA with those obtained by a consequence analysis program called PHAST and a mathematical approach in British Standards (BS). The radii of EHA by the hypothetical volume were found to be slightly larger than those by the other two methods. This was attributed to rather conservative uses of a safety factor(k) and a correction factor(f) for availability of ventilation in calculating the hypothetical volume. Since the differences are not so conspicuous, however, it is concluded that the hypothetical volume in KS is a valid means for the classification of EHA. This study also presents a table of the radii of EHA for easy reference by small-scale companies using city gas, C3-LPG and flammable liquid(toluene), respectively. The table consists of 25 leakage scenarios corresponding to combinations of 5 pipe(nozzle) sizes and 5 operating conditions for each flammable gas and liquid.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.45-50
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• 2004

Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, decay and outdoor levels. Alt hough technologies exist to measure these factors, direct measurements are often difficult. The purpose of this study was to develop an alternative method to characterize indoor environmental factors by multiple indoor and outdoor measurements. Daily indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations were measured for 30 consecutive days in 28 houses in Brisbane, Australia, and for 21 consecutive days in 37 houses in Seoul, Korea. Using a mass balance model and regression analysis, penetration factor (ventilation rate divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) and source strength factor (source strength divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) were calculated using multiple indoor and outdoor measurements. Subsequently, the ventilation rate and NO2 source strength were estimated. Geometric means of ventilation rate were 1.44 ACH in Brisbane, assuming a residential NO2 deposition constant of 1.05 hr-1, and 1.36 ACH in Seoul, with the measured residential NO2 deposition constant of 0.94 hr-1. Source strengths of N02 were 15.8 ${\pm}$ 18.2 ${\mu}$g/m3${\cdot}$hr and 44.7 ${\pm}$ 38.1 ${\mu}$g/m3${\cdot}$hr in Brisbane and Seoul, respectively. In conclusion, indoor environmental factors were effectively characterized by this method using multiple indoor and outdoor measurements.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.4 s.85
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• pp.260-265
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• 2005

Indoor air quality might be affected by source strength of indoor pollutants, ventilation rate, decay rate, outdoor level, and so on. Although technologies measuring these factors exist directly, direct measurements of all factors are not always practical in most field studies. The purpose of this study was to develop an alternative method to estimate the source strength and deposition constant by application of multiple measurements. For the total duration of 60 days, indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ concentrations every 3 days were measured in 30 houses in Seoul, Asan and Daegu. Using a compartment model by mass balance and linear regression analysis, penetration factor (ventilation divided by sum of air exchange rate and deposition constant) and source strength factor (emission rate divided by sum of air exchange rate and deposition constant) were calculated. Subsequently, the source strength and deposition constant were estimated. Natural ventilation was $1.80{\pm}0.42\;ACH,\;1.11{\pm}0.50\;ACH,\;0.92{\pm}0.26\;ACH$ in Seoul, Asan and Daegu, respectively. Calculated deposition constant(K) and source strength of $NO_2,$ in this study were $0.98{\pm}0.28\;hr^{1}\;and\;16.28{\pm}7.47\;ppb/h,$ respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.351-357
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• 2019

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate fungal contamination in a 31-year old university building in Seoul, Korea, and to study the inactivation of fungi using cold atmospheric pressure plasma(CAP). Methods: To investigate the fungal contamination in a university building, air samples were collected from five locations in the building, including two study rooms, a storage room, a laboratory, and a basement. The sampling was performed in a dry season(February to April) and in a wet season(July). To study the inactivation efficacy of fungi by CAP, airborne fungal concentrations were measured before and after the operation of the CAP generator. Results: Humidity was an important factor affecting fungal growth. The airborne fungal concentrations determined in the wet season(July) were significantly higher than those determined in the dry season(February to April). In the basement, the values determined in the dry and wet season were 319 and $3,403CFU/m^3$, respectively. The inactivation efficiency of fungi by CAP was 83-90% over five to nine days of operation. Conclusions: The university building was highly contaminated by airborne fungi, especially in summer. It is concluded that humidity is an important factor affecting fungal growth and CAP is a highly useful technique for inactivation of indoor airborne fungi.