• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2022

Health care workers (HCWs) are more than ten times more likely to be infected with coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) than the general population, thus demonstrating the burden of COVID-19 among HCWs. Factors that expose HCWs to a differentially high-risk of COVID-19 acquisition are important to elucidate, enable appropriate public health interventions to mitigate against high risk and reduce adverse outcomes from the infection. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize and critically analyze the existing evidence on SARS-CoV-2 risk factors among HCWs. With no geographical limitation, we included studies, in any country, that reported (i) the PCR laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 as an independent variable (ii) one or more COVID-19 risk factors among HCWs with risk estimates (relative risk, odds ratio, or hazard ratio) (iii) original, quantitative study design, and published in English or Mandarian. Our initial search resulted in 470 articles overall, however, only 10 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Out of the 10 studies included in the review, inadequate/lack of protective personal equipment, performing tracheal intubation, and gender were the most common risk factors of COVID-19. Based on the random effects adjusted pooled relative risk, HCWs who reported the use of protective personal equipment were 29% (95% CI: 16% to 41%) less likely to test positive for COVID-19. The study also revealed that HCWs who performed tracheal intubations were 34% (95% CI: 14% to 57%) more likely to test positive for COVID-19. Interestingly, this study showed that female HCWs are at 11% higher risk (RR 1.11 95% CI 1.01-1.21) of COVID-19 than their male counterparts. This article presents initial findings from a living systematic review and meta-analysis, therefore, did not yield many studies; however, it revealed a significant insight into better understanding COVID-19 risk factors among HCWs; insights important for devising preventive strategies that protect them from this infection.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to objectify the level of case management performance and the factors influencing performance, to improve the case management performance at the Korea Worker's Compensation & Welfare Service (KWCWS) on the basis of the recognition of the objective realities of case management by job coordinators at the KWCWS, to develop a model of case management fit for the KWCWS, and to provide a basis for establishing guidelines for standardized case management. Methods: A total of 156 questionnaires were distributed to job coordinators at the KWCWS's headquarters, six regional headquarters, and 55 branches. One hundred forty-one questionnaires were collected and 126 were analyzed statistically using SPSS 21.0. Factor analysis and reliability analysis were conducted to verify the validity and reliability of the main measurement items in the research model. Frequency analysis was conducted for general characteristics of survey subjects. Frequency analysis or descriptive statistics were conducted to identify the level of independent variables (case manager's individual variables, job variables, institutional and organizational variables). Dependent variables (case management performance) and the degree of correlation were analyzed through correlation analysis between research variables. Multiple regression analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted to examine the effect of independent variables on case management performance. Results: The results of the study showed that the level of overall performance in the five stages of case management was ordinary, with an average level of 3.45 on a 5-point scale. Levels of performance by step were institutional approach and intake (3.69), assessment (3.63), goal setting and intervention planning (3.46), implementation of intervention plan (3.32), and evaluation and termination (3.20), in that order. The explanatory power of case management performance (overall) by case managers with the KWCWS was case manager's institutional and organizational variables, job variables, and individual variables, in that order. At each stage of case management, the explanatory power of a case manager's institutional and organizational variables was found to be the greatest. The model changes at each stage of case management assume similar aspects statistically. In hierarchical regression analysis, it was institutional support that had a significant effect on case management performance (overall), and institutional support had the greatest effect. The results of multiple regression analysis in which all variables are input simultaneously showed that institutional support and expertise as well as self-efficacy had a positive effect. However, case management work experience, expertise (technology), and autonomy were found to have a negative effect during the stage of case management performance. Conclusions: As a result of the study, it was confirmed that raising the case manager's expertise and support from the institution and organization are important factors to improve the level of case management performance. The research also derived practical ways of reinforcement of case manager capacity, institutional and organizational support, operation of rehabilitation-case management teams, and occupational health-related aspects.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.341-351
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• 2019

This study examines factors related to the safety of housing for elderly people. Because of the diverse problems that may occur due to aging, elderly residents may have special needs related to housing. To identify relevant factors, first, focus group interviews were conducted with six individuals aged 65 or older. Then, a Delphi survey was conducted on experts; this survey consisted of a questionnaire on factors related to the safety of housing for elderly people. Issues to address in the questionnaire were identified in the focus group interviews and also through an examination of literature published domestically and overseas. In the Delphi survey, opinions were collected from the experts; these opinions were then revised, collated, and analyzed. The factors identified in these steps were verified using a content validity index. As a result, a total of seven primary factors - outdoor environment, entrance, indoor environment, living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and restroom - and 23 sub-factors related to elderly people's housing safety were identified. The most frequently mentioned factors were indoor and outdoor stairs, safe flooring materials, and indoor thresholds. It is essential to identify the factors that most affect the safety of elderly people in their residences.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.1-41
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• 2007

Since Korea experienced a 'jobless growth' in 2003, creating jobs in the service sector has been considered as a top priority employment agenda. However, despite high employment outcomes in services, labor productivity remains stagnant in the service sector in recent years. A great deal of concern has been raised regarding newly created service jobs. Critics say low productivity in the service sector will harm the engine of economic growth in our country. This paper investigates the side of the demand for quality of labor, namely, the demand for skills as one of the main source of low productivity in the service sector. To analyze the changes of skills demand, this paper suggests the concept of job-based skills instead of worker-based skills and presents the way of constructing measures of job-based skills. By means of common factor analysis using job information in the Korean Dictionary of Occupational Titles, I extract 4 direct measures of job-based skills, such as cognitive skills, physical skills, fine skills, interactive skills. These skill measures are used to explore and to test how the skill structure changed in the service sector during 2002-2006. Empirical Results show that whereas the goods sector makes progress toward upskilling being represented by increased cognitive elements and softenization of tasks, the service sector, although high-educated workers increased, exhibits trends of deskilling in the sense of job-based skills during 2002-2006 in Korea. The trend of deskilling however does not seem a general aspect in the overall service sector. Rather, it seems a compound process that high-skilled jobs are created, but, on the other hand low-skilled jobs requiring physical labor are produced at the same time.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2007

We investigated the factors which influence the musculoskeletal symptoms in diagnostic medical sonographer. The Korean Society of Medical Sonographer conducted a survey through e-mail. Of the 400 subjects, 124 subjects responded(31%). The number of abdominal sonographer was 72(71.3%), obstetrics sonographer was 20(19.8%), echocardiographer was 9(8.9%) for effective 101 participant among themselves. According to the NIOSH diagnostic criteria, 86 subjects(85.1%) had musculoskeletal symptoms on their shoulders/neck, 73 subjects(72.3%) on their hands/wrists/arms/elbows, 44 subjects(43.6%) on their lower back. The factor of musculoskeletal symptoms were analyzed by the logistic regression analysis. The factors of symptoms for the hands/wrists/arms/ elbows were official autonomy, number of scans performed per week. The factors of symptoms for the shoulders/neck and the lower back were work break. However scan type were not observed as a significant factor. The study came to conclusion that many study subjects experienced musculoskeletal symptoms. These measures should be taken properly and promptly by the hospital's administrators.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.148-157
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• 2021

This research aims to adapt and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (K-IEPS). The original IEPS was translated into Korean according to the World Health Organization's guidelines. A total of 302 questionnaires were collected from healthcare professional students at 4 universities in South Korea. The validity and reliability of the scale were measured using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Cronbach's alpha, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). As a result of the factor analysis, a ten-item scale with two factors (Competency & Autonomy and Perception of Actual Cooperation) was achieved. Additionally, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be .87, and test-retest reliability was .83. Our study results show that the Korean version of the IEPS is a valid and reliable instrument. Therefore, the K-IEPS can be used in measuring interdisciplinary perceptions of healthcare professional students between different occupational groups.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2023

Object : This study aimed to identify the factor structure of Korean-Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 Dysregulation Profile (K-CBCL 1.5-5 DP) in infants and toddlers with mental disorders and verify differences in K-CBCL 1.5-5 DP among the diagnosis groups. Methods : The participants were 265 mothers of infants and toddlers with mental disorders who completed K-CBCL 1.5-5 DP. The data was analyzed using AMOS 25.0 and SPSS 25.0. Results : First, the bifactor model was the most suitable for the factor structure of the K-CBCL 1.5-5 DP. Second, there were significant differences among the diagnosis groups, such as communication disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, emotional disorders, and developmental delays. It was confirmed that the pervasive developmental disorder and emotional disorder groups showed significantly higher dysregulation compared with the communication disorder group. Conclusion : This study confirmed that infants and toddlers had dysregulation problems. Using the bifactor model, the multidimensional nature of the K-CBCL 1.5-5 DP was assessed. It was also meaningful that dysregulation could contribute to onset and deepening of symptoms of pervasive developmental disorders and emotional disorders in infancy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.77-101
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• 1997

In September 1994, residents of Gozan-dong, Incheon City, made a petition to the government about their health problems which might be caused by previous glass fibre landfill nearby 'H' company. In february 1995, at regular academic meeting of occupational and environmental medicine, a research team of 'D' University presented that they had found glass fibres in groundwater of the area through their survey. They were suspicious of probable association between ingestion of groundwater contaminated with glass fibres and skin tumors among residents. A joint research team was formed and carried out the survey of environment concerning groundwater and its glass fibre existence, and health assessment of residents in the area and industrial workers of 'H' company during May to November, 1995. Analysis of groundwater flow system indicates that the flow lines from the glass fibre landfill pass through or terminate at the 6 houses around the landfill. This means that the groundwater of the 6 houses around the glass fibre landfill could be affected by some possible contaminants from the landfill, but the groundwater quality of the other houses was irrelevant to the landfill. The qualitative and qualitative analyses for glass fibres in 54 groundwater samples including those from the nearby 6 houses, were carried out using SEM equipped with EDS, resulting in no evidence for the presence of glass fibres in the waters. Major precipitates, formed in waters while boiling, were identified as calcium carbonates, in particulary, aragonites in needle form. The results of health assessments of 889 residents in Gozan-dong, participated in this study, showed statistically significant differences in past medical histories of skin tumor and respiratory disease between the exposed group (31 persons who inhabited in 6 houses around the landfill) and the control group, but no significant differences in past medical histories of other diseases, such as cancer mortality, current gastroscopic findings, current skin diseases and respiratory diseases, etc. Also, we could not prove any glass fibres in excised specimens of 9 skin tumors in both groups and there were no health problems possibly associated with glass fibres in employees of the 'H' company. After all, we could not authenticate the association, raised by prior investigators, between groundwater streams, assumedly contaminated with glass fibres or not, and specific disease morbidities or common disease/symptom prevalences. That is, we could not find any glass fibres in groundwater as the only exposure factor of this study hypothesis, and there were not enough certain evidences such as increasing disease prevalences, for examples, skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases etc, possibly related to glass fibre exposure, in exposed group. As a matter of course, the conditions for confirming causal association, for example, strength of the association, consistency of the association, specificity of the association, temporality of the association and dose-response relationship etc, have not been satisfied. In conclusion, we were not able to certify the hypothesis that contamination of groundwater with glass fibres might cause any hazardous health effects in residents who used it for drinking.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.95-132
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• 2009

Can money buy happiness? If not, what are the factors that influence happiness? What makes people happy? What are the factors that influence happiness among Korean adults? How can we better explain factors that influence happiness? These are the research questions that led to the analyses of psychological, relational, financial resources that influence happiness. To examine differences in socio-economic status, adults and elderly from three different districts that vary wealth and income were interviewed in their own home. A total of 313 respondents (male=133, female=180) between the ages of 20 through 80 completed a questionnaire that contained background information, emotional support scale and happiness scale developed by the present researcher and resiliency of efficacy developed by Bandura(1995). The results are as follows. First, monthly income influence happiness to some extent, but when the variable was excluded from the path analysis, the goodness-of-fit did not change significantly. Although those who have more money can be happier, those without much money can also be happy. These results indicate that financial resource has limited influence on happiness. In addition, monthly income did influence self-efficacy of respondents indicating that those with more money were not necessarily more confident about themselves. Second, an important factor influencing happiness is the relational resource. Emotional support was the most powerful predictor of happiness, four to five times more important than monthly income. Third, self-efficacy influenced happiness. Those respondents with higher resiliency of efficacy had higher happiness scores and the influence was two times greater than monthly income. Moreover, self-efficacy played a mediating role between emotional support and happiness. Fourth, those respondents with higher occupational achievement reported higher happiness score and the influence was two times greater than monthly income. Fifth, success of children influenced happiness score and the influence was 1.5 times greater than monthly income. Sixth, education did not directly influence happiness, but had an indirect influence through self-efficacy and occupational achievement. Seventh, age was not related to self-efficacy and happiness.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the number and influence factors of asbestos fibers in the air of farmhouses with asbestos cement slate roofing, as well as in rainwater per unit area of the asbestos cement slate roofing. Methods: At a distance of 1 m from the end of asbestos cement slate roofing in 20 farmhouses, the asbestos fiber in the air was collected three times on a clear day downwind from the prevailing wind. Rainwater falling from the slate roofing was collected four times with a 1.05-m rainwater pipe on a rainy day at the 20 farmhouses, filtered with a MCE filter, and analyzed with a phase contrast microscope. Results: The geometric mean of the number of asbestos fibers in the air of farmhouses with slate roofing was 0.11 fiber/L, and no samples exceeded the recommended standard of 10 fiber/L. As a result of multiple regression analysis, a factor which gave a significant influence to the asbestos fiber content in the air was the gross area of slate roofing at the target farmhouses. The number of asbestos fibers included in rainwater collected per 1 m2 of slate roofing was 1,753 fiber/$L{\cdot}m2$. As a result of multiple regression analysis, the number of asbestos fibers contained in rainwater per 1 m2 of slate showed a significantly higher tendency as the year of slate roofing installation at the target farmhouses receded. Conclusions: It was confirmed for the first time in Korea that asbestos from asbestos cement slate roofing scatters into the air.