• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.128-139
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the work experiences of nurses working as 119 paramedics and to provide basic information to develop administrative and institutional support system for the nurses. Method: The data were collected from December, 2007 to July, 2008 and analyzed using the phenomenological method provided by Munhall and Boyd. Participants of this study were 7 nurses currently working as 119 paramedics and who were willing to fully express their experiences. The grand mal question used in this study was "How is your work experience as an 119 paramedic?" Result: Narratives of the participants were analyzed and divided into 3 categories such as 'recognizing', 'withdrawal', and 'confrontation'. Conclusion: The results showed even if the participants think of their tasks fulfilling and be proud, they have some difficulties due to restrictions of tasks and work environment. Based on the findings, we suggest developing educational programs to improve their task abilities, establishing safety policy and compensatory reward system according to their accomplishments, and providing counseling opportunities for their traumatic experiences with difficult emotion.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.208-217
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• 2013

Purpose: This study is a correlative study to assess the relationships of fatigue, stress, and burnout among the pregnant nurses in hospital. Methods: The subjects in this study were 103 nurses aged between 22 and 40 who were confirmed as pregnant by the OBGY (Obstetrics and Gynecology) hospital and working at medical facilities located in J-province of G city during the period of July 15 through September 15, 2010. Results: The level of fatigue of pregnant nurses showed an average of 5.60 out of 10 points, and the level of stress showed an average of 25.91. In terms of burnout, the average was 2.72 out of 5 points. The results of the correlative study to assess relationships among fatigue, stress and burnout showed significant positive correlation between burnout and fatigue (r=.47, p<.001) and stress (r=.53, p<.001) and between stress and fatigue (r=.58, p<.001). Therefore, the results show that increased level of fatigue and stress leads to increased level of burnout. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that higher level of fatigue and stress led to higher level of burnout. Therefore, to minimize the burnout of pregnant nurses, many efforts are required in the hospital policy and for the strategies to reduce burnout.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.238-248
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this empirical research was to describe the contents what had happened to nurses experiencing taeoom. Methods: This study explored the phenomenological ways to understand lived experiences in nurses' 'Taeoom' and investigated the 'Taeoom' through the deductive content analysis. For the this study, the data was collected through individual interviews with 11 nurses who worked over 12months in 1 hospital, lived in 5 areas, working 7 nursing unit of 10 hospitals. The interviews conducted by semi structured questions about participants' lived experiences in 'Taeoom'. Results: Inductive contents analysis identified 5 categories and 15 subcategories. Main themes in this study included a failed membership, difficult of practical field adaptation, feared with nursing unit life, self-centered peer relationships and rite of passage. Conclusion: This study results have been illuminated with edged sword which has a dark side and a light side to experienced in 'Taeoom'. Newly employed nurses have suffering from 'Taeoom' as well as retained nurse. Therefore, policy and practice programs for a diminution of suffering and management for nurses 'Taeoom' should be developed and implemented.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.22-32
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• 2022

The domestic smart factory is being built and spread rapidly, mainly by mid-sized companies and large enterprises according to the government's active introduction and support policy. But these factories only promote production system and efficiency, so harmfulness and risk factors are not considered. Therefore, to derive harmful risk factors in terms of industrial safety for 12,983 government-supported smart factory workplaces from 2014 to 2019, industrial accident status analysis compared workplaces with automation facilities and government-supported workplaces with automation facilities. Also, to reduce risks associated with domestic smart factory processes, twenty government-supported workplaces with automation facilities underwent analysis, evaluating risks through a status survey using the process evaluation table. In addition, the status survey considered region, size, industry, construction level, and accident rate; the difference in risk according to the structure of the process was confirmed. Based on the smart factory process evaluation results, statistical analysis confirmed that serial, parallel, and hybrid structures pose different risk levels and that the risks of mixed structures are greater. Finally, safety control system application was presented for risk assessment and reduction in the smart factory process, reflecting the results of disaster analysis and actual condition investigation.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the influence of emotional intelligence, job stress, and social support on resilience of hospital nurses. The study will provide the basic material necessary to improve nursing interventions for the development of nurses' resilience. Methods: The sample of this study comprised 193 nurses working at general hospitals in B City. Data were analyzed through the SPSS 25.0 program using ANOVA, t-test, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The factors with the greatest influence on the level of nurses' resilience were emotional intelligence (β=.54, p<.001), social support (β=.23, p<.001), and job stress (β=-.11, p=.39). These factors had an explanatory power of 46.7% for resilience. Conclusion: To improve nurses' resilience, the application and development of intervention programs to increase their emotional intelligence is necessary. Moreover, organizational management and policy are needed to reduce nurses' job stress.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.195-204
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nursing workplace spirituality, job embeddedness, and the nursing work environment on the organizational commitment of clinical nurses. The findings of the study will serveasafoundational resource for designinginterventions to improvenurses' organizational commitment. Methods: The samples of this study comprised 170 nurses working at general hospitals in B City. Data were analyzed through the SPSS 25.0 program using ANOVA, t-test, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: The primaryfactors impactingparticipants' organizational commitment were nursing workplace spirituality (β=.388, p<.001), nursing work environment (β=.232, p=.001), position (β=.145, p=.009),and pay satisfaction (β=.143, p=.012). These factors had an explanatory power of 51.4% with regard to organizational commitment. Conclusion: To improve nurses' organizational commitment, it is necessary to implementand developintervention programs aimed atincreasingtheir sense of workplace spirituality. Moreover, organizational management and policy initiatives are needed to foster apositivenursing work environment and pay satisfaction.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.692-707
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• 2018

Purpose: We aimed to examine the effects of an integrated physical activity (PA) program developed for physically inactive workers on the theoretical basis of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. Methods: Participants were 268 workers in three departments of L manufacturing unit in South Korea. The three departments were randomly allocated into integration (n=86) (INT), education (n=94) (ED), and control (n=88) (CT) groups. The INT group received self-regulation, support, and policy-environmental strategies of a 12-week integrated PA program, the ED group received self-regulation strategies only, and the CT group did not receive any strategies. After 12 weeks, process evaluation was conducted by using the measures of self-regulation (autonomous vs. controlled regulation), autonomy support, and resource availability; impact evaluation by using PA measures of sitting time, PA expenditure, and compliance; and outcome evaluation by using the measures of cardiometabolic/musculoskeletal health and presenteeism. Results: Among process measures, autonomous regulation did not differ by group, but significantly decreased in the CT group (p=.006). Among impact measures, PA compliance significantly increased in the INT group compared to the CT group (p=.003). Among outcome measures, the changes in cardiometabolic/musculoskeletal health and presenteeism did not differ by group; however, systolic blood pressure (p=.012) and a presenteeism variable (p=.041) significantly decreased only in the INT group. Conclusion: The integrated PA program may have a significant effect on increases in PA compliance and significant tendencies toward improvements in a part of cardiometabolic health and presenteeism for physically inactive workers. Therefore, occupational health nurses may modify and use it as a workplace PA program.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.449-457
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• 2015

Objectives: In Korea, the system of management of medical waste largely relies on the incineration method. Our study aimed to identify any regional imbalances between the generation and treatment of medical waste, and provide reference data for future policy in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data on the amount of medical waste from 2,000 hospitals in 2012, 2013, and 2014 obtained from the Korea Environment Corporation. In the Arc GIS program (version 10.2.3), the addresses of hospitals and incinerators were transformed into map coordinates. The amount of waste generated by each hospital and the amount incinerated were represented by density and size of a triangle symbol, respectively. Results: As of 2014, the total amount of medical waste from the top 2,000 hospitals was 136,073 tons, out of which about half (49%) was generated in the capital area. Eleven incineration companies (three in the capital area, two in the Chungcheong Provinces area, one in the Jeolla Provinces area, and five in the Gyeongsang Provinces area) treated this waste. For the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, about 60% of the medical waste generated from the hospitals in the capital area was treated within the capital area and about 40% was transported to other areas, especially the Gyeongsang Provinces area, for treatment. On the other hand, about 90% of the medical waste incinerated in the capital area originated from the capital area. Conclusion: Our results suggest a spatial imbalance between the generation and treatment of medical waste in Korea and warrants multilateral policies, including the expansion of on-site treatment, strengthening regulation of the containment of medical wastes, promoting reductions in medical waste and more.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.265-274
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• 2021

Objectives: Given the importance of social determinants of health in promoting the health of slum residents, this study was conducted with the aim of identifying the main dimensions and components of these determinants. Methods: This scoping review study was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews). A comprehensive search was performed of PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles conducted from 2010 to the end of 2019. Studies were selected based on inclusion criteria, with a special focus on studies dealing with the social determinants of physical and mental health or illness. Results: Thirty-three articles were selected to extract information on the social determinants of health. After reviewing the articles, 7 main dimensions (housing, socioeconomic status of the family, nutrition, neighborhood characteristics, social support and social capital, occupational factors, and health behaviors) and 87 components were extracted as social determinants of health among slum dwellers. Conclusions: This framework could be used by planners, managers, and policy-makers when making decisions affecting the health of these settlements' residents due to the common characteristics of slums around the world, especially in developing countries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.731-736
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• 2015

Background: Little is known about the news coverage of cancer risk factors in Korea. This study aimed to examine how the news media encompasses a wide array of content regarding cancer risk factors and related cancer sites, and investigate whether news coverage of cancer risk factors is congruent with the actual prevalence of the disease. Materials and Methods: A content analysis was conducted on 1,138 news stories covered during a 5-year period between 2008 and 2012. The news stories were selected from nationally representative media in Korea. Information was collected about cancer risk factors and cancer sites. Results: Of various cancer risk factors, occupational and environmental exposures appeared most frequently in the news. Breast cancer was mentioned the most in relation to cancer sites. Breast, cervical, prostate, and skin cancer were overrepresented in the media in comparison to incidence and mortality cases, whereas lung, thyroid, liver, and stomach cancer were underrepresented. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this research is the first investigation dealing with news coverage about cancer risk factors in Korea. The study findings show occupational and environmental exposures are emphasized more than personal lifestyle factors; further, more prevalent cancers in developed countries have greater media coverage, not reflecting the realities of the disease. The findings may help health journalists and other health storytellers to develop effective ways to communicate cancer risk factors.