• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.134-138
• /
• 2015

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major preventable occupational health problem with 250 million people worldwide known to have disabling impairment of moderate to greater severity. The aims of the study are to estimate the prevalence of NIHL in the police force; and study its association with age, sex, duration of service (years), smoking and alcohol habits, use of hearing protective devices, as well as preexisting chronic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 543 police personnel who had undergone periodic medical examination over a 12-month period. The diagnostic criteria for NIHL were (1) history of occupational noise exposure, (2) bilateral hearing loss, (3) hearing loss of ${\geq}25dBA$ at 4,000 Hz in two consecutive audiograms, and (4) no significant medical history affecting hearing. Severity of NIHL was based on the World Health Organization grading. Results: Males (74.8%) made up the majority of the police force. The mean age for police personnel was $35.55{\pm}9.57years$, and the mean duration of service was $14.75{\pm}9.39years$. Compliance with the usage of hearing protective devices was seen in 64.4%. The prevalence of NIHL in this study population was 34.2%, with a higher prevalence in males (37.7%) than in females (23.9%). The study also showed strong associations between NIHL and male sex (odds ratio, 1.9; P < 0.05), and hypertension (odds ratio, 3.3; P < 0.001). Overall, 93% were found to have mild NIHL, 3.5% had moderate NIHL, and 3.5% had severe NIHL. No police personnel were found to have profound hearing loss. Conclusion: The prevalence of NIHL in this study is high compared to other similar studies among police personnel. This study shows that increasing age, male, presence of hypertension, diabetes, and longer duration of service are significant associated factors for NIHL. Preventative strategies include health surveillance, implementation of a hearing conservation program, and legislation.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.148-155
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify health problems in clinical nurses through an examination of their auricular acupuncture points. Methods: Data were collected from 90 nurses working in D city. Participants' ears were photographed and their auricular points were analyzed. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics and the $x^2$ test. Results: Musculoskeletal problems were the most severe, followed by problems of the digestive, nervous, and reproductive systems, in that order. Furthermore, the average number of health problems was 5.22, with a range of 4 to 6. Leg/foot pain was the highest reported musculoskeletal problem, followed by shoulder and lumbar/back pain. Gastric ptosis was the highest reported digestive problem, followed by indigestion and hypersensitive colitis. Additionally, among participants with gastric ptosis, lumbar pain was significantly high. Conclusion: The results suggest that further research using an auricular points as a diagnosis and treatment point is necessary to improve the health of nurses.

• 한국안전학회지
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.13-17
• /
• 2005

This paper presents an information system of noise and vibration caused by people as a major source of the environmental problem in residential areas with which people are dissatisfied. Therefore, it is important to monitor the influence of noise and vibration in residential areas. Generally, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) play an important role in noise and vibration mapping. The purpose of this paper is to investigate noise and vibration effects in an urban area and develop a new information network in GIS. Noise and vibration measurements were carried out at a road randomly chosen near INJE University. The obtained values are graphically represented with GIS. Therefore, it is possible to predict noise and vibration in GIS when establishing effective urban plans.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2017

Background: Despite our knowledge of the causes of cancer, millions of workers are involuntarily exposed to a wide range of known and suspected carcinogens in the workplace. To address this issue from a policy perspective, we developed a policy framework based on a prospective health policy analysis. Use of the framework was demonstrated for developing policies to prevent cancers associated with diesel engine exhaust (DEE), asbestos, and shift work, three occupational carcinogens with global reach and large cancer impact. Methods: An environmental scan of existing prospective health policy analyses was conducted to select and describe our framework parameters. These parameters were augmented by considerations unique to occupational cancer. Policy-related resources, predominantly from Canada, were used to demonstrate how the framework can be applied to cancers associated with DEE, asbestos, and shift work. Results: The parameters of the framework were: problem statement, context, jurisdictional evidence, primary prevention policy options, and key policy players and their attributes. Applying the framework to the three selected carcinogens illustrated multiple avenues for primary prevention, including establishing an occupational exposure limit for DEE, banning asbestos, and improving shift schedules. The framework emphasized the need for leadership by employers and government. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first proposal for a comprehensive policy framework dedicated to the primary prevention of occupational cancer. The framework can be adapted and applied by key policy players in Canada and other countries as a guide of what parameters to consider when developing policies to protect workers' health.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.5-17
• /
• 2000

The occupational health nursing guideline for primary care was developed by the Korean Academic Society of occupational health nursing and the organization for occupational health nurses (currently known as the Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurses) in 1993. Since then, there have been many changes in the health care environment and job performance of occupational health nurses. Appropriate revisions are necessary of the guidelinea based on this background. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of the occupational health nursing guideline for primary care and to analyze the characteristics of primary care activities by occupational health nurses. The questionnaire was mailed to 150 occupational health nurses(OHNs) with the response rate of 64%. The results can be summarized as follows; 1. 65.6% of OHNs have been using the guideline for primary care and 75.9% of them agreed that the guideline was be helpful for their job. 2. Common symptom care, emergency care and chronic illness care were more frequently implemented than occupational disease care by OHNs. In manufacturing industries, emergency care was more frequently implemented than chronic illness care in contrast to the service industries. 3. Most frequent common symptoms treated by OHNs were indigestion, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and coughing. In the case of chronic illness, OHNs more frequently treated diseases of the gastro-intestinal system, skin and sensory organs, and the respiratory system. Emergency care for bruises, burn, and abrasions was more frequently provided. VDT syndrome was the most common occupational disease cared by OHNs in manufacturing and service industries. 4. OHNs prescribed the medicine for external application more frequently than internal medicine. Remedy for colds, analgesics, vitamins, and digestives were more frequently used. From these results, we suggest that the guideline should be revised to emphasize the activities consisting problem finding such as health assessment, physical examinations, monitoring and screening, and to renew the drug list in the range of over- the counter medication (OTC). In the future, the guideline will include the strategies for the role as the case manager.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.384-389
• /
• 2021

Background: Social distancing by working-from-home is an effective measure to decrease the spread of COVID-19. However, this new work pattern could also affect the well-being of workers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to study the magnitude of occupational health problems and lifestyle changes among workers who have only recently started working from home. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using online self-administered questionnaires during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the Bangkok metropolitan area, Thailand. The participants were from any organization that allowed working from home. The demographic data including the analysis of the characteristics of working from home, the occurrence of occupational health problems, and the lifestyle changes caused by working from home were analyzed. Results: A total of 869 workers were included as study participants. The highest prevalence of physical health problems among all workers was identified to be weight gain at a rate of 40.97% (95% confidence interval = 37.69-44.24), and the highest prevalence of psychosocial problems was identified to be cabin fever at a rate of 31.28% (95% confidence interval = 26.66-35.90%) among full-time working-from-home workers. The health effects that were significantly related to the intensity of working from home (p for trends <0.05), either positively or negatively, included body weight changes, ergonomic problems, indoor environmental problems, and psychosocial problems. Meanwhile, the lifestyle changes related to work intensity included eating pattern, sleep habits, and exercise. Conclusions: Working from home can affect workers' well-being in various aspects. Hence, occupational health providers must prepare for risk prevention and health promotion in this "new normal" working life pattern and for future pandemics.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.142-152
• /
• 2001

This study examined all the papers published in the Journal of Occupational Health Nursing from 1991 to May 2000 based on an objective frame of evaluation. The purpose of study is to prospect the trend of occupational nursing research and to provide an optimal direction for future occupational nursing service. The results of total 94 studies were analyzed as follows. 1. The number of papers published in 1991-1992, 1993-1995, 1996-1997 was not significantly increased. However, the number of papers were obviously increased after 1998. 2. In the design of research, survey studies were definitely dominant. But, they are gradually decreasing and experimental studies are increasing. 3. In the fields of research, health problems, health risk factors and health awareness were higher than others. Occupational health nurse's task and job satisfaction were main areas of research until the middle of 1990's. However, after then, not only health problem, risk factor and awareness of health but also health promotion and preventive health behavior are increasing in the research areas. 4. The collaborative researches have gradually increased and the type of author has been varied. The number of researches completed by funds was undertaking only 3 among the total 94. 5. In the research analysis, except for case studies and literature studies, the research subjects have been shifted from the occupational health nurses to the industrial workers, and more diversified. The sample size has been enlarged and the major place of the study is industry. The questionnaire was used in many studies as instrument for data collection and measurement. But, complementary methods of diverse instruments have been increased. The method of data analysis has obviously showed some changes moving from descriptive statistics to inferential and advanced statistics. 6. The ways of nursing intervention have prominently diversified in experimental studies. The contents of case studies were mainly focused on the health management programs and activities in industry. The research concepts and the contents of literature study were also changed progressively in various way. Based on the above findings, conclusions are extended to the following discussion: Since the Korean Academic Society of Occupational Health Nursing was instituted in 1990, the researches of occupational health nursing have shown an acute methodological development in both quantity and quality. However, they were considered still in the lack of research verifying the effects of nursing intervention program. Also, the development of nursing intervention and nursing theory lacked. Therefore, more empirical researches are strongly needed to utilize the field of occupational health nursing in Korea Researchers are also encouraged to exert more efforts to get research funds.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.215-227
• /
• 1998

In order to develop the computerized information system of occupational health management at worksite, we surveyed actual states of computer use at worksites. We used a self-administrative questionnaire to the members of Korean Association of Occupational Health Nursing(KAOHN) from July 4 to August 21 in 1997. Among the members of KAOHN, 147 members answered. The worksites where they were employed were very diverse in aspect of jobs, locations, and size. Occupational health computerized system was used at 30(20.4%) worksites among 147 respondants. When they first introduced the computerized system the most difficult problem was the lack of support of manager. The programs that they have used mainly consist of drug management, health examination management, disease management, but the program of worksite environment management have been rarely used. Most users felt that the computerized system was effective, but there were problems in connection within programs. Many worksites have plans to take or expand the computerized information system within several years. It is necessary to develop the effective and integrated occupational health computerized system.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제12권1호
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2003

Increasing occupational cerebrovascular & cardiovascular disease, it becomes the most serious problem in the occupational health management. Hypertension is the most important risk factor of cerebrovascular & cardiovascular disease. Although treatment for hypertension has the priority, hypertension has not been managed systematically at the worksite. The objectives of this study were to investigate the actual situation of its treatment, figure out what factors can affect compliance for hypertension treatment and analyze the relations between compliance and employment status. Subjects were 28 workers who have been diagnosed as hypertension at periodic health examination, 20 workers who have been managed for hypertension at dispensary and 22 workers who were diagnosed during the study periods. The results of the study were as follows; 1. More women have been hired as part time workers and had lower education background and income than the full time workers. 2. Among the factors that have been known to affect the treatment compliance, part time workers had less supports from the company than full time workers. 3. We got the comparison of difference between compliance and variables that the factor grade of cure promotion and average ages are high in high compliance. In conclusion there were not the difference of compliance by employment status. But it was hard to rule out the selection vias because the sample size was so small. So it seems difficult to generalized the conclusion that employment status doesn't affect the treatment compliance.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.89-98
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study proposes preventive strategies for factors affecting the work impairment of international medical tourism coordinators. Methods: Data for this study were collected via an online questionnaire survey involving 296 international medical tourism coordinators in South Korea, considering the impact coronavirus disease 2019. The survey was conducted from 25th April 2022 to 22nd July 2022 and data were analyzed SPSS/WINdows software version 22, including statistical, reliability, factor and regression analyses. Results: This study focused on occupational stress, health problems and job efficacy among international medical tourism coordinators in medical tourism research. The main objective was to examine the factors that influenced their work impairment. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of factors such as occupational stress, health problems and job efficacy in influencing work impairment among international medical tourism coordinators. The identified factors account for 30% of explanation power. An intervention program tailored to the characteristics of domestic and international medical tourism coordinators is recommended.