• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.834-845
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was done to develop an empowerment program for people with chronic mental illness and to analyze effects of the program on level of empowerment. Methods: The research was conducted using a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 37 people with chronic mental illness (experimental group: 18, control group: 19). The empowerment program was provided for 8 weeks (15 sessions). Data were collected between July 21 and October 17, 2014. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Sapiro-wilk test, and Repeated measure ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 18.0. Results: Quantitative results show that self-efficacy, interpersonal relationships, attitudes in the workplace, occupational performance capacity, and levels of empowered execute were significantly better in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Study findings indicate that this empowerment program for persons with chronic mental illness is effective for improving self efficacy, interpersonal skills, attitudes in the workplace, occupational performance capacity, levels of empowered execute.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2011

Objectives: To find out from an analysis of empirical data the levels of influence, which a labor union (LU) and Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHC) have in reducing the occupational injury and illness rate (OIIR) through their accident prevention activities in manufacturing industries with five or more employees. Methods: The empirical data used in this study are the Occupational Safety and Health Tendency survey data, Occupational Accident Compensation data and labor productivity and sales data for the years 2003 to 2007. By matching these three sources of data, a final data set (n = 280) was developed and analyzed using SPSS version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: It was found that a workplace with a LU has a lower OIIR than one without a LU. In manufacturing industries with five or more employees in 2007, the OIIR of the workplaces without a LU was 0.87%, while that of workplaces with a LU was much lower at 0.45%. In addition, workplaces with an established OSHC had a lower OIIR than those without an OSHC. Conclusion: It was found that the OIIR of workplaces with a LU is lower than those without a LU. Moreover, those with the OSHC usually had a lower OIIR than those without. The workplace OIIR may have an impact on management performance because the rate is negatively correlated with labor productivity and sales. In the long run, the OIIR of workplaces will be reduced when workers and employers join forces and recognize that the safety and health activities of the workplace are necessary, not only for securing the health rights of the workers, but also for raising labor productivity.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.194-204
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to learn the status of occupational injuries and illnesses among Korean nurses. Methods: Thirty four articles published between 1990 and 2007 were selected using keywords as nurse and back pain, musculoskeletal symptom, violence, needle stick injuries and latex allergy from the database. The 609 RN cases among the workers' compensation data from 2005 to 2007 were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: Based on the analysis of the articles, the most frequent work-related illness and injuries were the musculoskeletal symptoms including back pain. The prevalence of back pain was ranged from 36.5% to 98.5%. Tuberculosis cases were the most frequent and the musculoskeletal cases were the second rank in the workers' compensation data. In the case of violence, there has been an increasing tendency since 2000 in the articles and workers' compensation data. The relatively high percentage of compensation cases occurred among the ones working in small institutions and with less than one year experience. Conclusion: The further research on the nurses' work-related illness and injuries needs to consider the measurement tool selection and longitudinal design. The various types of contribution to the occupational health in nursing is suggested to improve the nurses' health and safety.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 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.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.519-529
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• 2015

Objective: This study aims to analyze the characteristics of occupational accidents and injuries of telecommunications line and cable workers by type of workplace and operational process of cabling service and to provide baseline data in establishing the preventive policies for occupational accidents and injuries. Background: In order to set up the preventive policies for occupational injuries and illness systematically, the accident analysis by industry should be preceded. To establish more effective policies, it should be done by occupation for persons who work in various kinds of occupation rather than by industry for persons who do in the same occupation. Method: In this study, the 176 occupational accidents and injuries were classified by type of workplace - indoor (inside building) and outdoor (at the top of utility pole, in a manhole, or in the fields) - and also done by operational process involved at the time of the accident. By analyzing the characteristics of occupational injuries and illness by type of workplace and operational process, respectively, this study can be helpful in establishing the preventative policies for occupational accidents and injuries. Results: The characteristics of occupational accidents and injuries by type of workplace showed that there were differences in terms of accident rate between indoor and outdoor on age of the injured, while not on employment-size and work experience of the injured. In addition, the characteristics on accident type, agency of accident, parts of body affected, and operational process between indoor and outdoor workplaces were statistically different each other. Conclusion and Application: The findings of occupational accidents' characteristics can be applied to the establishment of systematic preventative policies for occupational accidents of telecommunications line/equipment workers.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.79-90
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• 2003

The purposes of this study are to compare data for work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) between Korea and USA, and to investigate status of WMSDs for industrial safety managers. The first part of this study was based on statistical data annually published by Minister of Labor of Korea and Bureau of Labor Statistics of USA. The latter was performed by using questionnaire survey for industrial safety managers in two regions. The results showed that the WMSDs incidence rate was significantly lower in Korea than in USA, and that there is big difference in the distribution of occupational illness by category of illness between Korea and USA. The questionnaire survey revealed that knowledge level about WMSDs was significantly affected depending upon corresponding companies' location and size, and that the low back pain was the most prevalent illness among varying WMSDs symptoms, followed by tendonitis/tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow. Based on this study, it is recommended that the future education/training for WMSDs focus on their preventative measures, methods/tools for identifying their risk factors, and diagnostic criteria for judging suspicious symptoms for industrial accidents, and that the governmental policy for WMSDs be changed towards financial supporting for preventive facilities, establishing objective diagnostic criteria and training for WMSDs.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2023

Objective : This study aimed to analyze the association between lifestyle and medical expenses of older adults with mental illness using claims data. Methods : We conducted secondary data analysis using the older adult cohort database provided by the Korea National Health Insurance Service. The lifestyle and medical expense variables were extracted from the cohort database. We used a generalized linear model to examine the association between lifestyle and medical expenses. Results : In total, 32,853 records were extracted. The results showed that smokers had medical expenses (estimate = -218,255, p = .037). As the number of days of walking increased, medical expenses significantly decreased (estimate = -58,843, p < .0001). Furthermore, as the number of days of drinking decreased, medical expenses increased (estimate = 692,289, p < .0001). Conclusion : This study analyzed the estimates of medical expenses according to lifestyle among older adults with mental illness. Smoking and exercise were negatively associated with medical expenses. These results suggest the importance of a healthy lifestyle for older adults with mental illness. In addition, this study can be used as clinical evidence for lifestyle management programs to improve physical and mental health.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.187-195
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to determine their environmental risk factors in school children living in a city where traffic is particularly heavy. METHODS: From November 12th to November 19th, 2002, we sent questionnaires to parents for children's health and environmental factors, and ninety eight percent (516) of parents responded. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of chronic respiratory illness was 12.2% and 13.2% for wheeze, and 6.6% for physician diagnosed asthma. Using multiple logistic regression model, we found that family history of asthma(OR=3.47, 95% CI 1.36-8.78), atopy dermatitis(OR=5.48, 95% CI 2.37-12.66), and pets at home(OR=3.22, 95% CI 1.26-8.23) were associated with chronic respiratory illness in last 12 months. We also found that family history of asthma(OR=3.28, 95% CI 1.16-9.31), atopy dermatitis(OR=2.89, 95% CI 1.11-7.54), and short distance between the house and road(OR=2.85, 95% CI 1.03-7.87) were associated with asthma in last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Elementary school children in a city had a relatively high prevalence of chronic respiratory illness and symptoms. In addition to genetic factors, pets at home and outdoor air pollution are associated with respiratory illness and Symptoms in school children.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.112
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• pp.17-27
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• 1997