• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2020

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2016

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important occupational risks for healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Korea. Many policies regarding the control and prevention of TB in healthcare settings recommend that HCWs are tested for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in addition to active TB. Moreover, the Korean Tuberculosis Prevention Act also recommends that HCWs receive regular testing for LTBI. However, there are no specific or detailed guidelines for dealing with LTBI in HCWs. Herein, we discuss the diagnosis and treatment of LTBI in HCWs and focus particularly on the baseline screening of hired HCWs, routine follow-up, and contact investigation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2015

Objectives: One aim of the study is to compare filtering facepiece masks for healthcare workers between Korea and other countries. The other is to emphasize the importance of fit testing for these masks using an analysis of previous research. Materials: An extensive literature review was performed by searching a number of websites and existing studies. Results: KF94 and KF99 masks certified by the Korean CDC are suitable for healthcare workers as filtering facepiece masks. The standards for these respirators are similar to FFP2 and FFP3 of EN 143 and 149. The performance, such as filtering efficiency, is almost the same between KP94 and N95. It was found that fit testing of respirators for healthcare workers was important to reduce infection risk. Conclusions: KF94 should be emphasized as filtering facepiece masks for healthcare workers rather than N95. Even though Korea has no fit testing regulations, implementing fit testing in healthcare settings is strongly recommended to decrease infection risk.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.223-227
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• 2012

Pulmonary siderosis, or Welder's lung disease is an occupational lung disease caused by iron-inhalation. Diagnosis of pulmonary siderosis is based on occupational history of the patient, radiologic findings, and pathologic findings of iron-laden macrophages within lung tissue or broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. We observed a case of a 43 years-old welder diagnosed with pulmonary siderosis via thoracoscopic lung biopsy. Sputum culture along with pathology also identified a non-tuberculotic mycobacterial infection with a sputum culture and the pathologic findings. The patient was treated with anti-tubercular medication and cessation of iron-exposure. And his condition improved within a few months.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.1-28
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• 2022

This paper studies how COVID-19 has affected the labor market in Korea through a general equilibrium model with multiple industries and occupations. In the model, workers are allocated to one of many occupations in an industry, and industrial or occupational shocks alter the employment structure. I calibrate the model with Korean data and identify industrial and occupational shocks, referred to here as COVID-19 shocks, behind the employment dynamics in 2020 and 2021. I find that COVID-19 shocks are more severe for those with jobs with a higher risk of infection and in those that are more difficult to do from home. Interestingly, the relationship between COVID-19 shocks and infection risk weakened as the pandemic progressed, whereas the relationship between COVID-19 shocks and easiness of work-from-home strengthened. I interpret the results as meaning that the pandemic may direct future technological changes to replace tasks that require contact-intensive steps, and I simulate the impact of such technological changes through the lens of the model. The results show that such technological changes will lower the demand for manual workers compared to the demands for other occupations. This contrasts with the earlier trend of job polarization, where manual workers continued to increase their employment share, with the share of routine workers secularly declining at the same time.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2023

Purpose: In the context of COVID-19, studies evaluating the adherence of dentists and dental students to infection control are relevant due to their high occupational exposure and risk, as well as their responsibility for disseminating information and good practices. This study evaluated the adherence of dentists and dental students to infection control in the oral radiology field in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic on different continents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved individuals who performed intraoral radiographic examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Questionnaire on Infection Control in Oral Radiology was administered virtually using a Google Form. Participants from different continents(the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania) were recruited. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis and simple and multiple binary regression (5%). Results: There were 582 valid answers, and 68.73% of the participants were from the Americas, 18.90% from Europe, and 12.37% from Asia. The median score for infection control protocols was 94 points for dental students and 104 points for dentists, and participants below the median were considered to have low adherence to infection control in oral radiology. Low access to infection control was found for 53.0% of dentists in the Americas, 34.0% from Europe, and 26.9% from Asia. Conclusion: The adherence to infection control protocols in oral radiology was low even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results may help improve the awareness of students and professionals, since oral radiology routines have the potential for transmitting COVID-19.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.49-60
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore health care workers awareness and performance of standard precautions. Methods: Participants were 296 health care workers including nurses, physicians, and medical technicians. Awareness and performance of standard precautions were measured with 4-point Likert scales. The data were analyzed with t-tests and one-way ANOVA by using SPSS 18.0. Results: The mean scores of awareness were 3.72 in nurses, 3.62 in physicians, and 3.47 in medical technicians. There was a significant difference of awareness by occupational classification (F=12.39, p<.001). The mean scores of performance of standard precautions were 3.45 in nurses, 3.19 in physicians, and 3.23 in medical technicians. There was a significant difference of performance by occupational classification (F=10.98, p<.001). In addition, the score of performance of standard precautions was significantly lower than that of awareness (t=11.89, p<.001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that awareness and performance of standard precautions were different by occupational classification. To improve performance of standard precautions in hospitals, it is necessary to provide a distinct infection control program by occupational classification.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.268-271
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• 2021

Lung granulomas are uncommon in Thailand. The disease typically develops from an occupational environment and is mostly caused by infection. Herein is a case report of a female patient, aged 48, working as a nurse in an Accident and Emergency Department at a hospital. Eighteen years prior to admission the patient was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and pulmonary tuberculosis. The chest X-ray and CT scans showed a solitary pulmonary nodule in the lower left lung. The patient received an open thoracotomy with a left lobectomy. Granulomatous and nonseptate hyphae were found in the pathology diagnosis. The patient was thus diagnosed as having a lung granuloma. The galactomannan antigen test was positive. The solitary pulmonary nodule-found from the use of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test-was an Aspergillus spp. The fungus culture was collected from air samples. The air samples were collected by the impaction technique using a microbial air sampler. Three types of Aspergillus spp. were found as well as Penicillium spp. and Monilia sitophila. The Aspergillus spp. was a match for the patient's disease. The patient was diagnosed as having a lung granuloma possibly Aspergillus nodule which was caused by airborne Aspergillus spp. from the occupational environment.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2021

Dental health care workers (DHCW) are at a risk of occupational exposure to Helicobacter pylori from the aerosolized oral biofilms and saliva of patients. We designed this study to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori in the oral biofilms of a group of dental and non-dental undergraduates from Sri Lanka. After obtaining informed consent, oral biofilms were collected from 38 dental undergraduates (19 males and 19 females) undergoing clinical training and 33 non-dental undergraduates (14 males and 19 females). The participants were in the age range of 22-27 years and had healthy periodontium. Total DNA from the oral biofilms were extracted, and H. pylori DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 16S rRNA gene of H. pylori using JW22-JW23 primers, and the results were confirmed using PCR amplification of H. pylori-urease specific HPU1-HPU2 primers. Out of 71 participants, 11 (28.95%) dental and 3 (9.09%) non-dental undergraduates had H. pylori in their oral biofilms indicating an overall prevalence rate of 19.72% (14/71). Thus, the prevalence of H. pylori in oral biofilms was significantly higher in dental undergraduates than in non-dental undergraduates (p < 0.05). An odds ratio of 4.07 indicated that dental undergraduates were four times more likely to harbor H. pylori in their oral biofilms than non-dental undergraduates. Foregoing data support the fact that there may be greater occupational risk of exposure to H. pylori for dental undergraduates during clinical training than that for non-dental undergraduates, warranting meticulous infection control practices during clinical dentistry.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to determine the effect of a smartphone video educational program on educational satisfaction of patients in rehabilitation units at a university hospital. Methods: The subjects of this study were 60 stroke patients recruited and divided into two groups; experimental group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Subjects in the experimental group and control group conducted conventional physical and occupational therapy. In addition, only the experimental group provided smartphone video information for a total of 15 sessions. The video consisted of five episodes (10 minutes each) viewed a total of 15 times (for each video three times). The outcome was assessed by educational satisfaction. Result: After inervention, both groups revealed significant increased awareness of prevention of infection educational satisfaction and prevention from falling educational satisfaction and exercise program educational satisfaction. However, the experimental group was more effective than the control group relative to heightened awareness of increasing prevention of infection prevention from falling and exercise program. Conclusion: We suggest that a smartphone video educational program may be effective in improving awareness of the prevention of infection, prevention from falling, and exercise program educational satisfaction. Therefore, video-based information is beneficial for such patients. Further studies are needed for better understanding of the effectiveness of a smartphone video educational program in rehabilitation units at a university hospital.