• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.43-49
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• 2012

In recent years, various international organizations have raised awareness regarding psychosocial risks and work-related stress. European stakeholders have also taken action on these issues by producing important documents, such as position papers and government regulations, which are reviewed in this article. In particular, 4 European models that have been developed for the assessment and management of work-related stress are considered here. Although important advances have been made in the understanding of work-related stress, there are still gaps in the translation of this knowledge into effective practice at the enterprise level. There are additional problems regarding the methodology in the evaluation of work-related stress. The European models described in this article are based on holistic, global and participatory approaches, where the active role of and involvement of workers are always emphasized. The limitations of these models are in the lack of clarity on preventive intervention and, for two of them, the lack of instrument standardization for risk evaluation. The comparison among the European models to approach work-related stress, although with limitations and socio-cultural differences, offers the possibility for the development of a social dialogue that is important in defining the correct and practical methodology for work stress evaluation and prevention.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.35-38
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• 2015

Background: Organizational changes that involve healthcare hospital departments and care services of health districts, and ongoing technological innovations and developments in society increasingly expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to work-related stress (WRS). Minimizing occupational exposure to stress requires effective risk stress assessment and management programs. Methods: The authors conducted an integrated analysis of stress sentinel indicators, an integrated analysis of objective stress factors of occupational context and content areas, and an integrated analysis between nurses and physicians of hospital departments and care services of health districts in accordance with a multidimensional validated tool developed in Italy by the National Network for the Prevention of Work-Related Psychosocial Disorders. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to detect and analyze in different work settings the level of WRS resulting from organizational changes implemented by hospital healthcare departments and care services of health districts in a sample of their employees. Results: The findings of the study showed that hospital HCWs seemed to incur a medium level risk of WRS that was principally the result of work context factors. The implementation of improvement interventions focused on team development, safety training programs, and adopting an ethics code for HCWs, and it effectively and significantly reduced the level of WRS risk in the workplace. Conclusion: In this study HCW resulted to be exposed to occupational stress factors susceptible to reduction. Stress management programs aimed to improve work context factors associated with occupational stress are required to minimize the impact of WRS on workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Background: Firefighting involves exposure of firefighters to risks related to this activity, serious injuries, and occupational diseases are recorded. There are other consequences such as thermal and emotional stress. This systematic review is proposed in order to analyze the risks and consequences faced by these workers and thus provide elements to improve safety management systems in institutions. Method: A descriptive observational study of systematic literature review on the risks and consequences of exposure to firefighters' activity was proposed, and the information was analyzed and described based on the available data and according to the variables determined. Results: The studies showed data on mechanical, physical, chemical, psychosocial risks, workers' perception and resilience, and epidemiological data. Information related to firefighters' activity on falls and slips, exposure to noise, and high concentrations of carbon monoxide is detailed. In addition, the relationship between burnout, cognitive, and physical fatigue as adverse effects on health and performance is mentioned. Conclusions: Among the preventive measures, the use of personal protective equipment is suggested, incorporation in prevention programs of information on exposure to risk factors, as well as the implementation of models that can predict the perception of workers, additionally, the generation of management systems with safety climate models for fire departments.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2004

The purpose of this article is to describe the overview of current medical treatments of childhood epilepsy in Korea and to review several recent nursing researches related to quality of life problems, especially psychological functioning in children with epilepsy and the stress of the family. The prognosis of childhood epilepsy has been improved considerably and about 80％ of patients can now be expected to achieve complete seizure control by the antiepileptic drug treatment. Even for the intractable epilepsy, with the combination of ketogenic diet program and antiepileptic drug therapy or surgical treatment, the prognosis became very much better than before. The majority of research has reported that children with epilepsy were experiencing quality of life problems. They are at risk for impaired functioning, compared to either general population controls or to other chronic illness groups such as asthma and diabetes. The ultimate goal of providing care to children with epilepsy is to control seizures while facilitating an optimal quality of life for the child as well as the family. Recommendations are included for future research and intervention programs for children, parents and our society.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.152-157
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• 2014

Background: As health care workers face a wide range of psychosocial stressors, they are at a high risk of developing burnout syndrome, which in turn may affect hospital outcomes such as the quality and safety of provided care. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of job control on the relationship between workload and burnout. Methods: A total of 352 hospital workers from five Italian public hospitals completed a self-administered questionnaire that was used to measure exhaustion, cynicism, job control, and workload. Data were collected in 2013. Results: In contrast to previous studies, the results of this study supported the moderation effect of job control on the relationship between workload and exhaustion. Furthermore, the results found support for the sequential link from exhaustion to cynicism. Conclusion: This study showed the importance for hospital managers to carry out management practices that promote job control and provide employees with job resources, in order to reduce the burnout risk.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.295-304
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• 2015

Background: While attention has been paid to physical risks in the work environment and the promotion of individual employee health, mental health protection and promotion have received much less focus. Psychosocial risk management has not yet been fully incorporated in such efforts. This paper presents good practices in promoting mental health in the workplace in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidance by identifying barriers, opportunities, and the way forward in this area. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 experts who were selected on the basis of their knowledge and expertise in relation to good practice identified tools. Interviewees were asked to evaluate the approaches on the basis of the WHO model for healthy workplaces. Results: The examples of good practice for Workplace Mental Health Promotion (WMHP) are in line with the principles and the five keys of the WHO model. They support the third objective of the WHO comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2020 for multisectoral implementation of WMHP strategies. Examples of good practice include the engagement of all stakeholders and representatives, science-driven practice, dissemination of good practice, continual improvement, and evaluation. Actions to inform policies/legislation, promote education on psychosocial risks, and provide better evidence were suggested for higher WMHP success. Conclusion: The study identified commonalities in good practice approaches in different countries and stressed the importance of a strong policy and enforcement framework as well as organizational responsibility for WMHP. For progress to be achieved in this area, a holistic and multidisciplinary approach was unanimously suggested as a way to successful implementation.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.314-318
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• 2018

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the health industry are quite common, however, there have only been a few studies regarding physiotherapists, while in Greece, there is an apparent lack of research and data. The aim of this study is to investigate MSDs experienced by physiotherapists in Greece, their causes and specific measures, and good practices followed. Additional emerging risk factors will be examined. Methods: A questionnaire of MSDs followed by individual and workplace characteristics was completed by 252 physiotherapists. It covered the major workplace categories such as public hospitals, private rehabilitation centers, and private practices. Results: Analysis indicated that 89% of the respondents had experienced a work-related MSD; 32.2% of those injuries occurred within the first 5 years of working. The most lumbered physiotherapists were those working as private practitioners and almost half of the injured respondents chose to work while injured. The most common measure taken to tackle work related MSDs was found to be physical therapy sessions. Job satisfaction and psychosocial issues were also identified as side-effects of the economic slowdown. Conclusion: Physiotherapists in Greece were found to suffer from MSDs; workplace musculoskeletal injuries were quite common but under-reported. The body parts most affected were the lower back, the upper back, the shoulders, and the neck. There was a strong correlation between the workplace setting and the number of MSDs. A well-defined occupational safety and health management system and strict administration steering were found to reduce MSDs. The economic slowdown experienced in Greece during the execution of this study placed additional pressure on physiotherapists.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제46권7호
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• pp.868-875
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• 2017

본 연구는 스트레스 정도에 따른 영양소 섭취와 대사증후군 위험도를 분석하고자 수행되었다. 본 연구는 40~69세 일반인구 집단을 대상으로 실시한 한국인 역학조사 사업 중 농촌 기반코호트를 이용하여 진행하였고, 그중 여성을 대상으로 분석하였다. 대상자들은 사회 심리적 건강측정도구(Psychosocial Well-being Index, PWI)를 기초로 하여 개발된 18문항의 단축형(PWI-SF)의 평균값을 기준으로 0~26점의 저스트레스군과 27점 이상인 고스트레스군으로 분류되었다. 영양 섭취 상태 및 식습관은 반정량식품섭취빈도조사방법(semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, SQFFQ)을 이용하여 평가하였다. 고스트레스군 대상자들은 저스트레스군보다 나이, 허리둘레, 혈압이 유의적으로 낮았으며 신장은 유의적으로 높았다. 혈액분석 결과에서는 고스트레스군이 저스트레스군보다 공복혈당, 인슐린 저항성 지수, 중성지방, 동맥경화 지수가 유의적으로 높았다. 영양소 섭취를 분석한 결과 고스트레스군 대상자들이 저스트레스군보다 항산화 영양소인 비타민 A, 비타민 C, 비타민 E, 엽산, 아연, 카로틴을 더 적게 섭취하였다. 과일과 채소의 섭취량 또한 고스트레스군이 저스트레스군보다 유의적으로 적었다. 스트레스와 대사증후군 위험의 관계를 살펴본 결과 고스트레스군 대상자들이 저스트레스군보다 대사증후군의 교차비가 유의적으로 높았다. 결과적으로 한국 농촌 여성에서 스트레스가 높을수록 항산화 영양소와 과일 및 채소의 섭취가 적었으며 대사증후군 위험이 증가하는 것으로 나타났다.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.120-132
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• 2018

Purpose: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis designed to investigate effects of alcohol management programs for Korean university students. Methods: Research results published until October 14, 2016 were systematically collected in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis). A total of 12 papers were selected for the meta-analysis. To estimate the effect size, meta-analysis of the studies was performed with the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0. Results: The mean effect size of 12 studies in total (Hedges' g=-0.36; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -0.76~0.05) was not significant statistically. In a study of college students classified as problematic drinking (total of 9), the drinking program showed a median effect size of Hedges' g=-0.57(95% CI: -0.96~-0.18). Results of the drinking-related outcome variables showed a significant effect size (Hedges' g=-0.61; 95% CI: -1.10~-0.13), but psychosocial related outcome variables were not significant (Hedges' g=-0.50; 95% CI: -1.24~0.23). Conclusion: It can be seen that the alcohol management program for college students has a significant effect on controlling the problem drinking of college students. In addition, application of a differentiated drinking program with problem drinkers selected as a risk group will be effective in controlling drinking and drinking related factors.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.326-331
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• 2012

Objectives: Stress may have an impact on treatment types that patients receive for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study sought to investigate the relationship between the stress index and type of treatments in patients with TMD. Materials and Methods: The psychosocial well-being index-short form (PWI-SF) was used to evaluate stress levels in ninety-two patients with TMD. Treatment types were classified into two groups: one group received counseling, physical therapy or medication, while the second group received splint therapy or surgical intervention. Results: The high-risk group (PWI-SF${\geq}27$, the higher the points, the more severe the stress level) was more frequently treated by splint therapy than the low-risk group (PWI-SF<27). Female TMD patients reported higher PWI-SF scores than male TMD patients. Conclusion: This study suggests a relationship between stress levels and treatment types for patients with TMD. Thus, the appropriate evaluation and management of stress could be an important factor in treating TMD.