• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.3704-3714
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• 2013

This work was intended to investigate types and characteristics of job stress in general hospitals and special hospitals, and thereby suggest the direction to perform stable employee management and stress alleviation program through the ways of overcoming stress depending on each characteristic of hospitals. In this study, 109 of professionals working in general hospitals and 117 working in specialized hospitals participated, and, as a measuring instrument, the 'Measuring Instrument of Korean Job Stressors' according to 'Standardization and Development of Korean Job Stress Questionnaire' made by Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute as part of a policy research project in 2004 was used. As a result, this work looked into stress characteristics appearing differently according to the environment and organizational system of general hospitals and special hospitals. Based on the study result, it is expected that this work will be used as a fundamental material to develop the program of overcoming stress on the basis of each hospital characteristic.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.4 s.59
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• pp.805-814
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• 1997

Injuries to the menisci occur in a variety of ways, most commonly with a twist, pivot, squat, or valgus stress to the knee. Tear patterns are classified to longitudinal, horizontal, or transverse features according to the mechanism of injury. Work-related meniscal tear usually occurs with a repetitive usage of the foot, hence it can be classified as a cumulative traumatic disorder. We found a 47 year-old female worker who had been taking charge of repetitive foot-switch stepping for 8 years. She suffered from pain in the right knee since 5 months ago. Tenderness along the medial joint line of the right knee was observed and pain was aggravated with full flexion of the right knee. On magnetic resonance imaging, high signal intensity was observed at the posterior horn of the medial meniscus of the right knee. Degenerative longitudinal and transverse complex tear in the medial meniscus was observed on arthroscopy. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy was performed. We surveyed the work process and the health status of co-workers. It turned out that the work process was compatible to injure the meniscus and nine out of fourteen co-worker(64.3%) complained pain of the knee. No other factors related to her meniscal tear could be found except for the situation at her work. Therefore, we conclude that meniscal tear is related to the repetitive stepping of foot switch.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2015

Since April 2012, more than 1,600 laboratory-confirmed human infections with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported, occurring primarily in countries in the Arabian Peninsula; the majority in Saudi Arabia. The MERS outbreak in Korea, which began in May 2015 through the importation of a single case who had recently traveled to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. As of November 28th, 186 secondary and tertiary cases had been reported; 38 deaths, mainly associated with underlying chronic illnesses, were reported. One case was exported to China and has been recorded as the first MERS case in China. Thirty-seven confirmed cases were associated with the index case, who was hospitalized from May 15 to May 17. Emergency room at one of the nation's largest hospitals had been affected by hospital-to-hospital and intra-hospital transmissions of MERS-CoV, resulting in an outbreak of 90 infected patients. The vast majority of 186 confirmed cases are linked to a single transmission chain associated with health facilities. The median age of patients is 55 years, with a range of 16 to 87 years. The majority (61%) of patients are men. Twenty-five (14%) of the cases involve healthcare workers. The overall median incubation period was six days, but it was four days for secondary cases and six days for tertiary cases. There has been no evidence of airborne transmission and sustained human-to-human transmission in communities. Intensified public health measures, including contact tracing, quarantine and isolation of all contacts and suspected cases, and infection prevention and control have brought the MERS-CoV under control in Korea. Since 4 July no new cases have been reported.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.236-250
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of intensive rehabilitation programs on pain, range of motion (ROM), lumbar muscle strength, core muscle endurance, disability, and depression in patients with traumatic low back injuries and to compare the efficacy of this therapy with that of conventional rehabilitation therapy. Methods: The study was performed with a retrospective medical chart review of patients with traumatic low back injury referred to the rehabilitation center at the Daegu Hospital of the Korean Workers Compensation and Welfare Service. Forty-four patients were allocated to either the conventional rehabilitation group (CRG; n = 22) or the intensive rehabilitation group (IRG; n = 22). The CRG group patients, who received 30-min therapist-supervised physical therapy and modality therapy five times per week for four weeks, were compared with the IRG group patients, who received 60-min therapist-supervised physical therapy, 30-min therapist-patient 1:1 matching rehabilitation therapy, and modality therapy five times per week for four weeks. Outcome measures were a numerical rating scale, ROM, lumbar muscle strength, lumbar core muscle endurance, thickness of lumbar deep focal core muscle (transverse abdominis and lumbar multifidus), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and depression (Korean version patient health questionnaire-9). Results: There were statistically significant improvements after treatment in all outcome measures in both groups (p < 0.05). In the intergroup comparison, NRS scores on the activity and thickness of lumbar deep focal core muscles increased significantly more in the IRG than in the CRG (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in NRS scores on resting, ROM except left lateral bending, lumbar muscle strength, core muscle endurance, ODI, and depression. Conclusions: We could confirm the superior effectiveness of an intensive rehabilitation program compared to conventional rehabilitation therapy in patients with traumatic low back injuries.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.4 s.51
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• pp.809-844
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• 1995

The purposes of this study are to define the scope of occupational health management and to classify occupational management by review of related journals from 1945 to 1994 in Korea. The steps of this study were as follows: (1) Search of secondary reference; (2) Collection and review of primary reference; (3) Survey; and (4) Analysis and discussion. The results were as follows ; 1. Most of the respondents majored in occupational health(71.6%), and were working in university (68.3%), males and over the age 40. Seventy percent of the respondents agreed with the idea that classification of occupational health management is necessary, and 10% disagreed. 2. After integration of the idea of respondents, we reclassified the scope of occupational health management. It was defined 3 parts, that is , occupational health system, occupational health service and others (such as assessment, epidemiology, cost-effectiveness analysis and so on). 3. The number of journals on occupational health management was 510. It was sightly increased from 1986 and abruptly increased after 1991. The kinds of journals related to occupational health management were The Korean Journal of Occupational Medicine(18.2%), Several Kinds of Medical Colloge Journal(17.0%), The Korean Journal Occupational Health(15.1%), The Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine(15.1%) and others(34.6%). As for the contents, the number of journals on occupational health management systems was 33(6.5%) and occupational health services 477(93.5%). Of the journals on occupational health management systems, the number of journals on the occupational health resource system was 15(45.5%), occupational finance system 8(24.2%), occupational health management system 6(18.2%), occupational organization 3(9.1%) and occupational health delivery system 1 (3.0%). Of the journals on occupational health services, the number of journals on disease management was 269(57.2%), health management 116(24.7%), working environmental management 85(18.1%). As for the subjects, the number of journals on general workers was 185(71.1%), followed by women worker, white coiler workers and so on. 4. Respondents made occupational health service(such as health management, working environmental management and health education) the first priority of occupational health management. Tied for the second are quality analysis(such as education, training and job contents of occupational health manager) and occupational health systems(such as the recommendation of systems of occupational and general disease and occupational health organization). 5. Thirty seven respondents suggested 48 ideas about the future research of occupational health management. The results were as follows: (1) Study of occupational health service 40.5%; (2) Study of organization system 27.1%; (3) Study of occupational health system (e.g. information network) 8.3%; (4) Study of working condition 6.2%; and (5) Study of occupational health service analysis 4.2%.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.8
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• pp.4-30
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• 1988

Examination of working environments was conducted to get more detailed data about harmful working environments and to make a contribution to more effective management. Study was carried out on 722 factories located in Taegu city and eight counties in Kyungpook Province, Korea, for a period of one year, from February 1 to December 30, 1986. The total number and proportion of workers exposed to harmful material was 37,697, 45.2% among 83,368 workers. The results according to exposed material were as follows: 1. In the case of noise, proportion of exceeding the 8-hour TLV was 59%, Included were nail-cutting in assembly metal manufacturing industry and weaving process in textile. 2. Dust in mill process of coal manufacturing industries exceeded the TLV of second class of dust at all parts and exceeded the TLV at 6% as a whole.: 3. The fields of industry lower than 70 lux of illumination were storage equipment of food, auto-winder of textile, painting of wood wares and coal mixing, and 44% of all cases was lower than standard. 4. As a result of temperature index investigation(WBGT), about 12% of all sujects exceeded limit value. Included parts were rolling machine and reducing room. 5. In the case of organic solvents, TLV was exceeded at about 8%, The parts exceeded TLV according to materials belonged to this category were as follows. 1) Toluene: adhesive work in assembly metal manufacturing 2) Xylene: printing and paint mixing in chemical manufacturing 3) Methyl ethytl ketone: paint mixing in all parts examined and coating machine partially in chemical manufacturing 4) Methyl isobutyl ketone: printing in chemical manufacturing 5) Acetone: vapor polishing in assembly metal manufacturing 6. Among specified chemical materials, the concentration of HC1 in the air in metal assembly manufacturing factory exceeded TLV. in one of three assembly metal manufacturing examined. Others, such as benzene, acetic acid, formic acid, sodium hydroxide, formalin, ammonia, copper, chromate etc. were lower than TLV in its indoor atmospheric concentration. As a whole, the proportion of exceeding TLV was about 0.8% 7. The concentrations of inorganic lead were lower than TLV in all parts examined. The results of this investigation show the fact that current management of working environments is not satisfactory, and so more active management is needed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.563-576
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• 2012

목적 : 본 연구는 업무형태에 따른 측두하악장애의 유병률과 업무 시 노출되는 직무스트레스 및 구강 내 악습관이 측두하악장애와 어떠한 연관성이 있는지 알아보아 보건학적 기초자료를 제공하고자 실시되었다. 방법 : 본 연구의 자료 수집을 위하여 서울과 경기 일부지역에 근무하고 있는 일반사무직, 서비스직, 교직원으로부터 편의 추출된 452명을 대상으로 2010년 1월부터 2010년 4월까지 설문조사를 실시하였고, 수거된 353명을 연구대상으로 하였다. 설문지는 측두하악장애의 증상, 하악사용에 관한 구강 내 악습관, 직무스트레스, 인구사회학적 특성으로 구성되었다. 측두하악장애의 증상의 정도를 구분하기 위해 설문지의 양성응답 수의 빈도에 따라 무증상인 1단계에서 양성응답 수가 가장 많은 4단계 까지 총 4그룹으로 나누었다. 측두하악장애의 유병률을 알아보기 위하여 빈도분석을 시행하였고, 측두하악장애의 증상의 정도에 따른 여러 요인들 간의 연관성 및 관련요인을 알아보기 위하여 교차분석 및 경향성 분석과 다항로지스틱회기 분석을 시행하였다. 결과 : 측두하악장애의 유병률은 75.4%였고, 측두하악장애에 대한 주관적 증상으로는 관절잡음이 56.4%로 가장 주된 증상 중 하나였으나 남녀 간의 차이는 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다. 다음으로는 두통이나 목의 통증이 36.5%이었고, 귀, 관자놀이, 볼 주위의 통증이 22.1%로 높았다. 측두하악장애의 주관적인 증상 수에 따른 인구사회학적 특성은 증상이 없는 경우 여성에서 19.1%, 남성에서 36.6%로 여성에서 더 높은 유병률을 보였다. 연령별로는 40세 이상의 그룹보다 20 - 30대그룹에서 측두하악장애 증상수가 높아지는 경향을 보였다. 하악 사용과 관련된 악습관 및 직무스트레스는 측두하악장애 증상수와 유의한 관련성이 있는 것으로 나타났는데, 하악 사용과 관련된 습관의 개수가 많아질수록 측두하악장애의 증상의 개수도 많아졌고, 습관이 한 가지씩 늘어날수록 측두하악장애 증상이 없는 1단계보다 3단계가 될 위험이 1.45배, 4단계가 될 위험이 1.57배 높아졌다. 스트레스 수준도 가장 하위단계에서 한 단계 높아지면 측두하악장애 1단계에서 4단계가 될 위험이 2.49배, 두 단계 높아지면 3.43배 높아졌다. 결론 : 본 연구의 결과 측두하악장애와 업무특성에 따른 연관성은 설명하지 못하였지만, 직무스트레스가 높은 경우 측두하악장애 증상의 개수 또한 높아짐을 확인할 수 있었다. 이는 측두하악장애의 주관적인 증상을 발생시키는데 있어서 업무형태 보다는 심인적인 부분이 더 중요한 인자임을 의미한다. 그러므로 측두하악장애 평가 시 신체적인 문제뿐 아니라 행동적, 심리 사회적 문제로 예측인자를 폭넓게 인식함으로써 다각적인 접근을 하는 것이 필요하며, 측두하악장애 증상이 발생된 경우 임상적 치료뿐 아니라 행동요법 및 심리 치료와 자가 관리 등이 함께 수반되어 기여요인 조절을 조절하는 것이 중요하다 하겠다.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.6627-6640
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• 2015

This study was performed to determine the complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms and its association with related factors among manufacturing workers. The self-administered questionnaires were given to 856 male with 50 or less employees in manufacturing industries. As a results, complaint rates of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of the body sites was 61.2% for shoulders, 55.4% for low back, 55.3% for neck, 38.6%, for legs/feet, 32.2% for hands/wrists/fingers and 26.9% for arms/elbows. In logistic regression analysis of significant factors related with musculoskeletal symptoms of body sites, neck was related with marital status, subjective health status, smoking, drinking coffee and occupational stress, shoulders was related with job tenure, shift work, visiting out-patient department and occupational stress, arms/elbows was related with sleeping time, experience of sick absence and occupational stress, hands/wrists/fingers was related with age, smoking, drinking coffee, working hour, job position, job tenure, visiting out-patient department and occupational stress, low back was related with educational level, BMI, sleeping time, job position, job tenure, visiting out-patient department and occupational stress and legs/feet was related with marital status, job position, job tenure, history of hospitalization and occupational stress.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.1 s.41
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• pp.20-36
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• 1993

Work-related low back pain is one of the major factors that cause the loss of working power especially in actively working age, therefore controlling the work-related low back pain is one of the major issues in the field of industrial safety and health. This study was performed for detecting the risk factors and proposing the efficient control program of the work-related low back pain. The subjects were male workers employed at the manufacturing industry in Pusan with longer than 6 months' working duration. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire and interview from May 1 to October 31,1992. The contents of questionnaire were as follows:. the experience of low back pain within the recent one month, general characteristics(age, marital status, education level, religion, regular exercise), physical characteristics(height, weight), employment status(working duration, daily working hours, rest during work, satis(action fur the job), type of work and working environments(posture, forward bending, lifting and movement, satisfaction for table and chair). The result was analyzed for 608 entire respondents by case-control comparative method. The number of cases was 152 with a history of work-related low back pain, so the relative frequency of self-reported work-related low back pain was 25.0%, and the number of controls was 344 without any history of low back pain. As a result, two characteristics of the employment status(working duration, satisfaction fur the job) and all characteristics of type of work and working environments showed a statistical significance between the case and control groups(p<0.01). The Oddb ratios of these variables for Work-related low back pain were calculated. They were 7.88 for the satisfaction fur chair, 7.86 for lifting and movement,3.31 for satisfaction for table, and 2.22 fur bending forward(p<0.01). And for the multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that unsatisfaction for table was independent risk factor for Work-related low back pain. In summary, though this study was based upon the self-reported questionnaire and the subjective complaints, the satisfaction for chair, lifting and movement, satisfaction for table, and bending forward concerned with the type of work and working environments were considered as the main factors causing the work-related low back pain, and the work-related low back pain may be preventable by the ergonomic control of these factors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.4 s.59
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• pp.815-829
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• 1997

This study was performed to assist the employer to establish the effective program for hearing conservation of noisy industry. The study subjects were health care managers of an industry and the study industries were devided into two groups(Group I, 37 industries; have the workers diagnosed as noise-induced hearing loss, Group II, 41 industries; not have the workers diagnosed as noise-induced hearing loss) and the question method carried out through the face to face interview. The contents of questionnaire for OSHA's hearing conservation program(HCP) consisted of seven components: 5 questions of monitoring of employee noise exposures(component 1), 6 questions of the institution of engineering, work practice, and administrative controls for excessive noise(component 2), 8 questions of the provision of each overexposed employee with an individually fitted hearing protector with an adequate noise reduction rating(component 3), 14 questions of employee training and education regarding noise hazards and protection measures(component 4), 9 questions of baseline and annual audiometry(component 5), 3 questions of procedures for preventing further occupational hearning loss by an employee whenever such an event has been identified(component 6), and 1 question of recording keeping(component 7), thus total numbers of questions was 46. The numbers of statistially significant difference(p<0.05) between two groups were 2(25.0%) among 8 questions of component 3, 10(71.4%) among 14 questions of component 4, 3(33.3%) among 8 questions of component 5, 2(6.7%) among 3 questions of component 6, and 17(37.0%) among total 46 questions of questionnaire. Above results showed that the level of HCP acceptance in group I was lower than in group II. Thus employer's understanding about HCP should be precede for the effective hearing conservation program of employee and the adequate hearing protector, training and education, baseline and annual audiometry, and procedures for preventing further occupational hearning loss for hearing conservation would be more emphasized.