• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 2013

According to the Statistics Korea, in 2011, people over the age of 65 years old accounted for 11.8% of Korea's population. This number is expected to rise to 15.0% by 2019, making Korea an "aged society". As age increases, physical ability degrades to the point that the workload must be adjusted limitations. However, workloads are given regardless of workers' ages or abilities. In addition, a decline in work efficiency due to aging also increases the risk of work-related injuries. Furthermore, the cases of stress related diseases along with musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) rise as main factors of industrial disasters and excessive job stress gives negative influence not only on mental health but also on physical health so that job stress becomes a hot issue as a main cause of work ability falloff and turnover. The purpose of this research is to examine how the sociodemographic characteristics, MSDs symptoms and musculoskeletal workload of workers in the manufacturing industry of automobile parts influence work ability and job stress. As a result of the research, job ability showed significant differences statistically according to age, working year, sex, marital status and musculoskeletal workload and job stress showed significant differences statistically according to age, working year, marital status and musculoskeletal workload. In addition, it showed that as the worker's job ability decreases, job stress increases.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.26
• /
• pp.7.1-7.9
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between crude oil exposure and physical symptoms among residents participating in clean-up work associated with the Hebei Spirit oil spill, 2007 in Korea. Methods: A total of 288 residents responded to a questionnaire regarding subjective physical symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and clean-up activities that occurred between two and eight weeks after the accident. Additionally, the urine of 154 of the respondents was analyzed for metabolites of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. To compare the urinary levels of exposure biomarkers, the urine of 39 inland residents who were not directly exposed to the oil spill were analyzed. Results: Residents exposed to oil remnants through clean-up work showed associations between physical symptoms and the exposure levels defined in various ways, including days of work, degree of skin contamination, and levels of some urinary exposure biomarkers of VOCs, metabolites and metals, although no major abnormalities in urinary exposure biomarkers were observed. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of a relationship between crude oil exposure and acute human health effects and suggests the need for follow-up to evaluate the exposure status and long-term health effects of clean-up participants.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.222-234
• /
• 2010

Objectives: Limited research has investigated the specific needs of patients with cancer. This study was performed to explore patients needs and the related factors. Methods: The data were collected by 1 National Cancer Center and 9 regional cancer centers in Korea. An interview survey was performed with using a structured questionnaire for the subjects(2661 patients who gave written informed consent to particiate) survey 4 months after diagnosis and review of medical records. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. Results: When comparing the relating factors related with patient needs to the sociodemographic characteristics, the female group showed a higher level of recognition for physical symptoms, social support needs. The younger group showed a significantly higher level of recognition for health care staff, psychological problems, information and education, social support, hospital services needs. In addition, the higher educated group showed a higher level of recognition for health care staff, physical symptoms, social support needs. The higher income and office workers group showed a higher level of recognition for hospital services needs. When comparing the relating factors related with patient needs to the cancer, the breast cancer group showed a higher level of recognition for all needs excluding physical symptoms, accessibility and financial support needs. The combined radiotherapy with surgery and chemotherapy group showed a higher level of recognition for psychological problems, information and education, social support needs. Conclusions: This study showed that needs on patient with cancer was significantly influenced by female, higher educagion, lower income, having religion, office worker, liver cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, chemotherapy, and combined therapy.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.68-86
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to explore the effect of customer satisfaction and switching barriers on customer royalties in medical services. 900 households, 1% sample were randomly selected from K city located in Kangwon province. Interview survey was performed with structured questionnaire for the entire people, 923 persons who experienced medical service utilization during one year before survey on time, september, 2002. In comparison of switching barriers by sociodemographic characteristics, lower income group and lower educated group showed the higher level of recognition level on availability of changing the service provider significantly. In terms of economic loss as one of switching barriers, the group of over aged 61, the lower income group and the lower educated group felt higher than other groups. Also, the time loss of switching barrier was recognized in 41-60 aged group and employee in service industry highly. For the perceived risk factor as another switching barrier, the high educated group showed the higher recognition level in performance risk and felt higher social risk than other groups. In analysis of customer satisfaction and loyalty levels by switching barrier components, the lower level of availability of changing the service provider and the higher level of recognition for economic and time loss, they showed the higher satisfaction and loyalty levels. In final step, multiple regression analysis showed the positive relationship between customer satisfaction, switching barrier and customer loyalties. Besides, the moderating effect of switching barrier in relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalties was significant and this results suggests that the influence of customer satisfaction to customer loyalties might be weakened in high level of recognition for switching barrier. In conclusion, perceived risk of economic and time loss as switching barrier is an important factor and should be considered in planning of marketing strategy carefully in terms of defensive marketing.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Postpartum fatigue can impact maternal well-being and has been associated with levels of perceived self-care. This study aimed to examine the relationship among fatigue, depressive mood, self-care agency, and self-care action among postpartum women in Bangladesh. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey was done with 124 first-time mothers from two tertiary hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Modified Fatigue Symptoms checklist, Denyes' Self Care Instrument, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and items on sociodemographic and delivery-related characteristics, were used in Bengali via translation and back-translation process. Results: High fatigue levels were found in 18.5% (n=23) and 73.4% had possible depression (n=91). There was a significant negative relationship between fatigue and self-care agency (r=-.31, p<.001), and self-care action (r=-.21, p<.05). Fatigue differed by level of self-care agency (t=4.06, p<.001), self-care action (t=2.36, p=.023), newborn's APGAR score (t=-2.93, p=.004), parental preparation class participation (F=15.53, p<.001), and postpartum depressive mood (t=-4.64, p<.001). Conclusion: Findings suggest that high level of self-care efficacy and behaviors can contribute to fatigue management, and highlight the need for practical interventions to better prepare mothers for postpartum self-care, which may, in turn, alleviate postpartum fatigue.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
• /
• v.33 no.47
• /
• pp.302.1-303.10
• /
• 2018

Background: A considerable amount of research has shown that knowledge and appropriate awareness are essential for encouraging positive behaviors and promoting health. In Korea, the roles that behavioral changes play in the prevention of cancer have been an important issue since the introduction of the 10 codes for cancer prevention in 2006. Thus, the present study investigated the associations of tobacco-related knowledge with awareness and attitudes towards positive smoking-cessation behaviors. Methods: The present study analyzed data from the 2010 national questionnaire survey (n = 1,006). This study evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, self-rated health status, health-related interests, and the accuracy of 12 tobacco-related statements to determine knowledge level and to investigate its impact on awareness and behaviors related to smoking. These parameters were examined and staged using the Precaution Adoption Process Model. Results: A higher level of tobacco-related knowledge was significantly associated with a positive attitude towards smoking cessation (5-8 correct answers: odds ratio [OR], 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-4.08; ${\geq}9$ correct answers: OR, 3.90; 95% CI, 2.22-6.82; reference: ${\leq}4$ correct answers). Interestingly, among current smokers, only those who correctly responded to ${\geq}9$ of 12 tobacco-related statements were significantly associated with a positive attitude towards smoking cessation. Conclusion: This study found that having a higher level of tobacco-related knowledge had a significant impact on positive attitudes towards smoking cessation. This suggests that there is a need to disseminate appropriate knowledge to the general population to encourage positive attitudes and promote healthful behaviors in terms of smoking.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.329-340
• /
• 2019

The 'Sliver-Spoon-Discourse' is currently witnessing growing complaints about the polarization and a sense of despair among many young people in Korean society. The 'Sliver-Spoon-Discourse' that compares one's subjective socioeconomic status to a spoon implies a sense of psychological superiority or deprivation. The present study empirically tested the current popular 'Sliver-Spoon-Discourse' based belongingness and explored how subjective socioeconomic status may affect the psychology of young people. This study examined the effects of subjective socioeconomic status on individual relative deprivation and subjective well-being. Data were collected from 307 undergraduate students enrolled at universities located in Seoul with both parents alive. The findings of this study were as follows. First, student respondents reported moderate levels of subjective socioeconomic status, relative deprivation, and subjective well-being. Second, after controlling for respondents' gender, age and family income, the students' subjective socioeconomic status was negatively associated with their level of relative deprivation. Finally, after controlling for respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, the students' subjective socioeconomic status was not significantly related to all the three sub-factors of life satisfaction, positive emotion and negative emotion as well as total subjective well-being. The results indicate that 'Sliver-Spoon-Discourse' based belongingness may instigate relative deprivation of young people without affecting their subjective well-being. The implications of the results are discussed for youth programs and policies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.110-117
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The study aimed at identifying distributions of career stress and determining whether conflict at school or with family and health-risk behaviors could be associated with career stress. Methods: The subjects were 7,155 high school students in Seoul. Data were stratified random samples from Seoul student health examinations in 2010. Chi-square, trend test and multiple logistic regression were conducted. Results: Fifty six percent of subjects had career stress. Career stress, after adjusting for confound variables was associated with a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) for sociodemographic characteristics including females (OR=1.34), 12th graders (OR=1.56), 11th graders (OR=1.50), south area (OR=1.47), and northeast area (OR=1.40), for conflict at school or with family including violent threats made by family members or schoolmates (OR=2.00), thoughts of running away from home (OR=1.45), and needing of counseling for agony (OR=5.45), and for health-risk behaviors including sleep ${\leq}6$ hours/day (OR=1.23), nonuse of seat belts or protective euipment (OR=1.50), and frequently viewing pornography or chatting on adult Web sites (OR=1.23). Conclusion: Stress-coping skills and intervention strategies will be needed to enhance students' positive and to help them cope with psychosocial conflicts at school and with their families, and with health-risk behaviors, including sleep deprivation and nonuse of safety measures, including seat belts and protective.

• Korean Journal of Family Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.355-359
• /
• 2018

Background: Body image is associated with the perception of people on themselves. Influencing factors are generated internally and/or externally. The most common issue pertaining to body image is body weight and weight loss. This study aimed to determine the association between body weight perception and weight loss practices among college students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 297 college students from private nursing colleges in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics, body weight perception, and weight loss methods. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on weight and height measurement. The World Health Organization BMI cutoffs were applied in the study. Results: More than half (54.2%) of college students perceived their weight correctly as per actual measured BMI. A total of 51.5% of participants had tried various methods to reduce their weight. Body weight perception is associated with weight loss practices (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.50; P<0.001) adjusted for sex, marital status, and status of having obese family members. Those who had correct body weight perception were less likely to engage in weight loss practice. Food intake restriction (42.4%) is the most popular weight reduction method among students in nursing colleges. Over a quarter of the participants chose physical exercise (25.3%) to reduce their weight, and a small number engaged in unhealthy weight loss practices. Conclusion: Body weight perception is an important factor that influences the practice to reduce weight especially among young adult group and college students.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.243-255
• /
• 2019

Objective : Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in people of all age groups, the elderly population is at a particular risk. The proportion of elderly population in the society is markedly increasing and Korea is one of the most rapidly aging societies. Here, we analyzed the data from 904 patients older over 65 years who were registered in the Korean Neuro-Trauma Data Bank System (KNTDBS). Methods : The Korean Society of Neurotraumatology recorded data from 20 institutions between September 2010 and March 2014. This retrospective study examined the clinical epidemiology, sex difference, outcome epidemiology, sociodemographic variables, and outcomes in the geriatric population related to TBI based on data from the KNTDBS. Results : The study included 540 men and 364 women. The age distributions in the male and female groups were statistically significantly different. The most common cause of trauma was a fall and diagnosis was acute subdural hematoma. The incidence was the highest in men aged 80-84 years and in women aged 75-79 years. The most common time of arrival to hospital after TBI was within 1 hour and 119 rescue team provided first aid earliest to patients with TBI. The mortality rate stratified according to the cause of trauma was significantly different, with mortality rates of 3.77% in fall and 11.65% in traffic accident. The mortality rates according the severity of brain injury, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and treatment were statistically significant. Conclusion : To our knowledge, this study is the first to focus on elderly patients with TBI in Korea and particularly investigate mortality and characteristics related to TBI-related death based on data from the KNTDBS. Although the study has some limitations, our results may be used to obtain useful information to study targeted prevention and more effective treatment options for older TBI patients and establish novel treatment guidelines and health polish for the geriatric population.