• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.2 s.57
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• pp.392-401
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• 1997

Generally working environment and worker's health status of small scale industries (SSI) which employ less than 50 workers are known to be poorer than those of large scale industries(LSI) which employ more than 500 workers. However, according to the analysis of occupational injuries in Korea, prevalence rate of occupational injuries of SSI was 3.1 times as high as LSI. But there was no difference in prevalence rate of occupational disease and werkers with suspected occupational disease(D1) between SSI and LSI. To confirm these two different facts, we surveyed working environment and worker's health status of SSI and LSI in Kyeungin industrial complex. Workers in SSI were 10,878 and workers in LSI were 8,291 and number of hazardous agents in SSI were 3,554 and those of LSI were 1,916. We found following results. First, proportion of male workers and workers who were less than 30 yens old and more than 50 yens old was higher in SSI compared to LSI. Second, worker in SSI had more liver disease, viral hepatitis, and pneumoconiosis than in LSI, and there were more worker with suspected occupational disease, general disease, and worker needed close observation in SSI. But these effects had not statistical significance under the condition controlled by age and sex with logistic regression. Third, the numbers measured for specific chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals in SSI was more than in LSI. However there was on difference in the excess rate of each hazardous agent between SSI and LSI. As the above results workers' health status in SSI was poorer than in LSI, but these results were mainly due to the population structure difference. Although there were some limitation of this study and problems of sensitivity and validity for periodic health examination and working environment evaluation method, the concept that working environment and worker's health status in SSI should be reviewed. In future the study that will reveal the real weak point of SSI should be performed.

• KOREAN ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.84-84
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• 2012

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to understand how changes in income due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the health behavior and mental health status of self-employed individuals. Methods: We compared the health behavior and mental health status of regular wage workers and self-employed individuals with no change in income, with that of self-employed individuals with reduced income due to the spread of COVID-19. Results: Smoking status, average amount of smoking per day, changes in the amount of smoking and drinking due to COVID-19, drinking frequency per year, monthly binge drinking experiences, subjective stress, and suicidal thoughts experienced by self-employed individuals with decreased income were not only higher than those of wage workers and self-employed individuals with maintained income, but their happiness index was also lower than the latter group. Conclusion: This study suggests that the change in total household income due to COVID-19 adversely affects the health behavior and mental health status of self-employed individuals. However, COVID-19-related policies focus only on economic loss compensation, and the health behavior and mental health management for self-employed individuals is insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to establish policies for health behavior and mental health management of self-employed individuals.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: The present study aimed to analyze several aspects of the working conditions and health status of platform workers in the Republic of Korea, such as ergonomic and emotional hazards. We also compared the health status of the platform workers with that of the general population. Methods: A total of 1,000 platform workers participated in this survey from August 7 to August 17, 2022. The participants included 400 designated drivers, 400 food-delivery drivers, and 200 housekeeping managers. A face-to-face survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted by researchers who had received specific instructions. The focus of the survey extended to the work environment, encompassing factors such as workplace violence, as well as physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Health-related data for the previous year were also collected, covering a range of issues such as hearing problems, skin problems, musculoskeletal symptoms, headaches, injuries, mental health issues, and digestive problems. Subsequently, we compared the health symptom data of the responders with those of the general population in the Republic of Korea. Results: Platform workers, including designated drivers, food-delivery drivers, and housekeeping managers, existed in the blind spot of social insurance, facing frequent exposure to physical and chemical hazards, ergonomic risk factors, and direct or indirect violence. The prevalence of health problems, including musculoskeletal symptoms, general fatigue, and depressive symptoms, in each occupational group was statistically higher than that in the general population after standardization for age and gender. Conclusion: The results revealed unfavorable working environment and inferior occupational health of platform workers compared with those of the general population.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to find out the status of occupational health management and the degree of recognition about the occupational health management of employees 248 small-scale enterprises which have been managed by the small-scale enterprises health care management support institution in 1999, were selected for study, in Kwang-Ju City. 98 employees were selected in 116 industries of them to grasp recognition of employees about the occupational health management. ► The Status of Occupational Health Management 1. Of the sample industries, 62.1 percent employed eleven to twenty-nine workers. Of the sample workers, 72.1 percent occupied workers who were engaged in the production line. 2. Environment evaluation was made on 82.7 percent of the sample industries and general exam made on 66.5 percent and specific health exam done on 73.4 percent. 3. The harmful factors in the sample industries were found to lie noise, dust, solvent, heavy metal, etc. 4. In general health exam 1,774 workers were participated and 148 workers got the result of above grade C and were diagnosed as having the problems with digestive system (63.6%), circulatory system(20.6%). etc. ► The Degree of Recognition about The Occupational Health Management of Employees. 1. Respondents were mainly in the twenties (42.9%), males(69.1%), duration of working period of five to ten years(24.0%), office workers(51.0%), monthly income under one million(55.7%). 2. Recognition of employees about the occupational health management consists of workplace environmental evaluation, health education, health exam and protector management. Their recognition on health education showed high score (mean 3.1), but generally the score was low(mean 2.9).

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.146-157
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• 1993

The purpose of the study is to provide basic data on the public health management in the industrial work places, and some implications on the public health education related to workers self care capacity of their own health. To achieve this purpose a questionnaire was provided to 332 workers during February 11-28, 1993. This was do in Changwon-shi Geojeoi-kun, Chungmoo-shi, Jinjoo-shi, of Kyeongnam province. Through the analysis of the survey results, a relationship was deduced between worker's general characteristics and basic elements of health management in the work place. The main results of this study can be summarized as follows : 1. In the knowledge area special health screening received the highest score 3.18. While the educational program scored the lowest .85. In the Attitude area the highest score was achieved in the affirmative attitude to the time consumed by health checks (3.28). The lowest by the management of health checks(1.53). In the Practice area, participation in health checking is the most active (3.44) , and public health education is the least active (0.95). 2. The differences of knowledge by workers' general characteristics is statistically significant in the work sector (P<.05), age (P<.05), sex (p<.001), marital status (P<.001), and prior career(P<.01). But in Attitude general characteristics are not significant factors. In the Practice area, did have a statistical significance, work sector (p<.001), age (p<.001), sex (P<.05), marital status (p<.001) and work career (P<.001). 3. The total difference by workers' general characteristics has a statistical significance only in the case of marital status (P>05). The note of married workers is higher than that of single workers. 4. The correlation between any two of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice do have a statistical significance (p<.001).

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the related factors to dental care utilization, oral health behaviors, and oral health status in immigrant workers in Korea. Methods: The subjects were 504 foreign immigrant male workers over 20 years old who visited Daegu labor consultation center for oral health survey and oral examination. The questionnaire included 5 questions of socioeconomic characteristics, 8 questions of oral health practice behavior, 6 questions of dental clinic visit, 8 questions of social relations and Korean language proficiency. The question for health behavior was measure by body mass index(BMI). Social relations and Korean language proficiency instrument was modified by Seol from "Family welfare survey in Korean international marriage" and scored by Liker 5 scale. Results: The oral health examination of the immigrant workers was as follows: decayed teeth - 76.6%, filling teeth - 27.4%, missing teeth - 69.8%, dental caries experience above five or more - 60.2%, periodontal pocket tissues - 58.9%. Simplified Oral Hygiene Index was very poor and accounted for 49.0%. Dental care utilization experience was closely associated with social relation indexes including attendance in family events, household stuff help, financial help and counseling for hard work(p<0.01). Dental care utilization experience proportionally increased with proficiency in Korean literacy including speaking, listening, and writing abilities of Korean language(p<0.01). Conclusions: In order to improve the oral health condition of the immigrant workers, it is important to provide social network, Korean language proficiency support, and health insurance coverage through economic burden reduction by the Korean government.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2006

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in smoking rates according to the major occupational categories in South Korea. Methods: The study subjects were a weighted sample of 24,495 men and 26,121 women aged 25-64 from the 2003 Social Statistics Survey, which was conducted by the Korea National Statistical Office. Occupation was classified according to the Korean Standard Occupation Classification. We computed the age-standardized smoking rates according to gender and occupations after adjusting for the education level, marital status, and self-rated health. Results: For men, the smoking rate in elementary occupations was two times higher than that of clerks (OR=1.98, 95% CI=1.74-2.26). In general, a more prestigious job(professionals) correlated with lower smoking rates, and less prestigious jobs correlated with higher smoking rates, except for legislators, senior officials and managers. For women, smoking among service workers was 4.1 times higher than among clerical workers (OR=4.11, 95% CI=2.87-5.88). For women, their occupations, except elementary workers, and the unemployed, the retired and the armed forces, failed to show significant differences in smoking compared with the clerical workers. After adjusting for education, occupational differences in the smoking rate for men were attenuated in most occupations, except for legislators, professionals, and technicians. Further adjustment for marital status and self-rated health had a minimal effect on the occupational differences in the smoking rate for men. For women workers with service or elementary occupations, the ORs of smoking were attenuated with adjustment of the educational levels. However, the ORs of smoking were increased in workers with service, sales or elementary occupations, as well as for legislators, and the unemployed, the retired and the armed forces, after additionally adjusting for marital status. Conclusions: More prestigious jobs generally correlated with lower smoking rates in both sexes. The anti-tobacco policy should consider smoking rate differentials by occupations.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-146
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• 2009

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore the attitude of workers toward a system of collaborative hospital practice between western and traditional Korean medicine, to identify factors influencing this attitude, and discuss the reasons socioeconomic groups' differences. Method: The data were collected with a questionnaire for this study from 14 April 2009 to 1 May 2009. Data were analyzed mainly via non-parametric statistics and logistic regressions utilising SPSS 17.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) to determine the workers' attitude about the hospital system and to predict factors contributing to positive attitudes. Results: A total of 1,260 workers working for large factories in Gwangju Metropolitan City. Findings confirmed that more than 40% of the workers show interest in the system and about 44% of the workers also express positive attitudes. Factors found to influence the workers' response included marital status, income level, health status, experience in complementary medicine services, the number of health care facilities' visit. Conclusions: The prospects to establish the system of collaborative hospital practice as reflected by the workers' view about the Korean health care service delivery system. Their attitudes toward the system differed among socioeconomic groups. Government and health care providers should identify the socioeconomic subgroups' demands and opinions in order to find and develop measures of integrating western and traditional Korean medicine in health care facilities.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.149-163
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• 2008

This study examined the expectations and attitudes toward retirement, and financial planning for retirement among paid workers aged 20s and 30s. It compared paid workers' socio-economic, and retirement-related characteristics between those who had retirement planning and those who did not, and identified factors important to retirement planning decision. Data for this study were from a questionnaire completed by paid workers in age 20s and 30s (n=227), and were analyzed by t-tests, chi-square tests, and a logistic regression model. The findings of this study were as follows: First, the paid workers' expected retirement age was 56, and their ideal age for retirement was about 60. More than 85% of workers agreed that the retirement planning should begin before age 40, but just 51 % of the workers had retirement planning. Second, the workers aged 30s, married, and those who had higher incomes and home ownership were more likely to prepare financially for their retirement. Third, as their expected retirement age increased, the probability of decision to retirement planning increased. Those who expected that the economic status of retirees' living would be same as their current economic status were more likely to have retirement planning. The positive attitudes toward retirement had significant effect on the decision to have retirement planning.