Although acute occupational poisonings are very rare officially, it seems that there are a considerable number of unreported cases seen from non-intentional poisoning cases of the national injury and poisoning survey on discharged patients. Establishing a proper national surveillance system for acute occupational poisonings is needed. It is difficult for clinical physicians to diagnose acute occupational poisonings appropriately because the victims who usually are not mentally alert can not provide the information on the workplace hazard. Consulting a specialist of occupational and environmental medicine may help to reveal the cause of poisoning. Furthermore, reporting to the public organization such as workers health center and Korea occupational safety and health is helpful to prevent additional injuries.
Environmental Medicine ; Humans ; Korea* ; Occupational Health ; Poisoning* ; Specialization

Septic arthritis is rarely caused by anaerobic bacteria, which is mostly secondary to hematogenous dissemination among the immunocompromised host. We report a patient of septic arthritis on the right knee joint caused by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. To the best of knowledge, this is the first report of septic arthritis caused by Bacteroides spp. in Korea.
Arthritis, Infectious* ; Bacteremia* ; Bacteria, Anaerobic ; Bacteroides* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Knee Joint ; Korea ; Multiple Myeloma*

Previous exposure to antimicrobials is a major risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Antibiotic prescription and C. difficile toxin assay records of patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Korea from 2009 to 2013 were collected to investigate the association between antibiotic consumption and CDI incidence. A Spearman's correlation analysis between CDI incidence (positive result of toxin assay/10,000 admissions) and antibiotic consumption (defined daily dose/1,000 patient-days) was performed on a monthly basis. Using the matched month approach, we found a significant correlation between CDI rate and moxifloxacin consumption (Spearman's r = 0.351, P < 0.001). Furthermore, using the onemonth delay approach, we found that the consumption of clindamycin (Spearman's r = 0.272, P = 0.037) and moxifloxacin (Spearman's r = 0.297, P = 0.022) was significantly correlated with CDI incidence. Extended-spectrum cephalosporins did not have any effect on CDI incidence.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study are to investigate the present state of occupational health management (OHM) in small enterprises, to explore the related factors, and to provide the information for effective policy of OHM in those enterprises. METHODS: The study subjects were 155 small enterprises that had referred the measurement of workplace hazards to a hospital at the East Seoul, Korea. Self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted by Fax. The contents of the survey were present state of OHM and related factors. RESULTS: 1. The characteristics of OHM in charge were as follows; among the health manager (1) 81.9% had the high authority, (2) 63.2% could explain workplace hazard, (3) 52.9% had outside professional education, (4) 49.7% recognized the need for occupational health, and (5) 67.7% had pragmatic perspective on workers' health protection. 2. The occupational health activities that showed higher performance rate were as follows; periodic health examination (86.5%), measurement of workplace hazard (92.9%). The occupational health activities that showed lower performance rate were as follows; appointment of emergency hospital (26.5%), replacement health examination (18.1%), health education (30.0%), health promotion (23.3%), preparation of health statistics (14.8%), planning health management (9.7%) 3. As results of multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with the higher activity of occupational health were longer duration(more than 5 years) of health manager in charge(OR=2.41), pragmatic perspective on workers' health protection (OR=3.79), experience of outside professional education (OR=2.40), repair of automobiles(OR=3.31), workplace that employed more than 10 workers (OR=4.02), history of workers' compensation (OR=8.05), employers' high concern (OR=4.61). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that interest of employers and appointment of suitable health manager in charge were important, and minimum regulations and the development of occupational health program integrated with promoting productivity are required to activate occupational health in small enterprise
Education, Professional ; Efficiency ; Emergencies ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Health ; Seoul ; Social Control, Formal ; Workers' Compensation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study are to evaluate the effectiveness of a workplace smoking cessation program, and to investigate the role of the occupational characteristics for planning better smoking cessation program (SCP). METHOD: 258 workers' smoking statuses were surveyed. A follow up survey was conducted after 6 Month SCP including campaign, health education, provision of nicotine patches, and smoking cessation incentives. Theup rate was 89.2%. RESULTS: 1. Thesmoking rate was reduced from 67.4% (before SCP) to 45.3 %. The rates after SCP were different by the type of job and the status of employment. The participation rate of the office workers was 32.8%, and that of the technician was 55.6% (p<0.01). The rate of the regular workers was 59.4%, and that of the irregular workers was 36.8% (p<0.05). 2. Among of 174 smokers, 55.9% participated in SCP. According to the type of job and the job position, the participation rate was different. The rate of office workers was 69.9%, and that of the technician was 47.5% (p<0.01). Among the managerial personnel 86.4% participated in SCP, and amongthe plain workers, 52.5% (p<0.01). 3. In multivariate analysis, the smoking cessation rate was higher in office workers (OR=3.21), the group of lower job demand (OR=3.12), that of absence of family stress (OR=2.91), and that of lower perceived stress (OR=3.51). CONCLUSION: The SCP based on social-cognitive theory reduced smoking rate, but increased the difference of the smoking rates by the type of the job. These results suggest that the SCP using social-context model is important to establish the better strategy to stop the smokin
Education ; Employment ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Motivation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Use Cessation Products

BACKGROUND: We studied gender difference in prevalence, risk factors, medical management, workplace activities for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal diseases (WMSDs), and the role of gender in analysis of the factors affecting the prevalence of WMSDs. METHODS: In 3, 339 workers at 29 workplace, questionaire survey was conducted. The questionaire was consisted of personal factors, perceived workload and ergonomic factors (modified KOSHA code H-30), perceived job stress (modified Karasek model). musculoskeletal symptoms, medical management, workplace activities for the prevention of WMSDs. RESULTS: Female workers' overall prevalence of WMSDs (37.4%) was higher than that of male workers (18.9%), and there are many differences in the prevalence by the involved site of the body. The rate of personal risk factors, perceived workload, ergonomic risk factors, and the perceived job stress were higher in female workers than those of male workers. In gender-sensitive multivariate analysis, female worker's prevalence of WMSDs was higher in regular workers (OR=2.08), manufacturing, professional, service workers (OR, 2.25, 3.89, 3.26, respectively)). It was also associated with higher perceived workload (OR, 1.48~1.74), higher ergonomic risk (OR, 1.86~3.65), high job demand (OR=1.62), and low social support by co-workers (OR=1.29). The prevalence of WMSDs of male workers was higher in people living with dependent (OR=1.39), manufacturing workers (OR=1.54), but lower in service workers (OR=0.54). It was also associated with high workload (OR=1.98), higher ergonomic risk (OR, 3.26~5.55), and lower job control (OR=1.39). CONCLUSION: These results showed that female workers' high prevalence of WMSDs is the reflection of 'gendered' workplace, i.e. all aspects of WMSDs have profound association with gender from risk factors to medical management. Therefore, gender-sensitive analysis can reveal more realistic factors affecting WMSDs, and provide more valuable implications in prevention of WMSDs.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Musculoskeletal Diseases* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Objectives of this study were to identify factors influencing depression in patients with chronic renal failure according to patient characteristics and to provide basic data to develop nursing interventions for depression in these patients. METHODS: This descriptive correlative study was conducted using structured questionnaires with 114 patients diagnosed with chronic renal failure. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: 1) Level of depression was different according to the history of smoking (p<.001), past health history (p=.001), only drugs as therapy, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis (p=.028), and perceived health status (p<.001); 2) Significant correlations were found between depression, stress, value of life and social support; 3) multiple regression analysis showed that stress (beta=.24, t=3.41, p=.001), value of life (beta=-.46, t=-6.37, p<.001) and social support (beta=-.19, t=-2.79, p=.006) in that order contributed to depression and explained 56.4% of variance in depression. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study indicate that health professionals should provide proper management for depression for patients with chronic renal failure, as well as factors influencing depression, including stress, value of life and social support. There is also a need to implement stress management and self-help group programs for these patients.
Depression* ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Nursing ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Renal Dialysis ; Self-Help Groups ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Value of Life

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pulmonary function changes of ozone exposure in Corona and Slitter workers exposed to an ozone level ranging from 0.022~0.061 ppm. METHODS: Forty-two subjects were exposed for 8hrs to ozone every day. We perfomed pulmonary function testing immediately before and after work and self-administered, portable peak flow meter measurements were self-conducted by the workers over a 5-day (Monday to Friday) period. RESULTS: Ozone concentrations in the workplace ranging from 0.050~0.061 ppm at Corona and 0.022~0.023 ppm at Slitter in 2006. A small decrement in forced-vital capacity were observed among Corona workers from 93.9% to 91.3% (p=0.012) and also in employment duration below ten years. We found no significant differences in before and after FVC and FEV1 among Slitter workers. All daily (Monday to Friday) peak expiratory flow rates declined in magnitude after two days of ozone exposure, compared with first day exposure. CONCLUSION: We concluded that daily ozone exposure in the workplace slightly decreased pulmonary function and that PEFR variability is greatest on the 2nd day of ozone exposure.
Employment ; Ozone* ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests

Emotional labor is a type of labor that workers must manage his or her emotions for creating a company-dictated experience for customers. As the service economy continues to grow, emotional labor is regarding as an important occupational hazard. Emotional labor is a kind of job stressors that may produces various serious adverse health effects such as depression and cardiovascular diseases. However, there are only a few studies on the effect of emotional labor on workers' health in South Korea. The issues on the methodology such as developing measurement tools of emotional labor and selecting exposure variables and outcome variables were discussed. The preventive strategies at the level of individual and organization were suggested.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Depression ; Occupational Diseases ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the relationships between various factors, including compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders among oncology nurses. METHODS: A convenience sample of 140 oncology nurses from 3 university hospitals completed questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Compassion fatigue is composed of secondary traumatic stress and burnout. The levels of compassion fatigue showed significant positive correlations with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder. On the other hand, the levels of compassion satisfaction showed significant negative correlations with compassion fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The subjects in the at-risk and very distressed group of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction risk profile had significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. CONCLUSION: Such efforts will help reduce the level of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in oncology nurses at-risk of developing compassion fatigue. It is also necessary to provide organization support for oncology nurses, and to develop an intervention that is designed to mitigate their compassion fatigue and to promote compassion satisfaction.
Anxiety* ; Compassion Fatigue* ; Depression* ; Empathy* ; Hand ; Hospitals, University ; Sleep Wake Disorders*