PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify factors affecting the functional status in disabled persons in the Jeju Province. METHOD: Data were collected from 318 disabled persons in the Jeju province during the period from the 6th of July to the 11th of October in 2006. The functional status was assessed by the disability assessment schedule II(Whodas II) of the World Health Organization and collected data were analyzed using the SAS 8.0 program. RESULT: The mean score of WHODAS II was 29.9. According to the results of multiple regression, factors affecting the functional status were perceived health condition(t=3.44, p<.001), brain disorder disability(t=2.55, p<.001), treatment status(t=-1.95, p=.05), drinking(t=2.09, p=.04), stress(t=-2.72, p=.01), depression(t=-2.70, p=.01), heart disease(t=2.62, p=.01) and anemia(t=2.20, p=.03). CONCLUSION: The functional status was affected by health behaviors, diseases, and the type of disability. Thus, future efforts to promote the functional status of disabled persons may need to take into account all these factors.
Appointments and Schedules ; Brain Diseases ; Disabled Persons* ; Health Behavior ; Heart ; Humans ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: This study was to obtain information regarding to agricultural accidents in farm workers in the Kyungpook area. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was carried out for 528 workers from the 1st to 31st of March, 2007. Frequency, percentage, mean and chi-square test with the SPSS program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The causes of agricultural accidents include falling(29.0%), overseeing(18.9%), traffic accident(17.4%), putting between machinery(11.7%), crashing(5.3%), fire(0.6%) in the order of frequency. Injuries from agricultural accidents include fracture(44.7%) cerebral bleeding(10.4%), amputation(7.0%), airway obstruction(2.3%), burn(1.9%), drug addiction(1.9%) in the order of frequency. The largest proportion of the subjects of hospital treatment were in their 50s and belonged to the group of high-level economic state. Agricultural machinery collision was the most frequent cause among the subjects of hospital treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that carelessness can be a potential risk factor for agricultural accidents in farm workers. These findings may give useful information for developing agricultural accident prevention programs for farm workers.
Accident Prevention ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To investigate subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders in women workers. METHOD: From February to April, 2006, 292 women workers working in 16 companies were surveyed using KOSHA CODE (H-30-2003). RESULT: Of the workers, 84.0% had at least one musculoskeletal disorder. The mean score of the severity of musculoskeletal disorder symptoms was 7.41 out of 25. As for the prevalence rate by body part, shoulder was the most common and severe body part of musculoskeletal disorders, and significant differences were shown in neck, shoulder, and lower limb according to the type of working. The severity of married workers was significantly higher than that of unmarried ones. Significant difference was shown in the severity of disorders by the type of working and in body parts according to the type of working. CONCLUSION: The self-reported symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders were very frequent in women workers, but the severity of the symptoms was relatively low, suggesting the early symptoms of disorders. Specifically, given the highly frequent self-reported symptoms in the shoulder part found in married women workers, intensive prevention is recommended. Furthermore, an ergonomic aspect should be concerned to consider physical characteristics of women workers.
Female ; Human Body ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Neck ; Prevalence ; Shoulder ; Single Person

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a structural model on work-related musculoskeletal disorders of women workers. METHOD: Data were collected from 237 women workers from industries such as electronics, food production and garment production, and analyzed by LISREL 8.54. RESULT: The fitness indices of the model are GFI=.87, NNFI=.91, PNFI=.74. Eight out of the ten paths were proved to be statistically significant: work environment-->social support, work environment-->health behavior, work environment-->WMSDs, domestic work-->health behavior, social support-->health behavior, social support-->job satisfaction, health behavior-->job satisfaction, and job satisfaction-->WMSDs. Work environment, social support, health behavior and job satisfaction significantly influenced WRMDs. WRMDs were accounted for 35% by the predictor variables. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study identifies that work environment, social support, health behavior and job satisfaction are important factors affecting WMSDs. Therefore, in order to prevent WRMDs, it is most important to improve both physical work environment for female workers such as appropriate work station and tools fit for them and psychological environment such as less job demand and more decision latitude(worker control).
Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Models, Structural* ; Social Behavior ; Social Environment

PURPOSE: To evaluate a reducing alcohol intervention program for workers. METHOD: The intervention program employed one-group pretest-post-test design with repeated measuring by quasi-experimental study. The program was developed from literature review based on the Transtheoretical Model, and evaluated from April 6 to June 22, 2006. Sixteen white collar male workers participated. At the beginning, the subjects were at the pre-contemplation stage (50%) and contemplation stage (50%). The intervention was applied personally or in group twice a week for 9 weeks. RESULTS: The scores of each stage of change in the post-test increased significantly compared with those in the pretest. The scores of process (cognitive and behavioral) of change in the post-test increased significantly compared with those in the pretest. The score of self-efficacy of change in the post-test increased significantly compared with that in the pretest. The score of pros-cons for drinking in the post-test decreased significantly compared with that in the pretest. The consumption of alcohol a week and a day in the post-test decreased significantly compared with that in the pretest. The levels in ALT, AST, GGT, total cholesterol, triglyceride, B.P. and BMI in the post-test did not decrease significantly compared with those in the pretest, but the level of FBS decreased significantly compared with that in the pretest. CONCLUSION: The above result informs us that a stage-based reducing alcohol intervention program for workers has the effect of increasing the stages of change, the process of change (cognitive and behavioral) and self-efficacy, and decreasing pros-cons for drinking, alcohol consumption and FBS, and it also has a value as an effective means of nursing for workers.
Alcohol Drinking ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: This study investigated attitudes toward general elders and elders with dementia among nursing students before beginning the clinical practicum. In addition, students' characteristics differentiating the attitudes were examined. METHODS: Attitudes were measured with questionnaires developed for Asian culture at the beginning week of the first semester of the junior year in two baccalaureate programs. Responses from 120 out of 121 students were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, paired t-test, ANOVA, and Scheffe test. RESULTS: Students held negative attitudes toward both types of elders except for generosity dimension toward general elders showing a neutral attitude. Elders with dementia were evaluated more negatively than general elders in all the dimensions of vitality, generosity and flexibility. Vitality and generosity toward general elders were different according to intimacy and the degree of communication with elders. Generosity toward general elders was also different according to students' religious beliefs. Students with interest in elders/issues showed more negative attitudes of vitality and flexibility toward elders with dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Students in general had negative attitudes toward elders and more negative attitudes toward elders with dementia. We need to put more efforts into the entire nursing curriculum in order to improve attitudes toward elders with particular concern over attitudes toward elders with dementia.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Curriculum ; Dementia* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Pliability ; Religion ; Students, Nursing* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This research was carried out to present an ideal cooperative model between the public and private health sectors for the management of community dementia patients. METHOD: In this study a public-private cooperative council was formed, basic data for dementia patients and their families were collected, and a dementia service program was carried out in cooperation between the two sectors. RESULTS: The survey data shows the majority of the registered patients were undergoing a chronic diseases which would make the dementia health service inefficient. The cooperative public-private council adopted the reinforcement of medical service to the public enrolled dementia patients. The intensive medical service program showed effects on the health status of the dementia patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this study pointed out that change of the health insurance program supportive to the private sectors to be made; a referral system for the public health sector to the private sector should be established; and expanding the capacity of the visiting health program in the public health sector is needed.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Community Health Services* ; Dementia ; Disease Management ; Health Services ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Private Sector ; Public Health* ; Referral and Consultation

PURPOSE: This study was performed to understand health perception, health practice, and depression of the elderly and to identify their depression level according to health perception and health practice. METHOD: The subjects were 463 elders who have lived in the Jeju Island, and data were collected from June to August in 2005. Data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0. RESULT: The mean score of depression was 12.94 out of 30, and had a statistically significant correlation with educational level (F=2.943, p=.033), occupation (F=4.611, p=.010), and the number of chronic diseases (F=5.303, p=.001). When the cutoff of 18 points was applied based on Jung et al. (1997), the depression ratio was 12.4%, and when the cutoff parameter by Yesavage et al (1993) was applied, themoderate depression ratio was 74.8% and the severe depression ratio was 3.4%. In health recognition, consideration of usual health state had a significant correlation with depression (F=3.553, p=.007), but consideration of health state compared to the previous year wasn't. In health practice, sleeping was in a significant correlation with depression (F=3.574, p=.011), but smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise, and rest were not. CONCLUSION: Based on above results, we need further study on another sample group and the development, application, and verification of health management, education, and counseling programs for the elderly. Also, additional research should be made on significant factors of elderly depression.
Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Chronic Disease ; Counseling ; Depression* ; Education ; Humans ; Occupations ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effects of visiting nursing intervention on self care behavior and blood pressure with high risk of cerebrovascular diseases. METHOD: A one-group pretest-posttest was designed. Data collection was done in 150 participants from March, 2003 to November, 2003 at a public health center. Self care behavior was assessed by the scores of smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise, stress and medication compliance. The scores of knowledge related cerebrovascular diseases, blood pressure, blood glucose were estimated. The Participants were intervened in with basic assessment, emotional support, education. This program took a period ranging from 3 months to 7 months depending on the cerebrovascular risk level. The mean number of visiting times was 1.67 per month. RESULT: 1. Knowledge level was improved(t=-2.542, p=.012). 2. Systolic and diastolic pressure were lower(t=5.439, p<.001; t=4.966, p<.001). 3. Self care level was higher (t=-12.981, p=.001) after the intervention. CONCLUSION: The visiting nursing intervention was found to have an effect on the scores of knowledge, self care behavior and blood pressure with high risk of cerebrovascular diseases. The results provided evidences for the importance of visiting nursing intervention in the high risk factor of cerebrovascular disease for self care.
Blood Pressure* ; Data Collection ; Diet ; Education ; Glucose ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; Nursing* ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Self Care* ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a health education program on the health promoting behavior and self-efficacy in university students and evaluate its effects. METHOD: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The subjects were 148 students [experimental(N=80) and control(N=68) groups] from a university in J City. The experimental group members participated in thirteen sessions of a health education program for fifteen weeks and the degree of their health promoting behavior and self efficacy was evaluated. The instruments for this study were the health promoting lifestyle profile developed by Walker et al.(1987) and self-efficacy scale developed by Sherer & Maddux(1982). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and paired t-test using SPSS 10.0. RESULT: The experimental group had a significantly higher health promoting behavior score(F=10.389, p=.002) than the control group, while no significant difference was found in the self-efficacy score(F=.481, p=.489). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the health education program can be utilized as an effective program to promote health promoting behavior in university students.
Health Education* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Self Efficacy