PURPOSE: In this study, I am going to figure out Korean workers' actual exposure to risk factors and percentage of the workers who complain of health problems by performing a comparative analysis of the characteristics of the workers and working conditions in Korea and EU. METHODS: The data used in this study includes the 1st working conditions survey conducted in 2006 in Korea, the 2nd working conditions survey in 2010, the 4th EU working conditions survey, and the 5th EU working conditions survey. I have compared the changes to Korean working conditions and those to EU working conditions in the categories of demographic characteristics, quality of labor, exposure to risk factors, and health problems included in the data. RESULTS: The analysis of the characteristics of the demographic characters of Korean workers shows that aged and female workers register increased labor force participation. The analysis of labor quality shows that Korea has a long working time but with a lower work intensity compared to the countries included in EU working conditions survey. As for risk factors, Korea registers a low level of exposure as compared to countries included in EU working conditions survey and characteristically shows a decreasing exposure to tobacco smoke. The survey shows sharply increasing complaints of muscle pain in the upper and lower limbs. CONCLUSION: In this study, I have identified vulnerable social groups by using quantified values in a comparison of the working conditions of Korea and those of EU.
Employment ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Myalgia ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Tobacco

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle pains of emotional laborers and determine whether there were differences in their muscle pains depending on the hours spent on emotional labor. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the data collected from the 3rd (2011) Korean Working Conditions Survey. 50,032 participants responded to the study's questionnaire. Among them, 15,669 participants were emotional laborers who directly dealt with people such as customers, passengers, pupils, patients, etc. RESULTS: Thirty three percent of subjects had reported muscle pains. Muscle pains of subjects were positively related to the hours spent on emotional labor (p<.001). According to the logistic regression analysis, the adjusted odd ratio of the subjects who spent about almost all of the work hours on emotional labor was 1.32 (95% CI: 1.15~1.52), compared to the subjects who spent about a quarter of their work hours on emotional labor, when other factors were controlled. CONCLUSION: The study's findings indicate that engaging in emotional labor for longer hours increases the risks of muscle pains. Occupational nurses must pay closer attention to the management of muscle pains of emotional laborers.
Humans ; Logistic Models ; Myalgia* ; Pupil ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the differences by the stages of change in exercise behaviors of caregivers based on Transtheoretical Model. METHODS: The subjects were consisted of randomly chosen 105 caregivers working in a nursing home. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test, ANOVA and Duncan test using IBM SPSS Statistics 19. RESULTS: The results showed that in the stages of exercise behaviors, there were most participants in contemplation stage with 24.7%, followed by 22.8% in preparation, 21.9% maintenance, 19.0% action and 11.4% pre-contemplation. As for the process of change by the stages of change in exercise behaviors, it showed statistically significant differences in behavioral strategies (F=7.641, p<.001). In decisional balance, pros (F=0.66, p=.620) showed statistical significance, with higher pros in all stages except pre-contemplation. Self-efficacy was also statistically significant (F=6.25, p<.001), especially in the maintenance stage. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that in order to encourage caregivers to exercise, a strategic intervention to reinforce the process of change, recognition of positive decision-making and promotion of self-efficacy in exercise behaviors should be developed.
Caregivers ; Humans ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Nursing Homes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of performance of TB control manpower in Korea and to identify the affecting factors associated with it. METHODS: This study employed a quantitative observational with cross-sectional design and the subjects were consisted of 189 TB (Tuberculosis) control manpower who were working in both community health centers and private hospitals. Variables included in this study were demographic, social, work-related characteristics, aqhnd self-efficacy. A reliability of the instrument for the performance was Cronbach's alpha=.91. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression using SPSS (19th version). RESULTS: The mean value of the degree of work-related performance of TB control manpower was 4.4+/-0.49 and it was higher than those of general nurses working in any other health care departments. The mean differences in the degree of work-related performance were in self-efficacy, workplace, the number of full charge manpower in TB, the number of participation in in-depth education, and the willingness to job maintenance. In multiple regression analysis, factors associated with TB control manpower' work-related performance were self-efficacy (beta =.164, p=.025), workplace (beta=-.186, p=.023), the number of participation in in-depth education(beta=.339, p<.002), and the willingness to job maintenance (beta=-.157, p=.036). CONCLUSION: Results of this study showed that work-related performances of manpower working in private hospital were higher than those of manpower in public health centers. So, it is necessary to enhance nation's active intervention to improve effectiveness and reduction of risk factors in TB policy.
Community Health Centers ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Hospitals, Private ; Korea ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Self Efficacy ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: School foodservice employees (SFEs) could be exposed to the risk of musculoskeletal disease and of job stress due to their job characteristics. This study was to evaluate the level of job stress and the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WRMS) in Seoul city's SFEs, and to determine associations between job stress and WRMS. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional, and 975 SFEs were recruited. Self-administered questionnaire included the 'Korean occupational stress scale-short form' and the 'KOSHA GUIDE H-9-2012' instrument to evaluate the job stress and WRMS, respectively. SFEs' medians of job stress were compared to the reference values of published study in Korean workers. RESULTS: The participants reported greater levels of job demand and physical environment than the general Korean population. WRMS were reported in 89.0% of participants at any body part, and 41.1% were presumed to need for medical intervention. High levels of job demand and of physical environment were significantly associated with WRMS. CONCLUSION: Subscales of job demand and physical environment were relatively high in SFEs and those were related to the occurrence of WRMS. To reduce the WRMS prevalence, a job stress management program focused on job demand and physical environment may be required.
Humans ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reference Values ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify quality of sleep and its influencing factor among middle-aged male workers. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 411 middle-aged male workers living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The data were based from self-reported using structured questionnaires asking about low urinary tract symptoms, circadian rhythm, quality of life and sleep quality including general characteristics. The data were collected from September 11 to October 31, 2013 and analyzed by t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression. RESULTS: Mean score of the sleep quality was 5.03+/-2.57 (range: 0~21) and reported as bad sleep quality in 55.7%. Low urinary tract symptoms (beta=.30, p<.001), circadian rhythm (beta=-.17, p<.001), quality of life (beta=-.14, p<.001) were shown as significant association of sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Strategies to improve sleep quality in middle-aged male workers are necessary and nursing intervention should be developed to improve education program for prevention and management of low urinary tract symptoms. It is also necessary to legalize the institutional devices to upgrade work environment and to place regulations on overtime at work places in order for these workers to obtain sufficient sleep time for recovery of biological rhythms and improving sleep quality.
Circadian Rhythm ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Social Control, Formal ; Urinary Tract ; Workplace

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to understand the subjective symptom rate of musculoskeletal disease of male taxi drivers and comprehend general features, health behavior features, and factors related to the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system depending on the level of job stress. METHODS: The participants were 206 male taxi drivers from 4 transportation companies in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. The investigation was conducted from July 20th 2012 to August 20th 2012 through a self-administered questionnaire survey. RESULTS: The participants who exercised less than three times per week complained about the subjective symptoms of the musculoskeletal system (p=.016) 13.770 times as more as than those of the participants who exercised more than three times per week the participants who had a higher level of job stress complained about the subjective symptoms of the muscular skeletal (p=.011) 1.051times as more as than those who had a relatively lower level of job stress. CONCLUSION: This study recommends that it is necessary to provide exercise programs and arrange various plans reducing job stress to prevent muscular skeletal disease and minimize the disease susceptibility of taxi drivers.
Disease Susceptibility ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Musculoskeletal System ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Transportation

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the association between psychosocial work environment and self-rated health among general hospital nurses. METHODS: A total of 195 nurses working in one general hospital were eligible for data analysis by multivariate logistic regression. The psychosocial work environment was measured with the Korean version of the Copenhagen Psycosocial Questionnaire version II (COPSOQ-K). Self-rated health was recoded as good (excellent/good) and not good (fair/poor/bad) to the question, "In general, how would you rate your health status?" RESULTS: 40% of nurses rated their health positively. Commitment to the workplace (OR=1.27), predictability (OR=1.32), recognition and reward (OR=1.41), role clarity (OR=1.32), and social support from colleagues (OR=1.25) were positively associated with self-rated health of nurse participants. Work-family conflict (OR=0.82) was negatively associated with self-rated health. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that psychological work environment predicts self-rated health of hospital nurses. Good psychological work environment may be helpful in improvement of nurses' health.
Hospitals, General* ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reward ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing on practice of healthcare-associated infection control among clinical nurses. METHODS: The subject of this study were 118 nurses who worked in medical . surgical ward and ICU of 2 general hospital in Gwangju city. Data were collected with a questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were as follow: There were significant positive correlation between knowledge, recognition, empowerment and practice of healthcare-associated infection control. The significant factors influencing practice of healthcare-associated infection control were recognition and empowerment, which explained 68.8% of the practice of healthcare-associated infection control. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that recognition on healthcare-associated infection control and empowerment among clinical nurses should be reinforcement via consistent education, administrative and organizational support at the level of hospital.
Education ; Gwangju ; Hospitals, General ; Infection Control* ; Power (Psychology) ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status and characteristics of visiting nurses' management for elders with cognitive impairment living in a community focused on health centers in a metropolitan city and five medium-sized cities. METHODS: Data were collected from 47 visiting nurses working in a metropolitan city and 47 visiting nurses working in five medium-sized cities from November to December 2012. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in knowledge, attitudes, and nursing behaviors of cognitive impairment between two groups (F=2.13, p=.148; F=3.64, p=.060; F=0.28, p=.595). Among the elders referred to a physician in a metropolitan city by visiting nurses, 42.4% were diagnosed as mild cognitive impairment and 15.2% were diagnosed as severe dementia. The major intervention programs which visiting nurses currently applied for elders were medication and exercise intervention programs, and the intervention programs which they would want to apply in the future were playing, music and recall intervention programs. CONCLUSION: The cognitive impairment screening test can be done effectively by visiting nurses. This study also suggests to develop various kinds of intervention programs to improve cognitive function for elders living in a community.
Aged ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Music ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing