BACKGROUND: The goal of this study is to develop a general population job-exposure matrix (GPJEM) on asbestos to estimate occupational asbestos exposure levels in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: Three Korean domestic quantitative exposure datasets collected from 1984 to 2008 were used to build the GPJEM. Exposure groups in collected data were reclassified based on the current Korean Standard Industrial Classification (9th edition) and the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations code (6th edition) that is in accordance to international standards. All of the exposure levels were expressed by weighted arithmetic mean (WAM) and minimum and maximum concentrations. RESULTS: Based on the established GPJEM, the 112 exposure groups could be reclassified into 86 industries and 74 occupations. In the 1980s, the highest exposure levels were estimated in “knitting and weaving machine operators” with a WAM concentration of 7.48 fibers/mL (f/mL); in the 1990s, “plastic products production machine operators” with 5.12 f/mL, and in the 2000s “detergents production machine operators” handling talc containing asbestos with 2.45 f/mL. Of the 112 exposure groups, 44 groups had higher WAM concentrations than the Korean occupational exposure limit of 0.1 f/mL. CONCLUSION: The newly constructed GPJEM which is generated from actual domestic quantitative exposure data could be useful in evaluating historical exposure levels to asbestos and could contribute to improved prediction of asbestos-related diseases among Koreans.
Asbestos* ; Classification ; Dataset ; Mesothelioma ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupations* ; Republic of Korea* ; Talc

BACKGROUND: ‘Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs)' have been mostly reported in the manufacturing industry but recently the occurrence of industrial injuries has been constantly increasing in the service industry. This research is going to analyze the data about workers' compensation for WRMSDs in five different service sectors and identify characteristics of occupations with the highest approved occupations. METHODS: According to the data released from the Korea Worker's Compensation & Welfare Service, the overview of 12,730 cases of workers' compensation for WRMSDs in five service sectors from 2004 to 2013 is going to be analyzed and the source data is going to be classified by the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations to select the top five occupations that have the highest number of approval. RESULTS: After selecting each five occupations from the service sector that have work related musculoskeletal disorders, the result showed that the occupation with the highest number of approval in the health and social care sector were the early childhood educators, cooks in the school canteens in education services sector, garbage collectors in the sanitation and similar services sector, deliverymen in wholesale and retail, consumer goods repair and building cleaners in general management businesses such as those in building maintenance. The major event observed in the top five occupations was the overexertion and reaction as a cause of WRMSDs. The day when the WRMSDs mostly occurred was on Monday and the most likely time was 10 am. The median days away from work and lost working days are 29–90 days and 0–50 days respectively. The difference in each occupation was observed in year of service, age, and gender. CONCLUSIONS: 83.21% of the approved cases of workers' compensation for WRMSDs occurred in the top 25 occupations in all of the five service sectors, which meant that the approval of workers' compensation is concentrated in specific occupations. This research is going to suggest preventive measures for work related musculoskeletal disorders in the service industry and to help prioritize the preventive measures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.
Classification ; Commerce ; Education ; Garbage ; Humans ; Korea ; Occupations ; Sanitation ; Workers' Compensation

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the relevance of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation by occupation ratio (OR) at maximum diameter of supraspinatus muscle. METHODS: Patients from the Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital who received rotator cuff repair and underwent pre- and postoperative MRI were selected as subjects of this study. On T1-weighted MRIs, OR of fat and muscle at Y-shaped view, OR at a location on supraspinatus muscle where its diameter was maximum on coronal view, and pre- and postoperative Goutallier Classification and changes in the tangent sign were measured. Statistical significance of postoperative OR was assessed regarding time from symptom onset to surgery, size of rotator cuff tear, preoperative OR, and the difference between ORs measured at maximum diameter of supraspinatus muscle and Y-shaped view. RESULTS: Preoperative OR at Y-shaped view was 52.28 ± 8.57 (32.5–65.3). Preoperative OR difference between maximum diameter and Y-shaped view was 13.76 ± 10.51 (2.38–42.04), and Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.604 (p=0.001). Postoperative OR at Y-shaped view was 63.77 ± 9.35 (37.3–76.1). Pearson correlation coefficient of pre- and postoperative Goutallier Classification was −0.579 (p=0.002) and Pearson correlation coefficient of the postoperative difference between ORs measured at maximum diameter of supraspinatus muscle and Y-shaped view was −0.386 (p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Fatty degeneration of supraspinatus muscle in rotator cuff tear patients should be evaluated not only in the conventional Y-shaped view, but also at location of maximum diameter of supraspinatus muscle to establish patients' therapeutic plan.
Classification ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Occupations ; Rotator Cuff ; Tears

The rapid change of hospital environment emphasizes the importance of hospital information system. To be effective, the definitions and codes of data which will be required by the health professionals workstation should be standardized. In Korea, many hospitals are implementing order communication system in order to expedite the patient management process, to enhance the service, and for effective management of medical information. Various codes those are in use in hospitals should be standardized for effective interdepartmental and interhospital communication. This paper shows the current status of implementing order communication system in hospitals which have more than 400 beds in Korea, application status of operation an procedure classification systems, e.g., International Classification of Procedures in Medicine, and International Classification of Diseases-9th-Clinical Modification. 22 hospitals (29.0%) are implementing inpatient OCS and 29 hospitals(38.2%) for outpatient OCS. 46 hospitals(60.5%0 are applying ICPM and among them 23 hospitals(50.0%) showed dissatisfaction for that classification system. 30 hospitals(39.5%) are applying ICD-9-CM and none of them revealed dissatisfaction for that classification system. 64 hospitals(84.2%) want new classification system for operation and procedures and 58 hospitals(76.3%) revealed the necessarily of standardization of code of physicans, clinical departments and administrative departments.
Classification ; Health Occupations ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Inpatients ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Outpatients

BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated the relationship between specific occupations and suicide mortality, as suicide rates differ by profession. The aim of this study was to investigate suicide mortality ratios across broad occupational groups in Greece for both sexes in the period 2000-2009. METHODS: Data of suicide deaths were retrieved from the Hellenic Statistical Authority and comparative mortality ratios were calculated. Occupational classification was based on the International Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88) and the coding for Intentional self-harm (X60-X84) was based on the international classification of diseases (ICD-10). RESULTS: Male dominant occupations, mainly armed forces, skilled farmers and elementary workers, and female high-skilled occupations were seen as high risk groups for suicide in a period of 10 years. The age-productive group of 30-39 years in Greek male elementary workers and the 50-59 age-productive group of Greek professional women proved to have the most elevated number of suicide deaths. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed into the work-related stressors of occupations with high suicide mortality risk and focused suicide prevention strategies should be applied within vulnerable working age populations.
Arm ; Classification ; Clinical Coding ; Female ; Greece* ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Male ; Mortality* ; Occupational Groups* ; Occupational Health ; Occupations ; Risk Assessment ; Suicide*

BACKGROUND: Varicose vein is the most common venous disease of the lower extremities. The treatment of varicose vein is commonly performed for cosmetic improvement, although most patients are symptomatic as well. Sclerotherapy is a useful adjunct to large vein surgery as well as a highly effective primary treatment for telangiectasia and reticular vein. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of varicose vein of Korean and to evaluate the efficacy and the side effect of sclerotherapy. METHODS: We reviewed 100 outpatients treated by sclerotherapy for varicose vein at department of dermatology of Pusan National University Hospital from January, 1999 to December, 2000. RESULTS: The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1) The distribution of age was the first 5th decade(44%), followed by 4th decade and 6th decade. The median age was 47.6 years-old. 2)The duration of illness was less than 5 years in 34 patients(34%), and 6 to 10 years in 25 patients(25%). 3) Presumed etiologic factors were occupations requiring long period of standing in 43 patients(43%), and pregnancy in 28 patients(28%). 4) The aims in treating varicose vein were cosmetic problem(88%), pain(47%) and fatigue(32%). 5) According to the CEAP classification, the most common type of varicose vein was C1sEpAs(46%). 6) The frequency of injections were 2 times in 31 patients(31%), 3 times in 30 patients(30%), and one in 22 patients(22%). 7) Most of the patients were satisfied with the results and the clinical efficacy in varicose vein was more than moderate clearance in 64 patients(64%). Transient adverse effects were observed in a few patients. CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy is a simple, safe, and cosmetically acceptable alternative treatment for varicose vein and can be easily performed in outpatient fields.
Busan ; Classification ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Occupations ; Outpatients ; Pregnancy ; Sclerotherapy* ; Telangiectasis ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins

PURPOSE: Sasang constitutional medicine is Korea's creative medical science, that has attracted public attention. But for lack of indices in objectifying constitutions, there are difficulties for most of health professionals in approaching Sasang medicine. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of clinical diagnostic data according to the type of Sasang constitution. METHOD: The subjects were 195 examinees who had a general health check-up at A hospital. The instrument used for this study were Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Class II(QSCCII) program for personal computer developed by Kim Sun Ho et al. RESULT: The distribution of constitutions of the subjects were the So-eum 46.7%, the Tae-eum 36.9% and the So-yang 16.4%. The level of body composition- related indices(body weight, obesity) of the Tae-eum were significantly higher than those of other constitutions. In heart-related indices, systolic BP were the highest in the Tae-eum. In liver-related indices, the level of triglyceride, SGPT were significantly higher in the Tae-eum. But the hematologic indices and lung-related indices were not showed significantly difference among any constitutions. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that there were significant difference of clinical diagnostic data according to Sasang constitutions, especially in the Tae-eum. So, to understand the human nature of nursing clients, nurses need to apply the oriental based medical theory, like Sasang constitution, to the discipline of nursing.
Alanine Transaminase ; Classification* ; Constitution and Bylaws* ; Health Occupations ; Human Characteristics ; Microcomputers ; Nursing ; Solar System ; Triglycerides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the grade of fatty degeneration and atrophy of rotator cuffs on immediate postoperative MRI to those on preoperative MRI in patients with rotator cuff tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy patients were included in this study, who received arthroscopic rotator-cuff repair and underwent both preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and immediate postoperative MRI in our institution. Fatty degeneration of rotator cuffs and the atrophy of supraspinatus muscles were evaluated with T1 oblique sagittal images in the Y-shaped view. Fatty degeneration was evaluated using a Goutallier classification system, and the atrophy of supraspinatus muscles was evaluated using a modified tangent sign and a visual occupation ratio. RESULTS: From 70 patients, a total of 100 tendons were repaired: 18, 69, and 13 tendons were treated for subscapularis, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus, respectively. The Goutallier grades (P = 0.012), modified tangent signs (P = 0.000), and visual occupation ratios (P = 0.000) of supraspinatus muscles were significantly decreased in immediate postoperative MRIs when compared to preoperative MRIs. In immediate postoperative MRIs, the Goutallier grades of supraspinatus muscles were decreased by one grade in 18.8% (n = 13) of the patients, and the atrophy of supraspinatus muscles was improved by one grade in 26.1% (n = 18) for modified tangent signs and 21.7% (n = 15) for visual occupation ratios. However, fatty infiltration by the Goutallier grades of subscapularis (P = 1.000) and infraspinatus (P = 0.157) muscles were not significantly changed after arthroscopic surgery. CONCLUSION: Immediate postoperative MRIs showed a significant improvement of fatty degeneration and muscle atrophy in supraspinatus muscles when compared to preoperative MRIs.
Arthroscopy ; Atrophy* ; Classification ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Muscles ; Muscular Atrophy ; Occupations ; Rotator Cuff* ; Tears ; Tendons

BACKGROUND: South Korea's population is aging more rapidly than any other country. Aging of the productive population will lead to shortage of labor and the decreasing quality of the labor force in South Korea. South Korea needs health care strategies to support the establishment of work environments that are appropriate for elderly workers who have reduced physical capacity. This paper aims to identify occupations that are dominated by aged workers and assess the exposure to hazards and work-related health problems of aged workers in these occupations. METHODS: We identified the 20 occupations in South Korea that employ the most aged workers (at least 55 years-old), among all 149 occupations that are defined as minor categories (identified by three digits) by the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations (KSCO). Exposure to hazards and work-related health problems of individuals in these occupations were evaluated by analyzing the results of the fourth Working Conditions Survey of 2014. RESULTS: Among the 20 occupations that employ the most aged workers, ‘Elementary Occupations', which the KSCO classifies as major category (9), had the largest proportion of aged workers. After this, there were five occupations of skilled manual workers and six occupations of skilled non-manual workers. Aged workers in elementary and skilled manual occupations reported frequent exposure to job-specific hazards, such as noise, vibrations, high and low temperatures, solvents, and chemicals. Relative to other workers, aged workers in the occupations reported more frequent exposure to ergonomic hazards, such as tiring or painful positions, carrying or moving heavy loads, and repetitive movements, and also reported more work-related musculoskeletal disorders and general fatigue. Injury due to accident was common in machinery-handling occupations. CONCLUSION: Job-specific hazards should be reduced to prevent occupation-related disorders in elementary and skilled manual occupations that are dominated by aged workers.
Aged ; Aging ; Classification ; Delivery of Health Care ; Employment ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Korea* ; Noise ; Occupations* ; Solvents ; Vibration

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral health care conditions of patients who have Leprous disease, which is an infectious disease fixed for the third-class by law, to understand oral health care methods and effects of infectious disease patient, and to analyse those methods and effects in order to apply them to the national oral health occupation baseline data for utilizing continuous oral health occupation and to the treatment for handicapped person. he objects for this study were 7,491 patients(male:4,511, female:2,980) treated in the oral health center among Leprous disease patients, residents in the Sorokdo from 1995, May 1st to 1999, April 30th. We divided them into the first, second, third preventive care group according to the year by preventive classification of oral disease, analysed oral health statistics, classification according to the sex, age, practice, and each consultation hours. The subdivided results carrying out continuous oral health care system for four years were as follows: 1. The distribution for the age indicated that the number of 70-79 year-old patients group was the most, 2,169 and that of 60-69 year-old patients group was the second, 2,406. 2. All the number of consultation hours was 13,454. The consultation hours of first preventive care group were 1,359, 10.1% of them (male:812 female:547), the second group 3,942, 29.3%(male:2,103 female:1,839), the third 8,153, 60.6%(male:5,524 female:2,629) 3. The results of oral health care conditions indicated that DMF rate was 99.2% of them, DMFT rate 59.2%, DMF index 18.9, DT rate 2.6%, FT rate 7.4%, MT rate 49.1%, CPITN0 5%, CPITN10%, CPITN2 24%, CPITN3 71%. 4. It was analysed that the number of patients treated with continuous bridgework was 60 and that the number of patients wearing complete denture and partial denture was 290.
Classification ; Communicable Diseases ; Denture, Complete ; Denture, Partial ; Disabled Persons ; DMF Index ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Occupations ; Oral Health