PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Participatory Action-Oriented Training (PAOT) programs in korean manufacture workers with metabolic syndrome for three years. METHODS: A total of 890 workers with risks of metabolic syndrome were recruited from one workplace. The experimental group (n=51) received PAOT program for the preventive management on metabolic syndrome, while the control group (n=51) received conventional program. RESULTS: In the experimental group who participated in PAOT program, percentage of achieved action plans was 73.4% at three months, 75.8% at six months, 82.8% at three years. After three years, the rate of risk factor in the experimental group has significantly decreased from 1.94±1.77 to 0.76±1.25 for moderate exercise, and from 1.72±2.01 to 1.04±1.59 for the strenuous exercise. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure has significantly decreased from 125.06±11.83 to 117.65±19.94, from 83.45±13.38 to 76.39±8.09 mmHg. In addition, risk factor score also decreased from 3.31±0.61 to 1.41±0.89. CONCLUSION: To improve the effectiveness of PAOT program for the management of risk factors of metabolic syndrome, there is a need to continue implement programs and analyze the long-term effects are required in the workplace.
Blood Pressure ; Methods* ; Risk Factors

Background: The concept of work-life balance (WLB) has become an important issue in workers' health and safety. This study aims to investigate the relationship between WLB and occupational injury and work-related musculoskeletal pain.Method: The study included 27,383 workers who participated in the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Participants were divided into good WLB and poor WLB groups based on their responses to the five question items which comprised two dimensions: workon-life conflict (items, 1–3) and life-on-work conflict (items 4 and 5). Occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain were also assessed using the question items. The χ 2 test and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship of WLB to occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain while considering socio-demographic and occupational characteristics and ergonomic and psychological risk factors. Results: Of the 27,383 participants, 252 (0.9%) had experienced an occupational injury and 6,408 (23.4%) had musculoskeletal pain. The poor WLB group had higher injury rates for both men (1.7%) and women (0.9%) than the good WLB group (1.1% and 0.4%, respectively).Additionally, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was higher for both men and women in the poor WLB group (25.2% and 28.0%, respectively) than for men and women in the good WLB group (18.7% and 23.6%, respectively). In the logistic regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratio of WLB for occupational injury was 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.78), and that for musculoskeletal pain was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.07–1.21), showing positive associations of WLB with both occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain. Conclusions Poor WLB causes an increase in occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain.Therefore, an improvement in WLB may reduce the incidence of occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain among workers. Social and policy-related initiatives are needed to improve workers' WLB to reduce occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain.

Background: The concept of work-life balance (WLB) has become an important issue in workers' health and safety. This study aims to investigate the relationship between WLB and occupational injury and work-related musculoskeletal pain.Method: The study included 27,383 workers who participated in the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Participants were divided into good WLB and poor WLB groups based on their responses to the five question items which comprised two dimensions: workon-life conflict (items, 1–3) and life-on-work conflict (items 4 and 5). Occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain were also assessed using the question items. The χ 2 test and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship of WLB to occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain while considering socio-demographic and occupational characteristics and ergonomic and psychological risk factors. Results: Of the 27,383 participants, 252 (0.9%) had experienced an occupational injury and 6,408 (23.4%) had musculoskeletal pain. The poor WLB group had higher injury rates for both men (1.7%) and women (0.9%) than the good WLB group (1.1% and 0.4%, respectively).Additionally, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was higher for both men and women in the poor WLB group (25.2% and 28.0%, respectively) than for men and women in the good WLB group (18.7% and 23.6%, respectively). In the logistic regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratio of WLB for occupational injury was 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.78), and that for musculoskeletal pain was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.07–1.21), showing positive associations of WLB with both occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain. Conclusions Poor WLB causes an increase in occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain.Therefore, an improvement in WLB may reduce the incidence of occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain among workers. Social and policy-related initiatives are needed to improve workers' WLB to reduce occupational injury and musculoskeletal pain.

Objective: Farmers are known to have high prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). This study aims to investigate the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic and foreign farmers with the ultimate goal of raising awareness of asthma and COPD among farmers and contribute to supporting evidence for the prevention of respiratory diseases in farmers. Methods: The study utilized data from the "Farmer’s Occupational Disease Survey," conducted by the Rural Development Administration, to determine the prevalence of respiratory diseases in domestic farmers.The prevalence of asthma and COPD in overseas farmers was evaluated by researching other foreign studies and articles. Results: The prevalence of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers was less than of foreign farmers’.The prevalence of asthma in domestic farmers was high as upto 8.4% and COPD upto 5.5%. Studies from Europe and America showed prevalence of asthma in farmers high as upto 14.8% and COPD upto 17.1%. Conclusions This study conducted an investigation using the 'Survey on Occupational Diseases and Injuries in Farmers to understand the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers. Due to a lack of relevant domestic research, we examined and compared with the research results on asthma and COPD among overseas farmers. Further research is necessary and preventive measures for respiratory diseases need to be developed.