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Investigation of the Environment and Working Scope of Optometric Personnel in Ophthalmology

안과검안인력의 근무 환경 및 업무 범위에 관한 조사

  • Han, Minho (Department of Neurology, Yonsei University Severance Hospital) ;
  • Park, Junbeom (Department of Ophthalmology, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Jeon, Okhwan (Department of Ophthalmology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital) ;
  • Hwang, Eul Sung (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital) ;
  • Park, Hyun Jin (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chung-Ang University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Min Woo (Cardiovascular Research Institute, Korea University) ;
  • Kim, Gibong (Department of Neurology, Goodsleep Clinic) ;
  • Koo, Bon-Kyeong (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Samsung Medical Center) ;
  • An, Younghoi (Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital)
  • 한민호 (연세대학교 세브란스병원 신경과) ;
  • 박준범 (인하대학교병원 안과) ;
  • 전옥환 (한양대학교구리병원 안과) ;
  • 황을성 (가톨릭대학교 서울성모병원 이비인후과) ;
  • 박현진 (중앙대학교병원 이비인후과) ;
  • 이민우 (고려대학교 심장혈관연구소) ;
  • 김기봉 (굿슬립신경과) ;
  • 구본경 (삼성서울병원 진단검사의학과) ;
  • 안영회 (서울대학교병원 신경과)
  • Received : 2022.08.01
  • Accepted : 2022.08.30
  • Published : 2022.09.30

Abstract

The environment and scope of work of optometric personnel in ophthalmology are unknown. We aimed to investigate these topics using an online survey. Based on the results obtained, we also make policy proposals from the perspective of clinical laboratory technologists to the University-Association-Academy. The age distribution of the study subjects was as follows; 20s (40.7%), 30s (28.4%), 40s (23.5%), and 50s (7.4%). Women constituted 56.0% of the cohort, and careers were evenly distributed from <1 to ≥15 years. We found optometric personnel had high levels of work-related stress, frequent occupational diseases, and that their duties were wide in scope. More manpower is needed to reduce work stress and improve work satisfaction. Clinical laboratory technologists held more senior positions at 48% compared to others and the occupational distribution was closely related to the senior occupation (P<0.001). Clinical laboratory technologists were responsible for about 30 types of eye examinations, and the most frequently performed examination was the refraction test; anomaloscopic examinations took the most time (27 minutes). Taken together, clinical laboratory technologists perform various eye exams. Given the importance of clinical laboratory technologists in optometry, a multifaceted effort is required at the University-Association-Academy.

안과검안인력의 근무 환경 및 업무 범위에 대한 연구는 보고된 바 없다. 우리는 온라인 설문 조사를 이용하여 이러한 점들을 조사하였다. 또한, 연구 결과를 토대로 임상병리사 관점에서 대학-협회-학회에 정책 방안을 제안하고자 하였다. 대상자의 연령은 20대가 40.7%로 가장 많았고, 30대(28.4%), 40대(23.5%), 50대(7.4%) 순이었다. 대상자의 56.0%가 여성이었으며, 임상 경력은 1년 미만에서 15년 이상까지 고르게 분포되어 있었다. 안과검안인력의 업무 스트레스는 높았고, 직업병은 빈번하였으며, 업무 범위는 넓은 것으로 나타났다. 업무 스트레스를 줄이고 만족도를 높이기 위한 최적의 방안은 인력 확충이었다. 검사실 내 임상병리사가 선임 직종인 경우는 48%로 다른 직종에 비해 높았고, 검사실 내 직종 분포는 선임의 직종과 밀접한 관련이 있었다(P<0.001). 임상병리사는 약 30가지의 안과검사를 담당하고 있었다. 하루에 가장 많이 시행되는 검사는 굴절검사였으며, 색각경검사가 27분으로 가장 긴 소요시간을 보였다. 종합하면, 임상병리사는 매우 다양한 안과 검사를 수행한다. 검안에서 임상병리사의 중요성을 감안할 때 대학-협회-학회 차원의 다각적인 노력이 요구된다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This paper was supported by the Korean Association of Medical Technologists in 2021 (2021-72-02).

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