• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.305-314
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• 2009

Objectives : The physical activity of Korean adolescents and its distribution based on social characteristics have not yet been fully assessed. This study intends to reveal the distribution of physical activity by its subgroups and offer possible explanatory variables. Methods : The 3rd Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey was analyzed for this study. The appropriateness of physical activity was defined by Korea s Health Plan 2010 and physical inactivity was assessed independently. Family affluence scale, parents education levels, subjective economic status, grade, and school location were considered explanatory variables. All statistical analysis was conducted using SAS ver. 9.1. Results : The proportion of participants engaging in vigorous physical activity was high in males (41.6%), at a low grade (38.5%), within the high family affluence scale group (35.5%). The distribution of participants engaging in moderate physical activity showed similar patterns, but the overall proportion was lower (9.8%). Low family affluence and students with lower subjective economic status reported a higher prevalence of physical inactivity. In multiple logistic regression analysis for physical activity, significant factors included family affluence scale (p<0.05). For physical inactivity, family affluence scale, parents education levels, and subjective economic status were included as significant factors (p<0.05). Conclusions : The results suggest that the physical activity and inactivity of adolescents may be affected by socioeconomic variables, such as family affluence scale. This implies the need to take proper measures to address these socio-economic inequalities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.311-316
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• 2021

Background: The present study investigated the association between two domains of physical activity (occupational physical activity [OPA] and leisure-time physical activity [LTPA]) and sleep duration. Methods: We investigated 3,421 paid workers from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2014-2015. Sleep duration was categorized into three categories (short for less than 5 h, optimal for 5-9 h, and long for more than 9 h). OPA and LTPA were defined in terms of answers to relevant questions. Odds ratios were calculated for sleep duration according to each physical activity domain using multinomial logistic regression models. Results: There were 464 subjects (13.6%) who showed short sleep duration, and 169 subjects (4.9%) who showed long sleep duration. Prevalence of OPA and LTPA was higher in male workers than in female workers (for OPA: 3.67% and 1.76%, respectively, p = 0.0108; for LTPA: 16.14% and 6.07%, respectively, p < 0.0001). The odds ratio of OPA for long sleep duration in female workers was 3.35 (95% confidence interval, 1.37-8.21). Otherwise, LTPA was not associated with sleep duration in female paid workers, nor both physical activity domains in male paid workers. Conclusion: Female paid workers with work-related physical activity were at risk of oversleeping. These findings also suggested that physical activity has distinct associations with sleep duration according to the physical activity domains and sex.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to provide fundamental data supporting facilitation of a formal health education performed by school nurses as health educators. To evaluate the teacher expertise of school nurses as health educators, this study analyzed the present status of health education and the recognition of self-confidence in teaching ability of school nurses. Self addressing questionnaire were mailed out to 340 secondary school nurses in Seoul and out of them 244 nurses (71.8%) responded to the survey. Analysis of the data was made using t-test and ANOVA in SAS program. The major results are as follows : 1. The total health instruction performance rate was 84.6% (204). Regular health instruction was carried out by 66 nurses and the rest of the 155 subjects gave irregular instruction on health education. 2. Regular health education classes was offered as a part of physical education class hour by 89.4% of the respondents whereas only 10.6% of them had formal health education classes. The survey showed that irregular health education classes were mainly held in physical education class hours (70.3%) and 14.8% had opportunities for additional classes on health education. 3. The average class for regular health education was 5 hours per week but for irregular health education classes were only one hour per semester (32.9%). 4. Among the 11 categories of health education, education on drug abuse and body structure and function and physical development occupied 95.6%, 69.6% respectably while physical training, family health, social health occupied 10.8%, 12.7%. 5. Health education was given much more at public schools (88.2%) than at private schools. 6. 232 (95.0%) school nurses agreed with the necessity of formalizing health education classes and 227 (93.1%) wanted to change their status from school nurses to formal health teachers. 7. There is a tendency to change the status from school nurse to formal health teacher, and the necessity of having a formal curriculum on health education while less recognized by the older and longer-careered nurses was more recognized by those nurses with higher education. 8. The lack of administrative support (79.5%), work burden (77.9%), and lack of teaching competency (22.1%) were the greatest problems. 9. Education on drug abuse was stressed the most whereas physical training was most neglected. 10. There is a tendency that older and longer-careered school nurses thought less positively of their status, and then 98 (81.1%) school nurses acknowledged themselves as professional teachers. 11. 176 (72.5%) school nurses agreed with the necessity of continuing education : health knowledge and teaching skills for formal health teachers. 12. 179 (73.8%) school nurses had a positive attitude and undergraduate preparation and the practice of professional health teachers. 13. The school nurses had self-confidence in their teaching competence, teaching strategies and knowledge in all 11 health education areas.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Therapy Association
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.53-63
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• 1986

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2020

Purpose: Workers with chronic health problems find it difficult to maintain their work because of socioeconomic difficulties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace and chronic health problems of Korean workers. Methods: A total of 28,807 wage workers participated in the study and were selected using the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associations between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards and chronic health problems. Results: Of the participants, 1,220 (4.23%) had chronic health problems. Even after adjusting the general characteristics, vibration, noise, high temperature, low temperature, dust, chemical and cigarette smoke, fatigue and painful posture, dragging or pushing or moving of heavy objects, repetitive hand or arm movements, working with a computer or smartphone, use of internet or e-mail, and anxiety situations increased the risk of chronic health problems. Conclusion: The study reaffirms that exposure of physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace significantly increases the risk of chronic health problems.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.79-88
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• 2024

The study aim was to investigate the relationship between adolescents' physical activity and subjective health perceptions and determine whether body mass index (BMI), an obesity-related indicator, had a mediating or moderating effect on this relationship. To achieve the purpose of this study, raw data from the 18th Youth Health Behavior Online Survey (2022) were used, and data from 23,612 people were ultimately selected for the research analysis. A confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to the data, and bootstrapping techniques were used to verify the mediating effect. To verify the moderating effect, a multigroup analysis of the structural equation model was applied to calculate pairwise parameter comparison values. All statistical significance levels were set at .05. The results of this study follow. First, the greater the amount of physical activity among adolescents, the more positive was the effect on subjective health perception. Second, subjective body type perception had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between physical activity and subjective health perception. Third, subjective body type had a moderating effect on physical activity and subjective health perception. Specifically, people who perceived their subjective body types as average viewed their subjective health more positively when they engaged in more physical activity than those who perceived their body types as slightly or very overweight. In conclusion, preventing obesity and positively changing the subjective health status through sufficient physical activity during adolescence are important.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of physical activity on smoking experience and smoking intensity in Korean high school students. Methods: This cross sectional study used secondary data from the 2013 Adolescent Health Behavior Online Survey. A total of 35,905 high school students were included in the study. Logistic regression was used for analysis of the influence of moderate and vigorous physical activity on smoking experience in a month and smoking intensity. Results: Adolescents with low (Adjusted OR: 1.242, 95% CI: 1.075~1.436) and moderate level (Adjusted OR: 1.094, 95% CI: 1.005~1.189) of moderate physical activity had more smoking experience than reference group, high level of physical activity. Also, smoking experience was more prevalent adolescents with low (Adjusted OR: 1.191, 95% CI: 1.064~1.333) and moderate level (Adjusted OR: 1.134, 95% CI: 1.039~1.237) of vigorous physical activity. Heavy smoking was more prevalent among adolescents who had low level of vigorous physical activity (Adjusted OR: 1.912, 95% CI: 1.347~2.712). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, physical activity has significant influence on smoking experience and smoking intensity. Therefore, physical activity should be included smoking cessation and smoking prevention program for High School Students.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.319-330
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if physical activity levels relieve the risk of development of metabolic syndrome (Mets) according to smoking intensity among smoking men. Methods: Secondary data from the 2010-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for this cross sectional study. A total of 3,027 men over the age of 19 were included for data analysis. Complex samples logistic regression was used to analyze the combined effects of smoking and physical activity on Mets. Smoking intensity was categorized as light (${\leq}20cigarettes/day$) or heavy (> 20 cigarettes/day), while physical activity was categorized as light (< 600 metabolic equivalent [MET]-min/week), moderate (600-3,000 MET-min/week), and vigorous (${\geq}3,000MET-min/week$). Results: Mets was less prevalent among light smokers with vigorous physical activity (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 0.632, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.475-0.840) compared to those with light physical activity. Among heavy smokers, physical activity level was not significantly associated with Mets. Conclusion: Only vigorous physical activity exerted protective effects against development of Mets among low intensity smokers. For high intensity smokers, lowering smoking intensity and smoking cessation are also necessary to prevent development of Mets.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the "Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Act" of Japan and the "Medical Technician's. Etc. Act" of Korea in order to establish the grounds for improvement of effective law-making. Methods: We obtained the "Medical Technician's. Etc. Act" from the Korean Ministry of Government Legislation and the "Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Act" from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It was translated from an association by related Japanese and experts. Results: The laws consisted of acts, enforcement ordinances, and enforcement regulations in both Korea and Japan. In the Korean case, eight occupations were defined in one law including six types of medical technicians, as well as medical recorders and opticians. The "Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Act" in Japan is composed of 6 chapters and 22 articles, while the Korean Act consists of 33 articles without chapters. Among them, 11 articles covered the establishment and management of dental laboratories and eyeglass shops, and only 22 articles were related to physical therapists and occupational therapists. Conclusion: Independent laws should be established for each type of medical technician. They must be comparable to Japanese laws on physical therapists and occupational therapists as well as clinical pathologists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, radiologic technologists, medical recorders, and opticians.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.95-102
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the necessity of home visit rehabilitation therapy by rehabilitation professionals working at social welfare facilities. Methods: The subjects of this study were 227 rehabilitation professionals (social worker, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language therapist, special education teacher, and staff of institutions for the disabled who were working at community rehabilitation centers. The data were collected over 65 days (2008. 09. 10~11. 14). The results were analysed statistically by the Chi-square test. Results: The results are as follows: Long-term care service was established in Korea by the Ministry of Health in July, 2008. But there are limits to their being able to provide various rehabilitation services for chronic patients and old people. According to a recent survey, almost all rehabilitation professionals (N=227) stated that home visit rehabilitation therapy is necessary. Conclusion: In Korea, the long-term care service has a nursing service and a service supporting physical activities of daily living, but not physical therapy. So, home visit rehabilitation services should include physical therapy, rehabilitation exercise, and pain management.