• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 2012

Purpose: This study is the narrative investigating research to comprehend the climacteric symptoms, depression and health promoting behavior of the male workers and to develop the nursing intervention. Methods: The research was done from August to September 2011, and the subjects were the middle-aged males between 40 and 64 working in capital cities of Chungcheongnamdo. Among the 220 questionnaires, 189 were retrieved and used for the analysis. The data analysis was done by $x^2$-test, and t-test using the SPSS/WIN 19.0 program. Results: The 70.9% of the subjects showed male climacterium and among them, those in their 40s showed high rate to the change in the body and emotions whereas those in their 50s showed high rate to the sexual function-related symptoms. Also, having the climacteric symptoms showed significant changes in depression and health promoting behavior. Conclusion: To promote health of the middle-aged male workers and the nursing intervention for those who show depression, verifying whether these males have climacteric symptoms is necessary.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.219-233
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• 2005

This study was conducted on 185 workers at 73 dental clinics and university hospitals in Daegu to investigate the actual prevention of infection and vaccination against B-type hepatitis among dental workers. 1. According to the result of medical examination, only 35 out of 144 (24%) dental clinic workers had periodic health examination while 7 out of 9 (78%) university hospital workers did. 2. In a survey on vaccination against B-type hepatitis, 52 workers aged 29 or younger (96.3%), 38 dental hygienists (51.9%) and 44 dental workers at dental clinics (81.5%) have not had any vaccination against B-type hepatitis. The rest appeared to have had vaccination or be aware that they had antibody against B-type hepatitis without having to have any vaccination. 3. According to the result of a survey on the existence of antibody by job, 42 (56%) of dental hygienists, 15 (20%) of assistant nurses, 12 (16%) of medical assistants and 6 (8%) of dental technicians did not know whether or not they had antibody. This suggests that all types of dental workers except dental hygienists have low awareness of whether or not they have antibody. 4. In a survey on the relation between general characteristics of subjects and the sterilization of dental equipment, alcohol disinfection of high speed handpiece and low speed handpiece was most common among dental workers aged 29 or younger, and all of those aged over 40 used autoclave. By position, alcohol disinfection was used most commonly for high-speed handpiece. antiseptic solution deposition for disposable suction lips, and autoclaving for impression. By workplace, dental workers at university hospitals used autoc1aving most frequently for high/low speed handpiece while those at dental hospitals and dental clinics used alcohol disinfection most frequently and even some respondents replied that they did not disinfect. For metal cups, workers at dental clinics and dental hospitals did not use any sterilizing method while those at university hospitals used autoclaving. For disposable suction tips, workers at dental clinics used antiseptic solution deposition and those at dental hospitals used alcohol disinfection but some respondents replied that they did not disinfect. For metal suctions and impression trays, autoclaving was most common in all workplaces but some dental clinics replied that they did not disinfect impression trays. According to work experience, alcohol disinfection was most common for high/low speed handpiece. For disposable suction tips, dental workers with 3 years' or shorter work experience, those with 3~6 years' experience and those with 9~12 years' experience used antiseptic solution deposition most commonly, and many of those with 6~9 years replied that they did not disinfect. The results of this study stated above suggest that systematic education is necessary for all dental workers for enhancing th eir awareness of B-type hepatitis and the prevention of infection. Moreover, dental workers are required to make efforts to prevent infection with B-type hepatitis voluntarily and actively.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.327-334
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Korean workers' work ability and to identify its contributing factors. Background: In order for Korea to overcome the phenomena of becoming an aged society, older adults must participate in the workforce to balance out the population; workers' work ability must also be maintained. In addition, influential factors in employees' capabilities and degrees of importance thereof should be identified in advance to maintain work ability. Method: The Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire was completed by 5,708 Korean workers. Survey questionnaire consisted items of current work ability, physical and mental demands of the job, numbers of diseases, work impairment due to diseases, sick leaves, work ability in 2 years and mental resources. Results: Results indicated that work ability and length of service increased with age. It was also found that employees in administrative positions had greater work ability than site workers, workers directly managed by a supervisor had greater work ability than workers in cooperative firms, and workers who performed intellectual tasks had greater work ability than workers who performed physical labor. Job stress was additionally observed to contribute towards overall work ability. And musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were found to negatively affect work ability. Conclusion: The strongest determining factors in the work ability of Korean workers were stress level and mental state. Therefore, when the WAI is used to assess Korean workers, the weighting of WAI items pertaining to physical and mental abilities should be adjusted accordingly to account for these factors. Application: The result is expected to suggest that workers maintain work ability in an aged society.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.37-46
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• 2016

Objectives: This study examines the awareness of hypertension and its age-specific characteristics among Korean adults. Methods: Data were derived from the fourth Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES IV, 2007-2009) of 14,637 subjects aged 30 and older. Self-reported prevalence of hypertension (HTN) was compared with measured arterial systolic/diastolic blood pressure, employing Kappa index, sensitivity, and specificity. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors in hypertension awareness by age groups. Results: Kappa agreement between self-reported and measured data in hypertension was high (0.70, 95% CI 0.68-0.71). Awareness by sensitivity was relatively high (65.3%) and specificity was very high (98.8%) for all ages. After age stratification, the results revealed the very lowest level of hypertension awareness among the youngest age group: 29.1% of adults aged 30-49 years, 57.5% of adults aged 45-59 years, and 76.9% of those aged ${\geq}60years$. Predictors for awareness differed by age group. Among adults aged 30-49 years, men exhibited lower awareness to HTN than women. Among middle-aged adults, workers showed lower awareness than non-workers. Among those aged ${\geq}60years$, men and the less educated showed lower awareness to HTN than their counterparts. Conclusions: Age-specific prevention strategies are needed for hypertension management.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.187-196
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of ego-resilience and emotional labor on work-family conflicts among middle-aged female workers. Data were collected through self-reported structured questionnaires of 148 middle-aged female workers from October 2, 2013 to April 10, 2014. The results suggest that the mean score of work-family conflict was 25.59 (SD=11.99) and there were significant differences in living arrangements (F=4.32, p=.015), monthly living expenses (r=.18, p=.028), and job satisfaction (F=6.33, p<.001) by work-family conflict. Work-family conflict was negatively related to ego-resilience (r=-.28 p=.001). Living arrangement (living with parents, children) (${\beta}=.29$, p=.045), monthly living expenses (${\beta}=.22$, p=.006), job satisfaction (${\beta}=-.20$, p=.015), and ego-resilience (${\beta}=-.28$, p<.001) were identified as significant predictors of work-family conflict. This model explained about 19.0% of work-family conflict in middle-aged female workers (F=6.61 p<.001). Therefore, as a strategy to reduce the level of work-family conflict in middle-aged female workers, it is necessary to consider socioeconomic factors such as living arrangements and living expenses that affect work-family conflicts. Moreover, applying psychological intervention to improve job satisfaction and ego-resilience of middle-aged women in the working environment will help reduce work-family conflicts.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.62-77
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• 1979

The purpose of this study is to explain the increasing trend of the aged population and its demographic characteristics. This study is based on the data for the aged population above 65 years old published by the Bureau of Statistics, Economic Planning Board. The increasing trend of the aged population has been analyzed and projected from 1955 to the year 2000. Some demographic charicteristics of the aged population including marital status, educational status and status of economic activities have also been analyzed in order to identify the problems associated with aging of population in Korea. The study offers the following conclusion. 1. The aged population index, the proportion of aged population to total population was 3.6 in 1975 and projected to be 6.6 in 2000. There has been steady increase of the aged population is reflected in changes of population structure. The proportional change of the aged population index was 100.0 in 1955, 109.0 in 1975 and 200.0 in 2000 respectively. 2. As for marital status of the aged population 77.6 per cent of male were married while 24.3 per cent of female were married in 1975. 22 per cent of male were widowed while it spouses died declined remarkable the mortality rate declined. 3. As the educational status of the aged, 77 per cent never attended school and 18 per cent attended from a primary school. This is very low and the number of educated men is higher than that of educated women. The rank ordering of schooling is city, Eub and Myeon in that aged. 4. The dependency ratio of the aged population was 5.9 in 1955, 6.1 in 1975 and will be 9.8 in 2000. It is gradually increasing as indicated above 20 per cent of aged population was economically active of these, they are employed in the following occupations as listed in order of the magnitude of the aged population employed. The employment status of the aged workers shows that a greater number of persons are self-employed than workers for another employer. In particular, temporary employees comprise 56.0 per cent of those employed.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.171-176
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• 2012

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess work ability of Korean workers in the shipbuilding industry. Background: Old age is associated with inevitable time-dependent losses in physical capabilities. However the maintenance of physical capabilities is essential for continuing independence in old age. The work ability index(WAI) was constructed to reveal how well a worker is able to perform his or her work. Method: The WAI is a kind of survey methods developed to estimate the work capacity of aged workers by the Finish Institute of Occupational Health(FIOH) in 1998. The difference of the WAI between groups in each category was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the relationship between the WAI and the workers' ages was tested by the Correlation test. Results: This study surveyed 2,709 persons working in the shipbuilding industry in Korea. The average WAI score for all workers was 40.0 denoting a Good Level. Also, workers in the shipbuilding industry had lower work ability, as compared to the results of other industries. The WAI was analyzed for different age groups(${\leq}29$; 30~34; 35~39; 40~44; 45~49; 50~54; ${\geq}55$). The results of Kruskal-Wallis test showed that significant difference was identified on the effect of aging(p<0.05). Conclusion: Advanced countries like the Finland showed decreasing tendency in good and excellent levels as aged, but there was no decreasing tendency in Korean population. The results may be attributable to the general characteristics of Korean society, such as poor social security and burden caused by role of the patriarch. It may bring forth higher work ability in aged population even their physical condition is getting worse. Application: This finding could be used for developing more accurate assessment tool of work ability for working environment.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1005-1014
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to obtain the basic data for an industrial oral health project enhancing the quality of life and oral health. Methods : Questionnaire consisted of 17 questions including 7 questions of general characteristics, 5 questions of oral health awareness, and 5 questions of the behavior of oral health. A self-reported questionnaire was carried out from September 1 to September 28, 2012, The subjects were 400 male and female sanitation workers in private corporations in Jeonju. A total of 354 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS windows ver. 12.0 (SPSS Inc. Korea). Results : The majority of the subjects were male in 50's. Temporary contract workers are older aged and 2 to 5 years of career workers were the majority of the cleaners. Average monthly income was less than 2 million Korean Won. Those who had a higher academic background and permanent position tended to have oral health knowledge (p<0.05). Female workers had healthier subjective oral health status than male workers. Those who were in older age, single, temporary position, and 2 to 5 years of career tended to have healthier subjective oral health status (p<0.05). Those who were in older age, married, and long period of employment were worrying about their health (p<0.05). The subjective oral health knowledge was high in 49.7% of the workers because they were not able to brush teeth during work hours. They were able to brush their teeth only after dinner. It was low in female and older aged workers (p<0.05). The brushing method included a combination of top to bottom and from the side to side. Conclusions : This study showed the influencing factor of oral health in street workers. Work environment, education, age, monthly income, and types of employment were the important factors to oral health care. It is necessary to provide the right oral health care program for the workers in the near future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.102-107
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• 2022

South Korea will soon be a super-aged society, as more than 20.6% of its population will be 65 years and older by 2025. As of 2022, 17.5% of the total population in South Korea is 65 years and older, which exceeds the set threshold for an aged society, where more than 14% of the population is 65 years and older. The proportion of older subway construction workers has increased. Aging workers and their work stress negatively impact their workability. A previous study demonstrated that the stress index measured using the uBioMacpa measurement device (Macpa stress index) had a significant correlation with work stress in South Korea. The device tests vascular health and measures stress levels via Macpa signal analysis. In this study, the pulse waves of subway construction workers were measured using uBioMacpa to identify their stress levels. The stress levels were analyzed by age, years of service, job position, employment type, and work type. Herein, these statistics could not be easily represented by a normal distribution; therefore, the Kruskal-Wallis test, a nonparametric statistical method, was used for the analysis of data. The results showed that age, job position, employment type, and working type affected the Macpa stress index and the stress levels of workers increased with age. In terms of job position, technical engineers were more stressed than other workers because of their poor working environment. In terms of employment type, daily-wage workers were more stressed than other workers. In terms of working type, tunneling, waterproofing, and construction scored the highest Macpa stress indexes without any significant difference, whereas earthworks scored the lowest. Based on the analysis of Macpa stress index, safety and health management plans were proposed to reduce the stress levels of workers. Moreover, a manual for efficient stress management must be developed for subway construction workers.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.537-547
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of emotional labor, somatic symptoms, and emotional support on quality of life among middle-aged women workers. Methods: The study design was a descriptive survey research. Data were collected from October 2013 to January 2014 in Korea. A self-reported questionnaire was administerd in a convenience sample of 264 middle aged women in various working places. The survey included socio-demographic and job-related factors, and the questionnaires about emotional labor, somatic symptoms, emotional support, and quality of life. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Stepwise multiple regression showed that somatic symptoms had the greatest effect on quality of life (${\beta}=-1.65$, p<.001), followed by emotional support (${\beta}=0.67$, p<.001), and job satisfaction (${\beta}=3.98$, p<.001). And these variables accounted for 52% of quality of life among middle-aged women workers (F=97.14, p<.001). Conclusion: These results suggest for clinical nurses to take somatic symptoms, emotional support, and job satisfaction into special account in order to improve the middle aged women worker's quality of life. Ultimately, a health promotion program focusing on these influential variables in workplace need to be developed for the given population.