• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 1995

This study was designed to investigate the difference of time weighted average(TWA) of noise levels and noise doses by the different operating parameter settings such as exchange rate, threshold level and criterion level for noise dosimeter in the field measurements of noise at industrial working environments. The time weighted averages of noise level and noise doses for noise working environments were determined by noise dosimeter on 80 workers employed at 20 industrial establishments of 8 industries. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The mean time weighted average(TWA) of the noise working environments by the operating parameter settings showed 93.4 dB(A) in 3 dB of exchange rate, 80 dB of threshold level and 90dB of criterion level 92.0 dB(A) in 3 dB-exchange rate, 90 dB-threshold level and 90 dB-criterion level, in 90.8 dB(A) in 5 dB of exchange rate, 80 dB of threshold level and 90 dB of criterion level, and 86.7 dB(A) in 5 dB of exchange rate, 90 dB of threshold level and 90dB of criterion level. 2. ln group of noise level less than 90 dB(A), mean TWAs of 80 dB of threshold level were significantly higher than that of 90 dB of threshold level in 3 dB and 5 dB of exchange rate. 3. The case exceeded threshold limit value of noise was 49(61.3 %) in 3dB, 80dB and 90 dB setting, 44(55.0 %) in 3 dB, 90 dB, 90 dB setting, 33(41.3 %) in 5 dB, 80dB, 90 dB setting and 26(32.5%) in 5 dB, 90 dB, 90 dB setting. Above considerations in mind, it is suggested that exchange rate and threshold level be specified in related laws and regulations in the evaluation of working environments noise.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2017

Background: Physical activity (PA) is ranked as a leading health indicator and the workplace is a key setting to promote PA. The purpose of this study was to examine how goal-setting and exercise self-efficacy (SE) during a health promotion program influenced PA level among Japanese workers. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we surveyed 281 employees. The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess PA level. Exercise SE was assessed using a partially modified version of Oka's exercise SE scale. Personal goals were assessed as the total numbers of "yes" responses to five items regarding "details of personal goals to perform PA". A mediational model was used to examine whether exercise SE mediates between the number of personal goals and PA level. Results: The mean age of the participants was 46.3 years, 76.2% were men, and the most common occupational category was software engineer (30.6%). The average PA level per week exceeded the recommended level in 127 participants (45.2%). One hundred and eighty-four participants (65.5%) set some form of concrete personal goal to perform PA. The relationship between the number of personal goals and PA level was mediated by exercise SE. Conclusion: Our study showed that exercise SE mediates goal-setting and increases PA. The results suggest that the components of PA promotion programs should be tailored to enhance participants' confidence in performing PA.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.66-76
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• 2013

Objective : Based on the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), this study was to identifies the goals setting of elderly person with dementia. Methods : For 5 weeks from May to June of 2012, MOHO-based interviews and Occupational Questionnaire(OQ), Interest checklist(IC), Volitional Questionnaire(VQ), The Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills(ACIS), Occupational Performance History Interview-II(OPHI-II), Occupational Self Assessment(OSA), The Occupational Circumstances Assessment Interview and Rating(OCAIR) assessment were conducted on elderly person with dementia. Further interviews were conducted with case manager and family. Results : After interviews and assessments were conducted, the results of which showed limitations in social and family relationship, financial issues, general well-being. Conclusion : Applying the MOHO forms a basis for judging the subject in a holistic and general way, changes how the subject is viewed, suggests various strategies. For improving the professinoalism and qualities of occupational therapy service, and may help expand the range of other relevant areas.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.83-85
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• 2016

Effective interventions to reduce work-related exposures are available for many types of work-related diseases or injuries. However, knowledge of the impact of these interventions on injury or disease outcomes is scarce due to practical and methodological reasons. Study designs are considered for the evaluation of occupational health interventions on occupational disease or injury. Latency and frequency of occurrence of the health outcomes are two important features when designing an evaluation study with occupational disease or occupational injury as an outcome measure. Controlled evaluation studies-giving strong indications for an intervention effect-seem more suitable for more frequently occurring injuries or diseases. Uncontrolled evaluation time or case series studies are an option for evaluating less frequently occurring injuries or diseases. Interrupted time series offer alternatives to experimental randomized controlled trials to give an insight into the effectiveness of preventive actions in the work setting to decision and policy makers.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2018

Objective: Setting therapeutic goals assist to identify patient priorities and predict problem that may arise in performing daily and functional activities. Goal setting is associated with improved rehabilitation outcomes in individuals with hemiparetic stroke. This study was conducted to assess the effects of having awareness and satisfaction of goals on the functional status of individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eighty-one people who had been diagnosed with stroke participated in this study. The study was conducted through a face-to-face surveys to identify participants' awareness and satisfaction of goals and standard assessment tools were used to evaluate patients' functional status. This study measured functional status through three clinical measures including the manual function test (MFT), Berg Balance scale (BBS), and modified Barthel index (MBI). Results: In participants with hemiparetic stroke, the MBI, BBS, and MFT scores were significantly higher in the participants who were aware of the therapeutic goal than in those who were unaware (p<0.05). The MBI, BBS, and MFT scores were not significant between the participants who were satisfied with the goal and those who were unsatisfied. Conclusions: This study suggests that having awareness in therapeutic goal-setting could lead to improvement of functional status in those with hemiparetic stroke. This study highlights how goal-setting can have a positive effect on persons with hemiparetic stroke.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2016

Objectives: To review reference levels by the international and domestic management and provide the basis for setting occupational exposure limits(OELs) of radon in Korea Methods: Government's organizations with laws and systems for monitoring radon exposure were investigated and compared. There are five laws governing Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) control such as Occupational Safety and Health Act, Indoor Air Quality Control in Public Use Facilities, Etc. Act, School Health Act, Public Health Control Act and Parking Lot Act in Korea. It was surveyed that a total of 32 countries including 24 countries in the European Union(EU), six countries in Asian and two countries in North America setting the reference levels for radon in the world. Results: In Korea, there are set guidelines for radon in the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Education. Reference levels of radon for existing dwellings were $150{\sim}400Bq/m^3$ for Western European countries, and $200{\sim}1,500Bq/m^3$ in Eastern European countries. Approximately 67% of those EU countries were set up $400Bq/m^3$ to the standards for existing dwellings. EU countries such as Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia had adopted mandatory level for radon. Radon guidelines for new dwellings were set more strictly reference level($200Bq/m^3$) than existing dwellings. Conclusions: International organizations such as ICRP, UNSCEAR and NCRP, etc. had recommended the guidelines for radon. It was calculated the relation of the dose conversion factors with the annual effective doses. the OELs of radon suggest to need to establish $150Bq/m^3$ for office room and $400{\sim}1,000Bq/m^3$ for the workplace.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2016

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relation between key strike forces and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). Moreover, this study presents a key strike force measurement method to be used in a workplace setting. The correlation between key strike force characteristics and MSS was previously studied, but the measurement methods used either a single-key switch or force platforms applied under the keyboard. Most of the studies were conducted in a laboratory setting. The uniqueness of measurement methods in the current study is their ability to measure forces applied to a specific key in a workplace setting and to provide more information about specific key strike forces during typing. Methods: Twenty-four healthy computer workers were recruited for the study. The demographic questionnaire, and self-reported questionnaires for psychosocial status (General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) and for detecting MSS were filled up, which later helped in dividing the participants into two groups (12 participants with pain and 12 without pain). Participants typed a predetermined text that utilized the instrumented keys multiple times. The dynamic forces applied to the keys were recorded and collected, using four thin and flexible force sensors attached to the preselected keys according to their location. Results: The results demonstrated that participants with high levels of MSS, specifically in the back and neck, in the last year exerted significantly higher key strike forces than those with lower levels of symptoms (p < 0.005). Conclusion: The key strike force exerted while typing on a keyboard may be a risk factor for MSS, and should therefore be considered in ergonomic evaluations and interventional programs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.518-526
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• 2010

There are millions of deaths from cancer worldwide every year. Among them, 4~10% are considered to be attributable to occupational factors and 0.6 million workers die annually from work-related cancers. Occupational cancers are relatively preventable compared with the cancers associated with other factors. In the developed countries, especially in Europe, there have been hundreds of occupational cancers reported annually in the respective nation-states. However, there were only 35 cases reported in Korea in the 1990s which were accepted as being work-related cancers. This difference might be related to a low level of recognition, detection, and acceptance of occupational cancer and carcinogens in Korea. To prevent the risk of exposure to carcinogens a comprehensive list of carcinogens must be prepared. This should be followed by timely dissemination of information which will enable fundamental controls to be implemented, such as the imposition of ban, substitution, and engineering controls. This will require setting up procedures to record the past use and exposure data and carrying out robust statistical analyses of that data on occupational cancers and carcinogens.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2014

Objectives: The present system of occupational safety and health law gives priority to traditional command and control regulations. However, this may give rise to problems such as the delay of standard-setting and shortages of human resources. The aim of this study is to examine the usability of private standards in occupational safety and health systems. Materials: After the limits of occupational safety and health law were examined, an application plan for private norms (EN, as enforced in the EU) and occupational safety and health management systems (OSHMS) was investigated. Results: The utilization of private norms and OSHMS may address the limits of the current legal system. In particular, OSHMS is known internationally as a measure for achieving improvements in overall occupational safety and health performance. As a result, occupational safety and health law and private norms/OSHMS are complementary to one another. Conclusions: Even though the utilization of private standards may give rise to legal questions, such standards as complementary measures to traditional command and control regulations need to be utilized progressively in occupational safety and health systems.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of the study was to investigate the job satisfaction of occupational therapists(OTs) who work in sensory integration treatment setting, and to analysis for factors influencing the satisfaction. Methods : Data were obtained from 62 OTs who had registered Korean Academy of sensory integration through a survey. Results 1 : Job satisfaction according to general characters: OTs who were above 35 years old and take the treatment course for sensory integration felt the highest total job satisfaction. OTs who are above 35 years old and have clinical experience under 12 month felt the highest salary satisfaction. OTs who are under 25 years old felt the highest promotion satisfaction. Female OTs felt higher colleagues relationship satisfaction than male OTs. 2. Job satisfaction according to work environment: OTs who work with 5 to 10 colleagues and work at private clinic felt the highest total job satisfaction. OTs who spend time treating patients more than 45 hours per week and work at private clinic. OTs who work with 5 to 10 colleagues felt the highest promotion and institute satisfaction. OTs who work at the disabled children care center considered change their job more than others. Conclusions : To improve job satisfaction of OTs, we need to consider size of organization, type of institutes. And we have to define role and specialty of OTs who work in various sensory integration treatment setting.