• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.312-316
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• 2015

Background: Unleaded petrol contains significant amounts of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). Toxic responses following occupational exposure to unleaded petrol have been evaluated only in limited studies. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (or not) exposure to unleaded petrol, under normal working conditions, is associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic response. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 employees of Shiraz petrol stations with current exposure to unleaded petrol, as well as 200 unexposed employees, were investigated. Atmospheric concentrations of BTX were measured using standard methods. Additionally, urine and fasting blood samples were taken from individuals for urinalysis and routine biochemical tests of kidney and liver function. Results: The geometric means of airborne concentrations of BTX were found to be $0.8mg\;m^{-3}$, $1.4mg\;m^{-3}$, and $2.8mg\;m^{-3}$, respectively. Additionally, means of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in exposed individuals than in unexposed employees. Conversely, serum albumin, total protein, and serum concentrations of calcium and sodium were significantly lower in petrol station workers than in their unexposed counterparts. Conclusion: The average exposure of petrol station workers to BTX did not exceed the current threshold limit values (TLVs) for these chemicals. However, evidence of subtle, subclinical and prepathologic early liver and kidney dysfunction was evident in exposed individuals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.87-95
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the impact of functional group cooking activities on the depression and interpersonal relationships of stroke patients with psychological impairments. METHODS: Ten stroke patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group and participated in this study from October 2015 to January 2016. The experimental group and control group each comprised five stroke patients. Traditional occupational therapy was given to the control group and the experimental group undertook the cooking activity. Depression changes were measured using the Beck depression inventory (BDI), and the interpersonal relationships were evaluated using the relationship change scale. RESULTS: The findings indicate that, first, there was a significant difference in the depression changes in both groups before and after the intervention. Second, after the intervention, the interpersonal relationships of the experimental group showed a higher mean change value and were significantly higher than the control (experimental: 22.4, control: 4, p < .05). In contrast, there was no change in the depression status between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Functional group cooking activities appear to be more effective in improving interpersonal relationships than traditional occupational therapy. However, to establish that functional group cooking activities are linked to improvements in the depression status and interpersonal relationships of the participants, further studies would be needed with more extensive group activities and larger sample sizes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.277-284
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• 2023

Since the radiological risk is different depending on the working environment, protection measures and policies must be developed through analysis of the field area environment. Evaluating the characteristics of the field area that uses radiation should be conducted through comparative analysis with other industries, not just the numerical value of the field area. In this study, evaluation factors were derived from exposure records by the department to compare radiation occupational exposure records by sector. And then, we developed a polygonal model for comparative analysis and applied them to eight work fields through ten evaluation factors. Based on the occupational exposure record in 2020, a polygonal model was applied to compare and evaluate the characteristics of the radiation work area. Through this, the usefulness of the polygonal model was confirmed, and protection policy measures for the industry were proposed.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2011

Purpose : In this study, we tried to know that how the occupational therapists applied the core principles of Ayres's sensory integration(ASI) intervention for clients by using the method of self-assessment. Methods : The study period was from May 2010 to June 2010. The subjects were therapists who use a sensory integration intervention. We letted them to do self-assessment about degree of performing the treatment according to the core principles of ASI by using a questionnaire. Total 66 questionnaires were collected. SPSS for Windows version 15.0 was statistically analyzed. Results : There wasn't anybody without considering the 10 core principles of ASI interventions for children. Therapist's answer(more than 90%) was sometimes, often, always except for the guide self-organization in the 10 core principles of ASI intervention. On the basis of total average score of raw score of 10 core principles of ASI intervention, provide sensory opportunities, provide just-right challenges, collaborate on activity choice, maximize child's success, ensure physical safety, and foster therapeutic alliance showed more than 50 points(T value). The guide self-organization, support optimal arousal, create play context, and arrange room to engage child showed less than 50 points T value. Conclusion : The most effective interventions for sensory integration is the treatment based on the core principles of ASI intervention. According to core principle of ASI intervention, checking the quality of care and increasing the quality of care is needed through performing self-assessment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2008

Lead chromate is made by sodium dichromate and lead acetate, and has being used widely in the part of pigment, paints, inks, plastics and so on. Even though lead chromate has health hazards which like both lead and chromium, there are a few study about pigment workplaces using lead chromate in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate workers' exposure levels and airborne lead and chromium concentration in the pigment workplaces using lead chromate. There are 20 workers in the total 5 workplaces. 10 workers(50%) have been exposed to lead and 3 workers(15%) have been exposed to chromium, which exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (Pb: $0.05\;mg/m^3$, Cr: $0.012\;mg/m^3$) and Korean Ministry of Labor's Standard. Geometric mean (GM) of airborne lead was highest in pigment ($0.0421\;mg/m^3$), paint ($0.0020\;mg/m^3$) and PVC coloring ($0.0007\;mg/m^3$), respectively(p<0.05). The result of airborne chromium concentration was paint ($0.0033\;mg/m^3$), paint ($0.0004\;mg/m^3$) and PVC coloring ($0.0003\;mg/m^3$). Also the lead and chromium concentration in the manual process is each 30 times and 10 times higher than the value in automatic process(p<0.01). In the classified process by detail, the concentration of airborne lead was $0.0638\;mg/m^3$ in grinding & packaging, mixture & after-measuring ($0.0436\;mg/m^3$), filtration & drying ($0.0402\;mg/m^3$), lead nitrate & dissolution($0.0129\;mg/m^3$), pigment commitment & mixture ($0.0013\;mg/m^3$) and dispersion & grinding ($0.0010\;mg/m^3$) (p<0.05). Moreover the concentration of a sample in weighting & packaging was $0.0023\;mg/m^3$. The concentration of lead in workers' blood was pigment (15.12 ug/dl), paint (4.74 ug/dl) and PVC coloring (2.50 ug/dl), and some samples have exceeded biological exposure limit. In conclusion, the depending on their work industry and process, workers have been exposed to the high lead chromate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 1999

The objectives of this study were to evaluate exposures to airborne methylene chloride and postshift carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in blood of workers engaged in processes using blowing or cleaning agents, and to investigate correlation between methylene chloride concentrations and the blood COHb levels of workers. The geometric mean (GM) of workers' exposures (8 hour-time weighted averages, TWA) to airborne methylene chloride during cleaning molds using rags wetted with the solvent in the manufacture of flexible polyurethane foam (GM = 61.4 ppm), during operating the dip tank for cleaning molds in the manufacture of lens (GM = 61.0 ppm), and during cleaning the blowing nozzles by spraying the solvent in the manufacture of shoes (GM = 117.2 ppm) were exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value ($TLV^{(R)}$)-Time Weighted Average (TWA) (50 ppm). The COHb levels were significantly different among groups (p<0.05). The average COHh levels in blood of non-smoking workers were 2.0% in. low-level (<50 ppm) exposure group, and 3.9 % in high-level (>50ppm) exposure group. The average COHb levels in smoking workers were 3.1% in low-level exposure group, and 4.8% in high-level exposure group. The blood COHb levels of no-exposed workers to methylene chloride were 1.8% in non-smoking group, and 2.8% in smoking group. It was found that the COHb level dependeds on the methylene chloride concentration and smoking habit, and was highly correlated with methylene chloride concentration in air. The correlation coefficient was 0.81 among non-smoking workers. The estimated COHb level (3.6%) and 95% upper confidence limit (4.0%) corresponding to TLV-TWA of methylene chloride exceeded the current ACGIH Biological Exposure Index (COHb 3.5%) for carbon monoxide. The estimated COHb level (5.4%) at 100 ppm exceeded the standard (5%) recommended by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for preventing adverse cardiovascular effect. The estimated COHb value and 95% upper confidence limit at 25 ppm of the Occupational Safety and Health. Adminstration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit-TWA (PEL-TWA) were 2.6% and 3.0%, respectively. It is suggested that COHb in blood be kept below 3.0% to comply with OSHA PEL-TWA.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of study is to validate the clinical utility and usability of the Korean version of the Life Space Assessment(K-LSA) which is an assessment tool of community mobility of older adults. Methods : Surveys on the clinical utility and usability of the K-LSA are carried out with a total of aoaa60 occupational and physical therapists. The surveys included the multiple choice questions on the clinical utility and open questions on the usability. Responses to multiple questions are post processed by frequency analysis and technical statistics, and responses to the open questions are categorized by common factors in each questions. Results : Average value of clinical utility ranges from 3.6 to 4.0 with positive responses of 'fair (3 point)', 'agree (4 point)' and 'strongly agree (5 point)' being 95~100%. Average value for clinical usability ranges from 3.6 to 4 with positive answers of 'fair (3 point)', 'easy (4 point)' and 'very easy (5 point)' being 88.3~100%. Additionally out of open-type questions of clinical usability, it was pointed out that the concept of 'neighborhood' for the life space level 3 and 4 is unclear. Conclusion : The current study and research outcomes showed that the K-LSA is a validated tool in Korean health care system for the clinical utility and usability in measuring community mobility, and that it is straightforward in practical use. It will help clinicians and therapists promote the social participation of older adults, and set an intervention goal for enhancing community mobility. It will further help clinicians and researchers in education and research for medical intervention and goal-setting.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study to create a translation of Life Space Assessment(LSA) for elderly, which was then tested for content related validity and understanding test. Methods : The translation and content validation process involved direct and backward translation, and the collection of content-related evidence from 6 expert panels and 13 clinician panels. A content validity indices (CVI), means, and standard deviations were used for the analysis of the content validity. Results : The results of the comparison between the original LSA and the Korean LSA with the expert panels were I-CVI showed a very high value of .93. and 1.00, and S-CVI/Ave 0.99. The results of the understanding test were showed a very high value of .92 and 1.00, and S-CVI/Ave 0.97. Conclusion : Korean LSA showed content related validity and understanding test, and illustrated the applicability of LSA in a Korean clinical setting. The results showed LSA can be used a useful tool for evaluating the community mobility of elderly.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.65-80
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• 2022

Objective : This study examined the psychometric properties of the 12-item Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale (COPE) using Rasch analysis. COPE is one of the instruments used to measure stress-coping skills. Methods : The study participants were 480 community-dwelling older adults. We tested the instrument's unidimensionality assumption using principal component analysis (PCA). Item fit was examined using infit-and-outfit mean-square (MnSq) and standardized fit statistics (ZSTD). The precision and item difficulty hierarchies of the instrument were examined. The item-difficulty hierarchy was investigated to identify the easy and difficult items. We tested differential item functioning (DIF) for sex and age groups. Results : PCA revealed that the instrument met the unidimensionality assumption (eigenvalue = 1.78). Among the 12 items, item 2 was removed because of misfit (Infit MnSq = 1.33, Infit ZSTD = 5.05, Outfit MnSq = 1.56, Outfit ZSTD = 7.15). The remaining 11 items demonstrated a conceptual item-difficulty hierarchy. The person strata value was 3.10, which is equivalent to a reliability index value of 0.81. There was no DIF for the sex and age groups (DIF contrast <0.27). Conclusion : The findings indicated that the revised COPE-11 has adequate item-level psychometric properties and can accurately measure stress coping skills.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.436-444
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the research trends related to work rehabilitation in the field of occupational therapy based on studies published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT). Thirty five articles in the AJOT from January, 2000, to June, 2016, were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to classify the articles according to their study methodology, evidence level, study subjects, and so on. When they were categorized according to the study methodology, eight studies (22.9%) were published as review or meta-analyses and 7 studies (20%) as qualitative and naturalistic inquiries. Group comparison/correlational and experimental outcome methods were used in 4 studies (11.4%). 3 studies (8.6%) were conducted using a case study/single-subject design or survey. 14 studies (40.0%) were evidence level V ones and 7 studies (33.3%) dealt with mental illness. When they were classified according to the study subjects, 25 studies (71.4%) were related to the work-rehabilitation process and 10 studies (28.6%) were related to the meaning and value of work. Through this study, we were able to determine the main research trends, study methodology, study participants, and evidence level related to vocational rehabilitation in the field of occupational therapy. Additionally, it is necessary to examine studies in the field of vocational rehabilitation, which have a high level of evidence and include various kinds of participants, as well as the process of vocational rehabilitation.