• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.367-377
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• 2021

Objectives: Taxi drivers are exposed to various hazards, such as long periods of sedentary work and traffic-related air pollutants. However, studies on the health effects among taxi drivers in South Korea are insufficient. Methods: To assess subclinical hematologic change related to cardiovascular disease among male taxi drivers, we analyzed data from the second Korean National Environmental Health Survey. Fifty-nine taxi drivers and 1,912 controls were included in the analysis. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for age, body mass index, and urinary cotinine. A total of 295 subjects were matched with 59 taxi drivers. Leukocyte count, platelet count, hematocrit, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol land total IgE of the taxi drivers were compared with the control groups. Results: Taxi drivers showed significantly elevated blood leukocytes and platelets. Serum total IgE was significantly reduced in taxi drivers. However, blood leukocytes, platelets, and serum total IgE were not significantly correlated with work period among taxi drivers. Conclusions: Regarding the change of the blood leukocyte count, platelet count, and serum total IgE, taxi driving has the possibility to be associated with peripheral inflammation, humoral immunity and cardiovascular risk.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.124-136
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• 1999

This paper investigated the symptoms of taxi drivers' physical self-consciousness. As the subjects for the study, 374 taxi drivers participated in the survey for three months, and its result showed as follows:1. In the items of the physical symptoms, the eye's fatigue was indicated as a greatest complaint, and the corporate-taxi drivers showed a higher complaint rate than the owner-taxi drivers. 2. The survey also indicated that taxi drivers over 50 years old showed the highest complaining rate of eye's fatigue, shoulder pain, loins pain, and severe headache. Feelings of burning on empty stomach was the highest complaint factor in the age group between 30 and 39 years old, and pain and burning feelings in eyes in the age group between 20 and 29 years old.3. In the study of the complaining rate of physical symptoms by working hours, the nighttime driers complained of their self-consciousness symptoms of leg and knee pain, shoulder pain, benumbed legs, and these drivers also showed a relatively high complaint rate resulting from the responsibility of living expenses.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.139-150
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• 2013

Purpose: After a traffic accident, first-aid performed within the first few minutes is important for the injured in terms of survival, future health, and quality of life. Taxi drivers have more possibility of witnessing traffic accidents because they spend much time on the road. If taxi drivers are well trained and can perform first-aid in a correct manner, they will play an important role in pre-hospital emergency medical services. We investigated the effect of first-aid training on taxi drivers' willingness to perform emergency care. Methods: We provided first-aid training for 600 deluxe taxi drivers in Busan in 2012. The subjects were given a questionnaire to answer at the beginning and at the end of first-aid training. Results: 427 out of 600 deluxe taxi drivers answer our questionnaire completely. 93 out of 427 deluxe taxi drivers answered that they had first-aid training within past 3 years(21.8%). 323 taxi drivers have witnessed a traffic accident(76%). 45 out of 323 deluxe taxi drivers who witnessed a traffic accident answered that they provided first-aid to victims(14.0%). After first-aid training, taxi drivers' willingness to perform emergency care was increased compared to that before training. The failed group of taxi drivers that had same or decreased willingness after first-aid training had a low level of education than the successful group that had increased willingness after first-aid training. Conclusion: First-aid training increased taxi drivers' willingness to perform emergency care. So Taxi drivers should be encouraged more to undertake and maintain first-aid training. For more volunteering of first-aid training and improvement in the effect of first-aid training, a graded education program for taxi drivers with a low level of education should be developed, and a policy on giving credit for completing first-aid training course and for carrying out first-aid needs to be formulated.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.141-151
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of long-term taxi driving posture on the balance of musculoskelectal system. Methods : The author practiced Moire topography by using IBS-2000 for 30 male taxi drivers and general people. Then we measured difference of contour lines, difference of shoulder joint height, interval between vertical baseline of pelvis and vertical baseline of neck, ratio of thoracic curve and lumbar curve, difference of width between right and left through Moire topography. After we statistically analyzed difference of Moire topography's data between long-term employed male taxi drivers and general people. Results : 1. Taxi drivers, difference of contour lines in scapular, lumbar, gluteal region was bigger than general people and significant difference(p<0.05) was observed between subject group. 2. Taxi drivers, diference of shoulder joint height was more large than general people and significant difference(p<0.01) was observed between subject group. 3. Taxi drivers, diference of interval between vertical baseline of pelvis and vertical baseline of neck was more large than general people and significant difference((p<0.05) was observed between subject group. 4. Taxi drivers, ratio of thoracic curve was more large than general people and ratio of lumbar curve was more less than general people and significant difference(p<0.05) was observed between subject group. Conclusions : According to above results long-term taxi driving posture might cause musculoskelectal system unbalance.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.246-257
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors related to physical and affective well-being of taxi drivers. The main factors of interests were workplace hazards and work environment. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A convenience sampling method was utilized. 181 taxi drivers in Seoul metropolitan area completed survey questionnaires. Result: In bivariate analysis, payment system, workplace hazards, and work environment were associated with physical health of taxi drivers. Multiple regression analysis revealed payment system and workplace hazards were significant predictors of physical health. On the other hand, age and workplace hazards, and work environment were significantly associated with affective health in the bivariate analysis. Moreover, workplace hazards and environment were significant predictors of affective health in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusion: To improve taxi drivers' health status, it is critical to reform payment system to monthly payment, establish prevention policies of workplace hazards, and encourage employers and taxi drivers to make efforts for better work environment.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between customer contact service and mental health among Korean taxi drivers. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data collected from the 2015 Korean Working Conditions Survey. The sample included 496 taxi drivers in South Korea. The effect of customer contact service on mental health was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The independent variables were general characteristics, working conditions, and hazardous factors in interactive service. Results: The prevalence of poor mental health was 56.3%. Taxi drivers experienced emotional involvement (17.2%), hiding feeling (32.0%), and contact with angry clients (18.3%) in their job. During the first month of their work, 33.7% experienced verbal abuse and 12.3% threats/humiliating behaviors. In bivariate analysis, verbal abuse, threats/humiliating behaviors, and physical violence were associated with mental health of taxi drivers. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed 'emotional involvement' and 'contact with angry clients' were significant predictors of mental health. Conclusion: The findings of this study may be useful in developing intervention programs to improve the mental health of taxi drivers in South Korea.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

For professional drivers, there is a possibility to have musculoskeletal disorders on ankle joint due to repetitive pedaling operation. Therefore, this study have focused to examine ankle active range of motion (AROM), dorsiflexor strength, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of tibialis anterior muscle (TA) in taxi drivers compared to a age-matched control group. Thirty male taxi drivers with at least 10 years of driving experience and thirty male sedentary workers were evaluated for ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA. Multiple independent t-tests were used to identify significant differences between two groups. For the results, taxi drivers had significantly less AROM in dorsiflexion and greater AROM in external tibial rotation compared to the control group. Also, dorsiflexor strength and PPT of TA in taxi drivers was significantly lower than in the control group. This study indicates that the repetitive ankle movements associated with driving have an effect on ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA and may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders on ankle. Professional drivers may need to be educated to prevent a potential musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive movement.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.9-16
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• 1991

Personal NO$_{2}$ expousre and time activity patterns were measured during March, 1991 for 46 taxi drivers in the Seoul area. Badge-type personal samplers were worn for 24 hours by taxidrivers for monitoring personal expousre to NO$_{2}$. A standard respiratory questionnaire was administered and pulmonary function test was performed using a protable spirometry. The mean concentrations of personal NO$_{2}$ expousres of taxi drivers were 0.55ppm. Personal NO$_{2}$ exposures of taxi drivers were seemed to be higher in longer period of driving, smokers, and use of LP gas in homes. Prevalence rate of respiratory symptoms and the level of pulmonary function(FEV$_{1.0}$ and FVC) seemed to be related to higher personal NO$_{2}$ concentrations. It is concluded that persoanl NO$_{2}$ expousres of taxi drivers are probably affected by indoor NO$_{2}$ levels of a tax/and their common activities.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.288-294
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to comprehensively examine middle-aged male taxi drivers' perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods: A qualitative method was used, with focus group interviews. The participants were middle-aged male taxi drivers who had been driving for more than ten years and for more than six hours daily. Results: The data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Middle-aged male taxi drivers' perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease were categorized into three main themes: "individual perceptions of cardiovascular disease", "possibility of behaviors for cardiovascular disease" and "motivations of behaviors for cardiovascular disease". Six sub-themes were extracted as follows: "perception of vulnerability", "perception of seriousness", "perception of profitability", "perception of disability", "self-awareness" and "advancing toward health care". Conclusion: It is necessary to invigorate support systems through measures including education, counseling, and web-based programs to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged male taxi drivers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of workplace violence experienced by taxi drivers and identify the affected factors. Methods: Two hundred twelve taxi drivers were investigated for general characteristics and workplace violence was evaluated using K_WVSⓇ13. The data was collected from July to October 2020 through questionnaires. It was analyzed using t-test and ANOVA with SPSS WIN23.0. Results: Most of the taxi drivers were elderly and suffered from long hours of labor and low wages. After evaluating four sub-factors of workplace violence, 'psychological and sexual violence from customers', 'psychological and sexual violence from customers, supervisors, and coworkers' and 'physical assault from customers/supervisors/coworkers' were judged as risks. For 'psychological and sexual violence from customers, supervisors, and coworkers', the mean score by age was significantly higher for workers in their 70s or older and those with 30 years of experience compared to other age groups. In the case of 'psychological and sexual violence from customers', sales taxis were significantly higher than private taxis. Conclusions: It is necessary to develop a workplace violence prevention program suitable for the characteristics of taxi drivers in order to manage their physical and mental health. When establishing such a program, business type, age, and experience must be considered.