• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.270-280
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between job stress and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of hospital nurses. Method: The questionnaires were administered to 290 nurses working in a general hospital located in S city from September 1 to 15, 2008. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, and logistic regression test by SPSS WIN 14.0. Results: With the NIOSH criteria 1, the musculoskeletal symptoms were prevalent in 66.8% of the subjects. The musculoskeletal symptoms by body parts appeared mostly on leg/foot(40.6%) and followed by shoulder (38.7%), waist(30.3%), neck(23.6%), hand/wrist/finger(14.0%) and arm/elbow(4.4%). There were statistically significant differences in prevalence rate of musculoskeletal symptoms by age, work department, career and job stress. Conclusion: When developing a management program for musculoskeletal symptoms of hospital nurses, it is necessary to fully understand nurses' work considering each hospital's nursing administration system.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.223-235
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the prevalence of job stress and musculoskeletal symptoms, and to identify the factors that affect work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of the 119 Emergency medical technicians (EMT). Method: From August 26 to September 10, 2010, the data were obtained from 456 EMT working in Daejeon city or Choongnam province. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were performed using SAS version 9.1. Results: Physical environment, job demand, interpersonal conflict, and occupational climate were stressful to 119 EMT. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms of female EMT was higher than those of the male EMT's. After gender and age were adjusted, there ware significant relationships between musculoskeletal symptoms and some risk factors including occupational class, hours of intensive musculoskeletal use, previous injury or work-related injury, physical burden, and job stress. Overall, a higher degree of job stress increased musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusion: Job stress is a major cause of musculoskeletal symptoms. To prevent and manage musculoskeletal disease of 119 EMT, there is a need to develop a management program for musculoskeletal symptoms to reduce occupational stress, considering gender differences.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.124-133
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was conducted to develop a model describing the interaction between lifestyle, job, and postural factors and parts of the upper extremities in shipyard workers. Methods: A questionnaire survey was given to 2,140 workers at a shipyard in Ulsan City. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the subjects' general characteristics, lifestyle, tenure, physical burden, job control, posture and musculoskeletal symptoms. The overall relationship between variables was analyzed by a structural equation model (SEM). Results: The positive rate of upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms increased in employees who worked longer hours, had severe physical burden, and did not have any control over their job. Work with a more frequent unstable posture and for longer hours was also associated with an increased positive rate of musculoskeletal symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that unstable posture and physical burden were closely related to the positive rate of musculoskeletal symptoms after controlling for age, smoking, drinking, exercise, tenure, and job control. In SEM analysis, work-related musculoskeletal disease was influenced directly and indirectly by physical and job stress factors, lifestyle, age, and tenure (p < 0.05). The strongest correlations were found between physical factors and work-related musculoskeletal disease. Conclusion: The model in this study provides a better approximation of the complexity of the actual relationship between risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Among the variables evaluated in this study, physical factors (work posture) had the strongest association with musculoskeletal disorders.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to compare work-related musculoskeletal symptoms, occupational stress and nursing work environments of nurses working in patient-sitter wards and general wards. Methods: The study surveyed 240 nurses with more than one year of experience working in both patient-sitter wards and general wards. The collected data then was analyzed by SPSS statistics version 22. Results: As for the musculoskeletal symptoms, the survey showed that 85.2% and 67.8% of the nurses had such symptoms respectively in patient-sitter wards and general wards. In terms of occupational stress, no significant difference was observed between the patient-sitter ward and the general ward (t=-0.23, p=.821). Lastly, the study showed that there is a significant difference in terms of work environment considering the scores recorded 2.65 and 2.55 points respectively in patient-sitter ward and general ward (t=2.53, p=.012). Conclusion: Follow-up research should look at ways to lower the rate of experiencing work-related musculoskeletal symptoms; analyze work performances and establish work standards to lower occupational stress; and devise measures to improve the work environment for the nurses working in patient-sitter wards.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and factors related to daily activities in a representative Korean population. Methods: This study was based on the questions about musculoskeletal symptoms in the Korean General Social Survey 2010. The questionnaire about musculoskeletal symptoms was adopted from Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency guide, and it includes general characteristics, characteristics of pain, work type, work intensity and a 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). We utilized the criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to define the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Demographic, behavioral and socioeconomic factors were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 38.3%. The prevalence was higher in females, the elderly, those without health insurance, and those with a low income, low education, and occupations with a heavy workload. The prevalence by body part was highest in the back, shoulder, and knee, in that order. The physical component summary and mental component summary of the SF-12 decreased with increasing musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusions: Musculoskeletal symptoms are very common in the general population, and related to various socio-demographic factors. These results suggest that active prevention and management of musculoskeletal symptoms is needed at a national level.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the influences of hospital employees' daily life posture habits and work-related factors upon musculoskeletal subjective symptoms. Methods: This study was a descriptive survey study. Data were collected using structured a self-report questionnaire between April 1 and May 31, 2015. One hundred and ninety two employees were recruited in three hospitals. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test, t-test, and binomial logistic regression. Results: The habit of leaning on one side and the habit of bending the back in an improper posture are key postures based on lifestyle affecting musculoskeletal subjective symptoms in neck, shoulders, arms, waist, and legs. Labours accompanying repeated arm movements for a long time are key work-related risk factors affecting musculoskeletal subjective symptoms in arms. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that, to prevent musculoskeletal diseases, it is necessary to identify and mediate personal factors like daily life posture habits as well as work-related risk factors. They may be utilized as basic materials for education of musculoskeletal health promotion and development of life guidance programs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.68-75
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate the differences in symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between vinylhouse farmers and non-vinylhouse farmers. The study included 118 residents who lived in a rural community. All subjects were assigned to the vinylhouse farmers group (N=58) and the non-vinylhouse farmers group (N=60) according to main agricultural work type. All respondents were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. WMSDs symptoms were measured by a self- assessed questionnaire on symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders, and HRQoL was measured by SF-36. Vinylhouse farmers had significant more symptoms of WMSDs in each regional parts of musculoskeletal system, and had significant poor total health status in SF-36. Symptoms of WMSDs were most reliable risk factor for HRQoL. Various health promotion interventions are needed to prevent WMSDs in all farmers and especially vinylhouse workers.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.609-622
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• 2015

Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between office and work environment satisfaction levels and workers' musculoskeletal symptoms by conducting surveys asking office workers to state their musculoskeletal symptoms and office and work environment satisfaction levels. Background: The increased number of office workers and their indoor work hours using computers have led to new understandings of the importance of office environment including its temperature, humidity, noise levels, lighting and quality of air, and work environment including monitor arrangement, space arrangement and the functions of desks and chairs. Method: Specific details on office work, office environment satisfaction levels, work environment satisfaction levels, musculoskeletal symptoms, absence from work and treatment due to musculoskeletal related symptoms were analyzed based on the survey answers given by 397 office workers who were the subjects of this research. Results: Office workers showed different characteristics of musculoskeletal symptoms depending on their gender, age, work experience, office hours, break time and time spent on computers. Also, differences in symptoms were found for workers'with different satisfaction levels for office environment (temperature, humidity, noise levels, quality of air, lighting) and work environment (location of monitors, area and display of office space, chairs and desks). ANOVA shows the differences between groups of subjects classified by the experience of work-absences and treatments or pain complaints. Conclusion and Application: Relationship between workers' satisfaction levels with the office and work environment and their musculoskeletal symptoms is expected to be served as essential data for systematic management of the workplace.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.491-499
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• 2020

Background: Assembly lines work is frequently associated to work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. The related disability and absenteeism make it important to implement efficient health surveillance systems. The main objective of this study was to identify self-reported variables that can determine work-related upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms-discomfort/pain-during a 6-month follow-up. Methods: This was a prospective study with a 6-month follow-up period, performed in an assembly line. Upper limb musculoskeletal discomfort/pain was assessed through the presence of self-reported symptoms. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate which self-reported variables were associated to upper limb symptoms after 6 months at the present and to upper limbs symptoms in the past month. Results: Of the 200 workers at baseline, 145 replied to the survey after 6 months. For both outcomes, "having upper limb symptoms during the previous 6 months" and "education" were possible predictors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that having previous upper limb symptoms was related to its maintenance after 6 months, sustaining it as a specific determinant. It can be a hypothesis that this population had mainly workers with chronic symptoms, although our results give only limited support to self-reported indicators as determinants for upper limb symptoms. Nevertheless, the development of an efficient health surveillance system for high demanding jobs should implicate self-reported indicators, but also clinical and work conditions assessment should be accounted on the future.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was conducted at small-to-medium-sized manufacture enterprises less than 300 employees. Method: For 167 workers in 12 small-to-medium-sized manufacture, we examined the self-recording questionnaires about general characteristics, health characteristics, occupational characteristics and subjective musculoskeletal symptoms designed by NIOSH. Result: Related factors of upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms were found in using of the PC except work, the speed control at working and inappropriate positions for neck, and that using of the PC except work, the degree of intensity at working and the speed control at working for shoulder, and that the degree of intensity at working, the speed control at working, inappropriate positions and excessive workforce for arm/elbow, and that the degree of intensity at working, the speed control at working, inappropriate positions, excessive strong and vibration for hand/wrist/fingers. Conclusion: As a result of multiple logistic regression analysis, musculoskeletal symptoms of neck were influenced by use of the PC except work, household work, and the speed control at working, symptoms of shoulder by using of the PC of except work and the degree of intensity at working, symptoms of arm/elbow by the speed control at working, and symptoms of hand/wrist/fingers by the degree of intensity at work and excessive workforce.