• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.465-473
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between worker's health belief in health promotion programs and their demographic, health, and health behavior characteristics. Methods: This study used survey data from 262 small- and large-scale workplaces. The study included 1149 male and female workers who completed the questionnaires. Results: The health belief score increased significantly with age and length of service. Male, married, shift-work, and white-collar workers showed a significantly higher health belief score than female, single, non-shift-work, and blue-collar ones. Workers with disease history, hypertension, or obesity had a significantly higher health belief score. Regular exercise was significantly correlated with the health belief score. When all the variables were included in the model, the health belief score was significantly higher in workers who were married, had a longer length of service, worked in the sales department, were diagnosed with hypertension, exercised regularly, and felt fatigue. Conclusion: The results showed that workplace intervention programs meet more the needs of workers who have a higher health belief score. In addition, given that healthier life style was related to a higher health belief score, further research is required to find how to change health behavior in workers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2903-2913
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma inhalation method with roll-on in occupation stress, depression and sleep in female manufacture shift workers. The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The subjects in this study were female manufacture shift workers who were from K-do area; 26 in the experiment group and 26 in the control group. Data was collected from April 1 to May 25. The questionnaires about pre and post occupation stress, depression and sleep were used to identify the effect of aroma inhalation method with roll-on. The data was analyzed using SPSS Win 18.0 version program. The homogeneity between two groups of general characteristics was analyzed by Chi-square test and independent t-test. The homogeneity of occupation stress, depression and sleep were analyzed by independent t-test. The difference of pre-post occupation stress, depression and sleep were analyzed by independent t-test. The finding of this study were as follows: The first research hypothesis that the occupation stress of the experimental group might get less than the control group was rejected(t=-0.37, p=.717). The second research hypothesis that depression of the experimental group might get less than the control group was accepted(t=-6.11, p<.001). The third research hypothesis that sleep of the experimental group might get less than the control group was accepted(t=3.15, p=.003). Based on the above-mentioned findings, Aroma inhalation method with roll-on can be utilized as an effective intervention for depression and sleep in female shift workers in the manufacturing industry. and The multiple nursing intervention should be needed to decrease on occupation stress in female manufacture shift workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 2022

Background: Although insomnia and constipation are highly prevalent worldwide, studies examining a possible association between them are lacking. We examined the relationship between insomnia and constipation in shift workers who have a high prevalence of insomnia and other diseases. Methods: This study had a multicenter cross-sectional design and conducted using health examination data including self-reported questionnaires. In total, 12,879 and 4,650 shift workers were enrolled in Severance Hospital and Wonju Severance Hospital, respectively, during 2015-2017. Multivariate logistic regression models and subgroup analysis were performed in each center with the same protocol, using a common data model. Results: The mean age of the total population was 44.35 (standard deviation = 8.75); the proportion of males was 56.9%. Female sex, being underweight and non-smoker were strongly associated with an increased risk of constipation symptom (p < 0.001). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using ORs of both centers with weights; there was a significant dose-response relationship (sub-threshold 1.76 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-1.91]; moderate 2.28 [95% CI 2.01-2.60]; severe 4.15 [95% CI 3.18-5.41] in the final model, p for trend < 0.001). Subgroup analysis performed by stratifying sex and pooled ORs showed a similar trend to that of the entire group. Conclusion: We observed a strong correlation between insomnia and constipation in this population. Our findings may help in formulating guidelines and policies to improve quality of life in shift workers through the management of sleep quality and proper bowel function. This study is the first to report this relationship among people working in shifts.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.444-451
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed health-related factors for metabolic syndrome (Mets) among workers in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This analysis included 4,666 adults aged 19-64 years to analyzed health-related risk factors for Mets from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016). The sociodemographic, working, health-related, and biochemical characteristics were presented as percentages (%) by chi-square tests. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and associations between health-related factors characteristic of workers and the odds ratios of Mets. RESULTS: An increased prevalence of Mets was associated with male day workers compared to male shift workers (1.726-fold increase, 95% CI: 1.077-2.765), and with ${\geq}8hrs/day$ sleep duration compared to < 6 hrs/day sleep duration in female workers (2.133-fold, 95% CI: 1.041-4.368). In addition, reduced odds of high Mets were associated with male workers consumed of breakfast 5-7 times/wk compared to those consumed < 1 time/wk (0.593-fold decrease, 95% CI: 0.372-0.944). CONCLUSIONS: Health-related factors (sleep duration, frequency of breakfast) and working type in Korean workers may affect the prevalence of Mets.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.126-137
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in gender related to health status, occupational environment, occupational safety and health and hazardous chemicals use of migrant workers in Korea. Method: The survey was conducted in clinics that provided free healthcare services for migrant workers. Of the 413 respondents, 66.3% were males and 33.7% were females. Result: In the case of male migrant workers, many worker were not fluent in Korean, had illegal status in the country, and had moved jobs frequently. There were many cases in which migrant workers worked in small-scale enterprises and worked long hours. Job stress score was high for many workers and they dealt with heavy materials and risky machines. Many workers had not received proper occupational health and safety education and those that were previously injured had repeated injuries. Among the female migrant workers, many worker received low salary and shift work was common. Many worker complained of gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal illnesses and treated toxic substances. Conclusion: As a result, it will be necessary to focus on the strategies for decreasing occupational injuries from physical risk factors for males and from chemical risk factors for female migrant workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.402-406
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• 2017

Transit workers constitute a blue-collar occupational group that have elevated smoking rates relative to other sectors of employed adults in the United States. This study analyzed cross-sectional tobacco survey data from 935 workers (60% African American; 37% female) employed at an urban public transit agency in California. Prevalence of current and former smoking was 20.3% and 20.6%, respectively. Younger workers were less likely than older workers to be current or former smokers. Having a complete home smoking ban was associated with decreased likelihood of being a smoker [odds ratio (OR) = 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01-0.17], as were neutral views about whether it is easy for a smoker to take a smoking break during their shift (OR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.88). Current smoking among the sample is > 50% higher than the adult statewide prevalence. Potential points of intervention identified in this study include perceived ease of worksite smoking breaks and establishing home smoking bans. Tailored cessation efforts focusing on older transit workers more likely to smoke are needed to reduce tobacco-related disparities in this workforce.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2021

Objectives: This study explored the relationship between shift intensity and insomnia among hospital nurses. Methods: The participants were 386 female hospital nurses who underwent a special health examination for night workers in 2015. The Korean Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), indices of shift work intensity, and other covariates such as amount of exercise, level of alcohol consumption, employment duration, and hours worked were extracted from the health examination data. The indices for shift intensity were (1) number of 3 consecutive night shifts and (2) number of short recovery periods after a previous shift, both assessed over the prior 3 months. Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for the aforementioned covariates was performed to evaluate the association of shift intensity with insomnia, defined as an ISI score of ≥8. Results: The nurses with insomnia tended to be younger (p=0.029), to have worked 3 consecutive night shifts more frequently (p<0.001), to have experienced a greater number of short recovery periods after the previous shift (p=0.021), and to have worked for more hours (p=0.006) than the nurses without insomnia. Among the other variables, no statistically significant differences between groups were observed. Experiences of 3 or more consecutive night shifts (odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 4.20) and 3 or more short recovery periods (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.08 to 3.73) were associated with increased odds of insomnia. Conclusions: The results suggest that decreasing the shift intensity may reduce insomnia among hospital nurses working rotating shifts.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2021

Objectives : Shift work has been known to cause various health problems by making it difficult for humans to adapt to their natural circadian rhythms. In particular, shift workers tend to complain of sleep difficulties associated with work schedules, and sometimes use alcohol as a self-medication to induce sleep. To date, no clear mechanism has been identified regarding the link between shift work and sleep, between shift work and drinking. This study aims to confirm the relationship between shift work and sleep, and to analyze whether the change in sleep caused by shift work causes drinking. Methods : This study included 11360 people (5704 men and 5656 women) among the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey data in 2014, 2016 and 2018. The work type between 6am-6pm was defined as day work, and other work types were defined as shift work. Using logistic regression analysis, the relationship between shift work and sleep quality, shift work and high risk drinking, drinking amount at 1 time, drinking frequency were analyzed. In addition, we analyzed whether sleep mediates the relationship between shift work and drinking using mediated analysis. Results : Shift work showed a significant negative relationship with sleep quality in men and women (male OR=1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.70, female OR=1.26, 95% CI=1.05-1.50). There was no significant relationship between shift work and alcohol in the case of men, but in the case of women, there was a significant positive relationship between shift work and the number of alcohol consumption (OR=1.34, 95% CI=1.04-1.72). When mediation analysis was conducted, it was found that women's sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between shift work and the frequency of drinking. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that shift work causes sleep difficulties, and in the case of women, drinking can be induced through the partial mediating effect of sleep. Considering that women are more likely to choose drinking as a coping method for sleep problems, more active interventions for female shift workers are needed.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2005

Ergonomic intervention techniques were adopted to assess and control potential risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) in the automated light assembly manufacturing system. Ten different kinds of assembly workstations implemented with a conveyor system and twelve female workers were observed and evaluated with careful video film analysis. Several close examinations using sets of checklists established by qualified safety and health organizations, such as NIOSH, OSHA, and ANSI, were conducted and every workers and staffs in the site participated in the self-report questionnaires and off-line interviews. Typical risk factors and symptoms of the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders were found and categorized into specific parts of body. To reduce risk factors of WMSDs and improve system productivity new revised workstation standards, physical dimensions, were suggested accordant with anthropometric characteristics of workers and a heuristic decision strategy of rotating shift work schedules according to work contents has proposed to mitigate cumulative physical stress. Finally, ergonomic programs of entire company to prevent WMSDs were structured.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.171-179
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• 1997

This study was performed to see whether neurobehavioral tests was affected by the exposure-free time in the workers chronically exposed to organic solvents. Thirty-four female workers were participated and four items among neurobehavioral core test battery of World Health Organization, including digit span, Santa Ana Dexterity, digit symbol and Benton Visual Retention, were administered to the workers. Test was conducted three times-preshift on Monday, preshift on Weekday and during shift on Weekday-per person and the interval of tests was 2 weeks. Digit span forward, Santa Ana Dexterity, digit symbol, and Benton Visual Retention showed significant decrements by performing time, especially during shift on Week-day versus preshift on Monday and preshift on Weekday. In addition, the score at preshift on Weekday was significantly lower than preshift on Monday, in preferred Santa Ana Dexterity and digit symbol. Generally, those who were exposed to high concentration, over 50 years and under 6 years of education showed marked decrease of score at during shift. So, it would be desirable that neurobehavioral test is conducted at preshift on Monday and items related to short term memory could be considerable to be done at preshift on Weekday.