• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.3
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• pp.21-30
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• 1993

For the purpose of disclosing the magnitude of low back pain problems of hospital nursing personnel and its possible causes, a questionaire survey was carried out on 418 nurses and nurse aides if a university hospital in Seoul. The results were as follows : 1. Of 418 nurse and nurse aides, 268 persons(64.1%) have experienced 1,145 spells of low back pain during 6-month period. 2. The pain and/or discomfort was mostly limited to the back, although 19% of the episodes accompanied radiating pain to the low extremities. 3. Of those with low back pain, 23 persons(8.6%) were medically diagnosed and 17 persons(6.3%)-underwent medical treatment. Those who sick leave amounted to 8 persons(3.0%). 4. The occurrence of low back pain showed significant association with assignment of duties(wards) and work shifts, while the association was not significant in terms of ranks, careers and overtimes. 5. The occurrence of low back pain was closely associated with lifting and carrying of loads, standing and twisting postures as well as the amount of work. 6. Among the nonoccupational factors, drinking showed statistically significant association with the occurrence of low back pain.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.81-85
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• 2009

Work related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) was a leading cause of sick leave and injuries in the industries of our country. Posture was an important consideration in the design of work method and workplaces, because it affected the ability of workers to use various equipments and influenced how long they could perform their job without feeling discomfort, fatigue, and musculoskeletal disorders. Imbalanced lower limb postures such as a squatting posture were awkward working postures common to the shipbuilding shops, farms, automobiles assembly lines in our country. Different awkward working postures were known to be associated with specific musculoskeletal disorders. Eight postures in lower limb postures divided into balanced and imbalanced postures were evaluated by electromyographic(EMG) activity for lower limb muscles. Twelve male subjects participated in this study. This paper was to analyze the effects of lower limb muscles workload according to lower limb postures(knee angle) and working time. The ANOVA results showed that most EMG root mean square(RMS) values were statistically significant effect according to lower limb postures(knee angle) and working time. Therefore, the results of this study will provide the basis to evaluate workload of lower limb postures correctly adopted by workers in various jobs and the ergonomic reference to prevent WMSDs.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.19-38
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• 2018

This study is to examine the transition of employment relations depending on labor reform by U Thein Sein Government(2011~2015) in company level and implemented literature review and interview. The results of this study are as follow. According to contents of the legislative amendment pursued by U Thein Sein government, there were some changes in employment relations as the use of standard labor contract, the application of paid holidays, easy use of vacations/sick leave and the establishment of trade unions. But, after the adoption of the minimum wage system, there was not change in the employment relations to such an extent as to have a significant impact on the live of the laborers. So it is expected that development of the trade union representing laborers in the future is able to take mutually beneficial employment relations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2011

Objectives: To analyze the association between changes in perceived physical and psychosocial working conditions and change of sickness absence days in younger and older (< 50 and ${\geq}50$ years) food industry employees. Methods: This was a follow up study of 679 employees, who completed working conditions survey questionnaires in 2005 and 2009 and for whom the requisite sickness absence data were available for the years 2004 and 2008. Results: Sickness absence increased and working conditions improved during follow-up. However, the change of increased sickness absence days were associated with the change of increased poor working postures and the change of deteriorated team spirit and reactivity (especially among < 50 years). No other changes in working conditions were associated with the changes in sickness absence. Conclusion: Sickness absence is affected by many factors other than working conditions. Nevertheless, according to this study improving team spirit and reactivity and preventing poor working postures are important in decreasing sickness absence.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.461-468
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• 2018

Objective: Cognitive disturbance is one of the major symptoms of depression and may be improved by treatment with antidepressants. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of cognitive improvement in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who were taking antidepressants. Methods: This study included 86 patients with MDD who completed 12 weeks of antidepressant monotherapy. Cognitive symptoms were assessed using the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Korean version (PDQ-K), which addresses four domains of cognitive functioning (attention/concentration, retrospective memory, prospective memory, and organization/planning) and was administered at study entry and at the 12-week end point. A variety of demographic, clinical, and treatment-related variables were evaluated as predictors of changes in total and domain scores. Results: All PDQ-K domains showed significant improvement after 12 weeks of antidepressant treatment. More severe initial depressive symptoms, fewer sick-leave days at study entry, and reduced use of concomitant anxiolytics/hypnotics during treatment were significantly associated with greater cognitive improvement. Conclusion: Cognitive symptoms are more responsive to antidepressant treatment in patients with severe MDD. Reduced use of anxiolytics and hypnotics could improve the cognitive functioning of patients with MDD taking antidepressants.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 2019

Background: Mine workers in South Africa face challenges relating to poor health and safety, including fatigue risks, and poor socioeconomic and living conditions. Fatigue results in impaired mental and physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess contributors to fatigue of mine workers in South Africa. Methods: Data collection took place at four gold mines and one platinum mine in South Africa. A total of 21 focus groups were held with individuals in management, union representatives, and mine workers, and 564 questionnaires were completed by mine workers to gather information about fatigue and potential contributors to fatigue at these mines. Results: Qualitatively (through focus groups), fatigue was attributed to extended working hours, harsh working conditions, high workloads, production pressure, and resource constraints, along with aspects relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, living conditions, lifestyle, health, and wellness. Greater fatigue was significantly associated with younger age, indebtedness, a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, less sleep, increased alcohol use, poor self-reported health, more sick leave, higher stress, and lower job satisfaction. Conclusion: The aim of the study was achieved; numerous work-, sociodemographic-, lifestyle-, and wellness-related factors were linked to fatigue in the participating mine workers. Contributors to fatigue should be addressed to improve health, safety, and sustainability in the industry.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.167-180
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• 2023

The aim of this study is to explore the factors that influence the health care utilization of disabled workers who returned to their original workplace after an occupational accident. The study sample consisted of 457 workers who suffered from occupational accidents and were rated as disabled based on the data from the PSWCI in 2021. Data analysis was performed using a hierarchical multiple regression analysis with SPSS WIN 26.0. The study findings revealed that the number of outpatient visits was affected by factors such as daily wage payment, economic status, physical activity limitations, subjective health status, and chronic diseases. Moreover, health care expenditures were determined by factors such as having a caregiver for daily living, burn injuries, and physical activity limitations. Therefore, to increase the accessibility of health care utilization for disabled workers, the role of nurses in the workplace should be expanded, employers should include a health care utilization plan when developing a return-to-work plan, and research on the introduction of a paid sick leave system that allows workers to rest when they are sick is needed. It is also necessary to alleviate the economic burden by increasing the coverage of benefits for burn and rehabilitation treatments.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.243-252
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among disease-related characteristics, symptom stress, quality of life in women with endometriosis, and then to identify predictors of quality of life in them. The self-reported questionnaires were administered to 99 women in one general hospital. As results of multiple regression analysis, the factors affecting quality of life in women with endometriosis were sick leave (${\beta}=-.27$, p=.000) and symptom stress (${\beta}=.59$, p=.000), explained women's quality of life with 57.0% (F=11.39, p<.001). Based on the findings, there is a need to develop a self-care program for chronic pain and a nursing intervention for enhancing a quality of life in women with endometriosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2163-2170
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• 2012

Aim: This one group semi-experimental study was performed to develop and adapt flow charts of nursing practices applied to gynecologic oncology patients to the field. Methods: The research was conducted between October 2008 and March 2009 in 6 hospitals in Istanbul (3 health ministry hospitals, 2 private hospitals and 1 university hospital) with effective programs. The scope of the study included 97 midwives/nurses who had been working as caregivers of gynecologic oncology patients in this unit at least for 6 months and who participated in this study voluntarily; 87 people composed the sample because of the absence of others on vacation or sick leave when the data were collected or who did not wish to participate. The data were in descriptive information form collected via "Forms to Determine the Efficiency of Flow Charts". Before data collection, risks related to gynecologic oncology problems were identified, a literature scanning was made for existing flow charts based on actual practices and the discovered charts were reviewed. As a result of the evaluations, it was decided to create 15 flow charts intended for risks, symptoms, operation processes and discharge. Questionnaires to determine activity were applied to participants before and after practice. Results: As a result of the study, it was determined that the efficiency of the flow charts increased significantly (p <0.01) after practice of the participants, nosignificant relationships (p>0.01) being apparent with age group, education level, occupational period in the job and in the gynecologic oncology field and evaluations of the practice before and after it was applied. Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that nursing participants in university and private hospitals and who supported the existence of a flow chart in the field evaluated the flow charts positively.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2011

Objectives: Depressive disorder (DD) is a complex disease, and the assessment of work ability in patients with DD is also complicated. The checklist depression (CDp) has recently been developed to support such work ability assessments and has been recommended for implementation in insurance medicine, starting with an analysis of the organisational and social contexts. The aim of this study was to identify the potential facilitators and barriers in the use of the CDp by insurance physicians (IPs) during work ability assessments of employees on sick leave due to DD. Methods: A qualitative research was conducted based on semi-structured interviews. The participants were IPs with at least one year of work experience in performing work ability assessments. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed qualitatively. Results: Ten IPs (7 males, 3 females; mean 53 years) were interviewed. Important facilitators, which emerged for use of the CDp, were an oral introduction for colleagues and staff, support from management, valuing the increased transparency in work ability assessments with using the CDp, having adequate time for assessments as well as modification of the appearance (colour, plasticised form) and content (clarifying aspects of the examples) of the assessment tool. The fear of the loss of autonomy, lack of added value of the CDp, high workload, inadequate instructions and lack of time were mentioned as barriers. Conclusion: Adequate introduction to the use of CDp and the fear of the loss of autonomy of IPs need special attention in planning its implementation.