An Assessment of the Needs and the Affecting Factors for Small Scale Enterprise Worker's Health Centers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to assess the needs and roles of the Worker's Health Centers employed by small scale enterprises by investigating the requested services made to this type of Worker's Health Center. METHODS: The population of this research was taken from 1,145 business owners or managers of manufacturing companies employing less than fifty people in six industrial estates. Stratified sampling was used. Individual interviews were performed to assess the conditions and needs of these enterprises using a structured questionnaire and professional interviewers. RESULTS: According to the questionnaire survey, 941(82.2%) of the enterprises wish to use a Worker's Health Center. 946(83.3%) of the enterprises preferred an 'Expert visit to the enterprise or mixed' for the Delivery type. 486(42.4%) of the enterprises preferred the 'in the center of industrial complex' for the location of the Worker's Health Center. 789(69.1%) of the enterprises preferred 6-10 PM for the available open hours. A multiple regression analysis revealed a significantly positive association regarding the intention of using a Worker's Health Center and the Gyeonggi-Banwol (OR 2.49) or Gwangju-Hanam(OR 4.24) for the region. Compared to enterprises employing 1-4 worker, 30-49 worker enterprises show a 3.33 fold preference (95% CI 1.80~6.12) for the use of a Worker's Health Center. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, the intention regarding the use of a Worker's Health Center was high, Considering the time and spatial limits inherentin small scale enterprises, the 'expert visit to the enterprise' paradigm is important. It should be noted that when providing the service, a customized approach is necessary, determined by size, region, industry, and scale of the business, through the assessment of the small scale enterprises and the nature of the work environment when designing a Worker's Health Center operation.

A study on the Development of Surveillance System for Agricultural Injuries in Korea / 農村醫學 地域保健

Injury in agriculture is a serious public health issue with a major impact on the lives of Korean farmers. It is one of the leading causes of death and is also a major cause of longand short-term disability. In 2001, the social cost of one accident in agricultural machinery was estimated as 97.7-97.8 million won that is 4 fold of farm household income in Korea. Effective prevention and control of injuries requires a system of surveillance that monitors the incidence of injuries, their causes, treatment and outcomes. This requires an integrated system of data collection, analysis and interpretation and communication. Creating effective injury surveillance system in Korea requires to establish a framework for a national agenda. Discussions regarding the development of the framework should address, but not be limited to issues related to Data Holdings and Linkages; Capacity and Skills; Communication; Interconnection; and Surveillance Products. Ideally, an injury surveillance system would meet the information requirements across all sectors, while allowing each to have the ongoing information it needs for its policy and programming needs. This study was carried out to develop a surveillance system of agricultural injuries in Korea. Study subjects were residents who lived in a typical agricultural area (Yangpyung area in Kyung-gi province). The main data sources were reports of village headmen, compared with data of 'National Emergency Management Agency', 'National Health Insurance Corporation', 'Insurance of National Agricultural Cooperative', and 'Emergency Medical Centers'. Each data were reviewed to validate the strengths and weaknesses.

Analysis of Shoulder Range of Motion in Shoulder Myofascial Pain Syndrome / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to investigate if the measurement of range of motion(ROM) could be applied in the diagnosis of Myofascial Pain Syndrome(MPS) and to determine the severity by analyzing ROM in MPS patients. METHODS: The study subjects were 476 female telephone number information service workers. Southampton Protocol and Pittsburgh Protocol were used to diagnose MPS and to measure ROM. ROMs were measured by 2 inclinometers exercising each shoulder passively and actively in 5 directions ; abduction, forward flexion, extension, external rotation, and internal rotation. RESULTS: Compared to the normal group (n=147), the mean of right side ROM in the subjects (n=270) with same side MPS was 2.1 degrees(SD=11.5) lesser in active extension and 1.7 degrees(SD=10.4) lesser in passive extension. Compared to the mild group (n=210), the mean of right side ROM in the patients with same side severe MPS (n=58) was lesser in all directions. Especially in active forward flexion, passive forward flexion, active extension, passive extension and active external rotation, ROM in the subjects with severe MPS was lesser by 6.5 degrees(SD=13.1), 5.1 degrees(SD=12.8), 5.9 degrees(SD=11.8), 5.0 degrees(SD=10.6) and 3.9 degrees(SD=9.8), respectively, than those of the subjects with mild MPS. Compared to the subjects with left side mild MPS(n=172), ROM in the subjects with left side severe MPS (n=59) was 5.3 degrees(SD=13.3) lesser in active forward flexion. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, ROMs in the subjects with severe MPS tended to be lesser than those in mild patients. This tendency was more prominent in the right side than the left, active range of motion than passive and forward flexion and extension than others. The results of this study are expected to help diagnose shoulder MPS and determine severity.