Development and Application of Participatory Action Oriented Training(PAOT) for Improvement of Agricultural Working Environment in Korea / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to develop a Korean version of the Participatory Action Oriented Training (PAOT) program and training materials for improvement of agricultural working environments. METHODS: The PAOT manual and checklist were developed on the basis of the original English version of the training materials, a questionnaire survey of agricultural health and safety professionals, and a brainstorming conference. Good example pictures were collected through visits to agricultural workers' houses, and an easily understandable picture was drawn by an animation specialist. A PAOT action manual and five types of action checklists were developed for use in different agricultural environments. Each action checklist contained six categories and 38 items of agricultural health and safety principles; the six categories were material storage and handling, work stations and tools, machine safety, physical environment, working schedule and organization, and basic health and safety management. Incorporating these training materials, a one-day Korean PAOT program was developed. RESULTS: Among 307 candidate agricultural workers from four rural Korean villages, 94 workers (59 males, 35 females) participated in a PAOT from July 2007 to Oct 2008. The PAOT program was successful and the mean self-estimated satisfaction score of the participants was greater than 90%. CONCLUSIONS: A Korean PAOT program and training materials were successfully developed and applied to Korean agricultural workers. Although more studies are needed, it is expected that PAOT will greatly contribute to the improvement of agricultural working conditions and health and safety through the use of agricultural workers' self initiatives.

Blood Glucose Change and the Impact of Participation in Diabetes Mellitus Class of a Public Health Center / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: Recently the care of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease is important as much as that of cancer care in public health, so the control of diabetes mellitus(DM) which is a risk factor of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease has been also important consideration. This study was carried out to investigate the blood glucose change of the participants in diabetes mellitus class(DM class) of a health center. METHODS: Study subjects were 54 participants of DM class in a health center that had been held once a month, from January 2005 to March 2006. RESULTS: Among the DM class participants, 67.3% participated by 50% or over in the DM class. After DM class, the level of random blood sugar decreased from 176mg/dl to 156mg/dl in DM class participants(p<0.05). In a comparison between more than 50% participation group and less than 50% participation group, more than 50% participation group got decreased level of blood sugar from 182mg/dl to 155mg/dl and less than 50% participation group also got decreased level from 172mg/dl to 156mg/dl. But there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: DM class of health center was effective program to manage diabetes mellitus patients in community.