ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study examined health determinants at a community level and put forward to a typology of five different forms of community health vulnerabilities. We also investigated the differences in the prevalence of chronic diseases, self-rated health, and quality of life (EQ-5D) among the five types. @*Methods@#Latent class analysis was applied to material, social capital, and health behavior vulnerability variables across 255 regions of South Korea. The data came from 2017 & 2019 Community Health Survey. @*Results@#We found five types of community health vulnerabilities: Type 1 group had the highest material vulnerabilities compared to Type 5. The typology was found to be significant in all the regression analysis on the prevalence of chronic diseases (hypertension and diabetes), self-rated health status, and quality of life. In the regions with high material vulnerabilities, the material vulnerability appeared the most effective to the health status of individual’s. In the other regions with less material vulnerabilities, the social capital and health behavior resources were found to be effective. @*Conclusion@#A comprehensive measure of vulnerability can be helpful to understand community health. Policy makers need to consider the level of material vulnerability when planning for a health promotion project.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#Multimorbidity is defined as the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases within a person. This study explores the burden of multimorbidity in the working population, focusing on the recent increase in elderly workers in Korea. @*Methods@#We summarized past empirical or theoretical literature. @*Results@#Previous literature shows that about 80% of the elderly are multimorbid, and more than half of people with chronic disease have two or more chronic conditions. Multimorbidity is a common phenomenon in the elderly working population. However, little is known about its prevalence, the factors related to its unequal distribution among workers, and its effects on health outcome measures such as mortality, medical use, and employment decisions. @*Conclusion@#This study asks researchers to focus on a subgroup analysis employing data on the working population. Health professionals need to develop clinical guidelines for multimorbid patients. As multimorbidity is a major health concern in the working elderly, prevention and control should be promoted in the workplace.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the cross-sectional association of company size and self-rated health using representative data on Korean workers. METHODS: We used the data from 2,884 wage workers collected by Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (17th). The association between company size and self-rated health was analyzed using logistic regression with covariates including demographic characteristics, work environment, job satisfaction, and health-related behaviors. RESULTS: Odds ratio (OR) for better health status among workers in large-sized company was 1.351 (CI. 1.054~1.731), compared to workers in small-sized company. We performed three separate models stratified by firm size (small, medium, and large companies). Occupation variables showed different effect on health depending on firm sizes. OR for better health of white-color job (referred to blue-color job) was 1.693 in medium-sized company model but it was 0.615 in large company model. OR for better health of the workers working shift work showed 0.606 in large company model but it was not significant in small and medium company models. CONCLUSION: We found that small-sized company workers have significantly poor self-rated health compared to large-sized firm workers. This study revealed that there exist differences among health related factors depending on firm sizes.