The Relationship between Occupational Stress and Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Call Center Employees / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: An era of deindustrialization has begun in Korea after the industrial development that occurred up until the 1990's. Post industrialization dictates the development of the service industry and information technology with the associated musculoskeletal disorders in such industries. The association between musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors has been investigated by several researchers. The aims of this study was to characterize the relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors including occupational stress and depressive symptoms, and to provide basic data to group health practices for the prevention of musculoskeletal symptoms in the service industry. METHODS: Musculoskeletal symptoms, depressive symptoms and occupational stress were surveyed in 311 female call center employees. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, depressive symptoms and occupational stress scores were assessed. The odds ratio of the high risk occupational stress group into musculoskeletal symptom group was assessed in an effort to determine the associations between occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of musculoskeletal and depressive symptoms was 53.7% and 20.6% respectively. The high risk occupational stress group of the total scores (p=0.049), physical environment (p=0.022), job demand (p=0.014) and interpersonal conflict (p=0.032) to musculoskeletal symptom were significant. The depression group was also significant (p=0.015). The adjusted odds ratio of the high risk stress group into the musculoskeletal symptom group inclusion was 1.687 (95% CI; 1.014~2.808) for the physical environment, and 1.948 (95% CI; 1.031-3.683) for depression. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the relationship between musculoskeletal symptom and the psychosocial factors was not significant. Only the physical environmental stress factor and depression showed marginal significance, which suggests the possibility of an increased risk of musculoskeletal symptoms. However, since the group in this study was a homogeneous occupational population, further study with a reference group will be needed.

The Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Korean Cardiocerebrovascular Risk Assessment: for Male Researchers in a Workplace / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has recently increased. Payments from the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation for compensation for mortality in workers caused by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have also increased in Korea in recent years. The association of metabolic syndrome and cardiocere brovascular disease has been investigated by several researchers in recent studies. This study was conducted in an attempt to characterize the relationship between metabolic syndrome and Korean cardiocerebrovascular disease risk assessment, and to provide basic data to group health practices for the prevention of cardiocere brovascular disease. METHODS: Health examinations were previously conducted for 1526 male researchers at a private laboratory. The prevalence by age and the odds ratio of metabolic syndrome scores into the "cardiocerebrovascular risk group" (sum of low, intermediate, and high risk groups) of the Korean cardiocerebrovascular disease risk assessment were assessed, in an effort to elucidate the associations between metabolic syndrome and cardiocere brovascular disease risk assessment. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and inclusion in the cardiocerebrovascular risk group was 11.7% and 22.1% respectively. The severity of metabolic syndrome and cardiocerebrovascular risk assessment showed that individuals in their 40's and 50's were at higher risk than those in their 30's (p<0.001). The age-adjusted odds ratio of metabolic syndrome to cardiocere brovascular risk group inclusion was 5.6. CONCLUSIONS: An active prevention program for cardiocerebrovascular disease needs to begin in the 40's, as the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the risk group of cardiocerebrovascular risk assessment peak in the 40's age group. The odds ratio between metabolic syndrome and the cardiocerebrovascular risk group was high, which indicates that metabolic syndrome scores should be utilized as guidelines during the consultation and behavioral modification program for the workplace prevention of cardiocerebrovascular diseases in group health practices.

Patient Satisfaction in Workers' Compensation Medical Care / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the patient satisfaction and its influencing factors after medical care for workrelated injuries. METHODS: A self-reported questionnaire was mailed to 921 workers who had experienced workers' compensation medical care. The data from 335 respondents (response rate was 36.4%) were merged and analysed with the data from the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC) which contain other general information of the respondents. RESULTS: Dissatisfaction with their medical care was reported by 17.3% of the respondents. Overall patient satisfaction (OPS) was highly correlated with the medical treatment process such as hospital facility, medical therapy, surgical therapy, doctor's explanation and physical therapy. However, OPS was negatively influenced by three factors: 1) unsatisfactory hospital care during waiting period before the approval of workers' compensation, 2) forced end of the hospital care by the workers' compensation, and 3) end of the hospital care with no further improvement. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the satisfaction of patients with work-related injuries, both the practice of medical treatment and also the administrative process of workers' compensation must be reformed. These reforms are needed to improve the quality of workers' compensation medical care and prevent abnormal illness behavior such as inappropriate treatment seeking.